"Miss Song, come out quickly!" Jiu Hua, Xi Wu, and Tang Li shouted anxiously from outside.
Looking through the firelight at the distant, continuous rooftops, Song Huaixi burst into tears.
"Mi'er, I entered the palace at fourteen and have been trapped in this deep palace for ten years. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have survived. But why do they insist on separating us?"
Suddenly, a joyful voice came from outside, "General Li, please save my daughter!"
Li Ye glanced at the towering flames, picked up a bucket of water, poured it over his head with a splash, took a deep breath, and rushed into the fire.
"Miss Song, come out quickly!" he called anxiously.
Song Huaixi stared blankly at the newcomer, unmoved.
Li Ye struggled to pry Song Huaixi's hands off Cui Mi, then pressed her head into his chest, preparing to leave.
Just then, a burning beam began to sway precariously.
With the sound of a piece of wood snapping, the burning beam crashed heavily onto the two men.
Li Ye borne most of the weight of the beam with his back, but part of the beam still fell onto Song Huaixi's shoulder.
Li Ye grunted, gritted his teeth, and laboriously pushed the beam aside, gathering his strength to rush out.
The moment the two rushed out of the bedchamber, a loud "boom" was heard, and the entire palace collapsed, sending up countless clouds of dust and sparks flying everywhere.
The others hurriedly used wet blankets to extinguish the fire on the two men.
Li Ye's back injury was quite severe. Upon seeing Yun Li, he said with shame, "Your Majesty, I was unable to rescue the Consort's body in time."
Yun Li glanced at the unconscious Song Huaixi on the ground and said sadly, "The living are the most important. There's nothing for you here. Go down and find the imperial physician to check your back injury."
He then ordered his men to take Song Huaixi to a nearby side hall and instructed the imperial physician to make sure she recovered.
He couldn't think of anyone else besides Song Huaixi who could have had the motive to set fire to Wuhua Palace.
The flames quickly engulfed everything.
As dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight appeared, the ruins of Wuhua Palace looked even more desolate under the glow of the morning sun.
The palace servants, exhausted from a busy night, slumped to the ground, silently bearing the aftershocks of last night's tragedy.
The atmosphere in the Imperial Study was heavy. Yun Li sat upright at his desk, listening to Li Ye's report with a furrowed brow.
"Li Ye, you're saying Song Huaixi started the fire?" Yun Li's voice was filled with disbelief.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Li Ye lowered his head, his voice full of guilt. “Previously, Miss Song attempted suicide, but I stopped her in time. However, I never expected that after I left, she would send Xi Wu and the other palace maids away and set fire to the palace.”
"I have failed in my duties, which has led to this predicament. I beg Your Majesty for punishment!"
"Song Huaixi..." Yun Li hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How is she now?"
“She…she…” Li Ye’s expression was a little strange when Song Huaixi was mentioned, and he stammered as he spoke.
"General Li, what's wrong? Are you trying to make His Majesty guess?" Qin Han reminded him from the side.
"She's stunned."
Li Ye took a deep breath and said, "The imperial physician said Song Huaixi suffered a major blow and went insane. Doesn't that mean she's stupid?"
After Song Huaixi woke up, she remembered nothing. She didn't remember who she was, or her maid. The only person she remembered was "Mi'er," the one who rescued her from the fire, whom she deeply loved.
“Miss Song mistook me for Consort Mi,” Li Ye said carefully. “She doesn’t remember anyone else.”
Yun Li remained silent for a long time after hearing this. He had never imagined that Song Huaixi's feelings for her aunt could be so intense.
What secret is she hiding by setting herself on fire?
"Find a quiet courtyard outside the city and take good care of him," he said, rubbing his forehead.
“She…she won’t let anyone else get close,” Li Ye said, worried.
“You,” Yun Li suddenly raised her head, “Li Ye, I’ll leave this matter to you. The fewer people who know about it, the better. Your monthly salary will be doubled.”
"Your Majesty, the monthly salary is not..." He wanted to decline, but seeing that Yun Li was about to speak, he quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Your Majesty! I will definitely take good care of Miss Song!"
"Li Ye!" Yun Li called out to Li Ye, who was about to leave, and said hesitantly, "You are now a mighty general. When facing women, show some of your heroic spirit from the battlefield. Give it a try, give it a try."
Li Ye looked back at Yun Li with a puzzled expression and nodded, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty."
He scratched his head and muttered to himself, "What exactly did the Emperor mean by that?"
As he was leaving, he bumped into Cui Jiu, who was walking towards him.
"General Li, are you thinking about women? You're so preoccupied you're not even looking where you're going!" Cui Jiu teased.
"It really is related to women." Li Ye put his arm around Cui Jiu's shoulder and led him to a secluded spot. He then recounted everything Yun Li had told him in the Imperial Study and asked, "You're always by the Emperor's side, what's the meaning of that?"
"I'm just guessing, maybe the Emperor is showing you appreciation for your hard work and has arranged a woman for you?" Cui Jiu suggested.
“Yes, a woman was arranged. No, it’s not what you think!” Li Ye was already bad at speaking, and after Cui Jiu said that, he felt even more confused.
"General Li, you're quite the ladies' man!" Cui Jiu patted him heavily on the shoulder and said. "The Emperor must have had a purpose in arranging this for you. Just keep it safe. I have to go report to the Emperor now."
Li Ye looked up at the blazing sun overhead, licked his chapped lips, sighed softly, and went to the outskirts of the city to buy a secluded house.
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