The Humble Family’s Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket!
Chapter 958 - 813, Jiang Jinghui Dies

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!"

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?"

Daohua turned to look at the fourth Prince’s consort, just as a cry of alarm came from the lamp stand.

Both Daohua and the fourth Prince’s consort looked up with a sudden change of expression.

"Boom~"

The central lamp stand, with pairs of lanterns hanging at one-meter intervals, suddenly burst into flames. Then, like a fuse had been lit, the fire spread rapidly toward the other lamp stands.

Many people were guessing lantern riddles on the lamp stand, and most were holding lanterns in their hands. The moment the stand caught fire, the lanterns in their hands ignited as well.

In an instant, chaos erupted on the lamp stand.

"Protect the Sovereign!"

Yang Chenghua and others were quick to retreat while protecting the Emperor. At the same time, Wei Qi led the Imperial Guards swiftly to the scene.

The blaze at the central lamp stand was particularly ferocious, quickly engulfing the structure.

Xiao Yeyang gripped the hand of the fourth Prince with one hand, and the Crown Prince with the other. As flames burst forth, he rushed down from the lamp stand.

As for the third Prince and his siblings, they had already been rescued by the Hidden Guards and eunuchs, whom the Emperor had arranged to be nearby.

Amidst the flames, watching the Princes being whisked away in the blink of an eye, Jiang Jinghui instantly understood that the plans his grandfather and the others had made were well known to the Emperor.

Despite the chill running down his spine, Jiang Jinghui still hurriedly pulled Jiang Jingrong to escape from the lamp stand.

To live, one must survive to have hope.

However, at that moment, an inconspicuous pebble struck Jiang Jinghui’s left leg. With a ’bang’, he fell onto the lamp stand.

"Big brother!"

Seeing Jiang Jinghui fall, Jingrong bent down to help him up, "Big brother, get up quickly!"

Jiang Jinghui’s face was filled with despair. His left leg, hit by the pebble, was now immobile. No matter how his younger brother tried to help, he couldn’t stand up.

"Go!"

As the fire spread to his leg, Jiang Jinghui mustered all his strength and pushed Jingrong away.

"Rumble~"

The fire was too intense, and the central lamp stand collapsed thunderously.

"Hui’er~"

A heart-wrenching cry echoed, then abruptly ceased.

Madam Jiang fainted upon seeing her son perish in the flames.

Fainting as well was the Empress Dowager.

Duke Cheng’en and the Princely Heir both looked unable to accept what had happened.

Those Princes who had been rescued were all visibly shaken.

"Thank you!"

The fourth Prince expressed his gratitude to Xiao Yeyang with a fist salute. Had Xiao Yeyang not stopped him from touching the lantern, he feared he might have ended up like the others, burned and blistered by the flames.

Xiao Yeyang shook his head, indicating it was unnecessary. He moved to greet Daohua as he saw her approach.

"Are you alright, my lord?"

The fourth Prince’s consort had come over with Daohua and immediately threw herself in front of the fourth Prince to check if he was injured.

Daohua examined Xiao Yeyang carefully, confirming he was uninjured before she relaxed.

"What are you looking at?"

Xiao Yeyang couldn’t help but ask when he noticed Daohua glancing aside.

Daohua tilted her chin towards the direction she had been looking at, "Someone seemed to be hiding over there just now."

Xiao Yeyang furrowed his brows and looked in the direction of Daohua’s gaze. Knowing she wouldn’t speak without reason, he went to investigate.

Noticing the traces of trampling on the ground, Xiao Yeyang had De Fu inform Wei Qi. Hearing the Emperor say they could leave, he walked towards Daohua.

"It’s too chaotic in the palace tonight, let’s go back."

Daohua nodded.

Just as they left the palace gate, Xiao Yeyang was called back by the Imperial Guards.

Thus, Daohua had no choice but to wait for him in front of the carriage.

Before long, Daohua saw Luo Qiong hastily making her way out.

"Big sister!"

Daohua called out, but unfortunately, Luo Qiong didn’t respond. She boarded her carriage and then whisked away.

Witnessing this, Daohua was stunned. It was one thing for Luo Qiong to leave without waiting for Xiao Yechen and the Princess Consort, but to completely overlook her standing there was astonishing!

"Madam, someone must have been hidden in that carriage," Mei Lan suddenly spoke up.

Daohua looked over, "A hidden person?"

Mei Lan nodded, "I noticed just now that the wheels of that carriage were bearing a significant load."

Daohua’s brow furrowed, "Who could Luo Qiong be hiding?" Thinking of Luo Qiong’s distracted state just then, her suspicion grew.