Chapter 199 - Imperial Examinations And Royal Threats 1
Chapter 199 – Imperial Examinations And Royal Threats 1
Yu'an Temple some minutes before the Crown Prince left the temple.
Zhu Fengyin and Su Liya sat facing each other inside the Duchess's carriage when they arrived at the gates of the temple. Zhu Fengyin was tbs first to notice the fire as the smell of burned wood sipped into her nose as the carriage got close to the temple. Su Liya noticed her wrinkled nose and took in a deal breath.
She was immediately assaulted by the breath-stealing scent of burned wood and incense. "What is this awful smell", Su Liya said raising her handkerchief to cover her mouth as she coughed. The perfume on her handkerchief was quite calming, she moved it higher to cover her nose this offering herself some needed relief.
However, the noise outside coupled with the increase in the awful smell as the carriage got closer to the temple got her suspicious. Su Liya moved closer to the window, raised the curtain and looked out the window. "What in the" she muttered as she saw the smoke going up in the sky above the temple.
"What is wrong?" Zhu Fengyin rushed to the window on the other side of the carriage and looked out. She gasped and knocked heavily on the carriage a few times, "stop!" She cries out.
Su Liya pulled back in as she heard that and glanced back at Zhu Fengyin in concern, "What are you planning on doing, Fengyin. Don't tell me you plan on jumping out on the carriage and magically putting out the fire. For Pete's sake stay calm, we are almost at the temple, stopping the carriage at this distance just so you can run there and be of no help to anyone makes no sense. Don't forget that you are with child, be careful. Please don't stress yourself over a burning temple, there are hundreds of monks and servants in there that can help put out the fire. They don't need a worried pregnant woman!"
Zhu Fengyin glanced at her silently eyes wide, she opened and closed her mouth as she tried to make sense of this version of Su Liya. This was her first time seeing her this way, "I, what about Chen Yao. The prisoner, she may get still be in there_"
"So what if she is in there, she is still a problem either living or dead but honestly, I would prefer her dead because then she can't send the Crown Prince malicious anonymous messages aimed at blackening our family. Plus are three guards stations down there, I am sure one of them is smart enough to get her and the maid out before they turn into human barbecues", Su Liya breathed on deeply and let out the air to calm herself.
"Please stay still and don't cause you and the family any more trouble, you nearly had a miscarriage, let's not tempt fate again. Damn, I can't believe that I am suddenly the voice of reason. If someone ever told me this day would come I would have laughed them away and yet here we are" she said calmly.
Zhu Fengyin chuckled before progressing into a full-on laugh. Su Liya looked at her strangle and just shook her head, the carriage came to a stop and the driver brought down the seat. "Stat here while I check out what is going on", She stood and walked out of the carriage. A grandly designed carriage with the royal crest caught her eyes as she got down the stairs. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the crown prince gently climbing onto the carriage with a staff.
"What is he doing here of all places," Su Liya glance from the departing carriage to the burning temple, "Is this his doing".
"What is wrong Yaya? Why are you standing there?" Zhu Fengyin asked as she noticed that Su Liya stood on the steps for some seconds. Su Liya glanced over her shoulder and calmly assured her that it was nothing before continuing down the short step.
Su Liya called over a footman who had accompanied them from the mansion to the temple and instructed him to find out what happened. The footman rushed back minutes later and reported,
"Your Highness, according to the steward at the gate, a fire broke out suddenly at the coal room a quickly spread to the pavilions close by. The servants and monks immediately rushed to put them out before it spread further!"
"Was anyone hurt?" Su Liya asked looking ahead.
"No, your highness. They were able to put out the fire but the meditation buildings were destroyed_"
The footman was interrupted by Zhu Fengyin who had come down the carriage at some point, "how come the fire spread so fast? Call the abbot over no let us go meet him". Zhu Fengyin grabbed Su Liya by the arm and dragged her forward.
Su Liya looked down at Zhu Fengyin's tight hold and sighed, she tapped Zhu Fengyin on her palm to get her to stop. Zhu Fengyin was too worried to stop and instead slowed down and glanced over her shoulder. "The secret room is under the meditation room, Yaya. I can not stay still until I find out what went down there".
"Hey, slow down would you. We can find out what happened here even if we went slower. The slop is not smooth, you could get hurt if you keep moving that fast!" Su Liya said.
"Fine! Okay, I will slow down!" Zhu Fengyin said finally slowing her pace. Su Liya held her hand and walked into the temple, she stopped running servant to ask for directions to where the Abbot was before continuing forward. The abbot rushed over on seeing them, he bowed at 90 degrees to Su Liya then Zhu Fengyin.
Zhu Fengyin moved closer and whispered, "Abbot about the prisoner, did you get her out?"
Su Liya noticed that the abbot expression got a little complicated as soon as Zhu Fengyin said that. He looked like he had swallowed something bad. Su Liya suddenly got an ominous feeling, she moved closer and asked, "how long has ate been missing?"
The abbot's face fell immediately, he did not know how to inform Zhu Fengyin of what happened but since the Princess already guess their situation there was no need to hide it anymore. "She has been missing since the fire started, together with one of the guards!"