After the items from the General's Mansion were delivered to the Xiao family, there was no immediate response.
Protector Xiao went to inspect the camp outside the city and was temporarily away from the capital.
Gu Yurong assumed the matter was a sure thing and began to decorate the courtyard, sweeping and renovating it in preparation for the apprenticeship banquet.
Meanwhile, in the Green Bamboo Hall.
Song Tingyue dismissed everyone and sat down at the table to write a letter.
First, he stated that he was doing well, then he wrote about the matter of transporting weapons proposed by the Dongnae royal family, and that things were not peaceful in the capital recently, so he instructed them to be careful, and so on.
After writing, she carefully sealed the letter with wax and tied it to the carrier pigeon.
The homing pigeons spread their wings and flew over the courtyard wall.
Before it could even fly out of the general's mansion gate, it was struck down by a stone carrying a strong wind.
Shen Ci picked up the pigeon expressionlessly, tore off the note from its leg, and disappeared into the shadows.
A few days later, Song Yu, who had gone to Fengming Mountain to become an apprentice, finally returned home.
After his experience traveling and gaining experience, he had a more mature look between his brows and appeared more composed.
On this fine day, Jiang Wan specially took him to visit the East Palace.
Since the apprenticeship banquet will be held at the East Palace, the list of guests and the number of people should be known in advance so as to facilitate the preparation of food and the arrangement of the courtyard.
When Pei Tang heard that Song Yu had arrived, she greeted him at the door with a smile.
"Junior Brother!"
Song Yu had officially become his apprentice, and she called him affectionately, putting her arm around his shoulder.
"Senior Sister." Song Yu readily agreed and handed a box of pastries to Pei Tang. "These are Jade Dumplings made by the senior brothers from Fengming Mountain. They said they are your favorite."
Pei Tang was overjoyed and threw one directly into her mouth, her cheeks bulging out.
Where is Master?
"He will stay in the mountains for a few more days and will return before the apprenticeship banquet."
Pei Tang nodded, then smiled and looked at Jiang Wan.
"Sister Jiang, you've come at an inopportune time. Lord He just arrived and is currently discussing matters with my brother in the study. Please wait a moment, and I'll go and fetch my brother!"
Jiang Wan stopped her: "Since His Highness has something to attend to, there's no need to bother him. I'm just here to deliver something; it's the same if the princess passes it on to him."
She took out a guest list.
Jiang Wan doesn't have many relatives or friends in Beijing, so this list is a bit too simplistic.
But she didn't care.
The mere mention of Master Chenyi's name would attract many military generals to come spontaneously, not to mention that the event was being held in the Eastern Palace.
Just to support Pei Xuan, the nobles of the capital will surely flock to him.
Pei Tang glanced at the list and asked in confusion, "Why isn't anyone from the General's Mansion on the list for Junior Brother's apprenticeship banquet? Isn't General Song coming?"
Jiang Wan said, "Song Lin's apprenticeship banquet happens to be on the same day. They are too busy to come."
Song Yu smiled but remained silent.
The mother deliberately chose the same day as Song Lin's apprenticeship banquet, as if she was trying to steal him from the General's Mansion.
Once the news from the Eastern Palace gets out, who will care about Song Lin's side?
Jiang Wan deliberately kept the news from Gu Yurong, preventing her from finding out in advance.
He could almost see the scene of the general's mansion being deserted that day.
Pei Tang hadn't considered this, and patted Song Yu's shoulder with pity.
"It's alright. Senior Sister will invite all her close friends, such as the young master of the Duke's mansion and the heir of the Prince's mansion, to support you."
As she spoke, she scratched her head.
"But lately, my eldest brother has been in low spirits, and my second brother has caught a cold, so I'm afraid only that fellow Pei Xi is left..."
Jiang Wan frowned slightly and asked cautiously, "Is Pei Jin sick?"
Pei Tang sighed, "I went to see him yesterday, and he couldn't even get out of bed. He's very ill, and I'm afraid he won't be able to leave the house for the rest of the month."
Jiang Wan held the jade teacup, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
In the study.
Pei Xuan held a slip of paper in his hand, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, his expression inscrutable.
"Is this a message from Shen Ci?" He Xingyun asked in confusion. "What's wrong? Is there a problem with the intelligence?"
Pei Xuan shook his head: "No problem."
Shen Ci intercepted Song Tingyue's secret letter, which contained the exact same information about the time and place of the weapons transaction as Jiang Wan had told him.
The biggest problem is that there's no problem.
Jiang Wan learned of this secret five days in advance.
This is simply unbelievable.
…Unless someone directly sends her a message from Dongnae, and it's through a well-established intelligence network, it would take much longer to achieve this speed.
How could Jiang Wan, a woman confined to the inner quarters, do such a thing?
It seems he needs to have Shen Ci investigate her thoroughly.
Pei Xuan was engrossed in his thoughts when, without warning, the hand warmer was snatched away.
"My God, I knew I wasn't seeing things!" He Xingyun exclaimed in surprise, clutching the fox fur sheath. "This, this isn't..."
Pei Xuan's train of thought was interrupted, and he looked displeased.
He Xingyun was startled when she met his cold and stern gaze, and swallowed back the words she was about to say.
But my heart was in turmoil.
Who is Pei Xuan? The noble ladies of the capital have sewed countless purses and embroidered countless handkerchiefs for him; if they were all put together, they could kill a person.
When has he ever even given it a second glance! How could he have used Madam Jiang's things without a word!
This is very abnormal.
He Xingyun rubbed his face and tentatively asked, "Do you still remember on Qiyun Mountain, when Jiang Wan, that little sweetheart, disguised herself as a servant...?"
Pei Xuan naturally knew that the person was Shi Xu.
Not wanting the people in Linglong Pavilion to be exposed, he solemnly said, "This person must not be mentioned again."
He Xingyun's eyes widened.
He remembered clearly that Pei Xuan had taken the servant back to the tent alone, and then... then he disappeared and never appeared again.
Perhaps, he has already been taken by Pei Xuan.
Otherwise, why would Pei Xuan take someone else's things and forbid him from mentioning them again?
He Xingyun felt as if he had discovered a shocking secret.
Could it be that Pei Xuan has fallen for Lady Jiang instead?
He was shocked by this conjecture and was speechless for a long time.
Just then, a servant came to report: "Your Highness, Madam Jiang has arrived with the young master of the General's Mansion."
He Xingyun shook the tea in his hand.
Sure enough, things have progressed so quickly that they've even brought their children over.
Pei Xuan didn't even look up, only humming in response.
He glanced at the note on the table and thought for a moment that Jiang Wan needed to be present on the day of the weapons transaction to prevent her from playing any tricks.
"Tell her to get ready. I'll be waiting for her at the back gate of the General's Mansion late the day after tomorrow."
He Xingyun spat out a mouthful of tea.
He's going to die! What terrible things did he hear?!
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