Lu Yan put down his pen and looked at Xu Ruhui, who was chewing on a grass blade plucked from God knows where. He frowned and asked in a deep voice, "So soon? Have you already found out?"
Xu Ruhui let out a "heh heh" laugh and plopped down beside Lu Yan. "Senior Brother, don't you trust my work? Not only can I find out about the Prince of Cheng, but if you want to know how many mouthfuls of rice the one in the palace ate today and how many times he peed, I can investigate it all clearly for you."
Lu Yan didn't want to waste time chatting with him. "Cut the crap and just say it!"
"Alright." Xu Ruhui's expression turned a bit more serious. "The Prince of Cheng didn't decide to hold the banquet on a whim that day. He had sent out invitations to those who attended the banquet three days before."
Lu Yan raised an eyebrow. "Including those two?"
Xu Ruhui nodded. "Yes, including Chen Luo and Su Huanyu."
Lu Yan asked again, "What was the reason for inviting them to the banquet?"
Xu Ruhui paused for a moment. "As the host, he was welcoming the various princes on behalf of the king to Lige."
Lu Yan let out a cold snort. "He really thinks of himself as the future monarch of Lixia? Even if someone should welcome the princes, it should be the crown prince who takes care of it. Instead, he stepped in."
Xu Ruhui gave a light cough and pursed his lips without saying a word.
Lu Yan looked away and continued to ask, "Have you found out why Qingfeng went?"
Xu Ruhui said, "Sister - in - law... Her situation was rather awkward. Since the banquet was under the guise of welcoming the princes, as the one representing the Shen family, it would have been appropriate to invite Lord Shen. But the day before the banquet, the old sweeper at the Shen Mansion's gate said that a man entered the Shen Mansion, and not long after, Sister - in - law came out with him. I followed the clues and found out that the man was a second - generation playboy who was well - connected in the capital, He Jiu, the prodigal son of the He family. He currently holds an idle position as a scribe in the provincial inspector's office in the court."
Having said this, Xu Ruhui took out a list from his bosom and handed it to Lu Yan. "This is the list of the known attendees of this banquet. Have a look, Senior Brother."
Lu Yan took the list, glanced at it, then slapped it on the table. Pointing at the list, he said in a deep voice, "So, all the people on this list are on the side of the Prince of Cheng... including Chen Luo and Su Huanyu."
Xu Ruhui looked at him. "Senior Brother, don't you forget what Master said before he passed away. We from the Northern Kingdom had better not interfere in the politics of Lige."
Lu Yan stared at the list for a long time. "Father said that back then because he wanted to keep our Northern Kingdom stable. But since he married my mother, he should have known that it's impossible for him to stay out of Lige's politics."
Xu Ruhui pursed his lips and said nothing.
Lu Yan slowly stood up, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and said, "Qingfeng is right. King Xia Jie has always been distrustful of me. I'm sure you've also felt it. Because of my mother, I have half of the royal blood. If King Xia Jie dies, I have the right to inherit the throne. He can't not guard against me."
"So what do you plan to do, Senior Brother?" Xu Ruhui smiled. "Use your military power to support one of the princes, or do you want to ascend to the throne yourself?"
Lu Yan suddenly turned his head and glared at Xu Ruhui. "Xu Ruhui, this is Lige, not the Northern Kingdom! Are you looking for death by speaking so carelessly?"
"This is like home. I still know my limits outside." Xu Ruhui said. "So, Senior Brother, what are you going to do? Are you really going to support Xia Chuli? Aren't you afraid that once Xia Chuli ascends the throne, he'll take Sister - in - law back?"
"Qingfeng is already mine. That little wolf cub can think whatever he wants, but it's impossible." Lu Yan said fiercely.
Xu Ruhui said, "If you plan to support Xia Chuli, it means you'll be on the opposite side of Xiqí and Dongzhi. Senior Brother, besides these two vassal states, Qimen has been in continuous wars for years, and Yushan doesn't submit to Lixia. In short, you'll be fighting alone..."
"Do you think that dullard Su Huanyu supported Xia Yonglin on his own initiative?" Lu Yan interrupted him. "Most likely, he was dragged into it by Chen Luo."
Xu Ruhui said, "But anyway, he has already expressed his stance on behalf of Dongzhi."
"So what?" Lu Yan sneered. "Both Xia Yonglin and Xia Yanhe have lost the hearts of the people. Even if the court functions well, the common people can tell."
"Alright then." Xu Ruhui shrugged. "I'll go and rest."
Lu Yan smiled. "Rest? Keep an eye on the mansion of the Prince of Cheng for me."
"Why?"
"Find out which court officials he's close to, and also..." Lu Yan said, "I haven't settled the score with him for drugging Qingfeng yet."
After saying that, Lu Yan turned around and walked out.
Xu Ruhui was stunned for a moment and cursed, "You just leave after giving me the task? I've been working my butt off here. Where are you going?"
Lu Yan turned back and glared at him. "I'm going to pick up your sister - in - law!"
-
Shen Qingfeng looked at the two people not far away, his face extremely gloomy.
This was arranged by Xia Yonglin - this was Shen Qingfeng's first thought when he saw Xia Chuli and Qi Mengmeng.
Xia Yonglin really went to great lengths. First, he falsely claimed that he had asked Chen Qi to help arrange an official position for Shen Qingfeng in the palace so that he could have more contact with Xia Chuli. Then, right after things were settled, he let Shen Qingfeng bump into Xia Chuli and Qi Mengmeng strolling in the imperial garden?
What good tactics.
Xia Yonglin seemed quite satisfied with Shen Qingfeng's expression. He composed himself and looked into the distance. "That... Isn't that Brother Wang and..."
Shen Qingfeng didn't say a word.
In fact, while he felt Xia Yonglin's obvious scheme, he also felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
Sure enough, everything was the same as in his previous life. Xia Chuli was still the one who could kiss him sweetly in front of him and then turn around and marry Qi Mengmeng.
Shen Qingfeng knew that he would marry Qi Mengmeng, crown her as the queen, and finally lock her up in the cold palace and drive her crazy until she died.
Nothing had changed, everything remained the same.
It was a pity that he himself had changed in this life.
He no longer needed to curry favor with Xia Chuli, nor did he need to be heart - broken over his betrayal, because there was someone else by his side.
"Qingfeng?" Xia Yonglin called out.
Shen Qingfeng turned to look at him and only felt that Xia Yonglin's already unremarkable face now looked extremely disgusting.
This guy drugged him, schemed against him, and used various means to sow discord, and yet he still had his eyes on the throne.
Shen Qingfeng flicked his sleeves and walked away.
Xia Yonglin, enjoy your daydreams while you can, because in the end, I will surely tear your dreams to pieces with my own hands.