Chapter 230 Stunning Fireworks

The middle of the lake was pitch black, and apart from the occasional calls of water birds, there was no other movement.

Everyone couldn't help but wonder why this matter was kept so secret.

Suddenly, a fire bomb broke through the air, like a silver fish leaping out of the water and soaring straight up.

When it rose to mid-air, the silver fish turned into a crimson-purple ball of light. When it reached the highest point, it suddenly collapsed and turned into thousands of golden-scaled carp that jumped into the lake.

This is not the end. After the "Golden Scale Carp" entered the water, twelve lotus lanterns suddenly lit up on the boat in the middle of the lake, and white smoke rose from the surrounding water, making it look like a fairyland.

The woman on the boat smiled slightly, her eyes flickering with the heroic spirit that is unique to a general's daughter.

It turned out to be Jiang Yi.

The Queen Mother also recognized him and said to Yun Ting with a smile, "You monkey, you actually persuaded Jiang Yi to help you."

"Of course I was the one who spoke sweetly. I called her sister a few times and she accepted." Yun Ting said proudly, "Grandma, please don't say anything yet. The real show is yet to come!"

Jiang Yi lit the second firework.

The fire signal roared into the night sky, and the inky sky suddenly opened up into thousands of golden petals.

The layers of gilded veins condensed into pistils at the highest point, and there were tiny silver flakes hanging like dewdrops, which slowly went out after a while.

There was a cry of surprise among the crowd.

Jiang Yi said in a clear voice, "This item is called 'Thousand Layers of Golden Stamens'. It is shaped like the Yaohuang peony from Luoyang. It is of national beauty and fragrance. I respectfully present it to the Queen Mother."

The third firework was a purple one, rising into the sky and weaving a three-foot-wide ribbon of light in the air, like a dream.

"What is this?" The Queen Mother asked her filial grandson excitedly.

Yun Ting chuckled twice and leaned close to her ear and said, "Wait, I'm making it up now! Let me hear what Jiang Yi has to say."

The Queen Mother was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

The fireworks were indeed stunning, but it was even more pleasing to see the grandson dressing up in colorful clothes to entertain his parents and deliberately making himself happy.

"Really," Yun Ting pretended to be bitter. "Ordinarily, I should have looked at the things I wanted to give you as a filial gift. But this one is too expensive. I couldn't bear to part with it, so I just wrote it up on the spot. I told Sister Jiang about it, and she agreed. But she also made a request—"

"What do you want?"

"When she can't come up with a line, she finds someone to give her some pointers."

"Who did you look for?"

"Mr. Zhou, Zhou Xiaoyao from the Censorate, I'm an old acquaintance of his." Yun Ting said proudly.

"Zhou Xiaoyao? I've heard of him before. How did you two become so familiar with each other?"

"First time is new, second time is familiar. Grandma, don't ask anymore. I'll have a good chat with you after the banquet. Let's see how Jiang Yi makes up this story."

Jiang Yi seemed to be stuck. At this time, Zhou Xiaoyao on the shore said coldly: "This is 'Galaxy Splashing Jade'. Please take a closer look."

Because he spoke suddenly, everyone looked over and there was a whisper of discussion.

After all, the cooperation between Jiang Yi and Zhou Xiaoyao always makes people feel a little ambiguous.

Yun Ting whispered, "Oh no! How could I have forgotten about this? They are both unmarried, and there are so many gossipy women around—"

"It's all right," said the Queen Mother. "It's all done openly and honestly in public."

However, these two people are really a good match, she thought to herself.

The following fireworks were more exciting than the last. Everyone was completely immersed in them. Even after the twelve fireworks were finished, they still felt unsatisfied.

Jiang Yi and Zhou Xiaoyao worked in perfect harmony, and there was no problem of being unable to connect or produce the story.

The fireworks also performed well and there were no problems.

After finishing, Yun Ting deliberately said loudly: "Grandmother, tell me, are you satisfied with the eight hundred taels of silver I spent today?"

"You specifically told me eight hundred taels of silver. Are you thinking that I will give you the silver?" The Queen Mother scolded with a smile.

"No, no, I'm just afraid that you'll be deceived. I heard that my uncle was furious about the mallard duck incident. What about Zhang Zuo Ning? Lord Zhang hasn't been taken down by my uncle yet, right?" Yun Ting said.

Zhang Zuo Ning in the crowd pretended to be dead.

He is already terribly embarrassed, please don't whip his corpse anymore, okay?

"You don't know?" Yun Ting saw that the Queen Mother was confused and brought up the matter, "There are also crabs!"

However, during this process, he wisely did not mention Lu Qiniang.

It just means that the emperor discovered the huge difference in prices inside and outside the palace.

"I bought these fireworks directly from Lu's Fireworks Shop at the Grand Canal Wharf. The prices are fair, and they're honest. The most expensive ones were eighty taels of silver each, so twelve of them only cost eight hundred taels. If you send someone to buy them, please check the accounts carefully afterwards. There might be something wrong with the family's accounts!"

The Queen Mother laughed and scolded, "You know how to live and balance your accounts!"

"Of course, I've improved!" Yun Ting said, "Grandma, just tell me, are these fireworks good?"

"Okay, okay, okay."

Yun Ting: Done!

Even the Empress Dowager praised the fireworks, so they must be selling like hotcakes!

"Then please give her a mention when you have some free time," Yun Ting said. "She had a difficult life. She was a widow and unemployed. Later, she found a man who was useless, but she still took on such a huge responsibility on her own."

The Queen Mother didn't say anything at the time.

After the flower-viewing banquet, Yun Ting followed the empress dowager back to the palace.

"What does it have to do with you if a widow loses her job?" asked the Queen Mother.

Yun Ting: "This is a long story. You don't know, after you went to Chengde, my father started to feel confident and acted as if he had met an enemy. He would scold me and beat me up for no reason. My life was really miserable..."

"Before I went to Chengde, your father came to the palace and told me that you insisted on standing up for Xiao Yan, so he locked you up, and I agreed."

Yun Ting: “…”

"I know what the emperor means. He wants to leave Xiao Yan to the prince. But I dare not tell you, for fear that you will cause trouble. Your father is always your father, and he will not harm you."

"You are right."

Yun Ting then told him about his experiences over the past six months.

He even talked about how someone had his pants taken off, and he laughed so hard that tears came out.

"Grandmother, is that reasonable?" Yun Ting asked, "Please don't spread this story. If it gets out, I won't be able to find a wife."

"That's outrageous," said the Queen Mother.

She knew that Yun Ting was always followed by secret guards, so there was no danger, so the matter became just funny.

Especially in the eyes of the empress dowager, Yun Ting seemed to be still that little child who would take off his pants and urinate on the threshold to vent his anger because he tripped over it.

It’s cute every time I think about it.

"But I'm glad you're okay." The Queen Mother smiled. "Ting'er, it's been almost a year since we last met. You've grown a lot."

"I've grown quite a bit taller!" Yun Ting pointed with his index finger. "I've also learned some kung fu. Now I'm in better shape and everything I eat tastes delicious."

"I mean you've grown up."

Yun Ting sat on the footrest with his head against the empress dowager's knees, looking well-behaved and considerate.

The Queen Mother touched his hair and felt very relieved.

"But there is one thing you did today that was a little wrong," the Queen Mother said again.

"You said, if I'm wrong, I will definitely correct it. If I'm right, I will correct it, and I will make you happy!"