The waves of heat rushing toward them scorched people’s eyes with pain. Those closer felt as if their hair was being singed. The air no longer carried the scent of gardenia flowers.

Nanny Xu was after all an experienced elder. After just a moment of shock, she recovered and hurriedly silenced the maids: “What are you wailing about?! It’s just blood brought up by anger rushing to the heart—nothing serious. Don’t lose your composure first.”

Song Chuyi was completely oblivious, only knowing that every part of her body hurt, hurting so much that tears streamed down her face. Recently, she had been busy investigating Cui Shi’s matter, busy finding backup plans, busy contacting the Cui family, and also busy adding bargaining chips for her and Song Yan’s future. But she had forgotten her most fundamental purpose.

Why was she living again?! What was the reason she couldn’t close her eyes in death?! She had vowed never to let Song Yan live as miserably as in her past life, yet she had neglected him, allowing him to fall into such danger! How could she face her mother? How could she face the Song Yan from her past life who had worried about her until the very end?!

Song Chuyi struggled to break free from Ziyun, unknowingly biting through her own lip.

But she felt no pain at all. Compared to the heartache of losing her younger brother, this physical pain was so insignificant it could be completely ignored.

Luyi’s eyes were red from crying, yet she stubbornly blocked Song Chuyi’s path and refused to move.

Nanny Xu, however, looked at the courtyard already covered by flames and felt her heart go cold. Heaven preserve them—Steward Qin must successfully rescue him, otherwise if something happened to Song Yan, judging by Song Chuyi’s condition, she would clearly follow him in death…

As if ten thousand years had passed, Steward Qin finally emerged from the threshold in a disheveled state, carrying a half-grown boy on his back.

Ziyun felt her heart leap violently, then unconsciously released Song Chuyi, pressing her palms together and reciting prayers to Buddha. Fortunately, he was rescued. She patted her still-racing chest, letting out a heavy sigh of relief.

Song Chuyi stumbled forward, not even bothering to speak to Qin Chuan. She knelt on the ground and pulled aside the person’s hair, but then suddenly froze.

It wasn’t Song Yan! It wasn’t Song Yan! Her gaze went blank. She collapsed to the ground, but in an instant jumped up and rushed toward the sea of flames.

Nanny Xu and Luyi could no longer hold her back, their hearts leaping into their throats.

Fortunately, Qin Chuan was quick-witted enough to block her path, gasping for breath: “Sixth Miss, don’t worry! Fourth Young Master is being carried by Lin Hai—he’s fine!”

His face was pitch black, the original features no longer visible, but his words instantly brought tears streaming from Song Chuyi’s eyes.

Indeed, moments later, Lin Hai, also somewhat scorched and disheveled, rushed out carrying Song Yan.

Immediately, household guards who had rushed over continuously brought buckets of water.

Song Chuyi felt her hands and feet go stiff. After clearly seeing Song Yan’s face, she rushed forward and embraced him tightly. Song Yan had fainted from the smoke. She fumbled to help him sit up against a tree trunk, taking an already-soaked handkerchief to carefully wipe his face clean.

Since her rebirth, aside from the day Song Yan returned from Jinzhong, she hadn’t looked at him this carefully. As Song Chuyi wiped his face, tears fell like broken beads.

It was truly fortunate that Song Yan was unharmed. Otherwise, even if she died, she would have no face to meet their mother in the netherworld, nor to face her past-life self…

Old Madam Song and First Madam hurried over and saw Song Chuyi crouching on the ground wiping Song Yan’s face. They both breathed a simultaneous sigh of relief.

As long as he was safe… as long as he was safe.

Soon Song Ren, Fifth Master, and the Song Jue couple all rushed over. Upon seeing the great fire at Songtao Courtyard, their expressions couldn’t help but tense. Only after seeing that Song Yan was safe and sound did they relax.

“What happened?!” Song Ren was somewhat anxious. Watching the household guards and servants constantly carrying water in and out, he turned his head to ask the perspiring Qin Chuan: “The residence has never had a fire in all these years—how did such a large fire start today?!”

Earl Changning’s residence was especially cautious about fire disasters. During festivals, they would lead the servants in worshiping the Fire God, constantly reminding the servants, and even prohibiting them from privately carrying flint, fire oil, and similar items. How could a fire still break out despite such strict management?

Or was it that the servants attending Song Yan’s room were careless?

But that made no sense either. When Songtao Courtyard was built, all the timber had been treated with water clay, and the floors were laid with tiles. Even if candles or such fell to the ground, they shouldn’t be able to start a fire…

Qin Chuan shook his head, only feeling lingering fear: “It’s fortunate my boy was clever, pulling Fourth Young Master to hide in the water room and covering their mouths and noses with wet cloth, otherwise…”

Steward Qin’s son had been selected to serve as a young servant at Song Yan’s side and had been quite useful lately following Song Yan. This time, he was the one who had rushed into the study to find Song Yan.

Old Madam Song’s hand trembled as she touched Song Yan’s head again and again. Suddenly, she turned back and glared darkly at Lady Lin Hai, who was also somewhat disheveled and dirty. Almost grinding her teeth, she said: “Investigate! Investigate this thoroughly for me!”

See whether someone was careless or whether someone had malicious intentions and was playing tricks! Even if it was carelessness, she would have all these attending servants stripped of a layer of skin! Earlier, Yulan and Ziwei had mentioned that most of the maids in Song Yan’s room were frivolous and not attending to proper duties. She had wanted to discipline them before, but had been delayed by various matters.

Yet this delay had nearly cost her grandson his life!

Song Yan was the only male heir of the second branch! If something happened to him, what would Song Yi do?!

Her eyelids twitched, and she sneered coldly: “With everything so dry and flammable, the residence has issued repeated orders to strictly prevent fire disasters, yet a fire still broke out! And it happened in the young master’s room—these people are becoming increasingly presumptuous! Detain everyone remaining in Yan’er’s room at Taoran Residence for thorough interrogation. Find out exactly who it was!”

Lady Lin Hai understood the severity and hurriedly nodded in agreement. At the same time, her anxious heart felt somewhat relieved—this time her husband had risked his life rushing into the sea of flames to save Fourth Young Master, so it seemed a generous reward was certain.

Song Chuyi raised her eyes and expressionlessly called out to Lady Lin Hai, who had just turned to leave: “Have someone inquire whether anyone left their courtyard, where they went, and whether anyone can testify. Also have the patrolling servant women recall whether anyone was seen moving about Songtao Courtyard in the evening.”

Lady Lin Hai’s footsteps suddenly halted. Song Chuyi was actually suspecting someone of deliberately setting the fire?! She knew the matter was serious. Seeing that neither Old Madam Song nor First Madam objected, she respectfully acknowledged the order and personally led people to handle it.

Author’s Note: Seeing everyone so indignant, I must say a few words in defense of the female lead. Although the female lead has been reborn, she’s not omnipotent. Since returning, things have truly been perilous at every step, and many matters she simply doesn’t have time to handle promptly. Like this incident—were there any signs? Lady Cui had just given the female lead two villas, and that very night this happened. Even if she could divine the future, she couldn’t react so quickly. Moreover, the female lead doesn’t have an omniscient perspective—she doesn’t know about the enormous threat of Song Chuning, not to mention the female lead herself just experienced a life-and-death crisis in Tongzhou and returned to immediately overthrow Li Shi in less than a day. Matters have varying urgency and importance. Before Li Shi was toppled, the female lead was constrained in everything she did. The fact is that Song Yan was never going to be in life-threatening danger, and regarding the education issue, Song Chengru had his finger on the pulse. Probably no one except me expected Song Chuning to be deranged enough to go this far, right? As I said before, one must eat food bite by bite and walk a path step by step. This incident truly gives the female lead a solid lesson, making her think more thoroughly and carefully in the future. Please have more patience with the female lead.