CHAPTER 385: CHAPTER 385: BURNS

In the evening, Xie Jingchen returned from the Ministry of Justice.

Just like the past few days, he came with a Hidden Guard and a food box.

Although the Old Madam mentioned this shouldn’t be repeated, Xie Jingchen didn’t take it to heart.

He still came to the Buddhist Hall to have dinner with Su Jin. The Old Madam knew and didn’t say anything, but the people in the mansion were all talking about how well the Eldest Young Master and the Eldest Young Madam were getting along. The Eldest Young Madam was punished to reflect in the Buddhist Hall, and the Eldest Young Master accompanied her as much as possible.

The Eldest Young Master was helping at the Ministry of Justice and only had time in the evenings. If he wasn’t at the Ministry of Justice, would he be accompanying the Eldest Young Madam in copying house rules?

The Eldest Young Master’s feelings for the Eldest Young Madam were indeed: one day apart feels like three years.

Xingxing took the food box from the Hidden Guard and set the meal.

Xie Jingchen sat at the table and served dishes to Su Jin.

Su Jin looked at him.

Xie Jingchen asked, "What’s wrong? Is there something dirty on my face?"

Su Jin took out a purse wrapped in a handkerchief from her arms and placed it on the small table.

Xie Jingchen frowned slightly, not understanding Su Jin’s intentions.

"I found this purse under the bed," Su Jin said.

Xie Jingchen’s ears turned slightly red.

He couldn’t quite remember what purse he wore yesterday.

Xie Jingchen glanced at the purse and said, "I was afraid you couldn’t sleep last night, so I came to the Buddhist Hall to accompany you."

Su Jin, "...."

Su Jin was dumbfounded.

She stared directly at Xie Jingchen.

Xie Jingchen picked up the purse to put it in his arms, but Su Jin snatched it back.

She looked at Xie Jingchen and said, "Did you sleep in the Buddhist Hall last night?!"

Xie Jingchen’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

She held him all night, and she didn’t even know he slept in the Buddhist Hall.

How did he feel that he slept in vain for the whole night?

Xie Jingchen said sullenly, "The purse should have accidentally fallen off when I undressed last night."

Su Jin felt like vomiting blood.

Showing him the purse wasn’t her intention.

Su Jin pointed at the purse and said, "This purse is indeed yours, but inside it is snake powder, which hunters use to catch snakes."

Xie Jingchen’s face changed.

Su Jin held her forehead, finally realizing.

This purse wasn’t dropped by him.

Someone stole his purse, filled it with snake powder, and placed it under her bed. Then, when she was playing chess with Duke Zhou at night, she’d be bitten by a snake, and in her dream, her spirit would soar to the sky. The purse would be found to be his, and if the real culprit couldn’t be found, he couldn’t shake off the blame.

Su Jin showed the purse to Xie Jingchen to warn him that there would likely be snakes in the Buddhist Hall tonight. He should have someone keep watch and find the perpetrator to repay them in kind.

Who would have thought?!

He actually took the blame upon himself and even voluntarily admitted he accompanied her in the Buddhist Hall last night.

Su Jin blushed, her neck turning red.

Burying her head in her meal.

After dinner, Xie Jingchen went back to the Agarwood Pavilion.

Xingxing looked around nervously. With her startled imagination, she felt there were snakes everywhere in the Buddhist Hall.

Su Jin shook her head and laughed, wondering if this maid was illustrating the saying of casting shadows everywhere.

Since she had informed Xie Jingchen, he surely would not allow poisonous snakes into the Buddhist Hall.

Tonight, there should be something exciting to watch.

Su Jin passed the time reading a book.

The night deepened.

Outside the Buddhist Hall, Xie Jingchen and the Hidden Guards hid in the trees. A man approached the Buddhist Hall under cover of night, carrying a bamboo basket.

Before he could release the snakes into the Buddhist Hall, his neck was pinched, and he fainted.

The Hidden Guards took the man and the basket away, and shortly returned to report, "Eldest Young Master, it’s someone from Princess Nanzhang."

Xie Jingchen’s lips curved into a cold smile.

This was expected.

He glanced at the Peony Garden, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.

Peony Garden.

The night was beautiful.

Princess Nanzhang was in the garden appreciating the moonlight.

Mrs. Zhao brought a cloak over and said, "Commandery Princess, it’s late, you should rest."

Princess Nanzhang was feeling a bit sleepy, so she got up and went back inside.

Mrs. Zhao helped her undress, and just as she placed the clothes on the rack by the bed, a startled scream was heard.

Princess Nanzhang saw a snake slither from the edge of the screen, green as jade, flicking its tongue.

Frightened, her face turned pale, losing all color.

She was about to run, but there was another snake on that side, scaring Princess Nanzhang so much her legs went weak as she backed away.

She knocked over the tall lotus candle stand behind her.

When the candle stand fell, the candles rolled down, setting the curtains aflame.

Suddenly, the room was lit with fire.

The snakes were afraid of fire, and as the fire grew, they turned and left in fright.

No one noticed the fire in the presence of the snakes. Princess Nanzhang’s clothes caught fire, and Mrs. Zhao quickly rushed over to extinguish it.

Outside, the maids shouted, "There’s a fire, come quickly to put it out!"

The Buddhist Hall was remote, and the Duke Mansion was large, so the maids’ calls couldn’t be heard.

But the firelight was visible, and Xingxing shouted, "Miss, come look, there’s a fire over there!"

Su Jin put down her book, went outside, and saw the blaze reaching the sky.

"It looks like the Peony Garden is on fire," Xingxing laughed so hard her teeth were visible.

Gloating is not proper.

But knowing that the Peony Garden was Princess Nanzhang’s residence, her misfortune made Xingxing feel she was being quite restrained not laughing out loud.

Watching the flames, Su Jin’s lips curled into a brilliant smile.

Xie Jingchen walked over and said, "It’s cold outside, why not go back inside?"

Su Jin inquired with her eyes if the fire at Peony Garden was his doing.

Xie Jingchen shook his head.

After all, a fire in the Duke Mansion was no small matter. If one didn’t know, fine, but knowing, they had to go see.

Xie Jingchen and Su Jin headed towards the Peony Garden.

The Second Master, Second Madam, Third Master, and Third Madam were all there, with maids and servants laboring to douse the flames.

Princess Nanzhang was missing.

Su Jin looked around but couldn’t find her, asking, "Where’s Mother? Is she alright?"

The Second Madam sighed and said, "The Commandery Princess’s hand was burned, and her hair singed a bit. Mrs. Zhao helped her to Qihao Hall."

Even burned?

This truly was unexpected for Su Jin.

If the injuries were so severe, even more reason to check in on her.

Xie Jingchen and Su Jin went to Qihao Hall.

Although it was very late, since Princess Nanzhang was burned, even if the Imperial Physician was asleep, he had to get up to treat her.

Seeing Princess Nanzhang’s burned hand and the hair with the scent of scorched odor, it was genuinely pitiable.

But excluding Su Jin, if she hadn’t been alert, it would have been her suffering such misfortune.

If not harboring malicious intentions, how could one be subject to repercussions?

Princess Nanzhang looked at Su Jin with eyes so cold they could freeze a person.

The Imperial Physician was apprehensive, and when Princess Nanzhang asked if her hand would scar, the Imperial Physician replied, "Even with Bihun Ointment, it is very likely to scar."

The Old Madam said, "Surviving is already fortunate enough. How could there be snakes in the room?"

"Someone must have harmed me!" Princess Nanzhang said through gritted teeth.

Su Jin nodded, "The one who poisoned truly dared heaven-defying acts, we must find out, or we won’t dare sleep peacefully at night."

Outside, Manager Li walked in, and the Old Madam asked him, "Did you find out who released the snakes?"

Manager Li replied, "Beside the window behind the Commandery Princess’s room, we found a servant, bitten to death by a poisonous snake. He likely got bitten while releasing the snake without noticing."