Chapter 347 Extra Chapter 2: What if the transmigrator hadn't appeared (2)
He sat up abruptly, ripped open the bed curtains, and demanded sharply, "How did the fire start? Where is Li Yuanzhao?"
The young eunuch kneeling outside the hall quickly lowered his head. "Your Majesty... After you gave the order yesterday, Consort Zhao was sent to the Cold Palace. Who knew... who knew that a fire would suddenly break out in the middle of the night? Because no one was on night duty, it wasn't discovered in time. By the time the patrolling guards noticed something was wrong, the fire was already... already out of control..."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yanqing's pupils contracted slightly.
He just issued an order yesterday to starve her for a few meals and dampen her arrogance, and she's already getting angry today?
What a coincidence!
It's obvious without even thinking that the woman was strong-willed and would rather die than be humiliated, so she set the fire herself!
He gritted his teeth and said, "Then why aren't you putting out the fire?! Are all the Imperial Guards dead?!"
The young eunuch was terrified and hurriedly replied, "The Imperial Guards and eunuchs are already putting out the fire... but... but the fire is too fierce. Consort Zhao... she's still inside the palace, and I'm afraid... I'm afraid she's already in grave danger..."
Su Qingci, who had been listening quietly to these words, trembled almost imperceptibly with her eyelashes, and a complex glint flashed in the depths of her eyes.
Enraged, Chen Yanqing grabbed a jade ruyi from beside his pillow and threw it, yelling, "Useless! A bunch of useless people! They can't even keep an eye on one person!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down!" Although the eunuch was not hit, he was trembling with fear and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.
Su Qingci's mind raced, but she showed no sign of it on her face. She gently patted his chest to soothe him: "Your Majesty, please calm down and take care of your health. The most urgent task right now is to put out the fire. We can talk about other things after the fire is under control."
Chen Yanqing calmed down a bit, but his tone remained ruthless: "Listen to me, I want to see them alive or dead! Even if the Cold Palace is burned to ashes, you must find them for me! If you can't find them, I will take the lives of all of you!"
"Yes! Yes! This servant understands!" After responding to the order, the little eunuch hurriedly scrambled out.
Su Qingci patted his back to help him catch his breath while frowning.
Although she and the eldest princess belonged to different camps and were on opposing sides.
But deep down, I also respect her character and admire her methods.
If His Majesty had not been recognized as a member of the royal family by chance, given Li Yuanzhao's abilities, prestige, and the power behind him, it would be truly unknown who would be sitting on the dragon throne now.
Such a woman, who had almost reached the pinnacle of power, possessed a charm and charisma that even her adversaries could not completely deny or ignore.
But who could have predicted that after His Majesty ascended the throne, his way of dealing with her would be to bring her into the harem and bestow upon her the title of Jieyu?
For a woman like the Princess, such a treatment was undoubtedly a humiliation worse than death.
She did try to dissuade him, but felt that this was probably not the best course of action and could have negative consequences.
But she was ultimately of low status and her voice carried little weight; how could she possibly sway the emperor's mind?
Hearing that Li Yuanzhao was in grave danger in the fire, she breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help feeling a pang of regret.
Such a woman, in the end, met such an end.
However, what puzzled her even more was His Majesty's reaction.
She could see clearly that His Majesty had no romantic love for Li Yuanzhao, but rather a desire to conquer and seek revenge.
Now that you hear that she may perish in the fire, why is His Majesty so out of control and furious?
At this moment, even Chen Yanqing himself, after his rage subsided slightly, was momentarily lost in thought.
Does it really matter to him whether Li Yuanzhao lives or dies?
He couldn't understand it; he just felt a tightness in his chest, a mass of inexplicable, turbid air.
Seeing his gloomy expression, Su Qingci softened her voice, "Your Majesty, it's almost dawn. No matter what happens in the Cold Palace, the court assembly cannot be delayed. May I help you get up and wash first?"
Her gentleness and thoughtfulness temporarily calmed the nameless fire in Chen Yanqing's heart.
He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, the restlessness in his eyes had completely faded, replaced by his usual calm.
"Hmm." He responded heavily, letting Su Qingci get up and call for palace servants to help him change his clothes.
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky and the long court session ended that Chen Yanqing returned to the Imperial Study, at which point the imperial eunuch tremblingly entered to report.
"Your Majesty, the fire in the Cold Palace... has been completely extinguished."
Chen Yanqing's hand holding the pen paused almost imperceptibly. Without looking up, he only let out a soft "Hmm" through his nose.
The eunuch swallowed hard and continued, "However... the fire was too fierce, and most of the palace collapsed... The guards and eunuchs risked their lives to clear the fire site, and in the ruins, they found... a corpse that was burned beyond recognition. After examining the body and bones and the remaining clothing... it should be... it should be Consort Zhao without a doubt."
A brief silence fell over the Imperial Study.
Chen Yanqing slowly put down the vermilion brush in his hand. That inexplicable and indescribable sense of loss welled up in his heart again.
The figure he hated so much yet was inexplicably obsessed with had truly become a charred corpse.
That's fine.
With this major threat eliminated, no one could threaten his throne anymore.
He suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and said in a completely flat tone, "Now that we've found her, choose a quiet place and bury her properly according to the rites for a Jieyu (a high-ranking concubine). Keep everything simple and don't make a fuss. Tell the outside world that she intended to poison the Empress, and committed suicide out of fear of punishment after being discovered."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant obeys." The eunuch felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders and quickly agreed.
After everyone left, Chen Yanqing could no longer bear to look at the memorial in his hand.
Li Yuanzhao's eyes flashed uncontrollably through his mind.
The image flashed through her mind of how, when she held the title of "Princess," she had treated him, a mere "servant," with a condescending and imperious indifference.
When her identity was exposed, she was demoted to a commoner by her father's decree, and thrown into the dungeon, he said that he would spare her life as long as she knelt down and begged him. But she still had that damned, arrogant disdain.
Even after she was imprisoned in the palace and drugged, her eyes still held a mocking and contemptuous smile when she looked at him…
At that moment, he suddenly realized that the woman in his dream was Li Yuanzhao.
In that case, he should feel pleased; the woman who once looked down on him and humiliated him is finally dead.
But why did he feel a little uncomfortable?
Just then, the head eunuch's cautious voice came: "Your Majesty, Consort Xue has arrived and is waiting outside."
Chen Yanqing then came to his senses and said, "Summon them."
The door opened slightly, and a slender figure gracefully entered.
The newcomer was dressed in a delicate light purple gauze dress, and her eyes exuded a charming and captivating allure.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Consort Xue bowed gracefully, her eyes full of allure. "I have specially prepared pandan cake from my hometown and come to invite Your Majesty to taste it."
When that stunningly beautiful face came into view, the inexplicable discomfort Chen Yanqing had felt earlier vanished instantly.
yes.
His harem is filled with so many beautiful and gentle women, all of whom regard him as their heaven and consider it an honor to receive his favor.
Why should he bother himself with troubles and waste his energy on a woman who was arrogant, never gave him a kind look, and is now a charred corpse?
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