Chapter 1535: Fire

Chapter 1535: Fire

Editor: Henyee Translations

The Deputy Prefect’s wife adopted an assertive stance, lifting the corners of her eyes as she remarked, “Is that so? But I have my doubts. Since you’re so confident, let us see Madam Shao. A brief glimpse, we promise. We’ll be as silent as mice, not a disturbance. Lord Shao, do you have the courage?”

“Lord Shao, forgive my bluntness. Honestly, I’m doing this for the sake of my Old Master. What if something untoward happens to Madam Shao? If you accuse us of incompetence, who can we turn to? Planning ahead is essential!”

“Lord Shao, you’ve gone to great lengths to prevent us from seeing Madam Shao. It’s hard for us to trust your assurances!”

Shao Yunduan sneered. “My wife is well; I don’t need your validation. Kindly depart! Once she’s recovered, you may have your meeting with her!”

The Deputy Prefect’s wife insisted, “Just a quick glance. Are you unwilling even to respond?”

...

Shao Yunduan chuckled and responded calmly, “Madam Qin, perhaps you’re unaware, but I detest threats and moral coercion. Kindly take your leave!”

Internally cursing his stubbornness, the Deputy Prefect’s wife found him shameless. Despite his statements, he remained resolute.

“In that case, I genuinely suspect something is amiss here!”

“Feel free to harbor your suspicions,” Shao Yunduan retorted coldly, casting a stern glance. “But let me remind you, Madam Qin, without evidence, refrain from baseless accusations, or you may find me less accommodating.”

The Deputy Prefect’s wife sneered. “Lord Shao, are you afraid?”

Shao Yunduan replied, “Escort her out!”

The prefectural magistrate’s wife, feeling weak in the legs and with a pounding heart, eagerly desired to leave. She forced a smile, bid her farewell, and, grasping a servant’s hand, worked to regain composure before exiting.

With her departure, the Deputy Prefect’s wife had no reason to linger. She stood up, offered a parting smile, and left as well.

The prefectural magistrate’s wife wasted no time waiting for the Deputy Prefect’s wife. Upon departure, she hastened her pace, leaving the latter trailing behind.

Smirking with cold resolve, the Deputy Prefect’s wife suppressed her anger. A mere fifth-grade official, she recognized her limited standing. Her husband, a fourth-grade magistrate and a trusted aide to the Fourth Prince, possessed boundless prospects.

Lord Shao’s disregard for her authority irked her deeply.

Did he believe he could impede the Fourth Prince’s will? Tonight, she vowed to teach him a lesson, planning to embarrass him before everyone.

Shao Yunduan hadn’t anticipated such arrogance from the Deputy Prefect’s wife. The Yanzhou mansion, he realized, was more complex than he had assumed. Their relationship was on the brink of deterioration, if not already there.

He doubted they would hesitate to act against him now. The looming question was: what would be their course of action?

Frowning, Shao Yunduan pondered the situation.

That night, despite intensified patrols ordered by Shao Yunduan, someone exploited a vulnerability. The relay station, sprawling with servants and government workers, proved chaotic. Seizing the moment, an infiltrator set fire to the compound. The flames erupted simultaneously in the west wing of Shao Yunduan’s and Qiao Xuan’s yard, and the backyard. The scale of the fire suggested liberal use of oil, engulfing half the sky in an instant.

In the ensuing turmoil, Lixia, Liqiu, and other guards under Ah-Ye’s command, namely Sun Bai and Sun Qian, promptly mobilized toward the 500 meters of the courtyard where Qiao Wei once resided.

Both the prefectural magistrate’s wife and the Deputy Prefect’s wife arrived on the scene. The latter promptly expressed a desire to visit and console Madam Shao amidst the chaos.

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