Everyone says that even the Son of Heaven is punished the same as a commoner if they break the law. But for someone as noble as the Rui Princess Consort, if she truly set fire to the Yufeng Tower, at most she would be reprimanded by the Empress, and it would certainly be a case of "punishment does not extend to officials."
"The Princess Consort is indeed wealthy and powerful. May I have time to pack my belongings before the Princess Consort sets the fire?" Zhan Feiyu was endearingly timid, neither resisting nor stopping her, just making this small request.
The Kuang Mansion commander and the Rui Prince's guards were stunned, their gazes all turning towards Zhan Feiyu. This young lady had dared to openly confront Zhe Jing, extorted ten thousand taels of silver from Wen Ruyi at the Duobao Pavilion, and had even appeared in court several times.
Everyone had initially thought she was as mad as Zhe Jing, but they hadn't expected her to also avoid the direct confrontation.
He Sheng and He Nuan remained by Zhan Feiyu's side. Upon hearing her words, without any further hint from He Sheng, someone naturally went to the small courtyard to pack the luggage. It was only a few boxes, after all.
The Rui Princess Consort likely never imagined Zhan Feiyu would be so petty. Her exquisitely beautiful face displayed even more disdain and contempt, and her maids and servants wore identical expressions.
They had seen foolishness, but never such foolishness. Not afraid of offending the Princess Consort, yet solely focused on those yellow and white metals, it was utterly vulgar.
Looking down at Zhan Feiyu from above, the Rui Princess Consort scoffed, "What are you, that you deserve my leniency? Commander Kuang, why haven't you acted yet?"
"Wait! I have two servants inside. Does the Princess Consort intend to disregard human life?" Zhan Feiyu spoke again.
Some might call her timid, but at this moment, her intelligent eyes showed no trace of fear, and her attitude remained neither servile nor overbearing. "My belongings are also here. If the Princess Consort truly sets fire to the Yufeng Tower, I will have to demand compensation from the Rui Prince's mansion."
It was the Wen family's business if they didn't care about money; Zhan Feiyu had no intention of being a scapegoat.
Commander Kuang paused. Setting fire to things wasn't a major issue, but with the year-end approaching, if two lives were burned to death in the Yufeng Tower, not only would the Shuntian Prefecture investigate strictly, but the Censorate would also not pretend nothing had happened.
Zhan Feiyu's lips curved upwards in a small arc. Though she appeared to be smiling sweetly, in the eyes of the Rui Princess Consort, it was a complete provocation, as if she were certain the Princess Consort wouldn't dare to set fire to people.
"You say there are people, so there are? Who saw them?" The Rui Princess Consort didn't take the lives of the two servants seriously at all. Moreover, once a great fire broke out, the contracts of servitude for these servants would also be gone.
Later, she could go to the yamen to have their slave status revoked, and then dispose of the bodies. Who would have evidence to say she disregarded human life?
Zhan Feiyu glanced back at the surroundings. Well, as soon as the Rui Princess Consort's carriage arrived, the alley entrance had already been sealed off. This meant that the only witnesses who could testify were from her own side and the Rui Prince's mansion.
Zhan Feiyu, being "sensible," stepped back a few paces, clearing the way. "Since the Princess Consort wishes to set fire, please proceed at your leisure."
In less than fifteen minutes, the soaring flames and thick smoke caused a great commotion.
Chef Xiao and Cui Ya stood behind Zhan Feiyu with pale faces. Although they were terrified, they had fortunately escaped unharmed.
Commander Kuang stood respectfully to the side. As for the Rui Princess Consort's displeasure within the carriage, Commander Kuang pretended not to see it. After all, He Sheng had gone to rescue people, and Commander Kuang couldn't truly let them be burned alive. Therefore, after a symbolic exchange of dozens of blows, he let He Sheng rescue the two.
"Why did it catch fire?" The onlookers stopped and asked blankly. This was the Yufeng Tower, had the Wen family offended someone?
"Xiao Wuzi, why didn't you send people to put out the fire?" an old man in a long coat asked softly. The Xiao Wuzi who was called was a patrol constable from the Shuntian Prefecture.
"Oh, it's Second Grandfather." Xiao Wuzi looked back and saw his elder. He hesitated, glanced at the noisy surroundings, and then lowered his voice, "Second Grandfather, it's a bit chaotic right now. Why don't you go home first? Don't get bumped into."
The constables of the Shuntian Prefecture dared not "meddle." Weren't the people from the Five Cities Military Command also standing on the other side of the street? Who told them to set fire was someone from the Rui Prince's mansion? When gods fight, mortals suffer; they dared not interfere.
Inside the carriage, the Rui Princess Consort lifted the curtain and looked outside. Seeing Zhan Feiyu's leisurely demeanor instantly enraged the Rui Princess Consort.
Setting fire to the Yufeng Tower was originally aimed at Zhan Feiyu. As a result, she was being bullied, yet she appeared to be watching a show. This gave the Rui Princess Consort a feeling of frustration, like punching cotton.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger. This vixen is likely not short of money," Jin Yu said softly, pouring a cup of hot tea and handing it over. "I suppose she didn't bring much of value when traveling."
At most, it was some clothes and jewelry. Burning them would be burning them. Ten thousand or eight thousand taels of silver at most.
"Miss, I fear the Rui Princess Consort will not give up easily," He Nuan said, looking at the carriage stopped not far away. Miss had already backed down, but seeing the Rui Princess Consort's aggressive posture, she would surely not leave like this.
Zhan Feiyu's gaze remained fixed on the raging fire before her. The officials from the Shuntian Prefecture and the Five Cities Military Command did not extinguish the fire, but they had taken protective measures, so the fire did not spread to the adjacent shops.
"If it gets chaotic later, pay attention to Chef Xiao," Zhan Feiyu said softly. The Rui Princess Consort had come to find trouble with her to win over the Wu'an Marquis Mansion.
But setting fire to the Yufeng Tower? In the flickering light of the fire, a cold smile appeared on Zhan Feiyu's fair face. Concubine Min in the palace was the biological sister of Madam Wen. Without looking at the monk, one must look at the Buddha's face. If the Rui Princess Consort dared to set fire, it must have been with the Wen family's consent, making this fire suspicious.