Chapter 337 Two Hours
Wang Defa continued, "After all, they are the people you, the boss, have entrusted to me, so I am naturally concerned about them. After the mother and daughter escaped, I went to see them immediately, and only then did I know that the fire started in their room.
Miss Chen Li said that she accidentally knocked over the candlestick and set the window curtain on fire. Seeing that she couldn't put out the fire, she screamed loudly. The scream we heard in the middle of the night was made by her.
"So where is she now?"
Wang Defa sighed heavily, with a guilty look on his face, "Boss, I am sorry for you. The fire here was so big that it alerted the Jingzhao Prefecture. The Jingzhao Prefecture Yin Lord Wu personally brought people here.
After all, he is the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture... I dare not hide anything and have to tell the truth. I think Miss Chen Li's mistake was unintentional, so I just need to make the matter clear.
But who would have thought that after hearing this, Lord Wu actually said that the Chen mother and daughter deliberately set fire late at night with the intention of disrupting the security of the capital, and they must be brought back to Jingzhao Prefecture for interrogation. I, I can't stop them!"
Seeing Zhu Lan frowning and not saying anything, Wang Defa thought she was blaming him and became so anxious that tears were about to come out.
"Boss, you have to trust me! Although the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion suffered heavy losses this time, fortunately no one was injured, and I can afford these losses. At that time, I told Master Wu that this was purely an accident, and I would take responsibility for the losses.
But who would have thought that Lord Wu said that this matter not only concerns the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion, but if the fire starts and the wind blows, even the houses of the people around will be affected, and he also said that Miss Chen Li is a culpable person..."
"Manager Wang, I don't blame you. If it was really an accidental fire, there's nothing we can do about it. I think Jingzhao Prefecture will find out the truth and release the people," Zhu Lan comforted.
"In addition, you reacted quickly and handled the situation properly this time. Despite such a large fire, no one in the store was injured. This is truly a model of good management. I will find an opportunity to mention this to His Majesty and ask all the restaurants and inns in the capital to follow the example of the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion, and have the court fund the reconstruction of the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion."
When Wang Defa heard this, he was naturally overjoyed and was so happy that he was speechless for a moment.
Zhu Lan's mind was not here. After saying a few more words, he asked Wang Defa to go back quickly to deal with the fire.
Could it be that someone set the fire?
Zhu Lan quickly denied this guess in his mind. If someone had set the fire, Chen Li only needed to say that he saw the room on fire. It was impossible for him to admit that he had overturned the candlestick and ignited the curtains.
Did Chen Li do it on purpose?
But at the moment, it seems that Chen's mother and daughter cannot be King Qi's people, and Zhu Lan can't think of any reason why Chen Li would do this.
Then there is only one possibility left - this fire was purely an accident.
Although Zhu Lan didn't want to believe it, he couldn't find a more reasonable explanation.
Zhu Qingyan behind her asked her: "What should we do? Chen's mother and daughter have been taken to Jingzhao Prefecture. Should we go and see them now?"
Zhu Lan nodded gently, but his heart had already sunk to the bottom.
The prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, Wu Chengqi, is King Qi's man. No matter whether Chen Li fell into the hands of Jingzhao Prefecture intentionally or unintentionally, it would be extremely difficult for him to snatch the person out from the tiger's mouth.
Zhu Lan immediately understood the smile on Yan Changwen’s face when he left. It was the smile of a winner.
Zhu Lan asked Zhu Qingyan to take Chu Xin back to their residence and wait, while he rode a fast horse to Jingzhao Prefecture.
As expected, she was met with a cold shoulder. Not to mention the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, she didn't even get to see Chen's mother and daughter.
After all, Zhu Lan was only an official of the Hanlin Academy. The Hanlin Academy and Jingzhao Prefecture belonged to two different systems, and he had no right to interfere in the affairs of Jingzhao Prefecture.
There were less than two hours left until dawn. Emperor Liang held a court meeting every three days. Zhu Lan calculated that today happened to be the day of the court meeting.
As soon as the sun rises, if Yan Changwen brings Chen's mother and daughter directly to the palace and openly reveals the background of Crown Prince Yan Xiuyun, it will immediately cause a shock in the court and the country, and the entire East Palace will be in danger!
There are still two hours left, and something must be done.
The first person Zhu Lan thought of was Chang Yunxiao. The Dali Temple had a close relationship with Jingzhao Prefecture, and perhaps Old Chang could find a way to bring Chen's mother and daughter out.
Fortunately, the Dali Temple was not far away, so Zhu Lan rode his horse there. However, when he arrived at the Dali Temple, he learned that Chang Yunxiao had not returned to Beijing yet.
The route to Dali Temple was not feasible. Zhu Lan pondered for a moment, then turned his horse around and galloped towards the East Palace.
As Qin Yuwei is the Crown Prince's concubine, Zhu Lan cannot meet her in public, otherwise he is afraid that Qin Yuwei will be suspected of interfering in politics.
Zhu Lan knocked on the door of the East Palace somewhat roughly, and the first thing he asked was, "Is Mr. Xu, the Prince's groom, here?"
The servant who opened the door looked at her in confusion until Zhu Lan showed her the badge of the Hanlin Academy, then he became respectful.
The prince's retainers all lived in the East Palace Garden. The servant said that if Zhu Lan wanted to go in, he had to inform the prince first.
"This is an urgent matter. There is no time to report it. Please ask Mr. Xu to come out to see me immediately!"
…
After an incense stick of time, Xu Shiming, dressed in a green shirt, looked solemn as he quickly walked through the long corridor of the East Palace and headed towards the inner courtyard.
As he walked, he digested what Zhu Lan had just told him.
Even he had never thought that Yan Xiuyun was not the real prince!
According to Zhu Lan, the most critical mother and daughter of the Chen family had been taken away by Jingzhao Prefecture. Now only Yan Xiuyun could use the power of the Eastern Palace to find a way to snatch the mother and daughter back from Jingzhao Prefecture - or the hands of Prince Qi.
As long as this matter can be suppressed temporarily, there will be room for recovery. Otherwise, if something happens at tomorrow's court meeting, there will be no recovery!
The inner courtyard of the East Palace was naturally guarded. From a distance, Xu Shiming saw that the Ziwei Pavilion not far ahead was brightly lit.
"Please inform His Highness that Xu Shiming wants to see you for something important!"
"The Crown Princess is giving birth, and the Crown Prince has ordered that no one is allowed to disturb her."
Xu Shiming suddenly remembered that he had heard that the Crown Princess was about to give birth in the next few days, and Yan Xiuyun had asked him to calculate a good name for the child.
Why didn’t you give birth earlier or later, but at this critical juncture?
"This is about the safety of the Eastern Palace. It is extremely urgent. I must see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
But no matter how determined Xu Shiming's attitude was, the two guards would not let him in, nor did they dare to pass on the message.
Xu Shiming was so angry that he stormed out.
When Xu Shiming came to a place where the two guards could not see him, he stopped and looked up at the high wall of the inner courtyard.
Do you want to turn over?
But Xu Shiming didn't know kung fu, and there was nothing nearby to climb up, so the height of the courtyard wall was a bit difficult for him.
Just then, Xu Shiming noticed something moving out of the corner of his eye.
"Who!?" he asked in surprise.
The man in the shadow seemed to hesitate for a moment before coming out. He had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, but there was a hint of worry on his face, as if he was very nervous about something.
When Xu Shiming saw who was coming, he was suddenly surprised.
"Mr. Xiao Yuan? Why are you here?"
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