ebookland Chapter 152 Fire
Chapter 152 Fire
"A single line of red."
Wen Shuyao casually tossed out a sentence, watching with satisfaction as Madam Wen's face turned from red to white, and then from white to green.
Madam Wen's face turned pale as she tried to argue, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she found that the fear in her heart prevented her from making a sound.
The secret she had kept hidden in her heart was revealed by Wen Shuyao.
She gripped her hands tightly, her jaw clenching.
She first heard the name Yixianhong fifteen years ago, for her own future, for the future of the Zhang family, and for her sister's good days in the palace.
She used the red ribbon on her best friend.
Her acquaintance with Chu Wanqing was purely accidental—she unexpectedly saved Chu Wanqing from falling off her horse.
Chu Wanqing was a noblewoman from a prestigious family. Her father and brothers all had bright futures and were deeply favored by the current emperor. The Chu family was at the height of its power, and Chu Wanqing was the most prominent noblewoman in the entire capital.
But what about her?
She was merely the second daughter of the Zhang family. All of the Zhang family's best resources were used on her older sister. It was only through her sister's entry into the palace and her becoming a Noble Consort that she gained a place among the many noble families in the capital. Even so, when she was invited to a banquet, she was still looked down upon by the truly noble ladies.
Even though she was wearing the fine fabric her sister had specially sent her, the relationship between her and Chu Wanqing was like that of a firefly and the moonlight. The moonlight was so bright that no one could see her tiny firefly.
But Chu Wanqing was a good person. After treating her like a sister, she took her to banquets and her status rose accordingly. Chu Wanqing trusted her and told her everything.
At that time, Duke Wen was a dashing young general, wielding a red-tasseled spear with great skill and power. He was the ideal man that all the noble ladies in the capital wanted to marry.
So does she.
Yet this outstanding Duke Wen only had eyes for Chu Wanqing. For Chu Wanqing's sake, he made a vow that he would never take a concubine.
Such a marriage was once considered a beautiful story.
But the more this happened, the more unwilling she became.
The sisterly affection she once felt for Chu Wanqing gradually turned into jealousy and resentment. She was jealous that Chu Wanqing could so easily obtain everything she had ever dreamed of.
Even though the Zhang family has gradually gained power and those noble ladies no longer dare to look down on her, Chu Wanqing has a loving father and mother and a group of brothers. Moreover, her husband also cares for her very much. Chu Wanqing still lives as innocent and romantic as she did when she was a girl.
This resentment grew deeper and deeper, and she began to want to take everything from Chu Wanqing.
She never intended to kill Chu Wanqing, but... but everything changed after she met that man.
She personally fed the medicine to Chu Wanqing, and with the help of those medicines, she managed to get into the bed of the Duke of Wen.
From that time on, Chu Wanqing ceased to exist in the world. The only proof that Chu Wanqing had ever lived in this world was Wen Shuyao.
Perhaps out of fear of the Chu family, or perhaps out of a pang of guilt, she spared Wen Shuyao's life.
But she never expected that after fifteen years, that chubby little dumpling would grow up to be so beautiful and charming, easily winning the favor of Prince Jing and becoming someone who could easily send her to the Dali Temple prison.
Fifteen years later, she heard the name "One Line Sky" again.
It was said by Wen Shuyao herself...
What exactly did Wen Shuyao find out?
Madam Wen looked confused. She opened her mouth, but after a long while, she finally managed to say, "What are you saying? I don't understand what you're saying at all."
"You've put on quite a show," Wen Shuyao scoffed. "But no matter how well you act, you can't hide the fear in your heart."
"A forbidden drug like Yixiantian from the previous dynasty must be very difficult to obtain, right?" Wen Shuyao moved closer to her. Facing the dismembered limbs in the cell, she didn't even blink, only asking with a cold smile, "The person who gave you Yixiantian probably has a very complicated background."
"Let me guess..." Wen Shuyao lowered her voice, "Who exactly is that person? These past few days, you've been going to Cuiwei Lane all the time..."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wen could no longer conceal her shock. She stared intently at Wen Shuyao, clutching her hands in disbelief.
How could that be? How could Wen Shuyao know about this?
But Wen Shuyao gave her no room to guess, and said quietly, "Madam Wen might as well enjoy these few days. After all, it is quite rare to be able to visit Dali Temple."
“The next time…” Wen Shuyao’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, “when I meet Madam Wen, it will be the time when Madam Wen’s head rolls to the ground.”
Having said that, Wen Shuyao stepped out.
Madam Wen's mouth moved a few times, and only after Wen Shuyao left did she dare to hug herself and squat down.
"This is impossible! This is impossible!"
Mrs. Wen murmured to herself, and the unease in her eyes gradually surfaced.
She desperately wanted to send the message out, but she was in a tightly sealed prison, guarded by layers of jailers and imperial guards. What use would it be for her to know this here?
"I must get out!" she muttered, her eyes gradually hardening.
A moment later, she pulled out her gold hairpin and gave the jailer at the door a fawning smile.
……
As night deepened, the capital city sank into darkness, leaving only silence in the Qianjinfang area.
The Prince Xin's residence was located at the northernmost part of Beining Ward. As a disabled prince, Prince Xin had a very low profile. Apart from ancestral worship, he never went out. People in the capital had almost forgotten that there was such a person as Prince Xin.
In Beiningfang, the Prince Xin's Mansion is the quietest.
However, the Prince Xin's mansion is destined to be anything but peaceful tonight.
A sudden fire swept through the entire Beiningfang area.
Before the fire broke out, Prince Xin sat in a wheelchair, gazing into the distance.
However, sitting in a wheelchair, no matter how far he could see, his gaze could only reach the fields in front of him.
The servants who served him looked uneasy. Having served Prince Xin for a long time, they naturally knew what kind of heart was hidden beneath Prince Xin's seemingly gentle and refined appearance.
"Your Highness, if you wish to leave..."
“No need,” Prince Xin waved his hand, his expression wistful. “Sitting in this wheelchair, even if I go out, I’ll only become a laughingstock.”
Upon hearing this, the servants became even more apprehensive and tried to say something to ease the tension, but they couldn't utter a single word.
At that moment, a thick plume of smoke rose from behind the woodshed. The servants initially did not notice anything amiss and remained cautious until the smoke grew larger and larger, at which point panic appeared in their eyes.
"Your Highness!" he exclaimed, pointing in that direction, his expression panicked. "There's a fire!"
Upon hearing this, Prince Xin gripped the armrest tightly, and after a short while, he was sitting steadily in his wheelchair again.
"Send guards to take a look." His voice was cold. "At the very least, there are the Imperial Guards."