Madam Song’s heart sank straight down, a chilling sensation shooting straight to the crown of her head!
Chen Wanqing slowly walked over, her eyes dark and cold: “Third Aunt says I set a fire to burn you to death…”
“Then tell me, what did you do to make me want to burn you to death?”
Madam Song watched helplessly as Chen Wanqing approached step by step. Terrified, she scrambled on her hands and feet, crawling behind Chen Hanying and clutching his leg: “Nephew, save me!”
“Wan girl wants to kill me!”
The onlookers gasped, exchanging wide-eyed glances, both excited and subtly meaningful.
Chen Hanying pulled Madam Song up, grabbed her by the arm, and tossed her to the maidservants who had been helping to put out the fire. His expression darkened slightly as he straightened his clothes: “Third Aunt, speak properly!”
He turned to glance at Chen Wanqing, then looked at the burned-down Ning’an Yuan. “Third Aunt, what were you doing in Ning’an Yuan so late at night?”
Madam Song stiffened, her eyes darting around: “I was following the Old Madam’s orders to deliver something to Wan girl…”
“Deliver what?” Chen Hanying pressed.
Madam Song evaded the question: “Eldest Nephew, never mind what it was—it’s Wan girl who set the fire, trying to burn me to death!”
Chen Wanqing stood where she was, looking utterly puzzled at Madam Song: “Third Aunt is saying that I, for no reason, wanted to burn down my own Ning’an Yuan along with it, just to burn you to death?”
Madam Song blurted out: “You clearly did it because of that bowl…”
Her abrupt halt and the fear on her face sparked wild speculation among the onlookers.
Chen Hanying’s gaze shifted between Madam Song and Chen Wanqing, his expression grave.
“Clearly because of what?” Chen Wanqing tilted her head, pressing further.
Madam Song suddenly trembled all over, glaring viciously at Chen Wanqing: “It was you! You deliberately set the fire and locked the door, trying to burn us to death!”
The soldiers from the City Patrol who had just helped extinguish the fire shook their heads repeatedly, speaking up one after another: “This lady must be scared out of her wits!”
“Talking nonsense!”
“We saw it with our own eyes just now—the fire on Miss Chen was much bigger than on them!”
“Miss Chen wasn’t even burned, so how could she have burned them?”
“Exactly!”
Only then did Madam Song notice that Chen Wanqing’s clothes were completely intact, unlike theirs—each of them with burned garments, looking utterly disheveled.
“It was her trickery!” Madam Song pointed at Chen Wanqing, screaming like a madwoman. “It was her who set the fire, believe me!”
Chen Wanqing’s clear, bright eyes, black and white distinct, gazed steadily at Madam Song: “Auntie, tell me, why did the same fire burn you but not me?”
“It was you!” Madam Song shrieked sharply. “This is your courtyard, so of course it was your doing!”
“Is that so?” Chen Wanqing turned to look at the people present, raising her voice to ask: “Has anyone here ever seen or heard of the same fire burning them but not me?”
“No!”
“Never!”
“Haven’t heard of it!”
The Chen family servants and the City Patrol soldiers all shook their heads.
Suddenly, a person covered in black soot emerged from the burned ruins, holding something high: “Miss, the wooden Guanyin Bodhisattva statue we brought back from Baoguang Temple and enshrined in the main hall—it wasn’t burned either!”
“What?”
“Guanyin Bodhisattva?”
Everyone crowded around to look, marveling in astonishment: “It’s true!”
Some even reached out to touch it. “It really is wood, and it really wasn’t burned!”
“Could it be… that Guanyin Bodhisattva manifested her power, protecting Miss Chen?”
In the darkness of night, someone uttered these words, and immediately everyone knelt down in worship.
“The Bodhisattva Guanyin has manifested!”
“The Bodhisattva Guanyin has manifested!”
“Quick! Quick, bow and pray, ask the Bodhisattva Guanyin to bless us!”
After a great deal of chaos, someone suddenly spoke up:
“Perhaps Madam Song has done something to feel guilty about?”
“Otherwise, why was she burned while Miss Chen remained unharmed?”
The crowd’s gaze instantly turned toward Madam Song, who shrank back in fear, her expression terrified.
At that moment, a servant stumbled in, voice trembling with panic: “It’s terrible!”
“The ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall have fallen!”
In Ning’an Yuan, there was a moment of silence; everyone stood dumbstruck before erupting into uproar.
Whispers and murmurs rose again, “So it’s true, this Madam Song really has done something wrong, even the Chen ancestors are angry!”
Under the weight of everyone’s stares, Madam Song’s feet involuntarily retreated backward, her body trembling: “I didn’t…”
“I haven’t…”
Chen Wanqing turned to the officers from the Five City Military and Police Command who had helped extinguish the fire and said, “Since she claims I set the fire intending to burn her to death, I now report myself and surrender, requesting the government office to thoroughly investigate this fire incident!”
“Arrest me and take me into custody!”
“No!”
“That won’t do!”
Chen Hanying and Madam Song spoke in unison.
Chen Wanqing met Chen Hanying’s gaze, her eyes mocking.
Chen Hanying quickly walked to Chen Wanqing’s side, his expression stern: “This is a Chen family matter; it would be best not to involve the authorities!”
“Cousin, are you truly determined to interfere in this matter?” Chen Wanqing’s tone carried a warning, “I advise you not to wade into these muddy waters!”
Chen Hanying stared at Chen Wanqing, his expression cold and severe: “Why would you say that, Second Cousin? I am a member of the Chen family, and safeguarding the Chen family’s reputation is my undeniable duty!”
Chen Wanqing scoffed, “The Chen family’s reputation?”
“I hope Cousin’s original intentions remain unchanged!”
Chen Hanying clasped his hands toward the officers from the Five City Military and Police Command and said, “Thank you all for your hard work helping to put out the fire tonight. Hanying is deeply grateful!”
“Not at all, just doing our duty!” they all modestly replied.
Well-versed in the ways of officialdom, Chen Hanying added, “Tomorrow at noon, I will host a small gathering at Qingfeng Tower to thank you all, brothers!”
As he spoke, Chen Hanying signaled the stewards to give them silver and see them out, then dismissed the servants who had come to help fight the fire.
The soldiers on night patrol were all minor officials; seeing that Lord Chen, who held authority in the Left Army Governor’s Mansion, was personally inviting them, none dared refuse. They all promptly agreed, thinking it would bring them honor to speak of it later.
After the officers from the Five City Military and Police Command left, Chen Wanqing’s gaze fell upon Madam Song again. The moment Madam Song met Chen Wanqing’s eyes, she retreated repeatedly, her voice trembling as she called out to Chen Hanying: “Nephew, you must save your aunt!”
Chen Hanying glanced at the chaotic state of Ning’an Yuan and waved his hand, signaling: “It’s late; everyone should return for now!”
“We’ll discuss this matter tomorrow!”
Madam Song felt as if granted a great reprieve, heaving a long sigh of relief as she prepared to leave.
“No!” Chen Wanqing’s clear voice rang out, “The matter isn’t finished. How can Third Aunt leave?”
“Second Cousin!” Chen Hanying gave her a disapproving look, “We’ll talk tomorrow!”
“Wait!” A figure emerged from the shadows.
Chen Hanying’s expression stiffened, as if facing a formidable enemy. He turned and bowed respectfully: “Lord Xiao, the Chen residence caught fire, and our hospitality has been lacking. Regarding official matters, I must trouble you to discuss them tomorrow!”
Chen Wanqing followed Chen Hanying’s gaze and couldn’t help but frown.
The man was tall and imposing, clad in a brilliant crimson Python Robe that shimmered under the lamplight. Following the blood-like hue upward revealed an exceptionally handsome face, with long brows sweeping toward his temples and an air of heroic vigor. Yet his eyes were like deep pools—dark, profound, and unfathomable.
Even Chen Hanying, who had held power for years, appeared cautious and somewhat diminished in his presence.
Who was he?
How could he make even her cousin wary?
Chen Wanqing couldn’t help but wonder—a Python Robe? Could he be a member of the imperial family?
But her cousin had clearly addressed him as Lord Xiao…
Xiao Xin!
A chill shot through Chen Wanqing’s scalp. It was actually Xiao Xin, the Commander of the Jinyiwei! She had heard he enjoyed the emperor’s utmost favor—the only official in the entire court granted the imperial gift of a Python Robe.
At the same time, thoughts surfaced in her mind—ruthless methods, countless killings, the notorious Imperial Prison…
A cold shiver ran down Chen Wanqing’s spine. Why had this fearsome deity come to the Chen family?