Chapter 65: Dirty killing under the gorgeousness!
The Jin Dynasty's palace was completely different from Dali's. The magnificent palace was extremely luxurious and extravagant. Golden bells were hung under the towering eaves, tinkling with the breeze.
After getting off the carriage, Lou Wanqiao followed Li Yulan into the sedan chair carried by the palace servants. He half-leaned on the cushions, peeling grapes and eating them comfortably, still looking relaxed and at ease.
He wasn't nervous at all.
Lou Wanqiao suddenly became curious. She whispered, "Your Highness, what does the Jin Imperial Palace mean to you?"
"Shh..." Li Yulan's fingers gently touched her lips, with a strange smile on his face, "Be careful here, there are ears."
His fingertips were cold, unlike the feeling of ordinary people in the warm season of late spring.
Lou Wanqiao tilted her head back slightly to avoid the coldness on her lips, nodded slightly at him, pursed her lips and said no more.
Li Yulan lowered his eyes coldly, seemingly absent-minded, but his fingertips fiercely crushed a grape. The juice splashed as he exerted force, flowing down his slender, white fingers.
His expression was inexplicable and his thoughts were unfathomable.
The sedan stopped outside a magnificent palace, and Lou Wanqiao followed Li Yulan into the main hall. She had assumed this was the prince's residence, but it was deserted.
She took a step back warily.
Li Yulan turned around and saw her like this. He laughed twice and said in a gentle voice, "Don't worry, this is my place."
Hearing this, Lou Wanqiao felt a little relieved, but he still hadn't let down his guard. "Why did you bring me to your place?"
"There's a dinner tonight. I'll take you along," Li Yulan said with a harmless smile. "Not only will the Crown Prince be there, but the Emperor of Jin, his ministers, and his concubines will also be there. I think you'll need this opportunity."
Dinner party?
"Today? Why is there a dinner party? What a coincidence?"
"It's better to say that the Jin Kingdom has always been so extravagant, and there are dinner parties every now and then. This is a good opportunity for us."
Lou Wanqiao was silent for a moment, then whispered, "What do you need me to do?"
"It's too early to find Wanyan Zeng now. I'll take you to see him in the afternoon. You'll have a better understanding of him by then. Dinner will be the best time to gather intelligence. I think observing his expressions or making some moves shouldn't be a problem for Azhao."
Lou Wanqiao had no objection to his arrangement. After all, this was Li Yulan's territory. Since they had chosen to cooperate, trust was also a condition for success.
Besides, this matter is beneficial to Li Yulan and they live and die together, so he has no reason to harm her.
"Speaking of which, you seem to be living quite comfortably in the Kingdom of Jin." Lou Wanqiao seemed to be lost in thought. "Li Yulan, can you answer that question now?"
"Azhao, do you really care about this?" He asked instead of answering, then shrugged and smiled indifferently, "Okay, since Azhao wants to know, I can tell you. It's just that I haven't thought about this question too carefully, so I don't know how to answer it..."
"Then let me ask this another way," Lou Wanqiao said succinctly, "How did you...what do you do here?"
"Well, I'm just a hostage. No one cares what I do." Li Yulan looked at her with a smile. "I used to be an unpopular prince of Dali, and then I became a neglected hostage of Jin. In Dali, I could be sent away at will, but in Jin, anyone can step on me. When I think about it this way, it's really miserable..."
He let out a mock sigh, but his sadness was devoid of any genuine emotion. Li Yulan's gaze quickly fell on her, a look filled with pity and a yearning that threatened to burst forth. He held her hand, pressing it to his chest, his voice trembling with a sticky, damp chill: "...Azhao, please come and caress me, okay?"
That familiar, icy feeling spread all the way up her spine, like an icy snake wrapping around her tightly. Something was lurking in the shadows, its gaze dark and crazy.
Lou Wanqiao didn't want to talk to him about this matter. Li Yulan was sometimes a complete lunatic and he wouldn't listen to anything she said.
It would be better to bring him back to his senses sooner.
"Azhao, Azhao..." He whispered his name, lowering his head to rub her shoulder as if in pain. Lou Wanqiao looked at him expressionlessly, then suddenly raised his hand.
Pop.
A crisp sound echoed in the palace. Li Yulan was hit and his head tilted, leaving a mark on his pale cheek.
"Your Highness, please be more sober. We are just partners, and there will be no inappropriate relationship." Her voice gradually turned cold.
He slowly turned his head to look at her, his eyes bloodshot.
Just when Lou Wanqiao felt that he was about to get angry, Li Yulan suddenly laughed.
With that red mark on his face, the smile on his face looked even more strange, but Li Yulan's smile was so happy that it didn't seem fake. He held her hand tightly and said loudly: "Come again, A Zhao, come again..."
Lou Wanqiao was a little scared.
Even the arrogant ones are afraid of the crazy ones.
She wasn't afraid of the dangers ahead, but this was the first time she'd seen someone as mad and unpredictable as Li Yulan. She wasn't afraid of the ruthless or the desperate, but she still kept a distance from a pervert like this.
Lou Wanqiao pulled his hand away forcefully: "Li Yulan, wake up!"
I don't know what action worked, but his smile froze on his face, and then gradually faded away.
"Azhao, I..."
"I know, I understand." Lou Wanqiao raised his hands. "Calm down for a moment. I know what you want to say... It's still a while before noon. Uh, are you hungry?"
"...Yes, there are some." His expression became dejected. "I'll have someone bring some food."
Lou Wanqiao breathed a sigh of relief.
Soon, palace servants came in one after another carrying exquisite delicacies, and the table was filled with the special dishes of the Jin Dynasty Palace.
Lou Wanqiao only dealt with the two of them symbolically, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Li Yulan's condition had stabilized.
This is a very unstable factor. No one knows when Li Yulan started to go crazy, nor does anyone know how he has been able to hold on to such power over the years.
She noticed that there were a lot of sweets on the table, especially pastries. Considering what he had said to her when he was in Dali, she thought that Li Yulan liked sweet things.
After finishing her meal, she took a short rest in the palace and saw Li Yulan coming over with a set of palace clothes.
"What is this for?"
"It's your identification." Li Yulan sat down beside her. "Now that I'm returning to Jin from Dali, it's not surprising that I brought a beauty with me. I'm afraid Azhao doesn't want to, so I can only ask you to be my maid."
Lou Wanqiao looked at him suspiciously and took the dress.
…
The afternoon sun was radiant, and the Imperial Gardens were ablaze with exotic flowers and plants, accompanied by the cacophony of butterflies and bees. A pavilion, built on the waterfront, was draped with gauze curtains, partially blocking out the sunlight while allowing the shadows of people within to shimmer through.
Lou Wanqiao lowered her eyebrows and followed Li Yulan half a step behind her, like a submissive palace maid. However, her gaze, through her drooping eyelashes, was directed precisely into the pavilion.
The gauze curtains fluttered in the breeze, revealing the figures within the pavilion. Sitting on the main seat was a man dressed in a dark robe embroidered with gold coiled dragons. The robe, made of the most luxurious material, shone with a dark luster in the sunlight. The dragons embroidered with gold thread, with their fangs bared and claws spread, were lifelike, highlighting the owner's unparalleled noble status.
As the distance got closer, the man's face became clearer.
He looked about the same age as Li Yulan, perhaps a few years older. He was handsome, but a lingering sinister air hung between his brows. His complexion was the pampered fair of someone who had long held a high position, yet it had a faint, unhealthy sallow hue. There was a noticeable darkness under his eyelids, as if from excessive indulgence or excessive worry.
His narrow, long, phoenix-like eyes were slightly tilted upward, a gesture that should have indicated a flirtatious demeanor, but now they were half-closed, his gaze sharp as a hawk's. With undisguised scrutiny and arrogance, he coldly scanned the approaching Li Yulan and Lou Wanqiao behind him. His gaze was like an icy blade, chilling one's skin.
His nose was high, and his lips, thin and pale, were now pressed into a straight line, revealing a hint of harshness and cruelty. He wore no crown, and his dark hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin, with a few strands cascading down his forehead. Far from appearing casual, it actually added a touch of gloomy oppression.
He didn't stand, simply leaning lazily against the wide chair covered in white tiger skin, one hand casually resting on the armrest, the other toying with a jeweled golden dagger. His fingertips slid across the cold blade, his movements careless, yet somehow a bloodthirsty chill filled him.
This was the Crown Prince of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Zeng. A man who, even just by sitting there, exuded a strong aura of power, gloom, and danger. Unlike Li Yulan, whose danger was tinged with madness and morbid beauty, Wanyan Zeng's danger was pure power and ruthlessness, as if he could suddenly and violently devour anyone at any moment.
Li Yulan seemed completely oblivious to the cold gaze. He opened the curtains, walked into the pavilion, and sat down casually. "How are you, Your Highness?"
Wanyan Zhe snorted coldly, and a bloodthirsty arc slowly appeared at the corner of his lips: "You've come back at the right time."
"I've been away for too long and I'm not used to it." Li Yulan continued with a normal expression. At the same time, Lou Wanqiao's gaze quietly fell on the Crown Prince of Jin.
The distance was far just now, but now that they were so close, the sense of oppression on him suddenly emanated.
Based on this aura, Lou Wanqiao guessed that the relationship between the two of them was not very good. In addition, Wanyan Zhe was extremely suspicious, so he would naturally not let his guard down when facing Li Yulan who had returned from Dali.
"I heard you didn't gain anything in Li?" Wanyan Zhe sneered, muttering a string of curses that Lou Wanqiao guessed were Jin's secret code. "You're such a loser. If that's the case, why did you come back?"
Li Yulan's smile remained unchanged. He seemed oblivious to the tense atmosphere and picked up a piece of dessert from the table. "Where I go next should be none of your business, right?"
Wanyan Zhe picked up a piece of meat from the plate and bit into it fiercely. With his other hand, he pulled the serving maid into his arms. He scratched his ear with an impatient look on his face and said, "Then why did you come to see me?"
Li Yulan slowly swallowed the snack in his mouth, patted the crumbs from his fingertips, and then looked up at Wanyan Zhe, with that unfathomable smile still on his face: "Of course I'm here to report to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"Report?" Wanyan Zheng suddenly pushed the maid away, as if he had heard something ridiculous. The maid stumbled, then fell to her knees, trembling in fear. He leaned forward, his sinister gaze fixed on Li Yulan. "You're just a hostage, what life can you possibly return to? I allowed you to disrupt the political situation in the Li Kingdom, even lent you manpower, and now you've returned in disgrace. You useless thing, what else can you do besides that?"
The golden dagger in his hand pierced into the wooden table in front of him with a light "thump" sound, penetrating deep into the wood, showing the owner's extreme impatience and violence.
That kind of thing?
Lou Wanqiao stood behind Li Yulan with her head bowed, her mind racing. Wanyan Zhe's oppressive presence felt like a physical presence, making her clearly sense the danger he posed.
Li Yulan ignored the dagger so close to him. Instead, he sighed softly, his tone somewhat innocent: "That's wrong. The new emperor of Li has ascended the throne, and the political situation is turbulent. It's a time of great change. Although I failed to seize huge profits and disrupt the situation as Your Highness wished, it is not entirely without gain."
He paused, and glanced vaguely at the guards behind Wanyan Zhe and the kneeling palace maid.
Wanyan Zhe's eyes flickered slightly, and he waved his hand. The guards understood and immediately dragged the palace maid away. The people around the pavilion also quietly retreated.
Lou Wanqiao probably had a certain understanding of this man: treacherous and conceited, cruel and cold-blooded.
"Speak." Wanyan Zhe spat out a word coldly.
Li Yulan lowered his voice, and the cynical smile on his face faded a little: "I have learned that one of the new emperor of Li seems to be secretly communicating with the Turkic tribes in the west."
Lou Wanqiao's heart suddenly shuddered.
This was an explanation she had not agreed upon in advance.
Li Yulan had the audacity to fabricate such important information out of thin air. What was he trying to do? Was he testing someone?
Wanyan Zhe's pupils suddenly contracted, and his body instantly straightened: "Are you sure the information is reliable?"
The Turks were a powerful enemy in the western border of the Jin Dynasty. If Dali and the Turks joined forces, it would be a huge threat to the Jin Dynasty.
"It's almost certain," Li Yulan said confidently. "On the way back, I explored all the way and found traces of the Turkic envoys on the border of Li. Although I didn't find any evidence, they were definitely heading towards the capital."
He spoke with such sincerity that Lou Wanqiao would have almost believed him if he hadn't known about it. He cleverly exploited the Jin's fear of the Turks and threw out a bait that would attract Wanyan Zheng's attention.
Wanyan Zheng stared at Li Yulan intently, as if trying to determine the truth of his words. The air in the pavilion seemed to freeze, with only the gentle rustling of the wind against the curtains.
After a long while, Wanyan Zhe slowly leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrests, making a dull sound. "I know about this matter... If it's true, you've done a great service." He changed the subject, his eyes becoming sharp again. "However, you'd better behave yourself at the palace banquet tonight. If you cause any trouble..."
His gaze was like the tongue of a poisonous snake, sweeping across Li Yulan's cheek.
He still has a strong desire to kill.
Li Yulan seemed not to detect the strong murderous intent. Instead, he smiled and stood up to salute: "I will take my leave first, so that I can prepare for the palace banquet tonight."
Wanyan Zhe waved his hand impatiently.
Lou Wanqiao was about to leave after following Li Yulan when Wanyan Zhe's hoarse voice suddenly came from behind him: "Wait."
She stopped in her tracks.
"You," he pointed at Lou Wanqiao, "turn around."
When she raised her head, she met Li Yulan's eyes, which were dark and cold, hiding an imperceptible murderous intent.
Lou Wanqiao looked calm and turned away seemingly respectfully.
"Wow, a new face." Wanyan Zhe said in a strange tone, "From the Kingdom of Li?"
Lou Wanqiao pursed her lips and said nothing.
Seeing her like this, Wan Yanzheng was not annoyed. He hooked his finger and smiled evilly: "Come here."
Li Yulan stepped forward and blocked her way: "Your Highness..."
"Shut up!" Wanyan Zhe suddenly interrupted him, "You have no right to speak here."
He cursed very badly, and then there was another string of curse words. Lou Wanqiao didn't understand, but Li Yulan's face suddenly darkened.
Just as she was thinking about a countermeasure, Wanyan Zhe reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her in front of him with force.
"Although you're not a very good person, you have good taste." Wanyan Zhe pinched her chin and looked her over carefully, then grinned. There was a healed scar at the corner of his mouth, which made him look even more terrifying. "I want this thing!"
Li Yulan would not do as he wished. A different look finally appeared on his face, and he said anxiously, "No!"
"Why," Wanyan Zhe put a hand on her shoulder, with an inexplicable malice on his lips, "someone is willing to follow someone like you? You've become such a horrible person, who can you protect? She knows you..."
"Shut up! Shut up!" Li Yulan interrupted him quickly, his eyes turned panic-stricken, but Wanyan Zhe leaned forward slightly as if he had seen something new.
"I didn't expect to see you look like this... It seems you really like this thing." He frivolously traced Lou Wanqiao's cheek with his rough fingers. "What a shame, I just like this. You have nothing to do here, get lost."
Li Yulan quickly calmed down and said firmly, "I can't give this person to you."
"Oh? You like it so much this time?" Wanyan Zhe's smile became even more vicious. "No? No one has ever dared to talk to me like this. Your expression is also very good... Well, I'm willing to give you a chance. It depends on whether you can seize it."
He suddenly stood up, gently pressed his fingers against Li Yulan's chin and tilted it up slightly, then leaned close to his ear and whispered softly, "You take her place."
Lou Wanqiao opened his eyes wide.
The Crown Prince of Jin and Li Yulan... Is this his bad taste, or...
Li Yulan still stood there without retreating, but his body was slightly stiff.
He didn't look at Lou Wanqiao, but instead stared directly at Wanyan Zhe. His voice was as unpleasant as if it was squeezed out of his throat: "Let her go first."
"Leave? That would be so boring..." Wanyan Zhe said nonchalantly, "After all, it doesn't matter this time. It's just a palace maid..."
"Let her go!" Li Yulan repeated expressionlessly, "Otherwise I don't mind fighting you to the death."
Wanyan Zhe stared into his eyes and slowly licked the corner of his mouth. Without turning back, he waved his hand casually: "Hey, you, get out of here."
Lou Wanqiao looked at them like this and lowered his eyes to hide the expression in his eyes.
"This pavilion is built by the water and is filled with the fragrance of flowers. It's a very beautiful scenery, isn't it?" Wanyan Zhe stared at Li Yulan's expression closely without missing a single detail. The hand that was against Li Yulan's chin suddenly pinched his neck, and then threw him hard onto the wooden lounge chair.
Li Yulan's back slammed heavily against the hard wooden chair, making a dull thud. He groaned, his pale face instantly flushing abnormally from lack of oxygen. However, his peach blossom eyes stared fixedly at Wanyan Zhe, with no fear in them, only a calmness and mockery bordering on madness.
Wanyan Zhe leaned forward, his shadow completely enveloping Li Yulan. He didn't loosen his grip on Li Yulan's neck, while his other hand roughly tugged at the front of Li Yulan's finery.
"Your Highness..."
A clear voice came from behind him. Wanyan Zeng paused and looked back.
Lou Wanqiao did not "get away" as he ordered, but instead stood very close to him.
"Get out." Li Yulan uttered the word with difficulty, his eyes passing over Wanyan Zhe's shoulder and falling on Lou Wanqiao's face, with a firmness that did not allow any questioning.
There was no expression on his face, but the fingers hanging by the wooden chair were trembling slightly.
He really didn't want to... really didn't want her to see him like this.
But just as he uttered that word, the big hand on his neck suddenly tightened, making him unable to breathe.
Wanyan Zhe ignored Lou Wanqiao. To him, having someone standing next to him made no difference. This woman seemed to have an unusual meaning to Li Yulan, and having her look at him would satisfy his evil taste even more.
As for the rest...
He didn't just say that he didn't want her anymore.
Wanyan Zhe looked down at his pale cheeks which turned abnormally red, smiled with satisfaction, raised his other hand high, and swung it down fiercely.
"Your Highness," a ghostly voice sounded from behind, "It's easy to die if you're so careless."
A cool breeze blew at the back of his neck. He stiffened for a moment and quickly turned his head. At the same time, he picked up the dagger on the table and stabbed forward without hesitation.
Lou Wanqiao took a step back, and the sharp dagger passed in front of her.
Wanyan laughed grimly: "Just you? You want to kill me?"
Lou Wanqiao didn't say anything, but just stared at him with a look of regret.
Wanyan Zhe thought she was just regretful for not succeeding, and laughed heartily: "I've changed my mind! You have to suffer together..."
His words stopped abruptly.
"What a pity," Lou Wanqiao whispered, "I can't let you suffer any longer before dying."
Wanyan Zhe's eyes gradually became confused. He lowered his head and looked at his hands, feeling that his life was slipping away rapidly.
No, that's not right.
It shouldn't be like this.
She obviously didn't succeed...
Lou Wanqiao stepped forward and caught the fallen Wanyan Zeng, put him on a chair beside him, and pulled out the thin needle that was stuck in the back of his neck.
The poison quickly flowed into the blood along the needle tip, and then into the limbs and caused harm. Wanyan Zheng felt as if his body was being bitten by millions of insects. First, he felt extremely cold, then unbearable heat. Several kinds of pain were intertwined together, but he could not scream or move, and even biting his tongue was a luxury.
Lou Wanqiao lowered his head and looked at him, his eyes as if he were looking at an ant: "Dying like this is a bargain for you."
He opened his eyes wide, full of resentment.
She turned her head to look at Li Yulan beside her and whispered, "It's okay now. Can you get up by yourself?"
Although Li Yulan had dismissed the guards and maids, there was no guarantee that no one was watching. Any disturbance could easily put the two of them in danger. Lou Wanqiao stayed by Wanyan Zhe's side, firstly to shield him from view and secondly to avert suspicion.
In fact, this is also a very risky move. The palace is full of Jin people. Success or failure is only a matter of seconds. If Wanyan Zhe is more vigilant...
There was a wine glass on the table. After a moment's thought, Lou Wanqiao poured the wine on his face and body.
Li Yulan was still in shock. He was breathing heavily, his face still flushed. He supported himself on his elbows and slowly sat up. He was silent for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice, "Azhao, I..."
"Shh, don't say anything. The plan has changed. Let's leave here first." Lou Wanqiao helped Wanyan Zhe up from the chair, loosely stuffed the wine glass between his fingers and fixed it with a silk thread, then let his arm rest on his shoulder and walked unsteadily on purpose.
Li Yulan understood what she meant, stood up and walked to the other side, lifted the gauze curtain of the pavilion and walked out with her.
The two men, one on each side, "supported" Wanyan Zheng as they staggered out of the pavilion. Lou Wanqiao deliberately buried his head in Wanyan Zheng's shoulder, obscuring most of his face. Li Yulan held the prince's waist with one hand, the other seemingly hanging casually, but in fact tense and ready to strike at any moment.
The guards not far away from the pavilion saw the prince being supported out by two people in an intimate manner. He seemed to be very drunk. Considering the prince's usual absurdity and the vague movement in the pavilion just now, they just thought that this gentleman was up to something new. For a moment, no one dared to step forward to stop him or ask him in detail.
"Your Highness has drunk too much and needs to return to the palace to rest. You should guard this place and not let anyone disturb you." Li Yulan lowered his voice, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
The guards exchanged glances, and the leader spoke tentatively, "Your Highness..."
Before he could finish his words, Wanyan Zheng took the palace maid's hand and waved it impatiently, interrupting him and walking straight forward with her.
After this, the others did not dare to say anything to stop it.
Lou Wanqiao felt a little more at ease. He supported Wanyan Zhe, whose body was gradually becoming stiff and cold, and who was barely able to maintain his standing position, and walked quickly towards the palace. They turned into a secluded palace road. After confirming that there was no one around, Li Yulan whispered, "You can't go back to my place. You'll be too conspicuous. Follow me."
He led Lou Wanqiao down an even narrower corridor. After winding their way through several turns, they found themselves in a seemingly abandoned palace. Li Yulan pushed open a half-closed, peeling wooden door and slipped inside. This seemed to be part of the cold palace, overgrown with weeds, the palaces dilapidated, and the air thick with dust and the smell of decay.
The two men dragged Wanyan Zhe's body into a side hall covered with cobwebs and threw it heavily on the ground. Wanyan Zhe's dark dragon robe looked out of place in the gray and gloomy environment.
Li Yulan turned his back to the corpse, leaning against the mottled wall, his shoulders rising and falling slightly, breathing rapidly. Finally able to catch his breath, a flood of complex emotions washed over him. He closed his eyes, the feel of Wanyan Zhe's grip on his neck and his malicious words still ringing in his ears.
Lou Wanqiao quickly checked the doors and windows, and after confirming that they were safe, she walked over to Li Yulan. She didn't say anything, just looked at him quietly.
At this moment, Li Yulan shed his usual cynical or crazy appearance, revealing a rare truth with a hint of fragility.
The best arrangement just now was for her to take advantage of that opportunity to quickly get away. In just a few seconds, Lou Wanqiao made many assumptions in her mind.
Past experiences urged her to leave quickly, but she really had no way... to abandon Li Yulan like this.
He was being humiliated in order to protect her, and if he left... it was impossible.
She couldn't abandon her companions.
Lou Wanqiao vaguely caught a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg of Li Yulan's past life, and also understood how cruel and unbearable Li Yulan's so-called "survival" in the Jin Dynasty was.
"You..." Lou Wanqiao just opened her mouth, but Li Yulan suddenly turned around and hugged her tightly in his arms.
His embrace was strong, his arms tightening around her until it hurt, and her body was still shaking slightly uncontrollably. Unlike the previous closeness that was filled with calculation and playfulness, this embrace was filled with the dependence and fear of surviving a disaster.
Lou Wanqiao's body stiffened, and she subconsciously wanted to push him away, but when she felt the violent heartbeat and unusual trembling in his chest, she slowly lowered her raised hand and just let him hold her stiffly.
"Azhao..." He buried his face in the side of her neck, his voice muffled and a little hoarse, "...Thank you."
Thank her for not abandoning him, thank her for taking action, thank her for... seeing his worst side but showing no pity or contempt.
"Azhao, Azhao..."
In the empty room, he called his name fragilely and helplessly, over and over again, like a drowning man grasping at his only lifeline.
Lou Wanqiao was silent for a moment, then gently placed his palm on his back: "Wanyan Zhe is dead, everything is fine now, don't be afraid."
She felt a wet heat on her neck. Li Yulan's tears fell hotly, leaving a mark on her heart.
Yes, she should have thought of it earlier.
How can the least favored proton of a hostile neighboring country survive when he ends up here?
Dignity and backbone are the first things to be discarded.
Li Yulan cried silently in silence.
...What else has he lost here?
How many people were destroyed by the silent war within the royal family of Dali?
Lou Wanqiao didn't think any further and gently closed his eyes.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Yulan's shoulders stopped shaking. He raised his head, his eyes and nose red. "I'm sorry, A'zhao... for letting you see me in such a state of disgrace."
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Lou Wanqiao patted his shoulder. "They are the ones who should apologize. The most urgent thing is to make them pay the price." "You're right." He looked at Wanyan Zhe's body on the ground, his eyes cold. "It saved me a lot of trouble. I just didn't expect it to be in this way..."
He walked to the corpse, squatted down and began to search without hesitation. He soon found a prince's token, several secret letters and some miscellaneous items.
"The banquet is about to begin, and the Crown Prince's intoxication will surely arouse suspicion if he remains unconscious for too long," Lou Wanqiao analyzed. "We must create an unexpected incident, but the delay won't last long. We must seize this opportunity to act decisively."
Li Yulan stood up, his eyes swept across the dilapidated palace, and a cold arc appeared on the corner of his mouth: "This place is not bad, remote enough, but also... accident-prone enough."
He pointed to the broken beams and piles of debris in the hall.
Lou Wanqiao immediately understood his intention: "We need to create traces, and quickly."
Without further ado, the two men sprang into action. Li Yulan was in charge of staging the accident. Using the broken tables, chairs, and other debris from the hall, he cleverly constructed a structure atop Wanyan Zhe's body that appeared to have collapsed naturally, loosening the crucial support point of the main beam. Lou Wanqiao meticulously cleaned up their footprints and created the illusion that Wanyan Zhe had stumbled in alone, accidentally disturbing the dilapidated structure. She also opened the wine jug found on Wanyan Zhe's body and poured more of the remaining liquor onto his front and the surrounding ground, accentuating the appearance of a drunken stumble.
"Boom—"
After a series of teeth-grinding sounds of wood breaking, the main beam collapsed along with a large amount of rubble, accurately burying Wanyan Zhe's body and raising a cloud of dust.
The loud noise was particularly jarring in the quiet of the Cold Palace. Li Yulan and Lou Wanqiao held their breath, listening intently. Fortunately, the Cold Palace was vast, and this side hall was particularly secluded, so the noise didn't immediately attract attention.
"Let's go!" Li Yulan whispered, took Lou Wanqiao's hand and quickly exited the side hall along the original route, carefully wiped out the last trace, and closed the broken wooden door.
By the time they returned to the normal palace path, the sun had almost completely sunk below the horizon, leaving only a last sliver of dark red in the sky. Palace lanterns lit up one after another, illuminating the magnificent palace like daylight, a stark contrast to the dilapidated and gloomy cold palace they had just visited.
Both adjusted their breathing and posture. Li Yulan straightened his slightly disheveled robes, his face once again adorned with a carefree, slightly weary expression, as if he had just returned from a stroll. Lou Wanqiao, still keeping her head down and her eyes submissive, followed him half a step behind, playing the role of a silent palace maid.
Before the banquet began, Lou Wanqiao used Li Yulan's men to deliver a message outside the palace. He looked a little tired, but there was a glimmer of excitement between his eyebrows.
Lou Wanqiao was thinking in his heart.
It's true that plans cannot keep up with changes. They didn't expect Wanyan Zhe to die like this. There was no time left for them to make long-term plans.
That being the case, the show can begin.
Emotionally and logically, he could not have been a good crown prince, and the emperor who appointed him as the future crown prince must have been old and dim-sighted. Along the way, harsh policies and heavy taxes made the people suffer.
Whether it is the former Li Kingdom or the current Jin Kingdom, they all need to be...cleaned up.
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