In danger of being invited to a banquet, seeking help from everywhere

  On the first day of the hunt, good news came from within the palace that Duke Gong Sun Mo's army had defeated the entire line of Jiu Dan, and Yan State, which was already powerful, gained more territory. Emperor Lie ordered two imperial pearls to be awarded to Duke Te, and his subordinates in the Zhenbei Army were all rewarded, making Duke Te even more respected and glorious.

  The King of Germany received the prize but did not show off, and in the first three days of the mountain forest hunting, he closed the door and refused to see guests. This move was naturally another comment when it reached the ears of Emperor Lie, and Gu Yunxi also closed the door for three days in Lingbo Pavilion.

  On this day, Gu Yunxi was playing chess with Gong Sunmo. Looking at the black and white pieces on the board, Gu Yunxi furrowed his brow as if he couldn't figure out a solution. Gong Sunmo looked at Gu Yunxi's expression and curled up the corner of his mouth, just about to speak when Sun Lu led in a young maid dressed in purple clothes.

  The girl walked into the study and curtsied, "Greetings to Your Highness, tonight at the hour of 1 am, Empress Shu is hosting a banquet in the Shufang Hall. The Emperor and the Crown Prince will be attending. Her Majesty has specifically asked me to invite you, please arrive early."

  Gongsun Mo's brow furrowed at the words, and he waved his hand. "I understand, you may withdraw."

  As the little maid in pink clothes left, Gong Sun Mo let out a sigh and said, "The peace of the past few days is probably coming to an end."

  Gu Yunxi looked at the chessboard and put down the black piece in her hand, "It's getting late now, Your Highness should get ready for the banquet. Since it's a banquet in the Shufei Palace, you can just treat it as a family dinner."

  Gongsun Mo knew that Gu Yunxue was comforting himself, so he immediately called Sun Zhe in. Seeing Gongsun Mo wanting to change his clothes, Gu Yunxue stood up and excused himself.

  When she walked out of the study, it was snowing outside. Gu Yunxi tightened her collar and felt that the cold air seemed to be getting heavier. In the courtyard of Lingbo Pavilion, several trees were in full bloom with beautiful red plum blossoms. Gu Yunxi couldn't help but feel delighted by the sight. She rubbed her hands together and walked over, the snowflakes falling on the petals sparkling without melting, looking particularly lovely.

  It seemed as if she had been stunned by what she saw, and even when Gong Sun Mo walked over to Gu Yun Xi, she didn't notice. It wasn't until a white cloak was draped over her shoulders that she turned around to see Gong Sun Mo dressed in all white, looking incredibly handsome.

  "If you like it, I'll have someone deliver it to your room; no need to stand here and be mesmerized."

  Gu Yun Xi took a step back without leaving any trace, and didn't continue the conversation. She looked up and down at Gong Sun Mo several times, "Is Your Highness ready?"

  Gongsun Mo nodded, "The time is almost up, since the Emperor and the Crown Prince have gone, I naturally cannot be late."

  Gu Yunxi naturally understood that now was the time when De Wang's prestige was at its peak, and it was even more impossible to make any mistakes. He nodded his head and said, "In that case, Yunxi will see King Wang off."

  Gongsun Mo walked out, followed by Gu Yunxi. When they reached the door, Gongsun Mo turned around and said, "The snow is heavy and the road is slippery, don't see me off, just go back to your room and wait."

  Gu Yunxi smiled and said, "Yes, sir."

  Gu Yunxi stood in front of the door, watching Gong Sunmo's figure disappear at the end of the corridor before turning back. At this moment, a group of palace servants walked by from in front of Lingbo Pavilion, each carrying a pot of orchids. Gu Yunxi thought that the winter orchids looked particularly beautiful, but didn't know who they were for and shook her head as she went inside.

  When she returned to her own room, a bright plum blossom had already been placed on the corner desk. Gu Yunxi's mouth curved up and she called out, "Zilan!"

  Suddenly a little girl skipped in, still holding a branch of plum blossoms in her hand. Seeing her with a big smile, "Does Sister Gu like this flower?"

  Gu Yunxi naturally knew that the girl had heard her conversation with Gong Sunmo in the courtyard earlier, and also thought that the plum blossoms looked good in the house. For a moment, she didn't say anything else. Seeing Zilan still holding the plum branch, she found it strange. "Why did you pick so many plum branches? The tree in the courtyard is probably going to be picked by you."

  Zi Lan is the only one in the courtyard who knows her true identity as a woman, and it's also because of her young age that Gu Yun Xue feels at ease leaving her in the inner courtyard. At this moment, the little maid raises an eyebrow, "The Song ayi from Cui Xi Palace said that her master likes plum blossoms, so I thought about sending some over to her. However, when I went there earlier, the guard said that Ayi was still attending to her master's afternoon nap, and that's why I brought them back."

  Gu Yunxi felt that something was off. The Cui Xi Palace was where the Crown Prince resided, and although Gu Yunxi didn't recognize Song Niangniang, the master of the Cui Xi Palace could only be either the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess. At this hour, which was already close to the time for dinner, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess should have been attending the banquet, so how could they still be napping?

  A wave of unease swept over her mind, Gu Yunxi grabbed a cloak from beside her and headed out the door. Zi Lan was startled, "Gu sister, what are you going to do?"

  Gu Yunxi seemed to have not heard her question, and with a tightly pursed mouth, he strode quickly towards the gate of the courtyard. Zilan chased after him, looking at Gu Yunxi's hurried back figure, feeling that something was about to happen.

  Gu Yunxi was in a hurry, and now it's too late to chase after Gong Sunmo. Her identity couldn't be exposed, so the only person she could go find was Gong Sun Chenglin. Fortunately, Gong Sun Chenglin's palace wasn't far from Lingbo Palace. However, just as she rushed over with anxiety, the gate of Gong Sun Chenglin's Lingfeng Palace was locked!

  Gu Yunxi felt a chill in her heart, her only hope shattered. At this moment, who should she go find?

  Why did Gong Sun Mo arrive at the banquet earlier than the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince had been reprimanded by the Emperor a few days ago for bringing a woman of unknown origin into the palace on his wedding day, and he had been extremely cautious in front of the Emperor these past few days. He would never have made the mistake of being late, so the only possibility is that De Wang received an earlier time than the Crown Prince and the others!

  Gu Yun Xi quickly turned around, her mind a jumble of thoughts, when suddenly she stopped in her tracks. Shu Fei!

  Today's banquet venue, the Shufang Hall, was the bedroom of Queen Shu, and since that day, Gu Yunxi knew that there must be something between King De and Queen Shu. Since ancient times, it has been a taboo in the palace for princes and princesses to have relationships with each other. If... if...

  Gu Yunxi's heart was greatly moved, her eyes swept across the vast halls and pavilions, and the fists hidden in her sleeves were already clenched with visible blue veins.

  "You blind fool, are you trying to get me killed? How dare you leave this orchid on the carriage! Do you know how much it's worth?! If Prince Chu wants your life later, don't drag me down with you. Who taught you anyway? You're so stupid and clumsy!"

  Gu Yunxi turned to see two palace servants walking in front of her, an old eunuch constantly scolding the young eunuch beside him. The young eunuch was holding a basin of orchids that Gu Yunxi had seen earlier, and his face was pale as he followed behind the old eunuch, his eyes filled with fear!

  Gu Yun Xi's eyes moved slightly as she chased after the two of them.

  Inside the fiery and majestic palace, Wan Xi Chen was leaning against a soft couch wearing a black fox fur coat. The temperature inside the room was extremely high at this moment, but it seemed to have no effect on him. His delicate face was still pale and almost translucent. His slender white fingers brushed over the three-petaled orchid that shone like jade, his thin lips slightly raised.

  "Master, this year's orchid will only bloom for three days. I've already had all the ones from the mansion moved over." Mu Feng stood at a distance, his tone slightly fawning.

  Wan Xi Zhen slowly stood up, the scattered ink from her shoulders fell down, a pair of dark eyes glanced through the upright orchids, her eyebrows furrowed, and her delicate red lips slightly opened, "Less."

  Mo Yan's eyebrows and eyes moved slightly, her gaze swept from the window to the courtyard, "This, this, this——"?

  Wan Xi's eyebrows furrowed, "Huh?"

  Mu Feng's fists were slightly clenched, his face showed no major issues but his heart was tense. His master liked the ink orchids, and these were all personally tended to by him. But this time, he didn't know how they managed things, and actually left one pot on the carriage. If it made his master angry...

  Wan Xi Zhen's eyes gradually dimmed, just as he was about to speak again, Mu Feng looked towards the courtyard and his eyes lit up, "He's here!"

  The little servant who came in was wearing a wind hat commonly used by palace people, holding a basin of ink orchids and walking towards the orchid case in the house with his head down. Her figure was thin and slender, and her whole body was hidden under the wind hat and cloak, making it impossible to see her face.

  However, as if sensing something, Wan Qi Chen raised her eyes and fixed her gaze on the young man. Her steps were quicker and more flustered than usual, and her slender fingers grasped the white ceramic flower pot as if it had become a part of her body. Wan Qi Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, the corners of her lips curled up, and a hint of mischief appeared on her delicate cheeks.

  A soft collision sound occurred, and the young man placed the orchid in his hand on the table beside Wan Xi Zhen's body. However, he didn't intend to turn around and leave.

  Mu Feng's expression changed instantly as he stood by the window, and his hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of his sword at his waist. A pair of vigilant eyes fell on the young servant in the room.

  "Thanks for bringing lilies over, Miss."

  Gu Yunxi unexpectedly recognized him, she slightly raised her hand to remove the hat on her head, and in an instant, a clear and beautiful small face was revealed. The person in front of her had a pale complexion due to illness, but his lips were bright red, almost transparent white, and bewitchingly red. Seeing this, Gu Yunxi felt that the person in front of her had an evil aura, she slightly narrowed her eyes, bowed her head, and saluted him with a bow.

  Wan Xi's eyes, which were usually bright and piercing, dimmed for a moment. Gu Yun Xue, who was dressed as a man, had a slender build, but he exuded an air of elegance and refinement. He was originally a proud and arrogant person, and now he appeared in front of him with such a demeanor, making him wonder what he wanted to do.

  "Please save King Deok!"

  The words that fell in the hall, Wan Xi Chen's expression, which had remained unchanged for ten thousand years, seemed to have a momentary fluctuation. His slightly raised lip corners slowly sank down, and his gaze swept over the fragrant ink orchid, suddenly feeling a little dull.

  ——?

  By the way?

  The sun rises as usual, you say that Wan Qi will go to save De Wang, and what will happen at Gong Sun Mo's place?