89 Into The Fire (2/2)

”Fire! Please help! Fire!”

Loud calls for help seemed to echo throughout the palace and the within courtyards. The calls were from frantic palace maids were hurrying to put out the fire.

”Hurry! Put out the fire!”

Efforts of collecting water and dampening quilts could be seen along with the heavy sound of racing feet as the palace servants desperately tried to put out the fire.

”Hurry up! Before it spreads!”

The excessive clinking of armor indicated that even the palace guards were on site in order put out the fire. Suddenly a palace maid screamed out loudly. With her trembling finger, she quickly cried out, ”There are people inside the fire!”

One of the guards was stunned to hear her scream, ”What?! How could there be people inside?! Hurry up! Save them!”

As he turned around to grab a bucket of water, he bumped into the emperor. Shaking in fear at his imprudent actions, he quickly gave his greetings. ”Y-your majesty.”

Suddenly a loud outcry came from behind him, ”It's the third prince! And it looks like the eldest miss of the Wei family is here as well!”

Quickly, the emperor elbowed the guard away from his view. His eyes landed on the two figures with tattered and charred clothes. His eyes trembled as he took in their injuries. Hurrying over to Jiayi, he found that his son was in some sort of trance and couldn't be awakened. Hearing a raspy cough from beside him, he turned in time to see Hongyue's round fearful eyes staring at him but at the same time not at him.

Her pale face was covered in soot, and the ends of her hair were scorched. Her cracked lips opened and closed, releasing a coughing fit.

”T-there were black figures. They were hiding in the garden-,” A cough, ”W-wanted us dead-,” Without any warning, Hongyue's eyes rolled back, and her head fell limp. Distressed by this sudden change in events, the emperor ordered the guards to get a physician. He appeared to have thought of something, and he turned to one of his aides abruptly.

”Where is the Empress?”

The aide kneeled, ”Answering your majesty, she's currently in the Phoenix Courtyard.”

Phoenix Courtyard.

That was the farthest courtyard from the fire. Did she scheme this up? She dared to kill his son and not only that, the eldest miss too. Didn't he make it clear no one was to touch her?!!

”Would you like this servant to go get her?”

With raging eyes, he shook his head, ”No need.”

If she did it, she'd come naturally.

All while the chaos was occurring, no one seemed to notice a little black snake on the ground slithering away approaching the direction of the first explosion Hongyue created.