Emperor An was already tired from tossing for half a night, but because of the palace banquet, his attention was diverted, and most of his suspicions about Feng Neishou were dissipated.
After he took the golden pill and was served to sleep, Feng Lai took people to Concubine Yu and Concubine Zhao overnight.
When the two who were woken up inexplicably learned that Emperor An asked them to handle the Mid-Autumn Palace banquet, both of them were almost dumbfounded, not only did they not have the slightest joy of being valued by Emperor An, but they were full of madness.
"Hold a palace banquet? It's only three days?! ”
"Your Majesty's will is so, saying that it will be grand and lively enough, and the two mothers will be tired."
Concubine Yu's face is blue, in the past, the small banquet in the palace still needs more than ten days to prepare, if there is a palace banquet like the Mid-Autumn Festival and the New Year's Festival, when the courtiers are happy, they will start to prepare almost a month ago, but now there are only three days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, how can they have time to order all parties to prepare for the palace banquet?
Besides, it has to be grand and lively, if it weren't for the fact that the person who opened her mouth was the emperor, she couldn't wait to scratch Emperor Hua'an's face and scold him for having something wrong.
Concubine Yu endured and endured: "Gonggong Feng, how could Your Majesty suddenly want to organize a palace banquet, and there was no news before?" ”
Concubine Zhao also said: "Yes, in previous years, these things were handled by the queen's mother, and we have never interfered, but now we ...... It's only three days, how can you prepare? ”
Feng Nei was full of apologies: "This is Your Majesty's order, and the servants have already persuaded it, but Your Majesty said that there are many things in the palace this year, and if the palace banquet is interrupted again, it will inevitably make the subjects speculate, which seems too hasty, and the slaves can only disturb the two mothers overnight." ”
Concubine Yu and Concubine Zhao were so angry when they heard this.
"But it's only three days, how can this be done well?!"
"That's right, Your Majesty still wants us to make it as lively as possible, obviously we can't lose to previous years, this ...... It's just embarrassing for us! ”
said that they valued the two of them, even because the Cui family crossed Concubine Xian, but they would rather let Concubine Xian pick up this "good errand".
Feng Neishou listened to the two complaining, and said with some hesitation: "The slave also wants to help the two maidens, but the slave has been waiting for the saint, and the twelve eunuchs of the east and west and these banquets and drinks are really not very familiar, and they can't help the two maidens."
---
“Twelve Eunuchs?”
Consort Yu was momentarily stunned. Yes, the Twelve Eunuchs! In previous years, the Empress had managed the palace banquets, but the real work was done by those below her. The people handling the details were likely already familiar with the process. She and Noble Consort Zhao found the task daunting, but if they could enlist those experienced hands, it would surely make things much easier and more efficient.
After all, His Majesty had decreed a grand event, and with time being so tight, even if they caused a bit of a stir, it likely wouldn’t matter much.
Seeing Consort Yu deep in thought, Eunuch Feng bowed respectfully.
“This servant must return to attend to His Majesty and will not disturb Your Ladyship further. I shall take my leave.”
Consort Yu nodded. “Take care, Eunuch Feng.”
Once Eunuch Feng had left, Consort Yu hurriedly ordered her attendants to summon the chief of the Twelve Eunuchs, along with some key palace staff. Yaohua Palace, where Consort Yu resided, was bustling with people coming and going all night long. Such a commotion was impossible to conceal.
……
Back in Heli Hall, Jinyun hurriedly woke Xiao Yan and told him what was happening in the palace. Xiao Yan, dressed in white underwear, asked in a serious tone, "Are you saying that Emperor An suddenly asked Concubine Yu and Concubine Zhao to prepare a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?"
"right."
Jinyun said, "There was no rumor in the palace about a banquet before. Everyone thought that the Empress was dead and Emperor An had no interest in this matter. There was no preparation at all. But who would have thought that the imperial edict would come suddenly."
"Concubine Yu and the others got the idea in the middle of the night and directly summoned the twelve prisons. Time is short and they want to make a big event. The palace is now in chaos."
"Our people felt something was amiss, so they secretly sent a message."
Xiao Yan rubbed his fingertips, his eyes dark.
It happened so suddenly that something did seem amiss.
"Has anyone seen Emperor An tonight?" Xiao Yan asked.
Jinyun was stunned for a moment: "Liu Tongen has been to Yulongtai... Could it be him?"
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. Lu Chongyuan had just died, and Liu Tongen went to the palace overnight. He saw that Emperor An was most likely here for the Lu family's affairs.
Emperor An was worried about the Lu family affairs and remembered the humiliation Queen Lu had caused him. In addition, there had been a lot of chaos happening outside recently. If no one reminded him, Emperor An would not have suddenly thought of holding a Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet for no reason.
In other words, Emperor An suddenly issued an edict.
Either it was something Liu Tongen said, or it was because of Feng Lai who was able to be by his side.
If it was Liu Tong'en who persuaded Emperor An to hold the palace banquet, as a close confidant of Emperor An, he must have had some ulterior motives, otherwise the banquet would not have been left to Concubine Yu and the others to arrange in such a hasty and chaotic manner.
It was only Feng Lai. It was Feng Lai who reminded Emperor An for some reason. Emperor An suddenly had an idea and issued an order casually. Concubine Yu and Concubine Zhao were caught off guard, which led to such a big commotion.
Xiao Yan's face darkened: "I'm afraid Feng Lai is in trouble."
Jinyun looked stunned: "Eunuch Feng?"
Xiao Yan stood up and took two steps before stopping and saying, "I already doubted that Emperor An would allow me to execute Lu Chongyuan alone. There are people from Liu Tongen in the imperial prison tonight. He must have noticed something and rushed to the palace to see Emperor An, even implicating Feng Lai."
"He was afraid that he had aroused Emperor An's suspicion, and with more eyes around him, he couldn't pass on the news, so he used this method to remind me."
Xiao Yan frowned, clenched his hands and placed them on his lips, thinking.
Although he and Feng Lai had "interactions", he never showed any signs of it to the outside world. Feng Lai had almost never done anything for him in public, and it was even more impossible for Liu Tongen to catch him. He himself had always acted cautiously. The only risky and potentially traceable time was this trip to the northwest.
The only thing that could implicate Feng Lai was the day the Zhao family provoked him, when Feng Lai brought Imperial Physician Jiang with him to cover up his tracks and deceive the emperor...
Jiangji?
Xiao Yan paused, then lowered his hand and said to Jinyun, "The last time Jiang Ji covered up for me, Emperor An became suspicious. Did the Jiang family keep anyone there?"
Jinyun's expression changed instantly: "If I keep him, should I deal with Jiang Ji?"
"Don't touch him."
Xiao Yan said in a deep voice, "The fact that Feng Lai was able to deliver the message proves that Emperor An was just suspicious. If anything happens to Jiang Ji at this time, it would be like admitting guilt."
"Send a message to our people immediately and have him tell Jiang Ji to tell them that I was seriously injured and recuperating in the palace that day. He is from the Imperial Medical Bureau and has the trust of Emperor An. Without solid evidence, Liu Tongen will not be able to impose too severe a punishment even if he interrogates me."
"As long as he keeps quiet, the governor will guarantee his safe release within two days at most. But if he reveals even a single word about his previous deception of the emperor, no one in the Jiang family will survive."
Jinyun nodded quickly: "I will go right away."
"Wait."
Xiao Yan frowned, "You can't move. Liu Tongen has probably already sent people to keep an eye on Jiyun Lane. Use the hidden sentries left by the Gu family. Don't alarm those who shouldn't be alarmed."
Jinyun quickly calmed down and said, "I understand."
Xiao Yan stood beside the bed, looking at the slightly flickering candlelight beside him with dim eyes.
Emperor An became suspicious of him, it must be because Liu Tongen found out something. If it was really because of the trip to the northwest, then Tang Ning might not be safe either.
Things in the South will be brought forward.
"Tian Qing."
"Master Governor."
“Tomorrow, go to Prince Zeng’s mansion and tell Xie Pingjia to prepare. We’ll make our move at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet three days from now.”
“Yes.”
====================
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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