The Ministry of Rites had already been planning the marriage of Yan Sikong and Princess Wanyang. As the reduction of feudal power and the increase of maritime taxes had been successful, the treasury had been abundant in the past two years. Emperor Zhaowu loved pomp and circumstance very much and wanted to take the opportunity to demonstrate the national strength. The marriage of the princess this time would surely be extravagant and grand.

The Ministry of Rites sent an official to personally supervise all wedding affairs at the Yan Mansion, and also to teach Yan Sikong and the servants of the Yan Mansion the etiquette. Yan Sikong had not been able to go to the yamen for several days. Despite this, no one would blame him. First, he was about to become a prince consort, and second, most people around him kept their distance from him. Those who could still curry favor with him at this time were mostly hypocrites, and he had no time to pay attention to them.

Due to the heavy traffic in the mansion, Yan Sikong was unable to move around easily. Even when he asked Ali to go find She Jun, he became more cautious than before. She Jun's secret deployment had been completed, and Yan Sikong also revealed the plan to the Feng father and son through the jailer who had been bribed by him with a large sum of money.

Yan Sikong really wanted to meet Feng Ye in person, as this might be the last time they would see each other. However, he couldn't and didn't dare to. He couldn't let anything go wrong on the eve of the action.

Despite such a tight schedule, he still found time to celebrate Xie Zhongren's birthday.

At his 66th birthday party, Xie Zhongren deliberately ridiculed Yan Sikong in public, saying that Yan Sikong was filial and sensible, and that if he became a prince consort in the future, he would be the emperor's half-son and would be loyal and filial and treat the princess as an equal.

These words not only implied that Yan Sikong betrayed his mentor, but also mocked him for marrying the princess. Upon hearing these words, many people at the table showed contempt and rolled their eyes at him. Now, not only did the upright and honest people draw a line between themselves and him, but even the eunuchs looked down on him.

Yan Sikong turned a deaf ear to him, remained calm, and even read out the congratulatory message he had written to Xie Zhongren in person, doing his utmost to flatter him.

He knew that Xie Zhongren was testing his loyalty, and he would play this drama to the end, even if he was condemned by thousands of people and his infamy would go down in history.

Halfway through the banquet, Yan Sikong got up to relieve himself.

Just as he came out of the toilet, he suddenly felt a gust of wind pressure coming from his side. His body moved faster than his thoughts. Before he could turn his head, he had already stretched out his hand to block the attack. The attacker's fist brushed past his forearm, causing a burning pain. He turned sideways to avoid the second attack, and with the power of his feet, he twisted his waist and instantly put some distance between himself and the attacker.

He looked carefully and found that the person who attacked him was actually Zhu Lanting.

Zhu Lanting withdrew his hand and looked at Yan Sikong coldly: "You really know Kung Fu."

Yan Sikong looked around. Compared to the birthday banquet being held in the main hall, this place was very quiet. However, he was exposed in Xie Zhongren's house after all. His heart tightened for a moment. He said in a deep voice: "What is Commander Zhu's intention?"

"How long are you going to pretend?" Zhu Lanting narrowed his eyes. "I have long noticed that your figure and walking posture are unusual. During the spring hunt, you saved the prince on a galloping horse, but only suffered minor injuries. Others may think that you are lucky, but I know that if you didn't know kung fu, it would not be surprising for you to die under the horses' hooves."

Yan Sikong said expressionlessly: "So what if I know Kung Fu? What law have I broken? Commander Zhu is being too aggressive. If there is nothing else, I'll take my leave first." As he said this, he wanted to leave.

Zhu Lanting held him back with his hand: "I came to the birthday banquet despite my disgust, just to see you."

Yan Sikong looked at Zhu Lanting cautiously: "What do you want to do?"

"I have a few questions for you."

"…Go ahead."

"Did the father and son of the Feng family plot a rebellion?"

"Whether the father and son of the Feng family are treasonous or not, I am afraid that Commander Zhu, like many others, has his own judgment in his heart, but since His Majesty has issued an order to convict them, you and I are both subjects, how can we criticize them?"

"I want to hear it from you."

Yan Sikong frowned and said, "Commander Zhu is really confused. Whether the father and son of the Feng family are plotting a rebellion is none of my business."

Zhu Lanting sneered: "I, Zhu, have always been cautious in doing things. If I am not sure, I will never make a move. I already knew about your relationship with Feng Ye. I know that your relationship is unusual and that you have had several secret meetings."

Yan Sikong was startled, and cold sweat instantly slid down his back. When did Zhu Lanting target him? He was totally unaware of it? No, maybe Zhu Lanting was just trying to trick him, and he couldn't lose his footing. He said calmly, "I really don't understand what Commander Zhu means. Feng Ye and I do have a bad relationship, but I don't want to fall into the trap now..."

"On New Year's Eve last year, you and Feng Ye had a secret meeting in the old house of Yan Mansion and spent a wonderful night together. Is this true?" Zhu Lanting interrupted him rudely.

Yan Sikong's eyes gradually turned cold. He was sure that Zhu Lanting really knew something.

"You must be wondering how I knew that," Zhu Lanting whispered. "On New Year's Eve, we caught a drunk urinating on the palace wall. I thought I was not on guard enough and was very upset, so I stayed up all night and patrolled the streets with the guards. I happened to run into a man sneaking out at night. I was worried that he was a bad guy, so I followed him quietly. I didn't expect to follow him all the way to the old house of the Yan Mansion and found that it was you and Feng Ye."

Yan Sikong clenched his fists: "You knew it at the time, why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to know what you were going to do and why you were so close to each other but acted like enemies in front of others. So I monitored you for a long time since then."

Yan Sikong felt a chill all over his body, he never expected that many of the things he thought were flawless, in fact, there is always a loophole. However, only someone with Zhu Lanting's skills could track him and Feng Ye without being discovered, and he happened to run into them.

He suddenly thought of the day when he was kidnapped and left at night. He narrowed his eyes and said, "It turns out that person that day was you..."

Zhu Lanting frowned slightly: "Which day are you referring to?"

Yan Sikong's face changed slightly. Zhu Lanting had already confessed to him, so there was no need to hide this from him any longer. Could it be that the man in black that day was not Zhu Lanting? Who else could it be?!

"Are there any others?" Zhu Lanting asked.

Yan Sikong did not answer. He took a deep breath and looked at Zhu Lanting steadily: "Since you have already seen it, I have no intention of hiding it. I acted in front of Feng Yeren in order to lure Xie Zhongren into taking advantage of me."

"What are you trying to do? The list of questions in the imperial examination?"

"Yes, that was a plan that the teacher and I came up with to help Prince Jingyuan pass the imperial examination."

Zhu Lanting's chest rose and fell deeply: "What about conspiracy to rebel?"

"Xie Zhongren sent a prostitute to seduce Feng Ye's driver and steal the military token. Everything was his conspiracy."

Zhu Lanting's eyes widened: "Do you have any evidence?!"

"No." Yan Sikong said coldly, "Even if there is, it is too late to save the situation."

"So you turned against the eunuchs?" Zhu Lanting said viciously, "Are you doing things that are worthy of the Crown Prince and Master Yan? You are simply shameless!"

"He is no longer the crown prince, but the 'King of Chu'." Yan Sikong lowered his eyelids slightly to hide his fluctuating expression, and said calmly, "Commander, please do not make any more mistakes, or you may get into trouble."

Zhu Lanting's expression suddenly slowed down: "You still want to keep hiding this from me."

Yan Sikong frowned deeply.

"I was just testing you," Zhu Lanting said. "I've been following you for more than half a year. Do you really think I don't know what you want to do?"

Yan Sikong really didn't know how much Zhu Lanting knew, so he spoke every word carefully: "What else do you know?"

"I also know that the information dealer known as 'Tian Kui Bai Ling' is in the city, and you have had dealings with him at least twice." Zhu Lanting looked deeply at Yan Sikong, "Yan Sikong, the more I investigate you, the more I feel that you are not simple. I sent people to your hometown, and although there is such a person, that person is definitely not you. With your appearance and talent, it is impossible for the villagers to have no impression of you. You used that person's identity. You may not be Yan Sikong at all, nor are you from Ji'an County, Panyang Prefecture."

Yan Sikong's mind was racing, thinking about Zhu Lanting's purpose and how to minimize the damage of this matter.

Zhu Lanting continued, "I suspect you have a hidden background. You came to the capital with a purpose. Tell me, what do you want to do? If I knew that you were a threat to His Majesty's safety, I would arrest you right now."

Yan Sikong snorted and laughed: "As expected of you, you are the commander of the Imperial Guards and the best expert in the palace. Commander Zhu is so meticulous and has such a sharp vision. It is truly awe-inspiring."

"Stop talking nonsense." Zhu Lanting said coldly, "Do you know why I came to you today? Originally, I just wanted to investigate you secretly and make plans after I had solid evidence, but you are about to marry the princess. As the commander of the imperial guards, I swear to protect your majesty and the harem, and will never let anyone with evil intentions touch the princess. If you can't explain the reason today, don't blame me for being rude."

Yan Sikong laughed sarcastically: "Zhu Lanting, you also swore to the Empress Dowager, your grandmother, that you would assist the eldest prince, the future emperor, for your whole life. Now that His Highness has been deposed, you have never said a word for him. How can you have the face to talk about swearing to protect His Majesty until your death?"

Zhu Lanting's face changed, and he said in shame: "You... now the eunuchs' party is in power, and His Majesty does not listen to advice. As a military general, I cannot interfere in government affairs. Moreover, I am the eldest grandson of the Zhu family. How can I act rashly and implicate the entire family..."

In fact, Zhu Lanting should not be blamed for this. The determination of Emperor Zhaowu to depose the crown prince was witnessed by all the civil and military officials in the court. At that critical juncture when the eunuch party seized power and slaughtered the gentry, no one dared to express dissent, otherwise it would be nothing but courting death.

Yan Sikong's purpose was just to provoke him: "It is understandable that Commander Zhu is prudent and wants to protect himself, but you have your concerns. I, Yan, am alone and have no worries. I must risk my blood to restore order and clean up the government."

Zhu Lanting trembled and asked, "What on earth do you want to do?"

"Isn't Commander Zhu curious about my life experience? Xie Zhongren once caused my family to be destroyed, and I have a blood feud with the eunuch party. I concealed my identity and entered the court as an official for revenge. Now I endure humiliation and live in the world for revenge, and more importantly, to allow the eldest prince to inherit the throne and create a peaceful and prosperous era with peace and prosperity."

Zhu Lanting looked at him in shock.

Yan Sikong bowed deeply to Zhu Lanting and said, "I apologize for offending you just now. Commander Zhu is an upright and honest person, and everyone in the world has a good reputation for me. I am at your mercy in front of Commander Zhu. If Commander Zhu really wants to watch the eunuchs destroy the century-old foundation of Dasheng, you can arrest me. But if Commander Zhu still has blood in his veins, please allow me to go to the mountains of swords and the sea of ​​fire."

Zhu Lanting looked struggling.

Yan Sikong stood up and said calmly, "I'll be waiting for you anytime." After that, he turned and left.