Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 291 - 289. Fire in the palace, leaving the capital
289. Fire in the palace, leaving the capital
Most of the buildings in the royal palace were constructed primarily from wood, with their edges and prominent features lavishly decorated with colorful paints. Naturally, the fire grew more intense once it started. In less than a quarter of an hour, not only was the entire Autumn Cool Hall engulfed in a sea of flames, but the fire had also begun to spread to the surrounding palaces. Ye Li and her companions could only retreat with Princess Zhenning to the imperial garden, far from Autumn Cool Hall. After placing Princess Zhenning beside a small, clear, and well-ventilated lake, they looked at the distant blaze, where people had already begun to fight the fire, and Ye Li ordered, "Go and fetch an imperial physician."
"Ah-Li!" Before the imperial physician could arrive, Mo Xiuyao, dressed in white, rushed over like a gust of wind. He only let out a sigh of relief when he saw Ye Li was unharmed. Glancing at Princess Zhenning nearby, he raised an eyebrow at Ye Li. Ye Li shook her head silently. It was not appropriate to discuss such matters in front of Princess Zhenning at this time. Behind them, Mo Xiaobao, carried by a guard, followed, with Leng Junhan also being carried in the arms of another guard.
"Mom..." Mo Xiaobao joyfully jumped from the guard’s arms and dove towards Ye Li. But halfway there, Mo Xiuyao grabbed the back of his clothes, leaving him flailing his arms and legs in midair. "Mom, Mom... I was so worried about you... Father is mean, let go of me! I want Mom..." Ye Li, amused by the scene, took him from Mo Xiuyao’s arms, patting and soothing him with a smile, "Mom’s fine; I didn’t mean to worry you. Good boy..." Mo Xiaobao, immensely pleased, rubbed his face against Ye Li’s chest, completely ignoring the gloomy expression on Mo Xiuyao’s face, nodding repeatedly. "As long as Mom is fine. I love Mom the most..."
Leaning against a rockery, Princess Zhenning watched Mo Xiaobao giggling in Ye Li’s arms and then looked at Ye Li’s gentle, subtle smile. A flicker of envy and bitterness crossed her eyes. Ye Li noticed it, placed Mo Xiaobao on the ground, then knelt and asked softly, "Princess Zhenning, are you alright?"
Princess Zhenning nodded and whispered, "Thank you... Thank you, Princess Consort Ding, for saving my life." Before the elegant and graceful woman in front of her, she felt incredibly ashamed. She was aware of what her mother consort had done. Yet it was Princess Consort Ding who had saved her life, disregarding her connection to her mother consort. Her own mother, on the other hand, had not only exploited her but had also nearly killed her. Why... why was her mother such a person?
"Sister! Sister!" Urgent cries pierced the air as Prince Qin hurried over with his eight-year-old younger brother. Following them were Mo Jingli, other princes of the imperial clan, and influential court dignitaries. The fire in Autumn Cool Hall was raging fiercely. Although people were attempting to extinguish it, the windy weather only intensified the flames. Now, the fire threatened to spread to three or four adjacent palaces. Even from their current position, diagonally opposite Autumn Cool Hall, they could almost feel the intense heat of the conflagration.
Mo Xiaoyun rushed over and his first sight was Princess Zhenning sitting on the ground. He hurried to her side. "Royal Sister, how are you? Are you injured?" Princess Zhenning quickly covered the wound on her face with her hand and said, "No... nothing serious..." But how could such an injury be hidden by her hand? Everyone involuntarily gasped. A palm-sized scar now marred the face of the once delicate and gentle girl. The scar was still raw and bloody, with the charred smell of burnt flesh, a sight so gruesome it made people want to retch. Many of the ladies and young misses who had followed along cried out in shock and retreated a couple of steps.
Princess Zhenning’s face darkened, and she lowered her head further, trying to use her hair to conceal the scar.
"Don’t use your hair; it’s not clean. If it touches the wound, it could cause an infection." A slender, fair hand gently rested on her shoulder, softly staying the hand that was trying to pull her hair forward. Princess Zhenning was taken aback. She looked up, staring blankly at the woman before her, who had a faint, gentle smile on her lips. There was no trace of disgust or fear on this woman’s face, but in her kind and clear eyes, Princess Zhenning saw her own hideous reflection. Princess Zhenning trembled and quickly lowered her head again.
Ye Li sighed softly, took out a plain white silk handkerchief, and carefully tied it around Princess Zhenning’s face, concealing the gruesome injury. "Wait for the imperial physician to prescribe some medicine for the scar. It will heal soon."
Well-bred young ladies of Great Chu often wore veils when venturing out. So, although Princess Zhenning, now veiled, seemed a little out of place among the other young ladies whose faces were uncovered, it was not overly conspicuous. The onlookers also breathed a collective sigh of relief. Most of them were sheltered women who had never witnessed such a horrific injury. Having it covered was a mercy. At the same time, more gazes turned towards the graceful and beautiful woman in white, filled with admiration for Princess Consort Ding’s unwavering composure.
"What on earth happened?" Mo Jingli asked in a low voice, glancing at Ye Li, who had returned to Mo Xiuyao’s side.
Princess Zhenning bit her lip and refused to speak. Mo Jingli looked towards Ye Li. Ye Li said calmly, "We were in the imperial garden when we saw the fire and rushed over. We only had time to rescue Princess Zhenning. We don’t know if there was anyone else inside."
Mo Jingli frowned and asked, "Why was Princess Zhenning in Autumn Cool Hall at this time?"
Princess Zhenning remained silent. Mo Xiaoyun took a deep breath, stood up, and patted his frightened younger brother, who was hiding beside him. "Our Royal Grandmother confined my mother consort in Autumn Cool Hall. My sister went to visit our mother consort."
"Indeed, it was I who confined her to Autumn Cool Hall," the Empress Dowager, surrounded by a retinue of court ladies and eunuchs, approached gracefully. Hearing Mo Xiaoyun’s words, she calmly interjected.
Mo Jingli said in a deep voice, "Noble Consort Liu was confined in Autumn Cool Hall? How is it that I was unaware?"
The Empress Dowager scoffed, "This is an internal affair of the palace. Since when do I need to consult Prince Li on how to punish a misbehaving consort of the late Emperor?" Mo Jingli was left speechless. Although he was displeased that the Empress Dowager had dealt with Noble Consort Liu behind his back, he could not voice his objections in front of so many people. After all, even as Regent Prince, his authority was limited to matters of state; officially, he had no right to interfere in the affairs of the late Emperor’s harem.
After a moment of silence, Mo Jingli said, "In that case... I wonder if Noble Consort Liu perished in the fire." All eyes turned to Princess Zhenning. The fire still raged, and apart from Princess Zhenning, no one knew what the situation was like inside. No one knew if Noble Consort Liu had burned to death. However, Princess Zhenning adamantly refused to speak, and there was nothing anyone could do.
Mo Xiuyao’s gaze swept coolly over the crowd. Just as Mo Jingli thought he was about to say something important, Mo Xiuyao spoke with leisurely indifference, "Since there are pressing matters in the palace, this banquet clearly cannot continue. My Princess Consort and I shall take our leave and return to our mansion. Furthermore, in a few days, my Princess Consort and I will be departing for the Northwest. Therefore, we will not make a formal farewell visit then."
Mo Jingli felt a wave of relief wash over him internally. He nodded and said, "So be it. Prince Ding, please proceed."
Mo Xiuyao nodded. Holding Mo Xiaobao in one arm and Ye Li’s hand with the other, he prepared to turn and leave the palace.
"Princess Consort Ding." Mo Xiaoyun, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. He walked over to Ye Li and said gravely, "Thank you for saving my royal sister. Such a life-saving grace is a debt I can never repay. Please accept my deepest bow." With that, he bowed profoundly to Ye Li. Looking at the boy, only twelve or thirteen years old, performing such a solemn obeisance, Ye Li smiled faintly. "Prince Qin, you are too kind. It was merely a small effort. Please take good care of Princess Zhenning. We bid you farewell."
Watching the family of three leave the imperial garden escorted by guards, Mo Jingli felt a sense of ease. Only at this moment did he truly begin to believe that perhaps Mo Xiuyao genuinely had no interest in the affairs of Great Chu.
In the carriage leaving the palace, Leng Junhan, nestled in Ye Li’s arms, had already fallen fast asleep from exhaustion. Mo Xiaobao sat in Mo Xiuyao’s arms; although not yet asleep, he had lost the boisterous energy he displayed earlier in the palace. After all, for children of only five or six, romping about for most of the day was exhausting.
Gently patting Leng Junhan, Ye Li asked, "Xiuyao, is Noble Consort Liu dead?"
Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Not necessarily. Noble Consort Liu was a dominant figure in the imperial harem for over a decade. Even if her power has dwindled, she likely still wields some considerable influence. The palace was bustling with people today for the banquet. If she wanted to escape the palace, it might not have been impossible."
Ye Li frowned. "If she still has people she can use, why would she treat Princess Zhenning so cruelly? Could she really have intended to burn Princess Zhenning alive?" At this thought, Ye Li couldn’t help but feel a chill. How heartless must one be to treat one’s own daughter in such a manner? Even if the child’s father was not a man she loved, the child was still her own flesh and blood. Princess Zhenning had risked punishment from the Empress Dowager to visit her, only to be repaid like this. No wonder her eyes had looked so lifeless when Ye Li rescued her.
Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "I don’t know. Have our people keep an eye out. If that woman appears, kill her without mercy!" He had no interest in whether Noble Consort Liu wanted to burn Princess Zhenning alive or her reasons for doing so. But if it was true, then Noble Consort Liu had to die! Such a ruthless and vicious woman would only be a scourge if left alive.
Ye Li nodded silently. She felt no pity or sympathy for Noble Consort Liu.
"Xiaobao mentioned that earlier in the garden, Marquis Muyang’s wife was rude to you?" Mo Xiuyao asked casually, dismissing the matter of Noble Consort Liu.
Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiaobao, who had clearly been the first to complain, and smiled. "She’s merely a woman consumed by jealousy. Am I supposed to take action against her? Don’t worry, Yaoji is no pushover either; she won’t let her get away with it." Mo Xiuyao snorted lightly. "In hindsight, I was indeed too lenient with Marquis Muyang’s Mansion." Recalling old grudges with Marquis Muyang’s Mansion made Mo Xiuyao regret his initial plan of using the Mansion to provide cover for Yaoji and Mu Lie in the Capital City. This meant he couldn’t move against Marquis Muyang’s Mansion for the time being. However, whenever he saw anyone from Marquis Muyang’s Mansion, especially Marquis Muyang himself, certain unpleasant memories he had tried hard to forget resurfaced, souring Mo Xiuyao’s mood considerably.
On the very day the new Emperor ascended the throne, a huge fire nearly burned down half of the palace. News of this spread rapidly among the common folk, with many speculating that the new Emperor must lack virtue and be unfit to inherit the throne, thus incurring heavenly punishment. Hearing these rumors, the occupants of Prince Ding’s Mansion chuckled privately. The new Emperor was merely a child of six or seven; how could one speak of his virtue or lack thereof? But once rumors started, they were difficult to quell, especially when individuals with ulterior motives intentionally fanned the flames, causing the gossip to spread like wildfire.
The people of Prince Ding’s Mansion paid no heed to these matters, as they were all busy packing their belongings, preparing to leave the Capital City once again and return to the Northwest. Although most of them were natives of the Capital of Great Chu, their years in the Northwest had fostered a stronger sense of belonging to Licheng. Everyone was packing for the journey with joyful smiles and eager anticipation. Meanwhile, at court, besides Prince Li formally becoming Regent Prince and assuming the duties of governing, it was also announced that the Empress had passed away from illness and Noble Consort Liu had been ordered to be buried with the late Emperor. The Empress Dowager, who by rights should have been titled Grand Empress Dowager, was spared ritual burial. The official reasons given were the recent passing of the late Emperor’s principal wife (the former Empress) and the assertion that the newly appointed Empress Dowager was not yet prepared to handle such solemn duties. Instead of her life, a lock of her hair was taken to symbolically represent her and was temporarily interred in the Imperial Mausoleum. It was decreed that when the Grand Empress Dowager eventually passed away naturally, this symbolic lock would then be formally buried alongside her in the Grand Imperial Mausoleum.
Ignoring the turmoil in the Capital City, Mo Xiuyao and his party departed for the Northwest three days later. Their carriage now carried not only them but also a dignified and beautiful middle-aged woman, an equally stunning young woman, and an elderly man of imposing bearing.
"Tianxiang." Inside the carriage, Ye Li reached out and gently took Hua Tianxiang’s hand, who still looked somewhat shaken, offering her a reassuring smile.
Hua Tianxiang’s beautiful face still bore traces of shock. She stared at Ye Li for a long moment before finally letting out a soft breath. "Li’er... Auntie..." The Empress nodded, compassionately stroking Hua Tianxiang’s dark hair. She whispered, "Tianxiang, you’ve endured much these past few years." As the legitimate granddaughter of State Duke Hua and the Empress’s own niece, she was an object of envy for many young ladies in the Capital City. Yet, this very status meant that at over twenty years of age, she remained unmarried, while most women her age were already wives and mothers, managing their own households. To escape prying eyes and malicious rumors, she had taken refuge in Ciyun Temple, ostensibly to pray for her grandmother, but in reality, it was a form of lay monasticism.
Hua Tianxiang shook her head and smiled. "Auntie, what are you saying? I’ve been well-fed and well-clothed; how could it be considered hardship? It’s you, Auntie... seeing you now..." Overcome with emotion, Hua Tianxiang’s eyes reddened. When she first heard the news at Ciyun Temple, she had truly believed her aunt was dead. Just this morning, she had been performing her morning prayers in her room as usual when she was suddenly drugged and knocked unconscious. To her astonishment, when she awoke, she found herself with her supposedly deceased aunt and her long-unseen dear friend. They were already in a carriage heading to the Northwest; no wonder she had been in a daze for so long.
"Li’er, Auntie, I..." Looking at the two women before her, Hua Tianxiang still had questions she wanted to ask but didn’t know where to begin.
Ye Li held her hand and smiled. "State Duke Hua has entrusted you to my care. From now on, I’m afraid Eldest Miss Hua will have to endure a harder life in the Northwest."
"It was Grandfather..." Hua Tianxiang said, somewhat excitedly. She vaguely recalled some strange instructions her grandfather had given her when he visited a few days prior. She hadn’t thought much of it at the time. Had Grandfather already planned to entrust me to Ah-Li? The Empress said quietly, "Your grandfather did it for your own good. Now, with the new Emperor’s ascension and Prince Li acting as Regent Prince, Prince Li recently hinted at his intention to take you as a Secondary Consort. Although your father rejected him outright at the time, as long as you remain unmarried and in the capital..."
Wiping her tears, Hua Tianxiang said, "I know Grandfather did it for my sake. But if we all leave... Grandfather, he..."
"Rest assured, State Duke Hua is highly respected and of great prestige. Mo Jingli, having just consolidated his power, won’t dare to act against him. However, to avoid trouble, it would be best for you to change your name. And the Empress... I mean, Sister Hua, you too."
Both women nodded; they naturally understood Ye Li’s meaning. Although not many people had seen them, necessary precautions still had to be taken. If it became known that Licheng, and Prince Ding’s Mansion in particular, was sheltering so many individuals who should not be there, it would bring trouble to both Prince Ding’s Mansion and the Hua Family.
Hua Tianxiang thought for a moment and said gracefully, "My maternal grandfather’s family name is Yang. So, to the outside world, I shall be known as Ruohua."
The Empress faintly smiled. "In that case, I shall borrow Tianxiang’s surname; call me Madam Yang." Her words implied she wasn’t even willing to adopt a new given name. Ye Li sighed softly, looking at the Empress with concern. The Empress smiled. "To be free from the shackles of the imperial palace is a stroke of fortune I never dared to imagine in this lifetime. Besides, Changle will be in the Northwest. Everything will be fine."
"I’m just worried about Third Feng..." Ye Li frowned. Ever since Feng Zhiyao persuaded Feng Huaiting to return to the Northwest with them, the relationship between father and son had gradually thawed. Feng Huaiting’s situation was different from that of the Empress and Hua Tianxiang. Mo Xiuyao had openly and legitimately requested him from Mo Jingli. Since Mo Jingli had already stripped the Feng Family of its wealth and power, he naturally cared little about an old man nearing sixty. He even generously allowed the other members of the Feng Family to leave with Feng Huaiting. However, the Feng Family’s two sons by the principal wife were unwilling to go to the Northwest and live under the patronage of their concubine-born younger brother, especially since they were currently in Prince Li’s favor. Madam Feng was furious with her husband’s decision and naturally sided with her sons. Apart from a few loyal servants and some young children born of concubines, no one else in the Feng Family was willing to follow the now-destitute Feng Huaiting to the Northwest to endure hardship.
"But Old Master Feng..." Although Feng Huaiting hadn’t said it explicitly, Ye Li could still discern his feelings about the matter between Feng Zhiyao and the Empress. The Empress shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. "Ah-Yao lacked parental affection since childhood, so he has always valued emotions more deeply than others. With his father there to guide him, he will slowly come to understand. After all these years... I am tired too. As long as Tianxiang and Changle are well, I will have no further regrets."
Ye Li remained silent. Matters of the heart were difficult for outsiders to meddle in. The issues between Feng Zhiyao and the Empress could only be resolved by themselves. Hua Tianxiang looked at the two of them, somewhat bewildered, but sensing the somber atmosphere, she tried to lighten the mood with a smile. "Of course, we’ll be fine. Everyone will be fine. Auntie, you should call me Ruohua from now on, to avoid any slips of the tongue later."
The three of them shared a smile, and Ye Li nodded. "Indeed, we will all be fine."
「In a dark and gloomy corner of the Capital City」
A woman, shabbily dressed and emaciated, kept herself hidden. She wore the plainest grey sackcloth, her hair secured with only a crude wooden hairpin, making her original appearance almost unrecognizable. She hid in a dilapidated hovel at the far end of a deserted alleyway, her eyes glinting with a chilling light in the darkness.
"Has Prince Ding left the Capital of Great Chu?"
"Yes, Prince Ding left the city with the Princess Consort and the young heir this morning," a low, somewhat hoarse male voice confirmed from the shadows.
"It’s been so many days, and you still haven’t found a way to get me out of the city?!" the woman’s voice screeched, sharp with anger.
The man rubbed his hands, looking troubled. "The entire city is under strict martial law. I heard that on the day of the new Emperor’s ascension, a fire broke out in the palace, and it even disfigured Princess Zhenning’s face. They’re probably hunting for the assassins who caused the chaos."
The woman’s eyes widened in shock. Her face, pale from days without sunlight, showed evident terror. The man, thinking she was frightened by the news of assassins, quickly took her hand to comfort her. "Don’t be afraid. Assassins wouldn’t come to a place like this." Looking at the woman before him—still strikingly beautiful despite her coarse clothes and lack of adornment—the man’s eyes lit up with desire, and his hand began to stray.
A flicker of irritation crossed the woman’s face. She slapped his hand away. "Get lost! I’m not in the mood!"
"Darling... don’t be anxious. We’ll find a way out of the city soon, darling..." The man lunged, pulling the woman into his arms and onto the bed. His eyes gleamed with a frightening lust as he buried his head against her, kissing her fiercely.
The woman endured his touch, her heart filled with disgust, but her mind had already drifted elsewhere. How could this be... How could Zhenning have been burned? Although she had worried at the time that Zhenning might ruin her plans and had therefore drugged her, she had clearly instructed her people to move Zhenning out *before* setting fire to Autumn Cool Hall.
What she didn’t know was that her underlings needed a living person to burn to death in her place—not someone already dead, but someone to be burned alive. Those carrying out her orders were also flesh-and-blood people; how could they willingly sacrifice themselves or anyone close to them? Princess Zhenning, drugged by Noble Consort Liu herself, naturally became the perfect scapegoat. People are inherently selfish; it’s a matter of ’better you die than I’. Otherwise, if Princess Zhenning had woken up and told others what had happened, they wouldn’t have escaped either.
Zhenning... Don’t blame your mother consort. Your mother consort didn’t mean to burn you alive; it was just an accident. If only you hadn’t...
In the darkness, Noble Consort Liu’s once beautiful and aloof eyes were filled with a twisted hatred and venomous resentment. Mo Xiuyao! Ye Li! This is all your fault! I won’t let you off! I swear I’ll make you suffer a fate worse than death!
Zhenning, don’t blame your mother consort... Your mother consort didn’t want this. Your mother consort will avenge you!
