C13 Do Not Act Rashly!

During the unrest, Xiao Yuhan led troops to suppress it, clearly aware of the situation there. "Go tell them not to act rashly. If there's any more trouble, don't blame me for being ruthless!" After pondering for a moment, Xiao Hongfei suddenly spoke. The situation was already set in stone, and trying to reverse it was impossible. The urgent task was to resolve it without making it too embarrassing.

"Yes." With the order received, the man in black withdrew, leaving Xiao Hongfei alone in the large tent. Clad in armor, his expression was deep and unreadable, lost in thought.

"Where is that ugly girl now?" Leaving the matriarch's residence, Lo Qiushui walked gloomily toward the garden. It was the peak of chrysanthemum season, but she had no interest in admiring the flowers. Frustrated from her encounter with the matriarch, she needed an outlet for her anger. Her mind quickly settled on Lo Qiuli, who had just been brought into the household by her father, as the perfect scapegoat.

"She should be in the Orchid Fragrance Garden, Miss. Shall we go there now?" asked Chunhua, Lo Qiushui's maid, her body trembling slightly. She knew someone was about to have a bad day, but it was better than having the young lady's wrath directed at them.

"It's been a while. Let's go join the fun!" Lo Qiushui crushed a chrysanthemum in her hand, squeezing it until the juice ran out. She wiped her hands clean with a handkerchief, and with a determined stride, led her entourage toward the Orchid Fragrance Garden.

Lo Qiuli sat idly in the teahouse, sipping tea. She had come to hear if there was any news worth noting. The patrons buzzed with gossip, the most frequent topics being the riots during the Lantern Festival and the landslide that exposed a vein of ore. The ore was of little interest, but the unresolved Lantern Festival incident, despite the time that had passed, still lingered.

"Hey there, mind if I ask what happened with the riot at the Lantern Festival?" Lo Qiuli stopped the waiter who was pouring tea, slipping a few coins into his hand with a warm smile.

"You're not from around here, are you? They say the people at the festival came from a place called Qingzhou. Apparently, the local governor took their land, and they weren't having it. They tried to come to the capital to appeal for justice but got ambushed along the way. The ones who made it here are demanding fairness, which led to the riot. It's a sad situation. If they could live peacefully, who would want to travel all the way to the capital?" The waiter sighed, clearly feeling the injustice faced by the people.

"Is that so? Isn't the governor of Qingzhou worried about a thorough investigation from above?" Lo Qiuli was surprised. In a previous life, this issue seemed to have been resolved smoothly, but he hadn't expected such complications.

"The governor has connections. Who would dare oppose him? It's always been the same; officials protect each other, and the common people suffer in silence. Without power or influence, what can they do against the authorities? Those folks wouldn't have taken such drastic measures if they weren't desperate." The waiter shook his head, glancing around to ensure no one was listening, and then voiced his complaints.

"Hey, don't go gossiping in front of the customers!" The manager happened to walk by, overhearing the waiter's words. He quickly approached, giving the waiter a warning look and a light smack on the head before sending him away.

"Sir, please excuse him. He's just a kid from the countryside and doesn't know much about the world yet." The manager looked at Lo Qiuli, who was dressed simply but carried himself with an air of distinction, feeling a bit uneasy. Could this person be someone important?

"The manager was too polite. Since we're here at the teahouse, there's a lot to hear, but don't worry, I won't take it to heart!" Lo Qiuli smiled nonchalantly, though she mentally noted the matter. If she remembered correctly, the governor of Qingzhou was one of Xiao Hongfei's people. The deputy governor controlled the salt merchants' lifeline. If she could seize this opportunity to remove him and install her own person, the benefits could be endless in the future.

"Look quickly, it's Princess Pingle! They say the princess is as beautiful as a fairy. If I could see her just once, I’d have no regrets in life!" Suddenly, a commotion erupted by the window on the second floor. Lo Qiuli looked down to see a grand procession passing below, heading towards the palace.

Suddenly, Lo Qiuli caught a strange scent, and chaos broke out in the crowd. Someone was jostled into the middle of the procession, causing those carrying Princess Pingle's sedan chair to lose their balance. Just as it seemed the sedan would topple, a few guards rushed forward and steadied it.

"What happened?" Princess Pingle's voice had barely fallen when the sound of arrows whistling through the air filled the atmosphere. Lo Qiuli's eyes flickered as she observed the street's chaotic scene, hesitating whether to step in and help. But as she hesitated, she noticed a flaming arrow pierce the sedan chair, setting it ablaze instantly.

Princess Pingle emerged, looking at the burning sedan in shock. Lo Qiuli watched the increasingly chaotic street, sensing something amiss but unable to pinpoint what. Seeing the arrows flying wildly, threatening the princess's life, Lo Qiuli couldn't sit still any longer. She leaped down from the second floor, using her fan to deflect the incoming arrows, then took a sword from a nearby guard and joined the fray.

Lo Qiuli moved with precision and speed, swiftly taking down several of the men in black. She stayed close to Princess Pingle, ensuring her safety by eliminating the immediate threats. After a brief pause, Qiuli realized something was amiss. The chaos in the streets during broad daylight was unusual, yet there was no sign of the city guards. What was going on?

"Hasn't anyone reported this to the authorities?" Qiuli asked, her tone serious, after dispatching another assailant. She turned to the person guarding Princess Pingle, concern etched on her face. If this involved people from the palace, it could be a complicated matter.

"We've sent someone, but for some reason, there's been no response," the guard replied, equally anxious. The number of attackers was overwhelming, and being in such a bustling area made it difficult to mount a large-scale counterattack. Yet, simply enduring the assault wasn't a viable solution either.