Chapter 17: Chapter Inside the Northern Courtyard, the night was unusually quiet.
The wind brushed softly against the windows, causing the paper screens to rustle every now and then.
Seated beside the table, Xi Wenzhe held a report in his hand.
The candlelight flickered across his sharp features.
However, his eyes had not moved from the same line for quite some time.
The report before him was important.
Normally, he would have finished reading it long ago.
Yet tonight, his thoughts refused to cooperate.
Again and again, his mind drifted toward the same person.
Su Yueqing.
Ever since that woman entered the Xi Manor this morning, peace had completely disappeared.
Nothing about her made sense.
The things she knew.
The things she said inside her mind.
The secrets she casually thought about as if they were common knowledge.
The Crown Princess.
His mother.
His younger sister.
Every single thing should have been impossible.
And yet...
Every single thing had proven true.
Xi Wenzhe frowned.
His fingers unconsciously tightened around the report.
Just as he was about to continue reading—
Bang!
The door burst open so violently that it slammed against the wall.
A guard rushed inside.
His face was pale.
His breathing was uneven.
Without hesitation, he immediately dropped to one knee.
"Youth Master!"
Xi Wenzhe’s brows furrowed.
His cold gaze landed on the guard.
"What happened?"
The guard lowered his head.
"Youth Master, Young Madam’s residence is on fire!"
Silence.
For a brief second, Xi Wenzhe thought he had misheard.
The room became deathly still.
Then his expression darkened.
"What did you say?"
"The fire started from the kitchen, Youth Master. It spread very quickly."
The guard’s voice trembled slightly.
"The servants are already trying to put it out."
Before he could finish speaking—
Xi Wenzhe abruptly stood up.
The chair behind him scraped loudly across the floor.
The guard immediately felt the temperature inside the room drop.
Without another word, Xi Wenzhe grabbed the robe hanging nearby and threw it over his shoulders while striding toward the door.
His face looked colder than ice.