Phoenix Cries Return to Court

He Guangzheng suppressed his inner turmoil, but his face became even more stern. "Mrs. Wen, we have been husband and wife, and I have treated you well. Why are you pressing me so hard? Do you really want to throw this filthy water on your husband and ruin my reputation?"

He stared intently at "Wen's", a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

He deliberately raised his voice so that the surrounding guests could hear him clearly, "Could it be that you already have someone else in your heart, and you're deliberately looking for an excuse to break ties with me?"

Lin Xihe looked at his attempt to cover up his misunderstanding and his attempt to shift the blame, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips.

He said coldly, "Minister! Heaven is watching what people do. You keep saying I'm jealous, crazy, and harbor ulterior motives, but dare you swear to heaven in front of all the guests that you've never harmed your wife?"

"You! Stop talking nonsense!"

He Guangzheng was furious, clutching his chest as if he had suffered a great injustice.

Lin Xihe thought to herself that she had just taken over this body and knew nothing about the outside world. She would have to rely on this identity in the future, so it was not advisable to completely break off relations now.

She recalled a secret report from her bodyguard and immediately had an idea.

"Minister, let me ask you this: in the battle between my Sheng Kingdom and Beiliang Changguan in the fifteenth year of Yong'an, do you have a clear conscience?"

"How many enemy soldiers were killed or wounded in that battle? Can the number of weapons and armor seized after the battle truly match the number reported by the Ministry of War after the war?"

He Guangzheng was startled upon hearing this. How could she know such military secrets?

He opened his mouth, but before he could find a rebuttal, he heard "Mr. Wen" speak again.

"Your Excellency, you hold a high position and receive the emperor's salary. You should bear the emperor's worries, not bend the law for personal gain or do despicable things. I will not dwell on today's matter. I hope Your Excellency will act accordingly."

After Lin Xi finished speaking, she turned to look at Tao Qingqing.

The imposing aura emanating from him made Tao Qingqing tremble, and in her daze, she let her reach out and take the teacup from her hand.

Lin Xihe raised his hand and took a sip, his voice calm yet full of meaning.

"I accept this tea, sister, but I am not blessed enough to receive this blessing of sudden illness and death."

"I imagine that my sister will live a peaceful and prosperous life now that she has entered the Minister's mansion."

"After all, not everyone can handle the Minister's 'deep affection'."

Then, with a slight flick of her wrist, she spilled the remaining tea from her cup onto the ground, turned around, and walked straight out.

Watching her figure disappear outside the vermilion gate, He Guangzheng finally breathed a sigh of relief, hastily putting on a smile and bowing repeatedly to the surrounding guests.

"I've made a fool of myself in front of you all."

He Guangzheng's face turned red, and he still wanted to argue.

But then Prince Yu coughed lightly, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Minister He, it's getting late. We can't let that madwoman's words spoil everyone's enjoyment. Let the banquet continue."

"No, no." The young Grand Secretary glanced at the embarrassed He Guangzheng and said with a half-smile, "I am quite curious about the exact number of those weapons. I'm afraid it will disturb Minister He's honeymoon. Come and explain it to me tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, He Guangzheng flinched, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.

He hurriedly looked up and met Prince Yu's slightly threatening gaze. He felt a chill run down his spine and had no choice but to suppress his panic and resentment, and bow deeply to the young Grand Secretary.

Then, forcing himself to remain calm, he looked at the seated guests around him, forced an apologetic smile, and said loudly, "My wife was momentarily confused and, instigated by others, uttered those nonsensical words. Her words are not credible and have disturbed your enjoyment. After the banquet today, I will present you with a small gift!"

As he spoke, he secretly gave the butler a wink. The butler understood immediately and quickly went forward to greet the guests, adding wine and serving dishes.

On the other side, several old women and maids hurriedly stepped forward and led Tao Qingqing, who was pale and looked a little disheveled, to a side room to fix her makeup.

……

Before long, the joyful music resumed, and the hall returned to its previous lively atmosphere.

The emcee announced loudly,

"The auspicious time has arrived! Let us bow to Heaven and Earth!"

He Guangzheng smiled broadly, and he and Tao Qingqing stood side by side, holding a red ribbon that symbolized their unity, and bowed to each other in unison.

"Bowing to the parents a second time!"

All eyes turned to the offering table in front of the hall.

Because He's parents had passed away early, there were no living people sitting in the main hall. Only two sandalwood memorial tablets were placed on the offering table, with a dark bronze three-legged round cauldron in the middle, where incense smoke curled and the atmosphere was solemn.

He Guangzheng and Tao Qingqing turned around as instructed, about to bow down.

But to everyone's surprise, a white light suddenly flashed from outside the hall.

With two crisp "clangs," the two memorial tablets on the offering table collapsed.

Just then, everyone realized that the white light was actually a plain white silk ribbon.

It had now landed steadily on the offering table, swaying gently in the wind, standing out starkly against the backdrop of the room filled with crimson.

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

The joyful festivities abruptly ended; the emcee's raised hand froze in mid-air, his smile still lingering on his face.

A moment later, everyone came to their senses, and discussions immediately broke out among the people below.

"Good heavens, this is such a bad omen!"

"The ancestral tablet falling to the ground means the ancestors did not approve of this marriage!"

Tao Qingqing froze, her face turned deathly pale, and her legs went weak, making it almost impossible for her to stand.

The embarrassment and panic that He Guangzheng had just barely managed to suppress surged up again. His face turned ashen, filled with shock and anger, yet he couldn't vent it.

It is a major taboo for the memorial tablet to fall to the ground. If he were to lose his composure in public at this moment, he would likely give others even more reason to criticize him.

Outside the high walls of the wedding hall.

Lin Xihe listened to the chaos in the hall, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her lips.

"He Guangzheng, now that I have arrived, how can I not pay my respects?"

……

At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), a black carriage was slowly traveling on Zhuque Street.

The carriage's interior was extremely luxurious, with exquisite silk curtains hanging around the perimeter and thick fox fur cushions on the floor. A calming incense stick burned on a gilded lion-shaped incense burner in the corner, its fragrance filling the air, yet it could not dispel the somber mood inside the carriage.

Young Grand Secretary Shen Jueyan leaned against the soft couch with his eyes closed. Even in a relaxed state, he could not hide the innate nobility and aloofness about him.

On the other side of the carriage, Mo Bai, the bodyguard, sat upright with his brows slightly furrowed, his expression full of hesitation and confusion, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Speak your mind."

Shen Jueyan seemed to sense something and lazily spoke.

Mo Bai looked at his master, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked cautiously, "Master, I've never seen you stand up for anyone before, so why are you speaking up for that Minister's wife and getting involved in this mess today?"

"I am only worried about you. If you offend Prince Yu because of this, it will be a loss that does not outweigh the gain. What if it gets to the ears of the Grand Secretary?"

Shen Jueyan slowly opened her eyes, looked at Mo Bai and said calmly, "I know what I'm doing. What's meant to happen will happen."

Mo Bai respectfully replied, "Yes."

For a moment, the carriage fell silent again, with only the creaking of the wheels sliding on the bluestone road.

Shen Jueyan leaned against the soft couch, seemingly calm, but his heart was churning with turmoil.

The woman in plain clothes in the Ministry of War's residence today, with her calm and unhurried tone, her firm and stubborn eyes, her fearless demeanor and overall aura.

The image of that person from the past uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

Her beauty was cold and aloof, her demeanor naturally refined and noble. Her face never showed any superfluous emotion, and a single glance was enough to make people dare not look up at her. Like a cold moon in the clouds, she was noble and unapproachable, beautiful and unassailable.

Even in simple clothes and light makeup, she could outshine all the other beauties in the palace.

It's not surprising that they had served him.

He was feeling very troubled, and his fingertips unconsciously rubbed the white fox fur blanket on his lap.

The carriage moved slowly forward, passing through streets and alleys. After an unknown amount of time, it finally stopped in front of a majestic mansion.

The gate tower stood tall, its upturned eaves resembling eagle wings spread out. The three vermilion gates were wide open, with stone steps leading up to the gate. On either side, a pair of imposing blue stone lions, each about ten feet tall, crouched majestically.

Above the lintel, a plaque with the three gilded characters "Grand Secretary's Residence" hangs prominently.

Shen Jueyan composed himself, looked at the person beside him, and whispered, "Go and find out the background of that lady from the Ministry of War's residence. Make sure there are no loopholes."

……

Lin Xihe had only walked a few steps after leaving the wedding hall when she bumped into an old woman carrying a copper basin in a panic.

The copper basin fell to the ground with a clatter, spilling half a basin of warm water.

"Insolence!" Lin Xihe was secretly delighted, but her face suddenly darkened, and she coldly shouted, "Are you blind? Can't you see I'm here? Quickly take me back to the courtyard to wash up!"

The old woman wanted to complain a bit, but when she looked up at the person in front of her, she couldn't help but shiver.

Today, the lady, dressed in her burial clothes with her hair disheveled, looked like a ghost, exuding a noble and aloof aura that was completely different from the submissive mistress she used to be.

Although she was just a maid, she knew a thing or two about the affairs of the household, and upon seeing this scene, she hesitated for a moment.

Should we lead the lady to the main courtyard, or to the dilapidated little courtyard where the master had confined her a few days ago?

As if reading her mind, Lin Xihe said coldly, "As long as I live, the mistress of the Ministry of War's mansion can only be me, Wen! Today, you only need to take me back to where I belong, don't try anything funny!"