Early the next morning, the sun rose slowly in the eastern sky, illuminating the entire Luoyue City.
The people in the city went out one after another, those who went to work, those who went to the streets, and those who went out of the city... but they didn't want to, overnight, the sky of Luoyue City, which was still happy yesterday, seemed to have changed.
First of all, the gates of the city are blocked, and no entry or exit is allowed.
Then there are teams of palace guards and soldiers running around, searching from house to house.
Especially those inns and restaurants are the targets of the search, just like the Yunlai Inn near the gate of the city, a team of palace guards ushered in early in the morning.
The guards came like a gust of wind, and searched every room in the inn fiercely. All the guests who came to Luoyue City for the first time were interrogated repeatedly and checked their directions, and then they came to the first floor lobby.
The shopkeeper accompanied him from the beginning to the end, and said to the chief guard with a smile: "Guard Wang, don't worry! There is absolutely no suspicious person here! This small shop is mostly regular customers, and occasionally there are strangers." When you come to stay in the store, the younger ones are also carefully checked by the passers-by."
The chief guard Wang with the square face still had a solemn expression, and he ordered: "Shopkeeper, you have to tell the waiters to be more careful during these days, in case there are suspicious people, especially those who don't look like us Dayu people. You must immediately send someone to report to the palace!"
The shopkeeper naturally responded again and again, and then asked cautiously: "Chief Wang, I don't know what happened? I see that even the gate of the city has been closed today!" Even if there was Nanliang in Luoyue City before, The presence of spies, that is, the strict interrogation at the gate of the city, will not block the gate of the city. Could it be that the matter is more serious
Thinking about it, the shopkeeper felt a little uneasy.
Xiaoer on the side couldn't help but interjected: "I heard that even the gate of the palace is closed today..."
Not only the shopkeeper and the waiter were curious, but also the guests who were having tea and breakfast in the lobby were also puzzled, and all of them pricked up their ears.
After looking around the hall, Chief Guard Wang said harshly, "It's okay to tell you, there are spies from Nanliang in Luoyue City again..."
"What?!" The shopkeeper gasped and blurted out, "But isn't Nanliang defeated?"
"That's right!" said the head of the Wang guard angrily, "Those Nanliang people couldn't beat our prince with real swords and guns on the battlefield, so they sent spies into the city to secretly poison the princess, causing the prince to die. The concubine is now seriously ill, and her life is dying..."
All of a sudden, there were gasps one after another in the lobby, and an old man with white hair and beard slapped the table, cursing: "Damn people from Nanliang, who actually used such a vicious trick!"
"A centipede, it won't freeze until it dies!" Another middle-aged scholar in a green robe said angrily, "Those people from Nanliang must be unwilling to be defeated and hated the prince, so they came to poison the concubine! Hateful and hateful!"
"The concubine and concubine have their own auspiciousness, and they will definitely not let the Nanliang thieves succeed!" Another big man with a beard said righteously.
"That's right!..."
There was a lot of noise and condemnation in the inn, and the common people were all angry.
A similar scene didn't just happen in the Yunlai Inn, after just one morning, it spread to almost every corner of Luoyue City... It also included a small tea shop by the roadside in the west of the city, where a few passers-by who were resting spoke to each other. Discussing enthusiastically, everyone is filled with righteous indignation.
In the corner of the tea shop, a girl in a blue dress drank tea with a small face hanging down, her pretty face half-lit and half-dark in the shadow of the tea shed.
If Xiao Ni were here, she would definitely be able to recognize at a glance that she is the "Miss Gu" who threatened her with drugs.
Miss Gu seemed to be drinking tea as if nothing had happened, but she was actually paying attention to the conversations around her.
She felt that something was not quite right this morning, obviously Xiao Yi had just returned from a big victory yesterday, and in just one night, the entire Luoyue City did not even have a trace of joy, instead, the wind was turbulent, and there was a momentum of storms coming.
Teahouses and restaurants have always been the easiest places to inquire about rumors. She has been sitting here for nearly an hour, and she has indeed heard a lot.
only…
How could Nangong Yue be bedridden all of a sudden? !
Miss Gu's face sank like water.
Nangong Yue's death from poisoning did not benefit Baiyue at all, but it would affect the current cooperation with Xiao Yi. Therefore, the medicine in the Huanxiang will not put Nangong Yue in fatal danger, and the weight of the medicine is light. I originally planned to wait patiently for the first half of the year, and slowly use the special fragrance that the special Huanxiang emits when it is burned. Bit by bit, it erodes Nangong Yue's body, damages her viscera, and makes her weak...
Xiao Yi is the son of the Zhennan Prince, the next Zhennan King. He shoulders the important task of passing on the family line of the Zhennan Prince's House. Just imagine, if Nangong Yue's tire slipped again and again, would Xiao Yi still be as dedicated to her as before
What's more, childless is one of Dayu's "seven outs".
Taking a step back, even if Xiao Yi can wait, can Zhennan King tolerate a concubine who cannot give birth to his grandson
Then, if Xiao Yi wants to keep his position as the son of the eldest son, he must take a concubine... That is their chance for Baiyue!
Letting Xiao Yi gain the upper hand for the time being is not important, what matters is in the future!
As long as the next king of Zhennan has their blood of Baiyue, this southern border... no, this Dayu will be at your fingertips!
His Highness the Sixth Prince's plan was originally meticulous and thorough, but why did something go wrong suddenly? !
The only thing that can be thankful is that the guards of Zhennan Prince's Mansion searched for "Nanliang spies" everywhere in the city, but they didn't know whether the person they were looking for was male or female, old or young. With their shield, Xiao Ni should not have been exposed...
For the current plan, I have to find a way to contact Xiao Ni... and ask her about her situation before I can decide what to do next.
Thinking of this, Miss Gu narrowed her eyes slightly.
She finished her tea, stood up as if nothing had happened, said "check out", dropped two copper coins, and left alone.
Miss Gu walked along the street in a graceful manner. Even if she met the guards of the royal palace along the way, she would be like ordinary people. She avoided as much as she should, and continued walking when she should keep going... The journey was smooth, and no one suspected her. .
Miss Gu's heart became more determined, she found a calligraphy and painting shop at random and went in... After burning an incense stick, when she came out, she had an extra painting scroll in her hand.
After walking a few more streets, she came to a three-story building with a dark red plaque that read: Huanxi Pavilion.
At this time, Huanxi Pavilion seemed a little deserted. Obviously, it was also affected by the martial law in the city today. Many girls in the mansion were afraid of causing trouble, so they probably wouldn't go out today.
"This sister," Miss Gu said to a woman in Cuiyi with a smile, "I don't know if Mrs. Jiang is here? I want to ask Mrs. Jiang something."
This woman in green clothes is the second child of Huanxi Pavilion, and she also recognizes this Miss Gu who once saved Xiao Ni, so she graciously guides her to the back room to meet Mrs. Jiang.
After the two greeted each other, Ms. Gu straight to the point explained her intentions: "Mrs. Jiang, Miss Xiao San asked me to find a painting for her last time, but I don't know where Miss Xiao lives. Miss Xiao said, if If you find it, you can come and trouble Madam Jiang to hand it over to me, so I took the liberty to come here."
Mrs. Jiang was startled, thinking that maybe Miss Xiao San hadn't told Miss Gu her identity. It was just handing over a painting, but it was easy, so he accepted it with a smile.
So Miss Gu handed over the painting scroll in a long red lacquered wooden box to Mrs. Jiang...
In less than an hour, the long red lacquered wooden box that was supposed to be sent to the second room arrived at Bixiaotang.
Baihui and Que'er checked the painting one by one, and the long box by the other, but they didn't find any tricks. In the end, Baihui put the back of the painting on a candle and baked it to see the truth.
She respectfully handed it to Xiao Yi in the inner room.
After being baked by fire, a line of brown text appeared on the back of the painting, asking Xiao Ni to meet in Huanxi Pavilion at the end of the day.
The fish are hooked! Xiao Yi twitched his lips and said, "Go and bring Xiao Ni here!"
Baihui went down, and quickly invited Xiao Ni who had "rested" in Bixiao Hall last night.
It's only been one night, Xiao Ni has become a lot haggard, her whole body has lost all energy, and there is a heavy shadow under her eyes, obviously she didn't sleep last night.
Xiao Yi casually threw the scroll to her, "Go on!"
Xiao Ni caught the scroll in a bit of embarrassment, and then saw the characters on the back of the painting, which were unfamiliar, but the words "Huanxi Pavilion" firmly attracted her attention. Could it be that…
Xiao Ni closed her eyes slightly, and looked up at Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi's icy eyes were looking at her, when the eyes of the two met, Xiao Yi said coldly: "Xiao Ni, do you know what to do..."
Xiao Ni only felt that the other party's gaze was sharp and cold like a sword, she couldn't help but tremble all over, her face became even paler, so pale that there was almost no blood.
She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, and said slowly: "Brother, brother, please tell me, what should I do..."
After a cup of tea, Xiao Ni came out, and Sang Rou, who was following her, keenly noticed that her girl's body was trembling uncontrollably, and said worriedly: "Girl..."
Xiao Ni raised her hand to interrupt Sang Rou, and said softly but firmly: "Come with me to change clothes." She was still wearing yesterday's dress, she couldn't go out to meet "guests" like this.
Sang Rou nodded.
Xiao Ni changed into a spring-yellow beige that reflected her complexion, and asked Sang Rou to re-do her a crescent bun and put on makeup.
After staring at herself in the bronze mirror for a long time, Xiao Ni went out resolutely, and got into a green-covered carriage with Sang Rou.
Along the way, she was a little dazed, a little absent-minded, and more apprehensive...
When they arrived at Huanxi Pavilion, a woman in green clothes immediately led the master and servant into the lobby.
Xiao Ni pretended to be nonchalant and asked: "I have an appointment with Miss Gu here, is she here?"
The woman in Cuiyi shook her head, and replied: "Miss Xiao San, Miss Gu came here early this morning, and went to see Mrs. Jiang, and then left. But please invite Mrs. Jiang over."
"No need." Xiao Ni said lightly, and asked the other party to lead her to the elegant seat she often goes to.
After the lady in Cui Yi made tea, she withdrew, only Xiao Ni and her master and servant were left in the private seat.
None of them spoke, the room was dead silent, Xiao Ni didn't even have the intention of drinking tea, but just sat there in a daze, paying attention to the movement outside...
Time passed little by little, a cup of tea, a stick of incense, half an hour, and it seemed that the time was almost up, but Miss Gu never showed up.
Suddenly there was a strange noise, as if something hit the window, Xiao Ni's eyes widened as if waking up from a dream.
Sang Rou hurriedly said: "Girl, servants, go and have a look."
Sang Rou walked quickly to the window and opened it. The next moment, someone threw a stone from the street, and a naughty boy made a funny face at her, and then ran away.
Xiao Ni stared at the stone rolling on the floor without blinking, or in other words, it was wrapped in a piece of tissue paper outside the stone.
She almost couldn't wait to get up, picked up the stone, and unfolded the crumpled tissue paper. There were some familiar writing on the tissue paper, which was the same as the writing left on the painting.
It's Miss Gu.
After reading it, Xiao Ni crumpled the paper and said, "She's going to be an hour late... Sang Rou, go downstairs and get me some porridge."
Sang Rou was startled, and said: "Girl, you haven't eaten since last night, you must be hungry, servant girl will go down now."
Sang Rou hurriedly went downstairs, when the sound of her footsteps disappeared, Xiao Ni moved suddenly, instead of sitting down, she walked to the door, and opened the door with a "squeak".
She looked at the left and right corridors, and after making sure there was no one there, she left the private seat, left Huanxi Pavilion alone without telling Sang Rou, and walked to Zuixiao Tower on foot.
Xiao Ni squeezed the ball of paper in her hand, on it was Miss Gu's message, and asked herself to go to the place where they met on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month alone, and she had to arrive within half an hour.
Xiao Ni gritted her teeth and walked quickly, Zuixiao Tower is at least eight miles away, so I don't have much time...
Xiao Ni tried her best to walk forward, sweating profusely, and finally arrived at Zuixiaolou on time.
But Xiao Er said that he didn't know Miss Gu.
Xiao Ni could only go to the private seat on the second floor and wait...
Waiting for another hour, unconsciously, the sky became dim.
Xiao Ni was in a daze, she didn't know whether she should continue to wait until the sky was completely dark, she finally walked out from Zuixiao Tower listlessly, thinking: Could it be because she was one step late that Miss Gu had already left...
She had just stepped out of the threshold when a short beggar slammed into her, causing her to take a staggering step back.
"Girl, I didn't do it on purpose!" The little beggar bowed his head and apologized, and ran away like flying, and disappeared around the corner of the street in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Ni was still at a loss, Xiao Er came out kindly and reminded: "Girl, there are many little beggars taking advantage of the opportunity to bump into people to steal things, girl better see if there is anything missing on her body?"
Xiao Ni subconsciously touched the purse hanging on her waist, and looked down with wide eyes. Her things were not stolen, but there was something extra in her belt—a folded note.
The note was still in familiar handwriting, telling her to go to the Shanfeng Pavilion of Shanhua Temple, which is a small temple just one street away.
Although I don't know if Miss Gu is playing tricks again, but Xiao Ni has no other choice, so she can only hurry over.
Now it was dark, and the Shanhua Temple was quiet. Xiao Ni entered the temple alone through the back door. The backyard was completely dark, with no lights, no people, only the sound of the breeze blowing the vegetation...
Xiao Ni suppressed the uneasiness in her heart, and walked to the right according to the route drawn on the note. After a while, she saw an octagonal pavilion under an old banyan tree in front of her. A candle was lit in the pavilion. The pavilion was half-lit and half-dark, and a slim figure could be vaguely seen sitting in the pavilion.
Although he couldn't see the other person's face clearly, Xiao Ni was sure that it was her!
The steps under Xiao Ni's feet froze, and then continued to walk forward.
As she gradually approached, the description of the people in the pavilion became clearer. Miss Gu was sitting at the stone table in the pavilion, playing with a ring pendant calmly, and when she saw Xiao Ni, she greeted Xiao Ni. : "Miss Xiao, please sit down."
Xiao Ni walked into the pavilion, did not sit down, but just stared at the other party, with gloomy eyes.
Miss Gu didn't force her, she squinted her eyes, looked up at Xiao Ni sharply, and asked straightforwardly: "Miss Xiao San, why is the city suddenly under martial law today?"
Xiao Ni clenched her fists subconsciously, if it wasn't for this person, why would she be like this!
Xiao Ni replied blankly: "Yesterday, my sister-in-law suddenly became seriously ill, but it was found to be caused by poisoning. My brother was furious when he came back..." As she spoke, she suddenly took two steps forward and grabbed Miss Gu's right wrist, Excitedly raised her voice and asked, "Why is this happening?! Didn't you say that Huanxiang would not hurt the life of my sister-in-law?" The more she spoke, the more excited she became, her eyes turned red, and her subordinates became stronger and stronger. The nails almost dug into Miss Gu's skin.
Miss Gu frowned, stood up abruptly, and swung her arms vigorously away from Xiao Ni.
Xiao Ni was already weak, but being thrown by the opponent, she staggered back two steps, twisted her body, and fell to the ground in embarrassment.
Miss Gu raised her chin slightly, looked down at Xiao Ni contemptuously, and said coldly: "Miss Xiao San, I asked you to meet today, not to listen to your complaints!" She took half a step towards Xiao Ni, and asked indifferently , "What's the situation in the palace now?... Xiao Yi, does he doubt you?"
Xiao Ni pursed her lips and remained silent. She put one hand on the cold ground and tried to get up, but her body froze suddenly.
The next moment, her breathing became heavy, her body curled up like a shrimp, pitifully like a kitten in the wind and rain.
Miss Gu frowned and looked at Xiao Ni, a little impatient, but she still had something to ask Xiao Ni.
"What a hassle."
Miss Gu took out a small porcelain bottle from her purse, then squatted down, opened the bottle stopper, and planned to feed Xiao Ni.
But just as she squeezed Xiao Ni's chin open, she felt a sound of piercing the air from behind, like the sound of a sharp arrow piercing the air, making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end instantly...
Just as she was about to turn her head, she felt a strong impact on her back, accompanied by a sharp pain...
Oops! She fell for it!
how come? ! She deliberately changed a few places, and even chose the pavilion here, just to ensure that there was no ambush.
But…
Her eyes were wide open, and the blood on her face disappeared instantly, turning pale as paper.
She stared at Xiao Ni fiercely, with vicious hatred in her eyes.
Xiao Ni...how dare she? !
"Boom!"
Miss Gu fell heavily to the ground, as if even the dust on the ground was blown up, and it was obvious that there was a black iron arrow on her back.
Xiao Ni's gaze passed through Miss Gu and looked at the back. A few feet away, two men in black leaped down from two big trees as lightly as swallows. One of them was holding a continuous crossbow. Obviously the iron arrow just now was shot from his hand.
The two strode towards this side one after the other, with expressionless faces.
The arrowhead of this iron arrow is coated with a special drug, which can stun her in an instant. In order to prevent her from committing suicide after waking up, one of the men in black even removed her chin neatly.
Xiao Ni stood up slowly, looked at Miss Gu who was lying on the ground, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Miss Gu thought she was acting secretly, but everything was in her elder brother's expectation.
Neither Huanxi Pavilion, Zuixiao Tower, nor Shanhua Temple were in ambush, only two hidden guards followed him to ensure that Miss Gu was captured alive...
Everything was so easy and simple, without any effort, Miss Gu fell into the trap.
In her eyes, Miss Gu is as cunning as a fox, as vicious as a snake, like a mountain weighing her down, but in front of her elder brother, Miss Gu's shady tricks are nothing more than a fly shaking a tree, not worth it at all. Mention.
Xiao Ni couldn't help but have a thought in her heart: If she had chosen to tell her sister-in-law about this at the beginning, would it be completely different now.