funbook-pk Chapter 653: Lost
Chapter 653: Lost
"Sixth brother! Sixth brother! A batch of new paintings arrived at Ruyi Pavilion today. Seventh brother wants to go and take a look. Do you want to come with us?"
Hongzhan looked at his two younger brothers with a smile. He was worrying about how to get rid of them, but he didn't expect them to come to him on their own initiative.
He pointed helplessly at the desk, "The Emperor gave us some extra homework today, and Sixth Brother hasn't finished it yet. Hongxia is obsessed with painting and probably can't wait any longer. You two can go first. I'll definitely accompany you to visit Ruyi Pavilion some other day, how about that?"
The emperor forced the two of them to practice a lot of big characters in the Yangxin Palace. Now, whenever the Hongyao brothers heard the word "homework", they felt a dull pain in their right hands.
Hongxia bowed to Hongzhan and quickly pulled his eighth brother away.
They can’t afford to offend the Emperor!
When Hongzhan saw his two younger brothers fleeing in panic, he gave Xiao Wuzi a look.
"I will send someone to secretly protect the two princes."
Xiao Wuzi nodded in understanding.
After half an hour, the candle in the study went out.
The young eunuch hiding in the dark silently retreated back to the small room. He carefully checked the things in the box before he felt relieved.
When all the candles in the main hall were extinguished, he gently woke up the other two snoring people.
Not long after, flames shot up into the sky from the fourth building east of Fuyuan Gate, accompanied by panicked shouts.
"The fire is happening! Help come quickly..."
Hongxia, who was immersed in the painting, heard the noisy cry for help and hurriedly shook Hongyao who was dozing on the desk.
"Eighth brother, let's go... let's go... let's go..."
Hongyao opened his eyes dazedly, "Seventh Brother, didn't you say these paintings were the work of great masters and that we should study them until late at night? How could we have finished them so quickly?"
Hongxia was so anxious that he couldn't even speak.
He dragged Hongyao out, and without him saying anything, Hongyao was awakened by the fire rising not far away.
The East Fourth Residence where they lived was in that direction. Hongyao asked tremblingly when he thought of his sixth brother who was still doing homework.
"Xiao Shunzi, have you figured out where the fire is?"
"My Lord, it looks like the East Fourth..."
Before Xiao Shunzi could finish his words, he felt a gust of wind blowing past him.
When he looked again, there was no sign of the two princes around, so he hurriedly chased after the person who was running out.
As he ran, he prayed in his heart to God to keep the Sixth Prince safe.
As soon as the East Four Office caught fire, someone rushed straight to the Qinzheng Hall and Louyue Kaiyun to report the news.
When Su Peisheng heard what the messenger said, he was so shocked that he almost fell down.
He ignored etiquette and hurriedly ran to the palace, shouting as he ran: "Your Majesty! The Sixth Prince's residence is on fire!"
"what?"
The emperor pressed the red pen in his hand heavily on the memorial, and a red color spread out.
He stood up quickly and walked out.
Before people could stand still, they saw the flames shooting up into the sky, illuminating half the sky red.
The emperor felt his eyes go dark and shouted loudly.
"Someone! Go put out the fire!"
He asked as he walked out.
"Su Peisheng, did the person who reported the news say anything else?"
"Your Majesty, this is the man who brought the news."
Su Peisheng quickly pulled the eunuch who reported the news to his side.
"Reply... Reporting to the Emperor, the residence in the northeast corner of East Fourth House has caught fire for unknown reasons, and the Sixth Prince is still inside. When I came out to report the news, Eunuch Wu and Aunt Baoshu were leading people to put out the fire."
When the young eunuch ran out with his clothes on, the fire had already started.
"My little six!"
The emperor ran away in a hurry.
Su Peisheng quickly ordered the guards to follow. How could the East Fourth Residence be on fire? And the fire was in the Sixth Prince's residence.
He keenly sensed that there must be a conspiracy.
No matter what, we must ensure the safety of our master and not let anyone take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble.
On the other side, An Lingrong heard that the East Fourth Prison was on fire and ran out with her hair loose.
The flames rising into the sky that she could see from a long distance away made her heart skip a beat. Was the fire too big?
An Lingrong never expected that Hongzhan would change the plan without her permission.
When she trotted into the East Fourth Building and saw the burning house in the northeast corner, her eyes were bloodshot.
If they hadn't prepared in advance, how could it have burned like this?
An Lingrong swayed and almost fell, but she forced herself to move forward.
I saw Hongyao and Hongxia being tightly held by servants, and a tall figure standing in front of them.
An Lingrong ran forward anxiously, grabbed the emperor's sleeve, and asked in a trembling voice.
"Your Majesty! How is Hongzhan?"
The emperor took An Lingrong, whose hair was disheveled and tears were streaming down her face, into his arms and spoke in a sad voice.
"Rong'er, Hongzhan is still inside. I have sent the guards to rescue him."
Since discovering his son's precocious intelligence, the emperor has been keeping an eye on Hongzhan's homework almost every day, and sometimes even brings him along when discussing matters with ministers.
In his heart, the emperor almost trained him as his heir, but now... he didn't dare to think about it anymore.
Could it be that his actions really angered God, and that’s why he was punished?
After hearing the emperor's words, An Lingrong burst into tears again.
At this moment, she could not hear anything, and all she could see was the still burning fire.
Her son is still inside, she has to save him!
The emperor noticed her intention to rush in and quickly hugged her tightly.
He advised in a hoarse voice: "Rong'er, the fire inside is too strong. It's futile for you to go in."
When the emperor first arrived, he was blinded by the fire and lost his mind. He also wanted to rush in, but Su Peisheng held him back.
After coming to his senses, he could only wait outside for someone to put out the fire.
Since my most promising son has been involved, I cannot put myself in danger.
Hongyao also rushed over and hugged An Lingrong's legs.
"Mother, you must not let anything happen to you again. Sixth Brother will be fine, he will definitely be fine."
He deeply regretted not forcing his sixth brother to go to Ruyi Pavilion tonight.
Hongxia, who was following behind him, stared blankly at the burning house. He tilted his head and moved to the side while no one was paying attention.
He was the one who took the eighth brother away, so he is responsible for what happened to the sixth brother.
Hongxia's not very bright brain has only just come to its senses.
His mother had repeatedly told him to protect his sixth brother.
Sixth Brother! He wants to go find Sixth Brother!
Rush in and you will find Sixth Brother.
Hongxia's brain was slow to react, but his legs were agile, and despite his small stature, he was able to move among a group of people putting out the fire.
He was only ten meters away from the door, but someone stretched out his foot and tripped him.
He fell heavily to the ground, crying loudly in pain.
"Seventh Prince is injured, help him back quickly."
The person who spoke was Hongzhan's personal eunuch Li Dequan.
He was about to go forward and help the man up when he heard someone shouting.
"It's raining!"
Raindrops as big as beans fell from the sky, heading straight for the still burning flames.
The fire gradually died down under the rain, but everyone's heart was still in their throat.
An Lingrong looked at the emperor who was holding her tightly and asked hopefully.
"Your Majesty, do you think God will bless our Hongzhan?"