Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 297 Saltpeter

She felt she simply couldn't do it!

This is no small matter; if it's not handled properly, the number of dead or injured could very well exceed just Song Yi.

What if His Majesty's health were to also suffer some mishap?
Consort Ning never expected that her usually steady and cautious father would come up with such a radical idea.

Is this gambling with her life, and the lives of her entire family?!

Is the glory of the Empress really that important, more important than her own daughter?
Zhu Qing was startled by Consort Ning's reaction and immediately knelt down in front of her, tightly grasping her trembling hand.

“Your Highness, no matter what, you are the master and madam’s biological daughter. Since the master dared to ask you to do this, it means he must have thought of a way to get out unscathed.”

Moreover, by then, if those craftsmen are bribed and hundreds of people are involved in building the pavilion, even if problems arise, it will be impossible to investigate.

The worst outcome would have been the execution of all one hundred artisans. Who would have thought that Consort Ning was involved in this?

Consort Ning stared blankly at Zhu Qing: "Zhu Qing, I am really scared. I originally only wanted her to miscarry, but I didn't want her to die. And His Majesty, what if His Majesty is also injured?"

She choked for a moment and couldn't continue.

Zhu Qing gripped her hand even tighter: "Your Highness, I'm here too. I'm with you. As long as we do this discreetly enough, no one will find out about us! Just think, if the Imperial Concubine really ascends to the Empress's position this time, my husband and wife will never be able to hold their heads up high again!"

Consort Ning forcefully broke free from her grasp and went to the side to calm herself for a while. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she murmured softly:

"I understand. Being in the inner palace, I have no say in anything. I must write back to my father."

If those fire saltpeter stones were to be effective enough to destroy the entire foundation of the attic, at least two large crates would need to be brought in.

Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for such a large quantity of saltpeter to be carried safely into the palace without being noticed.

However, once the attic was ready to be built, a large amount of building materials such as ore and wooden beams would be transported from the north side gate every day, and it was not difficult to mix fire saltpeter into them.

As long as she could discuss it with the craftsman in advance, her father, being far away outside the palace, would be unable to monitor the craftsman or contact him in a timely manner.

That's why he needed Consort Ning to act as a mediator in this matter.

Consort Ning pondered for a long time before picking up her pen to write a letter.

The weather has been overcast and rainy for the past few days, but thankfully it's just a light drizzle, which has made it much cooler.

Outside the Qingliang Hall, Song Yi held an oil-paper umbrella, squinting as he listened to the soft patter of raindrops falling on its surface.

Before she could even savor this moment of peace, someone was already calling her from behind:
"Your Highness, please come back quickly, or His Majesty will come looking for you."

Song Yi turned around and looked back.

In the misty drizzle, Jiang Lanye, dressed in a black dragon robe, stood outside the palace, his tall figure standing under the eaves, his eyes fixed on her.

“Come back.” His voice cut through the rain, deep and clear.

Song Yi pursed her lips, lifted her skirt with one hand and walked over, placing the umbrella on the ground.

His tone was unfriendly as he grabbed Song Yi's chin and said, "I was just reading a memorial, and you went outside to get soaked in the rain?"

"I used an umbrella, and I'm not wet at all. You can see for yourself."

She pulled Jiang Lanye's hand away, twirled gracefully in front of him, and the emerald green hem of her skirt swayed in Jiang Lanye's eyes.

Jiang Lanye helped her up with a hint of helplessness: "You're pregnant now. Sometimes when I see you like this, I get worried that you might fall."

Song Yi looked at him seriously and said, "You don't understand. When the baby is born and can run, the little one will definitely be more mischievous than me. I can spin around once now, and the little one can spin around twice."

Jiang Lanye: "."

He imagined what it would be like in the future and felt a headache coming on.

"Okay, let's go back."

"I do not."

Jiang Lanye paused, "What else do you want to do?"

“You don’t understand me. Don’t you sometimes find the sound of rain beautiful? Especially the sound of it falling on an oil-paper umbrella. After listening to it, I feel my whole heart calm down.” “No.”

In fact, before meeting Song Yi, he had no idea that there was so much beauty in the world.

For example, wildflowers that stubbornly bloom in the cracks of bricks and stones in spring, and willow branches that touch the lake surface in summer because they grow too fast.

For example, in autumn, every maple leaf that falls to the ground is different.

And then there's the snow in winter, which brings cold and despair, but it's also beautiful enough.

Song Yi knew he would answer like that, so she picked up the umbrella and said, "Go and relax. You're tired enough every day, you should go out for some fresh air. The air smells so good when it rains."

Jiang Lanye hesitated for a moment.

He always thought it was stupid to deliberately go out on a rainy day, because even with an umbrella, the wind would still blow the raindrops onto you.

But seeing that Song Yi clearly hadn't had enough fun, he reached out and took the umbrella, saying calmly, "Alright, I'll hold the umbrella for you. We'll walk around the lake and come back."

Song Yi couldn't help but raise her hand and cheer.

Standing to the side, Eunuch Cao watched the two of them inexplicably go out with their umbrellas, scratching his head in confusion.

He turned his head and found Xichun smiling at the two of them.

"Xichun, the sound of rain is beautiful?"

"You'll know once you listen to it."

Eunuch Cao listened intently for a long time, but still couldn't understand the Imperial Concubine's thoughts.

The drizzle was fine and silky, and countless tiny ripples spread across the lake.

Each drop of rain that falls unfolds into a tiny circle, layer upon layer, merging together.

Song Yi was quite pleased and pointed to the small lake in front of her: "Jiang Lanye, look, didn't some fish jump out just now?"

Jiang Lanye had been looking at Song Yi, but after being hit by her, he finally looked away.

Indeed, carp leaped out.

His response was lukewarm: "Hmm."

"Isn't it beautiful? Isn't it amazing?"

".fine."

He didn't know why, but seeing fish jump out of the water made him happy.

But as long as Song Yi is happy, he will be happy.

Song Yi's skirt was blown up by the wind. Jiang Lanye frowned and reached out to press it down firmly: "Be careful not to catch a cold."

"But I can't walk if you hold my legs like this."

"Will I carry you on my back?"

Before Song Yi could agree, Jiang Lanye handed her the umbrella, then stood in front of her, bending down slightly. His dragon robe touched the puddle-filled ground, instantly getting stained with mud.

Song Yi carefully climbed up, holding the umbrella, then wrapped her arms around his neck, holding the umbrella carefully.

"Jiang Lanye, can you hear the sound of raindrops falling on the umbrella now?"

He walked steadily and gave a soft "hmm".

"Does it sound good?"

He thought about it carefully, "It sounds nice when you speak in my ear."

Song Yi couldn't help but chuckle: "Oh, by the way, it's been raining these past two days. Is the attic going to start construction?"

　I had something to do today, so I'll only be posting one chapter. Regular updates will resume tomorrow. Love you all, mwah~~
　　(End of this chapter)