Yan Yu's efficiency was also swift. Before long, someone added a table to the private room designated for Leng Ruo Li and Jun Mo Han.
Subsequently, Leng Ruo Li quickly ordered two tables of dishes. Everyone played ludo in the private room, chatted, and exchanged jokes. Yan Yu then led a group of waiters to serve their room.
After the waiters finished serving the dishes, everyone dug in, eating and chatting merrily. However, throughout the entire process, no one brought up the events that had transpired at Prince Ning's wedding that day.
As for Prince Shou's family, this was their first time dining openly in a restaurant with others, apart from attending banquets. The family of three ate with great enjoyment.
Meanwhile.
After Leng Ruo Li and the others left, Prime Minister Qin and his wife arrived at Prince Ning's manor by carriage. However, the gates of Prince Ning's manor were already tightly shut. Apart from a group of expressionless guards standing at the entrance, there was no one else.
"My lord, what shall we do? We can't get into Prince Ning's manor." Madame Qin asked anxiously.
"Why would we need to get into Prince Ning's manor? Prince Ning and Xue'er are no longer there. They should be in the Dali Temple prison now." Prime Minister Qin rubbed his forehead, his voice tinged with impatience.
"Then let's go to Dali Temple to see Xue'er." Upon hearing Prime Minister Qin's words, Madame Qin's heart suddenly trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes again as she choked out her words.
"Sigh, let's go!"
Prime Minister Qin slightly closed his eyes, as if in thought, and then suddenly sighed.
Following this, the couple got back into their carriage and headed towards Dali Temple.
Over at Dali Temple, Yan Song had already anticipated that Prime Minister Qin, Qin Zhihong, would come to him. He had also formulated his strategy to deal with Qin Zhihong.
As he had expected, not long after, Prime Minister Qin and Madame Qin arrived at Dali Temple.
"This subordinate greets Prime Minister!"
Upon seeing Prime Minister Qin, Yan Song still offered a ceremonial greeting.
"Lord Yan, you must have guessed our purpose for coming to Dali Temple, haven't you?"
Prime Minister Qin did not beat around the bush with Yan Song.
"Heh, Prime Minister, if you are here for Miss Qin this time, I am afraid I cannot disobey the imperial decree!"
Although Prime Minister Qin held a high position and considerable power, Yan Song was not someone to be easily manipulated.
"Lord Yan, please rest assured. This official will not hinder you from doing anything. We only wish to see our daughter." Prime Minister Qin lowered his stance when speaking to Yan Song.
"Prime Minister, this subordinate still cannot make the decision. You should go to the palace first and obtain the Emperor's consent before seeing Miss Qin."
Yan Song did not want to waste any more words with Qin Zhihong and directly told them to seek out the Emperor.
Seeing this, Prime Minister Qin was also helpless. Yan Song was a favorite of the Emperor, and he could not bully Yan Song as he did other officials. Furthermore, the situation regarding his daughter was very serious.
Afterward, Prime Minister Qin waved his sleeve and left Dali Temple.
On the way, Madame Qin began to sob inconsolably again.
"My lord, we can't even see Xue'er. What should we do?"
"What should we do? What should I do? I can only go to the palace to request an audience with His Majesty."
Prime Minister Qin was annoyed by Madame Qin's constant questioning. This woman, who was usually so adept at battling him in their residence or engaging in catfights with the concubines and illegitimate children in his harem, was completely useless when it came to serious matters.
Alas...
"Then shall we go to the palace now?" Madame Qin asked again.
"Yes, this Prime Minister will go to the palace to see His Majesty now. You go back to the residence and wait."
At this moment, Prime Minister Qin's brows were so furrowed they could have held an egg.
If his guess was correct, His Majesty was still angry, and he was unsure of what the situation would be upon entering the palace.
"Alright, I'll take you to the palace gates, then have the driver take me back to the residence, and then have him return the carriage to wait outside the palace gates for you to emerge." Madame Qin was unusually considerate.
"No, just have the driver come to the palace gates to pick me up later. I expect I won't be able to leave the palace for a while today." Prime Minister Qin had a bad premonition.
"Okay."
Madame Qin wanted to say something, but she opened her mouth and didn't know what to say. In the end, she said nothing at all and accompanied Prime Minister Qin to the palace gates.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Prime Minister Qin, without waiting for the driver to help him get down the wooden stool, hastily jumped off the carriage and rushed towards the palace gates.
Seeing this, one could tell how anxious he was.
Madame Qin watched Prime Minister Qin's receding figure before instructing the driver to take her back to Prime Minister Qin's residence.
...
The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.
After returning from Prince Ning's manor, His Majesty had confined himself to the Imperial Study. He was also gazing intently at Leng Wang's mother, Zi Yi Yun.
At the same time, memories of the happy times he had spent with Zi Yi Yun flashed through his mind.
Later, when Prime Minister Qin came to the Imperial Study to request an audience with His Majesty, Eunuch Li immediately informed him that His Majesty was not seeing anyone that day.
Just as he had predicted, His Majesty would not see him. He could only wait under the scorching sun outside the Imperial Study. He waited until dusk before His Majesty finally instructed Eunuch Li to bring him into the Imperial Study.
As a result, His Majesty struck Prime Minister Qin's forehead, causing several bloody gashes. Blood flowed continuously down his cheeks and nose bridge, and only then did he receive a verbal instruction from His Majesty and slowly walked out of the Imperial Study.
If His Majesty had not been concerned about the Empress – the faction of Duke Lin – the court would not only have been in turmoil but also the situation of factionalism would have intensified, requiring urgent attention. Otherwise, he would have wanted to deal with that old fox, Qin Zhihong.
After Prime Minister Qin left the Imperial Study, he instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alas...
His position in Tian Wu is becoming increasingly precarious. His Majesty has already turned his attention to him. He cannot wait for death; he must find a way out.
But given the current situation, whom can he rely on or support?
The Prince Ning he wanted to support is imprisoned. He is now worrying about how to rescue him, and he has no troops under his command. It is impossible for him to control the entire capital by himself, let alone with Prince Leng and Leng Jin Yu present in the capital.
Qin Zhihong walked along, deep in thought, when suddenly a person flashed in his mind...
Immediately, he quickened his pace out of the palace.
His wife had, as promised, arranged for a carriage from their residence to wait for him at the palace gates.
Subsequently, Prime Minister Qin pondered for a moment on horseback. He decisively decided not to go to the prison to see Qin Xi Xue and Prince Ning today and instead changed course to return to his residence.
Upon returning to his residence, Prime Minister Qin went straight into his study without a word. He picked up a brush and wrote a letter.
Then, Qin Zhihong summoned his confidant, handed him the letter he had just written, and gave him several detailed instructions before ordering him to deliver the letter to Ying Zhou overnight.