My Lord, your wife is spreading rumors about you again.

Chapter 43 She is the Phoenix
When they left Jucai Building, it was past midnight. Mingli sent Jiang Tong back to Jiang Mansion first. Xi Mo was a man of his word and sent the artifact back without any urging.

"Second sister, I heard from Bao Changfu and the others that it was you who saved me with your gambling skills. Otherwise, I would have been chopped off my hands and feet and stuffed into a wine jar to become a human pig."

Mingqi curled up in a ball and sat on the seat, wearing only a coarse cloth shirt, and his hairpins, jade pendants, etc. were all stripped away. He sobbed, "I haven't gambled for several months, but my father said that it's very easy to win money in Jucailou recently, so... I just couldn't help it."

Mingli, who was sitting opposite, was resting with her eyes closed. She opened her eyes only after hearing the last sentence. "Big brother, do you mean that your second uncle brought you to Jucailou to gamble? What about him? Where was he when you lost and were imprisoned, and your hands and feet were almost chopped off?"

Mingqi's eyes were moistened instantly: "I really don't know"

Mingli looked at the big man who was two heads taller than her, crying in front of her as if his father had died.

What a headache.

Mingli closed his eyes and said, "Go and tell Auntie about your grievances. I have things to do today. If you cry again, I will throw you down."

"No, second sister, please don't leave me." Mingqi closed his mouth, his eyes red, biting his clothes and making a faint whimpering sound.

At the same time, the lights in the secret study of the Zhenbei Marquis's Mansion were also on, and Old Marquis Zhang and Zhang Zhi had not slept all night.

"Let's not talk about the fight between the crown prince and the second prince for now. Let's talk about today's archery competition. You should be able to see that this is by no means an ordinary competition. The Zang family and the Ming family are both under the command of the second prince. This competition may be a contest between Zang Bei and Ming Boyuan. Whoever wins will replace the Mo family to control the salt transportation."

Old Marquis Zhang's brows were already filled with fatigue. "According to the Crown Prince, it doesn't matter who wins or loses this competition. The key is that Lord Sui has been investigating superficial things. If he wants to dig out the rotten meat of Mo Zhao, he must smash a path to get to the inside before he can investigate thoroughly. Didn't you say that Li girl arrested Mo Zhengfeng? When is she going to take action, and how will she do it?"

Zhang Zhi knelt in front of the desk, which was piled with documents.

As he read the documents, he said, "Her affairs are my responsibility. Father, you don't have to ask about it. If His Highness asks, I will have my own way to deal with it."

Old Marquis Zhang made a "tsk" sound and said angrily, "What are you pretending to be, boy? You are still worried about it, do you know what path we are on? I asked you to marry Li girl to our family so that she can live in peace and contentment in the Marquis's Mansion for the rest of her life. But you desperately dragged her into the whirlpool. It would be fine if she couldn't handle the matter of the Mo family, but if she really succeeded."

As he spoke these words, several terrifying faces kept flashing through Old Lord Zhang's mind.

"If he really succeeds, the Crown Prince, the Second Brother, Ming Boyuan, and even His Majesty and the nobles in the palace will all focus their attention on him." Old Marquis Zhang took a deep breath, "Qi Hui, have you really figured it out? A position like that will make you the target of public criticism!"

"so what?"

Zhang Zhi didn't even raise his eyes. He picked up the pen and wrote on the document: "She is exquisite, persistent and stubborn. She will never repent of what she has determined, and she works hard for what she wants to do. She is a natural politician and a leader. She should have her own world in Kyoto. Daddy wants to keep her in the Marquis' Mansion as a canary?" He chuckled and shook his head, "Unfortunately, she is a phoenix, destined to stand high and soar into the sky."

On this day, the grass was green and the birds were singing, and everything was reviving. Feihong Horse Farm was full of life. Many people had heard about the bet between Mingli and Zangying and came to watch the fun.

Even those who had not received an invitation came uninvited.

Mingli was pushed up by Shancha in the morning. She felt like she was in a dream, being dressed, washed, and put on makeup, and then it seemed like two people took her to a carriage. Then, she and Jiang Tong fell asleep in the carriage. Later, Shancha and Liuliu heard from the two maids of the Jiang family that Jiang Tong was in the same state as Mingli this morning.

Liu Liu lifted the carriage curtain and looked inside, only to see the two young masters sleeping soundly. He asked curiously, "Where did these two go last night? Oh, I found several thousand taels of silver in the bosom of our girl's coat." Liu Liu was shocked, "Oh my God, could they be thieves?!"

Shancha elbowed Liuliu and said angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about? You haven't rested for more than ten days. Is it strange to sleep a little longer?"

Their carriage arrived last.

In today's competition, all members of the Ming family gave Mingli enough face. Aunt Wang brought Ming An to show their support. Wei and Ming Qi even looked at Mingli from afar where the carriage was parked. Even Madam Meng was present.

Meng had always been famous among the nobles in Kyoto. Since she was here, many ladies would naturally come to give her this face. As a result, there was almost no room for seats in the huge Feihong Racecourse.

Mingli was pulled up by Shancha. She slapped herself a few times and slapped Jiang Tong twice. Only then did she manage to drive away the sleepiness.

"Oh! The second young lady is here!" Wei shouted, attracting everyone around to come over. She trotted over with a smile on her face, holding a funerary object in one hand.

She threw the funerary objects forward and ordered, "You ignorant thing, kneel down quickly and let my second sister step on your back to get off the carriage!"

Mingli was stunned.

Jiang Tong was also frightened, "No, are all your brothers so enthusiastic?"

When she saw Mingqi really lift up his robe and was about to kneel down, she hurriedly said, "Liu Liu, hold him! I have a horse stool to step on, why would I step on you?"

"You won't step on it?" Wei thought for a moment and said hurriedly, "Then hurry up, Qi'er, carry the second girl down!"

"No need!" Mingli raised his hand and refused sternly, "Second Aunt, I can get off by myself."

Wei waved her handkerchief and said angrily, "Oh, you are such a sensible child. You care so much about your brother. As a mother, I am so happy to see this." She also wiped her tears and said, "How about this, Qi'er, help the second young lady down quickly. Remember to be careful and don't fall!"

Aunt Wang was stunned. What was going on? Was Wei crazy? By doing this in public, wasn't it announcing to everyone that their second branch was on Mingli's side?

But she is still waiting to see whether Mingli is worthy of her support.

Logically speaking, someone as cautious as Wei should not have done such a thing. Besides, Madam Meng was still sitting here.

(End of this chapter)