As Jiang Yuanchao’s words fell, countless flaming arrows flew toward Prince Rui’s courtyard.

The dark blue sky was instantly illuminated with flowing colors, as if countless meteors were streaking across it. Soon, flames began rising from the buildings.

Cries of alarm came from within the courtyard.

Jiang Yuanchao gazed across the firelight at Shao Mingyuan in the tree, revealing a faint smile.

He didn’t believe that at this point, those people would still choose to wait for death inside.

“Quick, put out the fire! Put out the fire!” People in the courtyard scattered like headless flies.

“Marquis, what do we do now?” Countless people looked up and asked.

Shao Mingyuan glanced into the distance, then lightly jumped down from the tree and walked to Qiao Zhao’s side in a few steps.

Seeing the firelight, Prince Rui couldn’t contain himself and ran outside. Upon seeing Shao Mingyuan, he immediately grabbed for his sleeve: “Marquis, what can we do?”

Shao Mingyuan tugged at his sleeve but couldn’t pull it free, his face darkening slightly: “Stray arrows have no eyes, Your Highness should go inside.”

Prince Rui shook his head repeatedly, gripping even tighter: “This prince cannot stay in the room—I feel more at ease by the Marquis’s side.”

Just as his words fell, a flaming arrow flew over, frightening Prince Rui into crouching suddenly.

The sharp arrow stuck in the ground, and soon flames caught the fallen leaves, connecting with other fires.

“Those people truly came prepared—the arrows are coated with oil,” many exclaimed upon seeing how difficult the fires were to extinguish.

“Marquis, what exactly should we do now? If this continues, we’ll all be burned to death here,” Prince Rui said in distress.

Where were those damned reinforcements?

Previously, hadn’t they said the Northern Territories people only knew Marquis Guanjun and not Emperor Mingkang? How could summoning rescue be so difficult now?

Those were all rumors after all!

Prince Rui deeply resented the unreliability of rumors that had led him into such peril, and with a forceful tug, tore off half of Shao Mingyuan’s sleeve.

In the chaos, no one noticed this except Qiao Zhao, who secretly twitched her lips and suppressed her laughter at seeing Shao Mingyuan’s face instantly turn livid.

Shouts came from outside: “Our Young Master says that as long as you hand over Prince Rui, everyone can be pardoned. Once the Young Master ascends the throne, all will be promoted two ranks and elevated one grade in nobility!”

Chief Minister Xu flew into a rage upon hearing this: “What do these treacherous subjects take us for? Unless we all die, don’t even think of touching a corner of His Highness’s robes!”

Many others joined in the cursing.

“Young Master, those people don’t appreciate the offer.”

In the firelight, Jiang Yuanchao’s face appeared even colder: “They’re just fame-seeking hypocrites. Immediately intensify the fire attack. Since they’re stubbornly unrepentant, let them all accompany Prince Rui in death.”

“Sir—” Jiang He couldn’t help calling out.

Jiang Yuanchao glanced at him coolly: “What is it?”

“That… aren’t there other people inside…”

Didn’t the sir like Third Miss Li? Had he forgotten that Third Miss Li was still inside?

“Mind your own business!” Jiang Yuanchao’s expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and coldly ordered: “Execute my command!”

Soon, countless flaming arrows flew over.

The great fire, aided by the wind, had already ignited, turning even the sky red.

Under the thick smoke, people in the courtyard began coughing violently.

“Everyone, cover your mouth and nose with your sleeves and follow this way!” Shao Mingyuan shouted.

Through the smoke, everyone followed Shao Mingyuan as they ran toward the back, though a few collapsed from inhaling too much smoke.

Palace maids and eunuchs scattered like headless flies.

“Master, there’s a great fire outside! His Highness and the others have all fled for their lives with Marquis Guanjun. You must escape quickly, too—” Xiao Tao ran in crying.

Li Jiǎo had been paying attention to the commotion outside. Hearing Xiao Tao’s words, her body swayed: “Has His Highness left?”

Xiao Tao nodded repeatedly: “Yes, Master, please flee with this servant quickly. If we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late.”

“Alright, let’s go.” Li Jiǎo forced back the tears in her eyes and, supported by Xiao Tao and Xing’er, fled outside.

Outside was already ablaze with connecting fires, and through the swirling smoke, even the path was indiscernible.

The three masters and servants stumbled forward when suddenly a burning beam fell.

“Master, be careful!” Xing’er screamed and pushed Li Jiǎo away.

Li Jiǎo fell to the ground, and Xiao Tao hurried to help her up: “Master, are you alright—”

Then Xiao Tao’s voice turned to a scream: “Xing’er, Xing’er—”

At that moment, Xing’er was pinned under the burning beam, and flames instantly engulfed her entire body.

“Xing’er—” Li Jiǎo crawled up, her lips trembling as she called out.

Though she had always been distant toward Xiao Tao and Xing’er, seeing a living person die so horribly before her eyes, it was impossible to say her heart wasn’t touched at all.

“Master… Master… please go quickly…” Xing’er spoke these words intermittently, her face twisted and terrifying from the pain.

Xiao Tao quickly pulled Li Jiǎo: “Master, we can’t delay any longer. Let’s go quickly, or Xing’er will have died for nothing.”

Li Jiǎo bit her teeth: “Let’s go!”

At this moment, what surged in her heart was overwhelming hatred.

She hated the unfairness of heaven for making her encounter such things, hated Third Miss Li’s good fortune even more, but most of all, she hated Prince Rui, who had abandoned her without mercy to save himself.

This man was truly too heartless. She had borne him a daughter after all, and after so many nights of pleasing and flattering him, hadn’t she earned even a trace of his pity?

She understood now—all talk of love between men and women was a joke. She had foolishly harbored hopes before, thinking His Highness felt differently about her, but now it seemed it was all delusion.

The imperial family was heartless. Compared to the throne, compared to three thousand beauties, what was she, a mere side consort?

Li Jiǎo’s eyes were bright as snow as she gazed ahead through the flames.

Countless figures moved ahead, with continuous screams.

People kept falling—some got back up, others never rose again. The scene grew increasingly chaotic.

Li Jiǎo bit her lip hard and looked back once at the palace buildings that had become so fragile in the great fire.

As long as she could survive, she would never again be the woman who fantasized about romantic love. Anyone who stood in her way, she would remove—including that man!

The crowd fleeing through the back gate looked at the cliff edge half a zhang away with despair in their expressions.

“Marquis, what now?” Prince Rui asked in a trembling voice.

Shao Mingyuan stepped forward and looked down.

A waterfall hung on the cliff face, rushing downward and splashing countless droplets like broken jade, making one dizzy just to look at it.

He studied it for a moment, then surveyed the people who had followed.

Everyone held their breath in concentration, unable to utter a single word.

At this moment, they could only be grateful that they had left their families at other courtyards when going to the palace gates, and those places hadn’t been affected yet—hopefully, the rebels would spare them.

Shao Mingyuan looked toward Chi Can in the crowd: “Shixi, come here for a moment.”

Chi Can walked over.

Shao Mingyuan forcefully extracted the half-torn sleeve from Prince Rui’s hand, his tone remaining calm: “If it comes to absolute necessity, you take His Highness and enter the water from here.”

He pointed toward a certain spot below the cliff.

Chi Can nodded without hesitation: “Alright.”