The tea in Qin Feng's hand almost spilled.
The restless ripples in the teacup were just like his current state of mind.
The Second Prince was looking at him. Although he looked frail and sickly, his eyes were trembling wildly, with a fierce look in them.
Qin Feng's heart was pounding wildly.
After Qin Xuanyan failed in the competition for the position of the Crown Princess, he had indeed prepared a second - hand plan.
He had written a fake imperial edict and hidden it in the book - lined wall.
This secret was still safe and unknown to anyone.
This move was too risky. Without full confidence, he would never gamble the fate of the entire Rongxiang Duke's Mansion.
Judging from the Second Prince's appearance, was he unable to hold back any longer?
In Qin Feng's eyes, although the Second Prince was ambitious and ruthless, he still lacked the calmness and wisdom of the Crown Prince.
However, he had the military power of the Gao Family to back him up. If he wanted to overpower the Crown Prince and seize the throne, there really was no better candidate than him.
Therefore, on his fake imperial edict, it was also the Second Prince who would ascend the throne.
"Lord Qin, have you really never thought about it?"
The Second Prince's voice was cold and his gaze seemed to be penetrating.
The hand of Qin Feng holding the teacup trembled slightly.
"Without a foolproof plan, how can one take such a risk?"
The Second Prince let out a sneer. "If I don't take a desperate gamble, once Lu Sihong ascends the throne, regardless of whether it's a brother or a powerful official, as long as he doesn't like them, they will surely be purged."
Qin Feng could understand his situation.
It was a battle of life and death between him and the Crown Prince.
"To tell you the truth, the assassination on the day of the Crown Prince's wedding was secretly planned by me and the Eldest Princess. I was the liaison between her and the death - warriors. Aunt was kind - hearted and never revealed me even when she was dying. Lu Sihong is cold - blooded and heartless. I must avenge Aunt!"
Qin Feng wanted to cover his ears and run away, but it was too late.
He didn't want to know at all how Lu Siming was courting death!
Now that he was forced to know, wasn't he completely tied to Lu Siming?
Lu Siming seemed to be being honest with him, but in fact, he was trying to drag him into the water!
Lu Siming saw the complicated look on Qin Feng's face.
Regardless, he continued, "Not long ago, I actually received a package. Inside were the dresses and jewelry I gave to Aunt when I visited her in the Xisi Courtyard. The Crown Prince already knows about our secret plan with Aunt. He's threatening me to behave myself. Otherwise, if such a crime reaches Father's hands, I'll surely die."
The moment he received the package, Lu Siming felt as if an iron wire was tightly wrapped around his neck, almost choking him and making it hard for him to breathe.
He slumped on the ground. It took a long time for his hands and feet to regain their senses.
Lu Sihong was openly threatening and warning him to be obedient.
But why should he be obedient?
Just because Lu Sihong was his elder brother, would he have to kneel before Lu Sihong and submit to him in the future?
He was not convinced.
His maternal grandfather's family had 50,000 troops, while the Crown Prince had no bargaining chips at all.
The people in his maternal grandfather's family were all civil officials and were vulnerable.
50,000 troops were enough to break into the capital and make Lu Sihong pay a bloody price, seizing the throne from him!
So what if the Prince Rui supported him?
The actual power of the Duke's Mansion's troops was still in the hands of Liang Xuguang.
And the Duke's Mansion always adhered to the doctrine of the mean.
Back then, when the Eldest Princess and the Crown Prince were openly and secretly fighting, the Duke's Mansion didn't show an obvious preference.
They might not support Lu Sihong.
No matter how powerful the Prince Rui was, he was just one person without the power to deploy troops. Could he kill through 50,000 troops?
The only one who posed a threat to the Gao Family was Shi Luohan.
But he was far away in the northern border. It was too far to provide timely help.
Lu Sihong had no troops. No matter how you looked at it, his chances of winning were greater!
Qin Feng was cautious and finally didn't make any promises.
But Lu Siming knew that Qin Feng was already on the same boat as him.
He cared too much about the power in his hands and couldn't bear to see the power decline.
As for Liang Wentao, since he refused to listen to him and insisted on siding with the Crown Prince, then don't blame him for being rude.
Those who didn't know what was good for them were useless to keep!
...
Liang Wentao returned home after the court session. The butler greeted him with a beaming face.
"Third Master, there's an honored guest at home. They're in the Kangning Courtyard of the old lady. Even the mistress has gone there."
"What honored guest could even stir up Mother?"
Mrs. Liang had not been in good health in recent years and had been bed - ridden for recuperation.
The butler deliberately kept him in suspense. "Third Master, you'll know when you go. Don't keep the honored guest waiting!"
In the room of Grandma Liang in the Kangning Courtyard.
Liang Wentao lifted the beaded curtain and immediately saw Jiang Qianyu being surrounded.
Today she was wearing a silver - threaded, waist - nipping Sichuan brocade dress in the color of moonlight, like a soft and bright moonbeam shining into his heart.
"Greetings to Lord Liang."
Jiang Qianyu stood up and gave him a gentle smile, looking elegant and composed.
Liang Wentao's gaze shifted downwards and saw the jade pendant around her waist.
His Adam's apple twitched slightly and warmth filled his heart.
"Daddy, come and see. Isn't the painting Auntie gave Ruier beautiful?"
Ruier jumped out of Jiang Qianyu's arms and pulled Liang Wentao to look at the painting on the table.
Grandma Liang said with a smile, "I've heard that the Crown Princess has excellent painting skills and her calligraphy and paintings are hard to come by even for a thousand gold. But she's willing to give this to you. I wonder whose favor you've gained?"
Mrs. Liang continued, "Naturally, it's because of Miss Jiang. Wentao, you haven't thanked Miss Jiang yet."
Jiang Qianyu blushed. "It's because the Crown Princess is kind - hearted and misses Ruier. I'm just the one delivering it."
Ruier pointed at the people in the painting and murmured to herself, "This is Daddy, this is Ruier, and this is Mother!"
In the room, the three adults and one child all fixed their gazes on Jiang Qianyu's face.
"Ruier, don't talk nonsense again."
Liang Wentao gently scolded her.
Jiang Qianyu raised her eyes and met Liang Wentao's gaze.
She was a bit confused. Why did he say "again"?
"Miss, don't take it to heart. Maybe Ruier just hits it off with you. She dreams at night and unconsciously regards you as her mother."
Ruier lost her mother when she was two years old, so it was hard for her to have a deep impression of her biological mother.
She was so eager to have a mother who could hug her warmly and lull her to sleep.
Jiang Qianyu couldn't help but be touched.
The Liang Family warmly invited her to stay for lunch.
It was hard to decline their kindness. During this meal, everyone took great care of her.
She suddenly remembered that it had been a very long time since she had eaten with her family.
Unconsciously, her nose felt sour.
She pretended to wipe her mouth with a handkerchief, lowered her head, and covered her red - tinged nose with the back of her hand.
Liang Wentao saw her restraint and his heart trembled.
"This stewed chicken with Chinese prickly ash is a bit too pungent. I'm sweating from the tip of my nose after eating it. Quickly serve some cool tea. Also, bring a cup for Miss Jiang."
Jiang Qianyu tightened the handkerchief in her hand and her eyelashes fluttered.
Liang Wentao was actually so considerate...
After the meal, Jiang Qianyu bid farewell to Grandma Liang and Mrs. Liang.
She had come low - key today, and her carriage was parked at the back door.
Just as she was about to get on the carriage, Liang Wentao's gentle voice came from behind, "Miss, please wait a moment."
There was a maid following behind him. Jiang Qianyu recognized her as the top - ranking maid beside Mrs. Liang.
The maid was also holding a cloak in her hand.
"Miss, the autumn wind is cold. You're dressed thinly. This cloak was made by my mother a few days ago, but she thought the color was too youthful. When you came today, she thought it matched your temperament, so she asked me to give it to you."
The maid stepped forward with the cloak in her hands.
Since the words were so polite, Jiang Qianyu had no choice but to accept it.
Fang Xiao understood her intention, took the cloak, and put it on her.
It was made of high - quality brocade fabric with a water - ink blue color, elegant and beautiful.
When worn on the body, it was like being enveloped in the hazy sky of misty rain, serene and distant.
This was clearly prepared for her, not something Mrs. Liang didn't want.
On the day of the autumn outing, when they first faced each other, she was wearing water - ink blue.
She had never given him anything, but he remembered every detail about her.
This feeling of being cared about, loved, and pitied was something she had never experienced before.
She had once spent a lot of effort on the Crown Prince.
She sewed clothes, made shoes, and embroidered purses for him, but there was never any trace of her needlework on the Crown Prince.
That kind of disappointment and dejection of giving a lot but getting nothing in return was like a gloomy day, weighing heavier and heavier on her heart.
Liang Wentao's care tore a hole in her cloudy sky.
She gently stroked the cloak on her body. Before she could say the words of thanks, Liang Wentao said with a gentle smile, "It's getting late. Miss, go back early."
He didn't need her thanks.
Because in his eyes, Jiang Qianyu was worthy.
Worthy of a man's whole - hearted love.
Jiang Qianyu silently thanked him in her heart.
On the way back to the Eastern Palace, the wind indeed picked up.
The cloak wrapped around her body was very warm.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and the carriage shook violently.
Fang Xiao quickly protected her behind.
"What's going on?"
The coachman said indignantly, "Miss, someone deliberately rammed into our carriage!"
After the carriage stopped shaking, Jiang Qianyu supported Fang Xiao's hand and lifted the carriage curtain.
Opposite was the carriage of the Gao Family, the Marquis of Dingyuan.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a gorgeously - dressed maid shouted aggressively at her, "Who do you think you are? How dare you ram into our young lady's carriage! If you scare our young lady, can you afford to compensate?"