When Fu Laiqing left, he could clearly feel that although those people still looked disdainful when they mentioned Song Jinxiu , their expressions had obviously softened. Even Lord He and others, who had been disgusted by him before, never mentioned the incident of Song Jinxiu's "disobedience and reprimand".
Fu Laiqing felt as if he had shot himself in the foot. When he met Cao Dejiang after leaving his post , he was extremely depressed.
Cao Dejiang didn't like to see him looking like an eggplant hit by frost: "What's wrong now?"
Fu Laiqing whispered to Cao Dejiang what happened during the day, and after he finished speaking, he was labeled "stupid".
Seeing Fu Laiqing staring at him with a look of dissatisfaction, Cao Dejiang said angrily: "Are you stupid? Song Jinxiu betrayed his old friend, the Lu family, and even his biological father before he was reinstated. Everyone in the court knows about this. Do you need to bring it up?"
"All those who can stay and work with Song Jinxiu are shrewd people. They will be on guard against him and isolate him. They will never easily make close friends with him, and will exclude him from official duties. Even if Song Jinxiu wants to explain and defend himself, no one will be willing to listen to him. Instead, they will think he is even more hypocritical."
"But you went out of your way to set up a platform for him, giving him the opportunity to defend himself."
Fu Laiqing was not convinced: "What if he defended himself? Who would believe him..."
"What do you know!"
Cao Dejiang slapped Fu Laiqing on the head, and his stiff neck shrank back: "He doesn't need people to believe him at all. There is no way to shirk responsibility for the things he did, but being forced and doing something voluntarily are two completely different things. He was implicated in the Song family incident, and Lu Zhinian was the one who betrayed the Lu family first."
"He used his own situation to gain sympathy. He was cruel to the Lu family, but he defended Xie Yin, who used to be on good terms with him. Even if only a small number of those people were touched by him and felt that he was not really heartless, and even thought about what they would do if they were in Song Jinxiu's situation, then they would not be far from accepting Song Jinxiu."
Cao Dejiang looked at Fu Laiqing whose expression changed:
"You have never been on good terms with the people in the Ministry of Personnel. Normally you can't go there for ten days or half a month. How come you suddenly went there today and happened to hear what Song Jinxiu said? Think about it with your pig brain."
Fu Laiqing was stunned. He had heard that Song Jinxiu had entered the palace and that he had had an argument with someone, so he ran over to watch the fun.
Thinking of what happened before, Fu Laiqing suddenly cursed: "That bastard, he plotted against me?!"
Cao Dejiang glanced at him and said, "Song Jinxiu has been in prison and is no longer the same person he used to be. Moreover, he was able to escape from such a situation, which shows how capable he is."
"I know you've been at odds with him since you were young, and you're particularly obsessed with his affairs. Add to that the Yiyang County Princess's side, and you'll be even more likely to target Song Jinxiu. But you have to know that you can't let your emotions get in the way of court affairs. If you continue to be so stupid, you'll be taken advantage of sooner or later."
Fu Laiqing opened his mouth wide: " Uncle , you...how do you know..."
"Your little tricks can't even be hidden from your grandmother, so who else can you hide from?" Cao Dejiang looked at him, "You want to please the girl, why don't you do something else? You have to do something to add insult to injury. Do you think that if you step on Song Jinxiu a few times, the girl will look up to you?"
"Let me tell you, the Princess of Yiyang County is not such a narrow-minded little girl. If you really step on Song Jinxiu to show your goodwill to her, she will probably just think that you are a mean person who is taking advantage of your power. Don't you think about which good man would specifically target a down-and-out person and go to great lengths to step on him to death?"
"Or would you like a vindictive, ruthless person who takes advantage of others' misfortunes?"
Fu Laiqing's face turned pale after hearing what Cao Dejiang said.
He did have this in mind. Song Jinxiu had done something wrong to Song Tangning, and he thought that Song Tangning must hate him. If he could teach Song Jinxiu a lesson, he would surely be able to please Song Tangning. However, Cao Dejiang's words were like a thunderclap that suddenly woke him up.
Seeing that he was looking dejected with his head down, Cao Dejiang reached out and grabbed him: "Okay, let's go."
Fu Laiqing was stunned for a moment, and asked in a muffled voice: "Where are you going?"
"Cumulus Alley, naturally."
Fu Laiqing looked up in surprise.
Cao Dejiang said unhappily, "I have made an appointment with the Princess of Yiyang County. I will go to her mansion to discuss matters with her in the next few days. You can come with me."
Fu Laiqing was immediately delighted and rushed forward to embrace Cao Dejiang: "Thank you , uncle. You are the best."
"Get lost!"
Cao Dejiang spat and cursed .
…
Fu Laiqing hadn't seen Song Tangning for several days. All the things he had asked Madam Fu to send were taken back. Song Tangning was a girl and he had nothing to do with her, so it was inappropriate to visit her rashly. Now he could go with Cao Dejiang to see the person he liked with a legitimate reason. Fu Laiqing was so happy that he wanted to dance with joy.
When they reached Jiyun Lane, he tidied his hair, straightened his clothes, and nervously followed Cao Dejiang into the gate of Tang Mansion.
When he walked through the front courtyard corridor and saw Song Tangning, and then saw Xiao Yan, who was sitting next to her in a dark green robe and looking at him, Fu Laiqing's face turned pale .
"Mr. Cao, Mr. Fu." Tang Ning stood up and welcomed the two of them in: "Why are you here at this time?"
"Didn't you ask someone to ask about the deputy headmaster of the academy? I just happen to know a suitable person who will come to Beijing in a few days. I came to tell you. Besides, such a big thing happened last night. I heard that you also went to Prince Cheng's mansion . This kid is worried about you and insisted on asking me to come here."
Cao Dejiang did not hide his intentions from Fu Laiqing, but pointed them out directly. After he finished speaking, he looked at Xiao Yan and said, "How come Governor Xiao is here too?"
Xiao Yan raised his eyes coldly: "Is it strange that the governor is here?"
Cao Dejiang smiled and said, "That's not the case. It's just that the incident with Prince Cheng just happened, and many people have been arrested in the court. I thought that Governor Xiao was busy."
" The case of King Cheng is being tried by the Ministry of Justice, and those who are imprisoned have their own places to go. If I have to take care of everything, what use are they?"
Xiao Yan raised his thin lips slightly and spoke coldly : "This governor has been busy all day and night, and finally got a chance to rest for a while, but I didn't expect Cao Gong to come." And he brought an annoying bastard with him!
Cao Dejiang: "…"
Why did he feel that these words were a bit sarcastic?
Cao Dejiang couldn't help but look up at Xiao Yan , and saw that he looked normal, still as cold and indifferent as before , and they had "cooperated" before, and there had never been any grudges between them.
Why would Xiao Yan be so mean to him for no reason?
Cao Dejiang thought he was wrong and said with a smile, "It's my fault. If I had known that Governor Xiao was resting at the county lady's place, I would have come back at another time."
"Then I will ask someone to escort you two out?"
Cao Dejiang: "???"
Tang Ning: "???"
Xiao Yan glanced at Fu Laiqing expressionlessly , lowering his eyes to hide the murderous intent in his eyes. When he met the shocked and stunned look of his little girl, he curled his lips and said, "It's just a joke."
Fu Laiqing: "..."
Seeing that Cao Dejiang and Song Tangning had relaxed, he straightened his back and didn't think it was a joke at all. He always felt that Xiao Yan's look wanted to tear him apart.