The Duke's Daughter is Reborn

Outside the window, the sound of palace lanterns lighting up one after another was like broken jade falling into a glass plate.

Yang Qi walked out of the Queen's Palace, stepping on the light and shadows all over the ground. The lotus hairpin on her temple was lifted half an inch by the wind.

The wind, wrapped in the fragrance of agarwood, blew past her ears. She looked at the lights outside the palace wall that were winding like a galaxy of stars. Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the hard object in her sleeve. Her heart felt like it was being pricked by a silver needle dipped in ice water, causing it to hurt: from tonight, this war without the smoke of gunpowder has just begun.

After leaving the imperial city, Yang Qi wrapped himself tightly in the black and gold-woven cloak bestowed by the Queen Mother and went straight to the west gate.

The vermilion lacquered gate tower of Gaozi Escort Agency looked like a dormant beast in the night. The copper plaque with the word "Gao" on the lintel had rusted corners due to rain. The copper ring held in the mouth of the crouching Taotie beast on the door knocker was glowing faintly. Even the stone lions on both sides of the door had their heads drooped, as if they were taking a nap.

But Yang Qi knew very well that behind this seemingly peaceful and sleeping gatehouse, there was a powerful force that could change the situation. This was not only the foundation of the Crown Prince's years of hard work in the Imperial City, but also the confidence and ability for the Crown Prince to deal with the Fifth Prince's conspiracy at this moment.

She stood in front of the door, took a deep breath, then slowly raised her hand and gently knocked on the heavy door. The sound of the copper ring hitting the door echoed in the silent air, making two dull echoes of "dong-dong", as if it was a signal, awakening the world behind the door.

The two knocks on the door were like a thunderclap, making the copper bells hanging under the eaves jingle. The crisp bells swayed in the wind, as if they were also surprised by the sudden visitor.

However, just a moment later, a burst of hurried footsteps came from inside the door. The footsteps came closer and closer, becoming clearer and clearer, and finally roared in Ke Yangqi's ears like a drum.

"Who is the girl?" Old Zhou, who drove Fang Hua and Gao Xian to Duke Song this morning, said at the door with a trembling voice.

Yang Qi peeked in through the crack in the door and saw that his temples were stained with sweat and he was holding a half-eaten pancake in his hand - he must have been preparing to rest when he heard the knock on the door and hurried out.

"Please inform your master that the third young lady of the Song family requests an audience." Yang Qi lowered her eyes and looked at the tip of her embroidered shoes. The black satin surface was shining due to the night dew.

Old Zhou was stunned, his eyes sweeping over the cloud pattern embroidered with gold thread on her cloak, which was a stitching only found in the inner court.

His Adam's apple moved, and he suppressed the shock in his eyes: "Miss Song, are you all right? My master just came back from escorting a caravan outside today, and he is resting now..."

"I have something urgent." Yang Qi raised his eyes, his gaze like a blade tempered with ice, "This morning, the head of the Gao family personally sent Mr. Fang to the Duke of Song's mansion to discuss something. Now there are some important matters that must be discussed in person."

She deliberately emphasized the three words "Master Gao" and saw that Old Zhou's face changed. He hurriedly opened the door curtain and the sweat on his forehead dripped onto his collar when he came out. "Miss Song, please wait a moment. I will go and tell her right away!"

"Miss Song is wearing a palace cloak."

Gao Xian was shocked to hear that Yang Qi asked for a meeting at this moment, still wearing palace clothes.

What kind of shocking news did this brother bring that made Miss Song rush to the palace urgently? Could it be that he was going to ask the Queen for advice?

Gripping the sharp sword on the scepter tightly, Gao Xian put on his coat and rushed to the main hall.

When Gao Xian rushed into the main hall holding the hilt of the sword, the scabbard almost knocked over the celadon bottle on the incense table.

The moment he pushed open the door, he saw Yang Qi standing under the window with her back to the door. The moonlight shone through the window frame covered with rice paper, casting a layer of silver on her shoulders.

Hearing the noise, Yang Qi slowly turned around.

"Gao Xian." Yang Qi interrupted him and took off the Rongshan Warm Jade from his chest and placed it on the table.

The cool touch of the mutton-fat jade penetrated her fingertips and penetrated into her heart. She recalled the scene more than ten years ago by the Back Lake when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince stuffed the jade into her.

At this moment, the jade on the table was glowing with warm light, as if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was still standing behind her.

As soon as Gao Xian's eyes fell on Yu, his pupils suddenly contracted.

He staggered back half a step, his hand on the hilt, his Adam's apple moving: "This... is your Highness's Molten Mountain Warm Jade?"

"Yes." Yang Qi's fingertips brushed the cloud pattern on the jade. "I just came out of the palace and have confirmed my identity with the Queen."

She paused, and seeing the shock in his eyes, she added, "I am the prince's man."

Gao Xian calmed himself down, but his voice was still trembling: "Before he left, His Highness asked me to protect you in secret..."

"This morning, you sent Brother Fang back to Duke Song's mansion, and the letter you brought was not an ordinary secret letter."

Yang Qi pulled out the imitation letter and silk from his sleeve, and when he unfolded them, a gust of wind blew, causing the candle wick to crackle. "The fifth prince sent people to the territory of the Western Barbarians and joined forces with Kulyong to frame the crown prince for collaborating with the enemy."

Gao Xian raised his head suddenly, the candlelight flickered in his eyes, reflecting the bloodshot in his eyes: "Master Fang said that the fifth prince colluded with Kuryong?"

"More than that." Yang Qi took out another painting. The person in the painting was wearing a moon-white brocade robe with a sheep-fat jade pendant hanging around his waist. It was exactly Han Renyuan's appearance. "This is Han Renyuan, the legitimate son of the Minister of Revenue, and the person sent by the Fifth Prince to Kuryong to take charge of the situation."

Gao Xian's fingers poked hard on the portrait, his knuckles turning white: "If this is true, Your Highness now..." He didn't finish, but the unfinished words were full of worry.

Yang Qi looked at the reflection of the jade pendant dancing in the candlelight and said softly, "I have sent a message to His Highness. He will come back as soon as he receives the news."

She paused, her eyes falling on the sword tassel on Gao Xian's waist, "The Queen said that Pei Er is the one who stayed in the capital to lead the secret guards, but I'm afraid he was bribed by the Fifth Prince."

Before he could finish his words, the candle in the main hall went out with a puff.

When Gao Xian took out the fire starter and lit it, Yang Qi saw the corners of his eyes were red, not sure if it was because of anxiety or tiredness. When the fire was lit again, his face was hidden in the shadows, revealing only his thin lips.

"Gao Xian." Yang Qi took off another jade pendant from her neck. It was given to her by the Crown Prince when she came back from Xihu. "This jade can command the Crown Prince's secret guards. You keep it for me." She gently placed the jade pendant on his palm, touching the thin callus on his palm. "The Queen has ordered you to secretly take charge of the secret guards. Don't hide it from Pei Er."

Gao Xian clenched the jade pendant tightly, stroked the dark patterns on the jade with his fingertips, and whispered, "Gao Xian, obey your command." Although the voice was light, it was as firm as a wedge driven into a wood.

The wind started again, blowing a few ginkgo leaves onto the window paper. Yang Qi wrapped his cloak tightly and went out. The black cloak drew a sharp arc in the night, like an unsheathed sword - and this sword would protect the fire from now on and burn through the long night.