I'm the Farmgirl You Can't Mess With

Chapter 1278: Avoiding (2)

Editor: Atlas Studios

Qi Haoran was curious. "What homework takes a month to complete?"

"Discuss the reasonableness of the reform of the official system!" Tiger Head waved his hand and said, "Something like that. Word has it that there was a fight at the court assembly today over the reform of the official system. One of the Assistant Ministers of the Ministry of Justice was almost forced to death. Hence, our teacher assigned us this homework at the last minute and asked us to investigate the truth before writing an essay. Hence, he gave us a month."

Qi Haoran was so angry that his face turned red. He said angrily, "Why is your Teacher acting like a gossipy woman? When did I force Assistant Minister Lan to death? He was clearly the one courting death!"

Tiger Head and Little Lion opened their mouths wide and looked at him. They complained, "So Daddy, you’re the baddie who held a broadsword and bullied the Assistant Minister!"

With a darkened expression, Mu Yangling asked, "Where did you hear these rumors?"

"Everyone is talking about it outside." Little Lion said, "When we came back from the palace, we passed by the teahouse and heard the storyteller attracting a crowd with his story inside, so we went in to listen. Everyone is talking about this now."

Mu Yangling and Qi Haoran looked at each other and their hearts sank.

Qi Haoran patted the two children’s heads and said, "Don’t believe everything you hear. Who dares to bring weapons to a court meeting? A broadsword? In the future, if you hear such rumors again, you have to learn to distinguish between right and wrong. Do you understand?"

Little Lion and Tiger Head said angrily, "So they’re slandering Daddy. Let’s settle scores with them."

However, Qi Haoran grabbed their collars and pulled them back. "Alright, hurry up and pack your things. We’ll leave the capital in two days. Don’t go out and cause trouble."

They had only held up a bit of time in the palace, and already what happened at the court assembly was fabricated into a story that spread to the teahouses. Qi Haoran refused to believe that there wasn’t a mastermind behind this.

Moreover, the culprit likely wielded some influence. Or was it because too many people had added fuel to the fire that the news spread so quickly?

However, regardless of whether it was the former or the latter, Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling would not let the children out again, lest others had a chance to sow discord once more.

Tiger Head and Little Lion were detained at home by Qi Haoran, and Little Bear was studying with Little Treasure in the East Palace. This made those people wait in vain on the streets for an entire day.

However, they were not disappointed. King Rong’s children were all very naughty. Almost every day after school, they would come to the streets to play. Even though they might not show up today, they were certain they would do so tomorrow.

At that moment, Qi Xiuyuan, who was in the palace, also received news from outside. He learned that there were rumors spreading in the teahouses and restaurants outside that King Rong had almost forced Assistant Minister Lan, who was at odds with him, to death with a broadsword.

With an ugly expression, Qi Xiuyuan instructed the commander of the Forbidden Troops in a low voice, "Find out where the news came from and who is behind it."

The commander of the Forbidden Troops retreated after receiving his orders. Only then did Qi Xiuyuan call the commander of the secret guards over. "You guys go and investigate the source as well. Court has only been dismissed for less than two hours, but the teahouses and restaurants in the capital are already filled with rumors! If that’s the case, what confidential secrets does Great Qi still have to speak of? Today, it’s news from the court meeting. Tomorrow, will it be the secrets of the army?"

The secret guard commander immediately agreed.

On the way to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the more Qi Xiuyuan thought about it, the more unsettled he felt. When he saw Li Jinghua, his expression was incredibly dark.

Li Jinghua had already received the news and roughly knew why he was troubled. She asked in a low voice, "Why don’t we get Fourth Brother to leave the capital to hide?"

Li Jinghua said worriedly, "Those people lost at the court meeting, but they are attacking aggressively outside. After all, Fourth Brother is alone, and his family is full of women and children. Tiger Head and Little Lion are also naughty. It’s easy to dodge an open spear, but difficult to guard against a hidden arrow. I fear..."

"I share the same sentiments. Zijin said that he has already agreed to leave and lie low for now, but it will take at least two to three days to pack up. However, the rumors have spread throughout the capital in less than two hours. I’m afraid that the other party’s actions are much faster than we imagined, so I want them to set off tomorrow morning."

Li Jinghua was shocked. "So urgent? Fourth Brother will definitely not agree!"

"That’s right. Haoran has always been proud. He definitely won’t agree." This was really a headache for Qi Xiuyuan. He held his forehead and said, "But I have to keep an eye on various places now, so I really can’t take care of him. The secret guards reported that this afternoon, there were several waves of people lying in ambush on the two streets where Tiger Head and Little Lion often go."

Li Jinghua’s expression darkened. "Do they actually dare to assassinate members of the royal family?"

"It would be fine if it’s an assassination attempt." Qi Xiuyuan sighed. "The children have many secret guards around them, plus their martial arts aren’t weak. Assassination attempts on a bustling street aren’t a concern. I’m just afraid that it’s a trap. When the time comes, as long as Tiger Head or Little Lion accidentally kill one of them, Haoran, who insists on bringing about those reforms, will definitely be the first to suffer the consequences."

"What a vicious plan."

"That’s why I want him to leave early tomorrow morning." Qi Xiuyuan stood up and paced around the house. He said in a low voice, "But he definitely won’t agree to this if I ask. Even if Zijin talks to him, he might not listen. Only Ah Ling can do it."

Li Jinghua’s heart skipped a beat. Smiling, he asked, "So Your Majesty wants me to persuade Ah Ling?"

Qi Xiuyuan nodded. "Since it’s getting dark now, calling her into the palace will cause too much of a commotion. Zitong, you’ll have to go personally. Besides." Qi Xiuyuan said with a sigh, "Haoran is arrogant, and Ah Ling isn’t much more humble than him. I’m afraid she won’t agree to leave in such a hurry. When the time comes, you’ll have to persuade her."

Qi Xiuyuan said coldly, "Zitong, tell her that one day, I’d invite them back in a grand manner to avenge the humiliation of today!"

Li Jinghua bowed and said solemnly, "Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I’ll definitely convince her."

At this moment, Fan Zijin was also looking at the note in his hand with a livid expression. He rubbed the note and crushed it into pieces before getting up to go to King Rong’s residence with an icy expression.

He did not expect these officials to move so quickly and had actually started to dig a trap for Haoran. He also did not expect the courtiers to have such a huge reaction to the reform of the official system. To think they dared to form a gang and attack Haoran.

If not for the fact that he still had some spies under his control, those actions in the bustling capital today would have gone unnoticed.

Haoran had to leave the capital immediately!

The capital was too complicated and dangerous. Moreover, not only did Haoran have to leave, but the children also had to leave. Otherwise, if anything happened to one of them, it would be too late for regrets.

Fan Zijin hurriedly went to look for Qi Haoran.

At this moment, a green cloth carriage drove out of the palace. Li Jinghua was sitting inside, and her personal female official, Wen Cui, was kneeling in front of her.

As Wen Cui poured a cup of tea for the Empress, she asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, is it really that serious? What storms have His Majesty and King Rong not weathered? Are they afraid of their schemes? Didn’t the Great Zhou royal family, bandits, and aristocratic families lose in the past? As long as His Majesty trusts King Rong, why would he and Her Highness have to hide outside the capital?"