Phoenix Cries Return to Court

In the new room of the Minister's mansion, the dragon and phoenix candles had burned out, and the candle wax piled up on the candlesticks in red and white ridges. Sunlight shone on the eaves of the window, creating a beautiful halo.

Tao Qingqing leaned against He Guangzheng's chest, her cheeks flushed like the morning sun, and said in a sweet voice, "Why is Zhenglang looking at me?"

He Guangzheng tightened his arms, holding her even closer, his fingers tracing a strand of Tao Qingqing's hair as he smiled and whispered, "Qingqing, with a wife like you, what more could a husband ask for? The two of us are finally complete."

Upon hearing this, Tao Qingqing snuggled closer to him, a calculating glint in her eyes. Then, her brows furrowed slightly, revealing a hint of melancholy, and her shy eyes welled up with tears.

He Guangzheng noticed her unusual behavior. Looking at the tearful beauty, his tone instantly became urgent, "Qingqing, what's wrong? You were fine just now, but are you feeling unwell?"

This question conveniently gave Tao Qingqing a reason to "have an attack".

She slowly raised her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and a tear slid down, landing on the back of He Guangzheng's hand, causing his heart to skip a beat.

Tao Qingqing choked up and said, "Zhenglang, I'm fine... It's just that when I heard you say the word 'perfect' just now, I thought of yesterday's wedding banquet, and I couldn't help but feel sad."

Upon hearing this, He Guangzheng's heart sank, and his eyes turned cold.

Tao Qingqing sniffed, her voice becoming increasingly aggrieved and delicate, "Yesterday's wedding banquet was a grand and prestigious affair, with all the noble families and dignitaries of the capital gathering together. Yet, my sister made such a scene."

"Even the way those ladies looked at Qingqing was getting weirder and weirder. My maid Huan'er heard it all clearly after the banquet. They said I was vicious and jealous, that I drove the mistress to the brink of despair, and that's how I got my position as a second wife today."

She looked up at He Guangzheng, tears streaming down her face. "Zhenglang, it is my greatest fortune that I can be with you. I can endure whatever gossip others may have. I would even be happy to be cursed behind my back. But I cannot bear their slander of my husband, nor can I bear their disgrace to the Minister's family! I cannot bear their jeopardy of my husband's future, nor can I bear to give those with ulterior motives a handle to frame you in every way."

She lowered her head and sipped softly, her voice growing softer, "My sister's madness wasn't just a momentary outburst; she clearly planned this all along! She knew I was a princess, knew my husband would give me face, yet she deliberately caused a scene at the wedding banquet, deliberately splashing dirty water on me. She was taking her anger out on the reputation of the Minister's mansion, wanting my husband to be criticized and ruin everything for him! If this gets back to the Emperor..."

"If I had known this would happen, I would have preferred to stay by your side with a solitary lamp and watch you from afar. Why did you have to go through all this trouble, bringing so much disgrace and misfortune upon you?"

After she finished speaking, she quietly raised her eyes and looked at He Guangzheng.

He Guangzheng's brows furrowed, his heart burning with rage, and even his breathing became heavy.

He recalled how Wen Shi had disrupted the wedding banquet yesterday in his funeral clothes, the mocking and scrutinizing looks from his colleagues, and the wedding banquet that he had meticulously prepared but had been completely ruined.

Looking again at the beautiful woman in his arms, her face streaked with tears, his Qingqing, a princess, was devoted to him and took care of everything for him, yet she was humiliated because of that Wen family.

Thinking of this, my anger intensified.

He took a deep breath, looked at Tao Qingqing, and comforted her with heartache, "Qingqing, I will give you an explanation for what happened yesterday, and let everyone in this mansion see clearly who is the true master of this Minister's mansion, and who is worthy to stand by my side!"

As he spoke, his eyes swept over the sword on the table by the wall, his gaze darkened, and he strode forward.

With a clear sound, the sharp blade was drawn from its sheath.

A fierce glint flashed in He Guangzheng's eyes as he turned and hurriedly left, blade in hand.

Huan'er, the personal maid, rushed in from the outer room and whispered, "Princess, I just saw Master storm off with his sword. Should I go and investigate?"

Tao Qingqing watched He Guangzheng's retreating figure, a mocking smile playing on her lips. She tidied her disheveled hair and said, "Let's just wait patiently. The show will begin soon."

……

He Guangzheng, sword in hand, eyes dark and menacing, strode toward Zhaohua Pavilion.

Just as he reached the door, before he could even get angry, he was stunned into standing there by what he saw.

At this moment, Zhaohua Pavilion was even more lively than the market on the street!

Dozens of people who looked like merchants were crowded in the courtyard. There was an old man with a goatee who looked around, a young shopkeeper in a brocade robe who was using an abacus, and even a few female owners with exquisite makeup who were holding account books.

At this moment, the group of people were gathered in twos and threes, discussing something enthusiastically.

In the corner, there were several bundles of old wooden planks that had been dismantled from somewhere and a few rosewood chairs.

Meanwhile, Madam Wen was pointing at the thick wooden pillars in the corner of the courtyard, talking animatedly to a young man dressed in a royal blue brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist.

He Guangzheng narrowed his eyes, and when he saw the man clearly, he felt a tightness in his chest.

No wonder he looked familiar. Isn't this the famous timber merchant Wang Huaijin from the city?

This Mr. Wang is as shrewd in business as a fox, so why would he come to the backyard of the Minister's mansion today? It's utterly absurd!

Thinking of this, his brows furrowed, and the veins on his hand gripping the sword bulged.

No one in the courtyard knew who had seen him, but a cry of surprise, "Minister!" rang out, and the surrounding chatter abruptly ceased.

Only Wen and Boss Wang were talking enthusiastically, completely unaware of the strange changes around them.

Every word of their conversation reached He Guangzheng's ears clearly.

"Boss Wang, take a good look! This isn't ordinary wood; it's top-quality cedar from our Minister's residence. It's hard and has a smooth grain. I'm reluctantly selling it to you today, so you'd better give me a fair price. Don't try to cheat me!"

Wang Huaijin wore a pained expression, repeatedly bowing with his hands clasped. "Madam, please spare me! This is truly the highest price I can offer! Think about it, if this pillar is dismantled, I'll have to haul it back, polish and repair it, and pay the porters and storage fees. Giving you any more would be a loss for me!"

"Boss Wang, you're not being honest!" Wen Zhiyi sneered, her voice suddenly rising. "Normally, you could sell a piece of this kind of cedar for ten taels, but this one was taken from the Ministry of War's residence! You'd better make sure to publicize the wood's origins when you take it back. Then, let alone twelve taels, even fifteen taels, there will be plenty of people scrambling to buy it!"

"Have you thought this through? If the price suits my taste, I'll supply all the timber and furniture for the Minister's residence to your family from now on, guaranteeing you a fortune. Doesn't that sound like a good deal?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Huaijin quickly calculated in his mind, but his expression became even more distressed. "Madam, you are truly putting me in a difficult position. How about... we compromise and each give eleven taels!"

He Guangzheng stood at the door, listening to the back-and-forth bargaining, when suddenly his vision went black and his blood rushed to his head.

How dare the Wen family openly sell off the Ministry of Rites' property? Do they think he's dead?

They've completely disgraced the Minister's Mansion!

This outrageous and absurd scene enraged him even more, and he suddenly kicked the vermilion gate.

"You audacious Wen clan member, what on earth are you doing?!"