The stewards' quarters were not far from their location. After walking for just a moment, Shen Qing saw the glow of a fire illuminating a small patch of the night, along with wisps of white smoke curling into the air.
Judging by the glow, Zihan hadn't lied to them. The fire wasn't very large, and it was clear that it was about to be extinguished.
However, the fire was not the main concern now. It was the crowd gathered outside the burning courtyard.
Most of the people in the crowd were dressed in the uniforms of the mansion's guards. Leading them were Sumei Xue and another woman who looked like a steward.
And the person kneeling dejectedly on the ground, surrounded by them all, was none other than the pitiful Qian Zhao Sheng, who had been caught red-handed.
When Yu Zihan saw the scene, he immediately quickened his pace and shouted, "Wait! I was the one who ordered Zao Sheng to do all this!"
The group, who had been staring sternly at Qian Zhao Sheng, turned in shock at the familiar voice to see Yu Zihan running over. Sumei Xue's brow furrowed so tightly she even forgot to bow. "Young master," she said, "are you saying you ordered Qian Zhao Sheng to set the fire? Why would you do such a thing?!"
The stewards were housed two to a courtyard. As soon as Sumei Xue heard that her own courtyard was on fire and the arsonist had been caught, she rushed over.
The stewards were aware of the assassination attempt on the Lord that morning. The entire Prime Minister's Mansion was on high alert. More than her courtyard being burned, she was concerned about who the arsonist was—wondering if they were a remnant of the morning's group of assassins.
But she never expected it to be the young master's personal servant—Qian Zhao Sheng!
To be honest, if the mansion's security hadn't been tightened, they might not have caught the arsonist at all.
Yu Zihan was at a loss for words.
He hadn't expected Zao Sheng to be caught. But he couldn't possibly reveal his reason for doing this, or Shen Qing's situation would become even more difficult.
As Yu Zihan was rapidly trying to invent a plausible excuse, a woman in a pale blue maid's uniform suddenly approached. She bowed to Sumei Xue and said with her head lowered, "This servant is Mu Shuangshuang. I did not wish to disturb Steward Su at a time like this. But just now, you left with all your people, and now no one is supervising Chen Ying and Zhu Yuan's punishment. As a result, they've grown lax. Just a moment ago, Zhu Yuan even tried to sneak into a room to put on more clothes while no one was watching.
"I grew anxious and took the liberty of coming to ask if you would like to send someone else back to watch over them."
As Mu Shuangshuang spoke, she used her lowered head to hide the smug satisfaction on her face.
'Chen Ying and Zhu Yuan helped that Shen Qing push me around earlier, and I was so annoyed. Seeing them in trouble now is just delightful!'
'But that Shen Qing somehow got lucky—what bullshit luck—becoming Mr. Guo's benefactor and escaping her punishment.'
'However, Shen Qing might have escaped, but the other two won't!'
Sumei Xue shot Mu Shuangshuang an impatient look. 'Is this really the time to be talking about such things?'
Still, though the maid had poor timing, her point was valid. Sumei Xue curbed her impatience and said, "Qiu Yun, you go back and watch over those two maids during their punishment..."
As she spoke, something seemed to click. She whipped her head around to face Yu Zihan, her voice filled with disbelief. "Young master, did you have Qian Zhao Sheng set this fire tonight to help those three maids?!"
'That's it, that would explain it! Why, in the entire Prime Minister's Mansion, would the young master have Qian Zhao Sheng set a fire specifically in my courtyard?'
'Why was it just a tree outside the courtyard that was burned, so easily extinguished? It was as if... he just wanted to temporarily divert my attention.'
'And why set the fire tonight, of all nights!'
Yesterday afternoon, when Shen Qing and the others got into trouble, the only people around were from the young master's courtyard, so she didn't know the specific details.
But just a moment ago, she had heard a piece of news that she couldn't ignore—for some reason, Shen Qing had wandered outside the Lord's and the young master's residence around dusk and was found by the young master, who then brought her into his own courtyard!
Her original plan had been to interrogate Shen Qing about this matter after tonight's punishments were over.
'If the young master did this tonight for those three—or more accurately, for Shen Qing—then Shen Qing's influence over him is far too great!'
'Add to that how she inexplicably became Mr. Guo's benefactor, and Mr. Guo's unusual attitude toward her...'
Sumei Xue's brows knitted tighter and tighter, looking as if she could crush a fly between them.
'Whether this is all a coincidence or someone's scheme, this Shen Qing absolutely cannot be allowed to stay!'
Yu Zihan was, after all, still a young boy with a developing mind. He was slightly startled by her words and tried to imitate his father, putting on a stern and imposing expression. "What nonsense are you spouting?!"
But his trembling pupils betrayed his true feelings.
Sumei Xue's brow tightened even further. If a fly had been crushed in there before, it would be completely invisible now.
Shen Qing, who had been observing from the shadows, saw this and knew that Sumei Xue had become thoroughly suspicious of her.
If things continued like this, even if her identity wasn't exposed, she wouldn't be able to remain in the Prime Minister's Mansion.
She pondered for only a moment before making a decision. Slowly, she stepped out from her hiding place and walked toward the crowd nearby.
Sumei Xue and the others, their nerves already on high alert, immediately sensed someone approaching. Her sharp gaze swept over, and when she saw Shen Qing, her expression darkened. "What are you doing here?!"
'Shouldn't she be with Mr. Guo right now?'
Shen Qing gave her an indifferent look and said nothing, simply continuing to walk forward slowly.
Sumei Xue was taken aback.
'This woman's aura... it seems to have changed.'
Her initial low-profile, obedient demeanor had vanished completely. An air of faint nobility and an indescribable authority radiated from her. Her back was ramrod straight, and her almond-shaped eyes held a hint of coldness. A single, fleeting glance seemed to root them to the spot, rendering them momentarily unable to move.
'What in the world is going on with this woman?!'
Sumei Xue watched in astonishment as she drew closer. What little reason she had left told her that this woman was dangerous and could not be allowed to act so brazenly!
She opened her mouth, struggling to find her voice. "Men, seize this maid—"
But before she could finish, a guard beside her suddenly looked forward in surprise and murmured, "Lord?"
Sumei Xue froze and instinctively looked up. Her eyes immediately brightened as if she had just found her pillar of support. "Lord!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
Shen Qing's steps came to an abrupt halt.
Unbeknownst to her, in that short time, Yu Jiuqing, dressed in white robes, had already hurried over with Chen Li.
Because of the injury to his right leg, he walked with a limp. But his arresting, handsome features and his aura, as cold as a thousand miles of ice, made people unconsciously overlook this minor flaw, leaving them with only feelings of respect and submission.
Walking beside him, Chen Li had no mind to observe their surroundings, only casting frequent, worried glances at his master.
'The master didn't need to come in person.'
'Young master... When will he ever stop causing trouble?'
Shen Qing stood as if nailed to the spot. It took her a long moment to come to her senses, and she couldn't help but look up at the sky, speechless.
'Does it really have to be this coincidental? I was planning to resolve things here, go back and get myself properly cleaned up, and then face Yu Jiuqing in perfect condition.'
'But now that it's come to this, I can't run away anymore.'
Shen Qing took a shallow breath and, with a sense of reckless abandon, slowly turned around.
She was directly in front of Yu Jiuqing. He had already noticed the slender, graceful figure from behind, a figure that gave him a faint, almost imperceptible sense of familiarity. When he saw her slowly turn to face him, his steps faltered, and his narrow phoenix eyes widened in shock.
By now, Shen Qing had fully turned to face him. Looking at the man before her—so familiar yet so strange, more mature and sharper than he was ten years ago—her gaze shifted, unable to quite put a name to the feeling in her heart.
At that moment, Chen Li also noticed her. He, too, stopped in his tracks, staring at her in utter disbelief. "This... this is impossible... What is going on..."
Before his words faded, his master strode forward with a cold expression. As he passed a guard, he drew the man's sword from its sheath with a SWISH. The silver blade carved a frigid arc through the air, its sharp tip coming to a stop, pointed directly at Shen Qing!