She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

That light was so dazzling, it even temporarily overshadowed the blaze at the Champion Hou mansion.

Then, the fireworks slowly descended, trailing a long red tail like a bloodstain across the sky.

At that moment, the brothers of the character teams and trusted aides stationed throughout the Capital City saw the signal flare in the sky and swiftly began executing their tasks.

Soon after, seven or eight places in the Capital City erupted into raging fires simultaneously. These places, as investigated by the trusted aides, were all properties of the Champion Hou or the Su Family.

These properties included gambling houses, tea shops, workshops, banks, and grain businesses.

After this explosion and fire, apart from Princess Changle narrowly escaping disaster, the masters of Champion Hou mansion were completely wiped out, and the entire Su Family’s assets suffered heavy losses.

Han Lei watched with satisfaction as thick smoke rose successively from various places in the Capital City and put away her telescope.

She curled her lips and said, "Let’s go! We must meet up with them immediately and then leave the city."

"Alright!"

Da Si nodded excitedly, following behind Han Lei’s plump figure eagerly.

In the silent night, the sound of explosions traveled far and disturbed everyone in the Capital City.

Everyone hurried out of their houses to see what was happening outside.

Han Lei and Da Si quickly evacuated along the pre-scouted route.

The shadows of Tengyun Building and the people who emerged from their homes to check the situation swallowed their figures. Behind them, the entire Capital City was plunging into unprecedented panic and chaos.

Just moments ago, the explosion suddenly tore through the tranquility of the night sky, and Princess Changle’s gilded carriage happened to stop in front of the vermillion palace gates.

"Ah!"

The curtain was suddenly lifted, revealing Princess Changle’s face, which was still in shock, but impeccably made up.

She lifted her skirt and quickly got off the carriage, the gold-embroidered hem swaying gently in the night breeze.

"What’s going on?"

Princess Changle looked towards the direction where the smoke was rising, her delicate fingers unconsciously clutching the handkerchief.

The maid Mingyue hurriedly supported her mistress: "Commandery Princess, be careful of the steps. Judging by the noise, has something happened at some dignitary’s residence?"

A guard squinted into the distance: "Seems like the direction is in the city, but this smoke..."

Before he finished speaking, a beautiful firework blossomed in the night sky, and suddenly fires sprang up all around the Capital City, dyeing the night sky a terrifying orange-red.

"Ah!" Mingyue exclaimed, "Why is everything burning everywhere?"

Princess Changle looked somewhat curious, standing on tiptoe to see better.

"How strange, could it be that the Zhongyuan Festival fireworks are being set off early?"

"No way, Commandery Princess." Mingyue promptly refuted, "It’s not even June yet, and Zhongyuan Festival is still far off."

At this moment, a guard stationed at the palace gates approached with a torch, cautiously saying, "Commandery Princess, are you well, and were you startled?"

"No."

Still unaware that it was her own home that had been bombed, Princess Changle glanced at the two guards and continued tiptoeing to watch the commotion.

Moments later, she suddenly recalled something, lightly tapping her forehead, "Oh dear, I almost forgot my important errand."

She nearly forgot that her parents had tasked her with bringing fine wine to the Emperor and Empress.

Princess Changle straightened her clothes, intending to enter the palace, yet she couldn’t resist taking one last glance at the flaming scene outside before reluctantly turning away.

Inside Weiyang Palace, the crane-beaked incense burner emitted curling blue smoke.

The Empress had just sent someone outside to check the source of the startling loud noise when a palace maid entered to announce the arrival of Princess Changle.

The Empress raised her eyebrow slightly, "Why has Changle come so late?"

Princess Changle entered, her face filled with gossip.

"Greetings Aunt." Princess Changle finished her greetings, her eyes still shining, "Did you hear that loud noise just now, Aunt? I saw several fires from outside the palace gates."

The Empress paused her hand holding the tea cup: "I heard it too. The Emperor has sent someone to investigate, tell me what the situation is outside."

Changle was about to describe it in detail when she remembered the brocade box with her and hurriedly presented it.

"Aunt, my father newly acquired some wine, said to be a rare immediately open-and-drink delicacy, and had me bring it for the Emperor and Empress to taste."

The Empress accepted the brocade box, her fingers caressing the exquisite patterns she had never seen before.

"Thankfully your father thought of it. When your uncle comes to Weiyang Palace, we’ll taste it together."

"Hmm!" Princess Changle responded, "Father said there are only these two small flasks for now, but once they’re on the market, he will send more into the palace."

The Empress nodded in satisfaction, then looked towards the night sky outside, half-red from fire.

"The palace gates will likely be locked by now. Why don’t you stay at the Zilan Pavilion tonight?"

Princess Changle’s eyes lit up, "Then I would like to go to the Lin Hua Pavilion’s terrace to watch the flames outside!"

"Stop fooling around." The Empress lightly rebuked, but with a smile in her eyes, "Let the Imperial Kitchen prepare some snacks for you, stay quiet, and keep me company for a chat."

"Oh!" Changle agreed obediently but couldn’t resist her gossip-loving heart, muttering quietly, "I wonder who’s having such a lively affair..."