Wanjin Lady

Chapter 491 Banquet
The world does not know the relationship between Zhao Yingzhen and the smuggling case, nor does it know how Zhao Yingzhen escaped punishment. Only a very few people in the entire Great Chen Dynasty know that Zhao Yingzhen survived by relying on the imperial edict of the previous emperor and is now huddled in Kyoto.

This time, the audio drama of "The Lady" swept Kyoto, but no one knew that a storm was coming.

And Zhao Yingzhen, who was at the center of the storm... could naturally see the murderous intent in this storybook.

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

The doorman sent someone to report that the renovation of Princess Zhao Yingzhen's mansion was completed and invited Wen Wan to attend the family dinner for the move the next day.

Wen Wan took the post and said with a smile: "This is really anxious..."

But the post was addressed to Wen Wan, not the Duke's Mansion, which is quite interesting.

Wei Zheng frowned, "You are not allowed to go."

Wen Wan sighed, "I have to go."

"There's no need to. Zhao Yingzhen is setting you up for a trap. This is a Hongmen Feast. I won't let you go." Wei Zheng threatened her coldly, "All the noble ladies in Kyoto will be there. If you go, you'll inevitably be surrounded and blocked by them. Don't you dislike socializing?"

"Wei Zheng, this isn't a social event." Wen Wan looked at the sky outside. "This is a battle."

She turned her head and looked at him with a smile, but her expression was determined.

"For you, for Zhao Zhao, for Hun'er, and even more so for the Empress, for the old Duke and his wife. If we don't remove the grass at its roots, it will grow again when the spring breeze blows. If we want a peaceful life in the future, we must kill her."

Wei Zheng's jawline tightened, and after a while he said, "I'll go with you tomorrow."

Wen Wan smiled at him, "Zhao Yingzhen probably only hires women, what are you going to do? Besides, your leg injury hasn't healed yet, and the doctor said you need to rest."

"Then let Zhao Heng disguise himself as a woman and follow you closely."

Wen Wan:?
"Please let Zhao Heng go."

He's already cleaned a thousand toilets, and now he's asked to cosplay as a maid?

Wen Wan looked at the man's unhappy face and quickly appeased him, "If nothing else, I'm mainly worried that he'll fall in love with the feeling of wearing women's clothes. Have you ever heard the old saying that there are only zero times and countless times to wear women's clothes?"

Wei Zheng: ...

"Then I'll be waiting outside to contact you tomorrow. Take two flares and notify me if anything unusual happens."

Wen Wan smiled, "I don't think Zhao Ying is that stupid. Maybe tomorrow won't be a Hongmen Feast, but a request for cooperation from me."

Both of them were unsure.

Wen Wan left the study and went straight to the doctor's room.

Wei Zheng's leg injuries were serious. Fortunately, the hospital director and a famous trauma doctor in Kyoto worked together to treat him, and they managed to save Wei Zheng's legs. However, he still needs at least a year and a half to recuperate.

"Is the Marquis's leg really safe?"

When Wei Zheng was doing rehabilitation, he always chose a time when she was not around, or he would hide from her. Wen Wan knew that Wei Zheng did not want her to see him in such a state of disgrace.

But she was afraid that Wei Zheng would not tell the truth, and she was also afraid that Wei Zheng's power would force the doctors to keep silent, so she always interrogated a few doctors every now and then.

The head of the Imperial Hospital smiled bitterly, "Don't worry, my lady. We really haven't concealed anything. Although the Duke's leg is seriously injured, he will be able to walk freely again after a period of rest. It's just that..."

Wen Wan replied calmly, "It's just that I can't ride a horse anymore. I know that."

She had heard these words several times, as if by hearing them more times, she could put aside the vague uneasiness in her heart.

She bowed slightly and said, "Thank you doctors for your concern."

After sending Wen Wan away, the doctor said to the medicine boy beside him, "This Madam Wen doesn't seem like the power-hungry person that the rumors say."

The medicine boy asked, "If that's the case, why don't you tell my lady the truth? Just say that the Duke's leg injury is extremely difficult to treat. Even if he works hard to recover now, he may not be able to ride or shoot arrows in the future."

The head physician shook his head. "We are only responsible for treating patients and saving lives. Since the Duke has given the order, we must keep our mouths shut." The next day, Wen Wan brought along Xu Mama from the mansion, Meng Yuanjie's mother. She said that Xu Mama had once served the Empress in the palace. As an old woman from the palace, Xu Mama would at least have some face if Zhao Yingzhen made things difficult for her today.

She also chose Chen Ma, who was loyal and would never abandon her at a critical moment.

There are also two martial maids carefully selected by Wei Zheng.

Wen Wan never leaves her dagger behind.

The earrings were also filled with poison.

Wei Zheng was busy with all these.

Princess Zhao Yingzhen's mansion was very simple, so His Majesty allocated her a house that was confiscated by a criminal, and ordered the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to repair and maintain it, and used it as a temporary resting place for Zhao Yingzhen.

As soon as you enter, you will see the yard full of colorful and fragrant flowers.

It was spring, and the young ladies and ladies were wearing thin clothes, holding round fans, drinking tea, and gathered in the flower hall in groups of three or four.

Wen Wan had just arrived and didn't know any of the dignitaries in Kyoto.

Fortunately, Wei Zheng had told her about the map of all officials in Kyoto in advance, and there was also an old lady like Aunt Xu who knew all the ladies of each family very well, so Wen Wan quickly recognized the person in front of her.

Zhao Yingzhen held this banquet in a very low-key manner, inviting about a dozen or twenty people in total.

As the middle-aged woman in a turquoise dress approached with a smile, Nanny Xu whispered in her ear, "This is the wife of the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, Liu. Her family has always been close to the Duke's Mansion. Madam, you can trust her for about 80% of the time."

Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards?
Wen Wan remembered the general who had let her go without permission that day...

No wonder he asked her to leave immediately when he heard that I was the young lady of the Duke's Mansion. It seems that she is really his old lover.

"Madam Wen!" This Liu was a sincere person. She came up and took Wen Wan's hand affectionately, then said with a smile, "Your master came to visit last night and asked me to keep a close eye on you today. He was worried that you would be left at the princess's mansion, hungry or cold, or that you would be bullied by others. And he gave me a huge gift!"

Wen Wan smiled, "Thank you, Madam Liu, but... the Duke and I haven't gotten married yet, so you should still call me Madam Wen."

Liu refused to agree. "Oh, your story has spread all over Kyoto. Everyone knows you have two children. As for the status... that's set in stone!"

Just as he was speaking, before he could see Zhao Yingzhen, a group of people surrounded him.

It’s true... Wen Wan is a stranger, but she is close to Liu, which naturally makes people curious.

Liu then openly took Wen Wan's hand and introduced her, "This is Madam Wen from the Duke's Mansion."

When the word "Madam Wen" was mentioned, no one reacted.

But when the topic of Madam Wen from the Duke's Mansion was brought up, everyone became interested, and the sound of chattering filled the air.

"Are you the Lady Wen who tricked Duke Wei into marrying into your family?"

"I heard that you kicked the Duke out after you gave birth to the child. Is that true?"

"Ah, I've been hearing about you for over half a month, and this time I finally see the real Buddha!"

Someone looked at her with a smile, their eyes tinged with sarcasm. "Madam, you're joking. She's just a merchant's daughter. How could she possibly marry someone as noble as the Duke? Perhaps the Duke's concubine gave birth to a child outside and is deliberately spreading rumors to raise her status. It's just that the Duke's Mansion is so unruly, allowing a concubine's daughter to entertain guests. If Her Royal Highness the Princess saw this, she'd probably blame the Duke's Mansion for being impolite."

Wen Wan: Gossip is indeed human nature.

So is spreading rumors.

Wen Wan had something to do today, so naturally she wouldn't get entangled in these verbal disputes.

She said in a neither soft nor hard tone, "Madam, this post was given to me privately by Her Royal Highness the Princess, not by the Duke's Mansion."

When Zhao Yingzhen was escorted, he was secretly handed over for trial on the orders of His Majesty.