Qi Guze reacted swiftly, stepping in front of Xu Yuehuai and pulling her tightly into his arms. He took the Empress Dowager's blow with his arm while comforting the frightened Xu Yuehuai.
His gaze was firm yet gentle as he said softly, "Let's go first, let her have some peace and quiet here by herself."
Xu Yuehua nodded, looking at Qi Guze with gratitude. She knew that at this moment, he was protecting her from further harm.
So the two of them carefully left the Empress Dowager's bedchamber. As soon as they stepped outside, they ran into Qi Hanlin, who had just arrived.
He asked anxiously, "What's wrong with my mother?"
Qi Guze frowned and replied in a deep voice, "She has been subjected to some kind of trauma."
Qi Hanlin immediately understood the situation, and he said without hesitation, "I will go see her."
However, just as he was about to step into the bedchamber, he heard the Empress Dowager roar: "You get out of here too!"
Qi Hanlin stopped in his tracks, looking at the tightly closed bedroom door, and sighed deeply.
He knew that his mother was no longer able to think calmly at this point, and he could only choose to respect her wishes.
"Let's go back first." Qi Guze patted Qi Hanlin's shoulder lightly, signaling him to leave.
Qi Hanlin nodded and silently followed Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai out of the palace.
They all knew that the Empress Dowager needed to be alone that night.
However, during the night, the Empress Dowager's palace caught fire. Flames soared into the sky, and waves of heat rolled in, illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime.
The entire palace was in chaos, with palace servants running around in panic, screams and shouts rising and falling.
Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai were both shocked to receive the news and rushed to the palace. They ran all the way, their hearts pounding like drums, their minds racing with various possibilities and speculations.
However, when they arrived, they found that the Empress Dowager's palace was beyond saving. The fire was raging, the smoke was thick, and the heat was so intense it burned their skin.
Standing outside the palace gates, looking at everything before them, they were filled with helplessness and sorrow.
Qi Hanlin knelt on the ground, his tears already dried, leaving only endless sorrow and despair.
His voice was hoarse as he roared, "Mother, why are you so heartless? It's one thing to disown your son, but why do you have to throw your own life away?"
His body trembled, his expression was desolate, as if the whole world had collapsed.
Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai stood to the side, their hearts aching. They knew this was not the time to be impulsive; they had to remain calm and find out the truth.
“This might have been set on purpose,” Xu Yuehuai said, his eyes flashing with determination and resolve.
“Yes, we must find out what happened,” Qi Guze echoed, his expression also unusually serious and determined.
Upon hearing their words, a glimmer of clarity flashed in Qi Hanlin's eyes. He stood up, took a deep breath, and calmed himself down.
He knew that at this moment he had to stand tall, take responsibility, and find the real culprit.
"Go and search for clues immediately. You must find the murderer," Qi Hanlin commanded. His voice trembled slightly, but it was full of strength and determination.
The guards immediately sprang into action, searching the fire for clues. They meticulously examined every corner, leaving no stone unturned.
Other palace servants were also involved in firefighting and rescue efforts. Although the fire was already out of control, they did their best to save lives.
Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai waited outside the palace gates, their hearts filled with anxiety and anticipation.
They knew this would be a sleepless night, but it would all be worth it if they could find the real culprit.
As night deepened, the fire gradually subsided. However, for Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai, this night seemed exceptionally long and agonizing.
They watched the leaping flames, their hearts filled with mixed emotions. They thought of the Empress Dowager's kind face, and of her dedication and sacrifices for the entire palace. All of this felt like a sharp knife, piercing their hearts.
As dawn broke, the fire was finally brought under complete control.
The guards found several clues, but further investigation is needed to identify the real culprit.
Qi Hanlin sat on the ground, utterly exhausted, his eyes filled with sorrow and helplessness.
He knew this was just the beginning, and the road ahead would be even more difficult and tortuous.
Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai stood at the edge of the fire, wisps of smoke still rising from the ruins before them. They silently watched all this, their grief beyond words.
The Empress Dowager left them just like that, and the entire palace was immersed in sorrow.
However, they knew that this was not an opportunity for mere grief. They had to bring the real culprit to justice and avenge the Empress Dowager.
Qi Guze's eyes hardened. "I will find out the truth and avenge the Empress Dowager."
Xu Yuehuai looked at him, her eyes full of trust and determination, "Let's do it together."
The two exchanged a glance, both understanding that they must fight side by side to uncover the final truth.
Qi Hanlin walked slowly over, supported by palace servants. His face was still streaked with tears, but his expression had become resolute.
"Imperial Uncle, Imperial Aunt, you know that the Empress Dowager has always been at odds with Marquis Ningyuan. Could this fire be related to him?"
Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai exchanged a glance, knowing that Qi Hanlin already had a suspect.
“I also suspect it was him, but we need to find evidence to convict him,” Qi Guze said in a deep voice.
Qi Hanlin nodded. "I will order a thorough investigation into this matter and will not let any suspicious person go unpunished."
His voice was firm and powerful, as if he had emerged from grief and was ready to face even greater challenges.
Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai were pleased with Qi Hanlin's growth, knowing that the young emperor had learned to take responsibility and face difficulties.
In the days that followed, Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai assisted Qi Hanlin in investigating the true culprit who set fire to the Empress's house and killed her.
They visited everyone in the palace, carefully searching for clues. Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai searched throughout the palace for eyewitnesses.
Xu Yuehuai and his group questioned the palace maids, eunuchs, and guards, but no one saw any suspicious individuals.
They also examined the scene, but found no valuable clues.
Qi Hanlin felt extremely frustrated; he didn't know how to continue investigating the case.
However, Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai did not give up; they decided to examine the site more carefully. They discovered a strange stone with unusual patterns on it.
Qi Guze and Xu Yuehua studied the stone for a long time, but they did not find any clues.
They decided to take it back first and see if they could find any clues elsewhere.
Back in the palace, Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai reported their findings to Qi Hanlin.
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