The next day the sky was slightly bright, and Tinglan Courtyard became lively early.The maids were busy unpacking boxes and cages, selecting clothes and jewelry one by one. Half of the pear wood table was covered with silk and satin materials.Shen Qingyuan sat in front of the dressing table, letting Chuntao comb her hair. The girl in the mirror had a clear look on her face. She looked completely relaxed and ready to go to a banquet and enjoy the scenery, but she had already figured out the entire strategy in her heart.

"Miss, there's no movement on the other side of the carriage. I think the prince will be outside the palace soon." Chuntao reminded her in a low voice while inserting a plain jade hairpin for her.

Shen Qingyuan nodded slightly: "The Liu family will definitely be watching our movements when we go out, so there is no need to show anything strange."

Sure enough, Shen Qingrou was peeking through the window of Ningxiang Courtyard.Seeing Ting Lanyuan busy getting dressed, she clenched her sleeves tightly, her eyes filled with uncontrollable anxiety and excitement.Mrs. Liu sat aside and sipped tea, with a calm look on her face, and said carefully: "Stay safe in the mansion and wait for the news of the success to come from the East Palace. In less than half a day, Shen Qingyuan will no longer have a foothold." She was sure that the prince had made a careful arrangement and there was an ambush in the back garden of the Hou Mansion. There was no chance of this plan going wrong.

Just after midnight, the sound of heavy horse hooves came from outside the palace. The servants came quickly to report. The carriages and horses of the Prince Regent's Palace were waiting outside the gate.Shen Qingyuan said goodbye to the old lady and Shen Jingshan, walked out of the Prime Minister's Mansion slowly, and boarded the ebony carriage that was elegantly decorated but made of exquisite materials.

In the carriage, Xiao Yuci was leaning on the soft cushions, his black robe making his eyebrows deep.When the girl sat down, he raised his eyes and said calmly: "Around the waterfront pavilion in the back garden of the Hou Mansion, the four lurking people in the East Palace have been secretly targeted by my people. Just go to the banquet as usual and don't tense up."

Shen Qingyuan felt slightly relieved and knelt down to thank him.With Xiao Yuci secretly setting up defenses, it was equivalent to blocking Xiao Jingyu's most critical move.The carriage headed all the way towards the Pingning Marquis Mansion. Along the streets, carriages and horses from aristocratic families rushing to the banquet could be seen everywhere. Begonias were in full bloom along the way, and fallen leaves were falling in the wind on the bluestone road.

The gate of the Marquis Mansion is like a city, with an endless stream of famous princes and noble ladies from various houses. The stewards and servants are waiting in front of the door to welcome the guests.Shen Qingyuan followed Xiao Yuci out of the car, and as soon as he entered the palace gate, he bumped into the prince Xiao Jingyu in a brocade robe.

Xiao Jingyu glanced at the two people standing side by side, a shadow quickly passed through his eyes, but a warm smile appeared on his face, and he stepped forward to greet them politely.After a few words about the situation, he intentionally or unintentionally tested Shen Qingyuan's whereabouts, and pretended to invite him to the back garden later to appreciate the precious begonias.

Shen Qingyuan pushed the boat along the current and responded with a smile.She knew in her heart that the other party was trying to lure her to a remote waterside pavilion, and she just followed the other party's trap.

The banquet was held, the silk and bamboo in the front hall were melodious, delicacies were laid out, and the female relatives of each family chatted and admired the flowers in groups.Although Shen Qingrou was not able to attend the banquet, she had already asked a maid from an aristocratic family whom she knew well to deliver a letter to the people ambush in the East Palace, urging them to find the right time to take action.

The sun was setting in the west, and the begonias in the garden were in full bloom. Many guests gathered in the front yard to enjoy the flowers.Shen Qingyuan excused herself to get some air and walked slowly towards the back garden alone. Four men who looked like servants arranged by Xiao Jingyu quietly walked out from behind the rockery and followed her at a short distance.

The regent's secret guards hiding in the dense forest of the rockery remained calm and followed them secretly. They only waited for a few people to start drugging them and took them on the spot.

Xiao Yuci, who was sitting in the front hall, seemed to be chatting with Marquis Pingning. His peripheral vision was always fixed on the direction of the back garden, and his aura was calm, just waiting for a conspiracy to be exposed.