"Snap!"
Lightning flashed like a silver snake, tearing through the long night.
Lightning struck a tower in the capital with perfect accuracy.
In an instant, sparks flew from the tower.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the tower burst into flames, the fire growing larger and larger, illuminating the night...
A gasp of surprise rippled through the Imperial Father-in-Law's residence—
"Fire!"
"The tower is on fire! Come quickly to put out the fire!"
"Wake up!"
"..."
The sounds of gongs and exclamations rose and fell.
Everyone in the Imperial Father-in-Law's residence was jolted awake from their dreams.
The servants grabbed wooden buckets and basins and ran around looking for water.
The emperor's father-in-law, wearing his outer robe, rose to his feet. Gazing at the burning tower, his body went limp, and he almost knelt on the ground: "Fire! Quickly, put out the fire!"
Suddenly, the ground shook.
Many servants stopped and looked around blankly.
The old man also came out wearing his clothes: "Sir, have you heard anything?"
The emperor's father-in-law pinched his ear and held his breath.
The ground trembled rhythmically once again.
Suddenly, a cry rang out: "My lord! The Imperial Guards! So many Imperial Guards..."
The emperor's father-in-law suddenly looked up.
Imperial Guards?
The entire residence of the Emperor's father-in-law was completely surrounded.
Even a fly couldn't fly out.
The entire household of the Emperor's father-in-law was imprisoned in the courtyard.
The tower, filled with treasures and the pride of the emperor's father-in-law, was reduced to ashes by a bolt of lightning.
Until midnight, a torrential rainstorm struck...
Braving the torrential rain, Yuan Yao and the Ninth Prince returned to Qianhua Palace.
The wind carried a heavy amount of moisture.
The Ninth Prince, fearing that Yuan Yao would catch a cold, had hot water prepared so that Yuan Yao could take a bath.
Soaked in warm, soft water, Yuan Yao climbed into bed.
When the Ninth Prince returned, only her round head was visible.
The Ninth Prince sat on the edge of the bed: "Can't sleep?"
Yuan Yao nodded.
She asked, "Father, the Empress has been in power for so many years, and her son has been named Crown Prince..."
The Pei family enjoys immense prestige.
But why would they attack the Emperor and you?
The Ninth Prince raised his hand and gently brushed away the stray hairs on her forehead, a smile playing on his lips as he said, "Because of stupidity."
"Stupid?" Yuan Yao looked puzzled.
The Ninth Prince lifted his long legs slightly, lay down on his side, and looked at Yuan Yao: "Because the Pei family believes that I was the one who made the former Crown Prince crippled."
Therefore, they felt that if they could harm the former crown prince, they would harm Jiang Chengyan as well.
ah?
Yuan Yao was completely stunned.
Did the Pei family strike first on trumped-up charges?
Eliminate the Grand Eunuch, then secretly control the Emperor, causing his sudden and mysterious death, and finally install Jiang Chengyan on the throne...
That's ridiculous!
Yuan Yao laughed in anger: "This Pei family, for the sake of family honor, has turned a blind eye and a deaf ear, and has even stopped being human!"
Over the years, they haven't seen a single thing their father has done!
In their eyes, there was only the power in their father's hands...
Are rights really that good?
They'd give up their lives for power.
Moreover, the Empress and the Crown Prince might also be implicated...
These people are absolutely insane!
Yuan Yao is furious.
Looking at the little figure gritting his teeth, the Ninth Prince's mood suddenly improved.
He raised his hand and covered Yuan Yao's eyes: "These things have nothing to do with you. It's late, you should go to sleep."
Yuan Yao was so angry that her cheeks puffed out.
The Ninth Prince chuckled softly, raised his hand and poked her cheek: "Aren't you going to sleep yet?"
With that one poke, Yuan Yao's anger dissipated.
She gently rubbed her cheek against the Ninth Prince's hand: "Father, goodnight."
The Ninth Prince smiled and with a flick of his hand, all the candles in the hall were extinguished.
The Moon Palace was serene.
Outside the palace, the rain was pouring down.
The rain continued the following day.
Dark clouds hung over the capital city.
The ten long streets of Beijing were completely silent.
The once bustling Jinzun Street and Liuhe Street were now completely closed.
Squads of cavalry and imperial guards patrolled back and forth.
Every now and then a horse-drawn carriage would pass by, splashing water everywhere...
Because of the incident, the National Academy will be temporarily closed for a few days.
The rain was drizzling.
A faint smell of blood lingered in the air.
Despite the candlelight, Yuan Yao still felt the light in the palace was poor and gloomy after the rain, which easily affected her mood.
She had a desk and stove moved in, and the gauze curtains lowered. She sat in the pavilion, brewing tea and reading...
The roses in the garden, which were in full bloom, were damaged in many places by last night's downpour.
It's heartbreaking to see.
Yuan Yao sighed and looked away.
A dark shadow, carrying moisture, landed in the pavilion.
Why are you sighing?
Yuan Yao looked up.
Three steps away, a small bodyguard was standing.
She closed the book, puffed out her cheeks, and said, "I'm heartbroken for my flowers!"
After this rain, many flower branches will likely rot and need to be pruned...
The little guard dried his entire body with his internal energy and said in a deep voice, "The cut flower branches can be used for cuttings to cultivate more seedlings."
These seedlings can be transplanted to various locations in Beijing in the future.
"Next summer, the capital will be filled with fragrant roses..."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao perked up.
yes!
Flowering branches can be used for seedling cultivation!
Jingzhong Street is bare, with only cold, lifeless paving stones as far as the eye can see.
It would be so beautiful if we planted flowers in it, wouldn't it?
The thought of roses blooming all over the capital made Yuan Yao inexplicably excited.
Yuan Yao looked at the little bodyguard with bright eyes: "Let's plant flowers together!"
The young guard was taken aback.
Yuan Yao looked at him with a smile: "I will work hard to plant roses all over the capital!"
Even after my father and I are no longer in Great Qi, the people of Great Qi will remember his kindness when they see these beautiful flowers!
Beneath the black mist, the little guard's eyes flickered slightly.
After a long pause, he finally replied, "Okay."
Yuan Yao picked up a blank book and a calligraphy brush: "Let me write down the plan first..."
After speaking, she began to write furiously.
The young guard asked helplessly, "Have you forgotten something?"
"Hmm?" Yuan Yao looked up.
The junior guard said, "Kong Baiyan."
"Oh!" Yuan Yao slapped her forehead hard. "Look at my memory!"
Early in the morning, after the Ninth Prince went to handle state affairs, she sent a junior bodyguard to find Kong Baiyan and Cheng Biyun...
She asked, "How are they?"
The young guard said, "They were crammed together with several beggars in an abandoned, dilapidated temple in the capital."
Because they betrayed the princess, even beggars despised them.
In the future, they may not even be able to beg for food.
Yuan Yao listened, sighing deeply.
She sighed, "He was once a young master from a prestigious family, but he has fallen to the status of a beggar. Life is truly unpredictable..."
"They've reaped what they sowed," the junior guard added.
Yuan Yao pursed her lips: "Yesterday, Sister Huairou asked me to do her a favor..."
In the four seasons of spring, most of the leftover scraps from making desserts each day are wasted.
Starting tomorrow, have Uncle Bai keep the scraps.
Every evening, he would distribute the food to the beggars in the capital.
Whether Kong Baiyan and Cheng Biyun can snatch it or not depends on their fate..."
If they can starve to death even with this, then there's nothing more that can be done.
The young guard nodded: "Okay."
Yuan Yao breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Has Canfeng returned? How's the matter I asked you to investigate?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com