Chapter 973: Chapter 969: The End of the Story (13)
"Did the fire start from outside?" The Grand Dowager asked, feeling a surge of suspicion. Did someone intentionally set the fire?
The two Imperial Physicians quickly nodded, kowtowing and saying, "We were also panicked and only realized the Fourth Madam didn’t follow us out after we escaped."
The Grand Dowager squinted her eyes.
She scrutinized the two Imperial Physicians with a piercing gaze and asked, "If someone interrogates you, do you know what to say?"
Both were shocked, looking up at the Grand Dowager for clarification, clearly not understanding her meaning. The Grand Dowager explained, "The Fourth Madam missed her child dearly, first contracted a cold, and after a high fever for several days, went mad. It was in her madness that she started the fire."
Not only did it burn the palace, but it also frightened the Empress.
Even Nanny Mao was surprised by the Grand Dowager’s ability to adapt so quickly, coming up with a way to cover up the incident in such a short time.
The two Imperial Physicians dared not say anything more, hurriedly kowtowing in agreement, and retreated.
The Grand Dowager rose abruptly. The Empress looked at her mother and asked, "Mother, where are you going?"
"I am going to check." The Grand Dowager’s face was ice-cold. This fire was set at just the right time and place. No matter how large the fire, the people inside should have noticed. Even if they didn’t, the many nannies and female officials outside should have noticed something was amiss. How could they let the fire spread out of control?
She didn’t believe it and, turning around, instructed Nanny Mao, "Go find Commander Cao." Then, looking at the Empress, she said, "You rest; I’ll go check." Without looking back, she left the room.
Thinking of Shen Ji’s death, the injured Eldest Prince, and the Empress’s worsening condition, her heart burned with unbearable anxiety... The Emperor would soon return to the capital, and if the Fourth Madam’s matter was not handled well, even she would find it hard to explain!
As she stepped out, Commander Cao had already arrived. The Grand Dowager instructed, "Do not miss a single palace; search each one!"
Commander Cao shifted his gaze, lowered his head, and responded, "At your command." With a wave of his hand, he led the Yulin Guards to search each palace.
For a moment, the palace was in an uproar, with concubines shouting everywhere: "How dare you! You dare to barge into my palace!" The Yulin Guards were men from outside the palace. Such an incursion inevitably provoked widespread anger. Concubines from various palaces ran to Fengwu Palace in tears, throwing the palace into chaos, making it hard to control.
The Grand Dowager sneered, ignoring them, and took Nanny Mao and others straight to Consort Wen’s Caisi Palace. Consort Wen was lying on the bed drinking medicine when she heard of the Grand Dowager’s visit. Her gaze paused, looking at the female official beside her, who bowed her head without looking at her, slightly shook her head, and silently retreated to the side hall.
The Grand Dowager entered directly, hands tucked in her sleeves, looking down upon Consort Wen: "The Imperial Concubine seems well; this gives me peace of mind."
"Thank you for your concern, Grand Dowager; I am well," Consort Wen replied, pausing to look at the Grand Dowager with a faint smile, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
The Grand Dowager not only was the Grand Dowager but also the late Emperor’s sister and the Eldest Princess, thus holding a higher rank than Consort Wen, who dared not be disrespectful.
"The fire in the palace tonight is indeed strange. With the Empress unwell, I have taken it upon myself to visit the Imperial Concubine on her behalf." After speaking, she glanced around the hall, her gaze settling on the side hall: "If some villain were hiding in the palace and harmed the Imperial Concubine, it would be a grave misfortune." Not waiting for Consort Wen to speak, she gestured: "Search every corner of the hall quickly; we cannot let a villain exploit any loophole!"
A dozen nannies behind her bowed in unison and immediately proceeded to search every corner of the hall.
Consort Wen sat up abruptly, full of anger: "Grand Dowager, what do you mean by this?" With a wave of her arm, all the palace attendants in Caisi Palace rushed in, confronting each other without backing down!
The Grand Dowager’s gaze shifted, and she laughed, saying, "The Imperial Concubine misunderstood; I merely have good intentions, fearing a villain might be hiding in the palace, intending to harm you."
"Thank you for your kind intentions, Grand Dowager." Consort Wen, wearing only her inner clothes, put on her shoes, standing opposite the Grand Dowager with a defiant posture: "We both know your true intentions, Grand Dowager. Whether or not there is anyone hidden in my palace is my concern. It is not the Grand Dowager’s place to intervene."
"Oh?" The Grand Dowager sneered again, stepping back with a smile, "Then, Imperial Concubine, take care!" With a flick of her sleeve, she left the palace without a backward glance.
A group of people rushed out, and Consort Wen felt her legs weaken, supported by a nearby nanny. Frowning, she ordered, "Go out and see." She did not believe the Grand Dowager would let the matter rest and was sure more was to come.
Someone responded and left. Consort Wen sat down by the bed.
Sure enough, in no time, the person who went out to inquire returned, panic-stricken and said, "Your Highness, it’s not good; the Yulin Guards have surrounded the front and back of the palace."
Consort Wen’s face changed, her gaze darting behind the curtain!
As the Fourth Madam predicted, the Grand Dowager intended to seize the chaos and act malignantly.
She couldn’t help but remember that of the many siblings of the late Emperor, all had been exiled or killed, leaving only Princess Changting. The world said she survived the late Emperor’s wrath because of her patience and kindness, but no one thought it was not patience or kindness but her cold-blooded and ruthless nature that ensured her survival.
"What do we do, Your Highness!" With the Emperor absent, the back palace was effectively ruled by the Shen family. If the Empress truly intended harm, any excuse could justify killing or deposing a concubine. The Emperor, wary of the Shen family, wouldn’t do much, and Consort Wen’s family was weak, leaving her no recourse against the Shens.
"Everyone, stay calm," she said with a smile: "Let me see if they truly have the courage."
Outside Caisi Palace, the sound of footsteps rumbled, shaking the beams. No one had seen such a scene before, each pale with fear, suppressing their breathing, fearing the icy blades outside would claim their lives if they made the slightest mistake, unwilling to go out.
Consort Wen said, "Help me change." She entered the inner hall alone, telling the following female officials, "Do not follow me." She went inside alone.
Outside, the Grand Dowager tucked her hands in her sleeves, her eyes full of cold intent. They were mere clowns in her eyes, using such means.
The Fourth Madam’s ruse of feigned death was clearly intended to expose the Shen family. Since that was the case, she would use it to her advantage... these thoughts in mind, she looked toward Caisi Palace, seeing at least Consort Wen as a potential scapegoat.
"Tonight, the Glazed Hall was unwarrantedly set ablaze. It has been verified that a villain infiltrated the palace. Right now, this villain is hiding in Caisi Palace. He is extremely dangerous and must not be allowed to harm the Imperial Concubine," Commander Cao loudly proclaimed, adding, "Search the place!"
