I am a prince in Zhutian Films

Chapter 390 The visitor is evil

In a blink of an eye, Xiao Qinyan celebrated his 50th birthday.

The Xiao Mansion was decorated with lights and colorful decorations inside and outside, and guests who came to celebrate the birthday were coming and going.

Behind the screen in the backyard of the Xiao Mansion, a group of carefully dressed singing and dancing girls were fixing their makeup.

Song Yinzhang sat alone in the corner nervously. She felt her heart beating so hard as if it was about to jump out, and her body was shaking uncontrollably. She could only hug Gu Yue tightly, trying to draw some courage from her.

At this time, the voice of the Xiao Mansion's housekeeper reading gifts came from outside the house.

"Prince Anding presents a white jade Maitreya statue to congratulate Mr. Xiao on his birthday."

All the girls in the music troupe exclaimed in surprise and envy, and stuck their heads out to look outside.

Zhang Haohao acted like a big sister and scolded in dissatisfaction: "Be more respectful, don't disturb the distinguished guests!"

The girls stuck out their tongues and walked away, and the room fell silent for a moment.

Zhang Haohao walked up to Song Yinzhang and asked with a smile, "Are you nervous?"

Song Yinzhang quickly shook her head, but the beads of sweat on her forehead had already betrayed her.

Zhang Haohao patted her shoulders and comforted her: "It's okay, the first time is new, the second time is familiar, I will give you some advice later."

Song Yinzhang hugged Pipa tightly and nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, Haohao sister."

At this time, the housekeeper's voice was heard outside the house again, and it sounded more excited than before.

"The imperial edict from the palace has arrived, please accept it!"

When Song Yinzhang and the other girls from the Jiaofang heard this, they all rushed to the door and looked out. Unlike Zhang Haohao who had met the emperor before, they were already extremely excited to see the angel sent by the government.

In fact, even Zhang Haohao, who had seen the world, couldn't help but exclaimed in a low voice: "The emperor personally sent an angel to celebrate the birthday. Mr. Xiao really has a lot of face!"

She pointed at the officials who were bending over to receive the imperial edict and introduced them one by one in a low voice: "Look, that's Xiang Gong Xiao, that's Zhong Cheng Qi, the one on Xiang Gong Xiao's left is An Guo Gong, and the one on his left is General Cao, the envoy of the Northern Court. General Cao has always been close to His Royal Highness the King of Han, and is a sworn enemy of Xiang Gong Xiao."

Song Yinzhang was stunned, and asked in a low voice: "Isn't Mr. Xiao the Queen's man? How come he is the mortal enemy of His Royal Highness the King of Han?"

"What's so strange about this? The former Minister Ke who was banished from the capital was the teacher of the King of Han, and he was also a sworn enemy of Minister Xiao. I don't understand what's going on in the court, but it's all for the sake of profit. These officials fight to the death in private, but in public they have to be polite and happy. I don't know if those birthday gifts were poisoned."

Song Yinzhang nodded, looked at the golden and purple crowns and robes in the hall again, and swallowed his saliva nervously.

After a long while, a maid came in gracefully. Zhang Haohao pushed Song Yinzhang and said, "Let's go. It's our turn now."

Song Yinzhang followed Zhang Haohao in a panic and walked out of the room with the maid leading the way.

In the outer corridor, the maid suddenly stopped and Song Yinzhang almost bumped into her. Fortunately, Zhang Haohao was quick to grab her and dodged sideways with the maid.

Not far away, Xiao Qinyan was leading a group of officials who had just received the imperial edict back to the main hall. Lei Jing, Qi Mu, and Gao Hu were all in the guest queue. On Xiao Qinyan's left was the Duke of Anguo, who was dressed in luxurious clothes, and on his right was the majestic and strong Cao Wei, the envoy of the Northern Court of Xuanhui, who was also the founding Duke of Wuwei County in official history, Cao Wei.

Xiao Wei was accompanying him. He was originally holding the imperial edict in his hand. When he saw the housekeeper's son beside him, he handed it to him with one hand.

Seeing this, Xiao Qinyan frowned slightly, but did not say anything. He smiled and invited Cao Wei into the main hall. Cao Wei simply flicked his long sleeves, snorted coldly, and gave Xiao Qinyan a cold look on the spot.

Seeing Cao Wei like this, everyone was very embarrassed. Xiao Wei was even more indignant and snorted coldly as well.

On the other hand, Xiao Qinyan's expression remained unchanged. He smiled and invited Duke Anguo on the left to come in.

After entering the main hall, Xiao Qinyan asked everyone to take their seats, then he clapped his hands and the sound of dance and music began.

He looked around at the guests in the hall, but did not see Gu Qianfan. A hint of disappointment flashed across his face, and then he bowed to everyone and said, "Please wait a moment, I will go change my clothes first."

After some polite exchanges, Xiao Qinyan left the main hall and returned to the side room.

The moment he entered the wing, he put away his formulaic smile and asked the butler, Uncle Zhong, "Have you collected the imperial edict?"

Uncle Zhong bowed quickly: "Don't worry, sir."

Xiao Qinyan nodded, looked out the window, and asked worriedly, "Has Qianfan not arrived yet?"

Uncle Zhong observed his expression and responded cautiously, "Yes, I have already told the gatekeeper to immediately..."

Xiao Qinyan interrupted impatiently, "Okay, he really cares about his reputation. In order to avoid being associated with a treacherous prime minister like me, he didn't even send a gift."

Uncle Zhong lowered his head and dared not say much.

Xiao Qinyan didn't expect him to comfort him, so he sighed, "Forget it. Whether he comes or not, the quiet spot next to the pillar should be reserved for him. Put a few more cushions. He likes to eat southern fruits, so prepare them first."

"Yes, I have already asked someone to prepare it."

Outside the room, Xiao Wei, who was eavesdropping under the window, had a flash of jealousy on his face and made some noise.

Xiao Qinyan's face darkened and he asked angrily, "Who's there?"

Xiao Wei quickly appeared and walked into the house: "Dad, it's me, I want to change my clothes too."

"When I'm not here, you just leave a room full of guests alone. Do you want all the officials to laugh at our Xiao family's hospitality?" Xiao Qinyan's already gloomy face became even gloomier.

Xiao Wei's heart was shocked, and he quickly bowed and said, "My son doesn't dare."

"You don't dare?" Xiao Qinyan sneered, "I think you dare. I respectfully took the imperial edict and handed it to you for safekeeping. You turned around and handed it to the housekeeper with one hand in front of everyone. You even dared to show your disdain to Cao Yuanshi. Who do you think you are?"

Xiao Wei realized how big a mistake he had made. He knelt down hurriedly and said in fear, "I was wrong. I won't do it again! I am also angry for you. Cao Wei is just a crude warrior. How dare he be rude to you in public..."

Under Xiao Qinyan's cold gaze, Xiao Wei was so scared that he dared not continue speaking.

Xiao Qinyan slowly approached Xiao Wei, looking down at him condescendingly: "Are you qualified to speak nonsense, Cao Yuanshi? Even if the Cao family is weak now, it is still a first-class military family in our Song Dynasty! Do you know why I was able to defeat Ke Zheng and become the prime minister?

Because I can bear it!
Those warriors and the upright clearly hate me to the core, but why are they still celebrating my birthday today?

Because they also want face!
The more severe their situation, the more I will help them, so that they will feel relieved. "

At this point, Xiao Qinyan's eyes showed a hint of murderous intent: "Only by making them angry and furious, and losing their composure, will I have the opportunity to eradicate them completely, understand?"

Xiao Wei was frightened, and after a while he said, "I understand...I understand."

Xiao Qinyan sighed silently, his expression softened a little, and he said nonchalantly: "Hurry up and go to the kitchen to see if the hump is healed. If something goes wrong again... you are not my only son."

Thinking of how Xiao Rui had offended Zhao Wei before, and how Xiao Qinyan had beaten Xiao Rui half to death, and even destroyed Xiao Rui's offspring, Xiao Wei couldn't help but tremble all over and stumbled out the door. Xiao Qinyan looked at Xiao Wei's back and said sadly: "If he had one tenth or one twelfth of Qian Fan, why would I bother..."

He didn't say anything else in the end, but Xiao Wei, who had not yet walked far, heard it. He couldn't help but shudder all over, quickened his pace, and fled from this horrible place.

At this time, Song Yinzhang was still holding the pipa and waiting with Zhang Haohao in the open space outside the main hall.

Zhang Haohao turned around and lowered his voice and said, "I don't know why they were delayed inside. I guess we have to wait a while before it's our turn."

The pipa was heavy, and Song Yinzhang's hands were gradually weakening: "But I've been waiting for half an hour, I can't hold it anymore."

Seeing that there were no guests around, Zhang Haohao whispered, "Put it on the ground."

However, as soon as Song Yinzhang placed the pipa on his toes, the maid of the Xiao Mansion beside him scolded him in a domineering manner: "Pick it up, don't be disrespectful!"

Song Yinzhang picked up the pipa again awkwardly. The maid looked at her with contempt, then noticed Xiao Wei in the next courtyard and was about to run away with a smile.

At this moment, a cold voice sounded behind her.

"The Xiao Mansion is really so majestic."

The maid turned around and was about to speak when she heard Song Yinzhang say happily, "General Xiang, why are you here?"

"It's Prime Minister Xiao's birthday. The head of the family and Brother Zhao are not at home, so I came to give a gift. When I entered the house, I met Deputy Envoy Gu, so I came in with him. I didn't want to see you being bullied." Xiang You, who was carrying a brocade-wrapped box, raised his hand to help Song Yinzhang wipe the sweat off his face and said, "You too, why do you swallow your anger? You are the sister of our future princess, and you were bullied by a maid. If this gets out, where will the face of our Han Palace be?"

As he said that, Xiang You turned to look at Gu Qianfan: "Deputy Envoy Gu, what do you think we should do?"

Gu Qianfan was speechless: "General Xiang, you asked the wrong person, I am not from the Xiao family."

At this time, Uncle Zhong came out hurriedly and said, "This old servant greets Deputy Envoy Gu and General Xiang."

Xiang You pointed at Song Yinzhang and said, "Madam Song, my future wife. Of course, I am just a small military officer in the palace. I also know that I am not worthy of your Xiao family's attention."

A sixth-rank military officer is indeed nothing in front of the Xiao family, but the military officer in front of him is a military officer from the Prince of Han's Mansion, and most importantly, he is a retainer of the Prince of Han. This identity is different.

Uncle Zhong smiled and said, "General Xiang is joking."

Xiang You ignored him and continued to talk to himself, "But Madam Song is our princess's sister. The emperor and the queen ordered Madam Song to come to celebrate Prime Minister Xiao's birthday, but you treated her so badly and scolded her by a maid. Butler Xiao, your Xiao Mansion is really impressive. Before, the second young master Xiao was trying to use force on our princess, and now a maid is scolding our princess's sister. Don't you think too little of our Han Palace?"

The voice did not carry much emotion, but these words made Uncle Zhong feel a great deal of pressure, and his body could not help but tremble: "General Xiang, this matter is my negligence, I will definitely give you an explanation."

"How do you explain?" Xiang You laughed and said two words lightly: "Be beaten to death?"

As soon as the word "beaten to death" came out, the maid, whose body felt like sieves, could no longer bear the pressure. She knelt down with a plop, hugged Xiang You's legs and began to beg for mercy: "Sir, I know I was wrong..."

Uncle Zhong quickly winked and had the maid pulled away. He was about to speak, but Gu Qianfan beat him to the punch: "General Xiang, today is Mr. Xiao's birthday. It's not good to see blood, right?"

Uncle Zhong nodded quickly and said, "Please give me some face, General Xiang. I will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation later."

Xiang You ignored the two and turned to look at Song Yinzhang: "Madam Song, what do you think should be done? Feel free to tell me. Even if I don't use the title of the head of the family or the mistress, I can make the decision for you today."

After these words were spoken, Uncle Zhong and Gu Qianfan couldn't help but look at Song Yinzhang.

Under the gazes of the two, the timid Song Yinzhang subconsciously hid behind Xiang You and whispered, "This... I don't have anything to do, so why not just forget it."

Xiang You was a little disappointed, not because he was disappointed with Song Yinzhang, but because he was disappointed that he could not make use of this incident to show his abilities.

"Since Madam Song said so, and Deputy Envoy Gu has pleaded for mercy, let's just forget about it."

"Don't worry, General Xiang. I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter." Uncle Zhong couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and quickly called the maid behind him, "Why don't you take Madam Song to fix her makeup?"

"There is also Madam Zhang." Xiang You reminded.

Hearing this, Uncle Zhong hurriedly added: "Take the two ladies to fix their makeup, and you go down to receive ten lashes."

The maids hurriedly took the pipa from Song Yinzhang's hand, helped Song Yinzhang and Zhang Haohao away, and walked straight to the corner. Song Yinzhang was still looking back at Xiang You's figure frequently.

Xiang You naturally noticed her gaze, and thought to himself, "Okay," but he didn't show any expression on his face, and didn't even look at Song Yinzhang.

"General Xiang, Deputy Envoy Gu, please come in."

Uncle Zhong led Xiang You and Gu Qianfan into the main hall with a big smile on his face, and finally said to Gu Qianfan with a smile: "Deputy Envoy Gu, you are finally here, my husband has been waiting for you."

Gu Qianfan did not answer, but just sat quietly in the seat Zhu Bian had reserved for him.

After settling Gu Qianfan, Uncle Zhong said to Xiang You, "General Xiang, please come this way."

Since Zhao Wei didn't come, Xiang You, as a family servant, represented the Prince of Han's Palace, so his position naturally couldn't be in such a corner.

However, Xiang You shook his head and said, "Deputy Envoy Gu and I hit it off right away. Let's sit here."

After saying that, he sat directly next to Gu Qianfan.

"Oh, by the way, I don't know if the master will come today, but he asked me to bring a birthday gift to Prime Minister Xiao." Xiang You said, handing the long box wrapped in brocade to Uncle Zhong: "Inside is the weapon used by the master when he was at the border. It drank the blood of countless foreign races. It is very commemorative. I hope Prime Minister Xiao will keep it well."

"Your Highness is thoughtful. I will definitely tell my husband."

Uncle Zhong bowed, then hurried away holding the box.

Before I reached the wing room, I ran into Xiao Qinyan who came out.

Seeing his hurried look, Xiao Qinyan frowned: "Why are you so panicked?"

Uncle Zhong quickly recounted what had happened in the front yard, and finally handed over the brocade-wrapped box.

Xiao Qinyan opened the brocade-wrapped box and saw a dagger inside. The blade had been curled up and the body was dark brown with a faint fishy smell, indicating that it was indeed a knife stained with countless blood.

Uncle Zhong took a look and said cautiously, "Sir, General Xiang mentioned the matter of the Second Young Master and presented him with a blood-stained sword. I'm afraid he has bad intentions."

Xiao Qinyan was silent for a moment, then said thoughtfully: "Whether this person has bad intentions or not, I don't know yet, but I think this is a reminder from King Han."

"remind?"

"Put it away."

Xiao Qinyan closed the box and handed it to Uncle Zhong. He had no intention of answering Uncle Zhong's questions and walked towards the main hall.

(End of this chapter)