Chapter 243: Moving In

“This is too much.”

Cai Songnian looked at the invitation on the table and said hatefully.

“His Highness only mentioned letting him mourn for the pleasure boat, and he immediately arranged a banquet.”

Li Yu let out a laugh: “Actually, it’s not bad.”

Cai Songnian was stunned for a moment, what? Was His Highness muddled by anger? He looked to the side, Li Yu was leaning back in his chair, there was no anger on his face like when he was at Li Chengyuan’s residence, nor the grievance he showed in front of Princess Jinyu, he was indeed smiling.

“What, not bad?” Cai Songnian hesitated.

Was it because there was no other way, he had to marry the granddaughter of the Li family, so he couldn’t just focus on Li Chengyuan’s detestable behavior, but also had to pick out his good points…

Li Yu looked at the invitation on the table: “He likes to bully people, and he acts as soon as he’s told, saving me the trouble of talking.”

Zhou Jingyun delivered the gift made by Bai Li as scheduled, and also relayed Bai Li’s words.

“It’s best to let him have a grand feast, the more people the better.”

Therefore, when he saw Li Chengyuan, he deliberately mentioned mourning, and as expected, Li Chengyuan didn’t listen to him and even deliberately wanted to slap him in the face by holding a banquet to celebrate.

The gift was sent in, the banquet was about to be held, everything went smoothly, but Bai Li said he didn’t need to go to the scene, after all, they had a history, so as to avoid arousing suspicion.

This was actually a disaster he had brought upon himself, but he avoided it at the critical moment.

He couldn’t always hide behind Bai Li, she had done enough for him.

Li Yu sniffed lightly, the hall at this time seemed to still have a lingering fragrance.

The fragrance that took Li Shilang’s life.

The unique fragrance belonging to Bai Li.

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✿✿✿

As night fell, there was a constant stream of carriages and horses in front of the Li family’s mansion.

This was one of the largest mansions in the capital, after all, Li Chengyuan had made great contributions in opening the gates of the imperial city and blocking the Imperial Cavalry outside the city back then.

There were especially many people who came today.

The news had spread, the Li family was going to marry the Prince of Chu, even if Li Chengyuan died in the future, the Li family would still be imperial relatives. Of course, the Prince of Chu was not important, what was important was that behind the Prince of Chu, there was still Princess Jinyu.

Guided by the servants, the carriage stopped in an open space, Zhou Jingyun got off the carriage.

Countless gazes were immediately attracted around him.

“Marquis Zhou’s Heir is here too.”

“Perhaps he’s here to seek justice for the Prince of Chu.”

“Zhou Jingyun now enters any kind of family, he has fallen from grace, uninteresting and unbearable.”

Zhou Jingyun didn’t care about the discussions around him, he only looked back at Bai Li, who was dressed as a maid, getting off the carriage.

“Marquis’s Heir.” The Li family servant beside him reminded, “Today’s banquet is for male guests, it’s inconvenient to bring servants due to the crowd.”

Then he smiled ambiguously.

“Please rest assured, Marquis’s Heir, the maids of our Li family will surely let you enjoy yourself to the fullest.”

Zhou Jingyun didn’t answer, he looked at Bai Li: “Wait in the carriage.”

Bai Li curtsied and replied yes.

Zhou Jingyun asked again: “Did you put the thing away?”

What thing? The Li family servant couldn’t help but look at the maid, seeing that her hands were empty.

Bai Li naturally knew what Zhou Jingyun was asking, she reached out and took out a small dagger from her sash: “It’s put away.”

This was chosen for her by Zhou Jingyun.

A small one, with gemstones embellishing the thin sheath, it looked very beautiful tucked in the sash.

Zhou Jingyun smiled and nodded: “Good, be careful and protect yourself.”

Protect herself? What kind of place did they think the Li family mansion was? The Li family servant had a strange expression, and when he looked at Zhou Jingyun again, his gaze was still glued to the maid.

“Then I’ll go in.” He said.

Bai Li nodded, watching Zhou Jingyun turn around, then turn back again.

“Jiang Yun, guard well.” He said to Jiang Yun, who was driving the carriage.

Jiang Yun replied yes.

Only then did Zhou Jingyun continue forward.

The Li family servant breathed a sigh of relief, and couldn’t help but take a few more glances at the maid. She looked ordinary, how could she make Marquis Zhou’s Heir so inseparable?

Wasn’t Marquis Zhou’s Heir deeply in love with the Prince of Chu?

The maid seemed to be embarrassed by being stared at, and hurriedly got into the carriage. The coachman called Jiang Yun blocked their view with a warning look.

At this time, more carriages and horses of guests arrived, the Li family servants hurriedly withdrew their gazes and no longer paid attention to this maid.

Bai Li sat in the carriage, unfurled a roll of paper and placed it on her lap, then opened the incense burner beside her. White smoke curled up, swirling and diffusing in the carriage, covering her whole body with a layer of white gauze, her vision also became blurred.

The surroundings seemed noisy and distant, the lights and night intertwined, there were spots everywhere. Suddenly, a light spread out in the distance, it was a lotus bud slowly rising, blooming slowly in the chaos.

Bai Li’s eyes lit up, her vision became clear, she lifted her foot and stepped into a magnificent hall.

Countless people were walking and talking, the noise was overwhelming.

Li Chengyuan sat on the large chair above.

“Make way.”

Four servants carried a box into the hall and put it down with a bang.

Everyone in the hall who was talking and laughing looked over curiously. As the servants opened it, they saw silk, satin, gold, jade, and jewels inside, shining brightly under the lights.

“This is a gift sent by the Prince of Chu yesterday.” Li Chengyuan said.

Someone in the hall chimed in: “Is it an apology from the Prince of Chu to the Grand General? I heard he accused the Grand General of destroying his pleasure boat.”

Li Chengyuan smiled faintly: “The child was being rude and talking nonsense, this old man won’t argue with him, nor will I accept any apology from him, this was sent by the Princess.”

“This is an apology from the Princess?” Someone asked.

Li Chengyuan laughed heartily: “How could I let the Princess apologize to me, this is a token of the Princess’s goodwill.” He gestured with his hand, “Let’s not talk about what kind of goodwill it is for now, after we discuss and set a good date, I’ll invite everyone to have a drink.”

This was also equivalent to explicitly stating it, laughter rang out among the people in the hall, they winked at each other, mixed with congratulations.

Li Chengyuan’s gaze fell on the two most conspicuous people in the hall. It wasn’t surprising that Zhou Jingyun could come, if Zhou Jingyun wanted to stand up for the Prince of Chu, he would definitely make him look bad!

The other conspicuous person was Zhang Ze, he was a little surprised when he heard that Zhang Ze had also come.

Zhang Ze would definitely not come to support the Prince of Chu.

He had heard that Zhang Ze was extremely wary of the Prince of Chu, believing he had ill intentions.

So he learned that the Li family was going to marry the Prince of Chu, and came to cause trouble?

He wasn’t afraid of causing trouble, after all, he had a grandson who died on the Prince of Chu’s pleasure boat, it was only right for the Prince of Chu to compensate him with a grandson. Hmm, speaking of which, his grandson’s death was really quite timely, it could be considered as paving the way for the Li family.

Li Chengyuan narrowed his eyes, seeing that Zhang Ze had been staring at the gift box.

Was he trying to find fault with the specifications of the gift?

The Prince of Chu was scolded by Princess Jinyu, he was putting on a show to give gifts, and he didn’t send anything good.

“Inspector, do you like anything?” Li Chengyuan asked, and then said, “Pack them all up for the Inspector.”

Zhang Ze inexplicably felt that something in the box was shaking, but when he looked closely, there was nothing, maybe it was the light and shadow of the jewels.

He looked away from the box: “It was given to the Grand General by the Princess, I won’t snatch your love.”

Li Chengyuan laughed heartily: “Then I’ll choose some gifts to give to the Inspector.” After saying that, he waved his hand.

The servants closed the box and carried it behind the screen.

Li Chengyuan clapped his hands: “Come, come, come, today, tomorrow, in the future, my Li family has happy events, please enjoy yourselves with me.”

✿✿✿

Accompanied by the clapping, more than a dozen beautiful maids, dressed in foreign clothes, holding wine pots, entered swaying. For a time, the fragrance in the hall became even stronger, with the sound of the sound of orioles and swallows.

There were also two beautiful maids leaning against each other beside Li Chengyuan.

And Zhou Jingyun and Zhang Ze were still conspicuous.

Zhou Jingyun sat alone, only allowing the beautiful maids to pour wine beside him.

“Marquis Zhou’s Heir, this time it was my negligence.” Li Chengyuan laughed heartily, took a sip of the wine fed by the beautiful maid, “Next time you come, there will definitely be a handsome young servant to accompany you.”

Low laughter rang out at the banquet.

Everyone was just discussing it in private, or vaguely asking Zhou Jingyun a question, but Li Chengyuan actually said it so bluntly…

Zhou Jingyun raised his wine cup and said to Li Chengyuan: “Alright, I hope the Grand General lives a long life, so that I still have the opportunity to come and eat the Grand General’s banquet.”

The low laughter at the banquet suddenly disappeared.

Marquis Zhou’s Heir, who had fallen from grace, now spoke extremely impolitely, without any grace.

Li Chengyuan sneered: “Rest assured, Marquis’s Heir, you’ll always have a place at my family’s banquet.”

After saying that, he ignored Zhou Jingyun. The banquet had just started, and he hadn’t enjoyed himself to the fullest yet, he wouldn’t give him the chance to ruin the feast!

He looked at Zhang Ze.

Zhang Ze didn’t have any preferences, he was just surrounded by his own guards, not allowing anyone to approach, even the food and wine were tasted by someone before being placed in front of him.

“Zhang Ze.” Li Chengyuan called him by his name directly, and said with a smile, “What’s the fun in living your life like this? Knowing this now, do you regret joining us in the uprising back then? If so, you should have continued to be your little Imperial Guard, living a peaceful and quiet life.”

Zhang Ze looked at him: “When the Grand General commits a crime, you’ll know the fun in my life.”

The two people who came today were really unlucky! Li Chengyuan’s face darkened, the beautiful maid beside him came to feed him food, he didn’t know if it was because the fragrance was too strong, but a rush of heat surged up in him, he raised his hand and slapped the beautiful maid.

“Useless thing.” He cursed.

The beautiful maid was knocked to the ground, blood flowing from the corner of her mouth, she cried.

“Don’t get angry, Grand General.” Zhang Ze said, raising his wine cup with a smile, “You’re getting old, you need to take care of your health.”

Li Chengyuan looked at him and sneered: “You should take care of yourself, lest you don’t live to my age.”

As he spoke, the beautiful maid beside him was still crying, whining like a mosquito beside him.

“Stop crying!” He turned his head and shouted, “Unlucky!”

The beautiful maid sitting on the ground hurriedly wiped her tears with her hands, once, twice, three times, with a ripping sound, she tore off half of her face. But she didn’t stop, she raised her hand again and forcefully tore off the other half of her face, raising her head, her bloody and mangled face looking at Li Chengyuan.

“Grand General.” She said joyfully, “I’m not crying anymore.”

Ghost!

Li Chengyuan’s heart skipped a beat, he abruptly stood up.

“Grand General? What’s wrong?”

A voice asked.

Li Chengyuan’s heartbeat resumed, beating too fast, his ears buzzing, he looked at the ground beside him.

There was no maid with a torn face on the ground, only the shadows cast by the flickering candlelight.

His own shadow.

Was he seeing things?

What was he doing?

Li Chengyuan was momentarily stunned.

“What’s wrong?” A voice asked again, with a hint of sneer, “Is the Grand General afraid?”

Afraid.

Li Chengyuan looked ahead and saw Zhang Ze sitting opposite him.

Zhang Ze, that’s right, he was talking to Zhang Ze.

The anger that Li Chengyuan had suppressed surged up again.

“What are you, why would I be afraid of you?” He shouted.

Zhang Ze looked up at him: “I’m not threatening the Grand General, I’m just reminding the Grand General, even a small Imperial Guard like me can find out that you embezzled millions in military funds, do you think others can’t?”

Military funds? Li Chengyuan was stunned, he embezzled a lot of military funds? Many generals would embezzle, it wasn’t just him, who dared to investigate!

“If Empress Jiang finds out that you are corrupt, she will definitely have you skinned alive!”

Empress Jiang!

Li Chengyuan’s heart pounded again, he looked around with a hint of fear.

“Yes, that’s right, it was Empress Jiang who promoted you to the position of General of the Imperial Guards.” Zhang Ze’s voice continued, “But don’t forget, you are a general of the Great Zhou, it was the previous Emperor who first bestowed you with grace, without the previous Emperor using you first, how could Empress Jiang have noticed you.”

General of the Imperial Guards, Li Chengyuan reached out and touched his chest, feeling the armor he was wearing.

“Prime Minister Zhu said, Empress Jiang also had the grace of recognizing his talent, but, Empress Jiang has repeatedly persecuted the previous Emperor’s heirs, now she even wants to hold the previous Emperor hostage and seize the Great Zhou’s throne, are you going to turn a blind eye and watch the Great Zhou be destroyed?”

Zhu Xingjian.

Li Chengyuan looked at Zhang Ze and interrupted him: “What are you talking about?”

Zhang Ze frowned: “Of course it’s about getting rid of Empress Jiang and purging the court.”

Getting rid of Empress Jiang, Li Chengyuan looked at the dark room in front of him where the candlelight flickered.

So Empress Jiang was still here.

“Of course she is.” Zhang Ze said, scrutinizing him, “Grand General, a few days ago, you took sick leave, could it be that your body…”

After saying that, he stood up.

“The Grand General is old, actually, there’s no need to take risks, I will persuade the Prime Minister to find someone else.”

Saying he was old! Looking down on him! Li Chengyuan was furious and kicked over the table in front of him: “Bring me my long saber!”

The table shook and clattered, mixed with the screams of the maids.

“Grand General?”

“Father?”

People around him gathered, asking questions one after another.

Li Chengyuan only felt his eyes were a little blurry, he couldn’t help but close them tightly, and when he opened them again, he saw himself standing in the brightly lit hall, the hall was full of people, his personal old servant, and his two sons were all surrounding him, looking at him anxiously.

He remembered, he was not the General of the Imperial Guards, that was a long time ago, this official position was bestowed by Empress Jiang, after getting rid of Empress Jiang, he naturally got promoted again.

Just now, was it a dream?

He dreamt of the time when they were secretly plotting the uprising.

“The Grand General got drunk after just two cups?” Zhang Ze’s voice came, “You’re getting old, you should drink less.”

Li Chengyuan looked over and saw Zhang Ze surrounded by guards, with a strange smile on his face, he said this and raised his wine cup to take a sip.

This bastard who only knew how to engage in shady and underhanded means, it was him who made him think of the past. Li Chengyuan glared, when he helped a new emperor ascend the throne in the future, the first person he would get rid of would be Zhang Ze!

“Bring me my long saber!” He shouted.

“Father, what do you want the saber for?” His son asked, and then said in surprise, “Could it be that you want to perform a saber dance for everyone to see?”

Yes, that’s right, he wanted to perform a saber dance!

He wanted to let everyone see that even though he, Li Chengyuan, was old, he was still valiant! No one should underestimate him!

Li Chengyuan laughed heartily: “I’m happy today, I’ll liven things up for everyone!”

Cheers immediately erupted in the hall.

“We request the Grand General!”