novelaction Chapter 214 Substituting one thing for another
Chapter 214 Substituting one thing for another
In the night sky, a full moon cast its bright light on the earth. The banquet was in full swing and everyone was having a great time. The ministers drank and talked happily, while the female relatives gathered in twos and threes to admire the flowers and the moon. It was a unique experience in such a bright night.
A palace maid quietly walked to Yu Qingli's side and saluted her respectfully.
"Miss Yu, the Queen invites you."
"What does the Queen want from me?!"
"I don't know about that. Her Majesty only told the young lady to wait in Yichun Palace, and she specifically instructed that only the young lady could go there alone."
Yu Qingli frowned and said, "Then I'll go after I report to my father."
The palace maid lowered her voice and said, "Miss, from what Her Majesty said, it seems that there is something important to discuss, so it would be best for you to go there with this servant as soon as possible."
Yu Qingli pretended to hesitate for a moment and then said, "Okay."
As Yu Qingli spoke, she stood up from the table and winked at Xiluo who was standing behind her. Xiluo nodded imperceptibly. Then, Yu Qingli followed the palace maid and left Yanqing Palace.
Yu Zhengsha, who was standing by, caught a glimpse of Yu Qingli leaving and a sinister smile appeared on his lips.
At the same time, Yu Zhengsha didn't notice at all that Yu Zhenzhen was holding a small note in her hand on the table next to him. After reading the note, her face suddenly became full of joy, her cheeks flushed, and she seemed very happy.
Then, Yu Zhenzhen suddenly stood up, and Wang beside her asked, "Zhenzhen, what are you doing?"
"Oh, mother, I'm going to pee. I'll be back later."
"Then go and come back quickly."
Yu Zhenzhen nodded slightly, feeling very nervous. This was the first time she had lied to her mother since she was a child. But if she didn't say this, her mother would definitely not allow her to go.
Thinking of the note that made her so excited, that evil and handsome face appeared in her mind. His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan, she didn't expect that he would invite her to appreciate the moon and write poems.
"Miss Zhenzhen?"
As soon as Yu Zhenzhen left everyone's sight, a woman who looked like a palace maid came forward, but the palace maid kept her head down, making it difficult to see her expression.
Yu Zhenzhen responded, "I'm Yu Zhenzhen. May I ask who your sister is..."
"I am the prince's personal maid, and I have been ordered to come and greet the young lady."
Yu Zhenzhen was very excited. Ever since she saw Murong Yanhui that day, her heart had been occupied by that romantic and unrestrained figure, and she could no longer tolerate anyone else. She never expected that happiness would come so suddenly.
While Yu Zhenzhen was excited, she also felt something was amiss. She paused and asked, "Why didn't the prince come to the banquet?"
"Oh, my prince said that on this beautiful day, instead of drinking and chatting with a bunch of ministers, it would be better to drink tea and admire the moon with the person I love."
The word "the person I admire" made Yu Zhenzhen unable to ask any other questions. She suddenly felt her cheeks flushed and her heart beat fast. Unexpectedly, her wish was not one-sided.
The palace maid took Yu Zhenzhen along the way, passed through several palaces, and soon arrived at a pavilion. The pavilion was built on a high rockery, elegant and quiet. Standing in the pavilion, the moonlight was indeed particularly charming.
What a great place to enjoy the moon, Yu Zhenzhen thought to herself. However, she soon realized something was wrong. Where was the King of Yan who had invited her here? Why was he nowhere to be seen?
The maid who brought her here smiled and said, "Your Highness is really something. The young lady is here, but he has disappeared. Please wait here for a moment. I will go find your Highness!"
Yu Zhenzhen nodded. Although she felt that her behavior was ridiculous, she did not want to miss this opportunity. She had few chances to meet Prince Yan. If she did not take the opportunity to make the prince appreciate and like her, she might not have such an opportunity in the future.
"Don't worry, sister. I'll be waiting here."
Yu Zhenzhen looked up at the moonlight above her head. It was still early and the banquet would not end so soon. She still had plenty of time to stay here.
The palace maid left in a hurry, and Yu Zhenzhen didn't notice. After leaving Yichun Palace, the palace maid tiptoed and jumped onto the wall. The moonlight fell on her face, and it was Xiluo.
"Miss, this is it."
A faint voice came, Xiluo's eyes turned cold, and looking in the direction of the voice, Xiluo saw a palace maid coming hurriedly, and behind her followed Yu Qingli with a relaxed look on her face.
"What does Her Majesty want me to do in Yichun Palace?"
"You'll know in a moment, Miss. Her Majesty told you to go to the Ascending Pavilion and wait."
Yu Qingli nodded slightly, "Okay, in that case, please lead the way."
The wind started to get stronger, and the lantern in the maid's hand suddenly went out. The maid let out an "Eh..." and fell in front of Yu Qingli without saying another word.
Yu Qingli watched all this with cold eyes and ordered: "Xiluo, quickly hide this person to prevent him from being discovered."
"Don't worry, Miss." Xiluo said as he dragged the palace maid to the bushes on the side. She was hidden by the thick trees and could not be seen.
Afterwards, Xiluo pulled Yu Qingli behind a tree and said in a low voice, "Miss, someone is coming!"
Yu Qingli nodded slightly. It seemed that the show was about to begin.
In the Denggao Pavilion, Yu Zhenzhen waited anxiously. Was she being tricked? Why hadn't the King of Yan come yet?
Just as she was daydreaming, she suddenly heard footsteps beside her ears. Her originally calm heart suddenly started beating wildly. Here they come!
The moonlight elongated the figure behind her, and Yu Zhenzhen only saw the figure of a tall man. She was so excited that she didn't even dare to turn her head, wondering in her heart how to talk to the prince.
The figure behind her was getting closer and closer. Yu Zhenzhen could feel the man's breath coming from behind her without even turning around, making her face get hotter and hotter.
She hesitated whether she should turn around and talk to King Yan first, but she didn't have the courage to do so, so she could only wait for the person behind her to speak first.
Suddenly, Yu Zhenzhen felt someone behind her reaching out to her. Just as she was about to turn around shyly, she suddenly realized something was wrong. The person was very strong and seemed to be trying to push her under the pavilion.
However, by the time Yu Zhenzhen realized this, it was already too late!
She fell from the pavilion like a kite with a broken string. She didn't even have time to shout for help before she hit the ground without a sound.
Then the person in the pavilion poked his head out from the railing and gave the dark mass a mocking and cold smile, "I'm sorry, Miss, this is my duty!"
After saying that, the man turned and left. In the moonlight, the familiar face made people feel frightened!
It was indeed him! Jiang Bai!
Yu Qingli's bright eyes, hiding in the dark, also dimmed, and then were replaced by anger and hatred, which burned her soft heart like a scorching flame.
The moment she saw Jiang Bai, a hint of surprise flashed across Xiluo's eyes. She had never expected that the young lady's situation in the mansion was so dangerous.
Xiluo turned her head and looked. In the moonlight, Yu Qingli's face was as cold as ice, without any joy of surviving the disaster. Come to think of it, if it weren't for the young lady's prior arrangement, the person lying on the ground now would be the young lady.
If you think about it this way, even if these people died, it was their own fault!
"Miss……"
Xiluo reminded Yu Qingli that it was time to leave, as staying here would only cause unnecessary trouble.
Yu Qingli looked serious. Now that things had come to this, there was no need for her to be too merciful. If she wanted to escape successfully, she would probably have to trouble Queen Li again.
After a brief thought, Yu Qingli said, "Xiluo, let's go find someone to ask for directions!"
Xiluo quickly understood what Yu Qingli meant. The two of them walked out of Yichun Palace and headed towards a crowded place.
"Stop! Who are you?!"
A patrolling guard discovered Yu Qingli and her servant and immediately started asking them.
Yu Qingli looked troubled and worried, while Xiluo stepped forward and politely bowed, saying, "Brothers, my young lady is the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion. She came to the palace to attend a banquet today. Just now, a palace maid said that the Empress wanted to see my young lady. Who knew that we got separated from the palace maid halfway through. I was wondering if you could help guide her."
The leading guard looked Yu Qingli up and down, as if judging whether Xiluo's words were true or false.
At this moment, a familiar voice sounded from Yu Qingli's ears, "Qingli, what are you doing here?!"
Yu Qingli's body stiffened, but soon changed into a happy expression, "Brother Feng, it's great to see you."
When the guards saw Murong Feng coming, they quickly saluted respectfully. Murong Feng waved his hand and asked them to retreat. He asked curiously, "Qingli, we just found out you were missing and were anxiously looking for you. Why are you here?"
Yu Qingli repeated what Xiluo had just said, and Murong Feng stared at Yu Qingli thoughtfully.
Yu Qingli blinked innocently, "Brother Feng, what's wrong? Is there something wrong?"
"Qingli, you might have been tricked." Murong Feng said seriously, "It's a good thing you got separated from that palace maid, otherwise, the consequences would be unpredictable."
Yu Qingli was stunned for a moment, then asked nervously, "How could this be? Brother Feng, who on earth would play a trick on me?! Why would you ask me to go to Yichun Palace?"
Murong Feng frowned, "I don't know the specific situation, but anyway, you'd better go back as soon as possible."
Yu Qingli nodded, looking panic-stricken.
Looking at Yu Qingli like this, Murong Feng wondered who was trying to harm her. Could it be a woman in the palace? Was it because of his father's previous abnormal behavior that he wanted to eliminate her as soon as possible to avoid future trouble? Or was it Murong Yuan, who had always disliked Yu Qingli?
No matter who it was, it was clearly no longer safe for Yu Qingli to stay in the palace. She couldn't die yet. If she died, wouldn't his plan fail? !
No! He won't let this happen!
Murong Feng suddenly reached out and grabbed Yu Qingli's hand, "Qingli, no matter what, I will protect you."