Chapter 51: Descent of the Calamity Star

Upon hearing the news that Tang Yurong had gone into labor, Cheng Yuanchun was overcome with burning anxiety. Like an ant on a hot pan, she hurried off in frantic haste to find Wei Yanqiao.

Seeing Cheng Yuanchun marching over in such a whirlwind from afar, Wang Qianyang immediately plastered a flattering smile across his face, bowed deeply, and said, "This humble servant pays respects to Noble Lady Cheng."

Even as Cheng Yuanchun's mind raced to formulate a suitable excuse to dismiss Wang Qianyang, Wei Yanqiao's voice suddenly drifted out from inside the room: "Come straight in."

Unavoidably astonished, Cheng Yuanchun turned her head and threw a startled look at Wang Qianyang, who remained standing respectfully in place, the smile on his face entirely unchanged.

A sudden flash of realization struck Cheng Yuanchun's heart. It seemed this Wei Yanqiao truly possessed no small amount of capability and cunning!

The moment she stepped across the threshold, she blurted out anxiously, "The Empress is giving birth!"

Stunned, Wei Yanqiao abruptly surged to her feet from her chair, crying out in shock, "Already? Is it an imperial prince or a princess?"

She was racked with intense suspense, yet simultaneously unable to suppress the thrill of triumph. She had waited far too long for this very day.

Cheng Yuanchun shook her head, a heavy look of worry clouding her features as she said, "I hear Her Majesty the Empress is suffering through a difficult labor, and the child still hasn't been safely delivered."

At this news, the corners of Wei Yanqiao's mouth twitched upward into a cunning, sinister smile.

Qingman had truly not disappointed her!

A glint of ruthlessness and absolute resolve flickered in Cheng Yuanchun's eyes: "If the Empress could simply die along with the child—or even if she perishes the moment the baby is born—that would be best of all!"

Hearing this, Wei Yanqiao let out a light laugh, replying in an effortless tone, "Rest assured, it's not so easy for an Empress to die. At most, she will simply have to endure a little more torment."

Cheng Yuanchun asked dubiously, "Was this your doing?"

By now, the night had deepened. Judging by the current pace, the child would likely enter the world right around the break of dawn.

Time was pressing. Wei Yanqiao turned her head anxiously to look at Cheng Yuanchun beside her, her gaze resolute as she commanded, "Right now, everyone's attention in the palace is focused on the Hall of Earth's Tranquility. You must go there immediately and use every means at your disposal to start a fire! The Emperor is bound to be there. The fire doesn't need to be massive—just enough to let people know the Hall of Earth's Tranquility caught fire, only for the Emperor's majestic imperial aura to miraculously prevent the flames from spreading. Then, set another fire in your own residence, but make sure the blaze in your quarters burns fiercely!"

Wei Yanqiao laid out her plans methodically, every single step meticulously arranged. Yet she had deliberately reserved these two crucial tasks for Cheng Yuanchun to execute.

Cheng Yuanchun pressed, "What are you planning?" Could it be that the fire in the Empress's palace last time was also Wei Yanqiao's handiwork?

Facing Cheng Yuanchun's interrogation, Wei Yanqiao showed not a moment of hesitation, brooking no doubt or disobedience as she stated, "Do not waste time asking questions now. Time is of the essence, and we cannot afford the slightest delay! Do exactly as I say, and burn down as much as you possibly can!"

***

Cheng Yuanchun hurried away. Sparking a fire within her own residence was no difficult task, and since the Hall of Earth's Tranquility was already plunged into utter chaos, she merely needed to tamper slightly—perhaps having some careless maid accidentally overturn a candleholder—and the flames would rapidly devour the place.

Standing inside her room, Wei Yanqiao felt her heart fluttering nervously as she called out silently in her mind to Wei Tianze: "Tianze, have you arranged everything on your end?"

Wei Tianze's voice echoed in her consciousness: "Master, please rest assured. I have long since meticulously planned everything out in advance with Father and my eldest brother. The very moment the Empress's child draws its first breath, fires will erupt simultaneously throughout the common towns, military encampments, and the imperial treasury, spreading with the unstoppable fury of a wildfire across the plains!"

Hearing this, the boulder weighing upon Wei Yanqiao's heart finally lifted slightly, though she still dared not let down her guard completely.

Without pause, she strode quickly to the doorway and called out to Wang Qianyang standing guard outside, "How are things progressing on your side?"

Wang Qianyang hurriedly and respectfully replied, "In accordance with your instructions, I have successfully had little Gui-zi bribe his close friends stationed across various halls and palaces. The moment the Empress's child is born, they will immediately set fires at their respective posts. By then, the entire imperial palace, and indeed the capital both inside and out, will be plunged into a sea of flame."

Wei Yanqiao nodded slightly in satisfaction. "Splendid!"

With the Empress suffering a difficult labor, it would undoubtedly take quite some time. And that window would be more than enough for word of the impending birth to reach everyone's ears. By tomorrow's dawn, whether it be the glittering halls of the inner palace or the bustling, crowded streets of the common folk, everything would be ruthlessly swallowed by the raging inferno...

A triumphant smile surfaced on Wei Yanqiao's lips as she envisioned the magnificent scene of her grand scheme succeeding.

With a flash of cunning and malice in her eyes, Cheng Yuanchun turned to her personal maid, Ping'er, and instructed softly, "Go quickly, and set a blazing fire within the Palace of Orchid Serenity!"

"Yes!" Ping'er turned and hurried away.

Cheng Yuanchun then strode toward the Hall of Earth's Tranquility.

Inside the hall, people milled about in a dense, nervous crowd. Anxiety was etched onto every face as they paced back and forth, as if time itself had frozen.

Xiao Ceyun personally stood guard outside the doors, waiting with agonizing impatience for Tang Yurong to successfully deliver the imperial heir.

Seconds ticked away into hours. Two hours later, the first rays of dawn finally pierced the gloom, turning the sky a pale, fish-belly white.

At that exact moment, a sharp, piercing cry rang out from within the chambers, slicing through the silent night like a thunderbolt.

In an instant, joy exploded as everyone cried out in unison, "The baby is born! Her Majesty the Empress has given birth!"

Every face was radiant with boundless joy and anticipation.

Yet even as the crowd remained immersed in this jubilation, not a single person noticed as Cheng Yuanchun seemingly by accident tossed a burning candle onto the floor.

***

The tiny flame touched the ground and instantly darted outward, like a ferocious fire dragon racing up the cascading silk curtains. In the blink of an eye, the flames licked up to the main beams, and the raging fire began wantonly consuming everything in its path.

It was only when billowing black smoke choked the air and the pungent stench of burning filled the space that the crowd snapped out of their daze, realizing a fire had broken out.

"Fire!"

"Put out the fire!"

The crisis was monumental. The palace maids, who had just been celebrating, panicked instantly, though they quickly rallied, grabbing buckets and basins to desperately hurl water at the rampaging flames. Fortunately, the fire was still relatively small, and after frantic efforts, it was successfully extinguished.

Just as everyone let out a sigh of relief, hurried footsteps echoed from outside, followed immediately by Ping'er's panicked report: "Your Ladyship, bad news! The Palace of Orchid Serenity is on fire!"

This sudden announcement tightened everyone's nerves once more.

Right then, a wave of chaotic shouting erupted from the direction of the Hall of Government Affairs. A frantic eunuch came sprinting wildly toward them, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Your Majesty! Terrible news! The Hall of Government Affairs has caught fire! The flames are fierce and completely out of control!"

Before those cries could even fade, another eunuch came panting breathlessly from a different direction, shouting at the top of his voice, "Reporting to Your Majesty! The Imperial Kitchen is ablaze! Thick smoke is billowing, and the situation is critical!"

Immediately following that, panicked screams echoed from the direction of the Hall of Longevity: "Disaster! The Hall of Longevity is on fire! Come and put out the fire!"

The Bureau of Laundry was thrown into equal chaos, with frantic voices piercing the air: "The laundry bureau is on fire! Someone come quickly!"

......

For a time, overlapping cries and panicked shrieks echoed across the entire imperial palace, as though the end of the world had arrived.

Just as pandemonium gripped the crowd, Bi Zifu hurried up to the side of Xiao Ceyun. His expression grave, he reported in an urgent breath, "Your Majesty, word has just arrived from the guards at the imperial treasury—the treasury has caught fire as well! The blaze is extraordinarily fierce, and the losses will likely be devastating!"

Before Xiao Ceyun could even react, another courier came sprinting wildly, threw himself onto his knees with a thud, and trembled as he shouted, "Your Majesty, an emergency military report! The military camps have suddenly caught fire, and all the provisions and fodder have been reduced to ashes!"

The delivery of this news struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving everyone present utterly paralyzed with shock.