The noise of the celebration gradually subsided, and the imperial garden was filled with the lingering sound of bamboo and the faint aroma of wine. Lin Qingya picked up the wine glass and took a sip, but her eyes scanned the surroundings like a chess player reviewing a chess game. She noticed Li Chengze's eyes, which were sinister and resentful, and the murderous intent hidden behind his smile was about to overflow. She put down the wine glass calmly, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on her lips.
"Father, I offer you a toast." Lin Qingya stood up and walked slowly to Li Heng. Her voice was gentle and respectful, but with a firmness that could not be ignored. She raised her glass and quickly glanced at Li Rui. With a subtle look that only the two of them could perceive, she said: prepare for action. Li Rui sat at the bottom and responded calmly, with a trace of worry and affirmation in his eyes. He picked up the glass and gently touched Lin Qingya's glass. He knew that this seemingly peaceful celebration was actually full of crises, and his sister's situation was more dangerous than he had imagined.
Li Heng looked at Lin Qingya, and a smile of relief appeared on his tired face. This daughter always surprised him. He raised his glass and drank it all. The glass trembled slightly in his hand, as if hinting at the instability of the court. The light from the imperial garden shone on Li Heng's wrinkled face, outlining his old face, and the loneliness that this emperor could hardly hide.
At the same time, in a remote corner of the banquet, Li Chengze's secret guards moved quietly. They were like lurking cheetahs, ready to launch a fatal attack at the most appropriate time. Lin Qingya caught their subtle movements from the corner of her eyes. She remained calm, just elegantly fiddling with her sleeves, her fingers gently stroking the silk texture, but her heartbeat suddenly accelerated. Her mind-reading skills allowed her to clearly sense the murderous intent surging in the secret guards' hearts, as well as the rigor of their action plan.
Suddenly, Lin Qingya put down the jade chopsticks in her hand, and her light figure flashed quickly like a flying leaf. She walked lightly around several palace maids, accurately predicted the attack route of the secret guards, kicked a secret guard away with a flying kick, and accurately kicked his right wrist holding the hidden weapon. The guards heard the strange sound and immediately swarmed up, surrounding the panicked secret guards. There was a noisy sound in the imperial garden, and the sound of stringed instruments suddenly stopped, and the originally relaxed and warm atmosphere solidified instantly.
"Catch them! Torture them severely!" Lin Qingya's cold voice penetrated the noise, and the unquestionable command echoed over the Imperial Garden. She stared coldly at the captured secret guards, without a trace of pity in her eyes. Her cold eyes scanned the surroundings, as if looking for the figure of the messenger behind the scenes. Li Chengze's face changed suddenly, but he could only pretend to be calm, and raised his glass to drink with a relaxed look. His hands trembled slightly, and the wine spilled on his gorgeous robes.
The guards escorted the captured secret guard away. Lin Qingya walked up to Li Heng again and calmly recounted what happened. She presented the evidence she had found one by one, which clearly proved that Li Chengze planned the assassination. Li Heng looked at the evidence, anger and disappointment in his eyes.
Li Heng frowned, waved his hand, and ordered a thorough investigation. Lin Qingya bowed and quietly withdrew, with a slight smile on her lips, a hint of imperceptible coldness. She turned and left, her back straight and firm.
Lin Qingya returned to her residence, took off her cumbersome palace dress, and changed into light clothes. She walked to the window, looked at the sunset slowly setting in the sky, and replayed everything that happened today in her mind. Outside the window, the evening breeze blew gently, and the bamboo forest rustled, bringing a rare tranquility. However, this tranquility was soon broken. Li Rui hurried over, his face solemn and his brows tightly locked.
"Qingya," Li Rui's voice was slightly anxious, "your actions in the Imperial Garden today were too risky. You suppressed the prince so forcefully, even if the evidence is conclusive, it will make father jealous." Li Rui walked to her side, with a hint of worry in his tone. He gently held Lin Qingya's hand, trying to comfort her.
Lin Qingya looked at Li Rui's worried face, her fingers gently stroking the handkerchief in her hand, and said softly: "Rui, I know you are worried about me. However, Li Chengze's intention of assassination this time is obvious. If I don't fight back strongly, wouldn't I just sit and wait for death? Let him continue to grow and develop? Moreover, if such a thing is not thoroughly resolved, the disaster in the future will only be greater." She paused, a trace of fatigue flashed in her eyes, "It's just that I'm worried... This will make my relationship with my father more tense." There was a hint of helplessness and heaviness in her tone.
Li Rui looked at Lin Qingya and sighed softly, "I know what you are concerned about. However, a head-on conflict with the prince is not a long-term solution. Instead of doing so, it is better for us to make secret arrangements to weaken his power and remove the firewood from the bottom of the pot. The effect will be better. This is good for you, me, and my father." He said in a firm tone.
Lin Qingya was silent for a moment. She looked out the window at the dark night, her mind full of thoughts. The temptation of power and her deep affection for Li Rui put her in a dilemma. She finally took a deep breath and her eyes became firm: "I know, Rui. I will listen to you and endure for now and act secretly." She nodded gently, with a gleam of wisdom in her eyes.
"But," she added, with a hint of danger in her tone, "I will never sit and wait for death. I will use this opportunity to further test my father's attitude, and let Li Chengqian know that I am not weak and can be bullied." Her eyes were deep and sharp.
Li Rui looked at her, feeling relieved for her decision but also worried about the risks she was about to face. He held her hand tightly and said, "Be careful, Qingya."
Lin Qingya responded softly, with an imperceptible firmness in her eyes. She turned and walked to the table, picked up the brush, and began to write a letter. The person she wrote to was none other than Commander Zhang, an old subordinate who had been loyal to her and whom she had secretly planned for many years. The scent of ink was overflowing, foreshadowing the undercurrents that were to come. Li Rui sat aside, watching her silently. Through the window, the night was getting darker, and the entire Zhou Dynasty was shrouded in a quiet but murderous atmosphere. In the East Palace, Li Chengqian was so angry that he smashed the cup in his hand and roared, but he only seemed helpless and furious.