Chapter 96 Xiao Yan’s only fault is that he is a eunuch
"Thank you, Auntie."
After Song Tangning reached out to take it, she held it in her hand but just stirred the bottom of the bowl with a spoon. The snow fungus soup was cooked thick and smooth, but she had no appetite at all.
Seeing her absent-minded look, Princess Cheng couldn't help but ask, "Is Xiao Yan seriously injured?"
Song Tangning lowered his eyes and hummed softly, "Sister Qin said that there were two knives on her waist, one light and one heavy. The heavy one missed her vitals by only half an inch. If my brother hadn't been lucky enough to dodge quickly, I'm afraid he would have been..."
Even though she had died once, she still couldn't be as calm as Xiao Yan when talking about life and death again.
Seeing her eyes turn slightly red, Princess Cheng couldn't help but sigh softly, "Xiao Yan's position already commands scrutiny, not to mention he's from a eunuch background. He can't compare to the serious officials from aristocratic families at court. He's been ruthless and flamboyant while carrying out errands for His Majesty over the years, provoking countless people. If he weren't truly formidable, he'd have been killed long ago."
Seeing her face getting paler, Princess Cheng quickly stopped talking: "But fortunately, everything is fine this time, don't worry too much."
Song Tangning didn't feel relieved at all after hearing this. She actually knew Xiao Yan's situation. In her previous life when she had never met him, even though he was trapped in that abandoned courtyard without seeing the sun, his vicious reputation was still heard everywhere.
All the "upright people" in the capital criticized him for abusing his power, and those who claimed to be upright were even more disdainful of associating with him.
Everyone said that he would not die a good death, that after the emperor left, he would lose his protection and would be torn into pieces by five horses and left exposed in the wilderness.
Song Tangning lowered her eyes to look at the soup at the bottom of the bowl: "Aunt, do you think my brother is really a treacherous villain?"
Princess Cheng was stunned for a moment and fell silent. After a long while, she whispered, "Are you afraid that Xiao Yan will lose power in the future?"
Song Tangning's face turned pale. She had once heard her grandfather tell her history, and he had also said that most of the treacherous and powerful people in all dynasties ended up in a miserable way.
Originally, she was not moved when she heard this, and she even felt that those people in the history books had nothing to do with her. But it was different for her brother. Whenever she thought that Xiao Yan might suffer the same fate as those people, she felt as if her breath was suffocated.
Seeing her eyes glistening with tears, Princess Cheng reached out and patted her gently, "You have to understand, Xiao Yan's future has nothing to do with whether he's treacherous or not. If he is treacherous, he hasn't brought disaster to the country or the people, nor has he harmed loyal people. Although countless people have died at his hands over the years, few have died completely innocently and unjustly."
"There's no right or wrong in court struggles. What he did is what anyone who wants power would do. People only criticize him because he's a eunuch, thinking he's disabled and unworthy of the court. The power he holds is coveted, and those who covet it will naturally slander him in every way. His existence hinders the interests of others, so naturally, those people can't tolerate him."
Princess Cheng didn't know much about Xiao Yan, but when she was with Prince Cheng, he would often mention matters of the court.
When King Cheng mentioned Xiao Yan, even though he was afraid of his power and disliked his abuse of power, deep down he still looked down on him because he was a eunuch, and naturally the same was true for other people in the court.
They don't care what Xiao Yan did, nor do they care how capable he is in both civil and military affairs. They just think that since he has a disability, he should be like an ant, snake or rat, hiding in a dark corner and barely surviving.
It was his fault that he stood in the sun.
Princess Cheng gently stroked Song Tangning's hair: "Xiao Yan's fault is that he is not a perfect person. Those who slander him are not because his crimes are unforgivable."
"They simply want to clear their own name by slandering others. The more notorious others are, the more just and honest they are. If others are acting in a perverse way, they are naturally the legitimate emperor."
She recalled something that happened long ago, and her voice became a little hoarse.
"I don't know if you still remember the Crown Prince Li, the one the Song family is implicated in this time. You were young then and didn't see the excitement in the capital when he was named the crown prince. He was praised by the entire court and was the popular choice. Everyone said he would be a wise ruler if he could ascend the throne, but you saw what happened to him."
"He plotted treason and burned the Forbidden Palace. Hundreds of people in the East Palace were reduced to dry bones overnight. After his death, his bones were also crushed and scattered. He was once a rising star, but suddenly fell into the abyss. Now everyone mentions him as a cruel and tyrannical person, a traitor who plotted treason and rebelled against the emperor, and everyone can kill him. But what is the truth of what happened back then? How many people know?"
Song Tangning listened intently, "Aunt, did Crown Prince Li plot treason back then?"
Princess Cheng thought of the young man she had seen in the palace. He was as bright as the sun and the moon, and as clear as the wind. He was kind to the people and strict in the court. When he was the crown prince, he had already made the Wei Dynasty look like it was on the verge of revival. Just by standing there, he could make people obey and admire him.
He is already the crown prince at a young age. As long as he moves forward steadily, the throne of the emperor will be his sooner or later.
Treason...
Princess Cheng lowered her eyes to hide the sneer in her eyes: "Who knows."
The emperor said he was plotting treason, so he was plotting treason. People said he was tyrannical, so he could only be known as a tyrant.
It's just a matter of success or failure. He lost the battle for power and died, and no one can defend him.
…
Xiao Yan, who was originally worried that Song Tangning would come quietly, stood in the corridor. The dim light beside him made him hide in the shadows. The cold white profile of his face was outlined by the interlaced light and shadow, and his expression could not be seen clearly.
"Master Governor."
Jinyun was holding the lantern with some worry.
He didn't expect that Princess Cheng would mention Prince Li to Miss Song, and he didn't expect that they would hear about that past again.
Xiao Yan quietly looked at the silhouette through the window, as if he saw the sky-high fire again.
A chaotic chorus of terrified screams filled the air, thick fog and black smoke filled the sky. He was pushed and thrown outside the door by his blood-soaked mother. The beams of the house collapsed behind him, and the charred wood that fell swallowed his mother. The only thing that remained in his ears was the hoarse cry of "Live on"...
Xiao Yan's fingertips were pale as he clasped the ring on his finger tightly. After a long while, he said to Hang Li, "Guard them well."
Hang Li lowered his eyes: "Yes."
Xiao Yan looked out the window intently, closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, his sword-like eyes were already cold.
"Master, would you like someone to call Miss Song?"
Xiao Yan nodded: "No need, let's go."
…
The person outside came quietly and left silently, and the two people inside had no idea that Xiao Yan had been there.
Princess Cheng simply continued, "What happened back then has been settled. Regardless of whether Crown Prince Li was plotting treason or not, no one dares to pursue the matter."
"Your Majesty was able to successfully enter the Eastern Palace only after the defeat of the Crown Prince, so he is extremely taboo about this matter. You see, the Song family was imprisoned simply because they were involved with the Crown Prince's old associates. So, do not mention this past matter to others, and do not express doubts about what happened in front of others."
"You only need to know that he is a traitor. Everyone in the world knows that. Do you understand?"
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