The Humble Family's Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket! novel Chapter 958

Chapter 958: Chapter 813, Jiang Jinghui Dies

The Lantern Festival was a time of celestial celebration. The entire city of Beijing was aglow with lanterns and festooned with decorations, while the cacophony of drums and gongs filled the air. Dragon and lion dances mingled with an array of other entertainments in the bustling streets, with every face beaming with joy.

In stark contrast to the boisterous revelry of the common folk, the atmosphere within the Imperial Palace was jubilant, yet more restrained.

Most of the nobles and officials attending the palace banquet gathered in conversation, chuckling and chatting, but careful to keep their voices down.

Daohua and Xiao Yeyang had first returned with Prince Ping to change their attire at the Prince Residence before collectively proceeding to the Imperial Palace. By the time they arrived, Taihe Hall was nearly filled with guests, leaving only the Emperor and a select few dignitaries yet to appear.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Prince Ping and asked with a smile, "Xiaojiu, why have you arrived so late today?"

Prince Ping replied with a grin, "Mother, I spent a few days at Yeyang’s manor and only returned today, hence the delay."

Seizing the opportunity while waiting for the Emperor’s arrival, Prince Three said, "I wondered why I hadn’t seen Yeyang and his wife accompany our Imperial Grandmother during the New Year celebrations. It turns out they were away tending to others."

The wife of Prince Three chimed in with a smile, "I heard that Yeyang’s master lives at Four Seasons Manor. Sister-in-law is indeed dutiful. However, you mustn’t neglect one for the other; you should visit the Empress Dowager more often too."

At the mention of Gu Jian, both Daohua and Xiao Yeyang frowned simultaneously.

Wishing not to draw attention to Gu Jian, neither of them spoke.

The Empress Dowager swept her gaze coldly over the couple of Prince Three.

The child has grown up and dares to make her the soft target!

The Empress Dowager’s face revealed no emotion as she said indifferently, "It seems that in the eyes of Yeyang and his wife, I rank lower than a mere outsider."

"What outsider? Who is the outsider?"

The Emperor’s resonant voice echoed.

As everyone rose to their feet for the Emperor, dressed in his bright yellow robe, he smiled and took his seat on the throne, surveying the hall.

The Empress Dowager and the couple of Prince Three tactfully refrained from bringing up the previous conversation.

The Emperor, glancing at them, did not press further and shifted the conversation to other matters with the ministers.

As the banquet progressed with performances and vaudeville acts, time slipped away and darkness fell.

The darkened sky signaled the start of the lantern-viewing segment, a favorite of the crowd.

A dedicated lantern-viewing pavilion was set up in the Imperial Garden, where the Emperor and officials could engage in guessing lantern riddles and win prizes, just like the common folk.

Each year, officials from all regions sent specially crafted lanterns to the Imperial Palace. Admiring the exquisite lanterns that dazzled the eyes, Daohua inwardly praised the artisans’ remarkable craftsmanship.

Suddenly, a pungent scent assailed her nose, freezing her smile instantly.

Such a strong smell of phosphorus powder!!!

Following the odor, Daohua saw about a dozen eunuchs each carrying two unlit lanterns towards the central pavilion.

"Xiao Yeyang!" _{freewёbnoνel.com}

Daohua hurriedly tugged on Xiao Yeyang’s sleeve.

Noticing Daohua’s troubled expression, Xiao Yeyang asked anxiously, "What’s wrong?"

Daohua quickly relayed her discovery to him.

Xiao Yeyang had caught a whiff of the pungent smell as well, which he hadn’t minded much, seeing it resembled the scent of fireworks, but his expression turned grave after hearing Daohua’s words.

"Don’t go near the lantern pavilion. I’ll go inform Uncle Emperor," he said, looking at Mei Lan and Mei Ju, "Take good care of the young madam."

Mei Lan and Mei Ju nodded solemnly.

Xiao Yeyang gave Daohua a ’take care of yourself’ look before quickly moving toward the Emperor.

The Emperor was a few meters away from the central pavilion, with Yang Chenghua, Wu Jingyi, and other high-ranking officials at his side. As Xiao Yeyang approached, they were all deep in animated conversation.

Xiao Yeyang softly reported the phosphorus powder situation to the Emperor.

The Emperor’s smile remained fixed as he gave Xiao Yeyang a dismissive glance, continuing to discuss riddles with Yang Chenghua and the others.

It wasn’t long after that someone sparked the idea, proposing that the Crown Prince, Princes Two, Three, Four, and Five head to the pavilion to guess lantern riddles.

The Emperor, smiling on the surface but with no warmth reaching his eyes, agreed, "Just the few of them won’t do; it’s too few people. Let Yeyang join them in guessing, and yes, Jinghui and Jingrong brothers should go too. The more, the merrier."

At the Emperor’s behest, the expressions on the faces of the Empress Dowager, Duke Cheng’en, and Princely Heir Jiang turned momentarily stiff.

Jingrong, blissfully unaware, beamed with delight upon being named by the Emperor personally.

But a flicker of panic and worry crossed Jinghui’s eyes, knowing well the machinations his grandfather and father were involved in, and it was precisely because of his awareness that fear gripped him.

Witnessing the Crown Prince and his brothers head towards the central pavilion, Jinghui bit his lip, realizing they had no choice but to act now, and he could not afford to falter.

Resolute, he led Jingrong towards the pavilion.

"Remember, don’t touch any of the lanterns later," he whispered a solemn caution to his younger brother.

Jingrong, puzzled, was about to ask why when Jinghui had already joined the Crown Prince and others at the pavilion.

Elsewhere, noticing Daohua standing alone in a corner, the consort of Prince Four walked over, feeling indebted since her son owed his life to Daohua’s actions.

But Daohua, her heart racing at the sight of Xiao Yeyang ascending the pavilion, failed to notice the approaching consort.

"Sister-in-law Yeyang!"

"Ah?"