Chapter 451 - The So-called "Black Under the Light"
Chapter 451 The So-called "Black Under the Light"
At night, the flames lighting up the sky shocked the entire capital city. Duke Xing's Mansion was on the street and it was still early, so most people were not asleep yet. People who lived nearby hurriedly helped to put out the fire, while those who lived farther away stood on higher grounds to watch the fire. When they found out that it was Duke Xing's Mansion that was on fire, they were all very surprised.
Such an aristocratic family which had existed for hundreds of years old often had good fire prevention measures in their mansion. Even if occasionally there were sparks in such mansions, the fire would not be so big. Such a raging fire was more likely to have been deliberately started by someone.
Did someone deliberately set fire to Duke Xing's Mansion? This thought sent chills down everyone's spines. In such a situation, why did someone set Duke Xing's Mansion on fire? What was the purpose? Was it really because of Duke Xing?
"Master, the fire is really strong!" Xiao Xuanzi, who stood on the top floor of a pavilion, retracted his neck. He really had to marvel at this delicate Second Miss Qin's courage. No, it was the courage of Fifth Miss Shao now. She dared to set fire to her own house in such a bold way. Even a man would not dare to do this, let alone an ordinary Miss from an aristocratic family!
Xiao Xuanzi thought that he would not have dared to do that, because this action would have made him known to the public.
Of course, Xiao Xuanzi knew that he was just a little eunuch and could not be compared with others. But Xiao Xuanzi thought that even though he was a eunuch, he was bolder than many other men. In this regard, Xiao Xuanzi did not think that he was worse than other men.
Most men were not braver than him, and they were not as brave as Fifth Miss Shao!
Chu Liuchen stood in front of the window, and the long gauzy curtain in front of the window had been put up, so he could see the fiery red in the distant sky and hear the noises coming from that place clearly. He could see that there were people everywhere, and could vaguely hear the sounds of people drifting to him in the wind.
This was indeed a time of great momentum!
He raised his beautiful eyes and said with great interest, “That yard in Duke Xing's Mansion seems to have been destroyed. I have heard that was the wedding room set by Madam of Duke Xing for her son. She has been preparing it for decades!"
"She has prepared it for so long? It is really a pity because it is all gone now!" Xiao Xuanzi said that it was a pity, but the smile on his face indicated otherwise. On the contrary, he smiled happily.
The losses in the courtyard that had been prepared for decades would not just be the equivalent of one or two ordinary yards. It was confirmed that all the good stuff had been delivered to the courtyard.
Now they were all gone! Even thinking about this would make people happy!
"I wonder if Duke Xing will still be so mild mannered. He has a reputation of having a good temper in this court! This will be rare, because I have never seen Duke Xing getting angry."
Chu Liuchen looked at the fire in the distance and squinted, with a smile in his eyes, as if he was in a good mood.
Duke Xing was a good person with a good temper and attitude. Even if he was angry about something, he would solve it gradually. In this aspect, the Emperor thought highly of him and thought that Duke Xing was a calm person and could work well.
The Emperor originally nursed a grievance because of a past misunderstanding between Rui'an Great Elder Princess and Duke Xing's Mansion, but now the grievance had been settled because of the current Duke Xing's attitude.
How could the Emperor not approve of such a good-tempered old man, who was also good at his work?
"Duke Xing will suffer internal injuries because he suppresses too much of his emotions!"
Xiao Xuanzi blinked his eyes and said this meaningfully.
Chu Liuchen smiled, but did not say anything. He continued to look at the scene of the fire outside. He was in a very high place, so he naturally could see farther than those who stood in the ordinary pavilions.
Xiao Xuanzi followed him to watch the scene in silence for a while and said worriedly, "Will Fifth Miss Shao be alright?"
"That little girl is smart. She wants to leave Duke Xing's Mansion? That is a good idea!" Chu Liuchen said lazily.
Xiao Xuanzi did not quite understand, but he was smart. He rolled his eyes and said, "Master, if Fifth Miss Shao leaves the Duke Xing's Mansion, what will happen to her marriage?"
The marriage of Fifth Miss Shao was related to his master's marriage, so Xiao Xuanzi was extremely concerned about this.
Originally, the marriage would have been arranged by her parents' order and the matchmaker's word rather than Shao Wanru herself. If she really left Duke Xing's Mansion, there would have been no elder to decide for her, and there would also be no engagement.
"Since the jade pendant is there, you don't have to worry about her marriage!" Chu Liuchen said leisurely, with his slender fingers lightly tapping the window a few times. At this time, the fire outside the window had eased a little and seemed to be under control, or else the place would almost have been burnt to the ground.
Everything that could be burnt had been burnt, and there was only things left that could not be burnt!
"Prince, Empress Dowager gave you that piece of warm jade and asked you to keep it with you so you can nurse your body. You gave it away to Fifth Miss Shao. I am afraid that Empress Dowager will not be happy when she sees this!"
Xiao Xuanzi started to worry. Why did he give the jade pendant away to Fifth Miss Shao?
He could give her anything but this jade pendant. It seemed that Prince was also going to ask Fifth Miss Shao to visit Empress Dowager with this jade pendant. This would definitely make Empress Dowager angry when she saw this!
"What do you think Imperial Grandmother's reaction will be when she sees Zhuozhuo wearing the jade pendant?" Chu Liuchen smiled gently.
Xiao Xuanzi felt as if his teeth were aching. His face twitched twice and he reminded him carefully, "Master, don't you really think Empress Dowager will be angry?"
"Yes, she will!" Chu Liuchen smiled.
"Then why did you give the jade pendant to Fifth Miss and asked her to carry it?" Xiao Xuanzi was stunned. He really did not understand what his master was thinking of. Wasn't it obvious that he wanted Fifth Miss to be hated by Empress Dowager?
Whoever in this world who was hated by the Empress Dowager was seeking his own death!
Even those who wanted to stay alive would not dare to offend Empress Dowager. It was hard to guess Master's intention.
"I do not want to get married soon, but I have to let Imperial Grandmother know about this. She will take back the jade pendant, but she will also discuss this with Rui'an Great Elder Princess."
Chu Liuchen said this very leisurely.
Therefore, although there was no engagement on the surface, would this mean that the adults of the two families had come to an agreement? Xiao Xuanzi could figure it out to some degree and was immediately overjoyed.
As for why Empress Dowager would discuss this matter with Rui'an Great Elder Princess instead of Old Madam of Duke Xing's Mansion, Xiao Xuanzi felt that since his master said so, it must be true. Moreover, this Old Madam was very partial. It was said that she was very hostile toward Fifth Miss and she had once said that she hated Fifth Miss vehemently, in front of everyone.
Xiao Xuanzi thought that having such a grandmother or not, was the same.
It was best if Empress Dowager could discuss Fifth Miss's marriage with Rui'an Great Elder Princess. As for Old Madam of Duke Xing's Mansion, since she did not treat Fifth Miss well, she should not meddle in Fifth Miss's marriage. Anyway, it could not be said that Fifth Miss had no elder, because she still had Rui'an Great Elder Princess as her elder.
"That is great. Rui'an Great Elder Princess..." When he said this, Xiao Xuanzi's eyes suddenly widened. He stared out of the window at the flames that colored half the sky red and gasped.
He felt that he had really underestimated Fifth Miss!
This Fifth Miss, who looked delicate and weak and could almost be easily knocked down by a gust of wind, was indeed the best match for his scheming master. Originally, Old Madam of Duke Xing's Mansion was the most justified elder for Fifth Miss!
But what would happen after this incident? It was feared that Old Madam of Duke Xing's Mansion could not make arbitrary decisions on Fifth Miss's marriage!
Wen Xichi, who was in the Deputy Prime Minister's Chambers was also looking at the scene of the inferno. He was standing on a rockery in his yard to watch it.
Deputy Prime Minister's Chambers was not far from Duke Xing's Mansion, in fact it was just next door to the mansion. In this position, he had a clear view of the people and also of the young girl who was in front of the crowd. She was being held back by several servants. Among such a large crowd, she was being pushed further and further away.
He also saw Madam of Duke Xing coming over hurriedly. She almost fainted as soon as she entered the door. Had it not been for the support of several servants, she would have slumped to the ground.
Later, Duke Xing came and led a large group of people to help put out the fire.
Such a big fire had set the whole yard ablaze. At first glance, one would know that someone had deliberately started the fire.
The news that Qin Wanru was now Shao Wanru, the daughter of the former Heir of Duke Xing, had spread throughout the entire capital city. Of course, there was another rumor spread at the same time. It was said that First Miss of Qin's Mansion was vicious and greedy. After learning about Shao Wanru's background from her parents, she had tried to take the first step to be authenticated.
Fortunately, although Duke Xing's Mansion felt that the evidence she produced was correct, they still had some doubts. Then, they had Old Madam to take her as a nominal foster granddaughter first and then did some further checks.
After that, Shao Wanru produced the real evidence and some witnesses and First Miss of Qin's Mansion had left in shame. Then, Fifth Miss Shao could officially be recognized as part of the family.
Duke Xing's Mansion was very satisfied with the newly recognized Fifth Miss, so they opened up the ancestral hall to have her registered. Today, Duke Xing's Mansion was busy and lively as it had never been for a long time, so this must be the ceremony to register this Fifth Miss Shao into the family's records. Therefore, it was unexpected that someone had secretly set fire to this place in the evening.
This place must be the Fifth Miss Shao's new courtyard, right?
Now...
"Third Cousin, Third Cousin." A delicate voice came from below. Wen Xichi lowered his head and looked at his cousin who walked out of the shadows, with an obscure expression in his eyes.
"Third Cousin, what happened? I... Is the fire getting closer?" Gu Xishu was in a state of panic. Her face was pale and her hair was hanging messily over her shoulders. It was obvious that she had been in the bed and now she had been woken up by the noise. Her clothes were still a little askew, but even so, they still made her look weak, delicate and pitiable.
However, her gentleness was such that it seemed affected and superficial. She could not be compared to Shao Wanru, whose gentleness had some childish quality to it. A woman like that had an extremely seductive charm, but also a cold temperament, so she was not someone that Gu Xishu could compare with. After he had seen such seductive charm, it seemed that Gu Xishu who stood in front of his eyes was not good enough.
Wen Xichi suddenly felt that he was very strange. He had always been clear-minded, but why hadn't he seen through Gu Xishu who had pretended to be gentle for so many years? How could he still treat her so wholeheartedly as his own sister? He had thought that she was delicate and kindhearted, and that she would not be a schemer!
He had seen that both Gu Xishu and his second brother were alike. Whenever he looked at other people, he would study them carefully, which was in vain. He had complete faith in Gu Xishu and his second brother.
As the saying goes, “There is darkness under the light". This must be referring to him!