Huo Chengwang held Ning Shu’s hand as he watched Huo Qing hug the little fox with an unreadable expression.
The fire continued to rage. Despite so many people working on putting out the fire, they weren’t able to save the villa.
The fire continued burning until the villa creaked and the last standing beams collapsed. It looked very desolate. Ning Shu was inwardly about to suffocate from laughter. This unsightly villa was finally gone!
“Your Majesty, there’s a huge problem!” A minister suddenly ran in and knelt down in front of Huo Qing. His clothes were soaked with rain, but he didn’t pay any attention to it.
Huo Qing furrowed his brows. “Imperial Astronomer, why did you enter the palace?”
“This subject came to tell Your Majesty that this fire is a warning from the Heavens,” said the imperial astronomer, wide-eyed.
Right after the imperial astronomer said this, more rushed footsteps came this way. Huo Qing looked over and saw that it was actually the civil and military officials. They all came to knelt down in front of him.
Huo Qing said coldly, “My dear ministers, what are you doing? We haven’t given orders to have you enter the palace, so how did you all enter? What are the guards in this imperial palace being fed for?”
“Your Majesty, please forgive these subjects for coming without being summoned,” said the old imperial tutor. “The situation is too urgent and is related to the nation’s fate, so this subject could only risk making this huge violation.”
This imperial tutor was Imperial Noble Consort Xuan’s grandfather.
Ning Shu looked towards the marshal who was dressed in martial attire, the original host’s grandfather. Success or defeat would be decided by today.
When Huo Qing saw the rows of people in dark colors kneeling before him, he had a bad premonition and said coldly, “Whatever the matter is, we will discuss it tomorrow. We won’t hold your excessive behavior today against you this time.”
“Your Majesty, since this matter is so important, please listen to what these subjects have to say first. It seems to be a very urgent matter,” said Ning Shu with a curtsy.
Huo Qing berated Ning Shu with a frown. “The consorts and concubines of the inner palace aren’t allowed to interfere with governmental affairs. Empress, you’ve overstepped your bounds.”
“Huo Qing, I’m a little scared. Let’s go back inside.” The little fox was intimidated by this large group and tugged on Huo Qing’s sleeve timidly.
“Audacious! To dare to call His Majesty by his sacred name directly! Such lack of propriety!” An imperial censor straightened his back and righteously berated the little fox.
Huo Qing’s facial color immediately turned dark. He couldn’t bear to berate Hu er even a little, but a minister actually had the nerve to berate her ? When he saw how Hu er was frightened, he said coldly, “Imperial Censor Wu, is there any propriety in shouting in front of us ?”
“Your Majesty, please forgive this subject. This subject was just too anxious.” Although the imperial censor apologized, his back remained straight. It showed that he clearly didn’t believe himself to be wrong. He had a determined expression as if he was ready to die to prove his point.
Ning Shu saw that Huo Qing was so angry his entire body was trembling. He stood in front of the little fox as if he wanted to shield the little fox from anything the world threw at her.
Ning Shu’s gaze flickered. Huo Qing truly did love the little fox, but what about the little fox? She relied on Huo Qing’s affection and did whatever she wanted without restraint. It never occurred to her to lessen the burden Huo Qing had to carry. Who knew how long Huo Qing would be able to shield the little fox?
Would he never get tired?
Huo Qing took a deep breath, then said coldly, “What exactly are you trying to say? It seems that you want to force us to abdicate.”
“These subjects wouldn’t dare! Your Majesty, forgive us!” A huge number of ministers were kneeling in the rain. Their clothes were completely soaked by the rain. Ning Shu was really worried that Grandfather’s body wouldn’t be able to hold up.
“You don’t dare? You don’t dare? You are trying to force us to abdicate! What exactly are you trying to do?” The hands that Huo Qing had folded behind his back were clenched into fists. His gaze was dark and his expression was very still. However, in the depths of his eyes, there was unease and a baseless fear.
“Your Majesty, this subject had checked the astrology arrangements and found that the light of Venus was dim but the demon star star next to the Venus star was bright. This means that there’s an demon by Your Majesty’s side causing mischief. This fire was the Heavens warning Your Majesty,” said the imperial astronomer, his tone stirred up. “The Heavens had casted a large fire. This is the Heavens warning the nation of Yan!”
“Bunch of nonsense! This is all nonsense!” Huo Qing’s body was trembling. Demon causing mischief, demon causing mischief!? These people, these people sure had nerve!