Xiao Yujue quelled the banditry within a period of time, his prestige among the people doubled, and the emperor was very pleased.
On the day he returned to Beijing, the people of the capital lined the streets to welcome him.
Shangguan Wan Ning specially booked a private room in Zuixian Tower and waited for the team returning to Beijing to pass by.
She wanted to make sure that Mu Jingrui was safe and sound.
"Miss, your injury has not healed yet. If anything happens to you, I will not be able to bear the responsibility."
Shangguan Wan Ning gently tapped Lu Tong's forehead with the folding fan in her hand. "What did I tell you before I came out? I have no memory, and you forgot it so quickly?"
Lutong muttered and rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Yes, Master."
"Let's go, don't call me by the wrong name again."
The two of them walked into Zuixian Building together and walked to the second floor under the guidance of the waiter.
When she walked to the corner of the corridor, a voice caught Shangguan Wan Ning's attention.
"Be careful next time."
I saw a man in a gray robe, frowning and glaring at the person who collided with him in disgust, reaching out to flick the non-existent dust on his shoulder.
He walked into the private room next to him, and the person he had just scolded spit at his back.
Shangguan Wan Ning was a little dazed.
"Sir, what's wrong?" Lutong asked cautiously.
Shangguan Wan Ning came to her senses and walked into the reserved private room with Lu Tong.
Did you see it wrong just now? That person was clearly Jiang Dahai, the chamberlain around Concubine Liu.
But, how could he leave the palace casually?
"Second brother," Shangguan Wanning called the waiter who was about to leave, took out a silver coin from his arms and handed it over.
The waiter smiled happily, took the silver, put it into his arms, and asked happily: "Sir, what are your orders?"
"You also serve in the private room next door, right?"
The waiter was startled and nodded in confusion.
"Go and find me a set of clothes that are exactly the same as yours. I will go to the kitchen to serve the food later, and you will disappear for half an hour."
"this……"
Seeing that the waiter was a little embarrassed, Shangguan Wan Ning took out another fifty-tael silver note.
The waiter gritted his teeth and agreed.
Not long after, the clothes were delivered. Shangguan Wan Ning went behind the screen to change them and told Lu Tong to wait here.
Carrying the food and wine brought from the kitchen, she knocked on the door and walked into the private room next door.
There were three people in the private room, one was Jiang Dahai, the head chamberlain, the other was Liu Guifei's brother Liu Buyun, and the other Shangguan Wan Ning had never seen before.
However, being able to sit together with Jiang Dahai and Liu Buyun to discuss matters must have some weight.
The three of them all looked a little solemn. When they saw her walking in to serve the food, they stopped what they were saying, obviously being wary of something.
Shangguan Wan Ning saw that the food was put on the table and left. She did not leave immediately, but pressed against the door and held her breath while listening to the conversation inside.
"My Majesty said, let you think of a solution quickly. If this continues, His Highness the Crown Prince will really steal all the limelight."
"Eunuch Jiang, it's not that we don't care, it's really helpless. Since the Yingchun Building was burned down, our news network has not been restored, and many things cannot be communicated. I am also worried about this matter. You and I
Eldest sister, tell her to calm down a little bit."
"You don't have to worry too much. My master said that he has his own arrangements."
Shangguan Wanning frowned.
Who is this person? From his tone, he must be just a servant running errands. Then the "master" he refers to...
Shangguan Wan Ning was worried that her whereabouts would be revealed, so she did not continue to listen. Instead, she went back to the next door and changed back into men's clothes, listening carefully to what was going on next door.
The sound of gongs, drums and firecrackers came from the street. Shangguan Wan Ning looked down and saw a group of soldiers approaching in a mighty manner.
"Master, look quickly, it's His Highness the Crown Prince..." Lutong said excitedly, pointing downstairs.
Shangguan Wan Ning just glanced casually. Through the crack in the door, she saw the three people in the private room next door walking out, pretending to be nonchalant and not knowing each other, and heading in different directions.
"Lutong, wait for me here."
After Shangguan Wan Ning finished speaking, she hurriedly followed the unfamiliar footsteps.
She was careful, and even her breathing was controlled. She followed the stranger through several secluded alleys, and at a corner in front of her, he disappeared in a flash.
Shangguan Wan Ning stopped immediately. She realized that she had been discovered by the other party. If she continued to follow her, she might be in danger.
She hesitated slightly and decided to give up temporarily. When she turned around, her throat was pinched tightly by several cold fingers.
The feeling of suffocation made her mind go blank for a moment.
She struggled hard out of instinct.
"Isn't it you who was eavesdropping outside the private room just now?"
The other party relaxed his fingers slightly, giving Shangguan Wan Ning a chance to breathe.
She didn't expect that the other party had discovered her existence so early.
"Tell me, who sent you here?"
After saying that, he pushed Shangguan Wan Ning out hard.
Shangguan Wan Ning's back hit the wall, and the severe pain that spread throughout her body made her expression distort.
"I'll give you one last chance. If you don't say it, you won't have the chance to say it again."
Shangguan Wan Ning's arms were supported on the wall, barely letting herself fall. She looked at the fierce face of the other party, and her mind was spinning rapidly.
"I belong to the second prince, and he sent me to monitor you."
The other party was obviously taken aback, and there was something strange in his eyes. He lowered his eyelids inadvertently, as if he was searching for something.
Shangguan Wan Ning saw the opportunity, took out a packet of powder from her sleeve, secretly pinched it in her palm, and quickly scattered it before the other party recovered.
Since she was kidnapped last time, she has made some preparations every time she goes out, just in case, but she didn't expect to use them today.
The powder was sprinkled on the other person's face and blindfolded.
Shangguan Wan Ning turned around and ran away.
Suddenly, a strong palm wind hit her from behind, and she felt a sharp pain in her back. Her whole body was blown away, and a mouthful of blood spurted out.
It's dead now.
Before Shangguan Wan Ning could finish her thoughts, she felt that the other party had already caught up with her.
Her body was caught in the air, and then there was a muffled groan in her ears. When she landed, she looked at the person who caught her in surprise.
"Jing Rui?"
Shangguan Wan Ning thought she was hallucinating, and before she could take a closer look, she fainted completely.
In a daze, she seemed to feel a warm current flowing through her body, like a spring breeze.
I don't know how long it took, Shangguan Wanning slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying in a strange room.
The furnishings in the house are simple, and there is a cold atmosphere everywhere.
On the table, there was an incense burner, emitting light curls of smoke.