My Husband Never Oversteps The Bounds Of Propriety - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Raging Flames

Just as she was about to order more guards to support the eastern wing, a dark shadow, as silent as a ghost, flipped over the back wall of Yuanlan Pavilion and landed in the courtyard.

“Who is it?!” Lily, guarding the back window, let out a startled cry.

The shadow was agile, landing without a sound, and hurried to the window, lowering his voice: “Eldest Young Grandmother, it is I, Rong San. The Master ordered me to bring word.“

Shen Jiuyuan’s heart tightened as she immediately pushed open the window. “How is the situation at the front?“

Rong San’s breath was slightly ragged, his face still carrying a trace of lingering murderous intent. He spoke urgently:

“The dock operation is complete. Ding-No. 3 has been opened. We found massive caches of smuggled salt and iron, along with a batch of military crossbows and armaments marked with the seal of the Bureau of Military Provisions all clearly well-maintained. Just as we secured the scene, we were ambushed by unidentified death-sworn assassins.

They are numerous and ruthless, seemingly from the Qin family’s ‘Shadow’ guards. The Master is currently leading the men to cut them down. He ordered me to return immediately to report: the Eldest Young Grandmother must stabilize the manor at all costs, and above all, watch out for fire!“

Military crossbows. Death-sworn assassins. Watch out for fire.

Every word struck Shen Jiuyuan’s ears like a thunderclap. The Qin family was indeed audacious beyond belief, and Su Jin was currently undergoing a true bloodbath.

“I understand.” Before her voice even faded, a sharp fire alarm gong suddenly rang out from the northwest corner of the estate. Immediately, flames shot up into the sky, dyeing half the night sky crimson.

A fire had broken out. And judging by the direction, it was near the Baicao Hall, where the Old Madam resided.

Luring the tiger from the mountain, making a feint to the east while attacking the west, and finally, pulling the rug out from under them by targeting the very core of the Su family—the Old Madam. It was a poisonous tactic, a meticulously planned operation.

Shen Jiuyuan’s expression shifted instantly.

“Lily, take my token and immediately gather all available guards and matrons. Put out the fire at Baicao Hall at all costs and protect the Old Madam’s safety. Issue a strict order for all courtyards to lock their gates; no one is to enter or leave without orders!“

“Rong San, hurry to the front court. Divert all remaining guards to Baicao Hall. Simultaneously, send word to every gate: entry is permitted, but no one is allowed to leave! Anyone who dares to trespass or commit arson kill them on sight!“

Shen Jiuyuan spoke with extreme speed, her commands clear and carrying an indisputable decisiveness. At this moment, she was no longer a cloistered woman walking on thin ice; she was the true backbone of the Su Manor, holding the power of life and death to stabilize the situation.

“Yes!” Lily and Rong San responded in unison and immediately split up to act.

Shen Jiuyuan stood at the window, watching the soaring flames in the northwest and listening to the distant shouts of fire-fighting and the clashing of blades. She clenched her fists tightly, a cold frost settling over her peerless features.

The midnight waves were crashing, and the storm had erupted. This long night was destined to be baptized in blood and fire. And she would not retreat!

The flames in the northwest corner rolled wildly, painting half the Su Manor in a terrifying heat. The alarm gongs, the shouting crowds, the servants frantically throwing water, and the continuous crack-snap of collapsing roof beams echoed the faint clash of weapons from the distant docks. Together, they wove a suffocating web of panic over every servant’s heart.

Shen Jiuyuan’s silhouette looked fragile against the flickering firelight. However, the firm set of her thin lips revealed a calm that did not falter in crisis. The orders she had just issued were being met with an emergency response throughout the manor; within moments, the panicked scene was brought into a manageable orbit.

Lily, holding the heavy black iron token as if it were an imperial sword, navigated through the frightened crowd, her small face pale as she shouted the Eldest Young Grandmother’s commands. The guards and servants, who had been running like headless flies, found their center of gravity upon hearing the “Eldest Young Grandmother’s Order” to protect the Old Madam. They began fighting the fire at Baicao Hall with renewed vigor and formed small squads to patrol the courtyards and suppress any potential riots.

Rong San moved even faster, a black streak of lightning toward the front court. Soon, the sound of rhythmic, hurried footsteps could be heard as the remaining guards were mobilized and flooded into the inner court.

However, the fire was spreading rapidly, aided by the night wind. Baicao Hall, the Old Madam’s residence, was largely a wooden structure filled with silk, ancient books, and paintings all highly flammable. Despite the efforts of the firefighters, the fire dragon continued to claw at the sky, attempting to swallow everything.

“Eldest Young Grandmother, the fire is too big! It’s nearly reached the main house!” A matron running back from Baicao Hall, her face covered in soot, reported with a sob. “Matron Song is leading the men to protect the Old Madam as they retreat to the back prayer hall, but that hall is also wooden; it won’t hold for long!“

Shen Jiuyuan’s heart sank. If the Old Madam met with an accident, the sky of the Su Manor would truly collapse. Not only would Su Jin be placed in a passive position, but the entire Su family would face ruin. The Qin family’s move was poisonous to the extreme.

She could wait no longer. Someone had to command on-site; someone had to stabilize the hearts of those at Baicao Hall.

“Has Matron Yan not returned yet?” Shen Jiuyuan suppressed her unease. Matron Yan had gone to the warehouse to fetch ginseng; she should have been back by now.

“There is no news yet,” Lily replied anxiously.

Shen Jiuyuan’s gaze sharpened, and she made an instantaneous decision. “Lily, guard the courtyard. If anything changes, act according to the plan!“

Having said that, she tore off her cumbersome cloak. Wearing only a practical jacket and skirt, she rushed out toward the courtyard.

“Young Lady! No! It’s too dangerous outside!” Lily was terrified and tried to stop her.

“Move.” Shen Jiuyuan’s voice was not loud, but it carried an indisputable majesty. “Grandmother is in mortal danger; how can I sit here peacefully? Rest assured, I know what I am doing.“

She pushed past Lily, grabbed a hardwood door-bolt to use as a makeshift staff, and ran at full speed toward the Baicao Hall courtyard.

The short distance from Yuanlan Pavilion to Baicao Hall felt infinitely long and treacherous. Along the way, she saw maids running in panic, guards and servants throwing water from buckets and basins, and shadowy figures lurking in the dark. Shen Jiuyuan’s gaze was like lightning, but her steps were steady. She avoided the chaotic crowds, stuck to the shadows, and gripped her staff, ready for any sudden encounter.

As she neared Baicao Hall, the heat waves scorched her skin. The once solemn and quiet courtyard was now a sea of fire. Most of the main house was engulfed in flames, and the water being thrown was like a drop in the ocean, instantly evaporating into white steam.

The prayer hall behind was already being licked by flames at the eaves. Matron Song and several loyal maids were using wet quilts to block the doors and windows, screaming for people to throw water from the sides to create a barrier.

The Old Madam had been rescued from the main house and was currently sitting inside the prayer hall, her silhouette visible through the gaps in the moving crowd. She sat on a cushion, clutching her prayer beads, her face as white as paper under the firelight, yet she refused to collapse.

“Move! Quickly, move! The water is here!” Several servants stumbled forward with a large water pump cart.

“Quick! Aim for the eaves of the Buddha hall!” Matron Song cried hoarsely.

However, the fire was too intense. The water jets from the pump did little. Worse yet, a side room next to the prayer hall collapsed with a roar, making the flames even more violent. The searing air forced the firefighters back.

“Old Madam!” Matron Song let out a cry of despair.

In this critical moment, Shen Jiuyuan pushed through the crowd to the front. She scanned the scene and immediately identified the problem: though there were many people, they lacked unified command and were acting in chaos. Furthermore, the water source relied on people carrying it from a distant pond, which was too inefficient.

“Matron Song!” Shen Jiuyuan shouted, her clear voice momentarily cutting through the din. “Immediately divide everyone into three teams! Team one, block the flames from spreading to the Buddha hall concentrate all pumps and water skins to drench the ground and adjacent unburned rooms! Team two, create a firebreak tear down that row of storage rooms behind the prayer hall immediately! Team three, organize a bucket brigade to fetch water from the well in the small western garden pass it by hand!”

Her commands were lightning-fast and clear, carrying a deterrent force that made the servants’ hearts jump. The chaotic crowd instinctively began to move according to her orders.

“You, take a few men and tear down those rooms!” “You lot, follow me to the western well!” “Aim the water pump here! Move!”

The once-disorderly firefighting effort became methodical under her direct command. The firebreak effectively slowed the spread toward the prayer hall, and the bucket brigade at the nearby well improved efficiency.

Shen Jiuyuan did not just stand and watch. She joined the bucket brigade, her slender arms lifting heavy buckets, passing them along with the other matrons. Sweat soon soaked her hair and clothes, and her porcelain-white face was stained with soot, but she didn’t notice. Her eyes burned with an intense light.

Her act of lowering herself to fight the fire acted as a silent rallying cry, boosting the morale of everyone present. Seeing the usually pampered Eldest Young Grandmother fighting so hard, even the most terrified servants gritted their teeth and gave their all.

“Eldest Young Grandmother! Watch out!” a matron suddenly screamed.

A burning rafter fell from the roof, trailing sparks as it plummeted toward Shen Jiuyuan. She reacted instantly, lunging to the side while holding up the bucket she was about to pass as a shield.

Clang!

The burning wood smashed into the bucket, sending sparks and water everywhere. Though she wasn’t hit directly, her arm was scorched by a flying ember, a sharp pain radiating through her.

“Young Lady!” Lily, who had somehow followed her, turned pale with fear and rushed to support her. Shen Jiuyuan merely frowned at the reddened skin of her arm, tore a strip of her wet skirt to wrap it hastily, and dove back into the effort.

“It’s nothing. Continue!”

“Young Lady, Young Lady…” Lily tried to shield her mistress from the danger, but one look from Shen Jiuyuan forced her back. Lily had never seen such a cold, murderous side of her mistress.

The sight of the Eldest Young Grandmother risking her life in the danger zone galvanized everyone. The servants fought with everything they had. Finally, the flames were brought under control and were completely stopped just a step away from the prayer hall.

As the last open flame was extinguished, leaving only billowing smoke and stray sparks, the horizon began to turn gray. The main house of Baicao Hall was a blackened ruin, but miraculously, the prayer hall was saved, and the Old Madam was unharmed.

The Su Manor had nearly emptied itself for this struggle. Now that the fire was out, people collapsed on the ground, gasping for air, their faces a mess of soot, sweat, and tears.

Matron Song stumbled over to Shen Jiuyuan. Looking at this young woman with disheveled hair, filthy clothes, and an injured arm yet still standing with a straight back her eyes turned red. She thudded to her knees before Jiuyuan.

“This old servant, on behalf of the Old Madam, thanks the Eldest Young Grandmother for her life-saving grace.”

Shen Jiuyuan hurried to help her up. “Matron, please rise quickly. Protecting Grandmother is my duty.” Her voice was hoarse from the smoke, but it carried a reassuring power.

As Matron Song rose, still moved to tears, the door of the prayer hall opened. The Old Madam, supported by maids, stepped out. Despite the night’s terror, her face regained its usual calm and majesty. Her gaze landed on Shen Jiuyuan. While she showed no obvious emotion, her expression shifted several times; her heart was in turmoil, profoundly shocked.

She knew that she stood there alive because of this young woman’s courage and wit. Truly, “a hairpin waits in its case for the time to fly; jade in its box seeks a fair price.” She had originally thought this woman from the North was just a common stone with occasional flashes of brilliance, but now she saw that Shen Jiuyuan was truly a hidden gem.

The elder and the younger met each other’s gaze. No words were needed. Shen Jiuyuan gave a slight bow. The Old Madam nodded slowly, said nothing, and turned toward a temporary courtyard.

Shen Jiuyuan stood there, watching her leave, then looked over the scorched earth where a life-and-death struggle had just occurred. She let out a long breath of smoke-filled air. So much had happened tonight. The crisis was temporarily resolved with no casualties, save for the ashes of Baicao Hall.

After this night, her foundation in the Su Manor was fundamentally different. However, she felt little joy. The sounds of fighting at the docks had long since ceased, but Su Jin had not yet returned. She did not know how he was.

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