Prince Zhuang: "..."
A flash of murderous intent flickered in his eyes. These three words were like a curse, haunting him these days.
Wasn’t he unlucky enough already? Things had reached this point. How could they get worse?
He suddenly lifted the curtain of the carriage, ready to reprimand the driver, but as he looked up, he was stunned.
In front of him, thick smoke billowed, and the source was none other than his Crown Prince Mansion.
This Prince Zhuang Mansion had a long history. Twenty years ago, when Prince Zhuang turned eighteen and built the manor outside, it was this manor. Later, when Prince Zhuang went to the Vassal Land, the manor was maintained by people he trusted, who also bought the surrounding estates to expand it, making the mansion larger and larger.
Later, when Prince Zhuang beca Crown Prince, it was renad Crown Prince Mansion.
Among all the princes’ estates, this was the largest.
Now, from a distance, they could see thick smoke billowing and didn’t know what exactly was burning inside. Though a complete burn was impossible, so important parts shouldn’t be burning at all.
Prince Zhuang was anxious, hurriedly shouting, "Fools, what are you dawdling for? Hurry back!"
The driver awakened as if from a dream, cracked the whip, and drove the carriage fast, rushing back to Prince Zhuang Mansion.
The billowing smoke also alard others, many pointed towards the source. Prince Zhuang Mansion was so large that even though they were outside the gate, separated only by a courtyard wall, they didn’t know where exactly was burning.
Moreover, the gate was tightly shut, so naturally, they couldn’t help. Such a large estate didn’t need their help anyway; they were only curious because the smoke was too thick!
It’s understandable for ordinary people to make mistakes, but how could such a large mansion have a blundering fire accident?
The carriage reached the mansion’s gate after knocking for so ti, and only then did the gate open. This infuriated Prince Zhuang to death but also filled him with dismay. His managent was effective, and the estate had always been orderly. The sudden situation of knocking and getting no response at the gate indicated the fire was too severe. Could it be even the doorman went to fight the fire?
Fortunately, soone ca to open the door after a while. Prince Zhuang didn’t wait for anyone’s assistance and stumbled in frantically.
He was strong and had practiced martial arts; he should have moved as swift as the wind. But the day’s events overwheld him, as if life’s unbearable weight was upon him: first losing his hidden industry, akin to the National Treasury’s inco was destroyed; then Huangfu Chi got severely injured; and Huangfu Wei went missing. These weren’t trivial matters. He thought at this stage, nothing worse could happen, and then ca the decree to depose the Crown Prince.
He thought things couldn’t be worse now as he had lost his position as Crown Prince, what bigger blow could there be?
Yet now his mansion was on fire.
Prince Zhuang Mansion, which had been expanded and repaired for decades, was enormous. Reportedly, the fire started in an abandoned courtyard first. Then the adjacent courtyards were affected when the fire was noticed, it beca like this.
But the fire started in broad daylight.
Despite the fierce blaze, those who saw the fire had already run out.
With Prince Zhuang personally overseeing, the fire was finally stabilized. Ultimately, with the collaborative effort of Prince Zhuang Mansion’s servants, it was extinguished. People who ca to view the fire scene found the situation eerie.
Strangely, although these courtyards were adjacent, they weren’t close enough for the fire to connect.
For allegations of arson, who in the mansion had such audacity? Conversely, if it wasn’t arson, what was the reason?
Could it possibly be heavenly fire?
But heavenly fire is divine punishnt, why did it start in the mansion?
At the ti of receiving the decree, only Prince Zhuang was present.
Prince Zhuang thought it was the Emperor sending soone to censure him, as it was indeed embarrassing, so he dismissed his confidants.
Currently, the servants in the mansion still didn’t know the Crown Prince had been deposed. However, this didn’t stop them from looking at Prince Zhuang differently.
With a hint of hesitation and suspicion.
They were servants of the mansion, unable to doubt their master, but the sudden heavenly fire made them reverent and fearful, trembling with anxiety.
Seeing his estate already burn through four courtyards, Prince Zhuang almost spat up blood. Considering the peculiarity of the events, he was more convinced it was man-made.
Precisely because he believed it was intentional, his suspicious gaze began to scan around.
Indeed, he noticed sothing.
In the northwest corner of Prince Zhuang Mansion, there was a pavilion.
That pavilion was the tallest building of the entire estate.
At the very top of the pavilion, where people couldn’t go, a man and a woman leisurely sat and stood.
The man was like the pines and bamboos in the valley, graceful and tall, with a commanding presence, his whole being akin to a sword, steady and calm in the sheath, yet sharp and conspicuous when drawn.
The woman was akin to orchids and chrysanthemums in secluded valleys, fresh and elegant yet composed and dignified everywhere. Her entire being was like a lake, serene and tranquil without wind, tumultuous and unstoppable when stormy!
Prince Zhuang’s pupils contracted tightly.
He instinctively pointed towards them, murmuring, "Old Fifth, it’s indeed Old Fifth and his wife." His eyes turned blood-red instantly, rushing towards them while shouting, "Old Fifth, don’t go overboard, return my Wei’er!"
This cry alard everyone.
The butler first looked at the direction he pointed, puzzled. It was empty, nothing there. He was about to turn back to inquire when he saw the Prince dashing madly ahead.
The butler was shocked, quickly following, calling out, "Your Highness, Your Highness, what’s wrong with you? There’s nothing there!"
Prince Zhuang pointing at the pavilion’s top, his eyes red, impatiently scolding, "That’s Prince Cheng and his wife, are your eyes blind!"
The butler and the other servants were dumbstruck, looking at Prince Zhuang with strange eyes.
Clearly, there was nothing, yet he insisted Prince Cheng and his wife were there. Did their Prince lose his mind?
After cursing, Prince Zhuang turned back, also stunned.
The pavilion’s top was empty, where were the figures?
But he clearly saw them just now.
If he hallucinated Old Fifth and his wife, he should’ve seen them as they appeared in the last eting, not as they were now.
He rubbed his eyes and looked again, still nothing.
Desperate, he grabbed the butler, pointed again urgently, "Didn’t you see them just now? At the top of Zhuangya Pavilion, the highest part, towards the right. Old Fifth and his wife were there. One sitting, one standing. Old Fifth was sitting; his Princess was standing. Didn’t anyone see?"
The butler expressed his difficulty, his mouth twitching repeatedly, finally couldn’t help but say, "Your Highness, it’s four stories high. Plus, the whole roof is made of glazed tiles, slippery and ungraspable, even mice would slip trying to climb it, let alone people sitting or standing there!"
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