Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family-Chapter 861 - : A Visitor in the Palace
Chapter 861: Chapter 861: A Visitor in the Palace
The two rushed over only to find the towering inferno had completely engulfed the study.
Flames reaching several meters high emitted soft “crackling” sounds as they burst, the “clang clang clang” of the gong being struck, the shouts of people fighting the fire, the splash of water, the thud of running footsteps, and the crashing sound of burning wood falling to the ground… A cacophony of noises blended together.
After a moment, Old Cheng popped up from somewhere, his whole body pitch black except for his two eyeballs which were still distinctly clear.
“Old Master Marquis! It is this old servant’s incompetence, for not discovering the fire in the study in a timely manner. By the time it was noticed, the fire inside was too fierce. Although us servants risked our lives to plunge into the fire, we could only manage to save these few damaged books…”
Old Cheng gestured towards a carry basket that someone behind him was shouldering, “Please punish me, Old Master Marquis!”
Di Yelei’s face turned ashen as he looked at the books inside the basket, still bearing signs of being burned, and immediately clenched his teeth so hard they creaked.
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“Now’s not the time to blame, you go and lead the people to put out the fire quickly! Let’s talk after the fire is extinguished.
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Old Cheng ran off quickly, focusing all hands on fighting the fire.
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Looking at the fire that was still raging fiercely, Liu Sisi spoke solemnly, “Ye Lei, look at this blaze—it seems to have started right in the center of the study, and that’s where the flames are most intense and fierce. But, I remember clearly, even though there were candles lit in the study, I extinguished the candles when we left, and you specifically checked the lamp oil. However, now you smell the air, how strong the scent of lamp oil is!”
Despite being sure the fire had been completely extinguished before, Sisi furrowed her brows slightly as the fire now raged from inside the study, and a possibility suddenly occurred to her.
Could it be that she had inadvertently stumbled upon something, and the hidden hand behind the scenes didn’t want her to know, or didn’t intend for the matter to leak out? Perhaps they didn’t know how much she had learnt, and so they resorted to this drastic measure.
But, why didn’t they just eliminate her directly? That would be the best and most lasting solution!
Di Yelei frowned slightly and looked around but didn’t say a word.
At the moment, inside the Marquis’s manor, there resided his 500 trusted soldiers, and even more eyes were hidden in the shadows. For someone to sneak into the study and set it ablaze despite the tight security, it must be someone very familiar with their routines who could seize this fleeting opportunity!
“Sisi, you go and rest first, and check on the children while you’re at it. Leave everything here to me,” he said.
He squeezed Liu Sisi’s hand firmly, his eyes conveying deep meaning.
Liu Sisi nodded lightly. “Take care of yourself, I’ll go check on the children now.”
Although she understood that it was an excuse for Di Yelei to send her away, for Liu Sisi, if the mansion was burnt down it could be rebuilt, but the children were the top priority.
To Liu Sisi’s surprise, the children were all gathered in the flower hall, accompanied by Xiao Feng, and hadn’t run off in disarray.
Seeing Liu Sisi come in, the children quickly clustered around her.
“Mom, are you alright? We heard it’s quite a spectacle over there, is it really?” Chou Chou asked with his throaty voice.
Liu Sisi heaved a sigh of relief but shook her head helplessly, “That’s a fire, not a festivity. What kind of talk is that, child…”
Xiao Feng also hurried to rise, “Third Aunt, Feng’er was worried that the children running around would add to the chaos in the mansion, so I gathered everyone here. How is the situation with the fire on the study room’s side?”
Liu Sisi’s face showed approval, “Feng’er, you did well. You remained calm in the face of an emergency. No wonder your Third Uncle values your abilities so much. As for the fire over there, the servants are already putting it out. You need not worry.”
While they were speaking, they saw a servant bringing some food and hurried to call the few children to eat.
With their minds occupied, except for a few children who still ate cheerfully, both Feng’er and Liu Sisi were somewhat distracted, constantly attentive to any sounds from outside.
The fire had raged from dusk until midnight, alarming even the people from nearby residences like the Attendant-in-Ordinary’s Mansion, Remonstrance Councilor Mansion, and Mansion of the Director of Remonstrance. They all extended a helping hand, and finally, with the help of everyone, the fire was extinguished!
The fire had finally been extinguished. Looking at the people who had come to help, Di Yelei repeatedly performed a fist greeting, “Thanks to the three of you for your strong support. Today, the mansion is too chaotic. I, the Marquis, will certainly host a banquet to entertain the three of you another day.”
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing! Fighting the fire is like saving a life. Although we say we’re helping the Old Master Marquis, aren’t we also helping ourselves? As for the gathering, we’re neighbors and should have interacted with each other long ago.”
The three Your Honors exchanged pleasantries for a while longer before each of them performed a fist greeting and headed back to their mansions.
Di Yelei finally got a moment to rest. He had just said a few words to Liu Sisi when someone from the palace arrived.
The one delivering the imperial edict was an unfamiliar little eunuch, who upon seeing Di Yelei and Liu Sisi, bent his waist particularly low and wore a broad smile as he greeted the two.
“His Majesty has heard about the fire at the Marquis Mansion and is particularly concerned. Therefore, he sent this servant to inquire. Should there be any need for assistance, the Old Master Marquis and the Princess can simply command this servant to take care of it. Moreover, His Majesty has sent two imperial physicians along with this servant to the mansion to see if their service is needed here.”
This must be His Majesty’s concern that several people in the mansion were injured in the fire, intentionally sending two imperial physicians to the mansion, right?
Di Yelei and Liu Sisi exchanged glances. Then Liu Sisi spoke to express gratitude, “It was troubling for Father Emperor to have such concern, to personally send the eunuch and two imperial physicians. Ruyu’s heart is filled with trepidation. Fortunately, it was the study room affected by the fire, and nobody in the mansion was injured. Later, after Ruyu has rested for a while, I will accompany the eunuch to the palace to express my thanks.”
“Since the Old Master Marquis, the Princess, and the young lords are unharmed, the Princess and the Old Master Marquis should rest early. When this servant left the palace, His Majesty had expressly commanded that it would be sufficient for the Old Master Marquis to enter the palace to express gratitude tomorrow morning.”
“Ruyu appreciates Father Emperor’s understanding! Tomorrow morning, I, the Marquis, will certainly enter the palace to express gratitude. I thank Father Emperor for his caring heart.”
The little eunuch’s face was filled with smiles, “The Princess should not overexert herself, please rest early. It is late now, almost time to lock up the palace for the night, and His Majesty is waiting for this servant to report back.”
Di Yelei quickly rose to greet the eunuch, “In that case, let me, the Marquis, escort the eunuch for a part of the way.”
The little eunuch’s eyes flickered. Di Yelei held the title of Marquis Yongping – it was not his place to condescend to escort a mere little eunuch.
“The Old Master Marquis please don’t trouble yourself! Doing so would greatly distress this servant; you might just take this servant’s life! The Marquis Mansion’s housekeeper looks hale and hearty; how about letting the housekeeper escort this servant instead?”
Di Yelei stopped in his tracks. Indeed, he had questions he wanted to ask the little eunuch, but he trusted Old Cheng to handle the matter.
He then smiled, “That would be good as well. Old Cheng, you will represent me, the Marquis, and escort this eunuch. Remember to serve him diligently and do not neglect your duties. Do you understand?”
