Su Xiaoqi nodded in agreement; this was no time to hide her strength.
As far as she knew, in her past life, Shen Yun had supported this deposed Crown Prince. If nothing major changed in this life, Shen Yun would still choose to support him. This was because Mr. Gu of Mianzhou City was not only Shen Yun's teacher but also the Grand Master of the Crown Prince's mansion. Since he had accepted the quartet of Feng, Yu, Lei, and Dian sent by Mr. Gu, he must have already crossed paths with the person before them. Even his current southward journey to Jiangning Prefecture as a Hanlin Academy Compiler was likely inseparable from Liang Qiye's behind-the-scenes operations. This was because the Prefect of Jiangning and the Governor of Jiangnan were currently loyal to the Crown Prince. Liang Qiye had specifically arranged for Shen Yun to be there, wanting him to handle the matter cleanly and reduce the Crown Prince's control over the economy of the Jiangnan region. Even if they couldn't win over the entire region to their side, they at least shouldn't allow it to be used by Liang Qiran.
Originally, Su Xiaoqi did not wish to interfere. If Shen Yun did not mention it, she would have preferred to play dumb and pretend to know nothing. However, now, due to the Princess's careless remarks, she could no longer avoid the situation and had to choose this moment to reveal her identity. By defecting to Liang Qiye, she was showing that she was on their side.
Indeed, after receiving Su Xiaoqi's affirmative reply, Liang Qiye felt relieved. If Su Xiaoqi had been someone else, he might have hesitated, even considering silencing her. But she was not only Shen Yun's wife, highly regarded by Mr. Gu, but also the one who had found his lost legitimate son. She had, in a way, done him a favor. Therefore, he quickly swallowed the rest of his words.
Outside, gongs and drums sounded, and the crowd was fervent; the scene was very lively. A sense of foreboding washed over him. Frowning, he adjusted the silver silk cloak on his shoulders, greeted the Princess, and turned to leave.
As soon as he left, Su Xiaoqi chased after him. However, Liang Qiye was walking very fast. By the time Su Xiaoqi stopped at the entrance of the shaded pavilion, he was already thirty feet away. She looked outside; the crowds were packed along the riverbank, eager to watch the excitement. She dared not openly call out to him.
"Xiaoqi, what is it? Is something wrong?" The Princess also followed out. Xiaoqi's reaction was somewhat strange.
Su Xiaoqi hesitated for a moment and then said, "Your Highness, do you remember when we first met at Ganquan Temple?"
The Princess nodded, saying of course she remembered, and asked her what was wrong, as she clearly seemed troubled.
Su Xiaoqi had started the conversation. To avoid missing the opportune moment, she could no longer hold back. Quickly finding an excuse, she said, "I think I just saw a few familiar faces on the black boat that came in first."
The Princess replied, "How do you know those uncouth people?"
Su Xiaoqi explained, "I don't know them. The aura they carried is very similar to the group that pursued my husband and me near Ganquan Temple before."
"What? Xiaoqi girl, this matter is of great importance. You cannot speak carelessly." The Princess was startled. At that time, Su Xiaoqi had sought refuge in Ganquan Temple and later, by chance, had rescued her precious Baoge'er by the artificial lake. She had also asked about Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun's origins then. What she was saying now made her heart tighten, and she didn't know what to do.
"Sister, are you saying they are coming to assassinate you again?" Du Yiyi asked, indicating she hadn't fully understood and was taking her words literally.
Su Xiaoqi said helplessly, "When they assassinated us, my husband later investigated them and found they were assassins from a martial arts sect, who take money to solve problems. Once a mission failed, they would commit suicide; they had no personal stance and acted solely on the employer's intentions. After that one attempt, there was no further activity, so I don't have much more information. But this time, they are definitely not here to assassinate me." Su Xiaoqi gave a wry smile. With so many important people here, the wife of a mere sixth-rank compiler was not important enough.
"Then, then who are they here to assassinate?" Du Yiyi's body trembled slightly as she spoke. She had already guessed, not being foolish, just that she hadn't thought in that direction initially.
"Guards! Li Guard, quickly, quickly go inform my imperial brother." The Princess also became anxious. Her idea was simple: regardless of whether the matter was true or false, preemptive measures must be taken to prevent any irreversible accidents.
Seeing that the Princess had no intention of notifying Liang Qiran, Su Xiaoqi quietly added, "The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace is also here. Perhaps his target is greater." She remembered that the person assassinated in her past life was the Crown Prince Liang Qiran. Prince Duan, Liang Qiye, had been unharmed.
Princess Duan said resentfully, "I don't care if he dies." In fact, she even wished Liang Qiran would die here, so that the position of Crown Prince could return to her imperial brother. But Su Xiaoqi did not give her much time to be happy, reminding her timely, "If the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace is assassinated, Your Highness, who do you think the Emperor will suspect the most?"
Su Xiaoqi specifically mentioned Emperor Xingzhao, and the Princess immediately understood. Naturally, it would be the deposed Crown Prince Liang Qiye. He had been wrongly accused and deposed, and now, after his name was cleared, he had returned but lost the most important position of Crown Prince. Would he be willing? It was normal for him to want to regain the position of Crown Prince. People who held such thoughts would be ten out of ten, and even Liang Qiye's own subordinates would believe he would do such a thing.
The Princess was not unintelligent and immediately understood. She thought of calling for someone again, but then she flicked her sleeve and rushed out of the shaded pavilion.
"Your Highness..." Su Xiaoqi followed closely behind. Du Yiyi, seeing this, quickly asked Madam Xu to take good care of the two children, gripped the whip at her waist, and also followed. Madam Xu was bewildered. She wanted to follow the Princess, then looked back at her somewhat stunned young mistress, feeling confused. Hearing the cries of Princess Huian, she quickly came to her senses, turned back, and hugged the two children.
Su Xiaoqi, who had left earlier, returned with over a dozen guards and instructed Madam Xu and Shen Mingzhu to take good care of the two children. She told them that these were guards left by the Princess to protect the two little ones. They directly surrounded the shaded pavilion, blocking the entrance tightly. After taking care of things here, Su Xiaoqi went to the Duke of Yu's residence. She recounted what she had just said to the Princess to the Old Madam. A hint of panic appeared on her face, but she quickly calmed down. After all, she was a person who had experienced the baptism of war.
Su Xiaoqi helped her to the Princess's shaded pavilion next door. The guards from the Duke's residence joined forces with those from the Princess's residence, which made the situation even more secure. Only then did Su Xiaoqi once again pursue the direction in which the Princess had left.
Not far away, on a high platform, a group of boatmen dressed in black short jackets stood in a line, ready to pay homage to Liang Qiran and accept the gold, silver, and honors bestowed upon them. The Princess, with her guards, was on the periphery. She had already found Liang Qiye and discussed the situation with him. Immediately afterward, the Princess turned around and told Su Xiaoqi to hurry back. "It's going to get chaotic soon. You all should return quickly."
The Princess saying this had already confirmed that Su Xiaoqi's words were not unfounded. Prince Duan's people had discovered clues both on the periphery and inside, and were now on high alert.
"Then what about Your Highness?" Su Xiaoqi tried to persuade the Princess to return.
The Princess, however, shook her head and said that she and Prince Duan had already made arrangements, and they would see what the situation was with Liang Qiran. If he intended to frame them, she and her brother would not be afraid of him. If it was a real assassination, they would try to save him if possible, but even if they couldn't, they probably had to save him. Who told them the timing was wrong? He deserved to die, but he could not die here.
Hearing the Princess speak so clearly and with bright eyes, Su Xiaoqi knew she had a plan and was immediately relieved. She believed that she and Prince Duan could handle the situation. However, she couldn't help but worry about the Princess's safety.