Su Hanchu took out a bucket of gasoline from the Spatial Dimension, poured it on the ground, grabbed a box of matches, struck one, and threw it onto the gasoline—all in one smooth motion. She then turned around and swiftly closed the door.
Su Hanchu hurried to the kitchen, storing all the prepared steamed buns, buns, pastries, dishes, two roasted chickens, and three pork knuckles into the Spatial Dimension.
Since making food also requires tools, she had an idea and stored the stew pot on the stove, along with the cauldron for stir-frying, ladles, bowls, and utensils into the Spatial Dimension.
Looking at the kitchen she had completely emptied, Su Hanchu rushed back to the bridal chamber.
By now, the fire in the warehouse had already spread.
The Qin Prince's Mansion grew noisy with many voices.
"Something's wrong, there's a fire, there's a fire…"
Su Hanchu ignored the chaotic and noisy sounds, suddenly remembering that the most crucial thing couldn't be forgotten—one of her dowry chests, containing important silver notes, was in her room.
Returning to the room, she saw Ping'er had already packed a bundle, wearing several layers of clothes. She had only one silver hairpin in her hair, but it seemed she had hidden jewelry in her chest.
Hmm, this girl is quite clever.
"Ping'er, go check what's happening outside first. I need to gather a few things."
Ping'er hurried out upon hearing this.
Su Hanchu immediately stored the quilt from the bed into the Spatial Dimension, then opened the wardrobe and put all the clothes inside it, leaving only a cloak for herself to wear.
After a moment's thought, she also left a set of clothes and a cloak for Jun Moye.
Then, she stored her dowry chest into the Spatial Dimension, opened the drawers of the dressing table, and took all the remaining jewelry.
Just as she finished and picked up the cold tea on the table to drink two cups, Ping'er rushed back in.
"Miss, the officials have come to confiscate the property. Prince Qin and the heir were carried back, looking as if they were beaten with boards."
Sure enough, as soon as Ping'er finished speaking, angry shouts from the officials could be heard outside.
"Move quickly! No one is allowed to bring any valuables. Everyone must gather in the front courtyard. Violators will be punished with twenty lashes."
Su Hanchu glanced at Ping'er, picked up Jun Moye's set of clothes and cloak, and the master and servant walked out together.
They saw many officials searching everywhere, and soldiers had started fetching water to fight the fire.
"How did the Qin Prince's Mansion suddenly catch fire?"
"Hurry, put out the fire! What if everything burns down?"
Su Hanchu slipped her right hand under her left wrist inside her cloak, fiddled with the bracelet, and it disappeared from her hand.
She glanced briefly at the fire behind her, then lowered her eyes.
In the outer courtyard, she saw Princess Consort Qin wearing thick clothes, tears streaming down her face as she crouched beside Prince Qin, anxiously calling out.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, how are you? What happened?"
On another stretcher, Jun Moye lay face down.
"Mother, don't shout. Father fainted from the pain. He was beaten eighty times with the board, and with all the recent overwork, he fainted right after the punishment in the palace," Jun Moye said from the side.
Princess Consort Qin looked at her son lying on the stretcher, tears falling even harder.
"Ye'er, what about you? How are you?"
Jun Moye shook his head, comforting her. "Mother, don't worry. I was beaten thirty times, but I should recover in a few days."
Meanwhile, Chen Siyu, who had been staying at the Qin Prince's Mansion under the pretext of accompanying her aunt, was now squatting beside Jun Moye with tears of distress streaming down her face, speaking with concern.
"Cousin, how are you feeling? Does it hurt? I've been so worried about you. You're going to be alright, aren't you?"
Jun Moye glanced at Chen Siyu. "I'm fine. Stop crying."
The family was comforting each other? She seemed a bit out of place here. Just as Su Hanchu was wondering whether she should step forward and say something, the officials began urging them.
"Hurry up, stop dawdling! Do you still think you're nobles of the Qin Prince's Mansion? You're now commoners awaiting exile."
Drawing from the original host's memories, Su Hanchu recognized this man as Zhao Kuo, the Vice Minister of Justice and a member of the Crown Princess's family, who naturally remained loyal to the Crown Prince.
Liu Guanshi, the steward of the Qin Prince's Mansion, stepped forward.
"Sir, could you allow us to apply medicine to the Prince? The journey to the northwest is long…"
Zhao Kuo showed no courtesy upon hearing this.
"Oh, Steward Liu, you're quite bold, still daring to call him 'Prince'? He's been demoted to a commoner. The Emperor has already shown mercy by not ordering his execution. What? Don't want to be commoners? It seems the entire Qin Prince's Mansion has quite a problem with the Emperor's decree!"
Liu Guanshi quickly clasped his hands in apology.
"Please forgive me, sir. This old servant hasn't yet adjusted his words. I beg for your leniency."
Zhao Kuo sneered coldly.
"I have no courage to grant favors to traitors. You'd better hurry and follow the guards!"
Just then, the men who had gone inside to search came rushing over.
"Sir, the fire is growing stronger. We didn't find much—only a few pieces of jewelry and some banknotes. It seems the storerooms have caught fire as well. The men are trying to put it out…"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuo's face flushed with anger. He pointed his sword at Jun Moye on the ground.
"Jun Moye, tell me, did your Qin Prince's Mansion hide the assets?"
Jun Moye glared coldly at Zhao Kuo. "Stop slandering us. My father and I were both escorted back by you. When would we have had time to hide anything?"
Zhao Kuo refused to believe it. "Then where did everything go? A mansion as large as the Qin Prince's Mansion couldn't possibly have no wealth!"
Seeing this, Su Hanchu stepped forward and spoke. "Sir, the Qin Prince's Mansion is indeed large, but the estate was bestowed by the Emperor. As for money, Jun Moye was merely a prince's son with no official position or salary. This vast mansion was supported solely by his father's salary, which was barely enough to sustain daily life. How could there be any surplus wealth?"
Zhao Kuo roared angrily, "That's impossible! The Qin Prince's Mansion must have hidden the assets in advance!"
Su Hanchu replied calmly, "The decree for confiscation arrived only a short while ago, and your soldiers followed immediately. Even if the people of the Qin Prince's Mansion had the intention, they lacked the means. This proves that the Qin Prince's Mansion truly had no wealth. Even if there were some food or supplies, they've likely turned to ashes by now."
Watching the rear courtyard of the Qin Prince's Mansion almost entirely engulfed in flames, Zhao Kuo eyed them with suspicion.
"What a fine Qin Prince's Mansion you have. Do you think I'd believe that?"
Su Hanchu glanced at the fire. Hmm, perfect. The warehouse was not far from the storerooms, and now it was almost completely burned down.
"Sir, the Emperor has only demoted all members of the Qin Prince's Mansion to commoners, not ordered our execution. If we do not leave now and end up burned to death in the Qin Prince's Mansion, you will likely find it difficult to explain yourself."