Helpless, Jiang Ming had no choice but to step forward a bit, and then quickly waved his hand, signaling the people following him to also step forward.
"Yes! This is the correct way to stand!"
Lan Linxue was even more satisfied. She smiled and clapped her fan twice, speaking softly but clearly enough for everyone to hear: "The Fifth Prince was in danger last night. I was so worried! Thankfully, Heaven had eyes and I found him. Otherwise, I really don't know how I would have comforted his concubines at his funeral! I'm just a soft-hearted person, and I can't stand seeing my brothers always going through hardships. So, as soon as I got back today, I found the most accurate fortune teller in the City God Temple, Master Sun, to tell your Fifth Prince's fortune."
At this point, Lan Linxue felt a tickle in her throat, and as soon as she raised her hand, the people below quickly brought her tea.
Some officials had been standing under the scorching sun for a long time, feeling like their throats were about to burst into flames. When they saw Lan Linxue leisurely drinking tea, they couldn't help but stretch their necks.
Lan Linxue acted as if she hadn't seen anything, touched her lips, and continued, "Master Sun said that your Fifth Master has been having a hard time lately! He's had a clash with the Goddess of Fertility on the mountain since he arrived in Yangzhou, and they insist on taking him back to have a son. Do you think this is acceptable? Can I just stand by and watch your Fifth Master go to the underworld to marry that Goddess of Fertility?"
There was complete silence below; not a single person responded.
Because these well-read adults really didn't know how to answer such high-sounding nonsense.
Shuanghua listened to Lan Linxue's nonsense from behind, and her usually cold face surprisingly held a half-smile.
The Crown Prince is really going through a lot. How did he come up with such ridiculous and absurd nonsense? A goddess on the mountain who grants children? Bah! If there really was a goddess there summoning the Fifth Prince, he would definitely be the first to eagerly hand over Lan Xiuyuan to her!
When Lan Linxue saw that no one was responding to her, she frowned, indicating that she was very dissatisfied, unhappy, and uncomfortable.
"Jiang Ming!"
"Your subject is here!"
Jiang Ming had made up his mind. If he could be greedy for another three years, enough for his grandson to live on for a lifetime, then even if he were given a mountain of gold, he would never serve these masters again.
"You didn't react to what I said? Tell me, can I give your Fifth Master to the Goddess of Fertility?"
"Of course not!" Jiang Ming said firmly. Raising his head, he said with a sincere and touching tone, "The Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince are brothers, with a deep bond between them. How could they possibly agree to the Goddess of Fertility having such evil intentions!"
"Smack!"
Lan Linxue slapped her thigh, pointing at Jiang Ming with a sense of regret for not having met him sooner: "Look at him, all of you! Now you know why Lord Jiang's official rank is higher than yours, and he's more successful than you! That's what you call being sensible and having a clear mind! Of course, I couldn't bear to see your Fifth Master stuck in Yangzhou like this. So, I consulted Master Sun, saying that no matter what, no matter how much money it costs, we must help your Fifth Master overcome this obstacle! Guess what Master Sun said in the end?"
"How so?" Jiang Ming quickly asked in cooperation.
Jiang Ming knew that rather than waiting for Lan Linxue to torment him, it was better for him to cooperate on his own initiative.
"burn!"
"burn?"
Everyone looked up at Lan Linxue in horror.
Lan Linxue deliberately paused, then pointed to the large clump of wormwood around them. "Burn the wormwood! They say it's for warding off evil spirits! When the Goddess of Fertility sees the fragrance everywhere, she'll know a woman lives here, and there's no good husband in sight. Thinking that, she'll let your Fifth Master go, and he'll get over this hurdle! So, stand still for now, no one is allowed to back down an inch. Let the wormwood fumigate you too, so you won't be targeted by any snake spirits or monsters later. Someone, light the fire!"
After saying that, Lan Linxue opened her fan and fanned herself vigorously, a half-smile on her face that made everyone who saw her feel uneasy.
Hmph, even if Lan Xiuyuan spent his whole life thinking about it in bed, he would never have imagined that he could suffocate to death without setting him on fire. You little brat.
Lan Linxue knew that she had to get a title for all the trouble she was causing Lan Xiuyuan, no matter how ridiculous or ignorant that title was. As long as she had a title, she would have something to say when Lan Xiuyuan went to the old man to complain.
Upon receiving Lan Linxue's order, the officers and soldiers below immediately threw the lit torches into the tall grass.
Immediately, thick smoke billowed around them, and coughing sounds filled the air.
The more than twenty palace servants behind Lan Linxue began fanning themselves frantically to prevent their beloved Crown Prince from choking.
The wormwood was all wet, so after being lit, it couldn't catch fire at all; instead, thicker and thicker smoke rose into the sky.
Lan Linxue watched for a while, then couldn't help but smile even more smugly while fanning herself. She wouldn't be happy if Lan Xiuyuan didn't die from the fumes today; the southeast wind had been blowing all afternoon, directly in the direction of Lan Linxue's courtyard, and soon he would be driven out by the smoke.
"Why are they all outside? Hurry up and throw a few handfuls inside, quickly clear up Fifth Master's misunderstanding! -- Yes! Yes, throw more, throw them all around."
As Lan Linxue arranged, Lan Xiuyuan's courtyard was soon shrouded in thick smoke. In the darkness, one could hear people shouting and running inside.
The adults standing outside were also choked by the wormwood and coughed violently.
Anyone who tries to run away will be chased back with a stick.
In the words of the Crown Prince, it means to cleanse the impurities!
It's unbearable!
Soon, someone opened the courtyard gate from the inside, and someone rushed out while coughing and covering their face. But they were immediately driven back by guards covered with armor and damp towels.
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