Chapter 598: Three People Plot Together

Hong Ye froze for a moment.

Cui Ming’s brows furrowed tightly.

Qin Yuan understood, if she didn’t know that the several Young Masters of the Duke Zhen’s Mansion each had their own allegiance, she really couldn’t comprehend what this little maid was talking about.

The Eldest Young Master has pledged allegiance to King Jin.

The Third Young Master is loyal to the Crown Prince.

In the previous life, after the Crown Prince and Prince Qi passed away, the ministers who supported the Crown Prince turned to King Jin.

Clearly, the one who should have invited her to visit Gu Baoshu should have been the ladies of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, even if the Eldest Young Master was handling the matter, he should have asked someone to invite Marquis Gu to discuss.

At this moment, King Jin profited from the Crown Prince’s misfortune.

Qin Yuan said to Hong Ye, "Give her a few more golden peanuts."

Ning Hong looked at Qin Yuan in surprise, realizing only when her hand was filled with a few more golden peanuts that the beating was worth it.

The maids were all saying that Dingbei Marquis’s wife was beautiful, kind-hearted, and generous with rewards, and it was indeed true.

Ning Hong thanked again and again.

Qin Yuan said, "Lead the way ahead."

Ning Hong was startled and raised her head.

Qin Yuan continued, "Lead to the vicinity of the second gate."

Ning Hong opened her mouth but said nothing, just lowered her head and led the way forward.

Qin Yuan and the others followed swiftly and reached near the second gate, where Ning Hong stopped: "Madam, we’re here."

Qin Yuan said, "You go back and report that I feel something is amiss. Inform your master to quickly bring Baoshu and the Third Young Master here to apologize, don’t delay any further."

Ning Hong smiled, "Yes, Ning Hong thanks Madam."

At the second gate, Qin Yuan glanced around, found a servant, and instructed, "I am Dingbei Marquis’s wife, please pass a message for me, find Dingbei Marquis to come and talk."

The servant said, "Due to the Crown Prince’s affair, the banquet has already dispersed, I don’t know where Dingbei Marquis is..."

Qin Yuan said, "Just go find him, I will wait here."

Hong Ye added, "Whether or not he’s here, give us a reply, there will be a reward from our Madam."

The servant’s eyes brightened, and he took off running, "I’ll go looking right away, Madam please wait here."

Qin Yuan led her people to a nearby shaded tree to wait, checking for people around. She then instructed Yang’er, "Quickly find guards from our mansion, let them figure out Treasure Bead’s whereabouts. If Marquis is still at Duke Mansion, inform him as well."

Yang’er quickly set off to find people.

Hong Ye frowned, "I hadn’t thought this through before, Miss You called out Seventh Miss, and it just so happened to run into Third Young Master You, and bumped the Crown Prince into the water. Seeing Miss You crying like that, Seventh Miss probably realizes the trouble caused, yet hasn’t come back seeking Old Madam’s protection, or the Marquis’s. Why doesn’t anyone know where she is now? Could she be injured like Third Young Master You? Is that why the maid came seeking us to go look?"

Cui Ming was unsure, "Didn’t that maid say she hadn’t seen Seventh Miss? If instructed to bring messages, she’d surely hear some news, she hears everyone else’s news but not a bit of Seventh Miss’s. It indeed seems strange."

Qin Yuan persisted, "To deal with Treasure Bead, we must have one of our family present. The Crown Prince wasn’t pushed down by Treasure Bead, nor is there any major injury. Even if Third Young Master You is too injured to come apologize, Treasure Bead should be here. Regardless, let’s not move around erratically, we’ll retrace our steps back afterwards."

Do as you wish, I remain resolute.

...

King Jin was getting fired up, "This little lady is really hard to manage, can’t deceive her whatsoever."

He glanced at the hourglass, "Can’t delay any longer, we’ll have to resort to force."

Jinyi Young Master began to suspect, "She never falls for it, was she anticipating it? Or did she already anticipate our plan?"

King Jin calmed down, "Tell me in detail."

Jinyi Young Master said, "Dingbei Marquis wins in battle flawlessly, surely he’s no fool. Could he have noticed something peculiar about this birthday banquet leading to cautiousness? If the other side is aware, it’s difficult. Stealing chicken but hitting the rice grain instead is the fear."

King Jin fell into thought.

Yelv Guza sneered, "You can’t accomplish anything by cowering like that, Dingbei Marquis just plundered my wealth, leaving me penniless for court manipulation. He can’t be bothered about domestic affairs; if I’m not mistaken, it’s likely him who set the Hostage Mansion ablaze.

The monk is still trapped in the villa, unable to be sent out... dragging this out is very disadvantageous for us."

King Jin tapped the table lightly, "Don’t be rash, small patience prevents great chaos."

Yelv Guza stood up abruptly, slamming his large fist onto the table, making cups clatter, gritting his teeth, "Gu Jinghui could win battles in the Northern Border because my brother died, and my father was too grieved, allowing him the opportunity.

Although Da Xing agreed to withhold military pay and provisions, it’s remained unfulfilled. Otherwise, Gu Jinghui would have perished long ago, no more claiming to be a War God!"

Jinyi Young Master hurried in to console him, "This is in the Capital City, not the Northern Border, we need long-term planning."

Yelv Guza breathed heavily, his untamed brows furrowed, eyes sharp like a beast, staring at King Jin so intensely that the King couldn’t resist before hissing a laugh, "Ha! You’re not scared of him, are you?"

King Jin held on, "What a joke, why should I fear him, I’m a Prince, he’s but a Marquis, a mere reckless fellow."

"If you’re not scared, then take action!" Yelv Guza lamented, his small braid quivering, "If not for the Crown Prince’s frailty, you wouldn’t have a chance. That woman is Dingbei Marquis’s Achilles’ heel; if something happens to her, Dingbei Marquis will lose composure, neglecting us, letting the fake monk escape.

Don’t think it’s solely the Crown Prince and my affair, without the Crown Prince shielding, you wouldn’t have your moment."

The affairs between the Crown Prince and King Jin were crystal clear to him. His father had more sons, but none as feeble and inept as the Da Xing Crown Prince, nor as insidious and cunning as King Jin.

Why.

The Da Xing Dynasty could flourish while the Yelv Clan was driven out of Northern Border.

Is the heavens testing him to become Wolf Lord?

One day, he will reclaim Northern Border.

Seeing him on the verge of madness, Jinyi Young Master hurried forward, gently stroking his firm arm, "Young Master, don’t get angry, this matter is of great consequence, if anything isn’t cleanly done, it’s difficult for King Jin to explain."

He then told King Jin, "What Young Master said makes sense too, Dingbei Marquis’s wife is still at the second gate, if we act quickly, we can capture her, force the matter, and presume she won’t dare to speak."

King Jin nodded, "Then this King will close it in, break the melon before anything else."

Jinyi Young Master immediately understood his intent, smiling lecherously and smugly, "You have the ways, no time to lose, I’ll right away order to prepare a room at the second gate. It’s her first time, so don’t be too rough, lest it becomes hard to coax later."