As soon as the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet started, there was singing and dancing and laughter. Fang Zilan looked at the dancers in red clothes in front of her and felt a little dazed. How could the change of dynasties end? The previous dynasty is long gone, and Ji Ningtian's plans cannot come true.
Both rise and fall are suffering. What people in the world want is to live and work in peace and contentment. What they care about is not the previous dynasty or the present dynasty.
Thinking of this, Fang Zilan finally made up her mind. She picked up the jug on the table, poured a full glass of wine, and drank it all. Then she stood up and walked to the center of the hall.
"Today is a wonderful Mid-Autumn Festival. The beauty of the full moon is rare. I, the Duke of Yue State, Zi Lan, would like to dance with my sword to cheer me up."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Ningtian looked over calmly. Regarding the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet as a fraud, he imagined many situations, such as deliberately making things difficult, poisoning the food and wine, and even assassinating in public through singing and dancing.
But he never expected that the person wielding the sword would be his Lan'er. Is this Li Shengxuan's request or Lan'er's own intention?
Li Shengxuan happily agreed, but Fang Ziqin hesitated to speak. The Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother exchanged glances, and both saw in the other's eyes a dignified look as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
However, no one expected that at this juncture, it would be Li Qiyou who said: "Master Fang, there are still female relatives present at the banquet today, so I'm afraid it's inappropriate to dance the sword."
"Your Majesty, the ladies here are not mediocre and timid." The speaker was a little girl next to Wei Subaru. She stood up gracefully, "Weixing'er, I have long admired Master Fang's grace. If I can get it today, Seeing Master Fang dancing with the sword, I think I will have no regrets in this life."
Ouyang Zirou also stood up and bowed: "Ouyang Zirou also wants to take a look."
Mrs. Ouyang's hands hidden in her sleeves were clenched into fists. The palace banquet was full of dignitaries. Fang Zilan would not bring up the sword dance for no reason, she must have some agenda. Swords have no eyes, they are all deadly weapons. These girls' families are now joining in the fun, if something happens... But before she could signal Ouyang Zirou, other ladies from other families also agreed.
Seeing that the situation had reached this point, Li Qiyou said nothing more and watched helplessly as Fang Zilan took her plum sword from the guard's hand, unsheathed it, and gently and deftly held it in a sword flower.
The cold light of the sword reflected Fang Zilan's eyes, which were calm and without any killing intent, but revealed an indescribable determination.
Whatever you make up your mind, you have to do it anyway, so why think too much? Let’s wait and see what the consequences will be after she does it.
Amid the admiration of everyone, Fang Zilan stood up and fell back, and in the blink of an eye they had made three moves. She silently counted the moves in her mind, even though she was not looking away, she was still planning her moves. Don't be too deliberate, otherwise it would be bad for others to see it in advance.
But in front of everyone, as long as she takes action, she will have nowhere to escape.
Thinking of this, Fang Zilan took a deep breath, suddenly changed direction when she jumped up, and pointed the plum sword in her hand directly at Ji Ningtian.
For a moment, everyone else in the hall was stunned, only Li Shengxuan watched calmly - Ji Ningtian didn't make any move, and allowed Fang Zilan's plum sword to be forced in front of him, just one step away from touching his neck.
Fang Zilan didn't pause for a moment. She knew Ji Ningtian wouldn't dodge, but would she really kill Ji Ningtian?
Fang Zilan continued speaking, "The people from the Southeast Camp who came to Mushan Pass to investigate the situation were also imprisoned without interrogation. With such behavior, it doesn't look like Mo Bin knows anything."
"It's more like I know something..." Awan continued, then shook his head violently and said: "No, it should be to hide something."
Fang Zilan said noncommittally: "It seems that the water in the southeast is deeper than I thought."
Awan remained silent, just looking up at the narrow window on the top of the cell wall.
It was getting late and the light was getting darker, and she felt uneasy in her heart. That side was dark and unclear, just like the situation between her and Fang Zilan.
"It's time to eat!" After an unknown amount of time, the jailer's voice interrupted Awan's thoughts. She was shocked to realize that she had stood for too long and her legs were numb. Just when she wanted to move, she felt her center of gravity was unstable. She couldn't help but exclaimed.
The next moment, Fang Zilan, who was sitting against the wall with her eyes closed and concentrating, suddenly appeared next to Awan, reaching out to hold her waist firmly. She subconsciously grabbed her arm and looked into her smiling eyes, "Our little Awan has been looking at her for so long, have you noticed anything?"
"No..." Awan moved a little, but then heard Fang Zilan chuckle, "Then take advantage of now and look up."
"What?" A Wan looked at Fang Zilan in confusion, and saw her raising her chin, motioning her to look at the small window.
The jailer who came to deliver the meal happened to overhear their conversation and couldn't help but be curious, looking through the bars at the small window in their cell.
Little bits of starlight poured in from the small window. Although it was dim, it still cast a subtle light.
"I remember someone once said that no matter how low the eaves are, you can always see the sky and the earth." Fang Zilan's voice was firm and clear, saying word by word: "Even the dim stars can always illuminate a window. "
So, don’t be afraid that the road ahead is unclear.
She didn't say the last words, but Awan suddenly smiled and said, "I saw it."
As long as you have a firm belief, even if you can't see it now, you will eventually be able to see the moonlight after the clouds clear.
Only the jailer was stunned for a while, and then sighed quietly: "This girl is really open-minded." After saying that, he knelt down, put the food outside the fence, turned around and left.
After the jailer left, Fang Zilan walked to the fence and brought the food in. Awan also came over and tested the poison with a silver needle. After making sure that the food was fine, the two of them ate briefly and waited for late night to fall.
It's night, everything is silent. A crisp "click" sounded particularly abrupt in the quiet cell.
Fang Zilan held the hairpin in one hand and the lock in the other. She glanced at Awan beside her. She understood and gently pushed the cell door and walked out first.
After Fang Zilan fastened the lock again, she followed up and took Awan's hand, blocking her in front of her, "Follow me."
Awan nodded, and the two of them headed straight towards the cell where Deputy General Cao was imprisoned. Unexpectedly, the road was smooth and they didn't even see a jailer.
Seeing this, Awan deliberately slowed down his pace, frowned and said softly: "Fang Zilan, don't you feel something is wrong?"
"Something is not right." Fang Zilan kept walking, "But the matter has come to this, we can only advance, not retreat."
As she spoke, she walked to the door of the cell where Deputy General Cao was sitting. She saw Deputy General Cao sitting against the wall. As for the pirate who was imprisoned with him, he was lying on the ground in a mess.
Seeing the two of them coming, Vice Admiral Cao stood up and was about to say something when he saw Fang Zilan unlock the door and walk in with ease, and said quietly: "Everyone is fainted?"
