The Crown Prince's Wedding Banquet, A Secret Plot is Brewing

  Gu Yunxi slightly raised her head, and her gaze passed over the towering city wall, directly into the deep black night. Four hundred years ago, when the Zhou Empire was founded, it was decreed that the city walls of vassal states could not be higher than ten zhang. But Gu Yunxi's gaze told her that this wall was clearly much higher than that. Her knowing eyes narrowed slightly. The Zhou Emperor had been a mere figurehead for over a century now, and the seven countries were in a state of division. The Yan country was the most powerful among them, and the Crown Prince's wedding would surely attract many envoys from other countries.

  "Miss Gu, we've arrived—"

  Sun Zhe's voice came, Gu Yunxi suddenly woke up, and the pleasant palace music had already been heard in her ears. The moment the carriage curtain was lifted, the Donggong Palace in the night was even more brilliant with lights, and it was not late at night.

  Gu Yunxi wore a moon-white qianxuejin hundred-fold floor-length skirt today, with a snow-colored fox fur wrapped around her shoulders. Her delicate face was lightly made up with some powder and lipstick. At this moment, Sun Zhe stood in front of the lamp post beside the East Palace side door, and upon seeing her, he seemed to be slightly dazed.

  "Miss Gu has invited you over, but Duke De is probably already at the banquet."

  Sun Zhe led the way, with Gu Yunxi following closely behind. The road was lined with magnificent decorations of fire trees and silver flowers. The guests coming and going on the road were all dressed in luxurious attire, with extraordinary demeanor. Whenever they encountered someone with a reputation in Da Yan, Sun Zhe would quietly mention their name, official position, etc. Gu Yunxi took a glance, but after walking for a while, she had already recognized many of the powerful officials of Yan.

  "How could this be, I just wanted to take a look at the bride, you've been leading me on for half a day and we still haven't arrived! We'll get there soon, we'll get there soon. I think you're intentionally putting me off, none of you take my words seriously, do you?!"

  Suddenly a tender shout came, Gu Yunxi's eyes turned, and she saw a young girl in elegant clothes and jade crown standing not far away. In front of her stood a servant with his head lowered, looking like he was badly frightened by the girl's angry appearance.

  "This is Princess Jeonghui."

  Sun Zhe's voice came over low and clear, Gu Yunxi suddenly realized that the current emperor had four sons and one daughter, and the person in front of him must be Gong Sun Ci.

  "I don't know what I did wrong again to this little ancestor, let's hurry up and leave."

  Sun Zhe said so, Gu Yunxi looked at the servant who was lowering his head and felt a bit strange. The person looked respectful, but the clothes on his body were worn crookedly, and one of his hands was unconsciously placed on his waist. Gu Yunxi raised an eyebrow, this should be a common gesture of martial artists, could it be that this servant is the princess's personal guard?

  Sun Zhe walked very quickly, and Gu Yunxue was only a thought away, then followed closely behind. When they arrived at the banquet hall, the party had already begun. In the vast hall, there was a cacophony of clinking glasses and chatter. Sun Zhe looked around for a while before finding Gong Sunmo's location. As she walked over, Gong Sunmo had just finished talking to several people dressed in court attire.

  "Yun Xi greets King Wang."

  Gongsun Mo raised his hand to help her up, and his eyes seemed to be tinged with a slight drunkenness. He chuckled and placed his hand on his shoulder, turning around to say to the middle-aged men behind him, "I'm a bit drunk, you all continue, let me go out for some fresh air first——"

  The sudden weight made Gu Yunxi's body move, she lowered her eyes and supported Gong Sunmo as they prepared to leave. The people at the wine table laughed and joked, "De Wang is a heavy drinker, now he only says he's drunk when he sees a beauty... forget it, let De Wang go..."

  Gongsun Mo, being the prince with the highest status next to the crown prince, would attract attention with every move he made. At this moment, many eyes in the hall fell on Gu Yunxi, discussing and speculating about when the Duke of De, who was already engaged to the eldest young lady of the Xiang family, had taken a new lover.

  As he walked out of the hall, Gong Sun Mo withdrew his arm and his slightly disordered footsteps returned to normal. He let out a deep sigh and stepped towards a distant corridor.

  The wind at night grew even colder, and Gong Sun Mo gazed up at the dark sky, his voice deep as he spoke, "In the military, drinking is not allowed. This king has never known how to socialize with others over a cup of wine."

  Gu Yun Xue's heart stirred, the man in front of him had achieved his current status thanks to his outstanding military achievements, but years of military life had made him too far away from this intrigue-filled Yan State imperial capital. "This may be difficult for Your Highness to accept, but Your Highness needs to know that these are only temporary, one day, you will make these people bow their heads and acknowledge your authority."

  "One day? Once I walk this path, there will be no turning back for me." He paused slightly, then turned around, "Gu Yunxi, do you regret it?"

  Gu Yunxi's mouth curved into a smile, "No regrets, helping the king achieve his great ambitions for eternity, Gu Yunxi has no regrets."

  Gongsun Mo's calm face finally revealed a hint of brightness, and he let out a sigh. His gaze turned serious, "How is it? Have you seen all the people I wanted you to recognize?"

  Gu Yunxi shook her head, "Not yet, I'm afraid Master Wang will have to go back again later."

  "This is natural, the prince is making a toast in the main hall, I should go and respond accordingly."

  Gongsun Mo nodded and was about to turn around and leave, with Gu Yunxi following behind him. As soon as they entered the hall, they ran into the Crown Prince who had come to offer wine.

  Compared to Gong Sunmo's elegant and handsome appearance, the Crown Prince exuded a refined and cultured air. At this moment, dressed in a bright red wedding attire, he pointed at the wine cup with his hand, his face already slightly flushed. "Second brother, what have you been busy with lately? I heard that Father Emperor has arranged a marriage for you the other day. This is great, this is great, now it's not just me who will be suffering alone——"

  "Your Highness—"

  Gongsun Changqing's words had barely fallen when the subordinate following behind him quietly reminded, Gu Yunxi standing on Gongsun Mo's body, heard and slightly moved in her heart.

  "Haha, right, today is a great day for me, come on, let's you and I, two brothers, drink a toast together!"

  The crown prince seemed to suddenly come back to his senses, picked up the cup in his hand and drank it all at once. Gong Sun Mo held a wine cup with both hands, "I wish my imperial brother a happy marriage, I wish my imperial brother and sister-in-law a long and happy life together!"

  Gongsun Mo also drained the liquor in his hand, and the Crown Prince burst out laughing, "Haha! What a wonderful phrase 'white-haired to old age'! Thank you, second brother, for your auspicious words. Truly, truly thank you..."

  The crown prince seemed to have a hangover, his body swayed and was about to fall over. Gong Sun Mo's body lowered as if to support him, but in that moment of lowering his head, a cold gaze fell on Gu Yun Xi's face.

  Gu Yunxi felt a sudden chill in his heart, and when he raised his head, he fell into a pair of deep and profound dark pupils. The surrounding lights were dazzling, but not a single ray was reflected in his eyes. The person opposite him wore a black fox fur coat, with a pale face that was almost transparent. At this moment, he stood behind Gong Sun Longqing, and the two were as different as fire and water.

  She remembered that night, she set the fire successfully, but on her way back to her own courtyard, she brushed shoulders with a stranger, their eyes met, and it seemed as if a fierce gust of wind was howling through the hall.

  Wan Xi Zhen saw her for the second time, the first was in the eerie and deserted Xiang Fu, this time, she actually stood beside King De, his cold and quiet eyes narrowed slightly, his bright red thin lips tightly pursed, the chill on him grew even more intense.

  Gongsun Mo helped the crown prince up at just the right moment to block the view of the two people, and he didn't notice anything unusual between them. He said in a soft voice, "I'm afraid His Highness has had too much to drink today, Your Excellency Chu, please don't let him miss the nuptial chamber."

  Wan Xi Zhen's mouth twitched, and he leaned in to whisper something in the crown prince's ear. The crown prince's dazed eyes flickered open, and with the support of those around him, he turned and headed off in another direction. Meanwhile, Wan Xi Zhen merely nodded slightly at De Wang before following Gong Sun Zhang away.

  Gu Yunxi's gaze fell heavily on Wan Qiuchen, and Gong Sunmo turned his head to see him, immediately explaining, "This person is the hostage Wan Qiuchen who was sent to our country ten years ago by Chu State, and now he is a person beside the crown prince."

  Gu Yunxi nodded, just about to shift her gaze to the next person, but her calm eyes suddenly changed, "No!"

  Gongsun Mo looked at her and frowned, "What's wrong?"

  Gu Yunxi's thoughts were racing as she stared straight at Gong Sunmo with a hint of urgency, "It wasn't him!"

  Gongsun Mo still didn't understand, so Gu Yunxi took a deep breath and pulled Gongsun Mo aside, speaking in a low and urgent tone, "This afternoon when I entered the palace, I met a horse carriage. The coachman said that the person inside was Wan Zhen, and I also heard the coughing and voice of the person inside, which was clearly different from the voice of the person just now!"

  Gongsun Mo's eyes narrowed slightly, "Are you mistaken?"

  "It won't be!" Gu Yunxue was very certain, "I not only didn't misremember his voice, I also remember that the clothes worn by the people in the carriage were of the same color as those worn by the De Wang Fu guards who stayed at my estate with Your Highness!"

  Gongsun Mo's eyes narrowed for a moment, his face sank in thought, while Gu Yunxi had already spoken up, "Since the person sitting in that carriage is not Wan Qiuchen, it must be someone else who cannot enter the palace with their true identity. He was still wearing De Wangfu's clothes, so he must be from De Wangfu. However, since Wan Qiuchen is by the Crown Prince's side, people from De Wangfu would definitely not have any dealings with him, unless..."

  "Unless there's a traitor in the De Wang Fu, or someone else is impersonating them!" Gong Sun Mo's expression changed, his eyes flashing with a hint of murderous intent. "It's impossible for the De Wang Fu to have a traitor, which means there's only one possibility left!"

  Gu Yun Xie's eyes were fixed intently on Gong Sun Mo, "What is the point of him sending a fake attendant from De Wang Fu to the Crown Prince's wedding banquet?"

  "The Crown Prince's wedding is a matter of great importance, and cannot be allowed to have the slightest mishap —" Gong Sun Mo murmured, suddenly pausing for a moment, "It's not good, I'm afraid something is going to happen, and this thing must be related to the De Wang Fu!"

  A scene suddenly popped up in Gu Yunxi's mind, and after thinking carefully, she asked Gong Sunmo in a low voice, "Where is the newly appointed crown princess?"

  ——

  Digression

  I originally wanted to write about Qin Shi Huang, but then I found out he had too many women, so I gave up and changed it to a fictional story. Of course, this story is definitely not a remake of Qin Shi Huang's story.

  So, did everyone understand this chapter? If not, please say so. Also, I found that 2,000 words per chapter is really not enough to write, my data isn't growing well, and the word count can't be too much more, you guys know, so be sure to collect it——thank you for your support~