After entering the book, the cold prince begs for favor

Chapter 345: The Prince Didn’t Listen to Her Persuasion

That night.

In the secret room of the Second Prince's Mansion, the flickering candlelight illuminated Murong Xiao's sinister face in a half-bright and half-dark manner.

His slender fingers tapped lightly on the rosewood table, the rhythm like a death drum.

"Your Highness, everyone is here."

Commander Guo, the Second Prince's confidant, bowed and reported.

Murong Xiao raised his eyes and glanced at the six men in black kneeling in front of him.

These people are the elite among the death squads he trained. The blood on their hands is enough to dye half of the imperial city red.

"Lu Jiangnian."

Murong Xiao slowly uttered the name, as if chewing a piece of pig iron.

"How dare this ignorant bastard slander my reputation in front of so many people?"

On the day of the first birthday banquet of the third prince's legitimate son, all the humiliations were still vivid in his mind. When he recalled it now, he still seemed to be being laughed at by everyone.

He couldn't sleep or eat unless he killed Lu Jiangnian.

"I am willing to help Your Highness get rid of this great worry!" The leading assassin kowtowed heavily.

Murong Xiao sneered, "You must ensure that Lu Jiangnian is killed, but no one can suspect the Second Prince's mansion."

He pulled out a roll of blueprints from the desk drawer and spread it out. "This is the layout of the Lu family's courtyard. Lu Jiangnian should live here. This is the main courtyard."

Under the candlelight, Murong Xiao arranged the assassination plan in detail.

Where to set the ambush, when to strike, how to disguise themselves as bandits to rob and kill, and even how the assassins would commit suicide after the plot failed, were all arranged flawlessly.

"Remember, if you are captured alive..."

Murong Xiao's eyes were cold.

"We subordinates will bite the poison sac in our mouths to pieces and will never implicate Your Highness!" Several assassins responded in unison.

Murong Xiao nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand to signal them to leave.

Only he and Commander Guo were left in the secret room.

"Your Highness, would you consider..."

Commander Guo hesitated to speak.

"Hmm?" Murong Xiao's eyes narrowed.

Commander Guo immediately knelt on one knee and said, "I am sorry for being so talkative! But Lu Jiangnian just suffered a failed assassination attempt. If something happens again, I am afraid that the emperor..."

"Father is old."

Murong Xiao sneered, "He favors the prince and trusts treacherous people like Lu Jiangnian. If I don't take action now, there will be no place for me, Murong Xiao, to stand in this huge capital."

He stood up and walked to the wall, suddenly pulling back the curtains to reveal a map of Daliang's territory: "When I ascend the throne, this world will be in my hands!"

Just as he finished speaking, light footsteps were heard outside the secret room.

Murong Xiao's eyes flashed, and Commander Guo immediately rushed to the door and opened it violently.

"what!"

With a soft cry, the Second Prince's wife stumbled and fell, and the teacup on the tray in her hand shattered.

Commander Guo was stunned for a moment, "Prince's Consort."

The Second Prince's wife didn't look too good.

"Your Highness, I have something to tell you."

Murong Xiao's eyes were filled with anger: "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay in your room?"

"How much of what you just said did you hear?"

The Second Prince's wife froze, her voice trembling slightly: "I have only just arrived a short while ago, and I didn't hear much."

"However, I have guessed some of your Highness's plans."

She took a few steps forward and earnestly advised the Second Prince, "Your Highness, please do not act rashly at this time. Assassinating Lu Jiangnian in the capital is not a wise move."

Murong Xiao grabbed her chin and forced her to look up. "Ms. Lu, you and I have been married for several years. I always thought you were very sensible. But these past two days, you have disappointed me even more."

The Second Prince's wife had tears in her eyes, but she looked him in the eye stubbornly. "Your Highness's temperament has changed drastically recently, and I'm really worried. We've always been united as husband and wife, and we've overcome all difficulties."

"Now, Your Highness treats me like an outsider and doesn't tell me anything. I'm very sad. Does Your Highness know?"

As she spoke, the Second Prince's wife burst into tears, looking pitiful.

Murong Xiao stared at her for a long time, then suddenly let go of her hand and winked at Commander Guo.

Commander Guo understood, bowed, and left the secret room, closing the door behind him.

“Stop crying.”

Murong Xiao turned back to the table and said, "Since I've heard it, I won't hide it from you. Lu Jiangnian must die."

The Second Prince's wife slowly followed him, gently stroking her red chin: "Your Highness, please think twice."

"Lu Jiangnian has just been assassinated, and he must be heavily guarded. If we act now, it will be difficult to succeed, and we will suffer heavy losses. If something happens again, suspicion will arise throughout the government and the public."

“That’s why I have to plan carefully.”

Murong Xiao interrupted her impatiently.

The Second Prince's wife bit her lip, but did not back down. Instead, she continued to persuade him, "I dare to speak frankly. Your Highness is determined to be the crown prince. You should put the overall situation first."

"If we act rashly at this moment, and if the Crown Prince and his faction catch us..."

"presumptuous!"

Murong Xiao slammed the table, causing the teacup to clink. "Ms. Lu, are you questioning me?"

"You think you're so great just because I told you a few more words about the outside world, don't you?"

"Remember, you are just a woman in the harem, what do you know about the affairs of the court?"

The Second Prince's wife did not retreat, but stepped forward and said: "I don't understand the court, but I know how to judge the situation."

"Your Highness, think about it. If Lu Jiangnian was so easy to deal with, our last assassination would have been successful. The Emperor has many spies around the capital. If we are not careful, we might end up losing more than we gain."

"Aunt Shen wrote to me saying that Lu Jiangnian only brought a dozen people with him to the western suburbs this time. He probably thought he was safe in the capital."

The Second Prince's wife paused and said, "Perhaps, this is a trap, and Lu Jiangnian is waiting for us to fall into it."

Xiao Jingheng's eyes moved slightly, but his face remained cold: "You experienced what happened that day yourself, do you think I should just swallow my anger?"

“No.”

The Second Prince's wife said softly, "I just think that revenge on someone doesn't necessarily mean taking their life."

She pulled out a list from her sleeve and presented it respectfully: "This is my family. We recently compiled a list of officials who have had grievances with Lu Jiangnian."

Murong Xiao flipped through the list, his brows gradually relaxed: "You mean..."

"Lu Jiangnian is arrogant and conceited, and there are many people in the court who dislike him. Your Highness should contact these people more often and let them rush to the front to deal with Lu Jiangnian."

The Second Prince's wife spoke softly, but every word was as sharp as a knife. "Your Highness, why don't you start with these people? They can serve as our vanguard, draining Lu Jiangnian's strength, and then we can slowly take care of him."

Murong Xiao closed the roster and looked at his wife thoughtfully.

The Second Prince's wife looked docile, completely devoid of the hysteria she had when facing Concubine Liao.

He suddenly smiled, "Madam is indeed my good wife, who can help me share my worries."

He said yes and reached out to hold the Second Prince's wife's hand with a tender expression.

The Second Prince's wife lowered her head, hiding the complex expression in her eyes: "I only wish to share your Highness's worries."

Murong Xiao stretched out his hand and pulled her into his arms, his fingers entwined with a strand of her black hair: "Okay, as you said, Lu Jiangnian's life will be spared for now."

The Second Prince's wife leaned against his chest and whispered, "Your Highness is wise."

However, what she didn't see was that the murderous intent in Murong Xiao's eyes as he looked into the darkness of the secret room had not diminished in the slightest.