Chapter 2: The Fire Incident

Chapter 2: The Fire Incident

In the dead of night, Jiang Hui was jolted awake from her sleep.

Hearing the commotion, Qiu Kui lifted the curtain and came to assist.

"Qiu Kui, did you hear any noise?" Jiang Hui asked.

"Noise?" Qiu Kui paused, listening intently for a moment before hesitantly responding, "There seems to be some noise, but it's indistinct."

Qiu Kui helped Jiang Hui sit up, draped a cloak around her, and tucked in the blanket corners. After serving her a cup of warm water, she said:

"My lady, let me go outside and check, and ask Qing Feng."

As Jiang Hui was about to nod, she saw Ping Auntie leading Qing Feng, dressed in eunuch attire, rushing into the inner chamber.

Qing Feng was always meticulous. Even knowing she was awake, he wouldn't disturb her late at night without reason. Jiang Hui frowned slightly and asked, "What's happened?"

Qing Feng bowed and spoke with a hint of panic, "My lady, the Liangyi Hall has caught fire."

"What?"

Jiang Hui was startled: "Is His Majesty safe? What's the current situation?"

"His Majesty is unharmed and has relocated to the Ziji Hall," Qing Feng replied, wiping the sweat from his forehead and trying to remain calm. "The fire has been extinguished. The guards have secured half the palace, and two additional squads have been assigned to Yichun Palace. Many senior officials have also arrived at the palace."

Relieved to hear the Emperor was safe, Jiang Hui let out a breath. This was no trivial matter.

She leaned back against the bed and pondered for a moment before asking, "Is Prince Qi staying in the palace tonight?"

"I do not know," Qing Feng replied, bowing deeply.

"What about the Changxin Palace?" Changxin Palace's main occupant was the late Emperor's Consort Li, who was also Prince Qi's mother.

"There's been no movement so far."

Jiang Hui didn't inquire further. She frowned in thought, and the room filled with palace maids dared not disturb the silence, which seemed to amplify the distant, chilling clank of the guards' armor.

After a while, Jiang Hui instructed, "Secure Yichun Palace well. Stay vigilant throughout the night. No one is allowed in or out after the palace gates are locked. During the day, unless necessary, do not go out. Ping Auntie, ensure everyone is restrained and avoid unnecessary talk."

"Yes," everyone responded in unison.

"Later, the Crown Princess might send someone over. Qing Feng, make sure to receive them properly."

Seeing Qing Feng nod, Jiang Hui dismissed everyone, leaving Qiu Kui to keep watch, and prepared to go back to sleep.

At this moment, Qiu Kui asked, "My lady, do you want to send someone to visit His Majesty in Ziji Hall?"

After such an incident, it was customary for the women of the Eastern Palace to show their concern. If they did nothing, it might displease His Majesty.

"Not tonight," Jiang Hui shook her head. "It's chaotic right now. Going there unnecessarily could cause trouble and upset His Majesty. Besides, it's unlikely anyone can leave the Eastern Palace at this time."

After a pause, she added, "Tomorrow is the day of the Grand Mourning. Wake me up early. I'll prepare some gold and jade custard. You take it to Eunuch Sheng An but don’t disturb His Majesty."

Qiu Kui agreed, lowered the curtains for her, and extinguished the lamp.

Early the next day, Qing Feng reported that Prince Qi had been imprisoned last night, and along with this news, was the information that Xu Liangdi had been sent back to the Eastern Palace by His Majesty late at night.

Prince Qi, a supporter of the late Crown Prince Yuan Hui, had always been dissatisfied with the late Emperor's decision to appoint Xiao Sheng as the Crown Prince. He harbored a suspicion that Xiao Sheng was behind Yuan Hui's demise and thus held an unclear animosity towards Jiang Hui, who married Xiao Sheng.

It seems that last night, he resorted to a desperate assassination attempt.

With several major incidents occurring in succession, the palace maids were cautious and discreet, creating a heavy atmosphere in the palace. Sitting at her dressing table, Jiang Hui let Lan Song comb her hair, her mind still preoccupied with Prince Qi's affair.

After the late Emperor fell ill, all key positions in the palace were already under the control of His Majesty. How could Prince Qi have had the chance to act? Unless... it was orchestrated by His Majesty himself.

Even so, the gold and jade custard being sent to Ziji Hall was necessary.

Madame Qing from Wang shi's quarters still came over, not to urge her to visit Jianzhang Palace but rather to inquire about Jiang Hui's health. She effectively played the role of a caring and virtuous representative for her mistress.

Just then, Pomegranate led a physician dressed in mourning attire to see her.

Jiang Hui was momentarily startled, returning from her thoughts to find Doctor Liu, who had always attended to her, bowing before her.

Lan Song, seeing Doctor Liu, briefly showed a glint of happiness in her eyes, but quickly composed herself, mindful of the late Emperor's mourning period. She softly asked Madame Qing to wait in the side hall, called two young maids to serve, and then returned to stand by Jiang Hui's side.

"Did His Majesty send Doctor Liu?" Jiang Hui asked in the inner chamber.

"Yes, today I will be on duty in a side hall of Jianzhang Palace. If Your Highness feels unwell, send for Eunuch An Jing," Doctor Liu replied, feeling her pulse with a focused expression. After a moment, he frowned slightly, "Did you take a pregnancy-preserving pill yesterday?"

Jiang Hui confirmed, and Doctor Liu advised, "Although the pill's efficacy is acceptable, it should not be taken frequently. Your Highness should not take it again within the next three days."

He pondered for a moment, then turned to Lan Song, "I won't prescribe any medicine. Instead, I'll write down a few dietary recommendations. Please note them down, and prepare meals for Her Highness accordingly for the next few months."

Lan Song nodded repeatedly, fetching pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and began grinding the ink diligently.

Qiu Kui and Shan Zha were still delivering soup to the Zijid Palace and hadn't returned. Jiang Hui, leaving Aunt Ping and Shiliu to watch the house, took only Wan Song with her, following Nanny Qing to the Donggong main hall to meet with Consort Wang.

The calming incense in the main hall had dissipated. Hu Chenghui and Shi Ruzi sat in their usual places, visibly unsettled.

"Has Xu Liangdi not arrived yet?" Consort Wang, seated at the main position, showed impatience and sent someone to hurry Xu Liangdi.

After another quarter of an hour, Xu Liangdi arrived in mourning attire, her face bare and eyes still red and swollen.

Jiang Hui lowered her eyelashes, recalling Xu Liangdi's visit to the Liangyi Hall last night to check on the Emperor. Although the Emperor disliked palace drama, he wasn't one to physically punish the consorts. Her aggrieved appearance seemed more like a lesson from Consort Wang.

With everyone present, Consort Wang instructed the nannies to take good care of the young princess and Yan Jie'er, then led the group outside.

It was still lightly snowing. Palace maids cleaning the way knelt silently upon seeing the procession from Donggong. The group turned at Changxin Palace, where another cluster of palace staff surrounded a carriage ahead.

Qingfeng's voice came from outside the curtain, "My lady, ahead is Consort Li's carriage."

Consort Li? Even with Prince Qi imprisoned for treason and facing a bleak future, she was allowed to mourn at Jianzhang Palace as usual... Being a consort of the late emperor and lacking concrete evidence against her, the current Emperor couldn't stop her due to filial piety.

Jiang Hui pondered briefly, then instructed through the curtain, "Once we arrive at Jianzhang Palace, if anything seems amiss, immediately find Eunuch An Jing."

The imperial guards on duty at Jianzhang Palace were noticeably increased today. Jiang Hui alighted from the carriage, assisted by Wan Song to the main hall's entrance, where all attendants stopped. Hu Chenghui stepped forward to support Jiang Hui, with the nanny and Yan Jie'er following closely.

"Thank you," Jiang Hui whispered.

Hu Chenghui responded with a faint smile and then lowered his head.

The Emperor's body had undergone the small encoffining on the day of his death, and the great encoffining would occur the next day. His remains would be placed in a cypress coffin, to rest for twenty-eight days before being moved to the funeral palace, awaiting an auspicious burial date set by the Astronomical Bureau.

During this period, all royal family members, ministers, and women of rank were required to perform daily mourning rituals in the morning, afternoon, and evening to observe mourning for the late Emperor.

Inside the hall, the consorts of the late emperor had already knelt down, with Consort Li, mother of Prince Qi, notably among them, all wearing uniform expressions of grief.

Consort Wang alone moved forward, kneeling at the foremost position among the women, while the rest of Donggong's group quietly positioned themselves behind the late emperor's consorts, each finding a spot to kneel.

At the hour of Chen, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager arrived at Jianzhang Palace, and the grand encoffining rituals formally commenced.

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Rites officials, everyone numbly knelt and performed the mourning rites repeatedly.

Jiang Hui's forehead was beaded with sweat, and a dull pain in her lower abdomen persisted. Barely enduring till the end of the ceremony, she knew any more kneeling might risk a premature birth. Ignoring Consort Li, who made her uncomfortable, she swiftly closed her eyes and feigned fainting, collapsing to the ground.

Alarmed cries surrounded her, and she felt herself being propped up on someone's knee. Amidst calls for “His Majesty” and “Fetch the imperial physician,” she detected a familiar scent. Lifted into the air, she was now cradled in the Emperor's arms.

Hu Chenghui watched the Emperor hastily depart with Jiang Hui in his arms, catching a glimpse of Consort Li's peculiar smile at the corner of her mouth. He quickly lowered his head again.

The scent of the incense in the inner chamber grew stronger. Hu Chenghui covered her eyes with a handkerchief, continuing to wail with the others. A sly thought crossed her mind, and the corners of her mouth turned down, but her almond eyes under the white handkerchief revealed a trace of amusement.

In the warm pavilion of Jianzhang Palace's side hall.

Jiang Hui lay on her side on a soft couch, her wrist gently placed at the edge of the bed for the imperial physician to check her pulse.

Soon, a spoonful of medicinal juice was brought to her lips.

Jiang Hui opened her eyes at the right moment, her lashes fluttering lightly. The blurred vision before her gradually became clear.

“Hui'er?” A deep male voice sounded near her ear. Jiang Hui, also known as Wan Lan, was used to being called by her name from childhood by Xiao Sheng.

“Your Majesty?” Jiang Hui's voice was faint, as if she was still dazed.

“How do you feel?” Xiao Sheng sat by the bed, gently pressing down on Jiang Hui as she tried to sit up and pay her respects, asking, “Do you still feel uncomfortable?”

Jiang Hui shook her head, her pale face breaking into a faint smile, softly persuading, “I'm fine now, Your Majesty. Please return.”

The Emperor, occupied with numerous affairs, couldn't possibly linger with Jiang Hui. He gently stroked her hair, stood up, and said, "I will ask your mother, the Princess of Chengping, to look after you. Hui'er, rest and nurture your child these next few days; you need not visit Jianzhang Palace anymore."

Watching the Emperor leave the side hall's warm pavilion, Lan Song, holding a bowl of medicine with teary eyes, hurriedly approached, "My lady, how are you feeling? This is the medicine prescribed by Doctor Liu, please drink it quickly."

Jiang Hui smiled, took the medicine bowl, and drank it in one gulp, comforting Lan Song, "I’m fine." She spoke the truth; although her abdomen was indeed uncomfortable, her timely 'fainting' hadn't worsened her condition and even earned her a few days of rest.

It was at this moment that the Princess of Chengping entered the inner chamber of the side hall. She scanned Jiang Hui from head to toe before sitting beside her bed and sighing with relief, "You scared me earlier."

She had seen through her daughter's ruse.

Blushing, Jiang Hui snuggled into her mother's arms and whispered, "Mother, what about Prince Qi?"

"His Majesty’s ascension was already a foregone conclusion, that fool..." The Princess of Chengping halted, her eyes stern, "Pretend you know nothing of this matter. As for Consort Li, she won't stay in the palace much longer. Just keep your distance from her."

Jiang Hui obediently nodded. After quietly spending some time together, it was unwise to linger long in Jianzhang Palace, so she prepared to return to Yichun Palace.

"It's good that you understand. In these troubled times, avoid unnecessary gossip," the Princess of Chengping advised while holding Jiang Hui's hand. Though reluctant, she added, "Rest for a couple of days, but you must return here for the mourning rituals."

"I understand, Mother."