The sudden death of an elderly person or a sudden death was a common occurrence. Initially, the patrol guards didn't pay much attention. They planned to collect the old woman's body and then notify her family. However, before they could even transport the body, something happened on Changling Street.
It was also a sudden death.
The second sudden death incident caused the patrol guards to become extremely tense. If it was a coincidence, so be it. But if it wasn't, then the Lantern Festival tonight was likely to be eventful!
The noise from downstairs drifted up to the second floor of the Dongbo Tower. Nan Shiying leaned against the half-open window, looking down. Shisan returned from gathering information and reported, "Your Highness, Madam, a civilian has suddenly died."
"Coincidence?"
Nan Shiying asked.
As Shisan was about to speak, a scream suddenly came from downstairs, and another person suddenly collapsed and died.
"That's the third one!"
Shisan's voice grew cold.
It couldn't all be a coincidence, could it?
"Go and investigate again!"
"Yes!"
While Shisan was investigating, another person collapsed and died. Panic began to spread. In the crowded street, if anyone started running, there was a high possibility of a stampede.
"Xuanyi, have the patrol guards quickly clear the people and prevent the panic from spreading. Also, go and inform the Jingzhao Yin's office and the Ministry of War to send reinforcements."
"We absolutely cannot allow a stampede to happen. If anyone is deliberately spreading panic and inciting people to run, then they will be killed without mercy!"
"Yes!"
Xuanyi didn't dare to delay and turned to leave.
With the chaos downstairs, the upstairs was relatively safer. Nan Shiying and Ji Jinmo had brought the four maids, including Lüyuan, with them to see the lanterns. As for Xiaoman, she had gone to play with Gouzi and Yatdan after dinner.
They had agreed to visit the lantern festival together.
"Lüyuan, take a few people to find Xiaoman. If something happens downstairs, you must ensure Xiaoman, Gouzi, and the others are safe."
"Yes!"
Although Lüyuan wanted to stay by her mistress's side, she immediately accepted the order.
Xiaoman could protect herself, but she couldn't protect Gouzi and Yatdan at the same time. These three children must not be harmed.
Nan Shiying issued a series of commands. Ji Jinmo had not spoken a word throughout. He simply placed a cup of tea into her hand. Nan Shiying turned to look at Ji Jinmo, who had appeared beside her at some point, and leaned slightly against him. She asked him, "Why aren't you speaking?"
"You're here!"
Nan Shiying glared at him. "You're really good at being lazy!"
With that, she looked down at the bustling street below. The lit lanterns couldn't dispel the gloom in her heart.
...
"What's happening over there?"
Gouzi strained on his tiptoes, craning his neck.
He nudged Xiaoman, urging her to quickly release the peace lantern so they could go and see. The patrol guards and Ministry of War personnel had arrived. Could it be that a murder had occurred?
Xiaoman ignored him. She gently pushed the peace lantern forward. The lotus-shaped peace lantern swayed with the ripples. Before it could stabilize, it was almost overturned by a cold gust of wind. Xiaoman tensed her fists. It was only when the peace lantern had completely stabilized that she let out a sigh of relief.
She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and sincerely prayed: May my lady be safe and healthy, happy and joyous, year after year!
Yatdan had already stood up. She took a step back, standing level with Gouzi. The only difference was that Gouzi was looking into the distance, while Yatdan was watching Xiaoman.
"Why are you taking so long!"
Gouzi saw that Yatdan had finished and thought they had finished releasing the lanterns and making their wishes. But when he turned around, Xiaoman was still crouching. Praying wasn't the same as offering sacrifices. You just need to wish for peace. Do you want to list everything for the gods and Buddhas?
Aren't you afraid they'll strike you with lightning?
Xiaoman stood up and walked expressionlessly to Gouzi's side. Although she had grown quite a bit, she was still half a head shorter than Gouzi. However, in terms of presence, Xiaoman had won the battle!
She raised her hand as if to slap him. Gouzi quickly covered his face, but the back of his knee suddenly hurt. As Xiaoman raised her hand, she also lifted her foot. Gouzi had guarded his upper body and neglected his lower body. Xiaoman kicked him to his knees with a thud, and he knelt before her.
"Good son, no need for such a grand gesture!"
Before Gouzi could react, Xiaoman ruffled his hair. Then, she grabbed Yatdan's hand and ran towards the bridge.
"You scoundrel, I'll fight you to the death!!"
Li Hao's brows furrowed, his nerves taut. The sounds of bickering from not far away made his expression darken. The hurried footsteps accompanied by the playful scolding and laughter of the young boys and girls reached his ears, clashing with the gloomy and heavy atmosphere here. And they were only ten meters apart.
"Stop!"
The patrol guards stopped the young boys and girls who were trying to get closer.
"Brother, what happened?"
Gouzi peered through the human wall formed by the patrol and Ministry of War personnel. He vaguely saw someone lying on the ground. The patrol guard's eyes widened. Was he fearless like a newborn calf or just slow-witted? With the patrol guards and Ministry of War personnel in armor standing here, which civilian wouldn't retreat? Yet, he not only wasn't afraid but was also asking questions!
"Who's your brother?"
"What are you kids doing mixing in here? Go home quickly!"
The patrol guard's attitude was rude, his tone fierce, and with the long saber in his hand, he practically had the words "fierce and terrifying" written on his face. But who was Gouzi? He was a warrior who could kneel but not fall even under Nan Shiying's torment. Could such a display of power still scare him?
"Is it a dead person? A vendetta?"
Seeing that the guy wasn't afraid at all, the patrol guard twitched the saber in his hand. Gouzi took half a step back, raising his hands to show he was a model citizen.
If you dare to make a move, you'll be oppressing the people!
Guard: "..."
Damn it!
Li Hao shifted his gaze from the corpse on the ground. He waved his hand, and the patrol guards immediately stepped forward to lift the body onto a stretcher and cover it with a white cloth. The guard blocked Gouzi, clearing a path. The stretcher carrying the corpse floated past Gouzi and the others. A faint, almost imperceptible scent drifted into Xiaoman's nostrils. This scent... why was it so familiar?
Li Hao stopped beside Gouzi and the others and said expressionlessly, "Go home, or pay a visit to the Jingzhao Yamen!"
Gouzi shivered and quickly said, "Home, home!"
Li Hao led his team away. The originally lively Lantern Festival cooled down.
Fortunately, the patrol guards, the Ministry of War, and the Jingzhao Yamen's office had managed to control the situation in time today. Otherwise, another disaster would have occurred.
Gouzi complained all the way. "What is this? It was supposed to be a good Lantern Festival, and I just spent time releasing lanterns with you all. I wanted to participate in the lantern riddle contest this year. I heard the grand prize was a pair of mandarin duck bracelets."
Yatdan blinked and asked him, "Setting aside whether you could win the top prize, what do you want mandarin duck bracelets for?"
Gouzi's cursing suddenly stopped. His expression became somewhat contorted, and his face turned red. Yatdan blinked, glancing at him teasingly, then turned to look at Xiaoman, who had been looking down and remaining silent since earlier.
Seeing her strange look, Gouzi reprimanded, "What are you looking at me like that for?"
Yatdan turned to pull Xiaoman's hand. Xiaoman's arm subtly shifted backward. Yatdan blinked in surprise. Before she could figure out what Xiaoman was dodging, Xiaoman suddenly raised her hands, grabbed Yatdan's and Gouzi's wrists, and yanked them hard.
Yatdan and Gouzi stumbled forward. With two "clang" sounds, two sharp arrows grazed the temples of Gouzi and Yatdan and shot into the ground where they had just been standing.
"Swish swish~"
Several dark figures appeared on the rooftops. Each figure held a long bow in their hand. They nocked arrows, drew their bows, and shot them out simultaneously, forming a dense volley that resembled an arrow rain from the sky.