The Emperor’s expression became increasingly perilous, making Lian Hua’s heart tremble.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt her mind had been unwell at the time, and the more regretful she became until her intestines turned black with regret.
All she remembered was that, in the end, she had defiantly said, "My lord, these past days, you have eaten from Canglan Court, drunk from Canglan Court, and slept in Canglan Court. If you truly wish to give silver, then I will begrudgingly accept some interest."
With a wave of her hand, she had Xiao Jizi take away that row of small ingots...
At that moment, she only wanted to retaliate sharply, to feel a rush, so she spoke without thinking...
Why was she so bold? His Majesty was very petty about such things. What should she do now?
Lian Hua could not help but creep closer, her face full of appeasement, tugging at his sleeve and shaking it, "My lord, why don’t, why don’t you scold me a few words?"
The Emperor hummed lightly, remaining silent.
His Little Concubine, her words yesterday, had infuriated him greatly.
If it weren’t for seeing her fiery temper and knowing she was only trying to provoke him, not meaning what she said, he would certainly have punished her on the spot.
This punishment, today was not too late.
Lian Hua made a bitter face, the authority she brandished yesterday had come back to haunt her today. Why did she always bring up what should not be mentioned? She particularly remembered losing the ingots but could not recall where they went.
Yesterday, at the very end, she had waved her hand majestically and left, not keeping it in mind, nor witnessing Xiao Jizi taking the ingots; otherwise, she would have remembered.
She changed her strategy, pushing the tray forward, and with a pitiful voice said, "My lord, why not take these back? These are all yours."
The Emperor glanced at her coldly, reaching out to pour some water.
Lian Hua perceptively reached out to take it, "My lord, let me, let me do it."
She flatteringly stood up with the pot to pour the tea, and having poured it, she flatteringly said, "There we go, please drink."
The Emperor lifted his eyelids to look at her, during times of wrongdoing, his Little Concubine became the ultimate sycophant, resembling a little pug, each and every action eagerly performed, which was quite amusing indeed.
He wanted to laugh internally, yet he coolly said, "Drink yours; must I also give silver?"
Lian Hua hurriedly shook her head, chuckling dryly, "Oh no no, not at all, all mine is His Majesty’s, that’s only right; all else is nonsense, not to be taken seriously, please don’t put it to heart."
His Majesty seemed pleased, emitting a soft "hmm".
Just as Lian Hua was about to quietly sigh with relief, she heard him say, "Yesterday was only collecting interest, so today is the time to collect the principal, right?"
Lian Hua gasped again, feigned ignorance, "Eh? What interest, how could that be, all that is Yours, Xiao Jizi, quickly bring out all of yesterday’s silver, and all the other silver, bring them all here... "
Her heart bled, His Majesty really was not easy to appease. She had to spit out what she had swallowed and even her own along with it. Her intestines turned green with regret. What was she posturing for yesterday? Why did she misspeak?
She continually comforted herself, looking forlorn, repeatedly mumbling, "His Majesty is more important than silver, His Majesty is more important than silver..."
Losing money to earn His Majesty’s favor, a tremendously profitable deal, immensely worthwhile, don’t feel sad, don’t feel sad!
The Emperor was brimming with a smile, his Little Concubine was just too adorable. Look at those furrowed brows, those pursed lips, those drooping, round almond eyes, and the mumbling from her mouth, clearly very aggrieved, yet she was generously ready to offer all her silver as compensation.
His heart had completely melted, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. He scooped her onto his lap, hugging her and laughing heartily.
That night, Lian Hua was miserably teased by His Majesty; what started as playful teasing turned serious.
His Majesty didn’t want silver nor praises; he only wanted her, keeping tabs on her...
But in the end, she still gave her silver to His Majesty, as they had agreed.
The next morning, a knocking sound came from outside a courtyard in the southern part of the Capital.
Wu Sheng hurried to open the door, saw Rash Ge’s distressed expression, and immediately looked inside.
Lian Bao, who was about to step out, looked over, saw no one behind Rash Ge, and immediately walked over, taking Rash Ge out to another house before asking what had happened.
"Wang San is injured, Uncle Ma captured?" Lian Bao exclaimed in shock, instantly losing his composure and grabbing Rash Ge by the collar, demanding, "Quick, tell me everything that happened!"
Rash Ge wiped away a tear, "Young Master, after we all evacuated last night, Uncle Ma and Sanzi stayed back. By midnight, they hadn’t returned, and the more we waited, the more anxious we got. We wanted to go out and search but remembered your words and didn’t dare make a move. Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore and went out quietly to look for them. Halfway there, I ran into Sanzi, covered in wounds. He said Uncle Ma had been captured and told us to find you before he fainted, now he has developed a high fever."
At that time, Sanzi was entirely delirious, desperately running back with every breath he had, his body covered in scrapes, and his forehead had a large, bloody wound.
Thinking of Sanzi and Uncle Ma made him feel awful.
Lian Bao became anxious, "Are you still at that place?"
Rash Ge nodded, "Skinny Monkey has gone to the pharmacy to get medicine, and he told me to come and inform you. The others didn’t dare to move and are still watching over Sanzi."
Lian Bao was about to head out when he suddenly stopped, "Not good!"
Guo Neng must definitely know that Wang San is injured. At this time, if someone just waited at the pharmacies closest to several city gates, whoever goes to get medicine for external injuries early would be from the same group!
Skinny Monkey is in danger!
No, everyone is in danger.
Guo Neng would follow Skinny Monkey and find all of them!
He hurriedly asked Rash Ge which direction Skinny Monkey had gone, and after getting the information, he told Rash Ge to stay put while he immediately went to find Qian Chen.
The medicine had to be obtained, Wang San needed treatment, and Uncle Ma had to be rescued, but they couldn’t rush; they had to remain calm!
Nearly two hundred li from the Capital was a posthouse.
This posthouse was called Ma Xiapo Posthouse, built beside the imperial highway. Past this point, it descended into a slope, and anyone leaving the posthouse with a horse would have to lead the horse slowly down the slope, or ride slowly downward. They couldn’t go fast because a horse’s hind legs are more powerful than its front legs, and going downhill too fast could easily lead to a horse tripping on the front hooves, throwing the rider off. Hence, the posthouse was named after this feature.
Ma Xiapo Posthouse was a must-pass route from the south back to the Capital, usually bustling with travelers.
But today, this bustling posthouse was mostly reduced to ashes, especially the guest rooms where the Shadow Guards were staying with their captives, turned into charred ruins, with even the blue brick walls collapsed, a total mess.
The Posthouse Head and Posthouse Servants, along with the young and strong merchants, fatigued beyond measure after a night of fighting the fire, covered in soot and dirt, were either sitting or lying in an open area, not wanting to move even a finger, some even had fallen into deep sleep.
The rest of the elderly, weak, women, and children were also in a miserable state, gathering their damaged belongings, displaying a sense of relief from having escaped death.
This fire, thankfully warned of early, didn’t burn anyone to death but injured a few, mostly superficial wounds. However, the fire had started so suddenly and fiercely that many had time only to escape but not to save their belongings.