Chapter 84 Was she really wrong?
When the two arrived at Yongningfang, thick smoke filled the streets and alleys, and the sky above several houses in the vicinity was covered with a layer of gray-black.
The house, which was rarely visited in the past, was now surrounded by many soldiers in military uniform. Strong soldiers carried sandbags and buckets of water, going in and out constantly, all of them covered in sweat. Many of them had sweat streaming down their faces and necks, as if they had been drenched in a downpour.
The neighbors in Yongningfang were all peering out from outside their doors. The smoke made them cough, so they covered their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs, which also made it easier for them to whisper to those around them.
Yu Mingshu ran through the crowd towards his front door, his face filled with worry. He asked Qingque, "How is it? Is the fire out?"
Qingque sighed and said, "The fire is too big, and it started in the study. The room is full of flammable materials. We've poured water into it, but it still can't put out the fire. Just now, that general brought a lot of sand with his men, and they're spreading it into the room right now. We don't know if it will work."
Yu Mingshu was alarmed. He turned back to look at the black smoke billowing from the courtyard and asked, "Are Madam Zhang and Mr. Yuan alright?"
Qingque suddenly fell silent and exchanged glances with Luoyan beside her.
Their tacit silence made Yu Mingshu's heart sink. She thought about it and understood: when no one was in the study, there wouldn't be any open flame; only someone would light a candle. Therefore, someone must have been in the room when the fire started…
"Has the person been rescued?" With a bad feeling in her heart, she unconsciously raised her voice.
Qingque said, "When the fire started, Mr. Yuan was in the study. For some reason, he did not leave the fire scene. When Zhang Niangzi smelled the smoke, she immediately rushed out of the yard to call for help. Later, two tall and strong men kicked open the door and rushed in to rescue the unconscious Mr. Yuan."
Hearing that he was only unconscious, Yu Mingshu felt somewhat relieved. He Zheng suddenly asked, "You said two brave men rushed in to rescue him. When did these two move in? Which house do they live in?"
"I don't know. Those two people look very unfamiliar to me. I've never seen them before when I go out and about. They might just be passersby."
How could someone from outside the neighborhood pass through the residential area and just happen to walk past someone's doorstep?
He Zheng was skeptical and instinctively asked, "Where did those two go after they rescued the person?"
Qingque shook her head. "I didn't notice. It seemed like they left without a sound."
Yu Mingshu asked, "Where are Madam Zhang and Mr. Yuan now?"
Qingque said, "It seems they went to the clinic."
Not far away, a burly general shouted, waving away the crowd craning their necks to watch: "Go back! Stop watching the show!"
Wu Qiuniang leaned out of the door and said in a low voice to the people in front of the door, "Come in and talk, don't block their way."
The fire raged from dawn till dusk, completely destroying Yuan Yi's study and leaving behind only ruins. A strong wind blew through the night, dispersing the black smoke but also sending the yellow sand used to extinguish the fire flying everywhere.
Yu Mingshu ate dinner at home before leaving. The carriage passed through the gray streets and alleys. Inside the carriage, He Zheng tucked in the curtains and took out a cloak from the box under the seat and wrapped it around Yu Mingshu.
"I'm not cold."
"Your face is all red from the cold, but you still say you're not cold."
Unable to resist his insistence, Yu Mingshu grasped his slightly cold hand and placed it inside her own clothes. "Your hands are colder than mine. Why don't you put on some clothes?"
"I'm not that delicate." He Zheng chuckled and put his arm around her shoulder. Recalling what happened during the day, he couldn't help but say seriously, "The people who came to put out the fire today were the Imperial Guards of the Imperial City."
"Do the Imperial Guards even care about fires in civilian houses outside the Imperial City?"
"It's precisely because such a trivial matter is outside the Imperial Guards' duties that I find it strange."
Yu Mingshu recalled the scene in Yongningfang today, and realized it was indeed a bit too exaggerated.
Who is the Imperial Guard Commander? He is a general in charge of the imperial guards and is directly responsible for the safety of the emperor.
Logically speaking, if he insisted on interfering in the security of the capital, there was nothing wrong with his authority. But where in the world is there a precedent for the emperor's imperial guards to lower himself to become a city management officer?
He not only took charge of the fire in Yongningfang, but also personally participated in the firefighting process. Who would believe it if this got out?
Yu Mingshu suddenly hugged He Zheng tightly, completely forgetting that his arms were not yet warm. The cold skin pressed against He Zheng's neck made him shiver.
Just as He Zheng was about to say something, she pulled him closer, her lips almost touching his earlobe, and the breath she exhaled as she spoke tickled his ear.
"I have a bold guess."
"You don't need to stand so close, there are only the two of us in this car."
Yu Mingshu raised an eyebrow and gently tugged at his ear. "You find me annoying?"
"No problem, no problem," He Zheng said hastily. "It's just that my hearing is bad; the closer I get, the less I can hear."
Yu Mingshu released his hand, covered his ear with his palm and rubbed it, then returned to a normal distance and said unhurriedly, "General Wang would not meddle in the affairs of irrelevant people. There are only two possibilities for why he came to Yongningfang to put out the fire today. The first possibility is that he has a private relationship with Madam Zhang and Mr. Yuan, and the relationship is not close."
He Zheng closed his eyes after hearing this, "You really dare to guess."
“I didn’t say that he was the heartless man who abandoned Madam Zhang and Mr. Yuan.”
Yu Mingshu analyzed with him, "General Wang was married before, but they divorced and he is now single. In terms of family background, General Wang is from a noble family, is highly regarded by the emperor, and commands the imperial guards. He should be a good match for Lady Zhang."
He Zheng remained noncommittal. "What if there's another possibility?"
"There is another possibility: General Wang did not come on his own initiative, but was assigned by someone else."
"Looking around Chang'an, besides the Emperor, who else can command Wang Han..."
The words had barely left his mouth when He Zheng felt a sharp shock.
Their eyes met, and he saw the seriousness in Yu Mingshu's eyes.
…
In the West Garden, Yao Qingxi led his entourage hurriedly through a tranquil garden. Before the palace gates, a maidservant gave a slight bow to the newcomers.
"Eunuch Yao."
"Is the person awake?"
"Not yet. The imperial physician said that Young Master Yuan... has been inhaling thick smoke for too long and is in critical condition. If he doesn't wake up tonight, his chances of survival are slim." The maid said, bowing her head in fear.
Yao Qingxi shook his head and sighed, then waved his hand. The maid understood and pushed open the palace door to let him in.
As you step into the hall, a cool breeze blows in through the windows on both sides, stirring the gauze curtains that separate the inner and outer halls.
Through the curtains, Zhang Zhuoyan could be vaguely seen sitting on the steps, her right hand tightly gripping Yuan Yi's weak and powerless fingertips, not daring to let go for a moment.
Hearing footsteps, Zhang Zhuoyan gently touched Yuan Yi's forehead before reluctantly letting go of his hand and coming out to meet Yao Qingxi.
"Madam Zhang, let's talk in private." Yao Qingxi respectfully invited her to the round table.
Tong Shun, who was accompanying her, immediately bent down to set out a stool, turned the teacup on the table upside down, and poured her a cup of hot tea.
Zhang Zhuoyan was still immersed in immense grief and fear. Images of the fire kept flashing before her eyes. She sat down in a daze, took a sip of tea, but her throat was still dry and sore, and she couldn't speak.
"The fire in Yongning Ward has been extinguished, but the courtyard was severely damaged. Please stay in the West Garden for the next few days, Madam and Young Master."
Zhang Zhuoyan finished her cup of tea, her throat feeling much better, and said, "I'm sorry to have troubled you."
“What are you saying, my lady? It was just my duty,” Yao Qingxi said, bowing her head. “Xuanqing went back to investigate and found that the fire started on the innermost row of bookshelves on the east side of the study. There was a patch of lamp oil around it, and the fire spread along the lamp oil on the bookshelves.”
"Furthermore, there was no sign of the study's doors and windows being locked. If the Second Young Master had been conscious at the time, he should have been able to escape."
Speaking of this, Zhang Zhuoyan felt as if a thousand needles were constantly piercing her heart.
Humans should have an instinctive fear of fire and water, yet he personally set fire to his study and sat quietly amidst the raging flames, neither avoiding, fleeing, nor calling for help.
These days are so unbearable for him that he would rather burn himself than endure them.
Was she really wrong...?
Her eyes welled up with tears, and Zhang Zhuoyan immediately looked up to hold them back. After calming herself down a bit, she stood up and bowed to Yao Qingxi.
"Please convey my gratitude to Xuanqing and the others for me. If they hadn't appeared in time, my son would probably have perished in the fire."
Yao Qingxi dared not accept her courtesy. "You're too kind, Madam. Xuanqing and the others were just ordered to protect you and the young master."
He emphasized the words "on orders" slightly, and Zhang Zhuoyan immediately understood what he meant.
After a moment of silence, she said softly, "Zhuoyan, I thank the Emperor for his grace."
…
As night fell, the West Garden was completely silent, and the person on the couch inside the palace was still fast asleep.
Zhang Zhuoyan had been on guard for a day and a night. Her eyes were bruised and her face was haggard. She also felt dizzy from time to time.
She was exhausted, like a bundle of firewood about to burn out, but her mind was always clear. The man on the bed seemed to have improved, but he showed no signs of waking up. Remembering what the imperial physician had said, she dared not fall asleep.
"Perhaps you're right, Mother was too selfish before. How much pain must you be in to endure being suffocated by thick smoke and burned by raging fire?"
She gently leaned down and knelt beside Yuan Yi's burned arm. Her mouth tasted bitter, her nose stung, and tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto the bedding beneath him.
"Yilang, as long as you can wake up, I'll do anything you want. I'll listen to you on how we live from now on."
She was met with silence.
After a long while, the half-closed window was blown open by the wind, making a creaking sound.
Zhang Zhuoyan got up to close the window, but when she walked to the window, she saw a lonely figure standing on the stone path outside.
He seemed to have arrived long ago, but he didn't push the door open and come in.
After a moment's hesitation, she closed the window, went out through the palace gate, and bowed to the man.
The emperor gently took her arm and said softly, "Sister, there's no need for formalities between us."
The moment their bodies touched, Zhang Zhuoyan instinctively felt a chill. Suppressing her disgust, she lowered her eyes and said, "Why doesn't Your Majesty come in? It's cold tonight, be careful not to catch a cold."
The emperor gazed at her intently. Though she looked haggard, she was still stunningly beautiful, her appearance unchanged from twenty years ago. Time had passed swiftly, yet it had not been able to leave its mark on her face.
"It's been almost twenty years since I last saw her. I thought my sister would never want to see me again in this lifetime."
Zhang Zhuoyan gritted her teeth and remained silent for a long time. She couldn't bring herself to say anything insincere, so she simply turned around and went back into the hall, leaving him with her slender back view.
The emperor's brows gradually relaxed, and he took a step to follow.
"Yuan Yi is still not awake?"
Zhang Zhuoyan paused slightly and whispered, "He's tough; he'll definitely pull through."
The two stood ten paces apart on either side of Yuan Yi's sickbed. The emperor gazed at the pale face, remained silent for a long time, and then suddenly sighed.
"Perhaps I was wrong. This child has been diligent since childhood, studying tirelessly since the age of four, never shirking his studies regardless of the weather. In that year's imperial examination, his essay was the best. It was I who wrongly placed all the resentment I had accumulated over the years on him, causing him to be so depressed."
Zhang Zhuoyan glanced at him, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "It's also my fault for being too obsessive."
The emperor took a few steps closer to her, and she turned her face away to look at the person on the bed, but made no move to avoid him.
His heart pounded, and he finally embraced the person he had been longing for day and night, lowered his head to hold her hand tightly, and intertwined their fingers.
“Over the years, I have never been to Yongningfang, yet I have never stopped thinking about you and your son. Sister, whether you resent or hate, twenty years have passed, and your anger should have subsided.”
He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Now, I truly want to make it up to you. Are you... willing?"
The man's breath was so close to her that Zhang Zhuoyan subconsciously held her breath.
Her gaze drifted to the bed, a wave of fear washing over her. She couldn't bring herself to say anything heartless, nor could she utter the word "willing."
After a long silence, he said in a muffled voice, "We'll talk about it after Yilang wakes up."
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