After Jiang Yan accepted the wine bowl, he said softly: “This wine I shouldn’t refuse to drink, but Yu Chi has been unwell recently, truly…”

“It’s fine. I’ll have someone change it to tea.”

Song Fu took back the wine bowl to his own side without showing the slightest displeasure. Seeing this, Xiao Jiye raised his bowl in a toast, smoothly glossing over the matter.

All three were tactful people skilled at handling all situations, so their conversation proceeded with host and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves. Moreover, Xiao Jiye had schemes in mind and developed thoughts of befriending Song Fu. With Jiang Yan mediating between them, in less than half an hour, the three were addressing each other as brothers, becoming quite familiar.

After three rounds of wine, the area before Dongzhi Gate became lively. Only then did Song Fu smile and take his leave of the two.

The auspicious time for lighting the lanterns was approaching. He still needed to pay respects to his aunt and the Third Prince.

Xiao and Jiang both agreed readily. The three arranged to drink together next time, and only then did Song Fu leave the private room.

On the bright yellow prayer platform erected for Mid-Autumn, quite a few palace nobles had already taken their seats in succession. Emperor Wenhui was absent. The First Prince held the advantage of being eldest, so he sat in the primary position. The Third Prince was next, and the Fifth Prince stood beside the Third Prince.

The Empress and several consorts sat to the west of Dengtian Tower.

When Yun Fei and Jiang Fei took their seats, the two exchanged smiles.

The Mid-Autumn banquet blessing ceremony was extremely tedious. Everyone sat dryly on the platform for nearly a full hour before hearing the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices finish chanting the prayer and invite the Third Prince to ascend Dengtian Tower to light the lanterns.

Though the Third Prince was young, he already exhibited the imperial bearing of a sovereign. His every gesture and movement carried considerable authority.

After Song Fu paid respects to Yun Fei and the Third Prince, he waited not far from the imperial altar for the lantern-lighting ceremony. Now seeing Shen Qianbai walking toward Dengtian Tower with over ten guards, he couldn’t help but smile with vicarious pride.

As the Third Prince arrived beneath Dengtian Tower, Song Yuning looked toward an inconspicuous eunuch in the distance. She saw that eunuch nod slightly, then quietly withdraw to do who knows what.

“Yun Fei has such good fortune to give birth to a child as spiritually gifted as the Third Prince.”

Watching Shen Qianbai enter Dengtian Tower, Jiang Man suddenly spoke.

She knew the First Prince would make his move today. Though she hadn’t discovered the specific plan, it didn’t prevent her heart from leaping with joy.

As long as Shen Qianbai died, the process didn’t matter.

Hearing this, Song Yuning smiled: “It doesn’t compare to Jiang Fei’s good fortune. Though the Fifth Prince is somewhat dull, at least he’s worry-free.”

“Heh, Yun Fei’s mouth has never shown mercy. We’ll just have to see if you can remain so tough.”

The two exchanged a few barbs before quickly focusing their attention on Dengtian Tower.

A figure slowly appeared atop Dengtian Tower. Third Prince Shen Qianbai raised the torch in his hand and slowly lit the enormous dragon and phoenix lantern.

As the lantern blazed to life, it instantly illuminated half the sky.

Xiao Jiye and Jiang Yan also stood not far from Song Fu, though both appeared rather uninterested.

“Perhaps I drank too much wine earlier. I’ll be right back.”

Jiang Yan nodded, withdrawing his gaze from Dengtian Tower.

For some reason, at this moment his mind was full of thoughts about that package of crispy candy in Song Fu’s private room.

On such an occasion today, for Song Fu to specifically bring it along, that person must be extremely fond of it.

For a moment he felt remorseful that he had never known this in the past.

Jiang Yan raised his head and looked around, seeing indeed there was a crispy candy shop not far away.

Without a second thought, he walked over. But just as he had gone a short distance, he was suddenly stopped by Jiang Xingjian.

“Where are you going?”

Jiang Yan said: “To the front to look at the flower lanterns.”

Jiang Xingjian was about to tell him to return to the Marquis Residence when he heard a whistling sound come from the distance.

“There’s an assassin. I’m going to find the Fifth Prince.”

Leaving this sentence behind, Jiang Xingjian rushed toward the imperial prayer platform.

Before Jiang Yan could react, he saw a sharp arrow flying straight toward the First Prince on the altar. The First Prince panicked and hurriedly pulled a female official beside him to block the arrow.

“What’s happening? Where did the archer come from? Didn’t we say to have the archer withdraw?”

That female official on the altar wore a fresh green gauze skirt with a brightly colored moon blue cloak draped over her body.

Song Yan couldn’t figure out the situation either. Before he could respond, he was trapped firmly in the crowd by the common people.

“Ah!”

Some timid consort cried out in alarm. Jiang Xingjian broke free from the crowd to look, only to see the sharp arrow pierce through the female official’s head and lodge in the First Prince’s eye socket.

Shen Qianchi rolled on the ground in agony. His hysterical, anguished howls continuously reached the crowd. Someone suddenly shouted that Nanqing was attacking, frightening the commoners who scattered in all directions, crowding together in a mass.

Those who couldn’t dodge in time were trampled underfoot and breathed no more.

Before Dongzhi Gate, a sea of humanity instantly surged. Countless commoners pressed shoulder to shoulder, leg against leg. The palace guards were all blocked in place—no one could move an inch.

Using the cover of night, Xiao Jiye threw his Sunset Bow from the rooftop into the crowd, then concealed himself in the darkness.

With the First Prince struck by an arrow, Jiang Man and Song Yuning on the prayer platform suppressed their shock and each rushed toward their sons, the Third and Fifth Princes. The Fifth Prince, under the protection of a eunuch, was dragging his small body while crying and calling for his imperial mother.

Jiang Man’s heart filled with worry, and she couldn’t help but quicken her pace. Just as she was about to embrace Shen Qianshu, a lowly eunuch suddenly burst from a corner.

That eunuch ran straight toward the Fifth Prince, grabbed him, and jumped off the prayer platform.

“Shu’er!”

Jiang Man’s eyes nearly split with rage. Instinctively she reached out trying to catch the Fifth Prince.

Though falling from the prayer platform wouldn’t be fatal, commoners on the street were continuously surging toward this place, looking extremely dangerous. Jiang Man only saw the eunuch clutch his chest, scramble up from the ground, and quickly slip away, while Shen Qianshu lay on the ground motionless.

The commoners surged closer and closer. The barriers used to separate the crowd were successively pushed down. The Imperial Guards on the outermost perimeter were tightly grasped by the commoners, who feared that if they fell they would be trampled into meat paste.

Seeing no one could save Shen Qianshu, Jiang Man bent her knees, preparing to jump off the altar.

“Your Highness! Your Highness, you cannot go!”

Eunuch Chang grabbed Jiang Man and jumped down himself with a thud.

Jiang Man only saw her child lying on the ground motionless, while behind, countless commoners wanted to climb onto the prayer platform seeking survival. They crowded and pushed forward. She even saw someone heavily step on Shen Qianshu’s leg.

“Imperial Mother…”

The wail of a young child rang out. Jiang Man bit her lip hard. Just as she was preparing to jump down to save him again, she saw Jiang Xingjian break free from the crowd and firmly shelter Shen Qianshu beneath him.

He curled himself into a ball, tucked Shen Qianshu into his embrace, and pressed tightly against the foot of the prayer altar.

Shen Qianshu was firmly wedged between the prayer platform and Jiang Xingjian. His broken leg made him cry incessantly.

Jiang Xingjian gritted his teeth. He only felt people continuously stepping on him to climb onto the platform. Jiang Man was desperately dragged by eunuchs toward the palace direction. In the blink of an eye, she could no longer see the two’s situation.

In the distance, Jiang Yan was also pushed into the flow of people, unable to move. In his panic, a hand reached out from the crowd and grasped him firmly.

“Follow me.”

At this moment, only by climbing to high ground could one escape danger. Xiao Jiye’s expression was stern as he dragged Jiang Yan toward Dengtian Tower.

Jiang Yan had a refined and delicate physique, no match for Xiao Jiye’s tall, imposing, and robust form. In this situation, he had no power to resist. On the other hand, Xiao Jiye charged through recklessly, forging a path for them both.

With great difficulty reaching near Dengtian Tower, Xiao Jiye said: “Find a place ahead and climb up…”

Before his words fell, the two heard a thunderous explosion burst from atop Dengtian Tower.

“Third Prince!”

Jiang Yan cried out in alarm. Xiao Jiye looked up to see a small child’s figure atop Dengtian Tower falling straight down.