Chapter 496: Chapter 315, Effeminate Xie Pianxian!

Yanqing Street, No. 18.

Mei Yuyin, dressed in theatrical costume, performed a popular opera from before the great disaster on Blue Star, the classic “New Dragon Gate Inn.”

Mei Yuyin, truly a distinguished figure in opera, sang with a voice that was crisp and pleasant to the ear, her performance sincere and moving, exuding the delicate and ethereal charm of the southern rivers.

Sheng Jing sat below the stage drinking tea, listening to the opera with affection in his eyes and a look of rapture on his face, his hands keeping rhythm with his wife’s cadence.

This was entirely at odds with his usual image of an old-school and strict scholar.

Previously, Mei Yuyin worked at the Imperial Theater, but once Sheng Jing was promoted to the position of Imperial Finance Minister, it was no longer fitting for her to be so publicly visible.

Many people didn’t buy tickets because they enjoyed the opera, but rather because they were enticed by the God of Wealth backing her.

Whenever Mei Yuyin was set to perform, tickets would sell out immediately, and genuine opera fans wouldn’t be able to get in the door.

Later on, Mei Yuyin simply stopped performing publicly, and just hummed a few lines at home instead.

Having only one daughter, Sheng Xinhua, who was rather wild and didn’t live with her parents, the couple found amusement at leisure, one singing and the other appreciating, indulging in their own enjoyment.

At that moment, the housekeeper Sheng Hao came running over hastily.

Seeing the expression on Sheng Hao’s face, Sheng Jing knew something was amiss.

As a manager in the house of the Finance Minister, what kind of high-ranking person hadn’t Sheng Hao seen? What storm hadn’t he weathered?

It must be no small matter to have him this panicked.

“Master, something terrible has happened,” Sheng Hao approached Sheng Jing, even now not daring to obstruct his master’s view of the opera: “Miss has been kidnapped.”

“What?” Sheng Jing exclaimed in shock, demanding to know, “When did this happen?”

“The palace just called…”

“The palace?” Sheng Jing’s expression faltered.

His own daughter kidnapped, and now it was connected to the palace again?

Could it be that some crisis had arisen within the palace walls?

Was the Crown Prince staging a coup? Or was it brother against brother again?

He had warned his daughter not to frequent the palace too much, to steer clear of royal affairs.

How many had lost their heads because of such entanglements?

Alas, Sheng Xinhua had excused her visits through her close sisterly bond with Phoenix, stubbornly following her own path, obviously not heeding her father’s sage advice.

“Yes, it was Manager Chen who personally made the call,” Sheng Hao said gravely: “Miss was escorting Tang Fei home when they were abducted on the way.”

“Tang Fei?” Sheng Jing was perplexed and asked, “How did those two get together?”

Then the relationship between the two sprang to mind. Wouldn’t it make sense for them to be together?

Mei Yuyin was absorbingly watching the opera on stage when she saw Sheng Hao approach and, not knowing what was said, noticed her husband’s face turning pale and quickly came over, asking, “What’s wrong? What happened?”

Sheng Jing didn’t hide it from his wife and said aloud, “There was a call from the palace, saying Xin Huai has been kidnapped.”

“What?” Mei Yuyin cried out in alarm.

Lacking Sheng Jing’s composure, on hearing that her precious daughter had been abducted, a mother’s anxiety blazed, and her eyes began to redden.

“What exactly happened? How could our daughter be kidnapped? Could it be targeting you?”

In Mei Yuyin’s mind, their daughter was just a university professor, powerless and without influence, bold perhaps, but she had not offended anyone significantly.

It was unlikely that anyone would be driven to such drastic measures against her.

Her husband was different. As one of the Imperial Three Ministers, highly positioned and powerful, he had countless enemies.

It was entirely understandable that someone might target his family.

“…”

Sheng Jing glanced somberly at his wife and comforted her by saying, “Tang Fei was kidnapped along with her, and Tang Fei is a disciple of the Great Grandmaster… He will find a way.”

He then instructed Sheng Hao, “Prepare the carriage; I need to go to the palace.”

—–

Phoenix Pavilion.

Phoenix lay in the surf bathtub, cradling her unfinished glass of red wine.

This was the vintage wine Sheng Xinhua had opened for her when she visited.

Fine wine, warm bath, and pleasing music.

Yet she didn’t feel comfortable or relaxed; instead, she felt a heavy sense of brooding worry.

She was anxious about Tang Fei, for she knew better than anyone that what he was doing was playing with fire.

He had already offended the Lu Family, and if he provoked full-scale war with the Yu Family…

By then, her father might not be able to protect him.

“Why would he?” Phoenix couldn’t understand.

She clearly could have offered him a better path, safe, efficient, and without any side effects.

Yet, why had he chosen the most dangerous and difficult one?

She knew that her father and Yan Wenli were to meet with Tang Fei tonight, so she had Sheng Xinhua wait there in advance, to talk with him the moment he left.

She believed in Sheng Xinhua’s abilities; when she intended to persuade someone, she would certainly succeed.

That is, if she wished it.

Just then, the phone on the perfume shelf rang.

Phoenix glanced at the caller ID, and then hit the answer button.

“Your Highness, Miss Sheng has been abducted…” a hoarse voice came through the phone, “And with her, Tang Fei.”

Splash!

Phoenix abruptly rose from the bathtub.

Waist like willows in the breeze, legs like bamboo covered in snow.

Chest as soft as a pigeon’s, skin like creamy jade.

Steamy water droplets beaded on her bare body, reluctant, trickling down with yearning goodbyes.

“Revenge has come.”

——

Phoenix Palace.

Yan Wenli had already left, and Zhong Daolong finished the last puff of his cigar, preparing to rest.