NCCnovel Chapter 306 Li Lingxuan, long time no see
Chapter 306 Li Lingxuan, long time no see
Chai Zhen's gaze immediately turned to Cen Jiexiao with a hint of anticipation.
"Oh? What clever idea does Sister Xiao have? Tell me about it."
Cen Jiexiao bowed slightly and explained calmly, "This servant believes that we can use the opportunity of the Queen's birthday celebration to break up General Yue's army and secretly infiltrate the capital."
"The Queen's birthday ceremony? Tell me in detail." Chai Zhen pondered for a moment.
"Your Majesty, officials from all over the country will come to the capital to pay their respects, and the people will also come to celebrate your birthday. The flow of people will be enormous, which will provide an excellent cover."
Sister Cen Xiao told the story slowly and leisurely.
"We can divide the general's army into small units, disguise them as ordinary people or officials' followers, blend in with the troops entering the capital from all over the country, and enter the capital unnoticed."
Chen Zigui's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he added, "Your Majesty, to ensure that everything is foolproof, we must secretly contact the commander of the capital's garrison to ensure that the garrison can obey Your Majesty's orders at the critical moment."
He paused, his tone serious.
"To prevent the Queen Mother's party from seizing control of the capital's defense."
After listening to their suggestions, Chai Zhen's eyes lit up and he nodded in appreciation.
"Good idea! This is a great idea!" he said firmly.
"I will now begin secret deployments and prepare for the final reckoning with the Queen Mother's faction!"
After the three of them finished their discussion, Chai Zhen dismissed Chen Zigui, leaving Cen Jiexiao alone. He walked over to her and asked with concern, "Jiexiao, how are you these days? I heard you were unwell, and I'm very worried."
"I'm fine, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern." Cen Jiexiao's voice sounded hollow and distant, as if from another world. Her thoughts were erratic, her eyes wandering, not focused on Chai Zhen at all.
Anyone could hear the hidden uneasiness in her perfunctory tone.
The image of Chen Zigui and the woman embracing kept resurfacing in her mind: Chen Zigui's gentle eyes, the woman's shy smile, their intertwined figures... Those images were like sharp thorns, piercing her heart and making it difficult for her to breathe. Every heartbeat was accompanied by a wave of pain, making it almost unbearable.
Chai Zhen noticed something strange about Cen Jiexiao and spoke in a gentler tone.
"Sister Xiao, if you have any troubles, just tell me. I will definitely take care of it for you." He stretched out his hand, wanting to stroke her pale cheek and give her a little comfort.
Cen Jiexiao subconsciously took a step back, avoiding his touch without leaving a trace. Chai Zhen's hand froze in mid-air, then he withdrew it awkwardly.
"Your Majesty, please don't worry."
Cen Jiexiao tried hard to force a smile, but it was uglier than crying. Her eyes were filled with pain and helplessness, yet she forced herself to hide it, not letting anyone notice. This smile was so forced, so bitter, as if it would shatter at any moment.
Chai Zhen felt a sense of loss as he watched her distant expression. Her eyes, her tone, every subtle movement of hers, all felt incredibly unfamiliar to him. He knew she had someone else in her heart, and that person wasn't him.
He sighed deeply, suppressed the bitterness in his heart, and turned to leave the study. His steps were heavy, and every step felt like stepping on his heart, causing him to feel waves of pain.
Cen Jiexiao looked at Chai Zhen's departing back, feeling a mixture of emotions. She knew that Chai Zhen was sincere towards her, and she could feel his care, his tenderness, and his consideration.
However, her heart had long been occupied by Chen Zigui, leaving no room for anyone else. Even a man as outstanding as Chai Zhen could not stir a ripple in her heart. She felt only gratitude and respect for Chai Zhen, but no love.
In the following days, Chai Zhen carried out the plan step by step, secretly deploying troops and generals. An invisible net was quietly covering the Queen Mother's followers, and when the time was right, they would be caught in one fell swoop.
The birthday ceremony of Queen He Yunshu arrived as scheduled. The whole country celebrated together. Officials from all over the country came to Beijing to pay their respects in an endless stream, and the capital was bustling and lively.
The streets are crowded with people, colorful flags are flying, the vendors’ cries are heard one after another, and the atmosphere is full of festivity.
At the same time, the 20,000 elite soldiers led by General Yue Zhenting were divided into small groups, disguised as ordinary people, caravan servants, and even mixed in with opera troupes, quietly blending into the flow of people entering Beijing, like cheetahs lurking in the dark, waiting for the final order to attack.
They were scattered in every corner of the capital; inns, restaurants, houses, and even some inconspicuous shops became their temporary bases.
On the surface, Cen Jiexiao participated in the preparations calmly, assisted the queen in arranging various matters for the birthday banquet, and socialized with the officials and wives who came to congratulate her, always with a decent smile on her face.
However, beneath her calm facade, her heart was turbulent like a raging sea. The success or failure of her plan depended on the fate of so many people, and she was under immense pressure, fearing any flaw in the process.
On the other hand, Chen Zigui's betrayal was like an unhealable wound, constantly causing pain in her heart.
She recalled every detail of her time with Chen Zigui over and over again, from their initial chance encounter, to their mutual affection, to their current estrangement. Every scene was vividly etched in her mind, like a replaying movie, leaving her with anguish. She couldn't understand why the vows they had made to each other had become so fragile. Were those sweet memories all false? Had he never truly loved her?
One afternoon, sunlight streamed through the window lattice onto the study floor. Cen Jiexiao was buried in a mountain of documents, carefully checking each arrangement to ensure everything was perfect. Suddenly, the door was flung open, and Xiaoman rushed in in a panic, her face pale and her breathing rapid. She shouted breathlessly, "Teacher! Princess Li... Princess Li is here!"
Cen Jiexiao's heart tightened, a sense of foreboding washed over her. The pen in her hand clattered to the table. Li Lingxuan? Why had she suddenly visited? Had the Queen Mother's followers already discovered their plan? Had Chen Zigui leaked the news? All sorts of terrifying thoughts swirled in her mind, sending waves of panic through her.
Li Lingxuan slowly entered the study, a meaningful smile on her face, as if everything was under control. She was dressed in a luxurious brocade robe, and her steps were light and graceful, without a trace of panic. "Dean Cen, how are you?" Her voice was soft and charming, yet with a subtle chill.
Cen Jiexiao tried hard to suppress her inner anxiety, forcing herself to remain calm and said in a cold voice, "My lady, I am very grateful for your presence. What brings you here?"
Li Lingxuan walked up to Sister Cen Xiao, her eyes lingering on her face for a moment, then she lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "I came here to tell you a secret, a secret about Master Chen."