Whoosh, whoosh-
Bang!
Thousands of brilliant fireworks rose from all over Jiangzhou City, their smoke veiling the sky in a hazy mist.
With everyone home for New Year's Eve dinner, the streets that had been shoulder-to-shoulder that afternoon now felt like ten thousand deserted lanes.
Ye Jingtang followed the brightly lit street toward the Yuanqing Escort Agency without speaking. The scene earlier had been rather too powerful an impact and kept lingering in his mind; anything he said seemed wrong.
The Empress walked beside him in a long scarlet dress, admiring the fireworks throughout the city with her usual expression, as though nothing had happened. Every few steps, however, she would glance at Ye Jingtang, though there was no telling what she was looking at.
The two remained silent like this. When they neared the Chen Family's residence, Ye Jingtang saw fireworks being set off in the front courtyard and led Yu Hu to the Escort Agency's entrance out front. He was about to invite her to set off a couple for fun when, before the words left his mouth, he sensed something amiss.
The Escort Agency's courtyard was spacious, with few carts parked there over the New Year. Lanterns hung all around, and two large wooden crates stood in the middle, filled with colorful large firecrackers.
Dressed like a young lady from a scholarly family, Zhe Yunli held incense in one hand and covered an ear with the other as she cautiously approached a firecracker. Ping'er and Niao Niao hid in a corner, quietly peeking out.
Under the entrance porch stood a tall figure in white robes, hands clasped behind her back as she watched Yunli. Her ink-black hair was secured with a jade hairpin, making her look like an elegant young gentleman, except her waist and limbs were