Late that night, on the day of the grand ceremony, Cui Mi breathed her last in the inner palace.
Song Huaixi was guarding her side, about to commit suicide, when he was saved by Li Ye, who Yun Li had arranged to guard the place.
"Miss Song, please don't do anything foolish!"
Li Ye earnestly advised, "His Majesty announced to the public that you had died suddenly, so that you could change your name and have a new life."
"Mi'er is gone, Mi'er is gone," Song Huaixi murmured. "What life do I have left? What's the point of me living?"
Li Ye had fought alongside Yun Li and was used to being rough around the edges; he didn't know how to comfort people, especially a heartbroken woman.
He took a step back and said softly, "I'll stay outside. Call me if Miss Song needs anything."
He turned and left Wuhua Palace, sending someone to inform Yunli and Cui Mi that they were dead.
In the imperial study, Yun Li was writing furiously at his desk, listing the officials he had privately assessed over the years and the proposed positions one by one. Qin Han, who was serving him with pen and ink, couldn't help but sigh, "When Emperor Wenzhao Shengwu was alive, he was just as diligent and hardworking as Your Majesty. This is a blessing for the people of Yun Dynasty!"
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden report.
The young eunuch bowed his head, his voice trembling, and said, "Your Majesty, the one from Wuhua Palace has passed away."
These words struck Yun Li like a bolt from the blue, causing him to lose control of his brush instantly. The brush slipped from his hand, ink splattering everywhere and staining his pristine white boots black.
His heart tightened, and a look of astonishment and grief flashed across his face. He then stood up and hurried toward the direction of Wuhua Palace.
However, as soon as Yun Li and Qin Han stepped out of the Imperial Study, they saw flames shooting into the sky and thick smoke billowing from the direction of Wuhua Palace, as if the entire palace was being engulfed by flames.
The fire at Wuhua Palace raged fiercely, flames leaping across the night sky and turning half the sky red.
The palace's glazed tiles shattered in the fire, making a piercing sound.
The surrounding trees crackled and popped from the heat of the flames, their branches swaying wildly in the inferno.
The palace servants ran around in a panic, some busy fetching water to put out the fire, while others were busy evacuating the palace maids and eunuchs from other palaces.
They cried out, their voices filled with fear and anxiety. However, the fire was too intense, and their cries sounded so faint amidst the flames.
Yunli wanted to call out "Auntie," but found that she could no longer make a sound.
Amidst the raging flames, Song Huaixi held Cui Mi's warm body tightly, murmuring, "Mi'er, I'll go with you. I won't let them discover your secret."
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