The queen is crazy and spoiled, and the tyrant bows to her

Lu Jinan held Yun Shang's hand tightly and walked out of the palace amid the congratulations and support of the crowd.

At the palace gate, the wedding procession had already lined up and was waiting. The long procession was winding like a dragon, and red silk brocade covered the entire street, like a flowing red river.

On both sides of the team, maids dressed in gorgeous costumes held flower baskets, and the petals fluttered in the wind, like flowers scattered by fairies, embellishing this festive and joyous world.

Despite the tight schedule, Lu Jinan arranged everything necessary for a grand wedding, without letting the woman dear to his heart down in the slightest.

The grand spectacle of ten miles of red wedding is dazzling.

With a high-pitched call of "Lift the sedan chair," the sedan chair was slowly lifted up, and the wedding procession began to head towards the Lu Mansion...

Red silk fluttered, drums and music sounded, and the entire capital seemed to be dyed in a festive red.

In contrast to the lively and festive atmosphere outside the palace, Changle Palace was silent and cold at this time.

After Yunchang and Xiuzhu left, Jiang Wantang stood alone in the yard, staring at the red silk hanging all over the yard, lost in thought.

The red silk hangs high, swaying gently in the wind, but without the noise and joy, leaving only the empty courtyard and silent loneliness.

The huge Changle Palace became like a gorgeous cage overnight.

Jiang Wantang stood for a while, retracted his gaze, and walked into the hall.

She had just sat down on the couch and had not yet picked up the teacup when the eunuch chief, Wang Fuhai, came hurriedly with two female officials to report.

Wang Fuhai bowed, his voice respectful yet cautious, "Your Majesty, Miss Yunshang and Miss Xiuzhu have left the palace. His Majesty is worried that Your Majesty doesn't have anyone she would like, so he has ordered this servant to carefully select these two ladies-in-waiting to be brought here to await Your Majesty's orders."

Upon hearing this, the two female officials stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your servants Leng Mei and Leng Xue pay their respects to the Imperial Concubine!"

Jiang Wantang raised her eyes and glanced at the two female officials indifferently.

They looked humble and respectful, with respectful demeanor, and there was nothing wrong with them. However, Jiang Wantang could tell at a glance that they were not ordinary female officials, but well-trained secret guards.

Not only them, the number of guards near Changle Palace has also increased several times compared to before.

Jiang Wantang knew full well that all of this was arranged by Ji Wuyuan, but she didn't want to ask any more questions. She just nodded slightly and said calmly, "I understand. You can go down first. I will summon you if there is anything else."

Seeing this, Wang Fuhai quickly responded and retreated with the two female officials.

Silence returned to the hall once again, leaving only the green smoke rising from the incense burner and slowly dissipating in the air.

Jiang Wantang picked up the teacup and took a sip. The tea had a refreshing aroma. She looked at the exquisite incense burner inlaid with gems and curled the corners of her lips slightly.

So what if we guard against it with all our might?

What is coming will come...

Now that he has come this far, he will never give up halfway.

That night, Jiang Wantang looked at the sky outside the window, slowly stood up, and walked to the incense burner. The spices in the burner had not yet burned out. She gently opened the lid of the burner, took out a dark red incense block from her sleeve, and put it into the burner. The incense block burned as soon as it came into contact with heat. It was colorless and odorless, and there was nothing unusual about it.

Soon, the palace maids waiting in the hall lowered their heads and fell into a deep sleep.

Jiang Wantang sat upright in the palace, his eyes sweeping over the sleeping palace maids, without a trace of emotion in them.

She extinguished nearly half of the candles in the hall, leaving only a few scattered ones, flickering softly...

As the night deepened, there was silence inside and outside Changle Palace, with only the sound of the wind gently blowing across the eaves, bringing a hint of coolness.

Jiang Wantang still sat motionless in the hall, looking through the window lattice at the dark night sky, as if quietly waiting for something.

After a long time, there was a very light sound of footsteps outside the hall, like fallen leaves, almost inaudible.

The corners of Jiang Wantang's lips curled up slightly, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

"Now that you're here, show yourself..."

Her voice was soft, echoing in the silent hall.

As soon as he finished speaking, the door of the palace was gently pushed open, and a black figure flashed in silently.

The man was dressed in a black nightgown, looming in the dim candlelight. He wore a black cloak and his face was hidden in the darkness. Only his eyes were as bright as cold stars, looking straight at Jiang Wantang.

"Are you waiting for me?"

"You already knew I would come today!"

The visitor's words sounded surprised, but his tone was full of affirmation.

Jiang Wantang looked at the person who came quietly, her eyes meeting his. Her expression was indifferent, and the candlelight flickered in her eyes, reflecting a deep coldness.

"Yes, I'm waiting for you." The corners of her lips rose slightly, her voice soft but firm.

"It's just that you're a little later than I expected."

After saying this, Jiang Wantang looked at the man in black in front of him, a hint of naked sarcasm flashing in his eyes.

Hearing this, the black-clad man's gaze instantly became as cold and sharp as a knife, staring straight at her: "It's all thanks to your Changle Palace being so heavily guarded that I haven't been able to find a suitable opportunity."

Jiang Wantang picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and said nothing.

The man in black was furious when he saw her indifferent look.

Under the black cloak, the man curled up a cold smile at the corner of his lips and walked over slowly. His black figure was fully revealed in the candlelight.

Then, the man reached out and took off the cloak on his head, revealing a delicate and beautiful face...

It was Nangong Liuli, who had not appeared for a long time.

Jiang Wantang looked at her quietly, his expression calm from beginning to end, as if he had guessed it was her a long time ago.

Nangong Liuli's pair of eyes, as sharp as cold stars, were always staring at Jiang Wantang, as if trying to see through her thoughts.

"Your Majesty is indeed very thoughtful. She even predicted my appearance." Nangong Liuli chuckled softly, looking at the palace servants lying on the ground and sleeping around her, with a hint of amusement in her tone, "I just wonder what your Majesty knows that made you go to so much trouble to wait for me?"

Jiang Wantang did not answer immediately. Instead, he raised his hand and took out a yellowed portrait from the small wooden box on the table.

The woman in the portrait didn't look exactly like her, but she was at least 90% similar.

The person in the portrait had picturesque eyebrows and bright eyes, and looked to be about the same age as she is now. She had a bright red crabapple flower pinned in her hair. It was the young and beautiful Nangong Yihua, who later became Empress Dowager Wende.

This portrait was given to her by Xie Zhiyan more than a month ago.

At that time, Xie Zhiyan advised her not to investigate further. He knew that she was stubborn and might not listen to his advice, so he gave her the portrait.

seeing is believing.

When Jiang Wantang saw the portrait with his own eyes, he was inevitably shocked.

At that time, she knew that she was inextricably linked to the annihilation of the Nangong clan...

Unsure whether Ji Wuyuan would vent his anger on her, she could only send Yun Shang and Xiu Zhu out of the palace first.

This way, even if that day really comes, she will have nothing to worry about.