Thinking of this, she had no choice but to step forward and tug at Feng Linche's sleeve, consoling him.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Don't hurt yourself with anger because of this little brute's nonsense. The most important thing now is that the Third Prince is still waiting for us to rescue him."
Feng Linche supported his waist with one hand and rubbed the throbbing vein on his forehead with the other. His eyes were cold, gloomy, and menacing.
Hearing the Queen Chu's words, he nodded, no longer entangled with Chen Jianzhi. With a fierce flick of his sleeve, he walked towards the side courtyard.
But before he took a few steps, a disheveled - haired and disheveled - dressed woman bumped into him. Without begging for mercy, she stumbled out of the crowd on her own.
Behind her, several maids were struggling to chase after her, shouting anxiously, "Princess, Princess!"
It turned out to be Princess Yunxi.
She was running while vigorously tugging at the tinkling and annoying accessories in her hair bun and taking off the thick and gorgeous outer robe that hindered her running.
Not caring about the royal etiquette at all, she barbarically broke free from the servants. Her eyes were fixed firmly on the direction of the fireworks house, and she murmured continuously, "It's impossible. He promised me that he would come back soon. How could it be..."
Zhuo Lingxiao and Bai Sheng, who had just returned from the side courtyard and stepped into the front hall, saw this scene.
He was stunned for a moment, then quickly ran forward to stop the already irrational Princess Yunxi and asked with concern, "What's going on?"
But at this moment, Princess Yunxi couldn't hear any sound, so naturally she couldn't answer this question.
It was the maid beside her who helped answer, "My Lord, something has happened to the Third Prince. The princess insists on going to that dangerous fireworks house. We can't stop her..."
Zhuo Lingxiao stiffened all over, and his eyes flickered nervously, "What did you say? The Third Prince..."
"Let her go!"
Zhuo Yi interrupted in a deep voice.
The maids looked at each other. While hesitating, Princess Yunxi took the opportunity to break free and ran towards the backyard at full speed. She didn't even notice that she had lost one of her shoes.
Zhuo Lingxiao was still thinking about what the maid had just said to him. He stood there motionless, forgetting to chase after her.
Feng Linche squinted his eyes and looked at the direction where Princess Yunxi had left.
"Wang Lin!" he suddenly called out.
Wang Lin quickly responded and knelt on one knee, "Your Majesty."
"Pass on my order. Dispatch a thousand elite soldiers from the Western Suburb Barracks. And order all the soldiers of the Chief Magistrate's Mansion and the imperial guards to come to the Third Prince's Mansion immediately. They must rescue the Third Prince."
Feng Linche said in a deep voice.
Wang Lin looked up, "Your Majesty, about the Western Suburb Barracks..."
The troops currently stationed in the Western Suburb Barracks were the ones that Bai Yizhang had been forced to hand over. To mobilize the elite soldiers there, Wang Lin, as the commander of the Right Thousand - Ox Guards, was not qualified enough. He needed the military tally.
Feng Linche also thought of this. Without much hesitation, he took out the military tally from his sleeve and handed it to Wang Lin.
A dark glint flashed in Wang Lin's eyes. He took the military tally with both hands, lowered his head, and left after receiving the order.
Feng Linche also turned around and continued to stride towards the side courtyard.
Everyone quickly followed, having different thoughts in their hearts about what had just happened.
To rescue the Third Prince Feng Jingxuan, Feng Linche actually casually handed the military tally to someone else. It showed that the Third Prince held a special position in his heart.
The Queen Chu frowned, and her face was so gloomy that it seemed to drip water.
On the contrary, Feng Jingye, who should have been the most anxious at this time, was absent - minded.
He had just received a report saying that Feng Jingxuan had locked up the spy he had sent into the fireworks house. But the subsequent spies had searched the fireworks house but found nothing.
He thought they had already come out.
Now they were saying that Feng Jingxuan was still inside?
Could there be a secret chamber in the fireworks house?
Feng Jingye frowned, his mind in a complete mess and unable to sort out his thoughts.
If Feng Jingxuan was still inside, judging from the sound just now, he was probably in great danger...
Without Feng Jingxuan as a hidden threat, wouldn't his future days be worry - free?
Thinking like this, Feng Jingye could hardly contain his excitement.
There were at least a hundred people who had come to attend the betrothal banquet today. On the way to the side hall, there was no sound at all, only the rustling sound of rapid footsteps and the wailing of Princess Yunxi in front accompanied by the intense explosion sound.
The firelight reflected in the sky shone on everyone's faces, flickering, making their expressions vary.
After several turns and bypassing a rockery, they finally reached the side courtyard.
Seeing the scene in front of them, everyone couldn't help but gasp.
The entire side courtyard was engulfed in a sea of fire. The howling of the flames, the collapse of the houses, the cracking of the tiles, the cries for help, and the screams... were continuous.
The fire was burning so fiercely that with a crackling sound, another roof collapsed. The flames shot up into the air, and countless flying sparks scattered like fireworks.
Under the firelight, everyone's terrified and pale faces were revealed.
Seeing this situation, Feng Linche staggered and almost fell to the ground.
The Queen Chu quickly stepped forward to support him, "Your Majesty..."
Feng Linche had lost all his strength and couldn't stand steadily at all. He was completely supported by the Queen Chu.
He trembled and stretched out his hand, pointing at the already charred, stone - flying, and ruined fireworks house. He asked the Steward Zhou, who had just stepped forward, word by word, "You mean, the Third Prince is still in there?!"
Steward Zhou's face was ashen. He immediately knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his old face, wailing, "Yes, Your Majesty. It was the Third Prince's personal attendant, Ci Hui, who said so. He said that he saw with his own eyes the Third Prince enter the secret chamber of the fireworks house and hasn't come out yet."
In the crowd, a servant who also knew about the existence of the secret chamber in the fireworks house also knelt on the ground with a thud and shouted miserably, "Your Highness—"
"Who allowed you to wail like a mourner!"
Feng Linche was extremely sensitive at this moment. As soon as he heard the crying, he immediately got angry. Pointing at the servant, he scolded, "There's a fire outside. Can't the people inside hear it? Can't he escape? Is it your turn to wail like a mourner here!"
The servant wiped the tears on his face and explained, "Your Majesty doesn't know. Not only is the Third Prince's secret chamber extremely hidden, but it also has excellent sound - insulation effects! Even if there were gongs and drums roaring outside, the people inside wouldn't be able to hear a single sound..."
Hearing this, Feng Linche staggered. His face gradually turned pale.
The steward was still crying bitterly, "Your Majesty, what should we do now, Your Majesty! Your Highness... Wuwuwu..."
"What should we do? Hurry up and rescue people!" the Queen Chu was the first to speak out angrily.
Feng Linche gritted his teeth. Suddenly, he seemed to think of something. He turned around and roared at the servants who had followed to put out the fire, "You must rescue the Third Prince for me! If he dies, none of you will be able to live!"
At this moment, his face was distorted, the veins on his body were bulging, and his eyes were blood - red.