Chapter 533 - 263: Diplomacy of Two Nations

Chapter 533: Chapter 263: Diplomacy of Two Nations

"Second Lady, are you asleep?"

For a moment, the candlelight inside flickered, but there was no response.

Zheng Xiu knocked a few more times.

CRASH!

The room was suddenly, frighteningly ablaze. A startled cry came from Second Lady, and Zheng Xiu knew at once what had happened—she must have knocked over the lampstand. The fire was spreading!

With a BANG, Zheng Xiu kicked the door open and rushed inside. Outside, shadowy figures stirred. Several of his men on duty started forward to fight the fire, but they stopped when they saw the Red King was already faster than them all. In the darkness, they looked at each other and began to whisper through whistles:

"The Lord went in to put out the fire!"

"Can the Lord put out a fire?"

"Ha! Is there any fire the Lord *can’t* put out?"

"So, what do we do...?"

"You dare go in?"

"I don’t. You?"

"Get Brother Qing to go? He’s not afraid of getting yelled at."

"Good point! We’ll keep watch. You go get Brother Qing, quick!"

Listening to the flurry of whistles from outside, Zheng Xiu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’You bastards,’ he thought, ’have you forgotten that I can understand your secret signals?’ He shot back a whistle of his own, a sharp TWEET that cut through the night sky.

"Stop whistling! No need to call for Qing Pi!"

Inside the room.

Second Lady was in a thin silk nightgown, the outline of her crimson dudou clearly visible in the firelight. In the center of the room, the solid wood table and chairs were slick with oil, and the flames were racing along the spill toward the table legs. In her panic, Second Lady hadn’t even noticed Zheng Xiu burst in. She was frantically waving a small, embroidered fan at the blaze.

"You fool! You’re fanning the flames!"

Tears of panic streamed down Second Lady’s face. It was rare to see the normally poised and elegant woman so utterly flustered. Zheng Xiu pulled out a brush, bit his finger to begin Casting, and habitually drew a circle... no, a large "blood bell." He pushed Second Lady aside and slammed his palm down. The bell-shaped construct smothered the flames, plunging the room into darkness.

The fire was out in moments. When Zheng Xiu dissipated the "blood bell," the table and chairs were merely scorched, not truly damaged. But on the tabletop lay a dark pile of ash. Zheng Xiu stepped forward and pinched a corner of it, realizing it was the remains of an envelope. He rubbed it between two fingers, and it disintegrated, trickling from his hand.

Zheng Xiu sighed softly and closed the door. He blew a few quick whistles, waited quietly for a moment, then opened the door again. Outside on the floor sat a basin containing a brand-new lampstand and some flint and steel.

In the Red King Mansion, when Zheng Xiu wanted something done, the entire staff mobilized. They were faster than the Zheng’s Coachman, completing the task in the blink of an eye.

He relit the lamp, and light returned to the room. Zheng Xiu noticed the tear stains still fresh on Second Lady’s face. She sat on the edge of the bed like a child who’d done something wrong, head bowed and silent, twisting the hem of her clothes.

"Xiu’er, I..."

She was using his childhood name.

Zheng Xiu sat down beside her and gently wrapped an arm around her thin shoulders.

"We’ve been like brother and sister for many years. I never ask about the Zheng Family’s affairs, but you’ve never hidden anything from me, either."

Zheng Xiu said calmly,

"When Qing Shisan told me not long ago that you were looking troubled, I didn’t think much of it. But seeing you tonight has my mind racing with wild guesses, and it’s leaving me unsettled."

"And since this isn’t official Zheng Clan business, it must be something personal."

"But your life is so routine, you pour all your energy into this little family business. Where would you find the time to have personal matters to attend to?"

"On the way here, I kept wondering what could possibly make my dear Second Lady knit her brow like an old woman."

Zheng Xiu smiled, reaching out to gently smooth the crease between her brows.

Second Lady’s expression faltered, and fat tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"Let me guess,"

Zheng Xiu said with a smile, "Our Zheng Family has nothing to worry about. Your dear little brother became the Red King, and it’s been smooth sailing ever since. I have power over the realm and wealth to rival a nation."

"For Second Lady to be this anxious..."

"Could it be,"

"that this has something to do with your past?"