It was getting dark outside, and lanterns were lit in front of the Tang Mansion. Cao Dejiang stood outside the door and whispered to Xiao Yan about the Lu family case: "Does Governor Xiao have any clues about Lu Zhao's case?"
Xiao Yan said: "As long as the account book is there, he can't escape whether he has a clue or not."
"Of course I understand this." Cao Dejiang said to Xiao Yan without beating around the bush: "It's just that Lu Chongyuan has been too quiet these days. He is not someone who will surrender. Governor Xiao has been dealing with the Lu family for a long time. You should know that they have been accumulating power for many years. It is not so easy to be suppressed because of an account book."
"Lu Zhao may not be that important to the Lu family. Governor Xiao should be more careful."
Xiao Yan heard the good intention in his words and his expression eased slightly: "I know, thank you Cao Gong for reminding me."
"There is one more thing..." Cao Dejiang hesitated: "I heard that the Empress Dowager was sent to the imperial manor on the outskirts of the city to recuperate?"
This matter could not be concealed in the palace , and Xiao Yan was not surprised that someone would come to ask him. He said calmly, "The palace is crowded and noisy, and people often bring up past events. In addition, the Empress and the Fourth Prince have been frequently in and out of the Empress Dowager's palace for some reason recently . Every time they go there, the Empress Dowager will have a hysterical attack. She even fell seriously ill a few days ago."
"The people at the Imperial Medical Bureau said that the Empress Dowager's body could not stand the torture, and staying in the old place and reminiscing about the old people would only make her condition worse. Your Majesty ordered me to temporarily move the Empress Dowager to the Imperial Manor to recuperate. Madam Qin is also outside the city, so she can be taken care of at all times."
Cao Dejiang frowned: "The Queen and her son often go in and out of the Empress Dowager's palace?"
Xiao Yan said "hmm": "It is said that he is attending to the sick."
Upon hearing this, Cao Dejiang's face darkened and he almost sneered out loud. Everyone knew that His Majesty only showed respect to the Grand Empress Dowager out of appearance. She has been trapped in Shou'an Palace since the death of the late emperor . Which of the masters and servants in the palace takes her seriously?
The Queen was born in the Lu family, and was even more indifferent to the Grand Empress Dowager . She was the one who took care of the Grand Empress Dowager? If it was the Crown Princess back then , it would be possible, but Queen Lu and the Fourth Prince...
It's absolutely ridiculous!
Cao Dejiang wondered in his heart why Queen Lu and the others suddenly "got involved" with the Grand Empress Dowager. The people of the Lu family have always been unwilling to do anything without a profit , especially after Lu Zhao's accident .
After suppressing his doubts in his heart, he looked up and asked, "Is the Empress Dowager okay?"
"How good can hysteria and madness be? You often fall into a coma, and when you wake up you usually don't recognize people." Xiao Yan replied .
Cao Dejiang pursed his lips for a long while before whispering, "I was once supported by Emperor Taizong , and when I was young, I was also arranged to marry by the Empress Dowager. That's why I have children around me today. There were only a few people left around Emperor Taizong back then, and the Empress Dowager should have been extremely honorable ..."
He raised his eyes to Xiao Yan and said, "Your Majesty sent the Grand Empress Dowager out of the palace to rest, which is a filial act. However, the palace has always been a place where people flatter the powerful and bully the weak . There are many people with dark hearts and cunning minds. They will inevitably take advantage of the Grand Empress Dowager's frailty and be careless when taking care of her. I hope that Lord Governor Xiao can ask people to take better care of her and not let anyone bully the Grand Empress Dowager."
Xiao Yan responded: "I will naturally have someone take good care of it."
"It's not about being careful, but being thorough. I know that as long as Governor Xiao gives an order, no one will dare to disobey."
Seeing Xiao Yan looking up at him, he said in a deep voice: "I am willing to do you a favor, Governor Xiao. If there is any inconvenience in the Lu family's affairs, you can send someone to find me, and I will help you once."
Xiao Yan looked surprised.
Cao Dejiang never got involved in the fights between him and the aristocratic families. No matter how fiercely he fought with the aristocratic families in the court, he mostly sat on the sidelines and led his group of upright court officials to watch them "eat each other", just waiting for the fisherman to benefit.
During the grain transport case earlier , seeing that the aristocratic families were suppressed by him, Cao Dejiang took advantage of the situation and snatched back several important positions from the aristocratic families for the Qingliu lineage. But later, when the aristocratic families destroyed the evidence and suppressed him, this old fox also threw stones at him secretly, intending to eradicate the "corrupt eunuchs" and then grab some benefits.
Xiao Yan was fighting with the aristocratic families, so Cao Dejiang tried to muddy the waters. When he found that neither side could do anything to the other, he decisively withdrew his actions and led the group of clean people as if they had done nothing, making it impossible for others to find any evidence against him or do anything to him.
This person is extremely shrewd and thoughtful. He has always kept a distance from others and it is impossible to win him over.
But he didn't expect that for the Empress Dowager, he would actually promise to do him a favor and be willing to help him deal with the Lu family.
Xiao Yan thought thoughtfully: "Why does Lord Cao care so much about the Empress Dowager?"
Cao Dejiang said: "I have said that Emperor Taizong has been very kind to me."
Seeing Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow as if he didn't believe it, Cao Dejiang didn't explain further: "Master Xiao, just tell me whether you want this favor or not."
Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Of course I want it. Since Lord Cao has asked, there is no reason for me to refuse. Don't worry, I will personally instruct others to protect the Empress Dowager."
Cao Dejiang heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this: "Thank you very much, Governor Xiao. It's getting late and I should leave. Governor Xiao, please do as you please."
He turned around and looked at Tang Ning who had followed him : "Princess Yiyang, if you still have questions about the academy, you can come to Cao's house to find me at any time. As for Shi Changan, I will send someone to inform you as soon as he arrives in Beijing."
Tang Ningfuli : "Thank you, Mr. Cao."
Cao Dejiang got on the carriage, and Fu Laiqing climbed up behind him with his head hung like a frost-bitten eggplant. When he squatted on the shaft, he couldn't help but look back at Tang Ning. His eager eyes looked like a puppy that had fallen into the water.
Tang Ning said gently, "Mr. Fu, take care."
Seeing that she was not moved at all, Fu Laiqing's face fell. He pulled the corners of his mouth and forced a smile that was uglier than crying. Then he lowered the curtain and got into the carriage. Then, as if he had suffered a shock, he hugged his knees and huddled in the corner of the carriage, shutting himself in.
"What are you doing?"
Cao Dejiang was thinking about the Empress Dowager when he suddenly saw Fu Laiqing huddled together. He immediately became angry.
Fu Laiqing buried his head and said, " Uncle , am I unpopular ?"
Cao Dejiang said bluntly: "You are quite annoying."
Fu Laiqing: "…" He buried his head even deeper.
Cao Dejiang saw that the brat who always quarreled with him in the past suddenly became so quiet and no longer as playful as before, and he suddenly felt that something was wrong.
He pinched the back of his neck, and when Fu Laiqing looked up, he saw that his eyes were red.
The old man was stunned: "What's going on?"
Fu Laiqing's eyes were red, and he spoke in a sullen tone: "The Princess of Yiyang County wishes me to find a beautiful wife soon , and she will come to give me a gift when the time comes."