Lin Yuning's face was a little grim. "Where did this beggar come from? I don't know you. What are the people outside doing? Drag him out quickly!"
Today's banquet was crucial, and she absolutely couldn't let this person ruin it.
Two people from outside came to grab Wu Qi.
Wu Qi struggled and cursed, "I did your bidding, worked hard to rush back to the capital, and now that the job is done, you want to turn on me? I'm not done with you, not done!"
He kicked over the table, and the tea spilled onto Lin Yuning.
The ladies shrieked.
Lin Yuning gritted her teeth, her face darkening with displeasure. "Throw him out, and don't let this kind of person in again!"
The others, seeing Lin Yuning's expression, exchanged glances and saw a flicker of something unusual in each other's eyes.
They had long heard that there was some unpleasantness between the Marquis's mansion and the General's mansion when Prince Lian married. They had initially thought it was a minor issue, but they hadn't expected the two sides to harbor such deep animosity in private.
The current political situation was also unclear. If the General's mansion clearly did not support Prince Lian, then their own choice of allegiance seemed a bit premature.
Lin Yuning, noticing everyone's varied thoughts, inwardly seethed. "What was said just now was merely a suggestion from this consort. How things proceed depends on everyone's choice, but I believe you all won't disappoint me."
All the ladies nodded and said, "Yes."
The waiter came in from outside. "I heard someone barged in. Was the service at our establishment lacking? Are all the ladies alright?"
Madam Zhen spoke first. "We are all fine. It's just that Princess Lian's clothes are wet. It would be best to send a new set for her to change into. It's getting cold, and we don't want her to fall ill."
The waiter said, "All other rooms are occupied. If Your Highness doesn't mind, there is a room that someone booked but has never stayed in, which you may use."
Madam Zhen said, "It's no trouble at all. It's just changing clothes. Princess Lian is so magnanimous, she wouldn't mind such a small matter."
The other ladies chimed in their agreement.
Lin Yuning frowned. It was difficult to refuse. "Then, ladies, please dine first. I shall return shortly."
She ordered a new banquet to be served and then left.
The waiter led her to a spacious courtyard and to the door of a room. "The clothes are ready. Please make yourself at home, Your Highness."
He bowed and retreated, turning a corner into an alley.
Wu Qi had been waiting there early.
Zi Yuan took out two silver ingots and threw one to each of them. "Leave the capital starting today. You know what to do with the rest."
Wu Qi bit down on the silver and nodded repeatedly.
The job was botched, and he had offended both Prince Lian's mansion and the General's mansion. Fortunately, the person from the General's mansion wasn't petty and had given him so much money.
He had already planned to leave the capital and return to his hometown to lie low, but he hadn't expected to earn more before leaving. This trip to the capital wasn't in vain.
The two took the money and quickly departed.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuning entered the room and froze.
The furnishings in the room felt very familiar, but she couldn't recall when she had seen them before.
The maid, Xiao Ju, entered from outside. "Your Highness, those ladies left while you were away."
"What?!" Lin Yuning exclaimed, then gritted her teeth. "I knew these people were unreliable!"
And that Wu Qi, how dare he ruin her plans! Once she returned to the mansion, she would have him dismembered!
"I understand. You may leave now."
The maid left and closed the door.
Lin Yuning irritably took off her outer garment and threw it on the ground.
"Princess Lian seems to be in a bad mood. Do you need me to help you adjust it?"
Lin Yuning's body stiffened, and she suddenly turned around.
At the same time, the room door suddenly closed, and the two windows also shut.
Su Yun Mo stood by the window, looking at her with amusement.
"It's you!" Lin Yuning quickly walked over, trying to pry open the frame blocking the door and windows.
But these were modified. Once closed, they couldn't be opened from the inside.
She stared intently at Su Yun Mo, both shocked and enraged. "Did you send Wu Qi? What do you want by trapping me here?"
Su Yun Mo twirled her fingers. "Nothing much. I just wanted to catch up with you. Don't you think this environment is perfect?"
Environment?
Lin Yuning turned and scanned the room, then froze completely, stepping back in terror. "No, no!"
This was Lin Nian Ge's room. When Lin Nian Ge was burned to death, the room was furnished exactly like this.
A faint sound could be heard.
Lin Yuning turned and saw Su Yun Mo light a tinderbox. She almost instantly understood what she was about to do and screamed, "Help! Quick, help!"
But no matter how much she screamed, there was no response.
At this moment, there were only the two of them in the entire courtyard.
Lin Yuning frantically picked up a stool and smashed it against the door. "Su Yun Mo! I am Princess Lian now. If you dare to kill me, the Prince will surely make you die without a burial place!"
"Then I'd like to see how he makes me die without a burial place." Su Yun Mo threw the tinderbox through the gap.
The room had already been doused with oil. As soon as it caught fire, it quickly ignited.
"Ah! No, let me out, let me out!" Lin Yuning desperately pounded on the doorframe, her eyes filling with increasing terror.
She had personally witnessed how Lin Nian Ge had burned to death in this room. No one knew better than she did how tragic the aftermath of a conflagration would be.
She absolutely refused to be burned alive. This was too terrifying, too terrifying!
"Are you doing this to the room like this to make me apologize? If so, then I apologize. I was wrong, let me out!!"
Seeing her so hysterical, Su Yun Mo found it ironic.
She could walk, move, and call for help now, yet she was so terrified. Back then, she had been lying in bed, unable to even call for help. The despair she felt then was hundreds of times greater than the despair Lin Yuning was experiencing now.
Su Yun Mo said, "I invited Princess Lian here because I have something to ask. Ye Jingcheng's intention to transfer officials indicates that he already has trusted ministers. May I know who these adults are?"
Lin Yuning's eyes widened in shock. "You want to extract the list from me? No! The Prince will kill me!"
"Oh?" Su Yun Mo tilted her head playfully. "If that's the case, then you can wait on the bed for Ye Jingcheng to save you."
Her words made Lin Yuning subconsciously look at the bed, and she shivered.
She clearly remembered that Lin Nian Ge had died on the bed.
Her body had been burned to charcoal, her leg bones had been broken, and shards of porcelain had been poked into her eyes. The scene was horrific.
If she couldn't get out, she would suffer the same fate as Lin Nian Ge!
The fire had already spread to the roof. A pillar, half-burned, fell down, landing right in front of Lin Yuning.
Terrified, her legs went weak, and she collapsed on the ground. "I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"
She named several people in succession.
They were all important ministers in the court. Su Yun Mo had heard of most of them, except for a third-rank official named Han Chuan Zhang, about whom she was less familiar.
The surname sounded familiar, but she couldn't recall it immediately.
"Thank you, Princess Lian, for informing me." Su Yun Mo noted down the names and turned to leave.
Lin Yuning's eyes widened with increasing terror. She knelt on the ground, banging on the door. "Save me, let me out! Don't go! You promised me!!"
Su Yun Mo paused, then turned back with a smile, resembling Ye Jing Yu. "I only asked you for the list. I didn't say I would save you after you told me."