Chapter 455 They were childhood sweethearts too.
Some say that the Crown Prince had been banished from the capital for nearly two years, and upon his return, he was reprimanded and confined by His Majesty. Isn't His Majesty's attitude clear?
However, those with good connections could vaguely sense unusual fluctuations within the Crown Prince's camp.
Therefore, what will happen at today's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is attracting much attention.
Sheng Sheng was also very curious. She had brought a few handfuls of sunflower seeds with her, thinking she would eat them later.
Before the banquet could even officially begin, Sheng Sheng was unexpectedly tripped up by another matter.
Zijuan leaned close to Shengsheng's ear, unable to hide her excitement, and said, "Princess, Lord Zhuifeng is back!"
"Really!" Sheng Sheng stopped eating her snacks, her eyes shining as she looked at Zijuan's slightly moist eyes.
Zijuan nodded: "Mm!"
Sheng Sheng instantly forgot about the banquet and immediately stood up, pulling Zi Juan outside: "How is he? Take me to see him quickly."
Seeing her movements, the others asked, "Sheng Sheng, where are you going?"
He left behind the words, "I'll be right back!"
Zhu Yue returned alone last night, bringing back everything she wanted and the person she was looking for. However, Zhu Yue said that Zhui Feng had single-handedly blocked all the pursuers in order to buy him time, and that he was probably in grave danger.
Sheng Sheng immediately sent Zhu Yue to the East Palace to borrow people, and took Ta Ying and Lan Yun back to rescue them.
However, when the three returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Zhuifeng was nowhere to be found, leaving only the chaotic aftermath of war.
At the place where Zhu Yue and Zhui Feng parted ways, there were many corpses of guards and Zhenguo Gong's personal guards, but no trace of Zhui Feng.
The three continued searching for Zhuifeng's whereabouts, but to no avail. Just now, Zhuifeng returned to Yuqing Palace with his wounds already treated, and Huang Ying quickly sent someone to inform him.
Sheng Sheng led Zi Juan back to Yu Qing Palace, where they saw Zhui Feng, who had just cleaned himself up, and beside him—Xiao Jiu Zhu!
Sheng Sheng was extremely surprised, and immediately realized: "Uncle Xiao, could it be that you saved Zhui Feng yesterday?"
Xiao Jiuzhu did not deny it and nodded: "Mm."
Zhui Feng added, "Princess, last night I fought with all my might to buy time for Zhu Yue, but the enemy was too numerous and I gradually couldn't hold them off. Fortunately, Hero Xiao appeared in time to save me."
Sheng Sheng frowned as she examined his injuries and guessed why Zhui Feng had disappeared: "You were injured, and Uncle Xiao took you away, so Zhu Yue and the others couldn't find you when they went back yesterday, right?"
"Yes, Master Xiao took me to the clinic. Knowing that the princess would be worried, I rushed back as soon as I woke up today."
"I'm not the only one worried about you," Sheng Sheng sighed and said to him, "Let the imperial physician examine you again; I'm still not at ease."
Sheng Sheng then asked Zhui Feng about what happened last night, and what he said was basically the same as what Zhu Yue said, except that the situation after the two separated was different.
Xiao Jiuzhu asked her, "As far as I know, something very interesting must be happening in the Jinyi Palace right now, right? Why didn't you stay in the Jinyi Palace and came back instead?"
"Of course, it's because you can eat melons anytime, but I need to personally confirm that Zhui Feng is alright."
Zhui Feng was one of her people, and he did his best to help her. He disappeared during the crisis, and now that he's finally back, how could she not come back immediately to check on his condition?
Besides, Sheng Sheng already knew the inside story of Xie Yunchuan and Xie Yunyang. Even if she missed the process, the result was pretty much as she expected.
At worst, she can just go back and ask again later.
However, while you can miss out on gossip, you can't miss out on her own affairs.
After confirming that Zhuifeng was alright, Shengsheng prepared to return to Jinyi Palace. Before leaving, Shengsheng remembered something and asked Xiao Jiuzhu, "Uncle Xiao, now that you're back, has Brother Pei Ji returned as well?"
"Oh, I noticed you haven't mentioned him yet, I thought you weren't going to ask," Xiao Jiuzhu joked. "He's already at Jingyue Pavilion. He had some things to take care of, so he couldn't come over, but he asked me to pass on a message to you, saying he'll be waiting for you by South Lake tonight."
Sheng Sheng was a little happy. Pei Ji had asked Xiao Jiuzhu to pass on a message to her, explaining that he was certain she would abandon the affairs of Jinyi Palace and rush back after learning about Zhui Feng's whereabouts.
Pei Ji truly understands me best.
Sheng Sheng smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I got it!"
Sheng Sheng was overjoyed and finally left Yuqing Palace to return to Jinyi Hall. Before leaving, she didn't forget to tell Huang Ying to take Zhui Feng to the Imperial Hospital for another check-up.
Xiao Jiuzhu watched Shengsheng skip and hop out of Yuqing Palace, and clicked her tongue twice: "They're still children, but they can be considered childhood sweethearts. That's wonderful, that's wonderful."
...
Inside the Jinyi Hall, the atmosphere was solemn, completely devoid of the Mid-Autumn Festival spirit of family reunion.
All of this was because Xie Yunjia made a congratulatory remark after performing the song, and the ministers who were already prepared to stir up trouble took the opportunity to subtly mention the matter between the Second Prince and the Crown Prince.
Xie Yunchuan and Xie Yunyang remained completely calm, and on this stage where all the officials and ministers were present, they calmly began to perform a two-person folk song.
Xie Yunchuan feigned confrontation with Xie Yunyang, speaking coldly and sarcasticly the whole way, as if he were forcing Xie Yunyang to admit that he had an inappropriate relationship with Minister of War Nong.
Xie Yun-yang, of course, denied it and confidently pointed out Minister Nong, her words full of confidence in him: "Minister Nong, tell me, have we had too much contact?"
In the past, Minister Nong would have denied it just as confidently as he did.
According to their original plan, they had arranged everything perfectly. The one who could turn white into black was the "scapegoat" they had chosen and placed in the Second Prince's palace, which would be enough to refute all of the Second Prince's doubts.
If there's no mistake, he should be giving a passionate and heartbroken speech right now, and then bring that scapegoat along to prove his innocence to His Majesty.
But the strange thing is, how did he make a mistake?
Minister Nong stood in the center of the hall with a frown on his face, under the gaze of everyone, wishing he could cover his entire face with the brim of his official hat.
Cold sweat streamed down his forehead, and Minister Nong's lips trembled, unable to utter a word for a long time.
He wanted to curse. Damn it, the Second Prince had somehow dragged his son into this mess. If he wanted everything to proceed as planned, he had to push his own son out and pretend nothing had happened, making his son the scapegoat!
Perhaps His Majesty will praise him a few times for putting justice above family ties.
However, pushing someone out in such a situation means certain death.
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