A few days after the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, Shangguan Wan Ning heard from her father that You Zhenzhen, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Industry and Industry, was attracted by the Queen Mother, and she issued a decree to marry the prince. They chose an auspicious day to get married on the tenth day of the next month.
Shangguan Wan Ning was sitting by the lotus pond, breaking open steamed buns and feeding them to the fish in the pond.
"Miss, I really feel unworthy of you." Lutong picked a bouquet of fresh flowers in the garden and walked over, a little indignantly. "If you hadn't accidentally sprained your foot that day, you would have been favored by the Queen Mother.
You are right."
Shangguan Wan Ning's movements in her hands paused, and she raised her eyes to look at Lu Tong, who was pouting, with a faint smile on her lips.
She took the delicate flower from Lu Tong's hand and said with a smile: "It's a blessing in disguise. Lu Tong, just say these things in front of me, don't mention them in front of outsiders, do you understand?"
Lutong didn't understand why his young lady seemed completely indifferent to such a big matter.
"This slave knows."
Shangguan Wan Ning's eyes turned back to the lotus pond. She gently removed the petals and spread them in her palms. A breeze blew by, blowing the petals onto the water.
She clearly remembered that in her previous life, You Zhenzhen died of Xiao Zhenting's assassination not long after she married into the Prince's Mansion.
So what if she is a princess? In the end, she is just an innocent soul. How can ordinary people afford the splendor and wealth of the royal family?
Late at night, Mu Jingrui put on night clothes, used the cover of night to avoid the guards of the Prince's Mansion, and used Qinggong to reach the Earth Temple outside the city.
Next to a burning bonfire, two burly men sat. The two just watched the flames dancing quietly, communicating with their eyes from time to time, and neither of them spoke.
There was silence all around.
Mu Jingrui hid in the dark and observed for a long time before appearing to meet him.
"Mr. Mu, you are finally here."
When the two big men saw Mu Jingrui take off his black mask, they immediately came forward to greet him.
"If we can see you again, we... General Mu will be deeply relieved to know that you are safe and sound." Liu Mao pressed Mu Jingrui's shoulder heavily, his voice choked with sobs.
"Uncle Liu..." Mu Jingrui sighed with emotion.
Liu Mao was the first subordinate whom his father trusted that he met after the Mu family's rapid defeat. He always remembered that when he was young, Liu Mao taught him how to shoot on horseback.
"As long as you're fine... Just fine." Liu Mao said, introducing the people around him to Mu Jingrui. "This is my cousin Liu Xian, who is the right vanguard of General Mu's deputy general. He has been serving as the right vanguard for so many years.
Follow your father to fight."
"Mr. Mu." Liu Xian cupped his hands and saluted.
"I know that General Mu was unjustly accused. How could he have collaborated with the enemy and treason after guarding the border for so many years? Our two brothers were lucky enough to survive, and it took a lot of effort to return to the capital. We originally wanted to find an opportunity to avenge General Mu.
I secretly found out that you were contacting General Mu's old department, and then I found out that you had followed His Highness the Crown Prince. So, I came to see you right away."
When Mu Jingrui looked at Liu Mao, he remembered his father's death in vain, and his heart began to throb.
"What happened at the border? Why was that battle so tragic that the entire army was wiped out? How many people survived?"
Facing Mu Jingrui's question, the Liu brothers looked at each other and lowered their heads sadly.
"Mr. Mu, we really don't know...so far, we haven't seen anyone else."
Liu Mao's words made Mu Jingrui feel desperate.
"However, we have secretly investigated something related to several ministers in the court." Liu Mao took out a list from his pocket and handed it to Mu Jingrui, "Mr. Mu can give this list to His Royal Highness. Now.
, and only he has the ability to help us."
Mu Jingrui quickly opened it after taking it. The people inside were all important officials of the court.
According to his observation, the factions of these people in the DPRK were not clear, and they seemed not to want to take sides so quickly.
Mu Jingrui's eyes were as calm as water, showing no signs of disturbance.
"I will give the list to His Highness the Crown Prince." Mu Jingrui put the list away and hid it in his sleeve, and asked, "Where will you stay? How can I find you?"
"West of the city, Yunlai Inn."
Mu Jingrui nodded slightly. He asked Liu Xian some more about his father, and then rushed back to the Prince's Mansion overnight.
During these days, the Prince's Mansion was preparing for a wedding, and people often stayed up all night to work on it.
When Mu Jingrui returned to the Prince's Mansion, Xiao Yujue happened to have gotten up and was preparing to go to the morning court.
He took advantage of Xiao Yujue's breakfast time and handed him the list.
"I will check as soon as possible." Xiao Yujue stood up and walked to Mu Jingrui, giving him a comforting smile, "Don't worry, as long as your father is innocent, I will return his innocence one day."
In the next few days, Xiao Yujue secretly used many forces to investigate, and indeed found some clues, but...
Xiao Yujue summoned Mu Jingrui and asked, "Where are the Liu brothers now?"
Mu Jingrui hesitated slightly, his eyelids lowered and he thought for a long time. "Did Your Highness find something?"
His cautiousness made Xiao Yujue's eyes become meaningful.
"There are some things I want to ask them personally. You take me to meet them. If you are worried, I don't need to take anyone with me. You can just follow."
Xiao Yujue's words made Mu Jingrui feel an inexplicable feeling in his heart.
In his current situation, he had no choice but to take Xiao Yujue to Yunlai Inn.
Liu Mao and Liu Xian were hiding in the Yunlai Inn without leaving the house. They were flattered to see Xiao Yujue suddenly and hurriedly bowed down.
"Don't be nervous, I just want to ask you today, how did you get the list?"
Mu Jingrui had been observing the Liu brothers' reactions. As soon as Xiao Yujue said these words, the two of them began to communicate with each other with their lowered eyes.
Mu Jingrui's heart sank.
He saw Liu Mao making a slight move with his wrist, and secretly screamed that something was wrong. He swung his body in front of Xiao Yujue, and exchanged a palm with Liu Mao.
Liu Mao took a few big steps back, and then Liu Xian picked up his saber and slashed at him.
Both of them were veterans who had been on the battlefield for a long time, and their martial arts were not weak. In addition, Liu Mao knew Mu Jingrui's martial arts methods very well, and Mu Jingrui was unable to do anything to them for a while.
"Xiao Yujue, today is the day you die."
Liu Mao pestered Mu Jingrui, and Liu Xian attacked Xiao Yujue.
A sharp arrow penetrated the window and passed by Liu Xian's cheek, leaving a bloody mark on his face.
In an instant, dozens of guards poured in from outside and surrounded Liu Xian and Liu Mao.
Xiao Yujue sat there calmly, swinging her folding fan gently, her expression unchanged.
Mu Jingrui stopped fighting and stood aside, frowning deeply.