Gongsun You, sitting opposite, saw the prince in white raise his head, bent his knuckles, and tapped the table three times before suddenly standing up and walking towards the exit of the hall.
Zong Chengsi went up to offer a toast, and naturally, his retainer would not follow, leaving Gongsun You behind.
This was a prearranged secret signal between Zong Luo and Gongsun You.
It seems that Gongsun You has discovered some new information.
Zong Luo pondered for a moment, then said softly, “I’ll go out and take a breath.”
The dream that Zong Ruichen had told him about still weighed on his mind.
In his previous life, it was at this banquet that Zong Hongjiu drugged Zong Ruichen, leading to his disgrace in front of the emperor, leading to such a fate.
Now that one could leave the seat freely, many people were waiting to queue up in front of the emperor to offer toasts. Many ministers were engrossed in their meals, others were conversing over wine, and some were enjoying the dance performances. There were also those who felt the atmosphere in the great hall was lively and went out to the adjacent Imperial Garden to get some air.
Ye Linghan, who had been sitting silently behind him, also stood up upon hearing this.
Zong Luo said, “You don’t need to follow me. Just stay here and protect Ruichen.”
Since Gongsun You was now keeping his identity a secret and discussing confidential matters, it was natural for Zong Luo not to take Zong Ruichen with him.
Adults should worry about adult matters, and children should just be happy and carefree.
However, Zong Luo still didn’t trust Ye Linghan very much.
Aside from Ye Linghan, there was only Pei Qianxue. Neither of them was someone Zong Luo could fully trust, so he had no choice but to whisper to Zong Ruichen to stay put at the banquet, not to run around, especially not to go to the Imperial Garden.
Zong Ruichen felt a bit embarrassed, “But Third Brother, I accidentally drank too much water earlier. What if I need to go to the restroom?”
Zong Luo thought for a moment, “Then take Ye Linghan with you. Remember, don’t drink anything of unknown origin, and if you see any bad signs, don’t worry about revealing your martial skills, just run. If anything happens, your third brother will cover for you.”
Hearing this, Zong Ruichen nodded heavily, “Okay, I understand.”
He watched as Zong Luo’s figure disappeared outside the palace gate, then lowered his head to continue eating.
In the past, Father Emperor ’s birthday was always the happiest day for Zong Ruichen. Because only on this day could he take a proper hot bath, wear beautiful new clothes, eat hot food at the banquet, and fill his stomach.
So every year at the banquet, not only would Zong Ruichen eat his fill, but he would also secretly pack some food into his clothes to take back with him.
But from now on, he wouldn’t need to do that anymore.
Because his Third Brother had come back.
Thinking of this, a smile couldn’t help but appear on Zong Ruichen’s face.
Sitting opposite him, Zong Hongjiu, who was staring at him without blinking, felt a surge of irritation.
He patiently waited for Zong Chengsi to finish offering his toast and return before winking and making signs at him, repeatedly calling out, “Fourth brother, Fourth brother.”
“…….”
Zong Chengsi cursed Zong Hongjiu in his mind.
Just now, he had sent up such an immortal pill, and who knew how many people in the room had their eyes on him, whether openly or secretly. Moreover, Zong Yongliu, who had already been suspicious and later received information about Zong Chengsi’s secret meeting with the Third Prince at Hui Nan Xiaozhu, was among them.
Zong Hongjiu’s obvious actions were as if he was afraid others wouldn’t know he was about to do something bad.
Forget it. Thinking of that secret he still didn’t know about.
Zong Chengsi temporarily suppressed the rising irritation in his heart.
He glanced surreptitiously and noticed that Zong Luo was not at his seat, which made him more determined in his plans.
Amidst the clinking of cups and the fragrance of perfumes, Zong Luo slowly retreated and walked towards the outside of the hall.
To avoid drawing attention, he did not directly follow the direction Gongsun You had left in, but instead turned and walked behind a rockery, standing in the shadows for a while.
After about a dozen breaths, a figure hurriedly walked out from the hall.
Zong Luo, standing behind the rockery, frowned.
Zong Yuanwu? What was he doing following him out?
Right from the moment he took his seat, Zong Luo had noticed Zong Yuanwu’s unnatural expression when he saw him. But at that time, due to the occasion and now having more urgent matters at hand, Zong Luo did not think much of it.
Now, seeing Zong Yuanwu’s anxious appearance, it was clear that he was following him.
Zong Luo couldn’t help but ponder.
Could it be that in this lifetime, the person who would act against him had changed from Zong Chengsi and Zong Hongjiu to Zong Yuanwu? After all, he was now ostensibly on the same side as Zong Chengsi, and Zong Chengsi, lacking supporters, would not dare to offend him.
But when it comes to dealing with him, Zong Yuanwu had experienced his whipping before, even if he had the intention, he definitely lacked the courage.
Zong Luo was indeed more familiar with him than with the Sixth and Fourth, but after all, one could never know what’s in another’s heart, so precautions must still be taken.
Watching Zong Yuanwu enter the Imperial Garden, Zong Luo then turned and took another path.
On this winter night of the twelfth lunar month, the shadows of the trees swayed, and the cold plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom.
Since the snowfall on the day of the Qing Si, the temperature had strangely risen a bit over the past week. This year’s climate was quite peculiar, with the severe cold moving from the imperial city to the north, causing disasters in the northern regions. It was expected to endure a long winter.
Zong Luo turned left and right, and soon saw Gongsun You holding a lantern not far away.
Upon seeing him, Gongsun You did not greet him but instead extinguished the lantern and walked deeper into the Imperial Garden. Zong Luo followed at a distance until they reached a secluded and unoccupied corner, where they stopped.
“My lord.”
After ensuring there were no eavesdroppers around, Gongsun You finally spoke, “The Fourth Prince and the Ninth Prince have reached some secret agreement, and I fear they may act against you during the banquet.”
If it were a matter of martial prowess, Gongsun You would certainly not worry about his lord.
But the problem was that both princes were more treacherous than the other. Not to mention Zong Hongjiu, who was malicious despite his young age, Zong Chengsi could only be said to be even worse.
