Chapter 205 Cao Dejiang's Favor
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 a little too quiet these past few days. He's not someone who will surrender without a fight. Governor Xiao has been dealing with the Lu family for a long time, and he knows they've been building up their power for years. They won't be suppressed so easily just because of a few account books."
"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 softened slightly: "I know. Thank you, Cao Gong, for reminding me."
"There's 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 couldn't be hidden from anyone in the palace, so Xiao Yan wasn't surprised someone would ask him about it. He said calmly, "The palace is crowded and noisy, and people often bring up past events. Also, lately, the Empress Dowager and the Fourth Prince have been frequenting the Grand Empress Dowager's palace for some reason. Whenever they're there, the Grand Empress Dowager suffers a hysterical attack. She even fell seriously ill a few days ago."
"The Imperial Medical Bureau said that the Empress Dowager's health could not withstand the stress, and staying in her hometown and reminiscing about her old friends would only aggravate her condition. His Majesty has ordered me to temporarily move the Empress Dowager to the Imperial Manor for her recuperation. Coincidentally, Madam Qin is also outside the city, so she can conveniently keep an eye on her at all times."
Cao Dejiang frowned: "The Queen and her son often go in and out of the Grand Empress Dowager's palace?"
Xiao Yan hummed, "He said he was 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 had been trapped in Shou'an Palace since the death of the previous emperor. Which of the masters and servants in the palace took her seriously?
The Empress was from the Lu family, and she was even more indifferent to the Grand Empress Dowager. She was tending to the Grand Empress Dowager's illness? If it was the Crown Princess back then, it might be possible, but Empress Lu and the Fourth Prince...
It's absolutely ridiculous!
Cao Dejiang wondered in his heart why Queen Lu and the others suddenly "haunted" the Grand Empress Dowager. The people of the Lu family have always been eager to do things without benefits, let alone after Lu Zhao's accident.
After suppressing his doubts deep in his heart, he looked up and asked, "Is the Empress Dowager in good health?"
"How good can hysterical madness be? He often falls asleep and usually doesn't recognize people when he wakes up." Xiao Yan replied.
Cao Dejiang pursed his lips for a long moment before whispering, "I was once supported by Emperor Taizong, and when I was young, the Empress Dowager arranged a marriage for me. That's why I have children around me today. Back then, Emperor Taizong only had a handful of people around him. The Empress Dowager should have been extremely honored..."
He raised his eyes to Xiao Yan and said, "Your Majesty has sent the Grand Empress Dowager out of the palace to recuperate. This is an act of filial piety, but the palace has always been a place where people flatter the powerful and bully the weak. There are many treacherous and deceitful people. They will inevitably take advantage of the Grand Empress Dowager's frailty and be careless in her care. I hope that Lord Governor Xiao can arrange for more care to be taken of her and prevent her from being bullied."
Xiao Yan responded, "I will naturally have someone take good care of him."
"It's not about being cautious, but about 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 grant you a favor, Governor Xiao. If you encounter any inconvenience with the Lu family, 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 watched them "eat each other" with his group of upright court officials, just waiting for the fisherman to benefit.
During the grain tax 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. However, when the aristocratic families destroyed the evidence and suppressed him later, this old fox also threw stones at him secretly, as if he wanted to eliminate the "corrupt eunuchs" and grab some benefits.
Xiao Yan was in a fierce conflict with the aristocratic families, so Cao Dejiang came to muddy the waters. When he found that neither side could do anything to the other, he decisively withdrew and led the group of clean people as if they had done nothing, making it impossible for others to find any evidence against him and unable to do anything to him.
This person is extremely shrewd and has a deep mind. 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 agree to do him a favor and be willing to help him deal with the Lu family.
Xiao Yan pondered, "Why does Lord Cao care so much about the Grand Empress Dowager?"
Cao Dejiang said: "I have said that Emperor Taizong has been very kind to me."
Seeing Xiao Yan raise an eyebrow in disbelief, Cao Dejiang didn't explain further: "Lord Xiao, just tell me whether you want this favor or not."
Xiao Yan laughed, "Of course I do. Since Lord Cao has spoken, there's no reason for me to refuse. Don't worry, I will personally instruct everyone to take good care of the Empress Dowager."
Cao Dejiang heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "Thank you very much, Governor Xiao. It's getting late, and I should be leaving. Please do as you please, Governor Xiao."
He turned around and looked at Tang Ning who had followed him. "Princess Yiyang, if you still have any questions about the academy, you can come to the Cao family 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, Cao Gong."
Cao Dejiang got on the carriage, and Fu Laiqing climbed up behind him with his head hanging 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 fell into the water.
Tang Ning said gently, "Take care, Mr. Fu."
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 blow, he hugged his knees and huddled in the corner of the carriage, withdrawing himself.
"What are you doing?"
Cao Dejiang was thinking about the Empress Dowager when he suddenly saw Fu Laiqing huddled in a ball and immediately became annoyed.
Fu Laiqing buried his head and asked, "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 suddenly became so quiet, unlike his usual playful smile, and 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 voice: "The Yiyang County Lady wishes me to find a beautiful wife soon, and then she will come to give me a gift."
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