Chapter 76: Illegal Fireworks Factory

Chapter 76: Illegal Fireworks Factory

Hai Yans Notes:

After reading all your suggestions, I have come to the following conclusion: 1) reflection is always important; 2) the author is banging her head against a brick wall; 3) some readers comments are really just jokes; 4) if I dont update, there will be fewer votes*; 5) silly little piggies are really very silly..

*this entire novel was written as part of some competition where readers voted for their favourite stories or something like that, and so before and after every chapter, she is always pulling for votes lol

After the new year, the tension in the city seemed to be loosening slowly, at least on the surface. In the palace, Consort Yue was focusing on giving a weak and fragile appearance, while the Empress was putting all her energy into taking care of the Six Palaces, and so the two had not had any major disputes in some time. In the court, although the Crown Prince and Prince Yu still disagreed on many aspects, because there had been no new triggers or inciting factors, they seemed to be clashing less often, and they had not had an open fight since the Emperor resumed court, and everyone was finding the atmosphere almost a little too peaceful.

Sure enough, the tranquil and idle days couldnt last. On the twenty-first of the first month of the year, an enormous crash shook half of the capital.

Mei Changsu, who had been sitting by the window enjoying the warm winter sun, felt an almost imperceptible tremor, and about an hour later, he found out that the tremor had not been an illusion.

The gunpowder stored in the illegal fireworks factory exploded by accident? When he heard the news Li Gang immediately brought over, Mei Changsu closed his eyes and murmured to himself, Prince Yu is indeed even crueler than Ithat he could actually escalate the situation to such a degree.

They say it is because there has been no snow recently and the weather dry, and also because of the inauspicious position of Mars. The entire illegal fireworks factory was leveled to the ground, and by initial estimates, more than ninety households nearby have been affected, most of them by the great fire that arose in the wake of the explosion, which burned down half the street and left behind heavy casualties. Because not all of the bodies have been found, it is difficult to determine how many are dead, but there were a few dozen inside the illegal fireworks factory alone, and including the commoners who have been affected, there must be at least a hundred or more.

The wounded?

Nearly a hundred and fifty, with about thirty seriously wounded.

What about the fire?

Fortunately there is no wind today, so it has not spread to the next street, and it has largely been contained. But the blaze was very large initially, and there were only a few people from the Capital Magistrate Office there at the beginning, and even with the combined efforts of the commoners who came to help, they could not control it at all. The neighbouring houses were all rushing to save their valuables, while some of the worse crowds were making a rush for the goods in the houses, and when the Capital Patrol arrived, they spent half the time suppressing the crowds and the other half taking whatever profits from the situation they could, and the situation was really very chaotic until His Highness Prince Jings personal troops arrived and took control of the situation. Later, His Highness Prince Jing provided some of the armys tents for temporary use by the injured and those who lost their homes. The physicians and medicines of the Imperial Hospital are officially regulated and so could not be sent over immediately, so His Highness provided funds for the use of resources in the community. I have already dispatched our Medicine Sect brothers in the capital to go over and provide what aid they can.

Well done, Mei Changsu praised, adding, Burns are difficult to treat, the Yun household of Xunyang district has a good salve for this purpose. Send someone with a fast horse to go and bring back a batch for Prince Jing.

Yes.

Mei Changsus gaze shimmered as he said, The first month is almost over, and the time of greatest danger should have passed, but then a tragic accident happens at a time like this, the timing is a little too coincidentalpass on my orders to focus the investigation on Prince Yu, and to search out any possible evidence of his involvement in this accident. So many lives, we cannot just let them disappear without trace or sound if there are any developments, inform me in secret immediately.

Yes.

After Li Gang bowed and left, Mei Changsu got up slowly and walked over to his desk, took out a snowy white sheet of paper, and began drawing with brush and ink, wanting to settle his mind and emotions. Fei Liu came in and picked up a brush too, sprawling beside him silently as he drew, quietly keeping him company. As the shadows lengthened outside the window, Mei Changsus mind slowly calmed. He finished one piece, and as he stood, he felt a slight aching at his waist, and the youth beside him raised his head, his beautiful eyes wide with concern.

Fei Liu, go out and play?

No! The youth shook his head.

Thengo out for a walk with Su gege?

Alright!

Mei Changsu took down a fur-collared cloak from a hanger nearby, put it on, and then walked out the door. When the guards in the courtyard saw him dressed to go out, they hurried to prepare his palanquin. The row of people left by the main gates and then followed Mei Changsus direction down a small alley, arriving at a street filled with smoke.

Although a proper blockade had not been set up, the men of the Capital Magistrate Office had formed groups of twos and threes and were working to prevent people from entering the area, and from a distance, it looked as if half the street was a ruin of crumbled walls and bricks, the smell of smoke still lingering heavily in the air, and the glow of fire could still be seen occasionally as the soldiers of the Capital Patrol threw water over the burning areas. Mei Changsu got off his palanquin and walked into the street, and the guards, seeing his commoners attire, did not know where he had come from and so came over to inquire, though they seemed amiable in nature.

Are we currently at war?

No.

Is this a very large amount of military supplies?

It is an almost negligible amount.

Can tents and cotton quilts not be reused?

Certainly they can be reused.

Since this is not wartime, and the tents and cotton quilts lent out can be retrieved, then why such a great fuss?

Although it is a small matter, according to the regulations, I should still let them know.

What happens if you do not?

A hint of doubt appeared in Prince Jings gaze. Mister should know that the Ministry of War is the Crown Princes territory, and although this fault is small, once it has been seized by the Ministry of War, I fear they would use it against me.

I want them to use it against you. Mei Changsu turned slightly, facing Prince Jing. Your Highness cares about the public and has treated the victims with such kindness and generosity, is this a bad thing?

Of course not

Your Highness has done a good thing, and has committed only a tiny fault that is not even worth mentioning, so the Ministry of War should look generously on your momentary carelessness, but instead, they will seize on it and refuse to let it go. Once it reaches the court, will the officials think that it is Your Highness crime that cannot be forgiven, or that the Crown Prince is using the Ministry of War against you? An icy smile lingered at the corner of Mei Changsus lips. The court is yet far from belonging to the Crown Prince entirely, and even if the Ministry of War attacks you, you have only to confess that you had a momentary lapse of memory in the urgency and complications of the situation, and then, even if Prince Yu does not speak up for you, there will naturally be upright officials who will see the injustice and come to argue on your behalf, so what is there to worry about?

Prince Jing answered proudly, I am not afraid of what the Ministry of War will do to me, and even if Father Emperor punishes me strictly, I do not care about a little accusation such as this, it is only that this mistake could have been prevented entirely, so why must I make such a great deal out of it?

Mei Changsus smile grew even colder. Why should we not? The eyes of the court officials are still fixed on the Crown Prince and Prince Yu, so how many of them notice the things Your Highness is doing? Although you must work more and speak less, even if you yourself dont speak, others may speak for you. Once the Ministry of War raises the issue, the Emperor and all the ministers of the court will see, while the Crown Prince and Prince Yu were busy quarreling, who was the one controlling the situation? Who was the one reassuring the hearts of the people? Who was the one working quietly without complaint or conflict, but who is now being attacked instead? Everyone has a scale in his heart to measure right and wrong, and to balance justice and injustice. On the other hand, if your Highness reports this now to the Ministry of War, although the regulations would be followed flawlessly, it would achieve the opposite effect, and end up burying Your Highness good deeds, and no one would come to know of them.

Prince Jings thick brows furrowed. I am not doing these things for others to see.

Mei Changsu laughed coldly. If, before you acted, you thought only of doing these things for others to see, then that would be a fault of Your Highness moral character. But if, after you have done these good deeds, no one knows about them, then that would be the fault of your strategist. Even if only for my sake, pray Your Highness suffer this grievance.

Prince Jing heard the mocking in his tone and the sharpness of his words, and knew that he was not entirely placated from the previous misunderstanding, and so he was not angry, and only answered indifferently, Mister is only doing this for my sake, how could I speak of grievance? This is Misters thorough consideration, I am ashamed of my ineptitude. Let it all be done as you say.

Translators Notes:

Wang Kai is perfect as our water buffalo in the drama, but I think I like the way Xiao Jingyan is portrayed in the novel even more. Hes a little less stubborn, a little quicker on the uptake, a little more nuanced, almost. Here, he apologizes by himself instead of Nihuang calling him out on it. -SPOILER ALERT- He figures out MCSs identity on his own. And unless I am very much mistaken, the whole breakup scene in the snow doesnt exist in the novel (and neither does MCSs most perfect line in the whole show lol).

And although I LOVE THAT SCENE WITH ALL MY HEART, I really really like the novel version of their relationship. It seems that Jingyan doubts MCS less, almost trusting him in spite of himself, the way Nihuang does in the drama before she finds out who he is. I mean, even though he is suspicious of him, he trusts him enough to do what he says before he understands the reasons behind the instructions.

And I think the way the novel portrays Jingyan emphasizes less of his stubbornness and more of his rigid righteousness, and also his ability to see and judge people, so that even though he doesnt know MCS well, he knows he is worth trusting, and is more willing to give him a chance.

ALSO. MCS continues his gentle schooling of the water buffalo. Lin Shu needs to just open strategy classes and tutoring sessions for Jingyan, Nihuang, and Meng Zhi, okay? Baby class special for the Sunshine boys. Mama Jing and Yan Que can give guest talks. Fei Liu can keep the snakes away.

(Ium. I think this makes 50 chapters translated? )