The sun sets over the ground, and cloud shadows are across the window.
The mansion was silent, no one was talking.
Song Lingzhi quickly lifted her skirt and walked across the screen wall. The calmness on her face was gone, leaving only anxiety and worry in her heart.
She was concerned about He Ming and also worried about Old Madam Song.
My grandmother is old and she almost passed away a few days ago. If someone bumps into her today...
Song Lingzhi didn't dare to think further as her delicate and slender figure walked through the ebony corridor.
The red bamboo curtains of golden rattan were half rolled up, leaving sunlight all over the ground behind her.
After passing the moon-shaped gate, the courtyard was in a mess. Dozens of soldiers in military uniforms stood under the eaves with ferocious looks, with long swords on their waists, and the blades shone silver in the light.
Creepy and scary.
Qiuyan and Baizhi followed Song Lingzhi closely, both of them were panting and sweating profusely.
When he saw the scene, he was so frightened that he froze in place and took two or three steps back tremblingly.
The officers and soldiers were sharp-eyed and saw Song Lingzhi rushing towards them, and immediately drew their swords to warn him.
"The Ministry of Justice is handling a case, and outsiders are not allowed to enter."
Behind him was He Ming's study, the latticed wooden door was wide open, and the leisurely sunlight fell into the room.
Books and poetry collections were scattered all over the floor, and the Qinghe porcelain nine-turn top incense burner on the table had fallen to the ground, with broken pieces scattered all over the place, mixed with incense cakes, and faint smoke could be seen curling up.
Rosewood lacquered boxes were carried out one after another. The manuscript of national history that He Ming had been compiling all night was thrown on the ground, with countless footprints on it.
Song Lingzhi's eyes went dark and he felt a buzzing sound in his ears.
The Minister of Justice swaggered out of the study with a big smile on his face: "How much is the annual salary of the top scholar? Your mansion even has red coral from the South China Sea. Take it away!"
"—Let's see who dares!"
A gentle female voice came from the moon-shaped door, and the Minister of Justice looked out in a daze.
Someone came closer and whispered to him about Song Lingzhi's identity: "Sir, it's Madam He."
The Minister of Justice didn't take a mere woman seriously. He held his chin high, looking very proud.
"What young lady? He Ming compiled anti-poems and colluded with the old prince's party to plot rebellion..."
Song Lingzhi said coldly: "My husband has done something wrong. Whether he is innocent or not will be decided by the Dali Temple. Your Excellency is so indiscriminate to break into a private house. Where does the law of the Great Zhou stand?"
The Minister of Justice showed disdain and said arrogantly: "Breaking into a private residence?"
He sneered, "When is it a woman's turn to speak in the case of the Ministry of Justice? And now that the emperor is seriously ill, we should be working hard for him. He Ming is a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, but he actually colluded with..."
Song Lingzhi said angrily, "What does this have to do with the red coral from the South China Sea that you confiscated? And this pink-glazed hollowed-out auspicious and abundant rotating vase, the silver kettle with a dancing horse holding a cup... These were my dowry when I got married. Could it be that you want to say that this was a bribe that He Ming received?"
Song Lingzhi sneered, "Your Excellency is so reckless, aren't you afraid of my filing a lawsuit..."
The Minister of Justice was arrogant and presumptuous: "You are a woman, I'm afraid you don't even know where the government office is, and you dare to..."
Before he could finish his words, he saw dozens of Jinwu Guards coming under the eaves, led by Yue Xu with a stern and solemn look on his face.