Chapter 732 Shu Yan Delivers Snacks

The fire was small and was quickly extinguished after being discovered in time. The imperial physician also examined the young princes and princesses and found nothing serious, although the third princess had suffered a throat injury from the smoke.

Jiang Fenghua was furious. "Who set the fire? Who's on night duty at Kunning Palace today?"

Granny Wang called the young eunuch on night duty to her side. "Your Highness, it's Xiao Chuanzi and Xiao Guizi on night duty tonight. They were the ones who discovered the fire in the side hall. They immediately sent people to put out the fire and also woke up the others."

Jiang Fenghua stared at them, "Where were you when the fire started? Did you spot any suspicious people?"

Xiao Chuanzi said, "This servant and Xiao Guizi had just finished their inspection and were about to return to their rooms when this servant had to relieve himself and ran out again. When he saw a fire in the side hall, he ran to check and discovered that there was a fire."

Granny Wang said, "The people in Kunning Palace are all handpicked by us, and their backgrounds are all clean. They wouldn't dare to lie to us."

At this moment, Aoxue ran in, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty..."

"Have you found them yet?" Xie Shang asked in a deep voice.

“We couldn’t find Night Shadow. The guards at the palace gate said he had left the palace.” Ao Xue added, “Before the fire, Night Shadow was patrolling outside Kunning Palace. He sent away the guards who were with him.”

Xiao Guizi also said, "Before the fire started, I ran into Lord Yeying in the side hall. He said that they were patrolling the palace and told me to go back to my room to sleep."

Xie Shang said coldly, "Lin Feng, issue a city-wide warrant for Ye Ying's arrest. He must be brought back to me."

Lin Feng had not expected Ye Ying to betray the Emperor. He said, "This humble servant obeys the decree."

Ao Xue said urgently, "This humble servant does not believe that Ye Ying set the fire. He must have had his reasons for suddenly leaving the palace." At the time, she was sleeping in Princess Yan's room, and she did not believe that Ye Ying would have the heart to burn them all to death.

"Your Majesty," Aoxue knelt before Jiang Fenghua, "Let me go and find out what really happened."

Jiang Fenghua said, "It's the same if Lin Feng takes people to look for him. You can question him after you bring him back. For now, you should stay in the palace! He is indeed the most suspicious person."

Lianye pulled Aoxue up, "Don't worry, once we find him, the truth will come out. If it wasn't him, he will definitely come back."

Ao Xue didn't say anything more. She had known Ye Ying since she was a child. Ye Ying was also an orphan and had excellent martial arts skills. They were both the emperor's secret guards. How could he possibly betray the emperor? Even if a knife was held to his neck, he would never betray him even if he died!

Jiang Fenghua was exhausted after a long night and finally lay down on the bed. The side hall had been burned down, so she took the children to sleep in the main hall. Xie Shang had to get up early for court and returned to the Qianqing Palace overnight.

Before leaving, he said to Jiang Fenghua, "You stay with the children. Leave the rest to me. Judging from Zhang Anyu's investigation, Jin Ji should be fine."

Jiang Fenghua didn't say much and went to sleep with the child.

As soon as Xie Shang arrived at Qianqing Palace, he saw Shu Yan waiting at the door with a food box in her hand.

Shu Yan was dressed in a flowing pink dress and her makeup was very pretty. When she saw the Emperor return, she quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Xie Shang disliked Shu Yan intensely. The only reason he remembered her was because she had a father who was even more difficult than a shrew. A hint of impatience flashed in his eyes as he coldly asked, "What are you doing here so late?"

Shu Yan said gently, "Your Majesty, please try the desserts I just learned to make."

Wu Xin stood aside. Last night, Shu Ronghua had also brought some snacks, but the Emperor didn't see her. She came again tonight, clearly trying to seduce the Emperor.

Wu Xin said, "Your Majesty, please go back. His Majesty does not like sweets."

"Your Majesty hasn't even tried it, how could Eunuch Wuxin know that Your Majesty doesn't like it? I've been making it for a long time, especially for Your Majesty." Shu Yan bit her pink lips, looking pitiful and endearing.

Xie Shang was also exhausted because of the fire at Kunning Palace. Thinking about Ye Ying's betrayal, he was in a bad mood. Just as he stepped into the bedchamber, he suddenly thought that Shu Yan might know something about the Shu family.

He said coldly, "Bring in the pastries, I'm actually quite hungry."

Without hesitation, Shu Yan respectfully stepped aside and immediately smiled, "Yes."

Wuxin also silently followed in. Tonight, the Emperor was originally going to stay in Kunning Palace with the Empress, but it was only because the young masters' sleeping quarters were burned down that the Empress allowed the young masters to stay in the main hall.

He deftly helped the emperor change out of his brocade robes and then had toiletries brought over. Xie Shang washed his hands and face slowly and gracefully. Shu Yan stood obediently to the side, also attracted by the refined and handsome emperor. She was almost mesmerized by his beauty.

Shu Yan suddenly stepped forward, "Your Majesty, I will assist you with your washing up." Consort Chang said that women in the palace must be thick-skinned and wait for the emperor to summon them. Some women never get to see the emperor in their entire lives, and as a result, they die alone and become resentful women in the deep palace.

Xie Shang handed her a handkerchief.

Shu Yan felt flattered and quickly took the handkerchief to wipe the Emperor. If she could get close to the Emperor, he could then take her. Thinking about what would happen next, her heart pounded.

However, just as her fingers touched the Emperor's hand, Xie Shang suddenly turned and sat down in front of the table, saying, "What desserts did Shu Ronghua make? Let me see."

Upon hearing this, Wuxin's heart tightened. What did the Emperor mean?

With a smile on her lips, Shu Yan put down the handkerchief and quickly opened the food box, which contained two layers of exquisite pastries.

Xie Shang glanced at it and praised, "Shu Ronghua is indeed skillful; the pastries are beautifully made."

Wu Xin hurriedly moved the pastries aside: "Your Majesty, you cannot eat them without testing them for poison."

Upon hearing this, Shu Yan quickly replied, "I made it myself; it's not poisoned."

After saying that, she casually picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, saying, "See? It's not poisonous."

Xie Shang slightly curled the corners of his lips, "I believe that Shu Ronghua would not harm me, and you wouldn't dare to harm me either."

Shu Yan smiled and said, "I am Your Majesty's concubine. I belong to Your Majesty in life and in death."

Xie Shang's lips twitched. "Does Shu Ronghua know how to play chess?"

Shu Yan was stunned. "I know a little, but I'm not proficient. My chess skills are not as good as Your Majesty's."

"Since you know how, play a game with me!" Xie Shang said calmly.

"Yes." Shu Yan had long known that the Emperor was skilled in chess. Consort Gao used to play chess with the Emperor often and even gained his favor. So, she had also studied how to play chess in the past two years.

At this moment, she was also very nervous. The night was long, so she sat up straight, deliberately exposing her fair neck and the area below her collarbone. The emperor was young and vigorous, and she had dressed up carefully. How could the emperor resist touching her?

After placing a few chess pieces, Xie Shang said, "Shu Ronghua and your cousin must have frequent contact, right?"

"Ah!" Shu Yan was stunned.

"Your cousin Shu Xue is dead, and Shu Ronghua doesn't know?"

Shu Yan nodded. "I know a little. My mother sent a message to me about this, but she didn't say anything specific."

Aren't you sad?

Shu Yan's fingers trembled slightly as she held the chess piece. "Of course I'm sad, but the deceased is gone. Perhaps this was Xue Tang's fate."

Xie Shang stared at her, her whole body dressed in bright colors and her makeup was very exquisite. She didn't look like her cousin had died at all.

It felt somewhat comical when she said "the deceased are gone"!