They are all concubines, so of course they choose the future emperor.

Prince Jing's mansion was orderly and well organized.

But outside the palace, crowded places in the south and west of the city gradually became chaotic.

Jiang Yang, his brother and two good friends had just returned from the East Gate. They were walking through the streets and alleys, preparing to go to the West Gate, but were blocked by a group of people who looked like beggars and refugees on the way.

Jiang Yang's two friends were both weak scholars. How could they have seen such a scene? They didn't know how to react for a moment. In just a moment, they were knocked to the ground and trampled by the crowd.

Jiang Yang struggled to protect his younger brother, but it was difficult to maintain.

He was kicked several times, two of which were aimed at his vitals, but fortunately he dodged them in time.

Just as the two brothers were about to be drowned by the crowd, suddenly, a horse neighing was heard not far away.

Then there was an angry shout.

"Take all those who gather to cause trouble to the government office!"

When these beggars and vagrants heard the word "yamen", they immediately scattered and ran away in an instant.

Jiang Yang took a breath, stood up straight, and waved to the people who dismounted from their horses.

"Shu Yan, why are you here?"

The person who suddenly appeared with the yamen runners was Lin Shuyan.

Lin Shuyan supported Jiang Yang, and asked someone to check on Jiang Yang's two friends, while explaining.

"I know the son of the Luoyang Ling family. We had a small gathering at his house earlier. I heard a yamen runner say that there was chaos here, so I came to help. Why did Brother Yang come here?"

Jiang Yang patted the dirt off his body and was a little hesitant, not knowing whether he should tell Lin Shuyan about Jiang Wanyue's instructions.

At this time, his younger brother Jiang Jie popped his head out from behind him.

"Brother Lin!"

Jiang Jie spoke with a smile.

"My sister discovered something was wrong and asked my brother to go to each city gate to investigate the situation."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Yang frowned and scolded him: "Shut up! Who told you to talk nonsense? What did I tell you before I left?"

Jiang Jie pursed his nose, shrank his shoulders and muttered.

"I'm not lying..."

Jiang Yang sighed, turned around and was about to explain, but caught a glimpse of the astonishment in Lin Shuyan's eyes. He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Instead, it was Lin Shuyan who came to his senses first.

He did not try to avoid the question, but took the initiative to say, "I haven't congratulated you yet, but Prince Jing has already requested that your sister be made a concubine. I think the imperial decree will be issued soon."

Jiang Yang waved his hand: "Congratulations, this is not the time to talk about that. By the way, you are familiar with the son of Luoyang Ling's family, do you know where those merchants who sell and transport sea goods live?"

"Why are you asking about this?"

Lin Shuyan was puzzled.

Jiang Yang did not hesitate this time and said directly: "I just feel that there is something wrong with these people... After these people came to the capital, they disrupted the market. The prices of marine fish and seafood in the city have dropped again and again. I don't know what they are planning."

He didn't mention Jiang Wanyue's guess, but just found an ambiguous excuse.

After all, my sister's guess has no evidence. If she says it rashly and it turns out to be wrong, wouldn't it affect her reputation?

Besides, Lin Shuyan is engaged to his younger sister after all, so it’s better to tell him as little as possible about his younger sister.

Although Jiang Yang admired Lin Shuyan very much and felt very sorry that the marriage between the two families did not take place, things had come to this point and no matter how regretful he was, it would not affect his sister's current life.

Prince Jing can tolerate Lin Shuyan because he is tolerant and generous, but outsiders will not do that.

During this moment, Jiang Yang thought of many things.

Lin Shuyan frowned and thought for a moment, his expression somewhat solemn.

"Now that you mention it, it's true that things have been a little unusual recently."

Lin Shuyan recalled this time in his previous life, and nothing similar happened.

He himself doesn't like eating seafood and his family never buys it, so he didn't notice this.

"Well, come with me to the government office to meet Lord Fan, the governor of Luoyang."

Jiang Yang wished it were so. He realized that it would be difficult to find out the truth by himself, and even if he called his friends, it would not be of much use.

His father was gone and his grandfather was old, so it was time for him to support the family.

Jiang Yang nodded immediately, turned around and told Jiang Jie: "Little brother, send Brother Guo and Brother Li back first, and then go home immediately."

Jiang Jie actually wanted to go, but under the gaze of his eldest brother, he finally nodded.

"I understand. Be careful too, brother."

The group went their separate ways and left in different directions.

Jiang Yang followed Lin Shuyan onto the horse and galloped all the way to the yamen.

After meeting Luoyang Magistrate Fan Li, Jiang Yang reorganized Jiang Wanyue's guess and told it again.

After hearing this, Fan Li's expression became serious. He immediately called back all the yamen runners and sent them out to search.

Most of the sea merchants live in the south of the city, so it is not difficult to find them. You can find a lot of them just by following the smell.

This matter was of great importance, so Fan Li stepped in personally and called upon all the people who could come to help.

Finally, when it was dark, they found one.

Fan Li led his men to rush in and immediately subdued the people in the yard, but was almost suffocated by the salted fish in the yard.

He tore off a corner of his clothes to cover his mouth and nose, and waved to his men.

The yamen runners broke into the house and searched everywhere, but found nothing unusual.

Just then, Lin Shuyan walked to a large vat in the yard.

There are more than a dozen large vats in the yard, filled with salted fish.

Lin Shuyan turned around and shouted, "Sir, there is something strange about this jar."

Fan Li turned his head and immediately called a few yamen runners to overturn the jar.

Wow!

A few salted fish slipped out of the tank.

What followed closely behind were not salted fish, but gun tips and arrows flashing with cold light.

Fan Li's pupils trembled, and he immediately jumped up and ran to another large vat, and pushed it over with all their strength.

There are also many weapons hidden inside.

In addition to spear heads and arrowheads, there are also many long swords.

Fan Li took a deep breath.

These are clearly weapons that can only be equipped by the military!

"Take your men to guard this place. Brother Lin, follow me to the North Yamen."

As soon as he reached the door, he was stopped by Lin Shuyan.

"Master Fan, wait a minute."

Fan Li glared at him: "Why are you so slow? It's urgent, why don't you hurry up?"

He was in a hurry.

We only searched one place and found so many weapons. With so many sea merchants suddenly appearing in the city, how many weapons could there be?

My scalp is about to explode just thinking about it.

Lin Shuyan didn't pay attention to his tone. In his previous life, he and Fan Li were close friends regardless of age difference. He knew that Fan Li had a quick temper, but was a good official.

"Sir Fan, even if we go to the Northern Court, we can't mobilize the Imperial Guards without the Tiger Tally. Moreover, even if the Imperial Guards believe us and send people to chase the Emperor, it will take a day to go back and forth, and there is not enough time."

Lin Shuyan analyzed slowly and calmly.

Fan Li frowned.

"Then what do you say we should do? Who else can we turn to in the capital besides the Imperial Guards?"

Lin Shuyan turned his eyes and looked towards the direction of the imperial palace.

"Looking for the inner guard."

There was an inexplicable look in Fan Li's eyes.

"The inner guards have always been mysterious. No one except the emperor knows where they are. How can we find them?"

Lin Shuyan lowered his eyes.

"I have my own way, but I still need your trust."

Fan Li's eyes changed, and after a long inner struggle, he finally nodded vigorously.

So Lin Shuyan bowed hurriedly, turned around and walked out of the courtyard.

He mounted his horse again, grabbed the reins, and galloped north.

The Inner Guards were the eyes of the emperor. Although the emperor took some people to the temporary palace, most of the Inner Guards remained in the capital, monitoring everywhere.

The sky in the palace was darker than that in the capital a moment earlier in the morning.

Everyone arrived at the palace long before dark.

Just after settling down, the emperor couldn't wait to go and see the strange stone. Suddenly he heard a cooing of pigeons outside. Not long after, he saw an inconspicuous eunuch running over and reporting in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, the inner guards have a message to deliver."

"Send it up."

The emperor frowned, took the small roll of silk, unfolded it, and his expression changed immediately.

"Quickly pass the message to Zhu Zhiwen!"

He shouted urgently, his voice echoing throughout the palace, frightening all the eunuchs and maids in the hall and making them retreat in fear.

Someone rushed out of the palace to pass on the message.

But the first person to hear this news was not Zhu Zhiwen, but another person.

The King of Qi stood in front of his palace with a gloomy look.

How could it be exposed so quickly?

According to the plan, the capital should wait until midnight to start.

It’s only the hour of Xu now!

Two confidants stood behind him. One of them, a shorter aide, paced back and forth anxiously. Finally, he could not help but speak.

"Your Majesty, at this point, there is no other way but to act in advance. If the emperor cannot see Zhu Zhiwen, he will surely become suspicious. If we take action then, it will be too late!"

Another tall and thin man also advised: "Yes, Your Majesty, the only way now is to take down Prince Jing when he is unprepared! As long as Prince Jing dies, who among the princes can compete with you?"

There was a gleam in the King of Qi's eyes. He no longer hesitated and flicked his sleeves.

"Alright! You two, go and tell them to gather all the officials and kill Prince Jing!"

The short aide's face was still worried. "But this time, Prince Jing brought seven or eight hundred guards with him. I'm afraid it will be difficult to kill him in a short time. If we can't kill him in one fell swoop, we will be in trouble when the emperor reacts and sends people to rescue him."

The slender aide's eyes flickered as he looked at the King of Qi: "Your Majesty, I have a plan."

He walked up to the King of Qi and whispered something in his ear.

The King of Qi looked a little unhappy.

But then the aide said, "Your Majesty, please don't be too soft-hearted!"

The King of Qi took a deep breath, nodded silently, then turned and walked towards the bedroom behind the palace.

It was getting darker.

There is no moon tonight, and the sky above the palace is covered by thick dark clouds. It is so pitch black that it seems like thunder will strike at any time.

Prince Jing changed into his casual clothes, asked about the children's conditions, and went to the study to read a letter. Suddenly, Rong An appeared at the door with an embarrassed look on his face.

"My Lord, someone is looking for you."

Prince Jing didn't even raise his head.

"It's already this hour, I won't see any visitors."

Rong An opened his mouth with a conflicted expression.

He hesitated for a while, but still went into the house, walked to Prince Jing, and said something in a low voice.

"It's Princess Qi."

Prince Jing paused, then slowly raised his head.

"Princess Qi?"

"Yes, Princess Qi is waiting for you under the banyan tree in front of the palace."

Rong An lowered his head, not daring to look at his master's expression.

Rong An grew up with Prince Jing and followed him to the border. In the entire Prince Jing's mansion, only Rong An knew his master's secret thoughts about Princess Qi.

Prince Jing touched his chin, a hint of life emerging in his eyes.

"She's the only one?"

Rong An nodded.

Prince Jing uttered a "huh", stood up, flicked his sleeves, and walked straight out.

When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned around, waved to a few guards, gave them a few instructions, and then walked down the stairs.

Rong An hurriedly drove away all the other followers and followed alone.

If the news of the prince meeting his eldest sister-in-law in private gets out, it will be a disaster! The fewer people who know about it, the better.

Rong An walked like a thief, daring not to make any sound.

Prince Jing was very calm. He strode out of the palace and walked about a hundred meters forward. Then he saw the banyan tree that Rong An had mentioned.

A figure was hidden in the darkness under the banyan tree and could not be seen clearly.

Seeing Prince Jing coming, she walked out from behind the tree, pulled back the hood that was covering her face, revealing her face.

It was Wei Fuxue.

Prince Jing did not leave her for long. When he saw her, there was no joy on his face. He just asked indifferently.

"In the dead of night, the Princess of Qi came to see me alone. Aren't you afraid that the King of Qi will find out?"

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Wei Fuxue's face.

She pinched the corner of her cloak, took a deep breath, and then spoke.

"I came here this time to apologize to you."

Prince Jing raised his eyebrows.

"apologize?"

"Back at the hot spring manor, the prince believed the slander and thought you had someone poison me, so his words were a bit too harsh. But he had no ill will towards you, he was just in a hurry at the moment."

Wei Fuxue looked up at Prince Jing with worry in her eyes.

"I know you won't hurt me. The prince... actually knows that, too. But, since we knew each other before, he inevitably overestimated it and became a little jealous of you. I thought you two could get together someday and talk it out, okay? You are brothers after all, and I don't want you to kill each other because of me."

Prince Jing listened to Wei Fuxue speak, his eyes never leaving hers.

He wanted to make sure whether what Wei Fuxue said was sincere or just flattery.

But after watching for a long time, he found that Wei Fuxue really thought so.

Prince Jing couldn't help laughing.

"Do you really think that the fight between Li Jian and I is because of you?"

Wei Fuxue was stunned.

Prince Jing made a "tsk" sound.

"Li Jian really likes you. After all these years, your personality is still the same, innocent and simple as before. You believe everything he says. He asked you to come here today, right?"

A trace of panic flashed across Wei Fuxue's face.

Prince Jing acted as if he didn't see it. He turned his eyes and looked around, while raising his voice a little.

"In order to kill me, you even used your own wife. Li Jian, you are really broad-minded."

Wei Fuxue's eyes were shocked, and she looked at Prince Jing in disbelief, then looked around as his gaze moved.

"Your Majesty, he..."

She wanted an explanation.

But just as he opened his mouth, a sound of breaking air suddenly sounded.

Immediately afterwards, arrows streaked across the sky and turned into a dense rain of arrows, shooting towards Prince Jing.

They are densely packed and coming in a fan-shaped momentum.