Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 543 - 541

Chapter 543: Chapter 541

After the dragon boat race, the emperor returned to the palace, with the rewards announced at the early morning court the following day.

The riverside was crowded, and such a figure of authority being exposed under the clear light of day, the emperor himself might not worry for his own life, but he should worry for the common people, right! He should worry for the terrified bodyguards who see danger in every shadow, right! He should worry for the loyal civil and military officials of the entire Imperial Court, right!

In broad daylight, exposing oneself to the public, what if there were an assassin? Therefore, the emperor, empress, and empress dowager returned to the palace rather rapidly.

Even after the emperor’s departure, the festivities on the Huai River continued; the citizens of the Imperial City began their dragon boat races.

Xiao’er and her group followed behind the emperor’s carriage on its way back to the city.

Shangguan Xuanyi had to stay close to the emperor, so he did not ride in the same carriage with Xiao’er.

Upon returning to the Marquis Shengping’s Mansion, after having lunch, Xiao’er went back to her room to sleep.

Every day spent rowing the dragon boat had nearly taxed out all her strength; she was on the verge of utter exhaustion.

This nap lasted for more than two hours, and she was eventually awakened by the sound of firecrackers.

In addition to the tradition of dragon boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival, nearly every household also offers sacrifices to their ancestors. The ritual is simple: they place offerings before the ancestral tablets, light incense and candles, pour tea and wine, and at the end, set off a string of firecrackers, wishing for their days to be filled with resounding success just like the sound of the firecrackers.

Because the emperor left the city today, setting off firecrackers inside the city was strictly forbidden, so as not to disturb the royal procession—therefore, the people had only now begun their ancestral worship and set off firecrackers.

Suddenly, a massive explosion echoed from somewhere in the suburbs, shaking the entire Imperial City.

Xiao’er, who was wiping her face with a cloth, halted momentarily before quickly drying off the water on her face.

"Yang Mei, send someone to investigate the cause of that loud sound."

Yang Mei responded and went to make arrangements.

Before long, another massive explosion erupted, and some black ashes were floating in the air. Thick smoke appeared in the distant sky.

Xiao’er thought about a possible explosion at the firecracker workshop, which could be a terrible disaster.

Zhao Yong hurried back immediately after gathering information. As it turned out, a firecracker workshop in the suburb had exploded.

Xiao’er saw the excitement in his eyes that he was trying so hard to suppress and felt somewhat puzzled. Why was he excited over an explosion? Had it killed his enemies?

"Were there many casualties?"

"Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. Most of the workshop’s staff were on vacation. Only a few people were left to watch over the place. For some reason, Li Mingjun went to the workshop and was severely injured. Two of Li Mingjun’s servants were killed on the spot."

Now she understood his excitement!

"Does this workshop belong to the Li family?" If this was an accident, Xiao’er wouldn’t believe it at all, even though Brother Shangguan had surely made a big move.

"Yes." Zhao Yong nodded. If it didn’t belong to the Li family, there was no reason for him to be so excited!

"The explosion in the firecracker workshop must have been quite powerful. Were the people or things nearby affected?" Xiao’er continued to ask.

Despite her suspicions, believing that Shangguan Xuanyi wouldn’t be someone to disregard innocent lives, she couldn’t help but ask.

"No, there have been explosions in firecracker workshops before, causing heavy casualties. Therefore, the Imperial Court stipulated that a firecracker workshop cannot be set up in densely populated areas. There used to be two households nearby, but they moved away a while ago."

The boss has always been righteous. He would never harm the innocent!

Upon hearing this, Xiao’er nodded, so only members of the Li family were injured!

Zhao Yong’s excitement was more than reasonable. He indeed had unwavering loyalty.

"How is Li Mingjun’s injury?" Xiao’er asked again.

"Li Mingjun’s hand has been blown off, his whole body is bloody." Zhao Yong admired the Sixth Prince even more when he found out this news.

Xiao’er: Brother Shangguan was quite ruthless.

Li Mingjun burned one of his own hands, and he directly blew off one of his hands.

Fortunately, she was not his enemy, but his lover.

Shangguan Xuanyi is a man who can be very good to people in his heart, but also very harsh on his enemies.

Since it was a matter of the Li family, Xiao’er decided not to meddle anymore.

At dinner time, Li Mingfang came to the door.

Xiao’er asked her maid to lead Li Mingfang to the flower hall, she leisurely finished her meal, had tea, and then went to meet her.

Walking back and forth anxiously in the flower hall, Li Mingfang felt like she had worn out the soles of her shoes, but no one showed up.

She was secretly angry, "Is this how Marquis Shengping’s mansion treats its guests, is there no etiquette anymore?"

Yang Liu stood politely outside the door and said, "Miss Li, please wait a moment, we have sent for our young lady, she must be delayed by something!"

Clearly, Lady Rui’an doesn’t take her or the Li family seriously at all. Who does she think she is!

After all, she was once a deputy general and the future concubine of the Third Prince, but they didn’t give her any face at all and let her hang around here for half a day.

Li Mingfang walked another round, but she really couldn’t wait any longer, she was just about to leave.

Xiao’er walked slowly over.

"Lady Rui’an, you really like to put on airs," Li Mingfang tried her best to suppress her anger but couldn’t help complaining.

"I was eating just now, and my maids didn’t dare to interrupt me. They waited until I had finished before passing on the message. I made Miss Li wait for a long time." Xiao’er explained indifferently.

Li Mingfang nearly choked on her own rage! She waited here, drank a bellyful of tea, while Xiao’er was over there leisurely having her meal! Was she eating a royal banquet that took her two hours!?

Xiao’er must have done it on purpose.

But since she was asking for a favor, she had to swallow her pride, Li Mingfang felt somewhat wronged.

She had already been to the Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion to find Di Shaowei, but unfortunately, Di Shaowei didn’t meet with her. She asked her servant to pass a message saying she wanted to ask for a life-saving medicine that Di Shaowei took to the army to save her and her father, but Di Shaowei sent a message that all the medicine was used up.

She naturally didn’t believe him; she thought it was because of the event where Ming Jingya fell into the lake last time, Di Shaowei held a grudge against Li Mingjun, and didn’t want to help her anymore.

She knew that Di Shaowei had received those medicines from Lady Rui’an. With Ming Jun severely injured and Di Shaowei unwilling to meet her, she had to come to Marquis Shengping’s mansion.

She never expected that Lady Rui’an would keep her waiting for two full hours before appearing!

If not for the fact that she possessed the life-saving medicine, the arrogant Mingfang would have left long ago!

She didn’t believe Lady Rui’an hadn’t heard about Li Mingjun’s serious injuries!

So she must have done it on purpose!

But what made Li Mingfang more suffocated was that, knowing that she did it deliberately, she still had to bear it!

Li Mingjun’s injuries were too severe, even the imperial doctor said he had done his best!

If he does not wake up tomorrow morning, then it would be too late.

Li family only had one male left, Mingjun. He must be okay! Otherwise, she could foresee the downfall of the Li family in the near future!

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