Chapter 417: The Envoy of Sang Nanguo Enters Beijing
Chapter 417 The envoy from Sangnan Kingdom comes to Beijing
Luo Jiuli nodded.
"It's easy to change a country, but it's hard to change a person's temperament. The Queen Mother is just at the end of her power."
"But the more desperate she is, the more she cannot take it lightly. At this time, there is nothing she cannot give up."
"Well, that's exactly what I'm worried about."
Xiao Mingxuan clenched his fists.
Luo Jiuli covered his hand and said softly:
"My lord, there is no need to worry. As the saying goes, when soldiers come, they will be blocked, and when water comes, the soil will cover them up. Even if she has great abilities, she will not be able to overthrow the Changning Dynasty."
Xiao Mingxuan held her hand with his backhand.
"I'm not worried about this, I'm worried about whether she will be harmful to you once she loses control."
Luo Jiuli blinked and said with a smile:
"As long as the prince is here, I'm not afraid."
Xiao Mingxuan held her hand tightly.
"Li'er, if, I mean if, if it really comes to that point, don't worry about her status as the emperor's mother and queen, and don't worry about her status as the queen mother of a country. I just want you to be safe."
Luo Jiuli was startled. He was telling her that he had murderous intentions towards the Queen Mother. Even if she killed the Queen Mother, she would not have to feel burdened.
"Your Majesty, aren't you afraid of being criticized verbally and writtenly by your subjects?"
Xiao Mingxuan lowered his eyes.
"I'm just afraid you'll get hurt."
"Your Majesty."
Luo Jiuli looked at him, his eyes full of tenderness.
"We haven't gotten that far yet."
"Even if we let her die, we must expose the evil deeds she has done over the years to the world, and let the people of the world put an end to her."
Xiao Mingxuan raised his hand, brushed the broken hair on her forehead, and said warmly.
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
——
Two days later, on the seventh day of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar, the envoy from Sangnan Kingdom arrived in the capital.
From the outer city to the imperial city, Luo Yuanliang, the commander of the imperial army, led his soldiers to clear the way in front, while King Zhao, who was heading to Jicheng to meet the fifth princess, rode his horse in high spirits and walked in the middle.
King Zhao was flanked by a young general from the Sangnan Kingdom. Although the general's appearance was not as handsome as King Zhao's, the nobility in his body and the majesty in his eyes made people surrender unconsciously.
The two of them were chatting and laughing all the way, and the atmosphere seemed quite harmonious.
Behind the team, followed an extremely luxurious six-horse carriage made of agarwood with tassels of various colored gems. There were ten maids in the front and rear of the carriage. In the carriage sat the fifth princess of Sangnan Kingdom who did not show up.
"The king of Sangnan really loves the fifth princess very much. Look at this battle, he is well prepared."
Luo Jiuli was sitting by the window of the Cailingdu Wing on the second floor, watching the envoys' procession heading towards the palace, with a smile on his lips.
"I see that King Zhao's peacock is spreading its wings, so he must have got his wish?"
Xiao Mingxuan held a cup of tea with his slender fingers. His eyes fell on the general of Sangnan Kingdom next to King Zhao at the front of the team. His eyes were obviously stunned for a moment, and then a mocking smile flashed past.
"Very good, this is exactly the purpose of his trip."
Luo Jiuli raised his eyebrows.
"One accepts everyone who comes, and the other accepts everything. These two are truly a match made in heaven."
"Ha! A match made in heaven?"
Xiao Mingxuan nodded in agreement.
"Li'er, what do you think the fifth princess will do if she sees Prince Zhao with another woman?"
Luo Jiuli turned to look at him.
"What's your plan, Your Majesty?"
Xiao Mingxuan shook his head.
"It's not that I have any plans? But what are their plans?"
"When I went to court this morning, I saw the carriage of Prince An parked outside the palace, and Lu Mingxin went to Changchun Palace."
Upon hearing Lu Mingxin's name, Luo Jiuli narrowed his eyes, the color in his eyes was deep and complex.
Xiao Mingxuan saw her frowning and stretched out his hand to smooth her brows.
"Don't worry, there are some things where no one knows who will win until the last minute?"
"Is the prince hiding something from me?"
This kind of thing is either said by someone who is bragging, or someone who is in control of the overall situation.
And Xiao Mingxuan definitely does not belong to the former group.
Xiao Mingxuan smiled and raised her finger.
"Let's go, I'll take you somewhere."
——
At the same time, inside Changchun Palace.
Lu Mingxin knelt on the ground, her pale fingers trembling slightly as she clenched the small bamboo tube in her hand.
Opposite her, the Queen Mother was leaning on the couch, with a green hairpin on one side gently massaging the Queen Mother's legs. Behind her stood another woman, who turned out to be the spirit girl she hadn't seen for a long time.
"Miss Lu, you must not make mistakes in the steps I just taught you. Otherwise, no one can save you."
Lu Mingxin bit her lip and her face turned pale again.
The spirit girl laughed.
"Don't worry, miss, it's very gentle."
Lu Mingxin was agitated, her heart trembled and her hands trembled even more when she thought of what was in the bamboo tube.
"Lu Mingxin."
The Queen Mother closed her eyes and seemed to feel Lu Mingxin's resistance from the inside out.
"Don't forget the real purpose of the Aijia taking you back to Beijing."
"How did you agree to the Ai family in the first place?"
"certainly--"
The Queen Mother waved her hand, and the green hairpin she was massaging bowed and stepped aside.
The Queen Mother opened her eyes, and her eyes that were still warm now turned cruel and sinister.
"If you don't want to do this, the Ai family won't force you. After all, you are not the only lady in Prince An's Mansion."
When Lu Mingxin heard this, her whole face changed!
"Queen Mother, my daughter, I don't dare."
"My daughter, please obey the Queen Mother's instructions."
"Ah, very good."
The Queen Mother smiled indifferently.
"The envoy is in Beijing. The emperor will entertain you in the palace tomorrow night. Please don't leave the palace today."
Lu Mingxin was startled, kowtowed hurriedly and said tremblingly.
"The Queen Mother, I dare not disobey the Queen Mother, but today is the death anniversary of my mother. I would like to ask the Queen Mother to allow me to go out of the palace to worship my mother."
"Maybe, maybe after tomorrow, my daughter, my daughter, will never have a chance again."
The Queen Mother obviously would not remember the death anniversary of a late princess, but she did not expect that it would be such a coincidence. She pondered for a moment, and her words and deeds were a little careless.
"In that case, then come back before the palace keys are handed down in the evening."
"Thank you, Queen Mother."
Lu Mingxin knelt down and kowtowed.
"Li Wu."
The Queen Mother shouted outside the palace.
Li Wu bowed his body and entered the hall.
"The Queen Mother, my servant is here."
The Queen Mother glanced sideways at Lu Mingxin.
"You accompany the Lu family girl back to the house, and come back before the palace keys are handed down. Remember, no mistakes are allowed. If you neglect your duties, you know that the Ai family has always told the truth."
Li Wu hurriedly accepted the order.
"Don't worry, Queen Mother, I understand."
Lu Mingxin's fingers tightened under her sleeves, and she suddenly regretted why she didn't follow little sister Xingluan's advice after leaving the palace last time, and drove herself to a dead end.
Accompanied by Li Wu, Lu Mingxin left the palace and returned to Prince An's Mansion.
At that time, Prince An was still in the palace, and Princess An was preparing sacrifices. Everyone in the mansion was shocked when they saw Eunuch Li following the eldest lady back to the mansion.