Chapter 555: The secret room catches fire—will Luo'er and the tyrant perish together?

Ji Gonggong.

I've heard that Li Wu's martial arts are peerless, his temperament cold and ruthless—he's certainly not someone easy to talk to.

You lowly slaves have locked his wife in that secret room; if she dies at the Father Emperor's hands, even if he dare not bear grudge against the Father Emperor, he will certainly not let you lot of eunuch dogs and guards off easily!

Surrounded by six guards in the corner, Zongzheng Xingyao could neither get away nor escape.

Thus he stared fixedly at Ji Gonggong and his group, trying to threaten them with words.

Ji Gonggong hadn't said anything yet when the Xia Gonggong beside him let out a cold laugh first: 'It's not me saying it. Li Wu ought to thank us few.'

He is after all a man who married into the family; when he has no ability, who you are doesn't matter at all.

But once he gains office and wealth, even the slightest flaw in his background will make him lose face, unable to hold his head up.

Even if he attains a high position, what then?

A man who marries into the family will be pointed at wherever he goes; people will forever gossip about how a illustrious Brave Cavalry General actually entered a merchant's household.

If the Southern Palace Clan truly meets an ill fate and dies at Your Majesty's hand, isn't that us removing a major trouble for him?

Hahaha...

The group laughed, leaning this way and that.

Only Ji Gonggong's face was solemn.

Since childhood he followed Old Ji Gonggong; without being a sharp-witted person, he could never have taken over the position of chief steward that his foster father now holds.

So when he learned that Li Wu was actually a chess companion of his foster father, he sensed something odd.

His foster father had said, Li Wu's thoughts are deep.

Although he is not a sinister person, he is absolutely a hero with a scheming mind.

In his chessboard battles, the slaughter is always a mighty, encompassing encirclement.

From the very first piece, he had already calculated the board twenty moves ahead.

This man is certainly no pond fish, far from being a mediocre sort.

Zongzheng Xingyao: 'You understand men so well.'

But are you lot even men?

Xia Gonggong: 'You—!'

A flash of resentful venom crossed his face; for eunuchs like them, the thing they hate most in life is others using their manhood to humiliate them.

Nowadays the princesses and princes in the palace aren't worth anything either.

Your Majesty doesn't care about their life or death; if we really killed a few unfavored ones, what of it?

Xia Gonggong narrowed his eyes, about to step forward, but Ji Gonggong beside him moved his foot even faster.

He turned and backhanded Xia Gonggong with a slap.

Damn it!

How dare a dog slave like you speak here?

Get lost!

Ji Gonggong kicked Xia Gonggong away with a foot.

Then he hurried forward and shoved aside the guards blocking Zongzheng Xingyao.

And personally untied the Seventh Princess's bonds.

Your Highness, please don't be angry.

Don't listen to their nonsense.

Isn't this also something we servants have no choice about?

Not obeying Your Majesty is also a matter of losing one's head.

Besides, rushing in there is fraught with danger; we servants can't watch you go to your death.

Ah, if only General Li Wu had returned sooner!

Just as his words fell, a familiar, low-pitched voice came from nearby: 'So eager to see our General Li—what urgent matter could it be?'

Zongzheng Xingyao looked up and saw Zhang Tingji and Yang Qilang striding over, one after the other.

And behind them, that taller black shadow—who else could it be but the Brave Cavalry General?

Zongzheng Xingyao's face lit up with delight as he shouted loudly: 'You've finally returned!!'

Quick! General Li, hurry and rescue your lady, Lady Nangong!

She's in mortal danger!

Duan Rongshi, who usually bore an aloof, detached air, suddenly lifted his head.

What did you say?

In the darkness his eyes were like icy blades tipped with poison, his whole body exuding a chilling aura that seemed able to crush everything around.

Ji Gonggong made a 'gulping' sound and swallowed his saliva.

Beside him, Xia Gonggong's legs went limp uncontrollably.

Just from Li Wu opening his mouth to ask a question, how could he be so terrifying?

That gaze could easily swallow up all the darkness within the entire imperial palace.

How could this be a person?

Clearly he is a demon bristling with killing intent from head to toe!

These few people in the palace have also witnessed how ruthless the Chu Emperor is and have seen great scenes.

Yet today they were still easily cowed by a mere Brave Cavalry General.

Even Zongzheng Xingyao, who is a princess, had both her heads trembling.

She quickly summed it up in a few sentences: 'You didn't return on time yesterday to report, and my Father Emperor went mad; tonight he has summoned Lady Nangong to the inner hall.'

"Someone is currently being locked in the secret room, and it's unknown whether they are alive or dead."

"General Li, hurry up and go save her!!"

"Zhang Tinggui and Yang Qilang also changed their faces."

"Your Majesty, this is too absurd!"

"Even if Lady Nangong is as beautiful as can be, she is still the principal wife of one's own close attendant!"

"How can a monarch arbitrarily summon a subject's wife into the palace, and then confine a lone man and woman together in a room, forbidding anyone else from entering?"

"If this gets out, Lady Nangong's reputation will be ruined!"

"How will anyone be able to live on afterwards?"

"Let's hurry back to report and rescue Lady Nangong!"

"Although His Majesty does not particularly lust after women, he is extraordinarily cruel."

"He takes pleasure in massacring people."

"If we don't go in now, Lady Nangong's life will definitely be in danger!"

"Zhang Tinggui and Yang Qilang are even more nervous than Duan Rongshi."

"Who would have thought that upon hearing the whole story, Li Wu wouldn't budge at all?"

"Even the killing aura he had just a moment ago has considerably subsided."

"He even said with a calm, carefree expression: 'Since it's His Majesty's summons, there's no rush.'"

"No rush?"

"Just a moment ago, who was so anxious that their killing intent scattered everywhere, almost losing their soul, and now they say there's no rush!?"

"In the blink of an eye, how can they suddenly not be in a hurry?"

"Looking at him now, he not only shows no worry at all, but also wears an expression of contempt."

"Why is that?"

"Could it be that his earlier tension and anger were just everyone's illusion?"

"Or could it be that Xiao Xiazi's nonsense was actually right—Li Wu has now risen to prominence, and no matter how beautiful the principal wife may be, as a son-in-law who married into the family, he can never hold his head up in people's eyes; therefore, facing His Majesty's absurd act, he feels no shame or resentment, but instead helps settle the matter… going with the flow?"

"Ji Gonggong looked suspicious."

"Zhang Tinggui: 'Li, younger brother, what time is it now—do you still observe the ruler-subject rites?'"

"'All along the way, how much you've missed your wife, constantly playing with that little arrow in your hand—I and Yang Qilang have both seen it.'"

"'How could they possibly not be in a hurry?'"

"Zhang Tinggui then gave a fierce kick to Xiao Xiazi's body: 'Damn slave! Why aren't you hurrying to go report to His Majesty that we've returned and finished our report, instead of dawdling here?!'"

"Ji Gonggong waved his hand, and Xia Gonggong then scrambled into the hall in a panic, slipping and sliding."

"Yang Qilang said: 'Li, elder brother, don't worry—this matter can still be handled in time, and there is still room for maneuver.'"

"Duan Rongshi merely gave a cold nod."

"'Hmm.'"

"Everyone:?"

"Looking at him, he really isn't worried."

"Zongzheng Xingyao, seeing this, was the first to sneer: 'What a waste of such a stunningly beautiful Lady Nangong, marrying a scoundrel like you!!'"

"'Pah!'"

"'A beast that can even discard his wife of humble origins—after gaining rank and wealth and becoming a person above others, how long can his glory last?'"

"'One day, someone as lowly as you will surely pay the heaviest price for your vile and shameful actions!!'"

"The Seventh Princess had been so hopeful, and now she is just as disappointed."

"She burst out cursing, without any restraint."

"Yang Qilang and Zhang Tinggui beside them both widened their eyes."

"Why is the Seventh Princess so loyal to Lady Nangong?"

"Look how they've made a usually dignified and proper princess become like this!"

"Both of them couldn't help but keep looking at Duan Rongshi, who showed no reaction, feeling neither pain nor itch."

"They both tsked at the same time."

"Although they've spent three months together, they still know too little about Li Wu, who possesses great ability yet is mysteriously unfathomable."

"Just then, Xia Gonggong came running out in a panic, slipping and sliding."

"With a panicked look, he shouted at the top of his lungs: 'Oh no, the secret room seems to be on fire!!'"

"'There's thick smoke, thick smoke is seeping out from the door crack!!'"

"Li Wu, who had been standing calm and composed just a moment ago, instantly rushed into the hall."

"Everyone hurried into the hall, and sure enough, thick smoke was billowing from all around the secret room's door crack."

"Everyone's faces drastically changed with shock."

"'Your, Majesty——'"

"'His Majesty is still inside! Come on, quick, the secret room is on fire, hurry——'"

"'The key—hurry up and bring the key, open the door!!'"

"Ji Gonggong shouted hoarsely, slapping his thigh and wailing."

"Duan Rongshi stepped forward and kicked the door to pieces with one blow."

"Thick smoke and flames burst out with a sudden 'Boom'."

"Yang Qilang and Zhang Tinggui both lunged forward to press Duan Rongshi back."

"'Li, younger brother, don't act rashly—the fire is so huge, I'm afraid it's already too late.'"

Yang Qilang: "Yeah, Li brother, it's too late, already too late!"

"Don't be impulsive—"

"Sister-in-law… if she has a spirit in heaven, she would not wish you to make an innocent sacrifice again."

Yang Qilang choked with tears, feeling that such a special woman was truly a pity.

The Eunuch Ji at the side asked: "Isn't anyone worried about His Majesty's life?"

"An emperor's life is not even worth that of a merchant woman!!"

Eunuch Ji's face stiffened, looking at the room full of firelight and smoke, he murmured: "It's over… Your Majesty, Your Majesty——"

Duan Rongshi shook his arms with force, flinging off the two on either side.

"What are you all still standing around for?"

"Quickly put out the fire!"

When the firefighting team arrived, the crown prince and empress, along with all the concubines in the palace, had already heard the news and rushed over.

"Father Emperor——"

"Waaah——Father Emperor——"

"How could such a thing happen?"

"Eunuch Ji, what exactly happened today! How could His Majesty be alone in this secret room and catch fire?"

The crown prince, while wiping his tears, rebuked Eunuch Ji and demanded an explanation.

Eunuch Ji: "I, I, your servant, also don't know……"

Eunuch Ji secretly glanced toward the three people standing by the secret door, watching the firefighting team bustle about; at that moment his heart was also torn.