Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 107

Cang Chuli sent Chuqing to let Madam Xiao know that her daughter was safe.

By the time the group appeared at Ruyi Courtyard again, a sizable crowd had already gathered outside.

“What happened?”

“It seems a fire broke out all of a sudden!”

“I was drinking when I heard someone shout that there was a fire. Of course I hurried over to see if there was anything I could do!”

“Exactly, exactly. It even sobered me up…”

Xia Heng glanced at the kindhearted official who wanted to help.

*Huh? Wasn’t he the official who applauded and cheered for Cang Chuli during the banquet?*

Madam Wang stared at the flames raging inside the room. Her mind went blank, and a layer of cold sweat broke out over her palms.

Winter was already dry, and the oiled paper covering the windows was particularly flammable.

With too few hands available to extinguish the blaze at the outset, the fire inside the room quickly grew out of control.

“Tingting! Tell Aunt Wang—did you see Mingxu inside just now? Did you?”

Madam Wang did not dare imagine the thunderous imperial wrath they would face if Cang Chuli died in her residence.

Huaxia would have lost its General of the Northern Pacification. The Emperor would punish their family!

And her husband’s hopes of obtaining an official post would be ruined…

Chen Tingting shook her head helplessly. How would she know?

She had not even entered the room. She had seen flames everywhere from the doorway and fled at once. How could she have had the presence of mind to notice whether anyone else was inside?

Madam Wang’s legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground.

Wang Wenshan had also rushed over from the banquet. Faced with a scene filled with firelight, he gaped for a long while without managing a single word.

Huyan Lie stood nearby, his eyes flickering.

Could that bastard Cang Chuli truly have died so easily?

If so, he would have to thank the Wang Family.

“Husband! Husband! What are we going to do? Mingxu—Mingxu, he…” Madam Wang wailed as though her heart were being torn apart.

“Put out the fire! Hurry!” Wang Wenshan shouted at the servants. “Go summon people! Bring everyone from the front back here to fight the blaze!”

“How lively.”

Mo Bai deliberately drew out the words.

The distraught group turned as one and immediately spotted Cang Chuli standing behind the crowd, half a head taller than everyone around him.

“A-Aunt Xu! Isn’t that…?” Chen Tingting’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Madam Wang scrambled to her feet and rushed toward Cang Chuli, tears streaming down her face.

“Mingxu! Oh, Mingxu!

“You frightened your aunt to death! Sob… You truly frightened me to death!”

Wang Wenshan hurried over as well.

“Mingxu!”

Then he could say nothing more. He had clearly suffered quite a fright himself.

The onlookers could not help marveling at how close and affectionate the family was.

Only when Wang Wenshan met Cang Chuli’s utterly impassive gaze did he come back to his senses.

What had they done?

He gave Madam Wang’s sleeve a sharp tug.

She too realized that something was wrong and slowly stopped crying. Her eyes darted around, not daring to meet Cang Chuli’s.

Instead, her gaze happened to land on Xiao Yaqing and Xia Heng beside him, both dressed in clothes that looked extremely familiar.

“Those clothes…?”

Xiao Yaqing stepped forward with graceful composure.

“I must thank Madam Wang for preparing these clothes for me.”

Madam Wang hesitated without answering. She had ordered someone to prepare a change of clothes, yes, but surely Cailan had enough sense not to give Xiao Yaqing the most expensive outfit she had commissioned before returning to the capital?

Then she looked at the clothes Xia Heng was wearing.

That was her second most expensive outfit!

Xia Heng gave her a stiff smile.

Xiao Yaqing continued, “Miss Xia’s clothes were accidentally soiled as well, so she changed at the same time. Madam Wang does not mind, does she?”

As she spoke, she cast a seemingly casual glance at Cang Chuli.

*That will teach you to plot against us!*

“Of course not…”

Madam Wang had no idea why Miss Xiao had become so aggressive after merely changing her clothes.

And why would Cailan have given that maid one of Madam Wang’s own outfits?

Where was Cailan? Why had she disappeared?

Madam Wang wished she could simply faint. What sort of mess had this become?

Madam Chen had asked her to create an opportunity for Chen Tingting and Cang Chuli. Madam Wang had thumped her chest and guaranteed success, accepting fifty thousand taels in return.

But she also knew Cang Chuli was no longer the little boy he had been ten years ago. He would not obediently listen to her.

After thinking it over, she had purchased a stupefying drug.

She had heard that it clouded the mind and also possessed a mild aphrodisiac effect.

Ideally, Chen Tingting and Mingxu would consummate the matter. Even if they did not, a man and woman being discovered alone in the same room would still force Mingxu to take responsibility for the young lady.

Would that not settle everything?

Even if Mingxu was dissatisfied after he woke, the deed would already be done.

As his aunt, she was acting for her nephew’s benefit and had even found him such a powerful ally. He might not thank her, but surely he could not blame her.

Everything she had done was for his own good!

But if Cang Chuli had drunk the stupefying drug, why was he standing here?

Her husband had clearly said he watched him drink that cup of wine…

Seeing Madam Wang lost in thought as though she had no idea what was happening, Xiao Yaqing began to feel uncertain herself. She took a step back and said no more.

“Yaqing!”

Madam Xiao hurried over.

When she heard at the banquet that the Wang residence was on fire, anxiety had consumed her. Yet she was also afraid Yaqing might return and fail to find her, so she had sent Wuyue to ask around. Then she had the Wang maids summon her own servants and driver to carry Xiao Huan back to their carriage while she remained in place waiting for her daughter.

After a while, a maid from Mingxu’s household had come to explain the situation. Only then had she rushed here.

Madam Xiao seized her daughter’s hand and examined her from head to toe.

Xiao Yaqing hurriedly whispered, “Mother, I’m fine. It was all thanks to Ah Heng, Chuqing, and Mingxu’s guards. They rescued me very quickly.

“I only took so long because I went to change my clothes afterward.”

Madam Xiao finally expelled a stale breath, her shoulders gradually relaxing.

“Good. Good!”

She pulled Xiao Yaqing behind her. Since the matter concerned her daughter’s reputation, she could not confront the Wang Family before so many people.

Instead, she went to the group and nodded gratefully. Then she took Xia Heng’s and Chuqing’s hands, her gaze gentle.

“Good children.

“We truly owe you both this time!

“I do not even know how to thank you.

“There has been too much trouble today to speak at length. Your uncle and I will certainly visit another day to express our gratitude!”

Xia Heng was rather embarrassed.

“Auntie, it was only what we should have done. We were merely acting on a suspicion. Your words are far too generous!”

Chuqing’s face had reddened as well.

Madam Xiao merely shook her head and did not say more. She turned to Madam Wang with a grave expression.

“Madam Wang, the Xiao Mansion will remember the hospitality you showed us today.”

Madam Wang looked baffled.

What was going on? That attitude did not seem right.

She had lost two outfits embroidered by master artisans, and yet no one was grateful?

Her own expression darkened.

Huyan Lie watched the scene from within the crowd as an attendant quietly slipped back to his side.

“Is it taken care of?”

“Yes, First Prince. Everything has been cleaned up.”

Huyan Lie looked toward Cang Chuli and the people beside him.

Xiao Yaqing had appeared with them.

These people again?

Why did every plan fail the moment they encountered this group, even when the plan was not directed at them?

How strange. What exactly was different about these people?

The Wang servants ran back and forth carrying water to fight the fire. Unfortunately, their efforts were far too little to make a difference. The building was most likely beyond saving.

After such an incident, the guests took their leave one after another to avoid causing their hosts further trouble. Chen Tingting was taken away by her mother as well.

Madam Xiao bade Cang Chuli farewell and left with Xiao Yaqing. Xiao Huan was still lying in their carriage, after all.

Before long, Cang Chuli was the only guest from the Wang Family’s banquet who remained.