Phoenix Cries Return to Court

Shen Jueyan's expression instantly turned serious. He hurriedly turned over to look for the dagger, but the movement was too large and the wound was torn open instantly. A piercing pain came, and he groaned. Cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.

Lin Xihe subconsciously raised her hand to support him.

Just then, the calls of orioles came from outside the cave, three long and one short, seemingly in a rhythmic pattern.

Shen Jueyan's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and the coldness in his eyes gradually faded. He also imitated the birdsong and responded with a few chirps at the same frequency.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on the woman beside him, his eyes softening as he comforted her.

"Don't worry, they're our people."

The footsteps outside the cave grew clearer, and soon several men in black rushed into the cave. The one in the lead was none other than Mo Bai, Shen Jueyan's confidant.

"My lord, I am late in coming to your rescue."

As soon as Mo Bai entered the cave, his gaze immediately locked onto Shen Jueyan. Upon seeing the bloodstains on his master's left arm, his pupils contracted sharply. He hurriedly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and blurted out, "You're injured!"

"Turn around," Shen Jueyan said in a low voice, raising his hand to stop Mo Bai from taking a step forward.

Mo Bai felt a pang of doubt and subconsciously looked around. Only then did he notice Lin Xihe beside him, and he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He recognized the woman as Lady Wen, the wife of the Minister of War, but upon closer inspection, he noticed that she was dressed in thin clothes, and his pupils contracted again.

What's she doing here? And dressed like that? The two of them...

Thinking of this, Mo Bai blushed and was filled with doubts. Just as he was about to speak, he felt a chill. He secretly raised his eyes and saw his master's face, which was so gloomy that it could drip water. He was so frightened that his whole body stiffened and he immediately turned around.

Lin Xi hurriedly straightened her clothes, muttering to herself,

Finally, we are safe.

Then, everything went black, and I fainted.

……

Lin Xihe slowly opened her eyes. What came into view was a moon-white gauze curtain, with calligraphy and paintings hanging all around. The window with hibiscus pattern was half open, and dappled sunlight shone in through the window and fell on the carpet in the room.

A young maidservant, about twelve or thirteen years old, with her hair styled in two buns, was guarding her side. Seeing her awake, her eyes lit up, and she hurriedly turned and ran out, calling out loudly as she ran, "My lady! My lady!"

Before long, Shen Jueyan, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, slowly walked into the room. His complexion had improved a lot, but there was still a hint of fatigue between his brows.

He held a white jade bowl in his hand, filled with dark brown medicinal soup, and a fragrant aroma wafted from it.

"You're awake?" The man walked to the bedside. Lin Xihe subconsciously tried to get up, but as soon as she moved, a piercing pain came from her back, and she couldn't help but gasp.

Seeing this, Shen Jueyan immediately stepped forward and pressed her back down. "Don't move. Your wound hasn't healed yet. Be careful not to pull it."

As he spoke, he turned around and grabbed a soft cushion, carefully placing it behind Lin Xihe's back. Then he reached out and gently helped her sit up. "Drink your medicine first. The physician said it can reduce inflammation and relieve pain, which is good for your wound."

"What's wrong with me?" Lin Xihe looked at the bowl of medicine he handed her, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, somewhat puzzled.

"You were unconscious for a day and a night. The imperial physician came to see you and said that you were overworked and had an infected wound."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Xihe felt a burning pain in her arms and back, and couldn't help but click her tongue softly.

"Don't move. The wound has already been treated with medicine. As long as you rest well, it will get better in a few days," the man said gently.

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Xihe subconsciously looked at herself and realized that her clothes had been changed. Her cheeks instantly burned.

"It wasn't me... it was Mo Yu who helped you change your clothes." Shen Jueyan's face also flushed slightly as she hurriedly explained.

Upon hearing his explanation, Lin Xihe's cheeks flushed even more, and her heart pounded even faster. She gently bit her lip and murmured, "Mo Yu?"

"It's that little maid from earlier," Shen Jueyan said, trying to calm himself down, though his ears were still red. "She's Mo Bai's sister." He paused, then added, "Just stay here and rest. Don't overthink things. If you need anything, just tell Mo Yu."

Lin Xihe nodded, glancing around at her. "Where is this?"

"This is a villa I own in the capital," Shen Jueyan said slowly. "Don't worry, it's very safe here."

"Is the young Grand Secretary planning to keep a mistress in a golden house?" Lin Xihe chuckled. As soon as she said this, she immediately thought of the scene in the cave and regretted it. Her cheeks flushed red, and she thought to herself: I should have been mute!

Shen Jueyan was in no better shape at this moment. Upon hearing the words "keeping a mistress in a golden house," the blush on his face deepened.

He turned his face away in a panic, coughed a few times to hide his flustered expression.

The room fell silent for a moment.

A moment later, he stood up, bowed respectfully to Lin Xihe, and solemnly said, "Now, I owe you my life."

"It was nothing," Lin Xihe said casually. Then, as if remembering something, she hurriedly asked, "By the way, Young Master, how's the lead mine situation? Have they caught those people?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Jueyan's expression instantly turned serious, and his brows furrowed tightly. "On the morning we returned from the cave, an 'accidental' explosion occurred at the lead mine on the outskirts of the city. Part of the mine was destroyed, and the equipment inside was burned beyond recognition. More importantly, the mine's manager was also killed in the explosion, and his body was never found."

"What!" Lin Xihe's pupils shrank suddenly. She straightened up abruptly, but then clicked her tongue in pain and broke out in a cold sweat.

"Lie down quickly." Shen Jueyan hurriedly stepped forward and helped her back down.

"An explosion? How could it be such a coincidence? This can't be an accident!" Lin Xihe said anxiously, looking at the person in front of her.

Shen Jueyan nodded, his eyes growing even colder. "You're right. I sent people to investigate the mine. The scene was a mess, with no useful clues left behind. Those who blew up the mine did it cleanly, leaving no trace. Now... the clues have gone cold again."

"Then we'll have to approach it from another angle," Lin Xihe said thoughtfully. "Let's investigate the source of those powders."

"I've already had someone compare that powder. It's no ordinary powder; it comes from a type of shellfish unique to the Xi Kingdom. If iron and lead are produced here, then this powder..."

He paused, then continued, "The grinding process for this powder is extremely complex. As far as I know, only a few craftsmen in the city know how to handle such a complex material."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xihe's heart skipped a beat, and she abruptly looked up at the person in front of her.

The two locked eyes and exclaimed in unison, "Heavenly Craft Pavilion!"