Rushing into the fire
The chess game between the Grand Marshal and the Marquis of Huaiyang was extremely fierce.
Originally, Xiao and Cheng had no hope of winning and were fighting hard, but the Marquis of Huaiyang suddenly changed his style of play and became timid, making moves in every round to delay the game.
Xiao Yucheng believed that this old fox was up to something bad, otherwise why would he suddenly change his nature.
He wanted to exchange glances with Xiao Bo, but Xiao Bo was completely in Cao's camp but his heart was with Han, and he didn't pay any attention to him. Xiao Yucheng wanted to find a chance to look at each other, but there was no chance.
Somehow, Xiao Bo was absent-minded, staring blankly at the big red palace wall and the rows of ridge beasts on the palace in the distance, with a feeling of uneasiness lingering around him.
Maybe it was because he had been eating and sleeping with Pei Zhaoying for too long, and he couldn't adapt to being separated from her for a moment outside.
Xiao Bo was even more worried about Pei Zhaoying's safety and regretted that he should have been tougher in asking to go with Pei Zhaoying.
He was originally free from the worldly affairs, but because of one person, he was contaminated by the sorrows and joys of the world, which he could not get.
Xiao Bo was so obviously distracted that he even got burned by the tea he was drinking and coughed twice in an unruly manner.
Xiao Yucheng immediately felt that he had once again embarrassed the Xiao family members outside, and criticized them with a stern face:
"My dear brother, you and your wife have only been apart for a moment, yet you are so distracted? You are truly unmanly."
"It can't be helped. We are a loving couple, and we treat each other with respect. In my humble opinion, respecting and loving your wife is the true sign of manliness."
Although Xiao Bo was uneasy, his verbal skills did not diminish, and he responded to Xiao Yucheng with eloquent words.
However, the Marquis of Huaiyang was too quiet and did not even cause any trouble. While Xiao Bo was concerned about Pei Zhaoying, he secretly took note of this unusual fact.
Pei Heng asked him to stay here for surveillance - Xiao and Cheng were allowed to wear swords and shoes when entering the palace, and they also had to carry weapons when entering and leaving the palace. The Marquis of Huaiyang had ulterior motives, and it would certainly not be appropriate for these two people to be left unattended.
The Marquis of Huaiyang made his moves very slowly, his expression arrogant and calm, wondering if this time was enough to lock Pei Heng and his sister in the room and cook them to death.
He could see that it would be difficult to escape unscathed from this trip to Beijing.
Since ancient times, the victors are kings and the losers are bandits. He might as well give it his all. As long as Pei Heng died, he would be of Pei family blood and would be close to the capital, so he would surely be able to seize the throne.
To this end, he specially bribed the eunuch working in the flower room, lit an incense that could knock out a cow, and used warm jade to ignite a fire in the high-temperature and concentrated light inner room, which would surely harm people without anyone noticing.
Xiao Bo's irritability grew worse and worse, and he was ready to abandon them and meet up with Pei Zhaoying first before discussing other things.
"The tea is cold. I'll change the tea for you, sir." An exceptionally clever palace maid carried the teapot and diligently changed the tea for Xiao Bo.
Xiao Bo didn't need anyone to serve him, and was feeling anxious and uncomfortable when he heard the palace maid take the opportunity to whisper: "Doctor Lu said that the prince is alone in the warm room. Please keep an eye on him, my lord."
Lu Yunqi was still frightened by the last poisoning case, so he was cautious and gave some money to a palace maid he knew well to let Xiao Bo know.
Xiao Bo was startled, no longer caring about his manners, and almost jumped up from his seat - wasn't Pei Heng with Pei Zhaoying? Did Pei Heng abandon Pei Zhaoying alone?
Xiao Yucheng and Huaiyang Hou looked at him in surprise.
Xiao Bo looked towards the greenhouse: "...There's smoke. There's smoke in the greenhouse."
The glazed roof is completely airtight, and the doors and windows are still made of wood, with gaps allowing smoke to escape.
Marquis Huaiyang quickly interrupted:
"Where is the smoke? Lord Xiao Bo must be dazzled. Besides, there are imperial kitchens and various small kitchens in the palace. It's normal to have smoke when cooking."
People talk more when they are nervous and guilty.
Xiao Bo glanced at him sharply, but now was not the time to clean up, so Xiao Bo said "I'll go and take a look", and violated the ban on running in the palace, and ran over.
He wished he could use his Qinggong skills to get there immediately!
Xiao Yucheng also took a look and found that it was indeed smoke, but it was not obvious. A closer look revealed that smoke was rising straight up. Marquis Huaiyang was lying with his eyes open, so there must be something fishy going on.
Xiao Yucheng raised his hand to disrupt the chessboard, and dragged Huaiyang Hou along with him: "Let's go and take a look. After all, His Majesty is there, and as a subject we must be cautious."
Marquis Huaiyang was fat and weak, no match for Xiao Yucheng. He thought that he would not be able to find any clues.
Before Xiao Bo even reached the greenhouse, he heard a young eunuch running and crying:
"The fire is coming! The fire is coming!"
The glazed roof did not collapse, and thick smoke billowed out from the gaps between the doors and windows. No one dared to imagine what was going on inside.
Xiao Bo grabbed someone and asked in panic, "Where's His Highness? Have you seen His Highness?"
"No, I didn't see it..." the young eunuch stammered.
Xiao Bo's heart sank.
Then Pei Zhaoying must have been left in the fire scene.
The young eunuch did not have the courage to save his master, and he lied that he did not see Pei Zhaoying outside, deceiving himself.
Xiao Bo's hands and feet were cold, and he was determined to rescue Pei Zhaoying from the sea of fire. He pushed the door open - he wanted to kick the door in a hurry, but then he was afraid that the wooden structure of the house would collapse and crush Pei Zhaoying. When his hand touched the flaming door, he seemed to lose his sense of pain.
"Master Xiao Bo, the fire is too big. Please take care of yourself and don't take any risks!"
Xiao Bo murmured, "His Highness is still inside..."
Thick smoke filled the room, and a lot of it leaked out after the door opened, but it still continued to billow along with the flames.
Xiao Bo was good at martial arts and held his breath consciously, but his eyes were not spared and were smoked to the point of tears.
The beams were charred black by the fire and could fall down at any time.
The wooden flower stand was burned down and lay on the ground, with flames still blazing.
Xiao Bo wiped away the physiological tears that were constantly stimulated, opened his eyes to search in the smoke and heat, stepped through the flames, and risked his life just to find Pei Zhaoying's trace.
There was a lot of noise outside. After a long period of chaos, the leading palace maid was organizing the palace people to put out the fire. However, this place was far from the water source, and most of the water scooped up had already spilled on the road. Pouring more water on the fire would be like a drop in the bucket.
Xiao Bo turned a deaf ear and searched with an expressionless face, as if he was incorruptible.
If something happened to Pei Zhaoying, he didn't want to leave the fire scene, and would rather be burned to ashes with her.
His core was filled with helpless rage.
Why did Pei Zhaoying have to endure so many disasters? In his previous life, there were clearly no such disasters. Why couldn't God allow this kindest and purest person to have the simplest peace and stability?
Why did Pei Heng leave Pei Zhaoying alone?
Doesn’t he know that the imperial sister he is closest to is a disabled person who can’t walk!
This world has dealt them all with injustice. It would be wonderful if they could all be burned by the flames.
"Pei Zhaoying——"
"Where are you? Can you hear me?"
"Aying..."
"Aying, answer me!"
"You can't...can't leave me again!"
The man's voice ended with a sob.
Tears washed down, and it was hard to tell whether they were from the sadness in my heart or the ruthless fire.
He is an ordinary person with mortal body. He still has consciousness, so of course he will feel pain.
No matter how painful it was, it couldn't be more devastating than watching her die. It would drive him crazy.
Xiao Bo's brocade robe was stained gray, and he walked deeper into the cave with determination.
The noise was so loud that Pei Heng, who was resting in the Yangxin Palace, was alarmed and moved outside the fire scene to direct the fire-fighting efforts. He arrived later than Xiao Yucheng and the Marquis of Huaiyang.
When Huaiyang Hou saw that Pei Heng was safe and sound, his shrewd old eyes showed a look of despair that his plan had failed.
How come the emperor wasn't trapped in the fire? If his carefully planned regicide hadn't succeeded, where would he find another opportunity in the future?
Xiao Yucheng did not let go of the abnormality of Huaiyang Hou.
He glanced at the old fox who suddenly looked haggard, bowed and reported to Pei Heng:
"...The Prince Consort saw the smoke from afar and rushed over. He ignored anyone who tried to stop him, saying he wanted to rescue His Highness, and then he barged in. The Princess and the Prince Consort were both inside. The fire was so intense that it was difficult to save them. The others didn't dare to go in to help."
Pei Heng was a little embarrassed and couldn't hold back his face. He roared angrily at the palace servants:
"What are you doing here? Are you all just good-for-nothings? Your master's fate in there is uncertain, and you've been keeping a bunch of loyal servants like you just to sit there and watch? Go in and rescue them! Bring out the princess and her husband safely!"
After all, it was his inconsiderateness that made him forget that Pei Zhaoying was disabled and he didn't leave anyone for her.
If Pei Zhaoying had had another maid by his side, he would not have been in such a situation where he could get no help from anyone.
Pei Heng used exaggerated anger to clear himself.
Xiao Yucheng felt disgusted by this, as the royal family was indeed ruthless.
Who would be willing to risk their lives for someone they had no connection with? The palace maids and eunuchs, fearing their own lives and fearing that their delay would anger the emperor, who would order their execution on the spot, poured water over their heads, soaking their clothes, and covered their mouths and noses with wet cloths. They bent over and crawled in, fearing death.
However, they were all cautious and took a few steps after entering the door so that they could evacuate in time and tried their best to search and rescue.
There was chaos inside and outside the country, and the emperor was worried. He was not naive enough to think that it was an accidental fire. When he thought that someone was plotting a murder, he wanted to immediately pull Pei Zhaoying and his wife out to protect him!
Pei Heng tried his best to calm himself down and ordered the people from the Palace Front Department to come and protect the emperor.
The Marquis of Huaiyang was unusually quiet.
Xiao Yucheng's not very bright brain moved, and he caught a passing thought, thinking that the fire must be related to the Marquis of Huaiyang!
The charred drying rack lost its support and collapsed, hitting Xiao Bo hard on the back. The gray brocade robe was burned by the high temperature, leaving a hole in the shape of the wooden frame.
Xiao Bo walked to the innermost room of the greenhouse despite the fire.
It was like revealing the last glimmer of hope.
All the strength that kept him going was almost gone, and he hoped to grab a straw that could save Pei Zhaoying and himself.
However, his vision blurred and he saw the lonely and empty wheelchair.
"Aying!" Xiao Bo pounced on her.
I had a glimmer of hope, thinking that I was seeing things, but what I touched was a scorching hot and burning wheelchair. The hub had been burned out, and the wheelchair was ridiculously half tilted, and no one could sit comfortably on it.
So where would Pei Zhaoying be?
Xiao Bo forced himself to calm down.
Pei Zhaoying is not the type of person who would sit and wait for death. If her wheelchair were to catch fire, she would definitely abandon it and seek a way to survive.
But due to her physical condition, she couldn't go far.
Xiao Bo lowered his head and lowered his gaze...
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