Chapter 971: Chapter 967: The Curtain Falls (11)
Consort Wen rubbed her knee, frowning in pain: "It’s a good thing I pretended to faint; otherwise, I would have lost this leg." After speaking, she sighed, "I can’t eat with this on my mind. Go and find me some light-colored clothes. I need to go out."
The nanny was taken aback and asked, "Where are you going at this time?" Consort Wen replied without thinking, "To see the Fourth Madam." After speaking, she whispered a few words into the nanny’s ear, whose face suddenly changed, horrified, "My lady, this is too dangerous."
Consort Wen showed a look of helplessness yet determination. She touched the cotton wrapped around her forehead, which ached faintly. Thinking of the Second Prince’s worrying future, she became increasingly restless: "If I don’t take this chance, if the Emperor truly becomes suspicious of me, our days in the palace will become difficult." She finished speaking and pulled back the covers to get out of bed: "In the future, even if he can’t take the throne, my son must at least have a good fief, living a life beyond compare."
This was also her wish as a mother, willing to do anything for this before it.
The nanny said nothing more, tenderly supporting Consort Wen, the two heading towards the dressing table. The nanny softly said, "I feel that the Fourth Madam seems to be a good person, not someone vicious." Consort Wen laughed softly at these words, unconcerned, "Good or not, I can only trust her now. I can’t gamble with my son’s life. Besides, I have considered her words carefully. There is no other way, ’enter the tiger’s den to catch the tiger cub’!"
The nanny sighed, redoing Consort Wen’s hair but applying no makeup: "Life will definitely get better and better. Just wait until the Second Prince grows up, everything will slowly improve."
Consort Wen left, getting on the Jade Carriage, heading to the Glazed Palace. Between the Glazed Palace and Fengwu Palace was a small garden, about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea in distance. Unlike the last time she went in the dead of night when no one was around, this time she entered grandly. The nannies and female officials guarding the entrance knelt and saluted as she approached, Consort Wen stepped inside with small steps.
"What are you all doing?" Then she saw three nannies standing by Xiqiu’s bed, along with two men in the robes of Imperial Physicians. One held a Golden Needle, while Xiqiu leaned weakly against the bedhead with closed eyes. Upon hearing the words, she opened her eyes and smiled weakly at Consort Wen, "Madam, you’re here. Excuse me for not being able to greet you properly."
Consort Wen waved her hand: "You’re unwell, no need for formalities." After finishing, she glanced around the room, "What are you all doing?"
Everyone shrank back a little, hunching their bodies, afraid to speak...
In Fengwu Palace, a female official entered to report: "Madam, Consort Wen has gone over there." On hearing this, the Empress waved the medicine bowl in Nanny Mao’s hands to the ground in anger, "What is she going there for?" After a pause, she added, "Go, tell them to drive her out."
The female official nodded in agreement and retreated.
The Empress’ eyes were cold, instructing Nanny Mao: "Go personally, and don’t let her suspect our plans."
"Yes!" Nanny Mao called for someone to clean up the spilled medicine before bowing out herself.
She returned to her room to change clothes, then poured herself a cup of tea to drink. Just as she finished, someone sought her outside the door. She spoke a few brief words with the person and then hurried towards the Glazed Palace. In about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Nanny Mao rounded the long corridor, when suddenly a blast of hot wind hit her face.
Startled, she looked up and froze on the spot.
A fire?
She steadied herself, lifting her skirt, and rushed towards the Glazed Palace swiftly.
Fire!
Fire was everywhere!
The overwhelming flames scorched so fiercely one couldn’t open their eyes.
Nanny Mao was panic-stricken, watching the rapidly rising flames. Seeing the palace staff running over, dazed and shocked, she angrily shouted, "What are you waiting for, put out the fire!"
This scream awakened many, who all turned and ran off to fetch water.
Nanny Mao hopped on tiptoe, wanting to rush in several times, but the columns around the hall doors were already aflame. She panicked in circles, thought for a moment, and grabbed a passing nanny, "Quick, find the Yulin Guards to help extinguish the fire."
She didn’t know how many people were inside. In the moment she’d arrived, not a single soul had come out.
What to do, what to do!
The Fourth Madam was ill, and Consort Wen was inside too. If anything were to happen, it would be a tremendous disaster.
"Consort Wen, Fourth Madam!" She shouted hoarsely into the smoke-filled interior, unable to see clearly due to the thick smoke.
Nanny Mao looked around; a few people had arrived with buckets, pouring water over the flames...
She gritted her teeth, just about to rush in, when suddenly a few people stumbled out from the rolling smoke and soaring flames at the hall door.
Consort Wen covered her chest, coughing fiercely, her light clothes stained with ashes, making the color indiscernible. Blood oozed anew from the wound on her forehead. Supported by the nanny beside her, she staggered out, gasping and shouting for help: "Save us!"
As she shouted, cold sweat broke out all over her body.
Nanny Mao rushed over to support Consort Wen: "Consort Madam, are you alright?" Seeing it was Nanny Mao, Consort Wen immediately pointed inside, "Quick...quick, rescue them, there are people still inside."
"I’ve already sent for the Yulin Guards. Let me help you rest over here for a while." Nanny Mao supported Consort Wen, meanwhile, a few more people came running out, including Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital and several unfamiliar elderly women, all covered in filth, coughing non-stop...
"Is everyone out, are there more people inside?" Nanny Mao left Consort Wen and asked the leading Imperial Physician coming out.
The Imperial Physician released his hand covering his mouth and nose, waving it as he gasped, "N...Not sure."
"The Fourth Madam." Consort Wen suddenly turned around, anxiously, "Did anyone see the Fourth Madam? Has the Fourth Madam come out?"
Everyone looked at each other, searching with their eyes for a long time, all shaking their heads.
"No?" Consort Wen’s complexion changed drastically, she shrieked, "Hurry and save her, the Fourth Madam is still inside."
Bang!
A pillar came crashing down.
The fire spread too fast; in the blink of an eye, the beams teetered precariously, burning flaming sparks dancing as the framework’s wood collapsed...
Everyone gaped in horror, staring wide-eyed at the Glazed Palace engulfed in a sea of fire ahead.
There was no sign of the Fourth Madam.
"What’s happening, what on earth is happening." The Empress was carried over by others, gazing incredulously at the scarlet world before her. She questioned Consort Wen with her eyes, "What exactly has happened?"
Consort Wen saw the Empress arrive and fell to her knees with a thud, reporting, "I also don’t know how it suddenly caught fire. Madam, the Fourth Madam is still inside, please save her quickly."
"What?" The Empress could hardly sit steadily. She confirmed in disbelief, murmuring, "The Fourth Madam is still inside?"
