The onlookers at this moment were like the badger in the melon patch, frantically watching the drama unfold.

Didn't the Yong'an Marquis's residence just catch fire a couple of days ago? How come it's on fire again today?

Bai and Tang exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with interest.

Things seem to be getting more and more interesting; their trip to the concubine selection banquet wasn't in vain.

Su Muyao glanced at Su Feiling, puzzled.

What happened?

Why is there a fire again? Could it be something Mother arranged again?

Su Feiling frowned and glanced at Su Xuening, but from her angle, she could only see Su Xuening's back.

For some reason, she had a bad feeling.

At this moment, Mrs. Zhong was also completely confused, and at the same time, she vaguely felt that something was wrong.

She didn't order any arson today; the fire started strangely. Su Xuening's motives weren't just to accuse Yuan'er; she must have other intentions.

Xuanyuan Peng frowned, showing no interest whatsoever in the fire at the Yong'an Marquis's residence: "I ordered you to summon Su Linyuan!"

The eunuch was startled and immediately knelt down: "We have delivered the imperial decree that the eldest son of the Su family is not in the manor. His servant said that he went to Zuihuanlou yesterday and has not returned yet."

Upon hearing the words "Zuihuanlou," the crowd below became somewhat restless.

Zhong felt a pang of panic and stole a glance at Xuan Yuanpeng.

That little rascal! Didn't he tell her yesterday he'd be reading in the study? How come he went to Zuihuanlou again? He made her so sure he'd been reading in the study the whole time.

Xuanyuan Peng's face darkened with displeasure: "Where is he now?"

The young eunuch replied nervously, "The servants from the Yong'an Marquis's residence went to Zuihuan Tower to look for him, but the girls there said that the eldest son of the Su family had returned at dawn. However, the servants from the Yong'an Marquis's residence searched the entire Yong'an Marquis's residence but could not find the eldest son of the Su family."

As soon as the eunuch said this, the noble ladies below could no longer help but whisper among themselves.

"Is there even a need to look for it? It must be in Su Xuening's room!"

"Yes, didn't that maid just say she knocked him unconscious with a copper basin? He should be in Su Xuening's room right now."

"Does this prove that what Su Xuening said is true?"

Consort Su was quick-witted and immediately asked the young eunuch, "Where in the Yong'an Marquis's residence is the fire?"

“Yes…” The little eunuch glanced at Su Xuening, then lowered his eyes and reported, “It is Miss Su’s courtyard, Jingxue Pavilion.”

Upon hearing that Jingxue Pavilion was on fire, Su Yun'an, who had been kneeling obediently beside her, suddenly burst into tears: "Sister, they burned down my Lingxiao Pavilion, and now they're burning down your Jingxue Pavilion. It's not enough for them to kill me, they want to kill you too."

"Don't be afraid!" Su Xuening hugged Su Yun'an tightly, then glanced at Xuan Yuanpeng on the throne and comforted him softly, "His Majesty is here, he will surely uphold justice for my brother and me."

Looking at Su Xuening's completely trusting gaze, Xuanyuan Peng felt a strange unease in his heart.

Zhong finally realized what was happening and immediately glared at Su Xuening, her face flushed, and shouted, "Jingxuexuan is on fire! You just said that Yuan'er was knocked unconscious in your room? Where is Yuan'er now?"

Su Xuening looked at Zhong Shi and sneered, "Don't you know better than anyone why Jingxue Pavilion caught fire? Just like the fire at Lingxiao Pavilion a few days ago, it's a pity that Yun An and I didn't die. You must be disappointed!"

"Yuan'er!" Madam Zhong had no time to argue with her at this moment. She screamed, got up, and ran out.

Everyone was startled by Zhong's sudden outburst, but those with children could understand her.

Xuanyuan Peng's face darkened instantly; this Zhong family member was far too unruly.

Upon seeing this, Su Feiling immediately stood up and knelt down on the jade steps: "Your Majesty, my mother was also worried about my elder brother. Please forgive my mother for her rashness."

Everyone had fled, and Xuan Yuanpeng didn't want to dwell on these matters. He simply looked at Su Xuening and asked, "Why did the Yong'an Marquis's residence go into fire?"

Su Xuening lowered her eyes: "This subject is unaware that this is not the first time such arson has occurred. This subject believes that the second branch of the Su family should be better able to answer Your Majesty's questions."

Su Feiling clenched her fists, wanting to refute Su Xuening, but she didn't dare to interrupt in front of Xuan Yuanpeng.

Xuanyuan Peng frowned and asked again, "Did the Yong'an Marquis's residence experience a fire before?"

Su Xuening looked up, raising the half of her face that had been burned: "Yes, just two days ago, it was my younger brother Su Yun'an's Lingxiao Pavilion. I rushed into the fire and hid my brother in a water tank. We escaped the fire only when the Imperial Guards came to put it out."

The matter had even involved the Imperial Guards, which puzzled Xuan Yuanpeng even more: "The Imperial Guards went to put out the fire?"

Su Xuening: "The doors and windows were doused with tung oil. The water was too strong. The eldest branch of the Su family was weak and there were few servants left in the courtyard. They were unable to put out the fire, so they asked the second branch for help. The fire burned all night, and no one from the second branch came out to put out the fire. Only then did the servants of the eldest branch ask the Third Prince for help. It was the Third Prince who led the Imperial Guards to put out the fire."

The mere mention of being doused with tung oil and the fact that not a single member of the second branch of the Su family came out to put out the fire was enough to convict the second branch of the Su family.

Not only did the noble ladies believe that the fire at the Su family's eldest branch was related to the second branch, but even Xuan Yuanpeng looked sharply at Su Feiling and Su Muyao.

Su Feiling finally couldn't help but speak up: "Your Majesty, the Shuntian Prefecture has already closed the case. It was the eldest son's servant who set the fire, and it has nothing to do with our second son's family."

As soon as Su Feiling finished speaking, Su Yun'an glared at her and shouted, "You're talking nonsense! Quan would never set me on fire!"

"Yun'an!" Before Zong Jiu could utter a cold rebuke, Su Xuening was the first to reprimand Su Yun'an.

Su Yun'an's eyes instantly reddened, and she looked at Su Xuening with a wronged expression: "Sister, Quan can't read, but he wrote a confession. Also, there are two ligature marks on his neck, so he didn't hang himself. He was strangled to death and it was staged as an act of suicide out of guilt. Besides, he was in charge of my food and medicine. If he really wanted to harm me, why would he set a fire? He could have just poisoned my food. Wouldn't that have been more effective and wouldn't have aroused suspicion? Sister, Quan loves me the most. He wouldn't harm me."

Su Yun'an's voice choked with emotion, but her thoughts were very clear. She explained the suspicious points in the case clearly, making sure that everyone present understood, which made them even more suspicious of the second branch of the Su family.

Su Xuening tenderly wiped away the tears from Su Yun'an's eyes: "I know, I have already given A-Quan a proper burial."

After comforting Su Yun'an, Su Xuening respectfully kowtowed to Emperor Xuanyuan Peng: "Your Majesty, since the Shuntian Prefecture has given such a result regarding the Lingxiao Pavilion arson case, I accept it. However, now my Jingxue Pavilion has caught fire again, and according to them, your servant A-Quan has already hanged himself out of fear of punishment. So who set the fire at Jingxue Pavilion this time? Before, someone wanted Yun'an dead; this time, who wants me dead? Since I have already filed this complaint, I wish to also file a complaint regarding the arson case. The Yong'an Marquis's residence caught fire twice within two days, which is highly suspicious. I beg Your Majesty to investigate the truth for me and my brother!"

Seeing the siblings in such a disheveled state, yet still calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant, Xuanyuan Peng finally recalled the merits of a loyal subject: "Since there are so many questions, let's go to the Yong'an Marquis's residence together!"