Phoenix Cries Return to Court

"Wh...what?" The man stopped abruptly, his Adam's apple bobbing, and a blush spreading to his ears.

"I noticed that Miss Dong treated you quite specially in the Tiangong Pavilion just now. I thought you were still immature, but judging from your words just now, you don't seem like someone who doesn't know how to cherish women," Lin Xihe murmured thoughtfully.

"Don't talk nonsense. Miss Dong and I are just friends, not lovers." Shen Jueyan frowned and quickened his pace.

Suddenly, the image of that person appeared in his mind: her phoenix eyes were captivating, she exuded authority without anger, she could control the world and suppress the court, yet she also had a gentle and tender appearance.

The next second, another figure appeared in her mind. Although the two faces were different, they kept overlapping in her heart...

Lin Xihe looked at the coldness emanating from the man and his increasingly rapid pace, and couldn't help but purse her lips, thinking to herself, "Why didn't I see him having such a bad temper before?"

……

Inside the main hall of the Minister's residence.

He Guangzheng, dressed in a dark brocade robe with subtle patterns, listened with a gloomy expression as his confidant finished reporting the information he had gathered. After a moment of contemplation, he rose and strode quickly toward Youlan Courtyard.

Inside the Orchid Courtyard, the messenger had just left.

Tao Qingqing, dressed in a begonia-colored floral dress with a white jade pendant hanging at her waist, her hair styled in a bun and adorned with a gold-embroidered butterfly headdress, was leaning against a chaise longue. With her slender jade fingers, she held a purple grape, slowly peeled off its thin skin, and brought the flesh to her lips.

Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps approaching from afar. Soon, she saw He Guangzheng approaching with a gloomy expression. Her heart skipped a beat, and she almost dropped the grapes in her hand. She hurriedly wiped her hands with a handkerchief and rushed to meet him. "Zhenglang, has something happened?"

"Qingqing, are you hiding something from me?" He Guangzheng asked directly, his gaze fixed on her face.

"No, that's not it." Tao Qingqing's heart sank, and she wrung the handkerchief in her hand even tighter. She put on a wronged expression and choked out, "Why do you say that, Zheng Lang?"

He Guangzheng remained silent, gazing intently into the beauty's eyes. After a moment, as if consoling himself, he said softly, "Never mind."

"Zhenglang?" Tao Qingqing suppressed her unease and panic, and tentatively reached out to grab He Guangzheng's sleeve, but he stopped her hand with a glance.

"The annual summer hunting banquet is approaching. Recently, the Ministry of War has been working with the Ministry of Rites to prepare for various matters. The affairs are complicated, so I will be very busy these days and I am afraid I will not be at home often."

He spoke slowly, then turned and left.

Tao Qingqing watched the Minister's retreating figure, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.

……

The sky was a clear blue, with the sun hanging like a fireball. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, and waves of heat rose from the ground, while cicadas chirped incessantly.

With only half a month left before the Emperor's departure for the summer hunting grounds, He Guangzheng, as the main supervising official for the hunting grounds, has been returning home later and later lately, and when he does return, he is always exhausted.

Recently, undercurrents have been swirling in the imperial court. The young Grand Secretary Shen Jueyan has become increasingly high-profile, openly opposing He Guangzheng. During court discussions, they are even more confrontational. He Guangzheng is overwhelmed, having to deal with both the open and covert attacks in the court while also managing various affairs of the royal family and officials at the summer hunting grounds.

Tao Qingqing seems to have changed lately, appearing and disappearing mysteriously all day long, busy with who knows what. Lin Xihe, on the other hand, is "recuperating" in the backyard, enjoying a carefree and leisurely life.

That afternoon, the heat subsided slightly, and a gentle breeze was blowing. Lin Xihe had been in such a hurry after teaching at the East Palace that morning that she had forgotten to bring back Fu Chen's article. Since she had other classes to attend the next day, after much deliberation, she took advantage of the cool afternoon and returned to the East Palace.

Inside the East Palace, Fu Chen was nowhere to be seen. After some inquiry, it was learned that he was at the martial arts training ground.

Lin Xihe was immediately filled with curiosity. This great grandson had been pampered since childhood, and it was already extremely difficult for him to write policy essays, let alone practice swordsmanship. He rarely even touched a bow and arrow. Why was he so diligent today?

She rushed over to find out what was going on, and as soon as she got close to the training ground, she heard a series of "whoosh" sounds of arrows being shot.

Not far away, a familiar figure stood, and Lin Xi walked towards him. Shen Jueyan was dressed in a moon-white outfit today, with a black jade belt around his waist, inlaid with gemstones. His black hair was tied up high with a jade crown, and his posture was as upright as a pine tree, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He was a dashing young man in fine clothes.

Hearing footsteps, Shen Jueyan turned around, saw Lin Xihe, and smiled gently.

Lin Xihe's face flushed, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. She quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Young Grand Secretary."

Shen Jueyan pursed his thin lips and nodded. "Why has Madam come to the Crown Prince's residence at this hour?"

"I left in a hurry this morning and left something behind, so I came back to retrieve it," Lin Xihe explained softly, her gaze falling back on Fu Chen, who was still shooting arrows in the arena.

Fu Chen was dressed in a purple outfit, holding a longbow in his hand. The bowstring was fully drawn, but the arrows either missed the bullseye and flew far away, or fell to the ground after flying only a short distance. It was a pitiful sight.

Lin Xihe's brows furrowed more and more, but she didn't notice the increasingly gloomy face of the man beside her.

"Madam, you seem particularly concerned about the Crown Prince." A deep male voice came from beside her.

"Of course, he is my..." Lin Xihe realized she had misspoke and hurriedly paused. Meeting the man's probing gaze, she said leisurely, "The Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the country. If I can do my part to guide him and help him improve, it will also be a way to share the burden of the country."

Upon hearing this, the man raised an eyebrow, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes.

"Your Highness is... practicing archery?" Fearing that the topic would continue, he quickly changed the subject and asked, feigning confusion.

Shen Jueyan nodded, somewhat helplessly, "That's right. His Highness asked me to teach him archery. In a few days, His Majesty will be heading to the summer hunting grounds. His Highness doesn't want to be looked down upon by the officials and also wants to make a name for himself in front of His Majesty and show off his skills. But he doesn't want too many people to know that he is secretly practicing archery, so he quietly asked me to come and instruct him."

His voice wasn't loud, but it happened to be heard by Fu Chen in the room.

Fu Chen's longbow suddenly stopped, the bowstring snapping back with a "thud," almost hitting his hand. Filled with doubt, he slowly turned his head.

Lin Xihe followed the gaze and was stunned when she saw Fu Chen's face clearly. Then she burst out laughing.

This morning, Sun Wukong was perfectly fine, but now his fair and handsome face is covered in dust, with several red marks on his cheeks. Some of the darker areas are covered in yellow ointment. At first glance, his face is a patchwork of black, red, and yellow, which looks quite comical.

Seeing Lin Xi laughing at him, Fu Chen's expression immediately turned resentful.