Chapter 199: A Pity
The young maidservant had been through a similar situation before and understood at once. She gave a quick reply and hurried off.
Chutang wiped the sweat from Su Pei’er’s forehead. With a light flick of her wrist, a row of silver needles lay on display, glinting coldly.
She held her breath, her concentration absolute, then decisively began inserting the needles.
Time seemed to drag on. The sounds from outside faded away, and the room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The faint smell of blood filled the air.
Chutang’s expression was one of intense focus.
And behind her, Han Yao’s hand slowly clenched, then loosened again.
...
Time passed.
Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the great fire at the Han Family estate was finally extinguished.
Everything in sight was a charred, black ruin, thick with billowing smoke and dust.
The pungent smell of burning wafted through the air, making it almost difficult to breathe.
The once-illustrious Han Family had been reduced to ruins overnight, completely destroyed.
"My lord." Lian Zhou returned from his task. "It’s almost completely destroyed inside. Even some of the roof beams have collapsed. There’s nothing left."
Shen Yanchuan seemed to have expected as much. His expression was calm and detached. "What’s the casualty count?"
"We found five bodies in the front courtyard, back courtyard, and side rooms. All of them were Han Family servants. A few others were lucky enough to escape. We have them under control, awaiting your orders, my lord."
This was to be expected.
With such a massive fire, it would have been strange if no one had died.
The key was... Han Yao and Su Pei’er had actually survived!
Shen Yanchuan asked again, "Have you found the secret passage?"
Lian Zhou’s expression sharpened, and he nodded. "We found it. Would you like to go and see it for yourself now?"
But Shen Yanchuan did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned his head slightly.
Yun Cheng understood his master’s unspoken question. He immediately stepped forward and explained in a low voice, "Doctor Ye has been inside for a long time and still hasn’t come out. Su Pei’er’s condition must not be good."
A pregnant woman carrying an unconscious man out of a secret passage during a fire—one could only imagine how difficult that had been.
"She’s truly devoted to Han Yao. Without her, he would have perished in the flames today."
Su Pei’er may be a courtesan, but she possessed more courage and integrity than many men.
Ever since the Han Family’s downfall, all their former associates had rushed to sever ties, terrified of being implicated.
Only Su Pei’er remained by his side, her loyalty unwavering.
Shen Yanchuan glanced at the still tightly shut door and said to Yun Cheng, "You stand guard here. If there’s any change—"
Before he could finish, he sensed something and looked up.
CREAK—
The door was pushed open from the inside.
The night was dark, with a bright moon hanging high overhead. The long street below was dotted with candlelight.
The woman emerged, looking as though she had stepped out of the thick darkness of the room and into the scattered, shimmering lights of the street.
Shen Yanchuan’s gaze intensified.
All eyes turned to Chutang, filled with curiosity and speculation.
People said Chutang’s medical skills were exceptional; they wondered what she had managed to do in a situation like this.
Chutang swept her gaze around impassively, seemingly oblivious to the stares, and walked straight to Shen Yanchuan.
"Princely Heir." She curtsied.
Shen Yanchuan’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he asked, "How is it?"
Chutang gently shook her head, her expression apologetic.
Seeing her reaction, many people immediately began to whisper among themselves.
"Looks like it was no good!"
"I told you she couldn’t be saved! Didn’t you see when Su Pei’er was carried in? Her face was completely colorless, as pale as a ghost!"
"For women, childbirth has always been a brush with death. She already had that incident at the lake, and now she’s suffered such a terrible ordeal. How could she possibly have survived?"
"It’s such a pity! Han Tong is about to be executed, Han Yao is unconscious, and now the only heir left in the entire Han Family is gone—two lives lost in one body. It’s truly..."