Chapter 388 Gunpowder

Xiao He looked a little confused: "Route?"

"This servant only knows that the journey from the Empress's maternal home to the palace usually involves traveling from west to east, passing through places like Zhuque Avenue and Yangliu Lane, before finally arriving at the Central Gate..."

After listening to Xiao He's explanation, Wei Qingqing suddenly asked, "So, do these places have the largest population?"

Xiao He: "Of course, but why do you ask this, young lady?"

"Oh, by the way, I heard the other day that these places will be setting off fireworks to celebrate! Although you probably can't see the fireworks during the day, it must be very lively! The Emperor and Empress's procession will also be throwing lucky money and fruit..."

Xiaohe got excited when she talked about it.

Wei Qingqing no longer cared what she was saying. Upon hearing about setting off fireworks to celebrate, she was suddenly struck by a terrifying thought.

Could that person and her master be planning to do two things at once, spreading rumors that the empress was unchaste before marriage and that the emperor was cuckolded, while simultaneously tampering with the fireworks?

She knew the plot of the story. The female lead had previously destroyed the Lin family in Lancheng and shut down the Lin family's Fire Tree Silver Flower Shop, which was ostensibly selling fireworks and firecrackers but actually tinkering with gunpowder to help Prince Duan. In this era, fireworks and gunpowder were essentially no different, except for some minor differences in the amount of additives.

If it were explosives instead, and the emperor and empress's wedding were given an ominous reputation, wouldn't the male and female leads be doomed?

Could it be another sabotage by Prince Duan's remnants? But that doesn't make sense. Judging from the woman's attire and accent, she doesn't seem to be from Qi. She had always thought she was from Yue…

Wait a minute, the Yue people and the remnants of King Duan? They were originally in cahoots!

Wei Qingqing was going crazy. How could she have run into something like this?!

"No, Xiao He, I want to go to the palace!"

"What?!" Xiao He thought Wei Qingqing had lost her mind because she hadn't slept all night, and she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

A few days ago she was making a fuss about going to the Grand Princess's residence, and now she's making a fuss about going to the palace. Does Miss Wei even know what she's saying? She really doesn't have time to play along with Miss Wei's antics!

"Miss Wei!" She hardened her heart and grabbed Wei Qingqing's arm. "The Emperor and Empress's wedding is at dawn today. Miss Wei, do you intend to disrupt the wedding ceremony?! That's a capital offense! Moreover, if things go wrong, it could implicate the entire Xiao family. Please think carefully..."

Xiao He was practically begging Wei Qingqing for mercy, but Wei Qingqing was determined to go. When she saw Xiao He blocking her way, she just felt it was in her way: "What do you know?! If I don't go, the Emperor and Empress's wedding can't be held! Move aside! At worst, you can just not come with me. I have no connection with the Xiao family."

"Swish—" Hearing that she didn't have to go with them, Xiao He lowered her hand.

Wei Qingqing looked at Xiao He, whose expression changed like turning the pages of a book, in disbelief. She held back for a moment, then pushed her aside, thinking that the main characters were more important!

Having sneaked out of the Xiao family's house, Wei Qingqing recalled the route she took to enter the palace last time and prepared to run there in the dark.

As a result, halfway through the race, a person and a horse suddenly rushed out from the next alley, nearly knocking Wei Qingqing down.

"Do you even know how to ride a horse?" she patted her chest, still shaken.

Upon closer inspection, the young man on horseback was surprisingly handsome and dressed in official robes!

Wei Qingqing's voice immediately changed tone: "Why is this gentleman on duty so early? It's only 5 a.m...."

Xie Tingzhou almost thought he had bumped into someone, but luckily the other person was agile and dodged it in a flash. Upon hearing this, the other person apologized:

"I was being impetuous, please forgive me, young lady. I have important business to attend to. I thought there wouldn't be many people on the street at this hour, but I didn't expect to startle you. I wonder if you are feeling unwell at the moment?"

Of course, it wasn't because of that. He had been absent-minded for the past two days, thinking about personally presiding over Princess Chang Le's wedding ceremony today, and he had just been daydreaming.

"No, no!" Wei Qingqing quickly waved her hand. "Is Your Excellency going to the palace?"

Xie Tingzhou hadn't intended to engage in pleasantries, but since he had been the one to offend her first, he still said, "Indeed, if the young lady is feeling unwell in any way, this is my compensation for the medical expenses—"

He dismounted, took his money pouch from his waist, and was about to extend it when the other party refused.

Wei Qingqing felt like she'd stumbled upon a perfect opportunity – what a coincidence! "Since you're going to the palace, sir, could you possibly give me a ride?"

Xie Tingzhou looked up in surprise: "What?"

In the end, Wei Qingqing was still escorted to the palace gate by Xie Tingzhou. The guards were all puzzled to see that Lord Xie had brought a girl with him.

"Is this Lord Xie's wife? Is she here to see Lord Xie off to his shift?" a guard asked.

Wei Qingqing's face flushed instantly. So this gentleman's surname is Xie. What a lovely surname. She wondered if she would ever have the chance to see him again.

But, Lord Xie? Why does that sound familiar? Wasn't the female lead's ex-husband surnamed Xie?

She was just about to ask his name so she could find a chance to repay him later when she saw the gentle and handsome Lord Xie wave his hand and say no. Then, with a long stride, he quickly walked towards the palace government office.

With a sigh, Wei Qingqing looked at the guard again and explained her purpose.

As expected, she was stopped at the palace gate. The guards refused to inform the palace for her, and when they heard that she knew there might be troublemakers in the city, they almost arrested her as a madwoman.

"I'm telling the truth, why don't you all believe me! It'll be too late once something really happens! There's less than half an hour left! Ugh, what do I have to do and say? It's so annoying!" Wei Qingqing squatted down on the ground in frustration, rubbing her messy hair.

This complaint was overheard by a young eunuch who was about to leave the palace.

"Brother Guard, what's bothering that young lady over there?" the handsome young eunuch asked. "Today is a joyous day of national celebration, we can't let someone like that disturb the peace of the nobles. Judging by her clothes, she's not poorly dressed, she doesn't seem like a beggar..."

The guards were also at a loss as to what to do.

This girl started by saying that something bad would happen during the Emperor and Empress's parade, and kept cursing that the Emperor and Empress's wedding ceremony could not be held normally. If they hadn't been thinking about today's big day and didn't want to argue with this crazy woman, they would have beaten her up and chased her away long ago!

Besides, anyone who heard what she said wouldn't dare to bother such important people!

Her statements were incoherent; she claimed she didn't know where she got the information from, and then said she wasn't sure but it was probably true. After a few questions, she couldn't reconcile her words, as if she were having a fit of hysteria!

After the guard summarized Wei Qingqing's long speech into a few key points, the little eunuch looked thoughtful.

He took a few steps forward, walked up to Wei Qingqing, bent down, and asked:

"Miss, miss? I serve the Seventh Prince. Is there something important you wish to report to the nobles?"