Phoenix Cries Return to Court

Lin Xihe, understanding the implication in her words, found it quite amusing to see the two of them acting like a lovestruck man and woman from a play. So, he simply went along with it, pretending not to understand and teasing her.

"This bead is the collateral of my husband and sister, and it is an item of the mansion. Wearing it on me, the mistress of the house, is a sign of the mansion's prestige. Others can't help but admire it. It is my husband's good eye that has brought this pearl of a sister to us."

He Guangzheng rarely heard her say anything "respectable," and calmly poured himself a cup. Tao Qingqing's face froze when she saw this.

Lin Xihe's face was as red as a peach blossom, as if she had taken a liking to it. "Such good quality, I wonder if you have any more, sister? When I get my dowry back, I'd like to buy a few more to make some jewelry."

Upon hearing this, Tao Qingqing felt even more contempt for Lin Xi and this vulgar fellow, and coldly snorted, "This pearl is no ordinary object; it is unique to the Xi Kingdom and is called the 'Eastern Pearl,' extremely precious. Even if I were to dedicate myself to the country, I would only obtain this one."

Xiguo?

Lin Xihe's expression remained impassive, but her heart sank.

She looked up at Tao Qingqing, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"This is truly rare. How come I've never heard of such a treasure in the Xi Kingdom before?"

Upon hearing this, Tao Qingqing's face paled instantly, and she clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

"My sister has always lived a secluded life, and being confined to the four corners of this backyard all day, her perspective is naturally limited."

"There are countless rare things in this world. Just because you haven't heard of them doesn't mean they don't exist."

Having said that, she sighed with feigned regret, her eyes slightly reddening as if she had been wronged, and said softly, "If you suspect me so much, then you might as well return this pearl to me. But, Zhenglang, he..."

She hesitated, then timidly turned to look at He Guangzheng, whose face was somber.

He Guangzheng had been restless since earlier, and now he felt even more agitated.

He slammed his hand on the table and shouted at the person in front of him, "Mr. Wen, since you're here to dine, sit properly and don't spout nonsense and stir up trouble!"

Lin Xihe sneered.

Judging from Tao Qingqing's reaction, her suspicions were somewhat confirmed, and the purpose of her trip could be considered achieved.

She didn't want to get entangled with the two men any longer, so she slowly stood up, adjusted the pearl hairpin in her black hair, and said leisurely, "Since Minister Shangshu values ​​my sister so much, it would be best to repay the money as soon as possible. That way, my sister can get the pearl back sooner, right?"

She paused, looked at the two people in front of her with solemn expressions, and a mocking smile flashed across her lips. "In that case, I will go back to my courtyard to rest first. You two continue."

Having said that, he turned and left with Chun Ge.

Watching her retreating figure, Tao Qingqing and He Guangzheng both breathed a sigh of relief.

A table full of delicious food was laid out before them, but the two of them had already lost all appetite.

Seeing the beautiful woman looking melancholy, He Guangzheng felt a pang of pity and pulled Tao Qingqing close, whispering a few words in her ear.

Before long, the beautiful woman, who had been looking unhappy, suddenly brightened up in her eyes, and her gloomy expression turned into a bright one.

She raised her hand and gently pushed He Guangzheng, saying coquettishly, "Zhenglang still loves me the most. Then let's do as Zhenglang says and teach her a lesson!"

……

The hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

Moonlight streamed through the window into the room, the night was hazy and quiet.

After returning to the autonomous academy, Lin Xi felt as if a huge rock was pressing on her heart.

Now, tossing and turning on the bed, I can no longer feel sleepy.

Memories flooded back like a tide.

In the sixteenth year of Yong'an, when Tao Qingqing got married, Emperor Sheng, to show his respect, bestowed upon her a box of South Sea pearls.

South Sea pearls are very similar to East Sea pearls, but they are much smaller in size, and it is even more difficult to find one that is flawless.

The Kingdom of Naxi places great importance on rules and etiquette. From emperors and concubines to court officials and their wives, there are fixed rules for clothing and utensils, and no one is allowed to overstep them.

This pearl is of exceptional quality, far exceeding the usual standards for gifts bestowed upon imperial concubines.

Even if Emperor Helan favored Tao Qingqing greatly, there was no way he could bestow such an extravagant treasure upon her.

A rare, non-compliant pearl from the East, a treasure from the Kingdom of Xi with questionable origins, and Tao Qingqing's seemingly arrogant expression.

Every single thing was strange and abnormal.

If it were just a power struggle within the inner court, that would be fine, but what if it gets involved in the imperial court...

Then he thought back to his sudden death in his previous life.

The mystery was like a fog, enveloping her layer by layer, and she couldn't wait to uncover all the secrets.

These thoughts surged within me, and I kept my eyes open until dawn.

……

Last night, He Guangzheng rested in Tao Qingqing Courtyard. After a night of passion, he went to court at the crack of dawn.

Tao Qingqing was also tired and exhausted. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lin Xihe changed into a plain-colored cloth dress that maids usually wore, found an excuse to go out of the mansion to buy things, and quietly left the house, avoiding the sight of the servants.

Heading straight for the most famous Tiangong Pavilion in the city.

This is the premier treasure workshop in the capital, where skilled craftsmen from all over the country gather. Whether it is carving jade, imitating jewelry, or appraising rare treasures, their skills are unparalleled. Even the craftsmen in the palace may not be able to match the craftsmanship here.

For some reason, Lin Xihe had a vague premonition that perhaps the answer she was looking for was inside the Heavenly Craft Pavilion.

Upon entering the Tiangong Pavilion, a faint fragrance of gardenia and borneol wafts through the air. The pavilion is filled with all kinds of jewelry and jade artifacts, a dazzling array that is sure to dazzle the eye.

A waiter dressed in a light blue jacket noticed that although Lin Xihe was dressed in plain clothes, she had an extraordinary air about her and was not like a woman from an ordinary family.

He quickly went to greet her, his face beaming with a warm smile, "Please come in, young lady. What can I do for you? Would you like to choose some jewelry or have an item appraised?"

Lin Xihe said loudly,

"Everyone says that the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion has unparalleled craftsmanship and countless rare treasures. Bring all your finest pearls and jades for me to see."

The shop assistant dared not neglect them and hurriedly led them to the counter, where they respectfully displayed the pearls, one drawer at a time.

Each pearl is different in size and color, but they are quite different from the pearls from the East.

Lin Xihe frowned, her voice suddenly rising, "I thought Tiangong Pavilion was famous throughout the capital, but it turns out it's nothing special. A pavilion full of substandard products, yet they dare to call themselves the best in the world? They're just trying to gain fame and reputation."

Upon hearing this, the previously scattered guests in the pavilion immediately stopped in their tracks, and all eyes turned to him.

The waiter's face darkened, and he said sternly, "Miss, watch your words! These are all top-quality goods; how can you slander them like this!"

Lin Xihe chuckled softly, slowly took out a plain brocade pouch from her sleeve, and gently poured out the pearl.

The surrounding guests gathered around in a clamor, their exclamations of amazement never ceasing.

Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper's smile instantly froze, and he stammered, "Miss, this bead of yours is a rare and exquisite piece! I've truly broadened my horizons today!"

"Do you have pearls of the same quality in your shop?" Lin Xi asked loudly.

"this……"

The waiter choked on his words, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the inner room.

Shortly after, two soft coughs came from the inner room.

The shop assistant bowed to Lin Xi and said, "Miss, our shop does not currently have such a treasure."

"Oh? That's a real shame."

Lin Xihe sighed with feigned regret, her voice suddenly rising, "In that case, I'll come again in three days. Please keep an eye out, and if you can find pearls of the same quality, I'll pay whatever it costs."

After saying that, she slowly put the pearl back into her sleeve, turned around and walked out, glancing around discreetly.

Suddenly, she noticed several burly men dressed in coarse cloth clothes seemingly selecting ornaments in a corner, but their eyes remained fixed on her.

Beneath the cloth robe, a dark brocade was faintly visible, with gold thread patterns adorning the edges.

Is this... a government official?

Lin Xihe frowned slightly, feeling a chill run through her heart.

It seems my thoughts last night were indeed correct; this matter is of utmost importance.

Deep within that dark corridor, a sharp gaze was fixed intently on her retreating figure.

"Follow her closely, but don't alert her."