Taking Di Tao along?
Zhang Bin was stunned. "Would Di Shuangcheng agree?"
After all, Di Shuangcheng is his own son. Once he enters the capital, his life and death will be in the hands of others.
Xiao Yan's expression was calm. "If he believes I'm a member of the He family and truly cares for me, he will agree. If he has other intentions, he will agree even more."
By revealing his identity, Xiao Yan's intentions are clear to Di Shuangcheng. If he genuinely wants to clear the He family's name and has shown sincerity before, he will naturally worry about Xiao Yan's safety.
Recently, Beiling has been active, and Di Shuangcheng finds it difficult to leave Luoyan Pass. He can only send others to assist. At that time, Xiao Yan only needs to say he's taking Di Tao out for training, find an excuse to bring him back to the capital, and find a way to get him involved in the military authority in the capital. Di Shuangcheng will naturally agree.
For the "big plan," it's necessary to have someone in the capital holding military authority.
If Di Shuangcheng has other intentions, after the Dragon Court Guard is stirred up, he will send someone to follow Xiao Yan. In this situation, no one is more suitable than his own son.
"Just instruct them to act accordingly; Di Shuangcheng won't refuse," Xiao Yan said.
Zhang Bin nodded. "Rest assured, Commander. I'll inform Tu Bai and the others to be cautious."
==========
After everyone left, the hidden guards stood watch at the door.
Xiao Yan sat alone at the table for a long time before taking out the dragon-patterned jade pendant he always carried.
The jade pendant was a grayish-blue, not as translucent as fine jade. When the two pieces were connected, the severed ends aligned, with uneven dark lines and coiling patterns interwoven. At the dragon's head and tail, there were hollowed-out areas of varying sizes.
The jade wasn't of high quality, but just by looking at it, no one could tell it was an insignia for commanding the Zhen'an Army and the Longting Guard. However, when Xiao Yan placed the "jade comb" he obtained from Di Shuangcheng next to the dragon-patterned jade pendant, he realized both were made from the same material.
Xiao Yan looked down and embedded the small "jade comb" into the dragon's head.
The patterns fit seamlessly, not a bit off.
"Indeed..." Xiao Yan murmured, gazing at the dragon-patterned jade pendant in his hand.
Before his father passed away, there were signs. Half of this dragon-patterned jade pendant was sent out of the palace and ended up in the Rong family.
Little Haitang's parents died tragically because of this. Empress Lu had coveted the Rong family's "dowry" for years, even exhuming graves and scheming Haitang's marriage to obtain this dragon jade token. What about Rong Qian'an, the head of the Rong family who held power in two reigns and was once favored by the founding emperor? Even the late emperor and Emperor An had to give way to this Grand Tutor.
Did he know this token was with Little Haitang?
Also, the sudden "rage" and "madness" of his father back then, the aristocratic backlash, and the sudden coup and bloodbath...
Xiao Yan's palm tightened as he recalled the fire in the Eastern Palace. Shadows flickered in his eyes, and the patterns on the dragon-patterned jade pendant almost embedded into his palm.
The room was silent. After a long while, he exhaled a deep breath and instinctively reached for the sachet at his waist.
Inside was dried jasmine, with only a faint fragrance remaining. Yet, the murderous intent in Xiao Yan's eyes softened.
After putting away the dragon-patterned jade pendant, Xiao Yan squeezed the sachet.
"It seems I need to urge my newly recognized ‘brother' to meet with Shang Qin soon..."
I wonder if my little girl misses me.
===========
Tang Ning naturally missed Xiao Yan. The letter sent to the northwest had been out for several days, and she didn't know where it had reached. Being thousands of miles apart, worrying was futile.
However, Tang Ning wasn't idle. Rong Sheng Academy had already gotten on track. Apart from taking Xue Ru to school daily, she was becoming more adept at handling affairs in the capital.
As July passed, the capital became like a lake disturbed by a thrown stone, startling flocks of panicked wild ducks.
The matter of Lingyun Temple not only hadn't faded with time but had intensified.
From the initial plot where the Empress and her son used Princess Leyang to scheme against Tang Ning, to the Second Prince's counterplot to ruin the Fourth Prince Consort's reputation, the aristocratic families became involved.
Soon after, King Huan, King Ji, and the reclusive Prince Ping's residence, along with several princes nearing adulthood, were all dragged into the fray.
The morning court had almost turned into a marketplace, with princes, kings, and officials accusing each other.
The court was in chaos, each with their own agenda, memorials piling up on the dragon's desk, giving Emperor An a headache.
The Second Prince sent someone to find Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan blocked them with an excuse of needing rest due to serious injuries. The messenger wasn't angry; he just left with a few words, saying the Second Prince was wronged.
The palace sent someone over once, but after Xiao Yan stumbled and fell before he could even stand up, Emperor An gave up his plan to let him get involved in the matter.
Compared to others, the saddest ones were Queen Lu who was under house arrest, and the Fourth Prince who was thrown into prison and was being held hostage by his wife's family.
When Empress Lu learned that the conspiracy had been exposed and the Fourth Prince's wife was accused of losing innocence and the Fourth Prince was imprisoned, she was almost desperate. But things took a turn for the better. Although she was confined to Fengxi Palace, news from the outside was still sent into the palace intermittently.
"How did this news come about?"
Empress Lu listened to Jinzhi saying that the Second Prince was scolded by Emperor An and looked up at her.
Jinzhi whispered, "It was the maid who delivered the food. I gave her some silver and she helped me find out the news from the court and the outside world."
Upon hearing this, Queen Lu suddenly laughed. Her tense mind suddenly relaxed, and even the new wrinkles between her brows smoothed out.
"Empress?" Jinzhi couldn't help but wonder when she saw how happy she was.
Empress Lu looked relaxed: "His Majesty has ordered house arrest, Zheng'er is in prison again, and the Zhao family is holding on to Zheng'er, so Zhao Yinxuan is useless."
"Everyone in the palace knows that our mother and son have displeased His Majesty. The people in the palace are always the most shrewd. Besides, there are so many people watching outside. How dare a little maid who delivers food take your money to deliver news to you?"
Jinzhi's eyes lit up when she heard this: "Your Majesty, you mean..."
"Xiao Yan, it must be him."
Empress Lu has been in a state of panic ever since she found out about the Lingyun Temple incident. She was not afraid that the Fourth Prince would be convicted, as it was obvious that they were being plotted against. What she was afraid of was that the eunuch Xiao Yan would find out what they had done and turn against them, and that he would attack her and her son for Song Tangning.
During this period, Xiao Yan had been recuperating from his injuries and had not shown up. The situation of her and her son was becoming increasingly difficult. She had been enduring it, waiting for Xiao Yan to show up. If he really wanted to abandon her and her son, she would risk her life to drag him down with her.
Fortunately...
Fortunately, Xiao Yan still had some concerns.
Empress Lu's tense heart finally relaxed. She let Jinzhi help her sit down and said with a smile, "He is afraid that I will be destroyed along with him."
==============
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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