Chapter 771 Cheng Feng Has Changed

Cheng Feng was stunned. He naturally knew the power of the Shang family. The safety of the entire capital was under the control of the Shang family, and the Shang family was also the emperor's confidant. He certainly could not afford to offend them: "This humble official will cooperate with Lord Shang in the investigation. Please, Lord Shang."

Shang Hong bowed to him and said, "Thank you, Steward Cheng."

Shang Hongchao's subordinates said, "Take Wang Sheng away as well. Have people cordon off the scene and prevent anyone from approaching. Please have the coroner come over."

Cheng Feng had no choice but to follow Shang Hong's instructions, and soon he left with his men.

As soon as Cheng Feng arrived at the Imperial Household Department, he saw Hongxiu waiting there. He said to his subordinates, "Go back and organize the account books as soon as possible."

After his men left, he walked towards Hongxiu with a gentle smile on his face. "Hongxiu, were you waiting for me? When did you enter the palace? I'm also going back to the palace. I can see you off."

Hongxiu said, "Chengfeng, you are a good person. I am very happy for your achievements today. The Emperor trusts you, which is why he put you in charge of the Imperial Household Department. The Imperial Household Department is very important and is related to the stability of the entire palace."

Cheng Feng's expression changed slightly. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Hongxiu didn't want to beat around the bush anymore, "Actually, the account books you sent to Her Majesty the Empress were all problematic. I don't know if it was your people who were dishonest, or..."

"You suspect me of embezzlement?" Cheng Feng said coldly, "When His Majesty was still Prince Heng, I helped him manage his family business. Now that His Majesty has handed over the Imperial Household Department to me, I have always worked diligently. How could you suspect me?"

Hongxiu was startled by his cold gaze. She explained, "I'm not doubting you. What if it were your family?"

"So you're rejecting me because my family doesn't want to marry me, and now you suspect them of having ulterior motives? Hongxiu, why are you making so many excuses? If it weren't for my family, would you have agreed to marry me?" Cheng Feng's voice was cold and deep, devoid of any warmth: "They are my parents, my relatives. Does becoming an official mean I can become cold-blooded and heartless and ignore them? They're not as bad as you think! You look down on them because they're not your relatives."

Hongxiu didn't know why he was so impulsive. Looking at this unfamiliar man, she thought that even if it weren't for his family, she wouldn't have married him. After entering the palace, he changed, becoming arrogant, conceited, and self-righteous.

He constantly talks about his family, as if he cares about them deeply and is very loyal. He even dares to arrange for his cousin to enter the palace as a maid and to give his cousins ​​jobs. What a kind and benevolent person with a conscience!

Hongxiu didn't want to discuss his family matters and strongly disapproved of Cheng Feng's actions.

The Empress is right. If she really marries Cheng Feng, she will be entangled with the Cheng family and they will eventually part ways. Now she can see clearly that Cheng Feng has really become arrogant. The Cheng family also thinks they are the Emperor's people and now they all think they are great and have their eyes higher than the sky.

Hongxiu maintained her composure throughout. "Cheng Feng, we made it very clear outside the palace that we're not a good match." Since they weren't a good match, she didn't need to mention his parents.

Cheng Feng's lips curled into a colder glint. "You think a simple 'we're not a good match' can erase the feelings I've had for you over the years?"

"That's your feeling for me, not my feeling for you. I have no obligation to feel guilty because you like me and I don't accept you. Cheng Feng, we're not right for each other." Hongxiu was even more certain that she wouldn't marry him; perhaps it was still because she didn't like him enough!

"Do you have any conscience saying such things?" Cheng Feng pointed at her nose. "How can you be so selfish, only thinking about you? I have feelings for you, but you don't, right? Is that really what you think?"

Hongxiu knew she had gone too far, so she added, "I'll stop here. I won't say it again. Think what you want!"

After she finished speaking and turned to leave, Cheng Feng grabbed her wrist, his voice softening as he almost pleaded, "What do you want from me to understand my feelings, Hongxiu? I really love you. You've rejected me time and time again, but I still love you. What's wrong with marrying me? You won't have to serve others anymore; I'll let others serve you..."

Hongxiu shook off his hand, "I just like serving others, I just like being a maid, it's none of your business."

Cheng Feng was stunned. Just as Hongxiu was about to leave, he grabbed her and pinned her against a nearby pillar, intending to kiss her forcefully.

Hongxiu turned pale with fright. She struggled desperately to break free, her eyes reddening, and said coldly, "Cheng Feng, let me go! You can't do this!"

"Hongxiu, I really like you. I've liked you for so many years. Please don't be so heartless. You clearly like me. I can feel it." Cheng Feng hugged her like a madman.

Hongxiu said coldly, "Don't play dumb. I don't like you, I don't want to marry you, Cheng Feng, let me go, I..."

Cheng Feng wanted to do this even before he entered the palace, but unfortunately, Hongxiu was always accompanied by a group of people who followed her wherever she went. Now that she was back in the palace, he finally got to see her again. For so many years, he had always treated her with the courtesy due to a gentleman, but she remained unmoved. Did she look down on him?

With that thought in mind, he wanted to kiss her.

At this moment, Hongxiu bit down hard on his shoulder as if she wanted to tear off a piece of his flesh. Cheng Feng was in pain and let go.

Hongxiu's eyes were red as she glared coldly at Cheng Feng. "From now on, we'll each go our own way. Cheng Feng, I just wanted to remind you to watch your step!"

After saying that, she ran away.

The palace maids and eunuchs watching the play nearby were all about to cheer when they saw what had just happened. Chief Eunuch Cheng and Lady Hongxiu used to be together often, and it was no secret that Chief Eunuch Cheng liked Lady Hongxiu. They assumed that Lady Hongxiu liked him too, but they never expected that something like what had just happened would happen.

Cheng Feng clutched his shoulder; Hongxiu had really bitten him hard, and it looked like he was bleeding.

He said coldly, "What are you looking at? Don't you have anything better to do?"

After being yelled at by Steward Cheng, everyone stopped looking and quickly moved away.

Cheng Feng stared at Hongxiu's fleeing figure and thought to himself, "Father is right. Hongxiu has always looked down on the Cheng family. Even as a lady-in-waiting to the Empress, she is still just a maid. She will regret not marrying him."

Cheng's mother is already arranging for his cousin to enter the household. Even if she is not his legal wife, his aunt is willing to marry her daughter to him as a concubine.

Cheng Feng has changed. He has become power-hungry and arrogant. It's normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines. Even if Hongxiu is willing to marry him, he will still provide his cousin with support in the future.

At this moment, a steward from the Imperial Household Department walked towards him and said, "Steward Cheng, please come and take a look with me! A lot of things are missing from the warehouse. They say that your cousin, Miss Chunfang, took them out of the palace."

Cheng Feng said coldly, "Fang'er didn't take anything with her when she left the palace."