flstandardbreds Chapter 125 Beloved Concubine
Chapter 125 Beloved Concubine
Liu Shan and Qu Dacheng nodded in agreement, but each of them was pondering the true purpose of the banquet.
Prince Kang's gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Liu Shan, and he smiled and said, "I have long admired your name, Magistrate Liu."
Liu Shan returned the greeting, but was secretly on guard. On the surface, he humbly said, "Your Highness is too kind. I am unworthy of such praise."
King Kang's eyes were deep and meaningful as he chuckled and said, "I hope you enjoy the banquet to the fullest today."
Liu Shan felt a chill run down his spine, wondering what the Prince of Kang's intention was in taking the initiative to speak to him earlier.
King Kang raised his cup, looked around, and said loudly, "Today's Ping Le Banquet is not only a joyous gathering, but also a great opportunity to enhance friendship."
Everyone raised their glasses in response, and the atmosphere became even more lively.
Liu Shan and Qu Dacheng exchanged a glance, their vigilance undiminished.
King Kang's eyes were sharp and piercing, seemingly seeing through everything, yet he remained composed and witty.
As the banquet reached its climax, undercurrents surged, and no one knew what secrets lay hidden behind this grand feast.
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, Princess Changning arrived late.
The princess walked with light steps and a smile on her face. Her gaze swept over the crowd and finally landed on Liu Shan. She greeted him softly, "County Magistrate Liu, how have you been?"
Liu Shan returned the greeting, secretly pondering the princess's intentions, but said calmly, "It is my honor to wish the princess good health."
The princess's eyes flickered with a meaningful look, and she chuckled softly, "I hope you will find this grand occasion worthwhile."
After speaking, he turned and exchanged pleasantries with the other guests.
Liu Shan was dumbfounded. He was just an ordinary county magistrate. How could he have attracted so much attention?
First, it was Prince Kang who took the initiative to speak to him, and now the princess has also sent her special greetings, which makes him increasingly uneasy.
One says, "May you enjoy yourself to the fullest," while the other says, "May your trip be worthwhile."
What's going on? Have they all turned into riddle solvers?
He hates riddle tellers the most!
In modern terms, riddle tellers don't get a house!
Liu Shan muttered to himself, but remained calm on the surface. He scanned his surroundings, trying to find any clues, but found nothing unusual.
At this moment, Qu Dacheng got up and left his seat to talk quietly with the general of the personal guard battalion.
Taking the opportunity, Liu Shan observed his surroundings and noticed that the Prince of Kang and the Princess were exchanging glances from time to time, as if they were conveying some kind of message.
He grew increasingly uneasy, secretly pondering how to deal with this sudden attention.
At this moment, Yin Nantian stepped forward and whispered a reminder: "Don't panic, just observe the situation."
Liu Shan took a deep breath and nodded in agreement, but his heart felt like it was weighed down by a huge stone.
The banquet continued, but the undercurrents intensified, forcing him to proceed cautiously and tread carefully.
At the same time, Yin Nantian was also very surprised.
This was not his first time attending the Ping Le Banquet, but this banquet was clearly different from the last one, with an indescribable tension in the atmosphere.
Yin Nantian's sharp eyes scanned his surroundings, trying to find something unusual, but he found nothing.
As the banquet drew to a close, King Kang suddenly stood up, raised his cup, and announced loudly, "Today we have a particularly special guest, whom I would like to introduce to you all."
Before he finished speaking, he led out a woman dressed in brocade from behind him.
The woman had a beautiful face, an elegant demeanor, and an air of authority with every step she took.
The woman smiled and nodded, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. After lingering briefly on Liu Shan, she quickly looked away.
Liu Shan's heart tightened; he vaguely felt that this woman was somewhat familiar.
King Kang introduced her in a loud voice: "This is my beloved concubine, named Ziyan. She is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I am introducing her to you all today so that you may not offend her in the future..."
King Kang continued to speak eloquently, but Liu Shan was restless, his mind constantly replaying Zi Yan's face.
He was certain he had seen her somewhere before, but couldn't quite place it.
Yin Nantian noticed Liu Shan's unusual behavior and gently patted his shoulder, signaling him to calm down.
Shan took a deep breath, forcing herself to concentrate, trying to glean more information from King Kang's words.
However, the more lengthy the King of Kang's introduction became, the heavier Liu Shan's heart grew.
His gaze shifted slightly, catching a fleeting, almost imperceptible smile on Ziyan's lips. A thought struck him, and he suddenly remembered where he had seen her before!
He had seen this woman named Ziyan in the Jinhua County prison.
At the time, she was wearing prison clothes, her body covered in wounds from torture, and she was on the verge of collapse...
Most importantly, at that time her name was not Ziyan, but Ge Yuniang!
Liu Shan was inwardly turbulent, but outwardly he forced himself to remain calm.
Why did Ge Yuniang become the beloved concubine of Prince Kang? What conspiracy lies behind this?
What surprised him even more was that Prince Kang was a member of the royal family, so why would he take a fancy to an old woman who had been imprisoned?
Moreover, it seems that King Kang knew nothing about her true identity?
How is this done?
Liu Shan was filled with doubts and couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried.
At this moment, Yin Nantian gently patted his shoulder and whispered, "No matter what you discover, don't act rashly. We'll investigate further after the banquet."
Liu Shan nodded slightly, but his eyes became even sharper as he stared intently at Zi Yan's every move.
Ziyan seemed to notice his gaze and returned a faint smile, but a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.
Liu Shanfu whispered in Yin Nantian's ear, "This Ziyan is Ge Yuniang from Jinhua County."
Yin Nantian's eyes widened instantly, an expression of disbelief on his face. He quickly composed himself and whispered, "Is that really true?"
Liu Shan nodded, "It's absolutely true, I wouldn't be mistaken."
Yin Nantian took a deep breath and whispered, "Be extremely careful, and don't alert them."
Liu Shan knew, of course, that the investigation had to be conducted covertly. How could a mere county magistrate like him dare to openly investigate the Prince Kang's beloved concubine?!
It's not like he's tired of living.
However, the mystery of Ziyan's identity weighed heavily on his mind, making it difficult for him to let go.
Liu Shan secretly resolved that, despite the numerous risks, he would uncover the mystery and find out how Ge Yuniang had transformed herself into the favored concubine of Prince Kang.
He knew that the truth might hold the key to his own fate.
The banquet continued, and Liu Shan outwardly engaged in polite conversation, but inwardly he was on tenterhooks.
He paid close attention to the interactions between Ziyan and King Kang, trying to catch any clues.
Ziyan's demeanor was elegant and proper, showing no trace of her usual disheveled state.
Liu Shan grew increasingly puzzled, pondering to himself: How exactly did she transform herself and gain the favor of Prince Kang?
He even began to wonder if he had mistaken the person for someone else.
After all, there are quite a few people in this world who look alike.
At this moment, Yin Nantian said softly, "In my opinion, this Ziyan is no ordinary woman, but we cannot be certain that she is Ge Yuniang. After all, temperament and demeanor cannot be achieved overnight. Perhaps she has experienced some kind of extraordinary encounter, which led to her transformation today."
Upon hearing this, Liu Shan sighed softly, "Although I am reluctant to mention it, don't forget that I know every single feature of Ge Yuniang's body. With just a little attention, I can distinguish between the real and the fake."
Yin Nantian subconsciously swallowed. Was this brat serious?!