RPAGF Chapter 504 Fire Breaks Out in the Cold Palace
Chapter 504 Fire Breaks Out in the Cold Palace
Chu Ruohan was startled and subconsciously moved closer to Gu Junze: "That thunder was really loud."
"It's nothing, summer thunderstorms are common." Gu Junze reached out and pulled her into his arms. "It's getting late, we should rest."
Chu Ruohan responded, but was still somewhat reluctant to part with this rare moment of peace.
"I'm so busy today, but the sound of rain right now feels especially comforting."
Gu Junze looked down at her: "Tired?"
"A little." Chu Ruohan rubbed against his chest. "I've been busy dressing up Su Meimei since this morning, and worrying about Yue Shu's delivery. I only have a moment to relax now."
"Then get some rest." Gu Junze gently patted her back. "There's still a lot to do tomorrow."
Chu Ruohan nodded, but did not move immediately. She simply listened quietly to the sound of rain outside.
After a while, the rain subsided a little, but the water under the eaves became even deeper.
"Let's go." Gu Junze extinguished the oil lamp, took Chu Ruohan's hand, and prepared to return to the dormitory.
The two reached the doorway, and Gu Junze, seeing the puddle under the eaves, squatted down without saying a word: "Get on, I'll carry you across."
Chu Ruohan was a little embarrassed, "It's only a few steps, it doesn't matter if my shoes and socks get wet."
“Wet shoes and socks can easily cause you to catch a cold. Have you forgotten how you coughed nonstop the next day after stepping in puddles last autumn?” Gu Junze turned to look at her. “Hurry up and get on, don’t dawdle.”
Chu Ruohan remembered that she had indeed been sick for several days that time, so she stopped refusing and gently climbed onto his back.
Gu Junze stood up steadily, supporting her leg with one hand and protecting her waist with the other, taking very steady steps.
"Is it heavy?" Chu Ruohan whispered in his ear.
"What do you think?" Gu Junze chuckled. "After all these years of marriage, when have you ever been 'rekindled'?"
Chu Ruohan blushed at his words and patted his shoulder lightly, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Raindrops occasionally drifted into the corridor and landed on the two of them. Gu Junze quickened his pace and soon arrived at the dormitory door.
He gently put Chu Ruohan down and pushed open the door.
"Are your shoes dry?" He looked down to check her shoes and socks.
Chu Ruohan lifted her skirt and looked at herself: "It's okay, I'm doing it."
The two entered the room, while the rain outside continued to patter softly...
At the same time, deep inside the palace.
Su Wan sat on the edge of the phoenix couch and carefully removed the heavy phoenix crown from her head.
The nine golden phoenixes seemed to have been weighing her down all day, and now she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"You must be exhausted?" Zhao Yunci walked behind her and gently massaged her shoulders. "This phoenix crown is indeed too heavy."
Su Wan nodded gently, turned around and looked at him: "Your Majesty must have had a hard day, maintaining your dignity from morning till night. You must be very tired."
"Being able to marry the woman I love as my empress makes all the hard work worthwhile."
Zhao Yunci sat down beside her and took her hand. "From now on, you will be my Empress, and no one will be able to harm you."
Su Wan blushed slightly and whispered, "Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail your kindness."
Just as the two were talking, a thunderclap suddenly sounded outside, causing the entire palace to tremble slightly.
"That thunder was really loud." Su Wan subconsciously moved closer to Zhao Yunci.
Zhao Yunci pulled her into his arms: "Don't be afraid, summer thunderstorms are common, it will be over in a while."
No sooner had he finished speaking than an even louder clap of thunder boomed, followed by the sound of pouring rain.
"It rained so fast."
Su Wan looked out the window and saw that the rain was indeed quite heavy.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the palace, followed by a eunuch's report: "Your Majesty, it's thundering and raining outside. This servant has come to see if you and Her Majesty the Empress need anything."
"It's nothing, you may leave." Zhao Yunci waved her hand.
"Yes." The eunuch responded and withdrew.
Su Wan leaned against Zhao Yunci's chest, listening to the increasingly loud rain outside.
"This rain came at just the right time; it started right after the investiture ceremony ended."
"Even Heaven knows to celebrate for my Empress." Zhao Yunci lowered his head and kissed her forehead.
Just as the two were enjoying their tender moment, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the hall, as if someone was shouting something.
"What's going on?" Zhao Yunci frowned.
Su Wan also sensed something was wrong: "It sounds like someone is shouting 'Fire break'?"
Before he could finish speaking, the eunuch's urgent voice came from outside.
"Your Majesty! The Cold Palace has been struck by lightning and is on fire!"
Zhao Yunci frowned and sat up. "The Cold Palace is on fire?"
"Yes, Your Majesty! The lightning bolt just struck the roof of the Cold Palace, and the building instantly burst into flames! The fire is growing larger, and we servants are putting it out!"
Su Wan also hurriedly stood up: "Your Majesty, are there still people in the Cold Palace?"
"Your Majesty, there are several palace servants who have made mistakes locked up in the Cold Palace, as well as... a deposed concubine."
Zhao Yunci's face darkened: "Immediately issue orders to fight the fire with all our might! We cannot allow the fire to spread!"
"Yes! This servant will go and relay the order immediately!" The eunuch hurriedly withdrew.
Su Wan tugged at Zhao Yunci's sleeve: "Your Majesty, what should we do with those people?"
"I'll go take a look right away." Zhao Yunci turned to leave.
"I'll go too." Su Wan got up and followed.
"You shouldn't go. There are fireworks going off over there. What would a woman like you do there?" Zhao Yunci turned to look at her.
"I am the Empress. How can I stand idly by when such a major incident occurs in the palace?" Su Wan said firmly. "Besides, if any palace servants are injured, I can also help."
Seeing her insistence, Zhao Yunci had no choice but to nod: "Then be careful and don't get too close to the fire."
The two hurriedly put on their outer garments and, accompanied by a group of eunuchs and palace maids, rushed to the Cold Palace.
Even before you get close, you can see the towering flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky, turning half the sky crimson.
The rain did not extinguish the fire; instead, the continuous lightning made the situation even more dangerous.
"How can the fire be so big?" Su Wan covered her nose, coughing repeatedly from the choking fumes.
Zhao Yunci stood a little distance away, protecting her: "This Cold Palace has been in disrepair for many years and is mostly made of wood. Once a fire starts, it will be difficult to extinguish."
At this moment, the chief eunuch in charge of fighting the fire ran over to report: "Your Majesty, the fire is too big! We have rescued three palace servants, but two more are still trapped inside!"
"Who is it?" Zhao Yunci asked urgently.
"One was a lowly eunuch who was sweeping, and the other was Consort Shu."
Su Wan was taken aback: "Consort Shu?"
Zhao Yunci's expression was complicated. "She was banished to the Cold Palace because of a mistake she made."
"What do we do now? If we don't save them now, it might be too late!" Su Wan looked anxiously at the fire that was growing stronger and stronger.
Just as Zhao Yunci was about to speak, she suddenly heard a faint cry for help coming from the fire.
"Help! Help us!"