Song Jinxiu was originally waiting for Qian Baokun to see him. He had even thought about how he would react when he saw Xiao Yan. That man had a sinister temperament and acted viciously without mercy. He was probably worried about being "forced" to release him this time because of the Lu family's affairs. He had to be careful when getting along with him to avoid being plotted against.
And there was Minister Qian. He was thought to be a cautious and sharp person who could maintain his position in the Ministry of Revenue, but he was so easily fooled by Xiao Yan. If he lowered his posture and showed a bit of weakness, he might be able to win the help of Minister Qian in the future before the Emperor.
But who would have thought that the words brought back by the messenger would make Song Jinxiu freeze in place.
Qian Baokun, don't see him.
Qian Qingran said: "Mr. Song, my father is busy right now, why don't you go back first..."
Song Jinxiu clenched his palms tightly, lowered his eyes and said in a low voice: "No need, I will wait for Minister Qian to be free."
Qian Qingran sighed when he heard this, looking at the man who had been so glorious in the past, but now was so thin that he seemed like he could run away with a blow of the wind. He wanted to say something, but when he thought of what the Song family had done, he felt unable to sympathize with them.
Qian Qingran knew that his father was going to leave Song Jinxiu alone, so he didn't say anything more after giving him some advice. He just said, "Then Song Lu, please sit here first. I have something else to do so I can't accompany you. If you need anything, just ask the servants."
He had been planning to leave the house originally, but was delayed because of Song Jinxiu. Now that the matter was over, he naturally would not stay any longer.
He directed outside: "You guys, greet Mr. Song well and don't neglect the distinguished guest."
After the servants responded one after another, Qian Qingran nodded to Song Jinxiu and left with his men.
There was wind and rain in front of the eaves, with occasional thunder, and the rain became more and more intense.
It was raining heavily, and the water vapor almost splashed into the steps.
Only Song Jinxiu and his servant were left in the front hall of the Qian family. The servants of the Qian family were standing guard outside respectfully. Yinquan stood beside Song Jinxiu and looked at the deserted hall with an ugly face: "My dear, let's go back..."
Song Jinxiu said nothing.
"My dear!"
Yinquan couldn't help getting angry when he saw him with his eyes downcast and not saying anything.
The Qian family clearly did this on purpose. When the eunuch Xiao Yan came, Minister Qian could receive him personally, and his husband also had to wait here when he came for important business.
Even if Minister Qian really had something to do and couldn't see them, the Qian family had other masters too. But he just left them here and asked only a few servants to "watch" them. This was clearly bullying his young master because he had little influence and was not as influential as before.
Yinquan said angrily, "When the Duke's Mansion was still in existence, you were always treated as a guest of honor wherever you went. When the Qian family sent an invitation, they had to consider whether our family was free to attend the banquet. Now they are neglecting you like this. They are simply dogs..."
"Shut up!"
Hearing Yinquan about to say something bad, Song Jinxiu interrupted him and said calmly, "This is the Qian family."
Yinquan looked pale.
Song Jinxiu knew that the servants of the Qian family could hear the voices inside, and also knew that they were looking inside. He whispered, "You also said it was in the past. The Duke's Mansion is long gone. I am just a sixth-rank lower-rank clerk. I want to see the third-rank Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. I should wait."
"Since Minister Qian is discussing matters with Governor Xiao, I will wait here. You don't have to stay with me. Go wait in the carriage first."
Yinquan said anxiously: "My dear..."
"go out."
Yinquan's lips shrank. He felt scared when he saw Song Jinxiu's temperament change drastically. He didn't dare to say anything more. He just took the raincoat he had taken off earlier and put it on and walked out.
After Song Jinxiu and the others left, he did not speak again. He just put his hand on his aching left knee, glanced at the cold tea in the cup beside him, lowered his eyes and waited quietly.
…
The Qian family's servants did not send the news of Song Jinxiu's arrival to the backyard, so Qian Qiyue naturally knew nothing about it.
Qian Qiyue pulled Song Tangning to her boudoir and asked the kitchen to prepare some delicious food and send it over. She recognized at a glance that the snacks in the food box were from Xijue Tower. Even the box of the snacks was exactly the same as the one she had seen in Tang Mansion last time.
As she munched on the lotus cake, she said, "Your brother is really heartless."
Tang Ning was a little embarrassed sitting next to her: "I didn't expect Minister Qian would misunderstand..."
If she had known earlier, she might have made some snacks and brought them over so that she wouldn't feel so guilty.
Seeing her blushing face, Qian Qiyue stuffed a piece of chestnut cake into her hand and said, "You really haven't learned the shamelessness of Governor Xiao at all."
He lied without thinking, and he almost became her uncle. She nestled beside Tang Ning and said, "I really thought my father was going to find me a cheap uncle. I can't call him that with such a handsome face."
There were a few pillows beside the couch and two blooming peonies in the white porcelain water basin with lotus leaves on the small table.
The receptacle of the flower drooped slightly, and the petals spread out, just falling on the side of Qian Qiyue's face as she leaned against the table:
"You don't know that it's a good thing that you and Governor Xiao came, otherwise I would have been miserable today. When you came, I was kneeling in the ancestral hall. My mother almost pulled my ears off. Although she didn't put me in solitary confinement, she punished me by making me copy Buddhist scriptures fifty times."
"Fifty times..."
She shook her slender white fingers and felt that life was bleak.
Song Tangning listened to her words and looked at her still red earlobes. He was immediately filled with guilt. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't dragged you to the south of the city to visit the academy, you wouldn't have encountered this kind of thing. You wanted to help me out so you cheated Minister Qian. Otherwise, I'll go and plead with Madam Qian for you..."
"What are you begging for? My mother is not angry because I am standing up for you. It's just that I shouldn't have fooled my father. This is my own fault. What can you do?"
Qian Qiyue rolled her eyes and said, "Besides, we are friends who have risked our lives for each other. If I don't help you, who will? Do you think I can really watch others bully you?"
Song Tangning was stunned when he heard this.
Qian Qiyue seemed to see the confusion in her eyes, and glared at her with her head tilted: "Song Tangning, you didn't really forget, did you?"
There was no response, and the person in front of her was still confused, and looked like he really had no idea what she was talking about. Qian Qiyue immediately sat up straight in annoyance and pointed at her nose.
"I am Qian Qiyue, Sister Ayue!"
Tang Ning: "…"
Qian Qiyue's eyes widened: "Have you really forgotten?"
"Little cripple, do you remember that we met at Concubine Mu's birthday party when we were little? At that time, someone mocked me for walking awkwardly, and you scolded him back for me."
"My legs and feet were not good at that time, and everyone laughed at me, but you took me everywhere to play, and even climbed the persimmon tree in the master's house. You also took me away from home, and we were caught before we even left the Rong family's gate..."
Seeing that Song Tangning still looked confused, she suddenly became anxious: "You really don't remember anything at all?"
Song Tangning's mind was blank.
"What about Xu Jing?" Qian Qiyue asked.
Song Tangning opened his mouth: "Xu Jing?"
"You don't even remember her?!"
Qian Qiyue's face was full of disbelief. Xu Jing was also their childhood playmate and one of the few people in Beijing who did not look down on her for her poor legs and feet.
Xu Jing's father was a disciple of Master Rong. Due to family changes, Xu Jing temporarily lived in the Rong family for a period of time. When she left Beijing and returned to Lingnan, Xu Jing was still there. Later, when Song Tangning wrote to her, he often mentioned the two of them playing together, which made her extremely jealous.
When it came to the last letter, Tang Ning said in it that Xu Jing was taken back to her hometown by Xu's parents. She cried for a long time and didn't let her stay. The letter paper that was sent to Lingnan was all covered with tears.
Qian Qiyue looked at Song Tangning in astonishment and shock. She forgot about herself and Xu Jing?
Song Tangning felt a little helpless when Qian Qiyue looked at her: "Sister Yue, what are you talking about?"
What about climbing trees and Xu Jing? Didn't she just meet Sister A Yue not long ago? Or did they become acquainted because she stood up for her in Prince Cheng's Mansion? Did they have any interactions before?
Qian Qiyue frowned a little bit, she felt it was ridiculous. The memories of the past were so profound, she had held on to them for many years and had never forgotten a single bit.
How could Song Tangning really forget everything?
"Wait a moment."
Qian Qiyue was a little annoyed. She stood up and ran towards the green gauze cabinet in the room like the wind. After a while, she came out holding an old box that looked quite old. She placed it in front of Song Tangning with a "bang".
"Look for yourself!"