The Humble Family's Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket!-Chapter 959 - 814: Intensify

Jiang Jinghui perished in a sea of flames, which had everyone heaving sighs of lament, yet no one dared to discuss it openly.

Outside the palace gate, the officials were all tight-lipped, hastily taking their carriages and leaving.

Anyone with half a brain could see that the fire starting at the lantern festival was too peculiar.

The deceased was the legitimate eldest grandson of the Jiang family, yet the Crown Prince and a few others had also ascended the lantern tower. Had they not been rescued in time... all of the emperor’s grown sons who had entered court service might have perished.

Everyone dared not continue contemplating the depth of the situation, and each household sternly forbade the mention of tonight’s events.

Daohua hadn’t waited for Xiao Yeyang when Prince Ping arrived first with the people from his residence.

"Yan girl, I just ran into Yeyang," Prince Ping said. "He is busy with official duties. There will be martial law here at the palace gate later, so he asked you to return with us to the residence first."

Daohua nodded, and just as she settled into the carriage, she heard Princess Consort Wang’s complaints.

"That Luo Qiong is becoming more and more out of line," the Princess Consort grumbled. "Her in-laws and husband haven’t left yet, and she’s already taken off without so much as a word of farewell."

Leaning in the carriage, Daohua’s suspicions about Luo Qiong grew, and she couldn’t help but say to Wang Manman, "After we return to the residence, have someone keep a closer watch on Chen Courtyard."

Wang Manman nodded in agreement.

It wasn’t until late into the night that Xiao Yeyang returned to Pingxi Hall.

The candles in the bedroom were still lit, and Daohua was half-sitting, half-lying on the bed with her eyes closed, a book still in her hand.

Xiao Yeyang could tell that Daohua had been waiting for him. He silently approached, took the book from her hand, then supported her head with one hand while he removed the pillows with the other.

Just as he gently laid Daohua’s head on the pillow, she opened her drowsy eyes, "Are you back?"

Xiao Yeyang smiled, "Yes, I’m back. Go to sleep now." With that said, he tucked her in, stood up, and went to the Clean Room to wash up. When he returned to the bedroom, he saw Daohua with bright eyes, lying in bed waiting for him.

"Why are you not sleeping?"

Xiao Yeyang quickly lay down on the bed, naturally wrapping his arms around Daohua and planting a kiss on her cheek.

Resting against Xiao Yeyang’s chest, Daohua asked, "What did the Emperor call you back for?"

Xiao Yeyang, with one hand cradling Daohua and the other hand propping up his head, looked up at the canopy and said, "The lanterns and lantern decorations presented from various places this year were under the supervision of officials affiliated with the Jiang family. At the bases of every lantern and decorative lantern, a significant amount of phosphorus powder was placed."

"The Emperor knew about this early in the morning. He decided to use their own strategy against them, wanting to see what exactly the Jiang family and the Empress Dowager intended to do." freewebnøvel.com

"As you saw tonight, the purpose of the Empress Dowager and the Jiang family was to catch all the Emperor’s grown sons in one fell swoop. If tonight’s plot had actually succeeded, then their next target would likely be the Emperor himself."

"If the Emperor met with an accident, the Jiang family could then support another prince who they could easily control to take the throne, and continue their immense power and lavish wealth for half the court."

Daohua was left speechless by this revelation.

Xiao Yeyang continued, "When the officials started urging the Crown Prince and the others to climb up the lantern tower, the Emperor already knew the intentions of the Empress Dowager and the Jiang family. So, he had me and Brother Jiang Jinghui climb the tower as well."

"My ascent was to protect the princes, whereas for Brother Jiang Jinghui, the Emperor had no intention of letting them come down alive."

Pausing for a moment, he turned to look at Daohua.

"Indeed, there was someone hiding in the shadows tonight."

"The Emperor asked the frightened Jiang Jingrong a few questions, and from his responses, it was certain that it was that person who stopped Jiang Jinghui, who had tried to escape down the lantern tower."

"The Emperor had originally arranged for a Hidden Guard to handle the matter, but before the Hidden Guard could act, someone else had already taken action. It was also because the Hidden Guard wanted to find out who that person was, that Jiang Jingrong narrowly escaped with his life."

Daohua: "Who could that person be?"

Xiao Yeyang shook his head.

Daohua: "Could it be someone who harbors a grudge against the Jiang Family?"

Xiao Yeyang: "There’s also that possibility, but... who would have the guts to kill someone under Uncle Emperor’s very nose?"

Daohua fell silent for a moment: "Is it possible that the person who made the move wanted to intensify the conflict between the Jiang Family and Uncle Emperor, hoping to injure both sides?"

Xiao Yeyang looked sharply at Daohua: "Why would you think that?"

Daohua: "You said it yourself, nobody dares kill someone under the Emperor’s watch, unless... there’s a benefit great enough to make someone willing to risk their life and take that risk."

Xiao Yeyang fell into deep thought.

Daohua did not disturb him and waited a while before bringing up something odd about Luo Qiong.

Upon hearing that Luo Qiong’s carriage may have had a person hidden inside, Xiao Yeyang immediately got out of bed and went to the window. He summoned a Hidden Guard and instructed him to keep an eye on Chen Courtyard and, thinking of Luo Qiong’s affiliation with the Duke Residence, he had them watched as well.

When he returned to bed, Daohua asked: "Will Uncle Emperor take action against the Jiang Family this time?"

Xiao Yeyang: "Jiang Jinghui is not so easy to deal with. When the Jiang Family planed tonight’s affairs, they had already devised an escape route. All the officials responsible for the lantern fire incident committed suicide by poisoning immediately after the incident. I was called back to handle this matter."

Daohua frowned slightly: "When will the Jiang Family be dealt with?"

Xiao Yeyang: "...The real leaders of the Jiang Family are the Empress Dowager and Duke Cheng’en. One is Uncle Emperor’s nominal mother; the other, his uncle. Uncle Emperor ascended to the throne with help from the Jiang Family. Unless they make a grave mistake, it is difficult for Uncle Emperor to act against them."

"Although it’s difficult to take major action, it’s still possible to weaken the Jiang Family’s power. And now with Jiang Jinghui’s death, the Jiang Family will only become more extreme. I don’t fear they won’t make mistakes."

Daohua leaned into Xiao Yeyang’s embrace, murmuring gloomily: "In that case, Master will have to keep hiding at Four Seasons Manor."

Xiao Yeyang patted Daohua’s back: "It won’t be too long. Uncle Emperor may not have planned on completely rooting out the Jiang Family before, but after this incident, he won’t hold back anymore."

"Mm!"

...

Due to the incident that occurred on Lantern Festival night, the atmosphere in the court was somewhat subdued throughout the first lunar month. Officials who usually argued incessantly behaved themselves during court sessions.

The Emperor used Jiang Jinghui’s death as a reason to dismiss Duke Cheng’en and the Princely Heir from their official duties, telling them to focus on their mourning at home.

The Duke Residence had white banners hung up. Duke Cheng’en seemed to have aged over a decade overnight, his back more hunched than ever, while the Princely Heir’s eyes brimmed with hostility, causing anyone who met his gaze to tremble inside.

Madam Jiang fell ill over her son’s death and couldn’t get up, so the second Madam Jiang had to take over receiving the condolences from the visiting ladies.

Prince Ping also brought people from the Prince Residence for a visit, but Daohua and Xiao Yeyang did not accompany him.

Prince Ping initially felt embarrassed about this, but upon arriving at the Duke Residence, the Princely Heir looked at him with eyes reserved for an enemy. Instantly feeling uncomfortable, Prince Ping managed to contain his anger due to the Princely Heir’s loss and left shortly after, with a darkened expression on his face.

Pingxi Hall.

As spring approached, Daohua was busy with spring planting. She cultivated batches of cotton seeds and corn seeds that she acquired last year in her space and planned to start test growing them on the manor’s lands.

Xiao Yeyang was also busy. Although the Jiang Family had wrapped up the Lantern Festival fire incident neatly, the deed left traces, and he seized several officials loyal to the Jiang Family with this evidence.

However, the person who targeted Jiang Jinghui that night had yet to be found.

During this period, Xiao Yeyang kept close watch on Luo Qiong and the Duke Residence, but unfortunately, there were no anomalies on either side, which made both him and Daohua wonder if they were mistaken.