The opened eyes closed again.
Immediately afterwards, she sank back into the heavy darkness.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Lan Miao slowly opened her eyes. Her thoughts gradually gathered, but her nerves still throbbed painfully. The string in her mind was taut, making her feel drowsy and unable to sleep.
"Lady Lan? Lady Lan?"
Han Bi called out softly beside her.
His Majesty had given instructions before leaving that if Lady Lan didn't wake up within half an hour, she must be woken up.
Han Bi had been guarding by the bed. Seeing Lady Lan open her eyes several times and finally wake up completely, she was overjoyed.
"Um, I'm fine."
Lan Miao's usually gentle voice was a bit hoarse.
Han Bi helped her sit up first, and Yan Hong brought over the sobering soup that had been kept warm. Lan Miao took a few sips and finally felt better.
After finishing the sobering soup, she felt much more comfortable.
Yan Hong took the soup bowl away.
"Han Bi, how long have I been sleeping?"
Lan Miao asked weakly.
"Nearly five hours."
Lan Miao let out a soft laugh.
Yesterday, she had both carved jade and drunk wine. Exhausted but still forcing herself to carry on, it was really too much of a strain.
But at least she had lived up to expectations.
She hadn't let down all her hard work during this period either.
Just as she was about to get out of bed to stretch her legs, she caught sight of Han Bi looking hesitant. She couldn't help but ask, "Did something happen after I fell asleep last night?"
She had slept for a full five hours. She had really been in a deep slumber.
Han Bi knew exactly what was on His Majesty's mind.
Immediately, she spilled the beans, greatly exaggerating how His Majesty had guarded her all night and even summoned the imperial physician in the morning.
She described His Majesty as being deeply in love.
Lan Miao's cheeks flushed.
It was hard to tell whether it was the after - effect of the alcohol or shyness.
Lan Miao recalled the back figure she had seen when she opened her eyes. Her heart warmed, but then she suddenly felt something was wrong. "Since His Majesty didn't go to the drill ground, why did he suddenly... leave?"
She had an intuition that Emperor Jingxiang wasn't the kind of person who took advantage and then pretended to be innocent.
Han Bi looked embarrassed.
She didn't know whether she should say it or not.
The grassland had caught fire, and now they didn't know what the situation was. Moreover, Miss Xue was there, and His Majesty had specifically told her not to say anything.
Han Bi's hesitation made Lan Miao suspicious.
Just then, Yan Hong came in. Lan Miao suddenly said to her, "Yan Hong, Han Bi has already told me everything. Now you two quickly prepare some clothes. I'm going to find Xue'er."
"Ah? You told her everything?"
Yan Hong was greatly surprised. She looked at the flustered Han Bi. "The grassland caught fire. We still don't know what the situation is. Aren't you just making Lady Lan worry?"
Han Bi: "..."
"I didn't say anything. You're really..."
Yan Hong was getting anxious and was about to argue with Han Bi when Lan Miao interrupted.
"It wasn't Han Bi who told me. I just bluffed you. Don't worry about these things. Get me a set of clothes. I must go and see Xue'er."
"Ah..."
Lan Miao was extremely worried.
She quickly explained the situation in a few words.
Yan Hong was stunned. Seeing that Lan Miao already knew the truth, she and Han Bi had no choice but to follow her instructions.
After a hasty wash and dressing, Lan Miao immediately took Han Bi with her and headed for the drill ground, while Yan Hong went to report the situation to the Empress Dowager.
Lan Miao walked in a hurry. After many twists and turns, when she finally rushed to the drill ground, she found that only the palace servants were left cleaning up.
The open space in the middle was left with gray - black charred marks, in a complete mess. It seemed that the fire had been quite fierce. The overcast sky covered the sun, and the thick clouds also cast a gray shadow over Lan Miao's heart.
Would Xue'er be okay?
Lan Miao was extremely worried.
"Lady Lan, I just inquired. It seems that no one was seriously injured. After His Majesty came, he was extremely angry, and everyone moved to Qionghua Palace. How about I lead you there? Miss Xue should be there too."
Han Bi knew that Lan Miao was anxious, so she quickly reported in a soft voice.
Hearing Han Bi's words, Lan Miao immediately felt relieved.
"Okay..."
It was good that Xue'er wasn't seriously injured.
But if she couldn't see Xue'er, even if Xue'er had just been slightly burned by the fire, she would still feel extremely guilty and couldn't calm down.
So, Han Bi led Lan Miao all the way, taking a shortcut, towards Qionghua Palace.
Lan Miao walked quickly. The plain cloak she was wearing dragged casually on the grass leaves on the ground. A few drops of sweat oozed from her forehead.
Seeing this, Han Bi started to worry. If Lady Lan exhausted herself, His Majesty would probably punish her severely.
She said softly,
"Lady Lan, you were drunk last night, and you've walked so far today. How about you take a rest in the corridor first? I'll go and find out the news. If Miss Xue is okay, you don't have to go."
"..."
Lan Miao hesitated. She didn't distrust Han Bi, but she was just extremely uneasy.
She thought she could still hold on.
But she also knew that Han Bi meant well. She was afraid that if she collapsed, His Majesty might even punish Han Bi because of it.
"Then you go. Don't rush. I'll sit here for a while."
Lan Miao gave a faint smile.
After watching Han Bi leave, she leaned against a red wooden pillar and sat down, gasping for breath while feeling her chest.
The shade of the trees here was thick, and there was no one in sight. It was extremely secluded and desolate.
Presumably, all the palace servants from everywhere had been attracted by the fire today.
Her face was deathly pale. She closed her eyes and leaned against the pillar, motionless.
After a long time, a series of footsteps startled her. It seemed that someone was coming from behind the pillar she was leaning against.
Lazily, she was just about to get up when she heard the voices of the people talking behind the pillar.
The voices of the conversation were two shrill ones.
"Is everything done properly? It was all Concubine You who did this. It has nothing to do with our Lady."
"Of course. Everything has been taken care of properly. Concubine Jia and the Third Prince will definitely not get away with this."
"It's all that companion - reader of the princess's fault. Otherwise, if the Third Prince had been disfigured, he would never have been able to compete for the throne again."
"..."
Lan Miao's pupils suddenly shrank.
Was this... related to the fire on the grassland today?
Anyway, she had to tell His Majesty about these things immediately.
The drowsiness in Lan Miao's mind vanished. She stiffened her body and didn't dare to move at all. Even though the cold wind was blowing painfully on her face, she could still remain still. She just wanted to wait for these two people to leave before she got up.
Unexpectedly, the next moment, another clear female voice sounded not far from her.
"Who's there?"
"What?" The shrill voice sounded.
She had been discovered.
Lan Miao's pupils dilated. Not far away, a maid was standing in the shadow, pointing at her in shock. Lan Miao's mind raced. She tried to pretend that she hadn't heard anything, but then she caught sight of the maid's extremely vicious look in the distance. Her heart sank, and she decided to run first.
Without saying a word, she lifted her skirt and ran.
The maid who had discovered Lan Miao's expression changed from surprise to venomousness almost instantly. She also started running after her. Lan Miao bypassed the corridor and ran through the shadows of the trees. Her legs gradually lost their strength. She suddenly looked back.
Behind her, there were three people chasing her.
Two eunuchs and that maid.
They were probably all involved in the fire on the grassland today.
All three of them looked extremely ferocious.
Their conversation faintly reached Lan Miao's ears.
"She must have heard what we said. We can't let her get away."
"Little bitch, don't run."
"All the guards nearby have gone to search. Catch her and kill her directly."
Hearing these words, she realized how audacious and ruthless these people were.
Fortunately, she hadn't stopped to negotiate with them at that time.
Lan Miao's mind was spinning. She ran while shouting, but unexpectedly, she didn't see a single person all the way. Presumably, because of the fire, all the guards had left.
The people behind were getting closer and closer.
Lan Miao's heart sank. She remembered the direction to Qionghua Palace that Han Bi had pointed out to her. She turned a corner, passed through the moon - shaped archway, and wound around. Finally, she ran into a palace.
The three people chasing her also followed her into the palace.