The Lantern Festival is celebrated by everyone.

The entire capital city was decorated with lights and colorful gongs and drums. There were dragon and lion dances and various plays on the streets. The streets were filled with excitement and the people were all smiling.

Compared to the excitement and excitement of the folk markets, although the palace was also full of joy, it was much more restrained.

Most of the distinguished officials who entered the palace to attend the banquet gathered together and talked and laughed, but their voices were not too loud.

Daohua and Xiao Yeyang first followed Prince Ping back to the palace to change clothes, and then entered the palace with everyone in the palace. When they arrived, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was almost full, and only the emperor and a few nobles were not there.<

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The Queen Mother looked up at Prince Ping and asked with a smile: "Xiaojiu, why did you come so late today?"

Prince Ping replied with a smile: "After returning to my mother, I stayed at Yeyang Village for a few days and just came back today, so I was delayed for a while."

Seeing that the emperor hadn't come yet, the third prince took the opportunity to say: "I asked you why you didn't see Yeyang and his wife coming to accompany the emperor's grandmother during the Chinese New Year. It turns out that he went to accompany someone else."

The third princess smiled and took over the words: "I heard that the master of younger brother and sister Yang lives in Four Seasons Villa, and the younger sister and younger brother are really filial. But the younger brother and sister can't be too kind to one, and should go to the palace more often to accompany the Queen Mother."

Hearing the third prince's concubine mention Gu Jian, Daohua and Xiao Yeyang frowned at the same time.

Not wanting everyone to notice Gu Jian, neither of them said anything.

The Queen Mother glanced at the third prince and his wife, her eyes a little cold.

The little cub has grown up and dares to use her as a cocoon!

There was no emotion or anger on the Queen Mother's face, but she said calmly: "Maybe in the eyes of Yeyang and his wife, the Ai family is no more important than an outsider."

"What outsider? Who is the outsider?"

The emperor's sonorous voice sounded.

Seeing the bright yellow figure walking vigorously, everyone in the hall stood up one after another.

The emperor smiled and sat down on the dragon chair and glanced at the people in the palace.

The Queen Mother, the Third Prince and his wife both had a tacit understanding and did not mention what happened just now.

The emperor glanced at them and did not ask further questions. He smiled and talked about other things with the ministers.

There were banquets, plays, and sideshows, and time flew by little by little, and the sky gradually became dark.

As soon as it gets dark, it’s time for everyone’s favorite lantern viewing session.

There is a specially built lantern viewing stand in the Imperial Garden. Here, the emperor and officials can guess lantern riddles and win prizes like ordinary people.

Every year, officials from all over the country would bring all kinds of specially-made lamps to the palace. Daohua looked at the exquisite and dazzling lamps and couldn't help but secretly praise the craftsmanship of the craftsmen.

Suddenly, a pungent smell penetrated the tip of her nose, and the smile on Daohua's face froze instantly.

What a strong phosphorus powder smell!!!

Daohua looked over for the pungent smell, and then saw about a dozen eunuchs each carrying two unlit lanterns walking towards the central lampstand.

"Xiao Yeyang!"

Daohua quickly tugged on Xiao Yeyang's sleeve.

Xiao Yeyang saw that Daohua looked wrong and asked quickly: "What's wrong?"

Daohua quickly explained her findings.

Xiao Yeyang also smelled a pungent smell just now, but he didn't pay much attention to it because the smell was very much like fireworks and firecrackers. But after hearing what Daohua said, his expression became serious.

"Don't go near the lampstand. I'll go talk to Uncle Huang."

As he said that, he looked at Mei Lan and Mei Ju, "Take good care of the young lady."

Mei Lan and Mei Ju nodded solemnly.

Xiao Yeyang gave Daohua a "protect yourself" look, and then walked quickly towards the emperor.

The emperor was a few meters away from the central lampstand. Yang Chenghua, Wu Jingyi and other first-class officials were accompanying him. When Xiao Yeyang passed by, everyone was talking lively.

Xiao Yeyang quietly reported the matter of phosphorus powder to the emperor.

After the emperor heard this, the smile on his face remained unchanged, he gave Xiao Yeyang a look that ignored him, and continued talking about lantern riddles with Yang Chenghua and others.

Not long after, I don’t know who started it, and asked the eldest prince, the second prince, the third prince, the fourth prince, and the fifth prince, who were serving in the court, to go up to the lampstand and guess lantern riddles.

Looking at the crowd making noises, the emperor smiled, but the amusement did not reach his eyes: "There are just a few of them. There are too few people. Yeyang should also go and take a guess. By the way, brothers Jinghui and Jingrong will also go.

, the more people there are, the more lively it will be."

Hearing that the emperor asked Jiang Jinghui and Jiang Jingrong to go up to the lampstand, the faces of the Queen Mother, Duke Chengen, and Prince Jiang were frozen for a moment.

The Queen Mother wanted to refuse, but the Emperor did not give her this chance and went to the scene in person to urge Brother Jiang Jinghui.

In this way, under the gaze of everyone, the Jiang brothers had to go on stage.

Jiang Jingrong, who knew nothing about being called by the emperor himself, was full of joy, but Jiang Jinghui's eyes flashed with a trace of anxiety and worry.

What his grandfather and father were busy with during this period was not hidden from him, but because he knew more, he became more and more afraid.

Looking at the eldest prince and the others who were already walking towards the central lighthouse, Jiang Jinghui gritted his teeth. His grandfather and father had already taken action, and he could not let go.

Thinking of this, he resolutely led Jiang Jingrong towards the lampstand.

"Remember, you are not allowed to touch any lanterns later."

Jiang Jinghui whispered to his concubine.

Jiang Jingrong's face was full of doubts. Just when he was about to ask, Jiang Jinghui had already joined the eldest prince and several others on the lampstand.

Here, the fourth princess saw Daohua standing alone in the corner, thinking that her son's life was saved by her, so she got up and walked over to say a few words to her.

When Daohua saw Xiao Yeyang also getting on the lampstand, she became nervous and didn't even notice the fourth prince and concubine walking over.

"Brother and sister Yang!"

"Ah?"

Daohua turned her eyes and looked at the fourth princess. At this moment, an exclamation of ‘ah’ came from the lampstand.

Daohua and the fourth princess looked up, their expressions changed drastically.

"Boom~"

The central lampstand with two strings of lanterns hanging every one meter suddenly burst into flames. Then the fire seemed to have lit a fuse and spread rapidly towards the lampstands on both sides.

There were many people on the lampstand guessing lantern riddles, and most of them were holding lanterns in their hands. The moment the lampstand caught fire, the lanterns in their hands also lit up.

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In an instant, the lampstand was in chaos.

"Escort!"

Yang Chenghua and others protected the emperor and retreated. At the same time, Wei Qi appeared immediately with the imperial guards.

The fire in the central lampstand was particularly fierce, and the lampstand was submerged in just a moment.

Xiao Yeyang held the fourth prince with one hand and the eldest prince with the other, and rushed off the lampstand the moment the fire came out.

As for the third prince, they were rescued by the secret guards arranged by the emperor early in the morning.

In the firelight, looking at the princes who were rescued in the blink of an eye, Jiang Jinghui instantly understood that what his grandfather and the others were planning had long been known to the emperor.

Although the coldness hit his forehead, Jiang Jinghui quickly pulled Jiang Jingrong out of the lampstand.

Live, and only by living can you have hope.

However, at this moment, an inconspicuous stone hit Jiang Jinghui's left leg. With a 'bang', Jiang Jinghui fell onto the lampstand.

"Brother!"

Jiang Jingrong saw Jiang Jinghui fall and quickly bent over to help him, "Brother, get up quickly!"

Jiang Jinghui's face was filled with despair. His left leg, which was hit by a stone, could not move at all. No matter how much his younger brother helped him, he could not stand up.

"Let's go!"

Seeing the fire spread to his legs in the blink of an eye, Jiang Jinghui used all his strength to push Jiang Jingrong out.

"Boom~"

At the moment when Jiang Jingrong was thrown off the stage, the temporary central lighthouse collapsed due to the huge flames.

"Hui'er~"

A shrill voice sounded, and then stopped suddenly.

When Mrs. Jiang saw her son buried in the flames, she fainted.

The Queen Mother also fainted.

Duke Cheng'en and Prince Jiang also looked like they couldn't accept it.

The eldest princes who were rescued had frightened expressions on their faces.

"Thank you!"

The fourth prince cupped his fists and thanked Xiao Yeyang. If Xiao Yeyang hadn't allowed him to touch the lantern just now, he would have died just like those who were rescued.
To be continued...