Chapter 218 Fire
Shen Qingci looked at the Prime Minister's wife and saw that she had also heard the shouts of the palace servants, but did not take it too seriously.
At this moment, all her thoughts were still immersed in the humiliation her daughter had suffered, and she was unaware that the place that caught fire was most likely their Liu family's place.
She was still screaming and begging her maid to come over and help Liu Ruolan off the ground and into the carriage.
As she got up to leave, she even glared fiercely at Huo Yunzhan, her voice filled with icy coldness: "Huo Yunzhan! My Liu family... will never let this go! You just wait!"
Shen Qingci and Ye Lan exchanged a glance, and the two of them quietly slipped away amidst the chaos, blending in with the palace servants who were also craning their necks to watch the spectacle.
After taking a roundabout route and changing into inconspicuous clothes, they secretly left the palace through a secret passage.
On the way, Shen Qingci immediately had Ye Lan contact their secret guards and asked in a low voice, "But... did Chu Jichen set the fire?"
The news came back quickly—
Indeed, it was Chu Jichen who made the move.
A knowing smile slowly curved Shen Qingci's lips.
She couldn't help but admire Chu Jichen in her heart; he had seized the opportunity perfectly!
Just now, Liu Ruolan caused such an absurd incident in the palace, and the attention of the entire Liu family must have been drawn to it.
Perhaps Liu Wenyuan, who is "unconscious," is also mingling in the palace, anxiously checking the situation, just like them.
This is when their guard is at its lowest, and it is also... the best time to strike!
Shen Qingci immediately stopped hesitating and instructed Ye Lan, "Take me... straight to the fire and see what's going on."
It's really lively over there.
That alley was located in the most prosperous area of the capital, and since it was daytime, the streets were bustling with people.
Now that such a big fire has suddenly broken out, it has attracted countless people to stop and watch, blocking the entire street!
Many people were discussing the towering flames:
"My God! This fire is huge! Look, the courtyards in this alley... it looks like they've been connected?"
"Indeed! Look at the flying eaves and brackets, the carved beams and painted rafters, the decorations... it's truly luxurious! What kind of important person lives here?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci immediately lowered her voice and said mysteriously to an older woman beside her who was watching with great interest:
"Hey, let me tell you something. My family... has a relative who works in the Ministry of Revenue. I heard that the land deeds for these courtyards seem to be... registered under Prime Minister Liu's name."
Shen Qingci's words immediately amplified the surrounding chatter!
"What?! Prime Minister Liu?!"
"Tsk tsk tsk... I've long heard that Prime Minister Liu is richer than a country, but I never imagined... he'd be so extravagant! How much silver must he have embezzled!"
Ye Lan looked around, lowered her voice, and said to Shen Qingci, "Your Highness, the Prince... is waiting for you in the teahouse next door."
Shen Qingci nodded, squeezed out of the crowded throng, and followed Ye Lan to a private room on the third floor of a teahouse not far away.
Chu Jichen was indeed there.
Seeing Shen Qingci enter with a smile, he asked, "Did you enjoy the play?"
Shen Qingci nodded, quickly stepped forward, and threw herself into his arms, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement: "You didn't see it! How amazing it was earlier! Emperor Yongming... he's simply a madman!"
Then, in a few words, she vividly recounted everything that had just happened in the palace to Chu Jichen.
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen nodded, his expression indifferent: "Emperor Yongming has been mad for quite some time now. The reason why Liu Ruolan and the others miscalculated today is probably because they thought that now that he has just assumed power, he would... restrain himself a little."
Chu Jichen's lips slowly curled up, a smile that was neither a smile nor a frown: "But... he won't stop. He... can't stop."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci looked at him with some surprise: "Why is Your Highness so certain?"
After thinking it over carefully, she had a vague idea in her mind, so she lowered her voice and asked, "You... tampered with it?"
Chu Jichen smiled but remained silent.
But Shen Qingci already had the answer in her heart.
After thinking about it carefully, she also felt it made sense.
How could someone like Chu Jichen, who has been in charge of government affairs and manipulated the emperor for so many years, possibly be completely unprepared?
Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the window.
Shen Qingci walked to the window and opened it.
As soon as I opened it, I was squinted by the firelight and heat coming from the other side.
She paused for a moment before realizing that government officials had arrived and were hurriedly organizing people to put out the fire.
There were even a few familiar figures peeking out from the doorway.
Shen Qingci raised her eyebrows slightly: "Isn't that... the son of the Minister of War? And... the second son of the Censor-in-Chief?"
Chu Jichen nodded: "Their residences are nearby, so they must have... received the news and come to check the situation."
“But,” a calculating glint flashed in his eyes, “I…have also specially arranged for some people to come.”
Immediately, someone from the group of officials stepped forward and loudly called on the onlookers to help put out the fire.
The onlookers, already enthusiastic, immediately sprang into action upon hearing this, grabbing whatever they could find, fetching water, and rushing toward the raging fire!
Shen Qingci immediately felt a surge of excitement!
With so many people rushing in, the raging fire will surely be extinguished in no time.
At that time, the show that Chu Jichen had meticulously arranged would finally begin.
She needs to see it with her own eyes!
She slowly turned around, her clear phoenix eyes gazing longingly at Chu Jichen.
Upon seeing her like this, Chu Jichen immediately knew what she wanted to do.
He sighed helplessly, but his voice was full of indulgence: "I originally... wanted you to stay away from me. But,"
Looking into her expectant eyes, he finally softened. "Since you're so curious, then... let Ye Lan take you there."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci immediately thanked him happily!
She stepped forward, hugged Chu Jichen's neck, and kissed him deeply on his smooth forehead. Then, happily, she took Ye Lan downstairs.
After Shen Qingci left, Chu Jichen slowly recovered from the sudden intimacy.
He reached out and gently touched his forehead, unable to suppress a soft chuckle.
Shen Qingci is becoming more and more vivid in his eyes now.
Excellent.
Shen Qingci had no idea what Chu Jichen was thinking. At this moment, she had already disguised herself as an ordinary citizen putting out a fire. She had Ye Lan find an old wooden basin from somewhere, and carrying a basin of water, she followed the others into the courtyard that was already shrouded in fire and thick smoke!
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