Chapter 308 A Letter, An Extraordinary Letter
Wang Youxiang didn't believe Li Nanke's words at all.
Wang Tongyun was extremely anxious and stomped her feet angrily.
“Grandfather, you must believe Ke’er. She examined the lantern in the dancer’s hand carefully. It definitely contains gunpowder. She can even smell it.”
Wang Youxiang disagreed.
"How could a nine-year-old child know what gunpowder tastes like? I know about the He Xiangu Lotus Lantern you mentioned."
The lanterns were made by the Zhu family, imperial merchants. After the Chen family went bankrupt, the Zhu family became single-mindedly focused on becoming the biggest imperial merchant.
Today is the Lantern Festival, and the streets are teeming with people. Even if the Zhu family had a hundred times the courage, they wouldn't dare to put gunpowder in the lanterns.
That's a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!
Wang Youxiang was very confident in his judgment and did not forget to teach Wang Tongyun.
"Grandfather knows that you get along well with the Lady of Fu'an County, but just because you have a good relationship doesn't mean you should believe everything she says."
When faced with a situation, you still need to think and judge for yourself; otherwise, you're just blindly following others.
Wang Tongyun: "I believe what Ke'er said. This is my judgment after careful consideration, not blind obedience!"
Wang Youxiang's face darkened.
"Nonsense! If I mobilize the forces of Bianjing Prefecture, the Patrol Office and the Firefighting Team at the same time, it will only end up as a farce caused by children."
Do you know what sins I will bear? Not only me, but the county magistrate of Fu'an who instigated this matter will also be held accountable.
This is not something you children can handle. Listen to me, your sisters made lanterns in the backyard tonight and are playing with them. Go and play too.”
Wang Youxiang waved his hand, signaling Wang Tongyun to step down.
Wang Tongyun saw that her grandfather didn't take her words to heart at all, and thought they were just children playing around.
Thinking back to the promises she had made to Li Nanke, she was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes.
"Grandfather! Don't you ever think about what would have happened if an explosion had actually occurred? You received advance warning but failed to make any arrangements, resulting in countless deaths and injuries. Wouldn't you still be guilty?"
Wang Youxiang was taken aback.
"What Fourth Sister said makes sense. Master, you might as well think about it again."
An aged but resounding voice came from outside the door.
Madam Wang entered, supported by Madam Wang's younger sister.
"Madam has arrived."
Wang Youxiang showed great respect for his wife, and personally helped her to sit down.
"Does Madam think I should trust the Princess of Fu'an's words and send men to the Imperial Street?"
Lady Wang reached out and patted Prime Minister Wang's hand.
"Leaving aside whether the news was brought up by the County Head of Fu'an, let's just say that the Master is the official in charge of Bianjing Prefecture, the Patrol Office, and the Firefighting Team."
"Knowing that an explosion might occur tonight, what should you do, sir?"
Wang Youxiang pondered for a moment.
"Naturally, we need to verify the accuracy of the information, and then make emergency arrangements to prepare for rescue."
What if there's no time to verify the information?
"Then we should make preparations in secret, just in case."
A smile appeared on Madam Wang's face.
"So why did you hesitate just now, sir? Was it because this news came from the mouth of a mere child, the Princess of Fu'an?"
Wang Youxiang stroked his beard without saying a word.
Madam Wang sighed softly, "Even if you don't say it, I can guess what it is. Ever since the Imperial Concubine was found to be pregnant on New Year's Eve, you have been acting a little too cautiously."
Wang Youxiang's expression changed, and then he gave a bitter smile.
"You are the one who truly understands me."
"That's right. After the Consort became pregnant, I became much more cautious, fearing that our family would stand out too much and give others a handle to attack the Consort."
It's not easy for her to get pregnant at her age, and I'm worried she might be implicated.
The couple had two sons and a daughter. Consort Wang was their only daughter, so how could Lady Wang not worry?
"My lord is just too worried. Now that the eldest prince has been found, and before the Imperial Concubine, there is Consort Shu who is pregnant."
If you are thinking of the Imperial Concubine, you should do your job even better, as long as your starting point is to benefit the people and save them from suffering.
Even if the information is wrong, it's better than knowing the information and doing nothing.
His Majesty is a wise ruler and will certainly not blame the master for this.
Madam Wang paused for a moment.
"Besides, I think that Princess Fu'an is a lucky child. She helped so many people when she insisted on buying grain with guns."
Later, whether it was Consort Shu or Consort Gui who became pregnant, it was she who made the prediction first.
She was the one who discovered that oil field; she's no ordinary nine-year-old girl.
Wang Youxiang: "So, Madam believes her?"
Madam Wang nodded.
"It's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't."
Wang Youxiang remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Madam is right. I was being too cautious."
Wang Tongyun was so excited she almost jumped up.
“That’s great, Grandfather, please make the arrangements quickly.”
At that moment, the butler came to report.
"My lord, Lord Wei has come to see you."
Wei Yan?
"He's here just in time, saving us the trouble of having to send someone to fetch him."
Wang Youxiang hurriedly had someone invite him in.
Wei Yan was still holding a segment of orange in his hand, looking hurried.
"Your Excellency, regarding the Zhu family's lotus lanterns..."
Wang Youxiang was taken aback.
"You already knew?"
Wang Tongyun stuck out her tongue.
"Ke'er instructed me to send a servant to find Lord Wei when I returned to the manor."
Wang Youxiang did not expect that Li Nanke would anticipate that he might not believe her.
This child's behavior is really unlike that of an eight or nine-year-old girl.
"So you believe what the Lady of Fu'an said?"
Wang Youxiang asked Wei Yan.
Wei Yan nodded without hesitation.
"I believe, I believe completely, I believe absolutely!"
Wang Youxiang's expression was complicated.
"In that case, immediately take my token and summon the Bianjing Prefecture, the Patrol Office, and the Firefighting Team..."
On the other side.
He Xiangu's lotus lantern has been moved to the Imperial Street.
The crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger, almost completely blocking the entire Imperial Street.
Shen Cong and Li Nanke were swept along by the crowd and gradually approached the lotus lantern.
"Well? Ninth Brother, did you see it clearly?"
Li Nanke leaned closer to Shen Cong and asked in a low voice.
Shen Cong's gaze shifted from the lantern in the dancer's hand to the lotus lantern, his lips pressed tightly together.
"The gunpowder in these four lanterns alone could only cause a limited explosion. The lotus lantern should also contain gunpowder."
Moreover, it's quite heavy; even a tiny spark could trigger an explosion.
Li Nanke's face turned pale.
The Prince of Chen was even more insane than they had imagined.
Suddenly, the crowd sped up and became even more congested.
Li Nanke was pushed forward by a strong force.
Hold my hand tightly.
A cold hand gripped her tightly; Shen Cong held her with one hand and put his other arm around her shoulder.
He practically shielded her entirely in his arms, and against the flow of the crowd, retreated to the corner of the street.
Li Nanke was jostled around so much that he was completely disoriented, and it took him a while to regain his footing.
"Ninth Brother, they're almost at their destination, but we still haven't heard from Uncle Erfeng. What should we do?"
Shen Cong said, "I'll have Nangong Qiang take you back first. Don't worry about the rest."
Li Nanke frowned.
"But I..."
"No buts, go back immediately!"
Shen Cong's voice turned colder.
Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out on the Imperial Street, and a disturbance arose from the crowd.
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