Chapter 46: Taking Advantage of the Chaos (9)

If he hadn't seen wrong just now, the last place where the flames were extinguished was the Treasure Pavilion?!
How could he only notice this now?!
Immediately, he dashed frantically toward the Treasure Pavilion, and upon arrival, he found nothing left but a floor covered in charred remains.
It was over. All the gold, silver, and jewels were gone!
Treasures that had been collected over so many years, from every reward bestowed by the Emperor, to every piece of jewelry that Consort Yun and Yun Yao had given to Yun Shang, along with Yun Shang's dowry and family heirlooms passed down from his ancestors—all of it was gone!
Truly...
Tie Fan felt as though he couldn't catch his breath. He began gasping heavily, and at last, a suffocating pain swelled in his chest, forcing a mouthful of blood from his lips.
All the servants present cried out in alarm, "General!"
At once, they rushed forward to steady his collapsing body.
Tie Fan was taken to a new residence, but this one was meager and poor.
The once luxurious quarters, along with the bridal chamber he shared with Yun Shang, had all been reduced to ashes. Only one lavish residence remained, and at this moment, Yun Zui was living there.
Tie Fan lay on his bed, overwhelmed by the blow.
How could so much gold, silver, and so many jewels vanish in a single night?
It was all Yun Zui's fault—she was a bringer of disaster.
Everyone withdrew, leaving only Tie Fan and Yun Shang in the room.
Yun Shang herself was still injured, but with Tie Fan suddenly coughing up blood, she took it upon herself to care for him.
"Shang'er, all the treasures in the residence are gone," Tie Fan said, still unable to believe it was real.
Yun Shang took his rough hand and placed it against her cheek, looking at him with deep concern as she said, "Don't grieve over the lost treasures, and don't let your anger consume you. Calm yourself; your health is most important. Besides, this fire was so peculiar—someone must have been plotting behind the scenes."
Yun Shang truly loved Tie Fan; their union was not one of convenience. Now, seeing him cough up blood, her heart ached with sorrow.
"Now there is only Yun Zui left in this residence. Who would have thought she had the means to do this? It seems we underestimated her," Tie Fan recalled all that had just happened, convinced that Yun Zui could not be innocent, though she appeared to be merely a startled victim.
"What matters now is not Yun Zui's abilities, but how we will explain ourselves to the Hall of Specters." The Hall of Specters was an immensely powerful assassin organization. Having turned against them, and with one assassin having escaped, they had broken their contract. Surely, its master would unleash his wrath soon enough.
"Shang’er, don’t worry. After all, I am a general, and we have powerful allies behind us. They won’t dare touch me," Tie Fan said, wiping the tears from Yun Shang’s face to comfort her.
"Let’s hope you’re right." Although Tie Fan was a general, the Hall of Specters' power was not to be underestimated. Unless Tie Fan was Chi Mie himself, how could everything remain peaceful?
As Tie Fan spoke, he tried to sit up, and Yun Shang quickly asked, "What are you doing?"
Tie Fan sat up, held Yun Shang’s delicate hand, and said, "I will make Yun Zui pay for all the suffering you’ve endured. As for the Hall of Specters, I must visit them myself. This time, Yun Zui must die."
Yun Shang nodded eagerly, saying, "Good. We will watch Yun Zui meet her end together."
The two exchanged a smile, and then Yun Shang nestled into Tie Fan’s arms. Outside the window, two shadows merged as one, and the hurriedly arriving physician hesitated at the door, unsure whether he ought to enter.
It seemed now was hardly the right time to go in.