Chapter 7: Kill Them All

The autumn air was dry, and the night was windy. The fire spread swiftly like a dragon emerging from the sea. The wooden structure of the house made it highly flammable, and the blaze broke out deep into the silent night, while everyone was asleep.

With the help of Doctor Ma and the neighbors, only the half-room where Su Yunqing lived remained intact; the rest of the Grand Secretary’s residence was reduced to a mere skeleton.

A kind-hearted neighbor changed Qin Yuniang into clean clothes and laid her on the bed in that half-room, though she remained unconscious.

Su Yunqing, barely clinging to life, leaned against a water jar in the courtyard. She looked down at the three bodies covered in white cloth before her, her eyes calm and deep as a still lake.

Doctor Ma slipped a pill into her mouth. “Third Miss, Madam is unharmed, she just hasn’t woken up yet…”

Only then did she slowly lift her eyelids and swallow the pill with difficulty. Doctor Ma hurriedly gave her a drink of water, which she gulped down eagerly. He knew how to rouse her.

“Where’s my mother? Help me up!”

Several women beside her wiped away tears quietly. One stepped forward and pressed her down. “Third Miss, don’t worry. Madam is being cared for. Don’t move yet. Your leg was crushed by a beam and also burned. Doctor Ma sent someone to fetch the medicine box. I sent my daughter back to get some clean clothes. The doctor will dress your wounds, then we’ll help you change.”

Only then did a sharp pain shoot through her left leg. Looking down, she saw a large patch of skin missing, the edges of raw flesh fused with the fabric of her gauzy skirt.

“Thank you, Aunt Hao…”

Su Yunqing’s gaze returned to the three bodies lying side by side. She opened her mouth several times but could not speak the question she longed to ask.

She already knew the answer.

Everyone else watched in silence, no one spoke. The courtyard was still except for the occasional sound of tiles or smoldering wood falling from the roof.

Dawn gradually broke. Doctor Ma bandaged Su Yunqing’s injured leg, and Aunt Hao helped her change into fresh clothes, her eyes red-rimmed.

“Third Miss, rest by Madam’s side for a while. Tonight, come stay at my place. It’s small, but I can make room for a bed.”

Su Yunqing replied calmly, “I won’t lie down. I want to go outside for a while. I want to…”

I want to spend more time with Grandpa and my brothers!

She turned to the women inside and bowed. “Ladies, please take care of my mother. I will never forget your kindness.”

“We’ve been neighbors for decades, Third Miss. No need for formalities.”

“Third Miss, you should rest well.”

…

Su Yunqing shifted all her weight onto her right leg and, with Aunt Hao’s support, slowly dragged her injured left leg—dressed and bandaged—out the door. She sat down by the water jar next to the three bodies once more.

All eyes were on her, but no one spoke.

She raised her hand slowly toward one body. As her fingers neared the white cloth covering it, they began to tremble violently, freezing mid-air.

Everyone held their breath. Several women hesitated to speak. Doctor Ma quickly grasped her wrist and pushed her hand back.

“Third Miss, don’t look…”

“Doctor Ma, how could this happen? Grandpa was ill, but what about my eldest and second brothers?”

Doctor Ma said, “When I entered, I smelled narcotic incense. Combined with the thick smoke from the fire, they must have fainted when the flames spread through the house, so…”

Su Yunqing looked up at him, her face remarkably calm. “Then why am I unharmed?”

“Because you were in the easternmost room, and the northeast wind was blowing tonight. You also woke up in time. After rescuing your mother, did you feel weak?”

Su Yunqing shook her head. “I don’t remember.”

Doctor Ma spoke gently, “In such a situation, you should cover your mouth and nose with a wet cloth when going in to save someone. I taught you that when you were little.”

Su Yunqing smiled bitterly. “There was no time. I couldn’t think of that.”

Everyone else was crying, but she smiled. Aunt Hao’s nose tingled with emotion as she knelt beside her, softly urging, “Third Miss, if you’re sad, cry. Don’t be afraid. You have us.”

Su Yunqing turned her head to Aunt Hao. “I’m fine. Please don’t worry.”

How could she be fine? Three beloved family members died overnight, the entire estate confiscated, and now the only remaining house was destroyed by fire.

Aunt Hao wrapped her arm around Su Yunqing’s shoulders. “We’ll help bury Grand Secretary Su. Now, you’re all that’s left of the Su family. Grand Secretary Su’s spirit in heaven surely hopes you’ll survive well. Third Miss, please take care.”

At this moment, Su Yunqing’s mind was busy pondering who could be the killer and who wished to annihilate the entire Su family.

The Emperor? The newly enthroned young emperor was merely a puppet of Empress Dowager Zhang’s faction.

Empress Dowager Zhang’s faction? That made no sense. They controlled the government and could easily find any excuse to kill, like seizing property. There was no need to set a fire in the dead of night.

Could it be Wang Hong, whom she had injured that day? But he was motivated by money. He had already taken the gold and had no reason to kill anyone further.

Wu Renpin? No. If he had acted, he wouldn’t have killed Qin Yuniang as well.

But this was definitely no accident.

Su Yunqing lifted her hands and buried her head in her knees, then suddenly her eyes brightened: narcotic incense?

“Doctor Ma, when you came in, was our front door still closed?”

Aunt Hao replied, “It was tightly shut. We had to force it open with great effort.”

Su Yunqing nodded. So the fire and narcotic incense were thrown in from outside the courtyard wall. The yard was large; there must have been more than one ignition point. To ensure everyone was incapacitated, there couldn’t have been just one narcotic incense ball thrown in…

Aunt Hao continued to comfort her softly, “Third Miss, if you’re sad, cry. It will ease your heart.”

Cry? This was no time to cry.

The dawn broke, the morning glow filled the sky, promising another fine day.

With everyone’s help, Grand Secretary Su and his two grandsons were placed in coffins set in the courtyard.

Until the coffin lids were closed, Su Yunqing did not muster the courage to look beneath the white cloth.

Qin Yuniang briefly regained consciousness but fainted again upon hearing the news of Grand Secretary Su and the two sons’ deaths.

Su Yunqing requested paper and pen from Doctor Ma, spread them on the ground, and began to write. She was now the only clear-headed person in the family; she could not afford to lose consciousness.

After a short while, she folded the letter, slipped it into an envelope, and handed it to Doctor Ma. “Doctor Ma, Uncle Ma, please help me send this letter.”

Doctor Ma nodded and took the letter. Seeing the destination was Chongluan County, he asked, “Third Miss, is this letter for your uncle?”

Su Yunqing nodded. “I want my uncle to come as soon as possible to take my mother to Chongluan County.”

“And what about you?”

“I will find the murderer and kill them with my own hands.”