Chapter 12: What else do you know that could bring down the Crown Prince?

Yan Ning looked at the men wearing military uniforms outside and could not help but frown.

At this moment, a man wearing brocade robes and walking with a measured, dignified gait arrived; he performed a salute, "Cangzhou Regional Inspector Yangzheng pays respects to His Highness."

Yan Ning's gaze carried a hint of wariness, "You are not here to arrest us?"

Yangzheng's expression turned stern: "Did someone treat you poorly before? I have come this time simply to welcome you; having traveled such a long way to Ningcheng, you must be tired."

Yan Ning thought to herself that this Yangzheng was truly tactful.

Yan Ning did not fully trust Yangzheng, but he had brought so many men, and the city gate behind them was closed, making it impossible for them to leave; Yan Ning had no choice but to get off the carriage with her parents first.

Even if it were a trap, they had to go.

Yangzheng was not being kind to Yan Ning's family for no reason; his men had heard the Emperor sighing in his chambers, speaking of divine retribution and saying that the Emperor regretted exiling the First Prince's family.

Originally, Yangzheng had not believed it, but seeing the First Prince's family arrive in a carriage, living in luxury, he changed his mind.

This treatment was simply too good.

Yangzheng did not know that this treatment was provided by the Empress Dowager, and he simply assumed the Emperor still held some concern for them.

It is easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow. Yangzheng was calculating in his heart; he was currently providing charcoal in the snow for the First Prince's family!

Yangzheng also said: "If you do not mind, I will send some troops to escort you to Lingnan."

Yan Ning shook her head, "No need."

Yangzheng did not insist.

He brought Yan Ning's family to Zhenwei Pavilion, which was the best restaurant in Ningcheng; the dishes were all carefully selected by him, and besides that, Yangzheng had also invited six beauties skilled in dance, so they could eat while watching them dance, which was extremely extravagant.

Yan Ning laughed out loud, feeling very pleased.

She remembered that she had emptied the Crown Prince's treasury and the national treasury; the Gou Huangdi and the Crown Prince were now in a miserable state, and the delicacies they used to enjoy were now out of the question, while her family, though said to be exiled, was actually no different from traveling for pleasure.

Yan Ning listened to the sound of the pipa and praised, "What a lovely melody."

Yangzheng immediately said: "How about I let her go to Lingnan with you?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the beauty playing the pipa actually missed two notes.

Yan Ning shook her head; she had just praised her casually, "Lingnan is not a good place, so let her stay in Ningcheng."

Yan Ning could feel that the pipa-playing beauty clearly seemed to heave a sigh of relief.

Yangzheng asked with a smile: "Are you in a hurry to continue your journey? If not, you can stay in Ningcheng for a while."

Yan Ning was somewhat tempted.

Yangzheng really knew how to make arrangements; this meal was eaten in great comfort.

Yan Ning's family was feeling incredibly at ease.

At this time, a maid wearing a veil came over to serve fruit tea; there were four tables, and she served one cup to each table.

When she reached Ji Lan's side, she pulled out a small knife and held it against Ji Lan's throat.

Seeing this scene, everyone's heart jumped into their throats.

Yan Ning hurriedly took a few deep breaths and finally calmed down; she attempted to negotiate: "Let's talk this over; release my mother first, and whatever you want, we will do our best to help you get it."

Yangzheng was almost angered to the point of vomiting blood. It was a perfectly good banquet, and he had finally managed to make the First Prince's family happy, only for this to happen.

All his previous efforts had been in vain!

At this time, the maid holding the knife walked backward with Ji Lan, putting distance between them: "You pay for my redemption, and after I am redeemed, I will let her go."

At this moment, Hongyi, who had heard the commotion, came over and was shocked to see this scene.

Yan Ning frowned and looked at her: "Don't do anything rash; I will pay for your redemption immediately."

Yan Ning looked at Hongyi, "Where is your Steward?"

Hongyi's legs were still shaking at this moment, "I, I am the Steward."

Yan Ning pointed at the maid holding the knife: "I will pay for her redemption; how much money?"

Hongyi hesitated, and only after a long while did she name a figure: "It is not easy for me to train these maids; she will be able to play music soon, so her redemption naturally won't be cheap."

"Ten thousand taels."

Yan Ning gasped at the price.

How much?

Ten thousand taels?!

Although she had emptied the Imperial Palace and did not care about ten or twenty thousand, that did not mean she wanted to be a sucker.

Yan Ning pulled a knife from the guard at the door, the blade almost touching Hongyi's neck, "Say it again, how much silver?"

Hongyi's legs went weak, and she knelt directly before Yan Ning.

"One hundred taels, just one hundred taels!"

Yan Ning gave her one hundred taels, and Hongyi immediately produced the maid's contract of indenture.

Yan Ning took a look; this maid was named Lan Xin.

She handed the contract over; Lan Xin held the hostage with one hand and took the contract with the other, continuing to retreat toward the window, "You all back away too."

Yan Ning hurriedly stepped back a few paces; Lan Xin pushed Ji Lan forward and jumped out the window herself.

As luck would have it, the captain of the guard, Zhuo Heng, was right below.

Yan Ning shouted loudly: "Zhuo Heng, quickly catch that woman."

Zhuo Heng moved very quickly and tied Lan Xin up directly, also taking away the dagger in her hand.

Zhuo Heng brought the person back up.

Yan Ning pulled off her face veil and looked back at Yan Ze: "Father, do you think she looks a bit familiar?"

Yan Ze stood up, looking left and right: "She does look familiar, but I can't recall for a moment..."

After a good while, Yan Ning finally remembered: "Aren't you the Crown Prince's concubine? You were pregnant at the time; how did you end up here?"

Lan Xin gritted her teeth: "The Crown Princess gave me a bowl of abortifacient, and after that, she sold me; after being passed around for a long time, I finally arrived here."

Lan Xin had long heard that the Prince of Jin had a gentle temper, so she knelt down: "Can you help me take a message to the Crown Prince? I, I want to go with you all, I won't cause any trouble for you."

Yan Ning refused flatly: "No, we are being exiled today all because of the Crown Prince, we are going to Lingnan, don't follow us."

The main reason was still the fear that Lan Xin would stab them in the back.

Lan Xin was stunned; they were listening to little tunes and drinking wine here, yet they told her this was on the road to exile?

Yan Ning untied her ropes: "You go, don't follow us."

Lan Xin was a weak woman, she dared not leave alone; she gritted her teeth, steeled her heart, and said directly: "I know the Crown Prince's secret."

As soon as these words were out, Yangzheng very tactfully left, and even took these six beauties away, leaving space for them.

Lan Xin hurriedly said: "I know many secrets of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, let me go with you, and I will tell you everything."

Lan Xin's expression was grave: "The secrets I know are enough to ensure the Crown Prince can never turn his situation around for the rest of his life."

Yan Ning's family looked indifferent.

Lan Xin found it strange: "Why don't you have any interest at all?"

Yan Ning was calm and composed: "We know that too, he is colluding with the enemy and betraying the country."

Lan Xin's pupils dilated in shock: "What, he is also colluding with the enemy and betraying the country?!"

Yan Ning: "Also?"

"Then tell me, what else do you know that could make him fall from power?"