Chapter 697: Mantis Stalks Cicada Again
Public opinion in the capital has also reached a critical point in the past few days.
With the increasingly uncontrollable pressure of public opinion, all the spearheads are aimed at the court of Dazhao and the current emperor!
In the morning court, the officials quarreled with each other and blamed each other.
In addition, Su Xiang's illness in the past few days has led to an almost uncontrollable situation in the court.
As the emperor of Dazhao, Zhao Jing also seemed to have lost his authority in the court. Jiangnan fell, the South Province was in civil war, and the North Province lost control. The ministers in the court were divided into several factions.
Except for the ministers who were still loyal to Zhao Jing when Zhao Jing ascended the throne, the rest of the court had already been doing their own thing.
Li Beifeng, who learned of this news, was not surprised.
All this was expected.
The original agreement between him and Zhao Jing was just to stabilize the North Province and give Dazhao a chance to breathe. But even so, Dazhao could not gain much advantage in the face of the rebels of Prince Zhaonan.
When the breath was released, it was no longer so easy to turn over again.
More importantly, Li Beifeng did not intend to give Zhao Jing a chance to turn over.
His plan with Emperor Zhao and Zhao Ying was also in full swing at the same time.
...
Another day, in the evening.
A royal carriage slowly drove through the capital and arrived at the palace gate.
The palace gate guards did not check too much and let the carriage enter the palace.
The carriage was in the quiet palace until the hall.
"Here we are!"
Then the eunuch in front of the carriage spoke, the curtain was lifted, and Li Beifeng jumped out of the carriage.
"Your Majesty has been waiting for you in the Imperial Garden for a long time!"
The eunuch on the side glanced at Li Beifeng cautiously, only to feel that the man in front of him was a little familiar, but he couldn't tell.
Li Beifeng, wearing a silk mask, has now hidden his original appearance.
Li Beifeng waved his hand, then took a step and walked towards the Imperial Garden.
Today, Zhao Jing suddenly asked him to drink!
For Li Beifeng, this is not good news.
He and Zhao Jing were no longer friends. Their status meant that they could no longer sit down and drink peacefully.
Even if there was cooperation between the two, even if there was a short-term interest involved, something was still wrong!
What was Zhao Jing up to?
Hongmen Banquet? !
Could it be that he had set up a net in the palace to wait for him?
When he arrived outside the Imperial Garden, Li Beifeng stopped and glanced at the area nearby. It was empty.
There were not even any guards from the palace near the Imperial Garden.
With his current martial arts, he was sensitive to everything around him.
However, he did not notice anything wrong.
There were no ambushing masters around, nor any swordsmen.
This made Li Beifeng frown even more.
Could it be that Zhao Jing was just looking for him to drink and reminisce about the past?
Thinking of this, Li Beifeng sneered in his heart.
Impossible!
However, he still came to the appointment.
As the crown prince of Northern Qi, Li Beifeng now represents not only himself, but also Northern Qi.
Since Zhao Jing has made an appointment, and the two have not yet torn their faces, Li Beifeng will naturally keep the appointment.
More importantly, Wan'er is still in the palace, and he does not intend to tear his face with Zhao Jing.
At this moment, in the evening, the sky gradually darkens.
Behind him is the dark night without clouds.
The weather tonight is good, with a starry sky!
Li Beifeng stayed there for a while, and then stepped into the Imperial Garden.
In the Imperial Garden, there are small bridges and flowing water, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom, and birds are singing and flowers are fragrant!
There is a pavilion by the lake not far away.
There are several figures in the pavilion.
From a distance, Li Beifeng saw Zhao Jing sitting in the pavilion and He Jing standing behind Zhao Jing.
"Brother Li!"
Seeing Li Beifeng appear, Zhao Jing smiled and spoke cheerfully.
A hint of coldness flashed in He Jing's eyes behind him, but he quickly recovered and remained silent.
Li Beifeng walked slowly to the pavilion, smiling: "Zhao Jing asked me out today, what's the matter?"
"I was idle today, and suddenly thought of Brother Li, so I wanted to ask Brother Li out for a gathering. Did I bother Brother Li?"
Zhao Jing's face was filled with a hearty smile, as if he was an old friend who had not seen each other for a long time, and was particularly kind.
Li Beifeng's face also showed a smile: "No, Zhao Jing invited me, so I must go!"
"Come on, Brother Li, please sit down!"
Zhao Jing waved his hand, taking care of him warmly, and then glanced at He Jing behind him: "Pour wine for Brother Li!"
He Jing walked forward silently and poured a glass of wine for Li Beifeng.
"This is a fine beer shipped from Nanzhou, Brother Li, try it?" Zhao Jing greeted.
Li Beifeng had a smile on his face, looking at Zhao Jing and He Jing quietly, without speaking or moving.
There seemed to be a hint of meaning in Zhao Jing's eyes: "Could it be that Brother Li is worried that I poisoned him?"
"That's not the case!"
Li Beifeng shook his head gently and glanced at He Jing again: "I'm worried that he poisoned me."
"You..."
He Jing saw that Li Beifeng was pointing the spearhead at him, and his eyes immediately glared at him.
"Shut up!"
Zhao Jing said coldly.
He Jing realized that he had lost his composure and turned back and said: "Your Majesty, I was wrong!"
Zhao Jing glanced at him coldly: "Brother Li is my confidant, you can't be rude!"
He Jing lowered his head: "I know."
Then, Zhao Jing looked back at Li Beifeng and said with a smile: "Brother Li did have some conflicts and grievances with him before, but he didn't have the guts to poison you, Brother Li. Brother Li, you can rest assured!"
Li Beifeng said with a smile: "Don't worry, of course I am, he doesn't have the guts to poison me!"
With that said, Li Beifeng glanced at He Jing again.
As soon as these words came out, the surrounding atmosphere became a little colder.
Everyone present is not a fool, so why can’t they understand the meaning of these words?
He Jing's face changed slightly, looking a little ugly.
They said they were worried about him poisoning, but they said he didn't have the guts to poison him!
On the surface, this refers to him, but doesn’t it actually refer to His Majesty?
"Haha, Brother Li is joking!"
After a brief silence, Zhao Jing laughed twice more: "Brother Li is right to be wary, so I won't force it.
Li Beifeng also had a smile on his face again, and he had a humorous conversation with Zhao Jing.
It was as if the tense atmosphere just now had completely disappeared.
Everything ceases to exist.
"Right!"
At this moment, Zhao Jing seemed to have thought of something, and glanced at Li Beifeng again, "I have played a few games of chess with He Jing recently, and I feel that I have made great progress. I happen to be free today, how about playing two games of chess with me, Brother Li?"
Li Beifeng shook his head: "I can't play chess."
"It just so happens that I'm not very good at it, why don't we just have a chat?" Zhao Jing warmly invited.
Li Beifeng looked at him quietly for a moment, then nodded: "That's fine."
…
Half an hour later.
Zhao Jing stared at the chessboard in confusion. He had abandoned his armor and was in a state of embarrassment. He raised his head and looked at Li Beifeng: "Is this what Brother Li said about not being able to play chess?"
This sophisticated technique and tactics are clearly that of an experienced chess player with superb chess skills.
Even He Jing's eyes on the side were slightly shocked at this moment. Is this kid still hiding his clumsiness?
He had just witnessed this game of chess with his own eyes. This boy's chess skills were probably not inferior to his.
"Brother Zhao, isn't it the same?"
Li Beifeng glanced at him, half smiling.
Zhao Jing's chess skills cannot be called a novice.
They're all just pretending to be pigs!
"Oh, Brother Li saw it through. I wanted to beat Brother Li once on the chessboard, but to my surprise, I still lost!"
Zhao Jing sighed, looked at Li Beifeng again, and suddenly said: "However, I will always beat Brother Li once."
Night falls and everything is silent!
The dim lights in the pavilion were shining, and Zhao Jing's delicate and handsome face seemed to have a somewhat strange look.
Li Beifeng was silent for a moment and shook his head: "You can't win."
"Brother Li is very confident?"
"No!"
Li Beifeng shook his head and said calmly: "You have no chance!"
In the dark night, Zhao Jing's eyes suddenly shrank.
Li Beifeng glanced at the chessboard to himself, and suddenly chuckled: "I will never play chess again from now on!"
"Brother Zhao, you will naturally never be able to defeat me again!"
Zhao Jing was silent for a moment, and suddenly he also laughed: "So, I am still Brother Li's last opponent before he seals the chess game? What an honor!"
"yes!"
"..."
"It's getting late, so I'll take my leave first!"
Li Beifeng said, his eyes swept over Zhao Jing and He Jing, and said calmly: "I won't disturb you anymore!"
Say it, Li Beifeng stood up, turned and left.
Zhao Jing sat in the pavilion, watching Li Beifeng's leaving figure quietly.
The smile on his face disappeared bit by bit as Li Beifeng gradually moved away.
Until the end, it gradually became solemn, gloomy and thoughtful.
After a while, Zhao Jing's voice was a little low, and there seemed to be a trace of doubt: "What did he mean by what he just said?"
No chance?
Why didn't he have a chance?
What is he hinting at?
Or are you overthinking it? !
Zhao Jing frowned and remained silent.
"His Majesty……"
At this time, He Jing's voice came from the side. He Jing looked at the direction in which Li Beifeng left, with a trace of resentment flashing across his face.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry, he may be deceiving you. He now thinks that Your Majesty is in trouble and dare not do anything to him, but if he can be eradicated, or he can be controlled..."
He Jing said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, otherwise..."
"Um."
After a long silence, Zhao Jing nodded.
However, the uneasy feeling in his heart was always surging.
I always feel like something is wrong...
Why?
…
It's quiet at night.
After coming out of the imperial garden, Li Beifeng avoided the sight of the imperial guards in the palace, then jumped up and quietly arrived at a courtyard under the cover of night.
In the courtyard, a girl was sitting lazily on the eaves, looking not far away.
"Action tonight?"
Li Beifeng stopped and looked back at the girl on the eaves, "How are you prepared?"
"have no idea!"
The girl answered simply. Seeing Li Beifeng staring at her, she waved her hand: "I'm not participating. Besides, this has nothing to do with me!"
Zhou Qiuning raised her eyebrows and half-smiled: "Shouldn't you ask her yourself?"
Li Beifeng frowned slightly and stared at her: "Then what are you doing here?"
"Watch the show!"
Zhou Qiuning smiled, "How could I miss such a wonderful thing?"
As she spoke, she narrowed her eyes: "They say that the royal family is the most exciting thing to seize power. Sure enough, first the son kills his father, and now the sister kills his brother? How can such a good show be without me?"
Li Beifeng frowned and stared at her without speaking.
She does like to watch the fun!
The first time I met her was at an inn in Chaoyang County, watching the excitement.
The last time there was civil strife in the Jozhao Palace, she was there. Even, she and Li Beifeng fought out of the palace that night.
but……
As if he thought of something, there was a trace of worry in Li Beifeng's eyes.
Seeing Li Beifeng still looking at her like this, Zhou Qiuning seemed to have thought of something and glanced at him: "Could it be that you are doubting me?"
Zhou Qiuning stood up, jumped down from the eaves, and landed in front of Li Beifeng. Her delicate face stared directly at him: "Are you worried that I will inform Zhao Jing?"
Li Beifeng still didn't speak, but he already acquiesced.
Have to guard against it!
Zhou Qiuning and Zhao Jing were familiar with each other and had even helped Zhao Jing with errands before, so Li Beifeng was naturally worried.
"It seems that in your mind, I still can't believe it!"
Zhou Qiuning sighed softly and said meaningfully: "Since you doubt me, why not...you kill me now?!"
"If you kill me now, no one will snitch on me, how about that?"
With that said, Zhou Qiuning stood in front of Li Beifeng, closed her eyes, and looked like she was letting him be dealt with.
Li Beifeng just stared at her twice, then turned and left without saying anything.
Jumped up and disappeared into the night sky.
Zhou Qiuning opened her eyes and looked at the direction Li Beifeng left, with a playful and joyful look in her eyes.
After a while, she murmured to herself: "This night...he won't go to find that woman again, right?"
"..."
It's quiet at night.
A black shadow quietly passed through the eaves of the palace and fell into the courtyard.
Then, he gently opened the door to the room.
In the room, Xie Waner, who was about to sleep with her clothes on, raised her eyes and saw Li Beifeng at the door.
A trace of resentment appeared in his eyes, and he bit his lower lip: "Can you... be earlier next time?"
These days, Li Beifeng comes over almost every night, which makes Xie Waner, who was a little resistant at first, gradually get used to it.
After all, she couldn't resist, so all she could do was accept it.
Once you get used to it, you seem to get used to it slowly.
From the beginning, I was ashamed and angry and refused to obey, but now I am used to it.
Although I was still shy in my heart, I did gradually accept it all.
However, this guy came whenever he came, always so late, and would wait until she fell asleep.
Every time she woke up at night, she always thought some bad guy was coming, which scared her several times.
"Okay, I'll be earlier next time!"
Li Beifeng laughed and came to the bedside.
"There will be no next time!"
Xie Wan'er bit her lower lip and glared at him: "I will lock the doors and windows tomorrow night. You can't come in again!"
"It's no use."
Li Beifeng bent down, picked her up and put her on the bed, and then got under the quilt.
"snort!"
Xie Waner snorted lightly, but did not refute again. She curled up in Li Beifeng's arms and found a comfortable position.
After doing it more times, I seem to have gradually gotten used to this guy's existence.
Xie Waner sighed quietly in her heart.
She probably really left everything to him in this life.
As if thinking of something, Xie Waner turned around. Just when she was about to say something, she noticed that Li Beifeng was still wearing a coat.
"clothing!"
She, who was slightly mysophobic, frowned when she saw this guy actually wearing dirty clothes and getting under the quilt.
"Are you so anxious for me to take off my clothes?" Li Beifeng said with a playful smile.
"you……"
Xie Wan'er's face was full of shame and anger. Knowing that this guy was bullying her again, she hit him hard, her face turned red and she shouted angrily: "If you say anything again, I'll beat you to death!"
Li Beifeng happily grabbed her hand, and then hugged her into his arms.
He glanced out the window and said softly: "Wait a little longer."
"Um?"
Xie Waner, who was held in her arms, smelled the familiar scent of Li Beifeng, which made her slightly addicted. Her blushing face was a little shy and she didn't quite hear what Li Beifeng said clearly.
"I said!"
Li Beifeng lowered his head, looked at the charming, dignified and elegant face in his arms, and said meaningfully: "After tonight, we can go home soon!"
"..."