Chapter 972: Chapter 968: The End of the Story (12)
Imperial Concubine Wen seemed to be overly frightened, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, Fourth Madam is inside." Then she broke down crying uncontrollably, "The fire must have been set intentionally; otherwise, how could it have started for no reason?" Looking at the Empress, tears streaked her smoke-stained face, "Your Majesty, you must seek justice for me and for Fourth Madam."
"Silence!" The Empress shouted angrily, "Someone, escort Imperial Concubine Wen back to rest." After speaking, her gaze shifted to the two Imperial Physicians.
The two Imperial Physicians’ pupils contracted, and they knelt down immediately.
The people kneeling around secretly looked at the Empress with suspicion in their eyes, noting that the Empress had detained Fourth Madam that afternoon for reprimanding Imperial Concubine Wen. Now both women were in the Glazed Palace when it caught fire...
The raging fire, mixed with a foul burnt odor, enveloped the entire Imperial City in a suffocating stench. The fire was so swift and fierce that it dyed the eastern twilight red. The citizens of the Capital rushed into the streets to see toward the direction of the Imperial City. They did not know what had happened but could imagine the fire was large and wondered what news tomorrow might bring.
Xiao Yanyi stood with his hands behind his back outside Lingbo Hall, his gaze inadvertently drawn to the fiery red east. His expression changed, and he hastily took a few steps—this... this direction was clearly that of the Imperial City.
How could there be a fire?
Xiqiu, Xiqiu was still inside. Without regard for anything, he pushed open the gate and almost ran madly toward the house entrance. He could even hear his heart pounding in his throat. Passing Mei Garden, he saw Lianqiao taking her baby girl out for a walk. Xiao Yanyi didn’t even look at them as he dashed past Lianqiao like the wind.
Xiuhong murmured, "What’s wrong with the Marquis?"
Lianqiao withdrew her gaze forlornly, looking at her daughter in her arms with a face full of bitterness.
"Marquis." Xiao Yanyi’s servant ran over, whispering in his ear, "News from the palace says you and Lord Tong are to go to the palace gate to receive Fourth Madam."
Xiao Yanyi halted in his tracks, looking at the servant, hearing nothing else but despairingly asking, "Did they say anything about Fourth Madam’s condition? Which hall in the palace caught fire?"
"It was the Glazed Hall," the servant assumed Xiao Yanyi’s anxiety without further thought, "Exactly the hall where Fourth Madam resided."
Xiao Yanyi’s heart, which had briefly dropped, was once again lifted. He ran outside without looking back.
Xiqiu, Xiqiu!
Please don’t die, even if in this life I can only watch you from afar, even if I never have the chance to speak to you again, I would willingly accept!
I will keep you in my heart, as an irreplaceable beauty and obsession. I will not disturb you, only hoping you can live happily and safely.
Please, please be safe.
Xiao Yanyi reached the gate of the Imperial City, seeing four or five carriages arriving simultaneously. First Master, Tong Shen Zhi, Tong Minzhi, Zhou Bohan, Pang Guibin, First Master Tang, Lord Lou with his two sons, and Elder General Chen all gathered. No one spoke; just seeing the First Master dressed in official attire with a black gauze hat, stepping to the palace gate, saluting the flag bearer, "Please inform Her Majesty, Marquis Xuanning, Tong Zheng’an requests an audience." As Xiqiu’s father and a cabinet minister, the implications of his request were self-evident.
The flag bearer glanced at the crowd behind, all of whom were powerful officials he could not afford to offend, so he nodded, "Please have Lord Tong and the gentlemen wait a moment." With that, he hurried inside to report.
Old Madam Shen bypassed First Master and Xiao Yanyi, entered the palace through the East Splendor Gate, and hurried to Fengwu Palace as soon as she got out of her sedan chair. From a distance, she could hear the calls and the crackling of the fire consuming wood. Her face was cold and alarming, she said nothing, and went straight inside Fengwu Palace, informing the female official that the Empress was at the Glazed Palace, whereupon she redirected herself accordingly.
The fire was gradually diminishing; the once clean and tidy courtyard was now unrecognizable. The collapsed beams had been charred into coal by the fire. Someone was using tongs to search for something amidst the smoldering ruins. She saw the Empress sitting to one side and walked over, asked in a low voice, "How did it catch fire? Are the people inside safe?"
"Mother." The Empress, incessantly coughing from the smoke, responded intermittently to Old Madam Shen, "Fourth Madam... is gone."
Old Madam Shen’s brows knitted, her expression darkening profoundly. She surveyed the surroundings and did not ask further but instructed Nanny Mao, "Take the Empress back to Fengwu Palace to rest."
Nanny Mao complied, having the Empress carried back to Fengwu Palace.
Fourth Madam’s fate did not concern her. Her son was gone, and her grandson grievously injured. Letting Fourth Master Xiao merely suffer the pain of loss was far too lenient. But this was not the time, not the right time; the court was in chaos with eyes watching intensely, the issue in Fujian unresolved, the Eldest Prince’s condition unknown, and Fourth Master Xiao suffering such a heavy loss, would certainly retaliate; she was spread too thin, overwhelmed, unable to add such troubles.
She thought about the few key officials waiting outside the palace. She knew well why they had come.
She felt that this great fire seemed like a signal, a catalyst.
She couldn’t foresee what would happen next, but no matter what might happen, she was not prepared!
Completely caught off guard, yes, completely caught off guard!
"Order a thorough search." Old Madam Shen looked around again, "Summon all the palace attendants for questioning, one by one."
Someone acknowledged, and Old Madam Shen returned to Fengwu Palace with the Empress’s Jade Carriage. Nanny Mao attended to the Empress’s medication, and Old Madam Shen said, "Lord Tong and Marquis Xuanning outside request to see you. We cannot see them now. Tell them you are too shocked and your condition worsened. You won’t see anyone for the next few days."
The Empress accepted the instruction, immediately ordering someone to stop Lord Tong and the others outside the palace gates, issuing a decree. However, the crowd not only did not disperse but grew increasingly noisy as more people gathered.
"Mother." The Empress nervously held Old Madam Shen’s hand, "How could this happen? Suddenly, there’s a fire." She could not understand.
Old Madam Shen asked, "What was the situation at that time? Tell me in detail."
The Empress recounted what she knew, and Old Madam Shen furrowed her brows even more tightly, turned to Nanny Mao and said, "Bring the two Imperial Physicians who were inside at the time to be questioned."
Nanny Mao acknowledged, left to give orders, and lowered the curtains inside the hall. Through the drapes, the two still visibly shaken Imperial Physicians knelt outside.
"Tell me, what happened at the time?" Old Madam Shen asked.
The two Imperial Physicians exchanged glances before one replied, "At the time, I was about to administer acupuncture to Fourth Madam when suddenly Imperial Concubine Wen came, stopped me, and there was some altercation... By the time we stopped, the fire had already erupted all around, and in the blink of an eye, we were trapped inside. The smoke was dense, in our panic, we couldn’t even find the door!"
