Minister Qian frowned upon hearing this: "How can this be possible? You and I are both in the court..."
"Although we are both in the court, I am a junior. When I first entered the palace and was still a humble official, I heard that you were an honest official and caring for the people. I also heard that the Qian family was kind and protected the neighbors in the state and town. It is an honor for the junior to be able to make friends with you. How dare I call you an equal."
Without waiting for Minister Qian to refuse, Xiao Yan bowed and performed the rare salute of a junior.
"If you don't mind that I am a eunuch and have tarnished your reputation, I will call you Uncle Qian when no one is around, okay?"
Qian Baokun couldn't help but be moved by his words. He had seen Xiao Yan's appearance in front of the Saint, and he had also seen him compete with others without retreating, and be cold and decisive in killing.
But at this moment, he actually bent his back towards me, treating me as a junior, with a humble look and no arrogance at all.
Qian Baokun couldn't help but secretly curse those who slandered Xiao Yan. Who said that such a humble and polite young man was a disaster to the court?
It's ridiculous!
Qian Baokun quickly stood up and supported Xiao Yan: "What do you mean by disdain? What's the difference between you and others? Don't follow those gossipers who judge people by their background."
"If you are willing, you will be my nephew from now on. As long as you do not do anything evil and have an upright heart, I will never let anyone bully you."
What about eunuchs? Aren't they more upright than those aristocratic families who wield power?
"I know what kind of person you are. Don't pay attention to those nonsense."
Xiao Yan lowered his eyes with a touch of "touch": "Uncle Qian…"
Qian Baokun patted him on the shoulder: "Good boy."
Qian Qiyue: "???"
"!!!"
His dad is crazy.
Song Tangning stood aside in silence, watching the new uncle and nephew who had just "recognized each other" in a few words. Seeing Minister Qian's face full of emotion and sincerity, she suddenly felt that her brother was a little conscienceless.
She put her hands to cover her chest, and just when she felt guilty, she looked up and saw Qian Qiyue looking at her.
Tang Ning: "…"
Silently turned away.
…
The sound of the wind outside had died down a little, but the rain was still pouring down.
As the heavy rain fell on the roof and rolled down along the outward-curved eaves, it drew a misty curtain of water in the almost dark night, and finally gathered and fell on the ground, splashing water.
Xiao Yan and Qian Baokun went to the study to talk about important matters of the court. Qian Qiyue took Tang Ning to her boudoir. When they walked around the corridor, they bumped into Qian Qingran who was about to go out with his servant. Because they were separated by a corner, the two girls did not see the person standing not far away.
"My dear?"
Qian Qingran stopped walking, and the people next to him looked over in confusion and said, "It's a girl. The one next to her... is that the Yiyang County Lady?"
Qian Qingran said "hmm". Only Xiao Yan came to visit the mansion tonight, and with him came the Yi Yang County Lady. He knew from before that his younger sister had a close relationship with that Miss Song. Now, seeing Qian Qiyue who was talking about something and laughing happily, he couldn't help but look at the girl beside her.
The girl was not very old, her jade-white cheeks were tinged with light pink due to her smile, and her figure was even smaller than Qian Qiyue. As she was dragged forward by the girl beside her, she was holding a food box in her hands.
As if they were walking too fast, she pulled Qian Qiyue and called her in a tender voice to "slow down". Occasionally, when she looked back, her pearl hairpin swayed slightly, and her face was completely facing this side.
Qian Qingran then saw clearly that the pink color was the red mark on her face that had not yet faded.
It's been more than two months since the incident at Qishan. Hasn't the wound on this little girl's face healed yet?
After Qian Qingran returned to Beijing, he heard people mention this matter more than once. He also heard some people say that Song Tangning's face was ruined. He only had a slight doubt in his mind, and when he saw that the two girls over there had gone far away, he led the servant and continued to walk out the door.
"I'm going to visit a friend. If I run into curfew and it's too late, I won't be back. Please let the family know. If father and his family ask, tell them so they don't worry."
"Don't worry, my dear. I have already explained it to you."
Qian Qingran said "hmm" and was about to get on the carriage, but unexpectedly, a carriage came towards them at the end of the corridor.
The rain was heavy, and the carriage happened to stop not far from the Qian family's gate. The driver was covered tightly in a straw raincoat, but after jumping off the carriage, he stepped into the water and his shoes and socks were still wet. He seemed to have seen the person standing in front of the Qian family's gate, and hurried forward in the heavy rain: "Excuse me, is Minister Qian in the mansion? My master wants to see you for something."
Are you here to see your father so late?
Qian Qingran was a little confused: "My father is in the mansion, but who is the noble master?"
The person in the car over there seemed to have heard this, and after lifting the curtain, Song Jinxiu's face, which had been cleaned up but was still thin and pale, was revealed: "Master Xiao Qian, I'm sorry to bother you."
"Recruiter Song?"
Qian Qingran frowned immediately. Why was it him?
Song Jinxiu got off the carriage holding an umbrella. His legs were a little limping when he landed. His previously broken leg had not yet healed, and the pain was excruciating when it rained, but he still tried his best to straighten his back.
After walking in the rain and being supported by Yinquan to the front door of Qian's house, Song Jinxiu said to Qian Qingran, "I am here to investigate the case of grain embezzlement under the order of His Majesty. There are some things that need to be discussed with Minister Qian. Please let Mr. Qian know."
Qian Qingran frowned as he looked at the thin and pale Song Jinxiu. Song Tangning and the others were still in the mansion. If Song Jinxiu went in at this time, he might bump into them... But the other person came here for serious business, and he was in the name of His Majesty, so he couldn't just turn him away.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Song Jinxiu was a little confused: "Is Minister Qian inconvenienced?"
Qian Qingran shook his head: "No, it's just that Governor Xiao came to visit father, and they are discussing something. Song Lushi might as well go to the yamen tomorrow to meet father."
Song Jinxiu didn't expect that Xiao Yan would also come to find Qian Baokun. Although Qian Qingran's words were as tactful as possible, he could still hear that Qian Qingran knew that he and Xiao Yan had a bad relationship and wanted him to retreat.
Song Jinxiu couldn't help but tighten his grip on the umbrella handle.
"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Qian. However, things cannot wait. The case of grain embezzlement has been delayed for long enough. We must give a reply to His Majesty and the court as soon as possible. It is a good thing that Governor Xiao is here. He knows the affairs of the Lu family best. If Lord Qian and I make any mistakes or omissions, he can correct them in time."
Qian Qingran frowned when he heard this, but seeing that Song Jinxiu insisted on going in, completely ignoring the fact that Xiao Yan was also there, he couldn't stop him anymore and could only ask someone to pass the message.
Qian Baokun was chatting happily with Xiao Yan. Suddenly, he heard someone say that Song Jinxiu was here. His face suddenly darkened: "Why is he here?"
The messenger said, "The eldest son has already told him that Governor Xiao is discussing matters with you and asked him to come to the yamen to see you tomorrow, but Song Lushi said he has something important to discuss and must see you, so the eldest son couldn't stop him and had to bring him into the mansion first."
Qian Baokun looked unhappy: "How can this person be so ignorant of the ways of the world?"
He had a very bad impression of the Song family, especially this Master Yutai who was praised by everyone in the court in the past. Previously in the palace, this man did not hesitate to betray his old friends in order to get out of the situation, lied to the Lu family to win the emperor's favor, and even took the blame for the account book.
Although few officials in the court have clean minds, Song Jinxiu's previous rigid and upright image was too deeply rooted in people's minds. If he had been smooth at the beginning, no one would have said anything. But he was once the most disciplined person, always using moral principles to advise others, but now he became completely hypocritical.
Bullying his own sister, framing his elders, and refusing to repent despite knowing he was doing wrong, all of these things hit Qian Baokun's sore spot.
Qian Baokun didn't want to see Song Jinxiu at all. On the contrary, Xiao Yan, who was sitting beside him, looked calm: "He came here in such a heavy rain. He must have something wrong. Uncle, why don't you meet him? Maybe he has discovered something. After all, he was the closest to the Lu family in the past."
Once the eye drops were applied, Qian Baokun became even more disgusted.
"You are so easy to talk to. This man is ambitious and can prove that his own father is colluding with the rebels. He abandoned his relatives just to protect himself. He is not a simple character. You have to be careful of him. Don't let him bite you."
Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Although Song Jinxiu has a mean character, he still has some abilities. He has a grudge against the noble family, so he can be used after all. Besides, with Uncle Qian watching over him, there is no need to worry about him causing trouble."
Upon hearing this, Qian Baokun immediately felt that Xiao Yan was naive. How could the affairs of the court be explained so easily? Today's enemy could be a friend tomorrow, and it would only take a moment for them to fall out and make peace. As long as the benefits were sufficient, those people would do anything bizarre. Besides, if they wanted to harm someone, they would use all kinds of means, and it was not possible to just stare at them.
Looking at Xiao Yan who didn't care, he felt that he had a heavy responsibility. Song Jinxiu escaped from prison and showed his face before the emperor by betraying the Lu family, but he couldn't let him make any trouble. Otherwise, if he gained power, wouldn't he deal with his eldest nephew?
Qian Baokun's heart trembled, and he immediately became cautious. He turned his head and said to the gatekeeper, "Let him wait in front first. I will see him after I finish my business with Governor Xiao."
Xiao Yan heard this and said, "Uncle, this is not good, right? After all, he is doing this for serious matters..."
"No business can delay this moment. If he really has clues about the Lu family, he should have made it clear in the palace earlier. He came in knowing you were here. Who knows what he is up to."
Qian Baokun snorted coldly: "Leave him alone for now, lest he thinks that he can compete with you just because he has the case of the grain tax. You will have to speak in front of His Majesty later. The limelight of eradicating the aristocratic family cannot fall on him."
Their Majesty has always been cold and indifferent, and his temper has become more and more unpredictable as he gets older in recent years. The aristocratic families have always been a thorn in his side. Whoever can remove this thorn will surely gain the trust of the Majesty and have a bright future.
Xiao Yan had made countless plans and taken many risks to force the Lu family into a desperate situation. Song Jinxiu must not be allowed to reap all the credit.
Seeing Xiao Yan's hesitation, Qian Baokun made the decision directly: "Okay, just listen to me, young man, don't be too soft-hearted."
He turned to the doorman and said:
"Just tell him what I said. Tell him that I don't know how long it will take. If Song Jinxiu can't wait, let him go back first. I will go see him after my shift tomorrow."
The doorman nodded: "Yes."
…