Prince Rong’s Manor had no lanterns?

Zhang Bo, do you believe that if all the lanterns in Prince Rong’s Manor were burned to ashes, there would be enough ash to bury you?

Moreover—

They wouldn’t decompose for fifty years!

Jingrong looked around a few times, then spoke to him in a low voice, “This matter shouldn’t be publicized. This Prince only wants to look at that batch of lanterns.”

Zhang Bo also lowered his voice, “Alright, Your Highness, come this way.”

So he led Jingrong to the warehouse storing the lanterns, also sending all the people inside away.

Those boxed, folded lanterns transported from Fangshui City numbered roughly thirty to forty boxes. Some had already been opened, assembled, and hung to the side.

The smell of sulfur wasn’t detected, but the scent of paper paste was present.

After all, Ji Yunshu’s nose had always been exceptionally keen!

That she could smell sulfur from the stain on Shi Zijin’s body wasn’t strange at all!

Jingrong picked up a lantern and turned it in his hands, then brought it to his nose to smell. Smelling it forcefully at close range, he could indeed detect a faint sulfur odor.

“Bring a flint.” Jingrong said.

Zhang Bo quickly fetched one and gave it to him, then asked curiously, “Your Highness, is there a problem with these lanterns?”

“I don’t know. Let’s test it!”

After speaking, he lit the candle in that lantern, hung it to the side, then—

Waited!

The two men stared intently at it, watching for a long while.

During this time, Jingrong didn’t speak, and Zhang Bo could only stand silently beside him.

Until—

After half an hour, that intact lantern suddenly burst into flames, fell completely to the ground, and in the blink of an eye burned to nothing!

Like an exploding firework!

Jingrong wasn’t surprised. Instead, he gave an almost imperceptible nod.

But Zhang Bo was truly frightened. He had never seen a lantern catch fire on its own before!

While stunned, he asked Jingrong, “Your Highness, why did this lantern do that?”

“Because the lantern was coated with sulfur and carbon powder.”

“Sulfur and carbon powder?”

Zhang Bo couldn’t believe it. He quickly found a new lantern, opened it and turned it over, then smelled it. But no matter how he wrinkled his nose, he simply couldn’t detect even half a trace of sulfur or carbon powder.

Shaking his head, “Why can’t I smell it!”

Dear friend, go see a physician. Get yourself a new nose.

“Because the smell of sulfur and carbon powder was covered by the paper paste scent. Ordinary people have difficulty detecting it.”

Of course, this Prince is no ordinary person.

“Your Highness’s nose is truly remarkable!” Zhang Bo couldn’t help but praise.

However, Jingrong’s face was somber, his heart filled with complex emotions, and the hand in his sleeve involuntarily clenched tight.

He thought: Old man, you’re truly ruthless!

Zhang Bo also realized the severity of the situation. Looking at these lanterns, he had a headache too.

“Your Highness, why would someone coat these lanterns with sulfur and carbon powder?”

He shook his head!

Zhang Bo continued, “I’ll immediately send someone to notify the Hanlin Academy.”

Just as he was about to go, Jingrong stopped him.

He said seriously, “This matter cannot be made public. Father Emperor’s birthday is the day after tomorrow. Nothing can go wrong.”

“But…”

“You should understand the gravity of the situation. This Prince came personally to investigate today precisely because I don’t want others to know, so we can resolve this matter secretly.”

Jingrong made his meaning clear.

Seeing Zhang Bo appear somewhat hesitant, Jingrong adopted the bearing befitting a prince, with a somewhat threatening tone, “Lord Zhang, your Ceremonial Department is responsible for internal palace affairs this time. The Emperor’s birthday celebration is being held together with the Crown Princess selection. Not the slightest error can occur. If at this critical juncture, such a major incident occurred in the Ceremonial Department, you should know what the consequences would be. And as the person responsible, could you escape implication?”

Zhang Bo trembled!

Of course he couldn’t escape implication!

Moreover, Jingrong was right. If something went wrong, it would definitely implicate the entire Ceremonial Department. And he himself would not only lose his official position, but might also implicate his family members.

If the Emperor flew into a rage and ordered the execution of his entire clan, wouldn’t the sacrifice be enormous?

So he carefully inquired of Jingrong, “Then what does Your Highness mean?”

Without hesitation, without blinking, Jingrong replied, “Immediately replace all these lanterns.”

“Replace them?”

“Otherwise, do you have a second option?”

Of course not!

Zhang Bo replied, “Yes, but this batch of lanterns was transported from Fangshui City. Should we…”

Before he could finish saying “investigate,” Jingrong glanced at him, saying seriously, “Lord Zhang, leave this matter for this Prince to handle. You only need to send people to replace the lanterns. Don’t say another word, lest you alarm the Capital Magistrate’s Office and the Court of Judicial Review.”

Zhang Bo deliberated, then nodded gravely!

Very quickly, this batch of problematic lanterns was replaced.

That night, Jingrong went to the Li Manor.

When the servants saw it was him, they immediately went to announce him, but—

There was no response for a long time!

The young servant was trembling. His old master’s stubborn temperament wasn’t just a matter of one or two days. If he didn’t want to see someone, even if the Emperor came, he would have to wait.

But the person currently waiting was after all a prince. How could that young servant not be nervous?

However, Jingrong wasn’t anxious. He drank several cups of tea in the hall!

Until—

A coughing sound came through.

Old General Li’s bearing remained undiminished.

Jingrong also immediately stood up. The two men raised their hands and bowed to each other.

“I didn’t expect that after so many years of not seeing each other, the child from back then has now become a graceful and refined prince with heroic bearing.”

Eighteen years ago, Jingrong was only six years old.

Jingrong responded with a smile!

The two sat down. Old General Li poured a cup of tea but turned it in his hands without any intention of tasting it.

“Old General Li hasn’t entered the capital for over ten years. Why did you suddenly come to the capital at this time?” Jingrong asked with a lifted tone.

But it was met with the old man’s response: “To visit an old friend.”

“Old General Li is a minister of three reigns. At this age, missing old friends is understandable. However, according to what this Prince knows, those who could be called Old General Li’s old friends and are in the capital don’t seem to exist.”

He had such a thorough grasp of Old General Li’s connections.

But these words only earned a smile from Old General Li!

Then he squinted his eyes slightly, as if basking in moonlight, leisurely leaning back in his chair. If one wasn’t careful, he might fall asleep.

Fortunately, Jingrong had a good grasp of his temperament, so he wasn’t anxious.

He drank another cup of hot tea!

If they wanted to wear each other down, then so be it!

After who knows how long, Old General Li finally spoke, “Why doesn’t Your Highness speak frankly? Last time, that Master Ji, though as patient as you, didn’t speak in roundabout ways like that fellow Qin Shiyu. Your Highness shouldn’t learn from that fellow.”

Calling him “that fellow” repeatedly made Jingrong want to laugh.

And the person who dared call Qin Shiyu “that fellow” was probably only Old General Li.

Jingrong stood up, walked a few steps toward the outside of the hall, and with his back to Old General Li said, “For this day, Old General Li must have waited a very long time, haven’t you?”

His voice was resonant!

Old General Li didn’t respond, but a hint of a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth!