Author: Liuyun Hairpin

The palace was in turmoil for a while because of Ah Shao's assassination, and it took a long time to settle down. Pei Qing used Ah Shao's name to deal with many people assigned by the Liu family. The expression on Prime Minister Liu's face during the court discussions these days was really impressive.

Not good looking.

"Lan'er, are you doing well?"

Song Qinglan looked solemn: "No... Mother, I suspect someone has already found her."

Liu Qiyun stood up suddenly, a little anxious: "Is it Dongchang?"

"Probably not. If it were Dongchang... they wouldn't have made no movement at all."

Song Qinglan clutched the brocade handkerchief in her hand, as if she wanted to tear it open: "I suspect... that someone else has appeared."

"Your Highness, it's time to start preparations for the April Spring Hunting."

In the Yulin Guards Camp, before Song Qinghuai was about to leave for duty, Linyuan came in and whispered to him.

Spring hunting is one of the most important events in Daliang every year, and this time it is even more special.

Because... we have to do it together with Xi Ye.

Song Qinghuai nodded slightly, thinking about it.

It can be said that this spring hunt is of great significance. If he can participate, there will be many opportunities. But now that his foundation in Beijing is not stable, he will be in danger if he shows his talents rashly.

Besides... there is one thing that has not yet made any progress.

"You quietly enter the palace and look for bamboo smoke..."

After Song Qinghuai finished speaking, he followed the other Yulin guards and left, leaving Linyuan alone in a daze.

——

"who?"

That night, Zhu Yan was on duty outside the palace. As soon as she closed the palace door, she heard something strange in the court.

A black shadow came from the courtyard wall. Zhu Yan's eyes were sharp, and he walked carefully towards the corner, secretly gathering momentum with his palms.

"Bamboo smoke."

Zhu Yan was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly released his strength.

"Brother?"

Linyuan took off his black scarf and breathed a sigh of relief: "It's me."

After a brief surprise, Zhu Yan frowned and worried: "The palace is heavily guarded, what is brother doing here?"

"Your Highness asked me to come." Linyuan whispered a few words, and Zhu Yan quickly pulled him to a more hidden corner.

"Seriously?"

"Your Highness is just guessing. After all... we haven't found anything outside the palace yet."

"But it's not so easy to explore in the palace." Zhu Yan sighed, "If this is the case, my brother will just send a message, so why take the risk to come here."

"Your Highness also wants me to come and see you."

Linyuan whispered: "Is everything okay, princess?"

"I'm recovering faster these days, and I'll be able to stay soon."

"Zhu Yan, there is one more thing, please don't hide it from my brother."

Linyuan looked solemn: "Are Pei Qing and the princess really not related?"

Zhu Yan was startled, looking at Lin Yuan in front of him, not knowing how to answer.

The princess definitely didn't want His Highness to know about this, but in front of her was her brother...

"……No."

Both of them were silent for a long time, and then Linyuan said: "Okay."

"I will make it clear to His Highness."

"Bamboo smoke, be careful in everything."

After Linyuan finished speaking, he left in a hurry, leaving behind only a bamboo smoke and a lost consciousness.

"Sister Zhuyan!"

Hearing Cuizhu's voice, Zhu Yan came back to his senses and walked out of the corner in response.

"Where is Sister Zhuyan? The princess is looking for you."

Seeing the bamboo smoke coming out of the corner, Cuizhu looked suspicious: "What's going on there? What's going on?"

"It's okay, it's just my eyesight that's broken."

The bamboo smoke passed by and entered the inner hall.

"Where have you been? It took you so long?"

Song Qingan looked at the bamboo smoke and felt that she was absent-minded.

Zhu Yan thought about it again and again, and finally told her about Lin Yuan's coming here, but concealed the part about Lin Yuan asking her to find something.

Song Qing'an sighed: "Brother is still suspicious."

"But...brother, you won't let Linyuan come here just for this matter, right?" Song Qing'an twirled his hair with his fingertips and raised his eyes faintly: "Zhu Yan, are you hiding something from me?"

Zhu Yan smiled, but with some reluctance: "Princess, how could my maid hide this from you? My brother said it was His Highness's wish to come and see the maid."

Song Qing'an nodded thoughtfully. This was indeed what his brother would think about. But... seeing Zhu Yan's reaction, Song Qing'an didn't quite believe it.

Zhu Yan doesn't want to say anything at the moment, and she won't be able to find out anything no matter how hard she presses.

"That's all, I just want to ask, how are you preparing to move to the palace?"

Song Qing'an moved his body slightly as he spoke. The pain in his chest was much lessened, and he could soon move around.

"Reply to the princess, it's almost done. You can move over as soon as the princess is ready."

Song Qing'an hummed slightly, lowered his eyes and said: "There will be spring hunting in April."

"Yes, brother and my maid have talked about it, and His Highness may participate."

"Zhu Yan, before April, can my injury... be cured?"

Zhu Yan looked troubled, Song Qing'an's body was already weak, and it took a long time to recover from his injuries. At this time, the time before the usual spring hunting was only one month at most, so it was impossible to fully recover.

"Maybe I can hold on for a while?"

"Princess, although the hunting ground is on the outskirts of Beijing, but..."

"Let's talk about it then..." Song Qing'an interrupted Zhu Yan's words, his eyes wandering a little, "Maybe there is medicine in Pei's palm print, which can make me faster?"

Zhu Yan didn't answer, but looked worried.

"That's all, you go down first."

Song Qing'an waved his hand to screen away the bamboo smoke, and stared at the tent ceiling alone in a daze.

——

"Lord Palmprint, this is the roster you want."

Liu Quan respectfully presented the booklet, and Pei Qing took it and glanced at it lightly.

“Well done.”

Liu Quan breathed a sigh of relief, finally getting rid of the crime. Fortunately, after the last matter was handed over to Wei Ping, Wei Ping didn't find out the reason.

Thinking of this, Liu Quan was still a little gloating about his misfortune.

How could Wei Ping, a mad dog, do such a delicate job?

"Where do these people live?"

"Reply to Master Zhangyin, he is in the middle of the capital."

Pei Qing raised his eyes when he heard this, a little surprised: "Is there an official to protect me?"

"No, I have checked carefully. The leader is just an ordinary merchant, and there is no one behind him." Liu Quan also muttered a little guilty, "Maybe they thought that Master Zhangyin did not expect that they would be bold enough to operate in the capital."

Pei Qing chuckled coldly, making Liu Quan tremble.

"Leave them a little longer for Wei Ping to prepare."

"yes."

"By the way, does your Majesty have any wishes for spring hunting?"

"Reporting to Master Zhang Yin, His Majesty said that everything will be arranged by Master Zhang Yin."

Pei Qing nodded in understanding. It seemed that the new medicine was good, and Emperor Liang almost had no interest in political affairs at all.

"Go down."

Liu Quan responded and left. Pei Qing was the only one left in the study. Then he took out a jade pendant from his sleeve.

Linyuan's sneaking into the palace went so smoothly, so naturally he allowed it to happen intentionally.

"Are you looking for this..."

Pei Qing thought as he rubbed his fingertips over the patterns on the jade pendant.

Why don't you just leave it to the little princess... Even if she doesn't know what it is, the maid next to her must know it.

Pei Qing had long felt that something was wrong with the bamboo smoke around Song Qingan.

How could an ordinary palace maid know martial arts? I'm afraid this was a back-up left behind by the exterminated Lu family.

Or... an introduction related to the extermination of the Lu family.

Pei Qing tossed the jade pendant casually. Under the candlelight, the green jade pendant was like water, almost transparent.

Probably feeling bored, Pei Qing closed her palms and put the jade pendant back.

Even Emperor Liang didn't know that this thing was in the hands of Pei Qing beside him. He spent many years looking for it in vain.
Chapter completed!