Chapter 112 Peach Blossom

Years later, time seemed to slow down suddenly. The sunlight was like spilled gold powder, passing through the coffin window, through the curling green smoke, and sprinkling on the rosewood table.

Ming Huazhang sat upright, his wrist suspended in the air, and slowly wrote a few names on the paper. The hair scratched across the rice paper, leaving behind an almost inaudible rustling sound.

These days, Tian Ming Hua Zhang has been thinking that the King of Wei wanted to kill Shuang Bi, so he imitated the unsolved case four years ago and deliberately led to Shuang Bi. But why did he choose this case? How did he know that this case had almost no evidence and the government had no clue, so it was easy to imitate?

Who had access to the files? Who provided him with the information?

Who is the traitor who betrayed them?

Ming Huazhang looked at the list of names he had written, his eyes dark and silent. He considered each one, occasionally raising his hand to cross out a name, and slowly, only half of the names were left on the list.

He was lost in thought when he heard footsteps outside the door. Ming Huazhang immediately became alert and lit a candle to burn the paper. The servant knocked on the door and came in. He saw Ming Huazhang taking the lamp cover and asked in surprise, "My dear, did you just light the lamp?"

Ming Huazhang did not answer. He burned the ashes, put the lampshade away, and asked, "What happened?"

The attendant crossed his arms and said, "Second Master, a guest has arrived. The old lady and the Duke invite you to the main hall."

Ming Huazhang was used to visiting many families during the first month of the lunar year. He rolled up his sleeves and stood up, asking casually, "Who is it?"

"The Cheng family of Duke Cheng's mansion. Duke Cheng and the Crown Prince are here."

Ming Huazhang hurried to the main hall and as he walked up the stairs he heard someone say, "Thank you so much to Ming Erlang this time. If it weren't for him, Siyue's murderer wouldn't have been caught so quickly."

Madam Ming said, "Madam Cheng is too polite. Since he is the Shao Yin, this is his job."

The Cheng family looked very serious. The Crown Prince's wife said, "Old Madam, what you said is wrong. If it weren't for Second Young Master Ming who got to the bottom of the matter and was very observant, I'm afraid the real murderer would have gotten away with it just like four years ago. Lu Du is too cunning. We all thought the murderer was a big bandit, but we didn't expect it to be him. I trusted Fanyang Lu and sent Dalang to be taught by him. I was really blind."

Speaking of this, everyone in the hall was very sad. Madam Ming II echoed, "Yes, who would have thought that Dr. Lu, who is so elegant and polite, would actually be a murderer. Killing his own father is simply horrifying."

At this time, the attendant at the door noticed Ming Huazhang and hurriedly said, "Second Master is here."

Everyone turned around when they heard this. Ming Huazhang walked in and raised his hand to greet everyone: "Meeting grandmother, father, and Duke Cheng and his wife."

Duke Cheng did not move, but the Crown Prince and his wife stood up to stop Ming Huazhang and said, "Ming Erlangjun, thank you for clearing Siyueming's name. You are our living benefactor. Please accept our greetings."

Ming Huazhang quickly stopped them: "Prince, Madam, no. Publicly this is my duty, privately you are my elders, how dare I accept your gift?"

Duke Zhenguo also said, "Your Highness is too polite. We are ministers in the same court, so we should help each other. Please take a seat."

After some pushing and shoving, the two sides finally sat down again. The attendant placed a seat next to the Duke of Zhenguo, but Ming Huazhang did not go there, but sat next to Ming Huashang.

Ming Huashang hadn't expected him to come over, so she moved to the side a little late, but two people sitting in one seat was too crowded. The hem of Ming Huashang's skirt was pressed by him. She was concentrating on pulling at her own dress, and the topic suddenly fell on her: "I heard that the second lady also met Lu Du and was almost killed. Is she okay?"

Ming Huashang was surprised to hear her name. She looked up and saw the eyes of Lady Chengguo. She was stunned for a moment before continuing, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. Thanks to my brother and the Yulin Army for coming in time, I'm fine."

Ming Huashang risked her life to induce Lu Du to commit another crime. After Lu Du was caught, she did not reveal that she had taken the initiative to create a chance encounter with Lu Du, but instead attributed everything to coincidence.

The wife of Duke Cheng responded and said, "It's good that everything is fine. Second Madam has been frightened this time, so you must take good care of yourself."

Ming Huachang thanked her and was somewhat flattered by the enthusiasm of the wife of Duke Cheng. Ming Huachang frowned and felt uncomfortable when he saw Cheng Dalang and Cheng Xun sitting behind the prince.

Why did he feel that the Cheng family had bad intentions?

The Crown Prince's wife called Ming Huashang to her side, took her hand and looked at it carefully, and said, "I'm glad nothing happened. I heard that you were almost scared to death when you met Lu Du, but fortunately it was just a false alarm. I have always felt that you and Siyue are very similar. It would be great if she was as smart as you."

The Crown Prince's wife couldn't help but burst into tears as she spoke. Cheng Xun stepped forward and whispered to his mother, "Mother, we are still in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion."

The Crown Prince's wife wiped her tears and apologized to everyone for her loss of composure. Ming Huashang sighed in her heart and whispered to comfort the Crown Prince's wife: "Crown Prince's wife, maybe I can escape because of Siyue's blessing. She is smart and filial. With you and the Duke's wife accumulating blessings for her, she will be healthy and worry-free in the next life."

This greatly eased the grief of the wife of the prince. She also knew that when a person dies, the light goes out, and there is no afterlife. But when her loved one died, she would rather deceive herself like this. The wife of the prince looked at Ming Huashang and liked her more and more. She couldn't help asking Madam Ming: "The second lady is really smart and considerate. I wonder if the second lady is engaged?"

After saying this, Ming Huazhang's eyebrows twitched violently, and he felt an ominous premonition in his heart, and his face suddenly turned cold.

Madam Ming and Duke Zhenguo also understood. Duke Zhenguo had a complicated expression on his face, but Madam Ming's wrinkles relaxed a little. She said calmly, "She was spoiled by her father and is naughty. I want to discipline her for a while. We haven't even arranged the marriage yet."

The Crown Prince's wife also realized that what she said just now was too obvious. Their whole family came to the Duke of Zhen's Mansion today, in addition to expressing their gratitude, they also wanted to test the waters for marriage.

The wife of Duke Cheng believed that she had some vision in judging people. She was sure that Ming Huazhang was a potential talent who would rise to prominence one day, and she wanted to marry this outstanding man in advance. Unfortunately, Cheng Siyue died, and there were no other suitable girls in the Duke Cheng's mansion. After much selection, the wife of Duke Cheng set her sights on Ming Huachang.

People say that the second wife of the Ming family is uneducated, incompetent and useless, but she likes the clarity of this young lady. She doesn't like so-called talented women. Those who act like talented women don't have much talent, but have many problems such as high expectations and low skills, and are conceited. In life, she wants to be as down-to-earth and clear as Ming Huashang, who may seem ordinary, but is actually like water, and can get through any difficulties.

Their eldest son has become a little stupid because of reading too much about sage books. He is too rigid and not flexible enough. If she can assist Cheng Xun, the Cheng family will surely prosper in the future.

The wife of Duke Cheng originally wanted to test the Ming family's attitude today, but her daughter-in-law was so good that she asked directly. However, it was better this way. The wife of Duke Cheng stopped beating around the bush and said directly: "How can the Second Lady be called mean? If she was born in our family, I would definitely treat her like a treasure. The Second Lady first vindicated Siyue and then comforted Dalang. She is the benefactor of our Cheng family. Dalang, why don't you go and thank the Second Lady."

The words of Lady Chengguo were like the tides of a river, one wave after another, and before Ming Huashang could react, she was trapped in the waves. She quickly declined, "Madam, what are you saying? I am ashamed to accept it..."

Ming Huashang thought that the wife of Duke Cheng was just being polite, but she didn't expect Cheng Xun to actually stand up, stop in front of Ming Huashang and bow: "Thank you, Second Madam."

Ming Huashang was startled and quickly stood up to return the greeting: "You are too polite, young master."

Ming Huazhang sat opposite, watching Ming Huashang and Cheng Xun sitting on the left and right of the Crown Prince's wife, and now they stood up and bowed to each other, just like a young couple who respected each other. His fingers unconsciously clenched into fists, and blue veins appeared on the cold white back of his hands.

But except for him, everyone else present was happy to see it happen, and even the Duke of Zhenguo did not try to stop it.

Ming Huazhang's body seemed to be split in two, his blood was churning and boiling like magma, but his head seemed to be frozen in a glacier, forcing him to watch the scene in front of him calmly without missing a single detail.

She stayed by his side every day, looking lively and well-behaved, but he didn't even know when she had met Cheng Xun and helped Cheng Xun to resolve his worries.

If Cheng Xun hadn't said it himself, how would Lady Chengguo know about it? So this time, Cheng Xun was also an insider, and even the one who facilitated it. What did he want to do? To marry Ming Huashang?

So Ming Huazhang is the only one who knows nothing?

Ming Huashang was so embarrassed that she almost exploded. But everyone, including her grandmother, cousins, and maids, looked at her with teasing and mischievous eyes. Ming Huashang wished that a crack would appear on the ground and she would disappear on the spot. However, the world would not let her go. Old Madam Ming smiled and said, "You young people must have been impatient to listen to us. So, we won't restrict you. Auntie, you can accompany the guests to walk in the yard and keep an eye on the sisters."

This sentence drove Ming Huashang and Ming Shuo out as well, obviously deliberately creating space for Ming Huashang and Cheng Xun. Ming Yu understood her grandmother's intention and stood up and saluted gracefully: "Yes, grandmother."

Ming Huashang screamed like crazy in her heart, but she was not impatient at all! However, Ming Shuo had already stood up, glanced at her as if he was watching a good show, and pulled her and said, "Let's go, great hero."

Ming Huashang was forced to be dragged out. Cheng Xun looked a little uncomfortable, but he still bowed his head and bowed to Duke Zhenguo, Madam Ming and others before leaving.

After Cheng Xun left, Ming Huazhang, who had not spoken for a long time, suddenly stood up. His movements were so violent that it was like a sword suddenly unsheathed, and the sharp blade cut through the air with a hunting sound. The Duke of Zhenguo was startled and looked back at him in surprise: "Erlang, what are you doing?"

At this time, Ming Huazhang's face was still dignified and cold. He bowed slightly to the elder and said in a surprisingly calm voice: "I'm going to visit the garden too."