Now that she could no longer pretend to be asleep, she slowly opened her eyes and asked lazily, as if she had just woken up, "What time is it?"
After answering Consort Li, Hua Kai said with a smile, "Your Majesty must be exhausted today. You've really gone to great lengths for the Princess, and you have such a loving heart, arranging everything for the young prince. When the Princess and the young prince return, they will surely be grateful for your kindness and will never dare to be so rude to you again. Where can you find such a kind person like you these days?"
Consort Li's eyes flashed with a cold light, but her face wore a reproachful smile: "You little vixen, you never mince words. Isn't it only right that I do things for the Princess and the young prince? After all, they are the prince's wife and son. I'm just showing my love for them and respect for them. I don't ask them to remember my kindness, I only ask that they are all well, and that the family be harmonious. That way, the prince can rest assured on the battlefield, and when he returns victorious, he will be happy to see our whole family waiting for him in harmony. I only ask that the prince and Yun Jin are well. Even if I suffer hardships and injustices, it will all be worth it."
Consort Li glanced at everyone again before picking up her tea and casually asking, "Does my sister agree with me?"
She drew out her words, clearly implying pressure and threat. Who dared to disagree? Everyone hurriedly smiled obsequiously and fawned, saying, "Your Majesty is right, Your Majesty is wise. If Your Majesty hadn't managed this household so well inside and out, how could we live so comfortably? And how could the Prince be so at ease outside? Your Majesty has truly made great contributions."
"But since ancient times, the capable have been burdened with many tasks. If it weren't for Your Highness, the entire Prince's Mansion would probably have fallen apart long ago. Your Highness cannot simply abandon the Prince's Mansion. No one else can have your abilities. If the Prince's Mansion is to continue to prosper, only your continued leadership will suffice. We all depend on you, Your Highness."
The women showered her with praise and flattery, their true thoughts unknown. But Consort Li wore a smile; her humility was feigned, revealing a vain acceptance of their compliments.
Before long, Consort Li became restless. She glanced curiously at the door and said, "Why does it feel so hot? The sun has already set outside, shouldn't it be even hotter?"
Even though Consort Li had considered everything, she never imagined that she had offended a powerful priest who could command the wind and rain. This time, she had committed an unforgivable crime! This time, she would not receive servility from others, but rather an inescapable disaster!
When the flames finally reached the inner courtyard of the Prince's Mansion, engulfing the ancient and magnificent buildings layer by layer, and when the fire spread closer to the people in the inner courtyard, they finally saw the billowing smoke and the raging fire.
But by then, it was too late; the fire was already powerful enough to engulf everything! 17357817
335 A sea of fire extinguishes humanity! Golden scales transform into a dragon, shaking the heavens!
Updated: 2013-09-19 08:35:49 Word Count: 7729
"Ah! Fire? It's really on fire!" someone suddenly exclaimed outside the door, instantly causing panic throughout the courtyard.
They could have noticed the fire much earlier. Even if they hadn't felt it, a simple glance upwards would have revealed the billowing smoke and flames hurtling towards them. But they didn't! A group of people stood in the courtyard, yet, subdued by Consort Li's tyrannical power, dared not make a single move.
So much so that these people in front of us could become innocent victims of this fire! But they acted as accomplices to the wicked, disregarding rank and status, and ignoring the fact that Mu Yunhe and the Princess were watching. Their actions were tantamount to a powerful servant bullying his master, which was truly hateful and they deserved to die!
A group of people were in this courtyard. The entire manor had a total of 3016 people. Apart from Mu Yunhe and his group, there were more than 300 people here, all of whom were engulfed in the raging fire. The fire was raging, and the flames were closing in from all directions, leaving no blind spots, no room for escape.
Fire is the most merciless of all. This fire not only demonstrates Mu Yunhe's anger, but also shows that Consort Li has thoroughly enraged him! Mu Yunhe's rage is just like this fire, endless and unquenchable, and no amount of rain can extinguish it! It will not end until death!
The people in the courtyard were in complete panic. The courtyard was originally large, but with so many people standing there, it felt extremely cramped. Normally, everyone could remain calm and composed, but with such a fierce fire suddenly erupting, no one could stay calm.
One by one, people's faces changed drastically. They began to scream, flee, and hide. But the more panicked they became, the more they wanted to get out first, the more chaotic things became. They scrambled to escape, but none of them could get out. One by one, they were mercilessly knocked down. People who were usually so close, calling each other "sister" and being incredibly affectionate, now had bloodshot eyes. They didn't care about the lives of others; they only wanted to escape themselves. So even as they watched their former best friends fall down, unable to get up, struggling in agony, no one was willing to reach out and help them up.
It is precisely at times like these that humanity is most clearly revealed. The ugliness, vanity, filth, and narrow-minded selfishness of human nature are exposed!
They were even pleased that people fell, so that fewer people would block their path to survival, allowing them to escape more quickly. So they left ruthlessly, trampling on these people without hesitation, not only offering no help but also adding insult to injury, crushing those who could have stood up back down, sending them to hell!
The outside world was in complete chaos, with immense confusion and panic permeating everyone.
The room was in complete chaos. The women, who had never experienced much hardship and had been sheltered in the Prince's mansion for years, were now terrified, screaming and their faces pale. Their usually well-maintained appearances were now contorted with rage. They, who had once fawned over Consort Li, now disregarded her and rushed out one after another, screaming and showing no manners or etiquette whatsoever.
Consort Li's face, which had maintained its composure and determination, was now cracked and contorted with rage! The firelight was now illuminating her face, though it hadn't reached her directly. Even here, she could clearly feel the power and heat emanating from the intense flames.
It was precisely because she could feel it that she felt genuine fear and horror!
"What happened? What on earth happened? Why is it on fire? Can anyone explain this to me?!" Even at this critical moment, Consort Li was unwilling to relinquish her power and status. She questioned and roared arrogantly. But in a life-or-death situation, who cares about your power and authority? If your life is about to be lost, what does Consort Li matter?
"Don't panic! Don't make a ruckus! Stop right there! Get ready to put out the fire!" Consort Li roared, her face extremely grim, completely losing all composure. At that moment, her hand was tightly gripping Hua Kai's. She thought, even if she died, she'd take someone down with her. And she absolutely wouldn't die! She knew she wasn't popular, and this facade of harmony was all an illusion, painstakingly maintained. If she let go, no one would stay by her side!
But who listens to her now? Who can still hear her words?
Those who were just fawning over her are now only concerned with their own survival. The fragile facade that held them together has been shattered by the harsh reality.
Consort Li was nearly driven mad with rage. Looking at the chaotic scene and the raging, unstoppable flames, she finally felt despair. Beneath the raging inferno, she suddenly realized how insignificant she was. Even with boundless power, at this moment, she couldn't save herself!
What a tragic discovery! Even so, Consort Li still didn't realize she was wrong. She screamed, cursed angrily, and tried everything to escape. But she never managed to cross that threshold.
The situation outside was practically a riot. If she went out, she would likely die even faster. She might not even be burned to death, but instead be trampled to death by this group of people who were already blinded by rage. The last shred of reason and composure that Consort Li possessed allowed her to control herself and not go out, even though she was terrified and panicked.
But the fire had already spread, and huge tongues of flame lunged and devoured everything in the sky, spitting out their tongues and fangs like vengeful ghosts hunting their prey, ferocious and unrestrained, with no way to escape.
"Ah!" Someone managed to escape, but was immediately engulfed by a massive tongue of flame. They were instantly consumed by fire. They screamed and rolled on the ground, but the flames were like an enraged fire god; their cries were like adding fuel to the fire, making it burn even more fiercely. In a short time, the person was reduced to a charred corpse, with white bones visible beneath the blackened surface!
Ruthless, cruel, ferocious, and nowhere to hide!
This is the mercilessness of fire!
This scene terrified not only the people desperately trying to escape, but also Consort Li and her concubines. The women collapsed to the ground, dumbfounded, staring blankly at the burial goods engulfed in flames. Even amidst the fire, they felt a chill run through them. It seemed that the fate of this person before them was their fate to follow!
A profound sense of despair instantly enveloped everyone's nerves and emotions!
At that moment, everyone's eyes lit up as they thought they saw someone running towards them amidst the raging flames. Outside the wide-open courtyard gate, the person stumbled and ran desperately, but this only made it seem like he was running for his life. The flames behind him instantly became the Grim Reaper's deadly chain, relentlessly chasing after the person in front, each step terrifying, as if every move could ignite his body.
The man ran desperately toward them in this chase, or perhaps behind him was a raging, scorching, blinding fire. The onlookers gasped in horror, their hearts pounding with fear, a chilling despair settling over them.
Just before reaching the door, the man collapsed. Flames engulfed his calves, and he screamed in agony, pleading for help. At the most critical moment, he roared, "Your Highness, it's Mu Yunhe! Mu Yunhe is burning down the Prince's Palace!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was utterly horrified!
The fire was started by Mu Yunhe?! In that instant, everyone regained their senses. At that moment, they were filled with hatred for Mu Yunhe, wishing he would die a horrible death. But the next moment, a surge of immense anger turned towards Consort Li!
In the face of anger and death, everyone's reason is clear. They no longer deceive themselves, nor do they dare to deceive themselves or say things against their conscience!
They all knew that Mu Yunhe's arson stemmed from anger; otherwise, he wouldn't have acted so irrationally. Mu Yunhe must have been driven to a corner; his patience had been completely exhausted. It had been shattered by Consort Li's shameless and despicable behavior!
Mu Yunhe's anger stemmed entirely from Consort Li's indiscretions and outrageous actions. If Consort Li hadn't devised such a mad idea to humiliate the Princess and Mu Yunhe, she certainly wouldn't have angered him. If they had opened the door immediately when he knocked, he wouldn't have set a huge fire.
At this moment, everyone's hearts were no longer filled with hatred for Mu Yunhe, but rather with hatred for Consort Li! Because the root of everything was that vile woman, Consort Li! And they were all her sacrificial offerings, all implicated by her. Now, they were all innocently destined to perish in the flames; how could they not be angry? How could they not resent Consort Li?
In an instant, everyone looked at Consort Li with a gaze more intense than a raging fire. At this moment, Consort Li was completely stunned.
She never imagined that a sickly man she had controlled for nearly twenty years would actually return alive, and even dare to be so audacious as to defy her! What's even more hateful is that Mu Yunhe dared to commit arson?!
This is absolutely unforgivable!
Consort Li was so angry that she wanted to tear Mu Yunhe apart. This palace was something she had painstakingly built and wanted with all her heart, but now it was all destroyed because of this stupid idiot Mu Yunhe. How could she not be angry and heartbroken?
"Mu Yunhe, I will never forgive you!" Consort Li roared in grief and indignation.
People usually speak of irreconcilable hatred because of a father's murder or the theft of a wife. But Consort Li's irreconcilable hatred stemmed from the loss of her wealth. Even facing death and imminent disaster, she was still obsessed with material possessions. Truly pathetic.
Hearing her words, the crowd felt even more contempt for her, and even more enraged. Unable to contain their emotions, the group rushed forward, pouncing on Consort Li like wolves and tigers, raining heavy blows on her face and body without mercy, intending to kill her.
These people harbored resentment due to the long-term oppression and mistreatment they suffered at the hands of Consort Li, but had previously submitted to her tyranny and dared not resist. Now, however, their lives were in danger, and they knew they would not survive. Naturally, there was nothing they wouldn't do. More than twenty people, both men and women, rushed forward, venting all their anger, hatred, and despair on Consort Li.
Upon witnessing the group's actions, the others were overcome with grief and rushed forward. Since escape was impossible and death was inevitable, they decided to torture the culprits to death and dismember them.
"Ahhh..." Consort Li was completely stunned by the beating and couldn't react at all. She was both shocked and furious. She hadn't expected these damned servants to suddenly rebel, and she certainly hadn't expected anyone to dare to beat her. Consort Li was dazed and couldn't utter a single word; she could only scream in agony.
The fists rained down in a chaotic flurry, each one more vicious than the last, delivered with the rage and strength of a dying man. Had Consort Li lived, she would have been half-dead. Now, she could only suffer, reaping the consequences of her own actions.
The inferno reached the courtyard in the blink of an eye. Even the central courtyard, adjacent to the prince's, was eventually engulfed. As the raging fire finally arrived, everyone was scorched and in excruciating pain, yet they still felt a bone-chilling cold.
At that moment, everyone burst into tears, desperately crying and begging for help. They said they hadn't done it on purpose, they would never dare to make a mistake again, never dare to be an accomplice to evil, and never dare to hurt the young prince.
However, their repentance came too late. If they had stood up to stop Consort Li when she harbored such malicious intentions, or had refrained from participating, they wouldn't have met such a tragic end. Instead, they unanimously chose to stand with Consort Li against Mu Yunhe and his group, which meant they had chosen Consort Li. Therefore, their repentance was meaningless. Mu Yunhe would show no pity or sympathy whatsoever.
Everyone forges their own path. Regardless of right or wrong, one must be true to their conscience and take responsibility for their actions. If one thinks that doing something wrong is as simple as saying "forgive me" and it's all over, then what's the point of breaking the law?
Therefore, these people did not die unjustly.
The flames instantly engulfed the courtyard walls and surged in; no one could stop them. Caught between life and death, people could only silently await their demise.
With a deafening roar, the walls collapsed, the last layer of defense was mercilessly toppled, and people could only watch helplessly as their bodies were engulfed, consumed, burned, and consumed by flames, enduring excruciating pain, screaming in agony, and being destroyed! Until they were reduced to ashes!
The shock was palpable. The entire Mu King's Mansion instantly became a living hell! Screams and wails blended together, but their tears could neither redeem them nor cleanse them of their sins.
Mu Yunhe vividly and profoundly demonstrated with his strong and ruthless methods that this is the fate of those who act as accomplices to evil!
As Consort Li was being punched and kicked by a group of people, her pupils constricted as she watched the raging fire almost engulf her. She let out a heart-wrenching scream: "No!!"
The flames relentlessly engulfed the people before her, who began to scream and scatter in panic. Taking advantage of the chaos, Consort Li crawled under the table, trembling as she watched the scene unfold. Her legs were soaked, dripping wet—she had wet herself in terror.
At that moment, Consort Li suddenly realized how close she had been to death. But it was too late.
Flames were spitting out, houses were broken, buildings collapsed, beams fell, the fire was so intense that there was no chance of survival.
"Ah!" Consort Li screamed in agony, feeling a sharp pain on her face, a thousand times worse than the beating she had just received. It was a burning sensation, and she could almost smell the charred smell of roasting meat. Terrified, she tried to hide, but the flames were almost everywhere, and all she could see was a sea of fire. The house wouldn't last much longer either.
As the flames approached again, Consort Li grabbed at something haphazardly. She didn't know where the strength came from, perhaps it was her strong will to survive, but she actually grabbed a person who was struggling in front of her and used a living person as a shield.
"Ah! I'm burning to death! Let me go! Let me go now! You bastard!" Who else could it be but Hua Kai in front of her?
The person Hua Kai placed by Consort Li during the Flower Blooming event was there to wait for Luo Zhiheng to enter the Prince's residence so that she could work with Luo Ningshuang to kill Luo Zhiheng. Hua Kai had indeed done many bad things for Luo Ningshuang, and had repeatedly bullied and framed Luo Zhiheng.
The relationship between Hua Kai and Consort Li was one of mutual exploitation. However, Hua Kai knew she wasn't the center of attention, while Consort Li believed Hua Kai was the center and the center of attention for her.
The burning was too intense; Hua Kai screamed a few times before falling silent, struggling in vain. Consort Li, in a frenzy, used the last human wall to shield herself and escape. She was truly utterly inhuman.
Just then, a sound of breaking tiles came from the roof, followed by a series of crashes as tiles fell. Then, an urgent voice shouted, "Consort Li, where are you?"
Consort Li was so dazed that she almost thought she had misheard. She froze, stunned, until she heard the person call out a few more times. Then, as if seeing a glimmer of hope, Consort Li screamed, "I'm here! I'm here! Please come and save me!"
Upon hearing Consort Li's voice, the man rushed over, accurately overturned the table, grabbed Consort Li, and was about to leave.
However, Consort Li gripped the man's arm tightly, her eyes filled with fierceness and madness as she said, "You've come to save me, haven't you?"
“Indeed, Consort Li, come with me quickly. This place is about to collapse. If we wait any longer, we won’t even have a foothold. We’ll both die in this sea of fire.” The man’s voice was heavy and tense, clearly indicating that he was not breathing steadily.
Consort Li was overjoyed upon hearing this, and madness appeared on her face. She grabbed the man and refused to leave, shouting repeatedly, "Go back! Go back and get my things! My gold and silver jewelry, my money! That's my life savings! I can't let it be destroyed like this! I can't let it be burned like this! Take me back to get it now! Hurry!"
Upon hearing this, the man was truly stunned.
The fire was already so terrifying that even a moment's delay could mean certain death in the flames. How dare Consort Li, under such dire circumstances, still think of material possessions? Has she gone mad? If she's already dead, what use is money? What will she have to spend it on?
The man's face was full of undisguised contempt and anger. He said coldly, "Consort Li, you'd better wake up. This is not a place to stay. You should hurry up and run away with me for your lives."
The man was forceful and ignored Consort Li's words. He grabbed her arm, picked her up, and carried her away. However, someone held onto Consort Li's foot tightly, like a vengeful ghost, refusing to let go. This greatly hindered their speed and ease of escape.
Consort Li looked down in horror and saw that Hua Kai was holding her tightly. Without hesitation, Consort Li kicked Hua Kai with her other foot, and kicked hard, cursing her as a bastard. But Hua Kai just held on tightly and wouldn't let go.
Time was of the essence, and the man couldn't care less about anything else; he could only leave with the two of them. However, he ignored Hua Kai and only held onto Consort Li. Hua Kai, surprisingly, had such perseverance that she was dangling below like a dead dog, and she actually followed them all the way out of the sea of fire.
The moment they reached the roof, this last room was instantly engulfed by flames that surrounded it from all sides. The entire house collapsed in an instant.
Outside the Mu Prince's Mansion, everyone held their breath, completely dumbfounded, shocked, stunned, and shaken! All these emotions intertwined in people's hearts and minds.
This was a spectacular display of fire, equally magnificent and breathtaking. 1.
The man who started this fire is now standing there calmly, holding his beautiful wife in his arms, showing no remorse or regret for the destruction of his vast fortune. It all seems perfectly natural, or perhaps it's all a farce.