A star fell from the sky, about to crash into Qixiang Palace, but suddenly veered off course and crashed into the Imperial Garden.

The flying flames ignited the Imperial Garden, and the palaces on both sides of the garden were also affected.

The closest ones are the Empress's Fengyi Palace and the Consort Xi's Qixiang Palace.

Because Qixiang Palace was well-prepared, it quickly extinguished the fire without any casualties. On the other hand, Fengyi Palace was unprepared and almost half of the palace burned before the fire was extinguished, resulting in the deaths and injuries of dozens of palace maids and eunuchs.

Even the Empress was knocked unconscious by the smoke from the heavenly fire.

The Star-Picking Tower.

Brahma looked at the raging heavenly fire, screams and cries for help, his face filled with a compassionate expression, and the prayer beads in his hand turned one by one.

Under the illumination of heavenly fire...

Watching Prince Chen's figure rushing towards the Imperial Study, the figure that should have been clinging to life in bed was like a moth drawn to the flame that belonged to him.

The prayer beads in Brahma's hand spun even faster. The master said that love is the most poisonous drug in the world. It can drive people crazy and even mountains collapsing and the earth splitting apart cannot stop it.

It's alright...

The master said that he has the greatest wisdom and is a Buddhist disciple, capable of saving all beings, and that he will naturally set things right.

In front of the Imperial Study.

The emperor stared at the towering flames, his face turning ashen.

Consort Xi, Chen Jin'er, knelt to the side wiping away her tears: "Your Majesty, please do not try to persuade me. I am determined to move to the South Palace. I will not return until Her Majesty the Empress forgives me."

The ministers bowed to the ground and cried out in unison, "Your Majesty, please grant the Imperial Concubine's request!"

Jiang Jiaojiao's gaze fell on the figure rushing towards her. She quickly went to meet him, helped the panting man up, and glared at Dao Qing, "Why didn't you stop him?"

Dao Qing lowered his head, not daring to utter a sound.

He was perfectly fine when he ran all the way here, but when he saw people, he became unsteady and his breathing became uneven.

certainly.

He dared not say these words aloud, and could only lower his head and listen to the reprimand.

Prince Chen, panting, looked at her with his fox-like phoenix eyes, "I was worried about you."

"With His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine here, what could possibly happen to me? It's you who..."

Jiang Jiaojiao looked him up and down, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that he was not injured. "I thought you had been suppressed under Leifeng Pagoda by the Imperial Advisor. I was thinking about how to rescue you."

Upon hearing this, Prince Chen's eyes lit up as if they could be squeezed to spit water. "I should have waited for Jiao Jiao to come and save me. That person was truly terrifying. I almost didn't make it back."

As she spoke, her soft and helpless demeanor became even more pronounced.

Jiang Jiaojiao's eyes were a little glazed over.

Wow...what a beautiful woman, so light and supple, I just want to push her over.

So, he pretended to help the beauty up, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Ayan, you've worked hard."

If it weren't for the need to distract the Imperial Advisor and avoid people, and to use the giant stone cart to smash the celestial fire, Qixiang Palace would truly have been lost.

If the heavenly fire were to actually strike Qixiang Palace, the title of "Little Golden Concubine" would be firmly established, and the court officials would certainly not let this opportunity slip by.

At that point, it won't be something that can be solved simply by relocating the palace.

Unexpectedly, Brahma's words came true. If she hadn't remembered that the palace in her previous life was struck by heavenly fire and destroyed a palace, and hadn't prepared the giant stone cart in time, she probably wouldn't have escaped this calamity today.

Jiang Jiaojiao looked towards the Imperial Garden and felt a wave of fear wash over her.

“If he dares to detain you, I’ll tear down his Star-Picking Tower.”

Jiang Jiaojiao coaxed him in a tone as if she were a child.

Although Prince Chen has now recovered from his illness, he still retains a frail and helpless air about him, which makes Jiang Jiaojiao always want to protect him.

"Um!"

Prince Chen took her hand and said, "With Jiaojiao here, I'm not afraid of anything."

The emperor observed the two men, one gentle and the other strong, and a strange balance arose between them, leaving him both gratified and helpless.

He reached out and helped Chen Jin'er up, saying, "You've wronged the Imperial Concubine."

"I am not wronged."

Chen Jin'er shook her head, wiping away tears of grievance.

The emperor's majestic gaze slowly swept over the kneeling ministers, all of whom lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

The Emperor said in a deep voice, “By imperial decree, Consort Xi is of high moral character and great benevolence, and is hereby promoted to Imperial Noble Consort and moved to the South Palace. She is virtuous and talented enough to manage the affairs of the six palaces. In addition, Consort Zhang will assist in the management of the affairs of the six palaces and help the Imperial Noble Consort manage the harem.”

Upon hearing this, the ministers were all taken aback.

"Your Majesty—" No!

No one dared to utter the last few words under the emperor's imposing and angry gaze.

The ministers felt an invisible pressure, as if if they dared to voice their opposition, the emperor would immediately make them kneel again, and this time they might have to kneel for a whole day and night.

The ministers inwardly groaned; they had been kneeling for so long that their knees were numb and their backs ached terribly.

Most importantly—I'm hungry!

They endured hunger and the sounds of the air for half the night, suffering both physically and mentally.

The ministers couldn't help but start making their own calculations. Since the prime minister and the other leaders were not around, why should they be the ones to stick their necks out and offend the emperor?

Today's kneeling has already angered the emperor. If they kneel any longer, not only will their bodies not be able to withstand it, but it will also be a question of whether they can even leave the palace safely.

Didn't you see the Duke of Ningguo and the Marquis of Fuyu eyeing them covetously from the side?

Miss Jiang looked like she wanted to devour someone; if Prince Chen hadn't been there to coax and restrain her, she probably would have rushed over and attacked.

And the way General Weiyuan held his sword—he was just waiting for the emperor's order.

The ministers shuddered.

Now that the emperor had agreed to move the palace, their mission was complete.

The Imperial Advisor's advice only mentioned moving the palace, not prohibiting promotions, right?

So the ministers offered their own explanations, lowered their heads, and fell silent.

Chen Jin'er came to her senses and quickly expressed her gratitude, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

Did she turn misfortune into good fortune?

This promotion is too fast! She has neither a powerful family background nor a prince, yet she's promoted to Imperial Noble Consort? This is probably unprecedented!

That's enough.

Who told her to be a demon concubine? She's already attracted divine punishment, so what's there to be afraid of in terms of promotion? Surely she won't have to go through that again.

With a flourish of his pen, the Emperor, without waiting for the next day, immediately ordered someone to fetch the Imperial Noble Consort's robes and seal, and accompanied Consort Xi—or rather, the Imperial Noble Consort—to the South Palace.

The empress, who slowly awoke, thought she would receive a pardon from the emperor.

Unexpectedly...

Instead, she received news that Consort Xi had been promoted to Imperial Noble Consort. She immediately vomited blood and fainted.

Outside the palace gates.

As Jiang Jiaojiao helped Prince Chen into the carriage, the Duke of Ningguo bowed to Marquis Fuyu and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Marquis."

Marquis Fuyu was taken aback. Congratulations?

Oh, is it to congratulate the Consort on her promotion to Imperial Noble Consort?

It is indeed a joyous occasion, but the South Palace is a bit too remote. We'll have to send more things over there later. One small kitchen probably won't be enough; we'll need to prepare a pastry room as well...

well--

Tomorrow at court, there will be another verbal battle. He has always been bad at talking, so how could he possibly win against Prime Minister Cui and his group?