Chapter 51: Riots
51 Riots
Ming Hui corrected her expression and nodded at the eunuch. She turned her head towards her guests.
"The party ends here. I thank you all for coming here and participate in the training."
The girls cannot accept her thanks and they bowed back to her saying that they're happy to do anything for the princess and so on. Jun Hua only followed along as she doesn't really understand what is going on. What she knows it that her mind is confused and she cannot understand what is going on.
Normally a girl cannot attend the court but it seems that the emperor allowed Ming Hui. She never heard that Ming Hui got special treatment. Maybe, the thing that happened is something that the emperor cannot hold back anymore.
Ming Hui walked towards the hall gracefully. There are already several ministers there with the emperor and empress sitting up above. The glint on Ming Hui eyes quickly disappears as she bowed towards the emperor.
"This subject daughter greets the emperor and empress."
Emperor quickly waved his hand indicating that she could rise. Ming Hui hurriedly retreated to the side and she see Yan is also among the prince there. Didn't he get grounded? The emperor has never been this lenient before.
Not long after that, a few ministers also come including Lin Tang and Nanglong Souka. Seeing their solemn face, Ming Hui knows that something must have happened.
With the emperor order a eunuch stands forward to say what the news is.
"There are a few riots on the capital which destroyed a few stores. Among those stores, some of them are owned by the imperial family. Then this sequence of riots is followed by another big riot in a big city nearby. The problem is this city has just been brought by Young Noble Han and he wants the emperor to clear this matter swiftly."
Ming Hui smiled internally. She and Yan had been planning to make some problem with the emperor. It seems the trouble they incite finally escalates. Now she knows why she's called here. One of the stores that got destroyed must be hers.
Yan put a solemn face, yet he smiled internally. The emperor thus decreed that they're not allowed to go back until this problem is solved. Yan sighed, this is another boring session of court.
…
Jun Hua returned to Jun family residence first. She meets her grandfather who is busy looking towards a mountain of paper. Internally, Jun Hua feels troubled when she looks at that stack of paper. How long will it takes to read all of them?
"Hua'er, you have returned?"
Jun Hua nodded. "The party is over. There is some emergency meeting that requires the entire imperial family member to attend."
"It's expected, there are riots."
"Riots?" Jun Hua brows creased. "I guess it must be a big one. What have happened?"
"Some nobles are unsatisfied with what they have and wanting to have more, probably. The Jun family cannot interfere. The emperor is hell bent to use the Lan family," Jun Zhenxian explained. He didn't really bother with the regulation since he knows what the emperor motives are. Besides, the riots this time seems a bit complicated.
The people know that the politics condition is a bit stiff, but they still do the riot. He's sure that someone must incite them to take the action at this time and possibly give them the equipment. Since the emperor tells him not to bother, he will not give any help.
Jun Hua nodded. "He must want to restore their prestige over losing that matter before. Grandpa, when will uncle return back to the capital?"
"Soon."
"How soon is it?"
Jun Zhenxian smiled bitterly. "I myself don't really know about it. There is no way he could leave the border without any protection."
"Just ask Yamin and the others to stand guard, they're going to be alright."
"Did you miss your uncle that badly?"
Jun Hua laughed. "I do miss him."
"What about your grandfather?I'm staying in the capital the whole time!"
"I have already met you often. I want to meet my uncle more."
"You lass!" Jun Zhenxian chided. He quickly changed the topic. "Have you heard the news from the Lin family? Their first daughter is going to be married in 2 months."
"2 months?" Jun Hua raised her eyebrows. "Is Lin Yuan not going to participate at the end year exams? It's still in 2 and half months."
"Who knows what they are planning? Their first daughter is already 15 so it's going to be alright."
"Married to whom?"
"I forgot the name," Jun Zhenxian answered. He only remembers that the family they choose is a good one. They're not fairly influential, but they have good reputation.
Jun Hua thinks that this news must be good for Lin Yuan. What that girl needs to do is avoiding the scheme of Lin San and prepares for her marriage. With the date of her marriage approaching, Lin Yuan also wouldn't go to the school anymore.
Jun Hua chatted with her grandfather for a while before returning back to the Lin family residence. She doesn't have anything to do here and she wants to see how Concubine Sie fared in the span of 3 weeks.
Coming to Lin family residence, she could see that Concubine Sie is still in charge, but the appearance of that woman is a bit haggard. It seems she has been reducing her sleep to do her job fully so that Chun Maora cannot pick on her.
"Third Sister," Lin Yuan smiled. "Where have you been?"
"I'm visiting my Grandfather first. Is your mother alright?" Jun Hua looks over worriedly.
Lin Yuan nodded. "She's fine, at least for now. There are some minor troubles but she can handle it most of the times. She's only tired for trying to hold onto this position."
"I see," Jun Hua nodded then she remembers something. "Congratulation for your arranged marriage. I heard you're getting married in 2 months."
Lin Yuan smiled brightly. "You're correct. Thank you."
"I hope your mother will be fine."
"She will. Madam Lin will be busy on another matter for some time," Lin Yuan smiled. It seems that there's news she had missed.
"What is it?"
"Concubine Mia is pregnant."
That sentence made Jun Hua mind goes blank.