“BANG!”
Following the explosion, thick smoke billowed from the house behind them.
Two people came running out together.
“Hahaha… It lit up! It really lit up!”
It blew up in the end, but it really did light up.
Xiao Lv stopped in his tracks. Staring at the two figures covered head to toe in black soot, their features completely indistinguishable, he really didn’t want to admit that one was his father and the other was the reigning Emperor.
Prince Jing was ecstatic. “It’s electricity! The electric light you talked about! I did it!”
Xiao Yang wiped her face, staring at her pitch-black hand. “That’s no excuse for blowing up the charcoal pack next to it.”
Lost in the joy of a successful experiment, Prince Jing was completely oblivious to the Emperor’s exasperation.
Then again, his face was so blackened with soot that no expression could be seen anyway.
Xiao Yang felt no joy whatsoever. ‘Running experiments really isn’t for me,’ she thought.
‘Who would have thought the first step into technology would be generating electricity? Why on earth did I have to research power generation?!’
“Ahem.”
Xiao Lv suppressed a laugh and stepped forward. “I have already arranged for hot water. Your Majesty should bathe first.”
This soot-covered face was far too detrimental to Your Majesty’s dignity.
Xiao Yang didn’t even want to speak. She turned and went to bathe, having to wash three times before all the charcoal ash was finally gone.
Only after Xiao Yang had cleaned up and re-emerged did Xiao Lv report the latest news.
Thanks to the efforts of the Bian Bureau, the current situation had exceeded all expectations.
The Bian Bureau, with its impartiality, strictness, and decisive methods, had become a sharp sword hanging over the heads of all officials.
However, there was no need to worry that this pressure would cause a backlash, as the Bian Bureau was mobile. They would stay in one place for a month at most, and once their work was done, they would move on to the next location.
This provided enough breathing room, a good balance of pressure and release, keeping things just within the officials’ tolerance threshold.
Now, the letters sent back by the Bian Bureau contained not only case details but also reports on disasters and the hardships of the common people in various regions.
Xiao Yang instructed, “Provide disaster relief where it’s needed. Arrange the manpower and ensure the funds and grain actually reach the people. The seeds from the Research Institute have been harvested this year and can be distributed for planting next spring.”
Now, Da Wei was strong, and no one dared to provoke it. The Emperor severely punished corrupt officials and upheld justice for the people. It could be said that this was the best era they had ever known.
From now on, if they wanted a prosperous life, they would have to create it with their own two hands.
Once the grain was planted next year, as long as there were no major natural disasters, it was likely that most people would not starve.
After the wedding edict was issued, Xiao Yang enjoyed a rare period of leisure. Apart from official duties, the men didn’t cling to her much.
It wasn’t that they had grown tired of her. Xiao Yang had assigned each of them a palace in the Imperial Palace, and now they were all busy decorating their own territories.
Each one was personally supervising the work, acting all mysterious and forbidding Xiao Yang from taking a look.
The Emperor had quite a temper. ‘If they won’t let me look, then I won’t look.’ With that, she turned and left the Imperial Palace with her people.
Xiao Qing, driving the carriage: ‘Who am I? Where am I?’
‘How did I end up leaving the Imperial Palace with Your Majesty?’
‘And with such a small entourage… I’m the only one here for her personal protection.’
‘Me? Protect Your Majesty?’
Even Xiao Qing didn’t believe in himself.
His heart was filled with anxiety, but he didn’t dare to disobey, so he could only drive the carriage, trembling with fear and feeling utterly useless.
Fortunately, not far outside the Capital City, Xiao Lan arrived with men from the Bian Bureau to meet them.
Only then did Xiao Qing dare to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Where is Your Majesty going?”
Xiao Yang gave him a casual glance. “You guess.”
Xiao Qing: “…”
Xiao Yang’s trip was a long one. It took a full two days to reach their destination.
Linjiang City, a small to medium-sized city, was quite well-developed due to its proximity to the Capital City.
Xiao Lan produced a Bian Bureau Token, granting them unimpeded passage. Xiao Yang followed on horseback, looking left and right.
As soon as the men from the Bian Bureau appeared, the city guard officials immediately sounded the alarm. They had just reached the entrance of the government office when the governor came out to greet them.
“I was not aware of your arrival, my lord, please forgive my poor welcome. But didn’t you just leave two days ago? Why are you back for another inspection so soon? Was something amiss before?”
Xiao Lan’s expression was blank. “This has nothing to do with you today. Summon Assistant Governor Gu Sheng.”
Hearing this, the governor let out a huge sigh of relief. “I will send someone to fetch him at once.”
Xiao Lan waited at the entrance, and a short while later, Gu Sheng was summoned.
“Commander Xiao Lan, may I ask for what important matter I have been summoned?”
Xiao Lan said, “You’ll know once you come with us.”
Xiao Lan held a high rank and carried a gold medal, leaving Gu Sheng no room to refuse.
He racked his brain, wondering if he had done anything wrong recently, only to realize the road they were taking was becoming more and more familiar.
A small residence sat by the river, its main gate facing the water, with two weeping willows planted by the roadside.
Under the shade of the trees, a plainly dressed woman was teasing a small dog at her feet with a willow branch.
“Hahaha, good boy, Xiao Lin! Hahaha, Xiao Lin is a little fool!”
The woman’s voice was cheerful, yet it held a certain naivety that didn’t belong to someone her age.
As for the woman’s face, there were few in this world who could still recognize it.
The former Consort Xie Hui, later demoted to a commoner, Xie Wan.
When Gu Sheng saw the Little Emperor in this place, he knew it was over.
But there was nowhere to run. He could only force himself to remain calm and bow. “This humble servant greets Your Majesty.”
Xiao Yang reached up and snapped off a willow branch, her gaze fixed ahead. “What’s wrong with her?”
Gu Sheng replied, “She’s lost her mind. Her intellect is like that of a three-year-old child. The only thing she remembers is Xiao Lin—the dog at her feet.”
‘Xiao Lin, or Xiao Lin?’
Xiao Yang sighed softly. “I am very disappointed in you.”
Gu Sheng said, “I have been diligent and have never slacked off. I do not know where I have fallen short.”
Xiao Yang scoffed. “My disappointment is precisely in how diligently you have served me.”
Xiao Yang’s gaze fell upon him. His face was handsome, and looking closely, she felt a sense of familiarity in his eyes and brow—a familiarity that stemmed from blood ties.
Xiao Yang had sent people to watch Xie Wan, and she knew that Xiao Sheng had rescued her. When Xie Wan’s trail went cold later, Xiao Yang decided she wasn’t much of a threat and didn’t bother with her anymore.
She hadn’t expected the Bian Bureau to discover her here this time, nor that she was connected to Gu Sheng.
That year, Gu Sheng and Xiao Sheng had appeared in the Capital City together. Xiao Sheng was killed for his rebellion, and after making one appearance, Gu Sheng vanished, only to re-emerge for the imperial examinations.
They seemed to be two completely unrelated people. Who could have guessed they were connected?
“You know who she is, and you’re the one taking care of her.”
Gu Sheng lowered his eyes. “I just happen to know her, that is all.”
Xiao Yang let out a cold laugh. “Did you think I came all the way here to listen to you spin lies?”
Gu Sheng looked up at Xiao Yang. After a moment of silence, he conceded, “What does Your Majesty want to know?”
Xiao Yang asked directly, “Are you Xiao Sheng’s son?”
Gu Sheng nodded. “Yes.”
Xiao Yang: “What is your real name?”
Gu Sheng: “Xiao Gu.”
Xiao Yang looked at him sidelong. “You’re certainly honest. Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
Xiao Sheng had rebelled, attacking Jinluan Palace, and ultimately died at Xiao Yang’s hands. As his son, Gu Sheng’s crime was punishable by execution.
Gu Sheng said, “I have nothing to say.”
The Emperor had come to find him personally. Clearly, there was no room for excuses.
If Your Majesty truly wanted to kill him, he couldn’t escape.
All he could do now was await the judgment of fate.