11 Consumed by Fire (Last)

The next day seemed like it would be a normal day for the palace.

However, a loud cry was heard from within the Empress' chambers.

"Su Jou! Quick! Call Physician Jin here right now. Su Rong help! Yun-er, he's...he's not breathing…"

Immediately, the Su siblings heeded to the Empress' orders.

Not long, there was a big commotion within Kunning palace. By the time news had spread around the palace, the Empress Dowager had also come over to see the Empress.

Physician Jin's skills were in one of the top doctors, even the best in the entire kingdom, but even he could not revive the little prince's life back. They tried everything, but the source of the little prince' death was unknown.

On the prince's one month belated birthday, the nameless prince passed away with an unknown disease…

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Within the two week timeline, many were all doing their own work in their own ways...

Qian Xing Palace

"Won, have you found anything?" The Emperor's cold voice spoke out from his study room. In his hands, he was still going through the official documents. However, there was no sadness in his voice but merely wanting to know the cause of his son's death.

"Yes, your majesty. Uh...aparently, it seems to have been due to poison like bixie thought, but this servant has already told Physician Jin to not announce it to the world as bixie had told."

"Hm, and the person?" The Emperor inquired some more.

"Uh...it's...Li Cai Ren, your majesty." Won who was in a black robe with a mask on replied with his head lowered.

At first, there was a short moment of silence before the Emperor's voice spoke up once again, "That is all. Keep this away from mother, don't let her know or anyone in the Ke group know of this matter. That goes to all of you."

"Yes, your majesty" At once, 30 sounds of men replied immediately.

Just as Won thought that it was all, the Emperor asked lastly, "How about the Empress?"

"The Empress has not taken it in easily, your majesty. However, there is no movement from her, she seems to not have found out the true cause."

Without looking up, he spoke as he brought his brush to write on the paper, "Well, she could not take care of her only protection properly, tut tut. Keep this matter quiet and let it be because of the prince's health. That is all, you can go now."

"Yes, bixie."

After Won had left, Emperor Yang Long's hands did not stop writing on his piece of paper. Though there were some feelings, he had never wanted her to give birth to a baby in the first place. If anyone was to blame, it would be her for forcing this onto herself.

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Li Mei Palace

Li Cai Ren was drawing a beautiful picture of Cherry Blossoms. However, the ink was blood red, but the usual gentle lady did not mind the colour.

She drew it happily as she thought of the news that had been announced to the palace.

...Finally, no more threats...just one last step…

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Empress Shen and the entire palace grieved over the prince's death for an entire week.

After one week, the Empress' health declined and she would not meet anyone. The mourning white clothes were put away and she was in her red robes once again, but her face was as pale as a sheet of paper.

Physician Jin came from time to time to check up on her health from the Empress Dowager's orders, but she paid no attention to anything he had said and simply looked dazed all the time.

Another week had passed, but she was still the same.

Then, one evening, a small note was left on her table inside her chambers. Slowly she opened the paper that had not been there before and read the contents inside it.

"The little prince was poisoned." ---------------from unknown

Hui Lan's hand began trembling. Yun-er…

Who!? Who could have the heart to kill a baby!!

...the only person before her baby's death...Li Cai Ren…

Hui Lan's eyes grew a murderous intent that had never been in her beautiful eyes before. She bit her beautiful lips so hard that blood began flowing out.

Without a second thought, she quickly got up and stormed out from Kunning palace.

In her red robes, she headed quickly to Li Mei Palace.

Once her arrival was announced, Li Cai Ren quickly came out to greet the Empress. However, her beautiful face was met with a big slap on the face.

Even more, the beautiful hair that had been set was also pulled tightly by the Empress. Li Cai Ren tried to get away from the tight grip but nothing was stopping the Empress.

Su Rong, on the other hand, was shielding the other maids from daring to stop Hui Lan.

However, before the Empress could do anything more, a loud announcement was heard from behind.

"Bixie arrives!"

Emerging from the corner of the building was Emperor Yang Long in his black dragon robes. When he saw the scene unfold in front of his eyes, he could not believe it at first.

Nevertheless, he was fast to react and quickly pulled the Empress away. He did not have time to think of containing his power and had used his entire strength to pull the Empress away causing her to fall on the hard ground.

A few tears began trembling out from her red eyes, but she could not make herself to get up. Her entire body felt pain all over.

"Are you alright?" Of course, those words were not directed at her but someone else.

"I'm alright Bixie. But the Empress…" Mei Fang's troubled voice trailed off…

Almost instantly, the Emperor's eyes looked as if they were lit with fire, he had to close his eyes to keep the burning anger inside, "Zhen needs to speak with the Empress, leave us." His voice had no space for any rejections.

"Bixie…" Li Cai Ren's voice called out softly.

Emperor Yang Long's eyes immediately grew soft and his tone as gentle as a calm river, "Don't worry, go and rest. I need to speak to her."

Li Cai Ren nodded willingly Along with her court lady, she was supported away from the scene. Su Rong and all of the Emperor's servants had also retreated a few distances away.

When Emperor Yang Long turned his eyes back at Hui Lan, the gentleness was no longer there in those pair of pitch dark eyes.

With big firm steps, he walked over to the lady on the floor who was still staring at Li Cai Ren's retreating figure.

Slowly, he crouched down to the floor to the same eye level as the Empress, "Empress…" A dangerous hint of intentions was shown just by mentioning her title.

However, there were no reply or reaction from Hui Lan. She did not even turn to look back at him.

To that, he had to forcefully pull her chin with his big hands to face him properly, "It seems you have been very disobedient to Zhen lately. Is it that Zhen is no longer the Emperor any longer to you?"

On the other hand, Hui Lan had already closed her eyes away from the Emperor. If she still saw that face of his, she would cry even more.

"Open your eyes." Emperor Yang Long's voice grew slightly agitated.

Despite the order from the person who sat at the highest place in the Kingdom, Hui Lan still refused to open her eyes.

"Fine. The prince's matter, drop it from today onwards. Li Cai Ren is now the lost daughter of the Right prime minister Li. Zhen does not want my two main officials to be fighting because of this." He then quickly pulled his hand away from her and got up to his tall height.

Meanwhile, Hui Lan's eyes grew in shock.

Looking down, he spoke again, "You are the Empress of this country, so you should learn these sacrifices. Moreover, you took this in yourself."

"You knew?" but you did nothing?

However, the other person had already left.

Emperor Yang Long had left to take a look at the person who had gotten hurt. In his heart, he could not care for anyone else, but her…

Once the Emperor was gone, Su Rong dashed straight towards her friend's direction. She quickly checked on her friend and was slightly relieved that nothing bad happened to her friend.

However, the lifeless expression from Hui Lan took all of her relief away. It seems, it was not the body that was hurt, but more like the heart and soul.

Slowly, Su Rong supported Hui Lan up and the two, Empress and court lady silently made their way back to Kunning palace. By the time they had arrived, the sky was already dark.

Once Hui Lan was inside her chambers, she spat a mouthful of blood.

Su Rong's eyes grew in fear, "Niang Niang!"

However, Hui Lan began to cough out more blood.

"No good, I'll get the Physician."

But before Su Rong could get up, Hui Lan quickly held onto her friend's skirt, "Wait...Su Rong...I…"

Once again, Su Rong kneeled down with an anxious heart, "Don't worry, I will go get the Physician. Just stay here okay?"

Then, Su Rong was gone.

Inside her chambers, Hui Lan sat alone with a few piles of blood on the floor.

Her heart felt so tired. Like it was crushed a million times. Her son was no longer with her and his father did not even care for him….maybe, he was right. I did all of this...I forced all of this upon Yun-er…

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"Su Jou." Hui Lan's weak voice called out in the darkness.

Despite how soft her voice was, a figure in black robes dropped form the ceiling almost immediately.

"Yes, Niang Niang."

"I'm cold...can you get me some more wood?"

"Huh?"

"Su Jou...please." Hui Lan's voice grew weaker by the moment.

To that, Su Jou did not probe any more and heeded to her request immediately.

Now, it was finally just her alone in this cold palace. She got up to her small table that had a candlelight stand on it. Her shaky hands reached out for the stand and without thinking twice she placed the fire from the candle against the wooden walls and paper door.

Almost immediately fire began to catch and in no time it grew bigger.

Looking at the fire, it reflected in her dimmed eyes. However, she seemed satisfied with what she had done.

Then, slowly, she laid down on the cold floor. Afterwards, she slowly closed her beautiful eyes.

Mummy will go see you soon Yun-er.

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When the Su siblings returned, all they saw was the Kunning palace that was burning in fire. The fire that looked to be the hottest were at the bedchambers of the Empress.

The rest of the court maids were running away from the fire while only some guards were carrying water buckets to stop the fire.

It had not been long since the Su siblings had left, but the fire was growing rapidly due to the night wind.

Su Rong grabbed a court maid that was about to run away and asked hurriedly, "Have you seen the Empress?"

The maid shook her head quickly before running away.

...That useless yatou!

Su Rong took made a quick signal at Su Jou who was hidden in the tree and her brother was gone.

...They needed more people, with this manpower, it would not be enough…

She then quickly ran bravely to where the fire was growing, "Niang Niang!" Su Rong called out to see if there would be any response from Hui Lan who was still stuck inside.

Immediately, she began looking around to find any spaces that she could make her way in. Her sharp eyes looked around and found that the only space left was the rooftop...

However, before she could even jump up and break in through the roof, a loud crashing sound was heard closeby...

Su Rong turned to the direction of the noise fearing the worst, only to find a familiar figure walking out from the fire.

"Niang Niang!" She cried out in delight to see her friend.

In no time, she was already running towards the figure in front of the main door.

On the other hand, Hui Lan slowly looked up in the starry sky.

...Was this the mission?

Her eyes showed traces of brokenness that was coupled from the original owner of this body to the owner of it now. Hui Lan slowly looked around only to see people dressed in traditional-looking outfits unlike where she had come from.

...So those memories, it must have been from the original owner of this body. However, why was her heart hurting this much when those memories were not hers, to begin with?

With a resigned heart, she looked up to the moon in a daze...

...The Heavens-ah what do you want from me? Why bring me to this faraway land just to torment me?

However, the night sky was as silent as usual. All that could be heard was the cracking sound of the fire from behind her.

Hui Lan slowly closed her eyes to try to relieve her distress, only to see all the hurtful memories of this body gushing in her mind.

This was the second fire that had consumed the owner of this body. First, was the fire that was brought upon her by the dragon of this palace. Now, would be her fire to consume this palace...

Slowly she opened her eyes, but the sad gaze had entirely vanished. What was left was only coldness, the coldness that was like the frosty icicles were what was left in those pair of sleeky eyes.

She was brought through those fiery flames, now, she would be more than happy to give this present back.

Let's lit this palace on fire, shall we?