NABC Chapter 453 Murderer
Chapter 453 Murderer
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The royal gardens are on fire!" Cheng Hai rushed into the imperial study from outside and immediately reported to Emperor Qi Xiao.
Originally, it was just an old garden that caught fire, and Emperor Qi Xiao didn't care much about it. But the final carving competition was to be held there the next day, and the Emperor of Chu, Yuwen Chan, and the ruler of Yan were all going to attend. And yet, it caught fire at this time.
"How could you be so careless? Didn't I already instruct the Golden Feather Guards to protect that garden properly? Making a mistake at this time is just deliberately causing trouble!"
"Your Majesty, there is a strong wind outside, and a flame, which seems to have come from nowhere, has ignited the stored timber! The crucial point is that His Majesty the Emperor of Chu and the Duchess of the State are both there. At this time, at this time..." Cheng Hai dared not utter the last part of his sentence.
His legs gave way and he knelt on the ground, his voice choked with sobs.
Emperor Qi Xiao's hand froze, and he stood motionless as if struck by lightning. After a long while, he finally spoke, "W-what did you say? Who did you say was there?"
"His Majesty the Emperor of Chu and Lady Liu Yuechu, the Duchess of Chu." Cheng Hai had to repeat himself, even directly mentioning Liu Yuechu's name.
"How did those two end up together?" Emperor Qi Xiao's gaze froze!
One was the woman he loved most in his life, and the other was his daughter-in-law.
These two people were together, amidst the bustling garden fire. To call it fate would be utter nonsense. Emperor Qi Xiao didn't believe in accidents at all; all accidents were man-made—someone wanted them dead!
"Fire! Fire!"
"Has the person been rescued? How is he now?!"
Emperor Qi Xiao hurriedly got up and ran out of the imperial study, heading straight for the drum tower of Yonghe Hall.
That's the highest point in the capital, offering a view of the imperial gardens!
Cheng Hai had only received the news and didn't know the specifics. As he followed Emperor Qi Xiao to the Drum Tower, he relayed the message from his subordinates: "There's still no news, but they've already gone to rescue them. Both masters are fortunate, Your Majesty need not worry too much..." He couldn't bring himself to offer any reassuring platitudes. He could only hope that the two were safe and sound and that nothing serious had happened.
Emperor Qi Xiao had no interest in asking questions and went straight up to the Drum Tower.
In the distance, flames raged and smoke billowed, and his heart sank to the bottom!
"Prepare the car, prepare the car!" He wanted to go to the royal gardens himself.
Cheng Hai accepted the order and was about to go and give the instructions when he turned around and saw the Empress rushing over. "Your Majesty, you can't go!"
"The cause of this fire is still unknown. What if you are in danger if you leave the palace?"
"Let's rescue Emperor Chu and Liu Yuechu first, and then investigate the truth carefully!"
The Empress had just heard Emperor Qi Xiao's trembling voice and his reckless impulse. Although she felt a pang of sadness in her heart, knowing that Emperor Qi Xiao would not have made such a decision if she were in his shoes, she still put the greater good first and said the words that Emperor Qi Xiao least wanted to hear.
"That's the Emperor of Chu! It's the Emperor of Chu!"
"If I don't go to the scene to see for myself, I'll think we're trying to harm Emperor Chu, which will immediately cause a war between our two countries!" Emperor Qi Xiao pushed the Empress away, not allowing her to say another word.
The Empress staggered a step, then got up and chased after Emperor Qi Xiao. "Our Great Qi has always been at war with the Chu Kingdom. Why is Your Majesty worried about Chu starting a war now?"
"Then what do you expect the two rulers of Meng and Yan to think?" Emperor Qi Xiao coldly rebuked. "At this time, you should be considering the bigger picture, not dwelling on past romantic entanglements. You are the Empress of Great Qi, not a woman confined to a mansion!"
"That's why I said what I just said. If Your Majesty is doing this for the sake of Great Qi, you absolutely cannot go!" The Empress roared at Emperor Qi Xiao for the first time, her voice even carrying a sharp edge. "Nobody knows if this is a trap to lure Your Majesty out."
"Now that the people of Chu, Yan, and Meng are all here, what if something happens to Your Majesty on the way... what will you expect me to do? What will happen to the newly rising Qi state?!"
"Your Majesty, I swear to Heaven that my obstruction of Your Majesty was not for personal gain or personal feelings, but solely for the greater good!"
Cheng Hai was taken aback by the Empress's words. He knelt down and clung to Emperor Qi Xiao's legs, pleading, "Your Majesty, the Empress is right. This servant also believes that you must protect yourself first, so that you can protect the safety of the Great Qi!"
"This matter can be entirely entrusted to the Duke of Baoguo," the Empress immediately said, mentioning Yuan Cuo. "His status is perfectly suited to handle this matter. To avoid suspicion from outsiders, Your Majesty can directly delegate authority to the Duke of Baoguo!"
Even if Emperor Qi Xiao tries to stop him, Yuan Cuo will not listen and will insist on going his own way.
But the Empress would never say this aloud, as it would be tantamount to completely tearing away Emperor Qi Xiao's dignity as an emperor.
Emperor Qi Xiao remained silent for a long time; how could he not understand the second half of the Empress's thoughts?
"check!"
"This must be thoroughly investigated!"
After saying this, he turned and looked into the distance, where the raging fire had merged with the sky.
"As long as the real culprit is found, no matter who it is, they will be sentenced to death without exception."
He issued this decree, and Cheng Hai and the Empress exchanged a glance before hurriedly going to deliver it.
The Empress remained silent, simply standing beside Emperor Qi Xiao, keeping him company in silence.
Her heart was filled with mixed feelings. She didn't know whether she hoped the fire would be extinguished as soon as possible, or that they would be safe and sound, or that they would really perish in the flames.
All possibilities sprouted fiercely in her mind like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, and even more vicious ideas began to emerge one after another.
The empress was startled and immediately took off the Buddhist prayer beads she was wearing, chanting "Amitabha" in her heart.
Emperor Qi Xiao's gaze grew colder and colder. After an unknown amount of time, he looked at the Empress beside him and said, "The Empress Dowager spends her days eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist prayers, but she doesn't neglect any of the things that should be done. You'd better not follow her example."
The Empress paused, immediately stopping her silent recitation, "I am different from the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager has His Majesty, but my Crown Prince is no longer here."
Emperor Qi Xiao's heart tightened instantly. "Are you sure you didn't interfere in this matter? You can speak frankly to me, and there's still room for negotiation."
"No, I swear to heaven." The Empress did indeed hold up three fingers, "but I can't guarantee it won't be someone else."
Emperor Qi Xiao immediately thought of Consort Yu.
"Her? Does she have the guts?" He was indeed very skeptical.
The Empress fell silent, watching as Emperor Qi Xiao began ordering the Golden Feather Guards to surround the palace and strictly forbid the inner palace from entering.
At this moment, Consort Yu also heard the news of the fire in the royal garden, and learned that Emperor Chu and Liu Yuechu were in the fire.
"Was it the Empress who did it? It must have been her!"
"Don't be fooled by her feigned magnanimity; she's actually the most cunning, ruthless, and vicious person in the world. She only wants to possess His Majesty and leave the throne of Great Qi to her foolish son!"