Chapter 11: Life-saving grace, rich gratitude
Princess Cheng didn't expect Tang Ning to tell her not to go to the Song family. She frowned and said, "But as for the Song family, are they just going to let this go?"
"Won't."
"and you……"
"Song Jinxiu and the others will come to find me."
Tang Ning looked at his injured hand, feeling anxious for Song Hong and the others, and embarrassed for the Song family.
As long as she doesn't return to the Song family, people outside will remember what the Song family did.
As long as she can keep calm, the Song family will be the first to jump up and down.
Princess Cheng knew how much Song Tangning used to cling to the eldest son of the Song family. She used to call him "Brother" no matter what she did, and was also very affectionate when talking about Song Jinxiu. But now she calls him by his name, and is even colder when mentioning the Song family. She just felt that the Song family had hurt her niece's heart.
"Okay, Auntie will listen to Tang Ning."
"Aunt is the best."
Song Tangning leaned on Princess Cheng's shoulder and rubbed it gently.
Princess Cheng's heart softened at the little girl's coquettishness, and she stroked her hair lovingly, "What's going on between you and Xiao Yan? Why did he suddenly acknowledge you as his adopted sister?"
Tang Ning subconsciously touched the dragon-patterned pendant hanging around his neck.
On the way back to Beijing, Xiao Yan told her that Aunt Xue, who had given her the jade pendant, had passed away.
He said that Aunt Xue came from a noble family and her family was once one of the most prosperous families in Beijing. However, because she provoked a villain, she was harmed and the entire Xue family was charged with the crime of treason and the entire family was executed.
This dragon-patterned pendant is a family heirloom of the Xue family. Many powerful people in the capital recognize it. Moreover, many of those who had grudges against the Xue family in the past now hold high positions in the court. If she were seen wearing something from the Xue family, it would be very easy for her to get into trouble.
Xiao Yan had told her to keep the dragon-patterned pendant safe and not to mention Aunt Xue to anyone else.
Song Tangning wasn't afraid that her aunt would mention it to others, but Prince Cheng... Her eyelashes drooped slightly: "I don't know either."
"When Governor Xiao rescued me, I was injured and passed out from the pain. When I woke up, I was already at his villa. He looked at me strangely and said some strange things to me, saying that I looked like an old friend of his. I didn't hear it clearly."
"Later, when he found out about me and the Song family, he told me to call him brother and took me to the Qian family."
Upon hearing this, Princess Cheng did not doubt the ambiguity in Tang Ning's words, because Xiao Yan's reputation in the capital was too loud. Even though Princess Cheng had little interaction with people in the court, she knew how powerful this Governor Xiao was.
Even King Lian Cheng was always cautious in his words when he mentioned Xiao Yan. There was no need for such a person to plot against Tang Ning, a little girl whose parents had both passed away.
"Perhaps you bear some resemblance to his old friend?"
Princess Cheng pondered, "I heard that Xiao Yan had a difficult childhood. His parents were unkind and his brother was even more vicious."
"When he was young, he was almost killed by his eldest brother. His father even sent him to death to protect his eldest brother. So when he came to power, he directly slaughtered the entire family."
This situation is somewhat similar to Tang Ning's.
"He probably felt sorry for you and couldn't bear to see you being bullied by the Song family. And because you thought of his situation when he was young, he wanted to make an exception and help you."
As for recognizing relatives, it may just be a casual remark.
Song Tangning curled her lips. That person was vicious and cruel, so he would not be merciful.
Seeing that Princess Cheng had found a reason herself, she said vaguely, "That should be the case."
Princess Cheng felt relieved. "That's good. He is from the Imperial Household Department after all. Even though he is in poor health, it won't harm your reputation, but it's better to avoid him. Although he is unpredictable and a bit cruel, he still saved your life. When you're better, I'll take you to thank him."
I have to thank you very much for saving my life.
Tang Ning didn't want to see Xiao Yan at all.
That person's eyes were too sharp and his mind was too cunning. It seemed like he could see through her at a glance every time.
She didn't want to see him, but she couldn't find a suitable reason.
Tang Ning was silent for a while and could only hang his head in dismay: "Okay."
…
Tang Ning followed Princess Cheng back to the Cheng Palace, and the things happening in the Qian family could not be hidden from anyone.
When Song Jinxiu came out of the palace after finishing his shift, he vaguely noticed that the people around him looked at him strangely, but every time he looked over, those people turned their gazes away without a trace, and even stopped whispering.
Although they still greeted him as before, they seemed to have drawn a circle and excluded him.
Song Jinxiu was known for his talent at a young age. He passed the imperial examination before he was twenty. Because he was favored by the emperor, he was appointed as one of the four recorders in the Ministry of Personnel. Although his rank was not high, only the seventh grade, everyone could see that he had a bright future.
He was already an outstanding talent and the eldest son of the Duke of Song. He had always been a popular figure in the government office, but today was the first time he had been subtly rejected and despised like this.
"Master Xiao Song, is this your shift?"
A young official who had just emerged from the palace gates not far away waved with a smile, "There's a banquet at Tongfeng Tower tonight to celebrate Lord An's promotion. Would you like to come?"
Song Jinxiu was just about to shake his head and say he couldn't go when someone else took the lead.
"Why are you calling him? Young Master Yutai is so noble, how could he look down on us? He doesn't have time to drink with us."
"Fu Laiqing, if you don't speak, no one will think you're dumb."
The man called Fu Laiqing was about the same age as Song Jinxiu, but compared to Song Jinxiu's solemn and stern appearance, Fu Laiqing's face was very lively.
He and Song Jinxiu had been at odds for a long time. Both of them were talented young men. They both entered the palace school, took the imperial examination in the same year, and entered the officialdom in the same year. One entered the Ministry of Shangshu and the other entered the Ministry of Personnel.
Song Jinxiu always put himself above him and liked to lecture people with a stern face. Fu Laiqing had long disliked him.
"I'm not dumb, but I'm not as eloquent as you, Master Yutai."
Fu Laiqing mocked, "Master Song, you can turn black into white and smelly into fragrant. I used to think you were a rule-abiding person, but now it seems you have really tarnished the name of Yutai."
"What do you mean?"
"Still pretending! Your Song family treats a concubine's daughter like a treasure, forcing her into the second wife's family as a concubine's daughter, and letting others bully the second wife's legitimate daughter. How dare you say you don't know?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
"Am I talking nonsense? You probably don't know yet, but Song Shulan's life story is known to everyone in the capital."
Fu Laiqing couldn't help but sneer when he saw his expression change instantly.
"I heard that before you started your shift this morning, you personally escorted your concubine's daughter to Minister Qian's residence. You took great care of her and showed her compassion, unwilling to let her suffer even the slightest injustice. I just wonder if you, Lord Song, still remember your own sister who you threw on the mountain yesterday and nearly died from falling."
"But it's also true. You, Song Jinxiu, could abandon someone in that wilderness, so why would you care about her life or death? It's just a pity for Miss Song, she broke her leg and disfigured her face..."
Song Jinxiu was so shocked that he no longer had any of his previous composure. He rushed forward and grabbed Fu Laiqing's collar.
"What did you say? What happened to Tang Ning?"
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