Phoenix Cries Return to Court

Perhaps Tao Qingqing suffered a loss today and is trying to embarrass Lin Xihe.

As soon as the Flower Festival ended, she pretended to be unwell and, together with Ho Kwong-ching, "left first" in a loving manner.

Lin Xihe had no interest in the pair of lovebirds to begin with, and calmly climbed into the carriage amidst the sympathetic or gloating gazes of the crowd.

The journey was safe and sound.

But just as they were about to reach the alleyway where the Minister of War's residence was located, the coachman suddenly shouted "Whoa!" and pulled on the reins.

"Madam, there's a carriage blocking the road ahead."

Lin Xi and Liu Mei frowned slightly, and with displeasure, they raised their hands to lift the carriage curtain and look outside.

A carriage made of golden nanmu wood was quietly parked ahead, its body carved with intricate cloud patterns, and the brocade curtains on the side of the carriage were decorated with emblems painted in gold thread.

Without even looking closely, one could tell it was an old acquaintance.

She breathed a slight sigh of relief, but before she could speak, a guard in black quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Madam Wen, my master requests your presence."

Lin Xihe nodded, bent down and got out of the carriage, and followed the guards toward the carriage.

As soon as they reached the carriage, they heard a few suppressed coughs coming from inside the brocade curtain.

"My lord," the man in black said respectfully.

"Let her in." A familiar voice came from behind the curtain.

Lin Xihe's heart stirred slightly, and the man in black beside her lifted the brocade curtain.

Shen Mo, dressed in black, leaned against the soft pillows inside the car. The strand of white hair at his temples was still so striking. He looked at her and nodded slightly.

"Your cough gets so bad in the spring. Have you been taking your medicine on time lately?" Lin Xihe asked almost instinctively, looking at the man's slightly pale face.

Shen Mo paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, and asked in a deep voice, "How did Madam know about my illness?"

"Your Excellency, please forgive me. I spoke rashly and carelessly. I was just thinking of how my elders in the family also suffered from the same ailment when I heard Your Excellency coughing incessantly. I was so nervous that I blurted it out. I hope Your Excellency will not take offense."

Lin Xihe realized she had spoken out of turn and quickly pretended to be timid and respectfully apologized.

Shen Mo stared at the person in front of him and continued to press, "Oh? May I ask the name of your elders, Madam? Were they treated in the city? And which doctor did they consult?"

Lin Xihe composed herself and spoke again, her voice trembling with emotion, "Your Excellency, these are all old stories. But now, the Wen family is reduced to just me, a weak woman, and thinking about it now brings back some painful memories."

After speaking, she touched the corner of her eye with her handkerchief, looking as if she was about to cry.

Shen Mo opened his mouth, his eyes still filled with doubt, but his voice softened, "In that case, it was I who was presumptuous and unnecessarily stirred up your painful past."

"I wonder what brings you here, Your Excellency?" Lin Xihe's eyes reddened, her gaze misty, and she forced a smile.

Shen Mo couldn't help but cough a few more times.

After a moment, he spoke again, "Madam's skills at the banquet today were quite impressive. May I ask who your teacher is?"

"So the Grand Secretary saw it all." Lin Xihe feigned embarrassment. "It was His Highness the Crown Prince who acted out of line, and I had no choice but to protect myself."

"Even the daughters of dukes and marquises know to respect imperial authority when facing His Highness the Crown Prince. Yet you speak nonsense and presumptuously criticize the Crown Prince's inappropriate behavior. Where does your audacity come from?"

"In my opinion, the position of the Crown Prince is secure. After His Majesty passes away, the Crown Prince will ascend to the throne. However, is it a blessing for the country to have such a childlike heir?"

Shen Mo remained silent, but he knew in his heart that this was not true.

Then, changing the subject, he asked, "And how do you explain the lady's fighting skills?"

"I have no famous teacher to guide me. It is only because the Minister has taken a concubine that I have lost my husband's favor and have no family to protect me. I was afraid of being bullied, so I taught myself a few self-defense techniques."

"These are all just for show, not worthy of serious consideration. I'm afraid I've made you laugh at me, Your Excellency."

Shen Mo took a breath, suppressing his discomfort, and said meaningfully, "It's quite a coincidence that I once had a very close personal relationship with an old friend. Now, for some reason, I feel that your skills and words are remarkably similar to hers."

"Oh?" Lin Xihe's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained calm. "May I ask who this old friend of yours is?"

Shen Mo's eyes darkened, and he sighed softly, "Never mind, it was I who was presumptuous."

Seeing that he was no longer pursuing the matter, Lin Xihe breathed a sigh of relief.

"If Your Excellency has nothing else to say, I will return to my residence now."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the celadon bowl on the table. "If you don't drink this medicine soon, it might get cold."

"Mrs. Wen," Shen Mo suddenly called out to her, as if he had just thought of something, "Tell me, how can a person become completely different from before in such a short time?"

Lin Xihe looked up to meet his gaze, her expression calm.

"Perhaps he was too submissive and tolerant in the past, which emboldened the other party. Now, forced by circumstances, he has suddenly realized his mistake and is no longer willing to be bullied, so he has risen up in resistance."

Looking at the composed demeanor of the person before him, Shen Mo pursed his thin lips and ultimately suppressed his suspicions.

Perhaps, he was so obsessed with that person that he would delve so deeply into someone who bore a resemblance to her.

His expression darkened for a moment, and he said slowly, "Enough, Madam, please go back. Consider today's matter as my abruptness."

"In that case, I shall take my leave."

Lin Xihe bowed to the person in front of her, raised her hand to lift the brocade curtain, and got off the carriage.

……

Shen Mo watched the carriage of the woman in white slowly drive away from the alley, feeling a sense of loss in his heart.

"My lord," a guard in black approached the carriage and asked quietly, "should I send someone to continue following Madam Wen?"

Shen Mo snapped out of his thoughts, shook his head, and said, "No need."

After speaking, he couldn't help but cough again.

After a short pause, he picked up the medicine bowl on the table and drank it all in one gulp, the bitter taste of the medicine instantly spreading on his tongue.

A wave of bitterness washed over Shen Mo, realizing that no amount of bitter medicine in the world could compare to the bitterness in his heart.

Old friends are hard to recognize, deep feelings are destined to be unfulfilled.

The carriage slowly set off, heading towards the Grand Secretary's residence.

Shen Mo closed his eyes and leaned against the soft pillow, but his mind was filled with that person's voice and smile, and his emotions were in turmoil and he could not calm down for a long time.

On the other side, Lin Xihe sat upright in the carriage, repeatedly twisting a silk handkerchief in her hands, her mind in turmoil.

"Madam, shall we return to the manor now?" the coachman's voice came from outside.

Lin Xihe calmed herself down, lifted the curtain by the window, and looked out. She saw that the carriage had already driven onto the bustling street.

"Let's go back to the manor," she said calmly.

But the carriage had not gone more than a few steps when it suddenly stopped again.

She frowned, reached out and lifted a corner of the sedan curtain, and looked up to see the shop assistant from Tiangong Pavilion standing bowing in front of the carriage.

Upon seeing her, the other person immediately broke into a bright smile and said obsequiously, "Is the master still troubled by the matter of skilled craftsmen? Why don't you come with me to the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion for a chat?"