Chapter 95 The Old Fox: "Consort Jing is more than two months pregnant..."
"The two old gentlemen are on good terms. As a junior, you should be able to visit them directly. Why do I need to introduce you?" Meng Lingyao asked, puzzled.
Pei Xu pondered for a moment, then said, "Three years ago, I investigated a case where the main culprit was a member of a collateral branch of the Xie family. At that time, Old Master Xie personally wrote a letter to me, his words earnest, intending to exonerate that member." He paused, "I did not reply, nor did I make any exceptions. I handled the case according to the law, and that person is still serving his sentence in prison."
Meng Lingyao suddenly realized that as the head of the family, Old Master Xie had no choice but to write that letter, otherwise the family would be uneasy. As for Pei Xu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he was one of the most incorruptible upright officials in the court, and he could not possibly respond to such a letter of pleas, otherwise it would shake the foundation of the law and his own position.
“So…” Meng Lingyao continued softly, “the old master has quite a bit of a grudge against you.”
“It’s not just that.” Pei Xu’s gaze was deep. “Even without this incident, I shouldn’t have gotten too close to the Xie family.”
Back then, Xie Chong'an and Pei Jun served in the same court, holding the positions of left and right prime ministers respectively. Their rivalry in the court was fierce, with each trying to check and balance the other. It wasn't until they both retired and returned to their hometowns that they put aside their differences and became friends through chess and wine.
If Pei Xu becomes too close to the Xie family, it will be detrimental to both families and will also arouse the emperor's suspicion.
He said in a flat tone, "If it weren't for your introduction, Old Master Xie would never have seen me at this moment."
Meng Lingyao nodded. "I understand. Let's go together."
The situation was urgent; every second they wasted increased the danger for Xie Jingqiu and Shen Xiaoshan. Disregarding propriety, the two immediately headed to the Xie residence. A night breeze blew, causing the tassels hanging from the sedan curtain to sway wildly. Annoyed, Meng Lingyao pulled the curtain open abruptly.
Soon, the carriage arrived at the gate of the Xie residence.
The Xie residence was grand, with lanterns hanging high. The gatekeeper was an elderly man with a square face. He recognized Pei Xu at a glance, and his expression changed abruptly. A complex mix of surprise, wariness, and a hint of disgust flashed in his eyes.
Before he could speak, Meng Lingyao smiled and preemptively said, "Uncle Li, this is my fiancé. He has just arrived in Jinling, and as a junior, I should take him to visit the old master. Please inform him."
The gatekeeper, Uncle Li, paused for a moment, but for Meng Lingyao's sake, his expression softened slightly. He forced a smile, bowed, and said, "Please wait a moment, Miss. This old servant will go in and report right away." With that, he turned and hurried inside.
After the gatekeeper had walked away, Meng Lingyao turned her head and asked Pei Xu in a low voice, "You wouldn't happen to be the one who handled that case in Jinling, would you?"
Pei Xu nodded and gave a faint "hmm," adding, "I personally dragged the person out of the Xie residence."
Meng Lingyao: "..."
The fact that they didn't throw the person out on the spot shows that the Xie family servants were indeed quite well-mannered.
Before long, Uncle Li returned quickly, his expression respectful. "The old master invites you both. Please follow this old servant."
The two then passed through numerous courtyards. Meng Lingyao glanced at the guards along the way, then quickly lowered her eyes.
It wasn't noticeable from the outside, but it was immediately apparent once she entered. The atmosphere at the Xie residence today was unusual; there were more than twice as many guards as when she had visited before.
It's all about being outwardly relaxed but inwardly tight.
Inside the study, Xie Chong'an leaned against the table, holding a book in his hand. The weather was getting cooler, so he stopped wearing his wooden clogs.
Upon seeing the two enter, he raised an eyebrow, casually tossed the book onto the table, and feigned anger, saying, "You silly girl, it's fine if you come by yourself, but why did you bring someone else with you?"
His gaze shifted to Pei Xu, and a slight twitch appeared on his lips, a half-smile playing on his lips. "I wonder what wind blew such a distinguished person as Pei Shaoqing to this humble abode of mine? If there are any criminals in the Xie family, Shaoqing, just give the order, and I will tie them up and send them to the yamen. Why would I need Shaoqing to personally grace us with his presence?"
He addressed her as "Shaoqing" repeatedly, his distancing was evident in his words.
Meng Lingyao was not offended. She walked lightly to the small stool beside the couch and sat down. She naturally raised her hand to pour him half a cup of warm tea. "Grandpa, please don't misunderstand. The person who came with me today is not the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but my fiancé, Pei Xu, whom I am engaged to in the capital. He has just arrived in Jinling, and as a junior, it is only right that I bring him to pay his respects to you, a highly respected elder."
She tilted her head and smiled, "Otherwise, let alone you, even if Old Master Pei in Jinling knew, he would definitely blame us for not knowing manners."
Xie Chong'an snorted, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced at her sideways. "Little girl, you're so young, but your eyesight isn't very good. There are countless fine young men in Jinling City. I'll pick out a few for you that are of good character and gentle temperament, so you won't suffer any grievances in the future."
Before she could finish speaking, Meng Lingyao's expression shifted slightly, her smile faded a bit, she pursed her lips, and lowered her voice, "Jingqiu... also said the same thing."
Mentioning Xie Jingqiu, Xie Chong'an's fingers, which were holding the teacup, tightened almost imperceptibly for a moment. His eyes deepened, like a whirlpool hidden beneath a calm lake. He put down the teacup, ceasing his preamble, and slowly said, "Speak, what is it?"
Meng Lingyao looked ashamed and whispered, "She disappeared on her way to find me and return home..."
“They’re plotting against her,” Xie Chong’an interrupted her. “Even if she stays locked up in her room every day, if someone wants to make a move, they’ll find a way to lure her out. What’s it to you?”
Pei Xu spoke up at the opportune moment, “Please rest assured, sir. When Miss Xie went missing, she was accompanied by a guard from the Dali Temple whom I dispatched. He will certainly do his best to protect her. At this moment, all of my most elite men have been mobilized to track her down. We will do everything in our power to find any clues.”
“I have long heard of the many capable people under Pei Shaoqing’s command.” He chuckled. “Even the palace secrets, such as the Second Prince’s fall from his horse, which involved countless nobles and were shrouded in mystery, were resolved by Shaoqing in just three days, revealing the culprit, Prince Qing, and giving everyone a clear understanding. I am ashamed of my own swiftness and efficiency.”
His tone was calm, yet tinged with sarcasm. All three in the hall knew perfectly well that while it might indeed have been Prince Qing who had acted, it was certainly not him alone. But if the Emperor was certain it was Prince Qing, then it could only be him.
Pei Xu remained composed, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "You flatter me, sir. My journey south this time was to investigate embezzlement in the river works, but I unexpectedly uncovered a case involving illegal mining outside Nanjing. Garrison Commander Yuan colluded with the Cui family to illegally seize mineral resources and enslave the people; their crimes deserve death. This case is on the verge of collapse. I implore you, sir, to make a wise judgment and lend me a hand to uncover the truth behind this major case in Nanjing, restoring justice to the world."
"Qingming?" Xie Chong'an laughed heartily, as if he had heard a joke. After a long while, he said, "With the Cui family down, the Zhang and Li families will fill the hole. As for the high branch that the Cui family climbed onto..."
"As long as the imperial family still has some favor and pity for the Third Prince, everything you are doing now, no matter how earth-shattering, will only make the already murky water even more chaotic, and will not be able to shake the true foundation."
He shook his head, leaned back against the armrest, as if he had laughed until he was tired. He squinted his eyes and looked weary. "I'm sorry to trouble you with Jingqiu's matter, Shaoqing. Although I am not very capable, I still have some small strength and will do my best to find her. As for the rest... the Xie family has no intention of getting involved."
Pei Xu frowned slightly, about to speak again, when Meng Lingyao spoke first, "Grandpa, Lingyao is just a young woman, she doesn't understand those deep schemes. However, I have personally witnessed the people who were forcibly taken to the mine outside the city locked up. They were treated like livestock, exploited to death, discarded like worn-out shoes. As soon as one fell, a new one was dragged in. Among those people were the famine victims you oversaw the opening of the granaries to provide relief to, and also the good young men from good families you settled when you supervised the construction of the canal. You risked your life to save them back then, and now..."
She paused, her gaze intense. "Are you just going to stand by and watch the likes of the Cui family and Commander Yuan crush the lives you once protected into blood and gore, enriching themselves at the expense of the country? How can you allow your lifelong pursuit of 'establishing a life for the people' to be trampled on like this?"
Xie Chong'an gripped the armrest tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. His cheek muscles twitched almost imperceptibly. After a long silence, he released his grip, picked up his teacup again, and took a slow, deliberate sip. "Little girl," he said, "do you know the saying, 'Wildfire cannot burn it all, the spring breeze brings it back to life'? Insects can never be eradicated. The Xie family only seeks a peaceful existence and has no intention of continuing in vain."
The study fell silent. After a few breaths, Pei Xu suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but like a thunderclap, "Consort Jing is more than two months pregnant."
The lid of the teacup in Old Master Xie's hand touched the rim of the cup with a very soft "ding". He raised his head, his eyes flashing with an unprecedented sharp light, and stared intently at Pei Xu. "Shaoqing, don't talk nonsense."
"Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, the old master knows perfectly well." Pei Xu met his gaze without flinching. "The Xie family is currently in a precarious situation, like a boat sailing against the current; if it doesn't advance, it will fall behind."
As long as the Cui family remains powerful, it will be the foundation upon which the Third Prince ascends to the throne.
How could a prince in his prime, full of energy and ambition, tolerate a prince who had the blood of the Xie family, and whose maternal uncle was General Xie, who held great military power?
As long as the Cui family remains powerful and the Third Prince's influence continues to grow, Consort Jing and her son are like a dagger stuck in the Third Prince's heart, a thorn in his side, something he desperately wants to get rid of.
Only by overthrowing the Cui family and weakening the Third Prince to the point where he is powerless to care about anything else can this mother and son have a glimmer of hope.
It is also the Xie family's hope for further progress.
A longer silence fell over the study.
Xie Chong'an pressed his lips into a straight line, with only the tail twitching slightly. His shoulder blades were taut and straight, like a fully drawn bow, with the veins on the side of his neck throbbing and pulsating.
Suddenly, he took a deep breath, and his shoulders and back relaxed as if a mountain had collapsed. When he looked up, his eyes were calm, as if all the turmoil had sunk to the bottom of the water.
"Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
On the way back, Meng Lingyao was unusually quiet, her eyes fixed on a certain point in the carriage, as if she were lost in thought.
Pei Xu glanced at her several times, but received no attention whatsoever. He couldn't resist reaching out and gently squeezing her fingertips. "Yaoyao, what are you thinking about?"
Meng Lingyao blinked, her movements slow and deliberate, and said slowly, "I'm wondering, when exactly did Old Master Xie begin to waver?"
"What does Yaoyao think?"
Meng Lingyao thought for a while, and then scoffed.
"Old fox."
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Author's Note: Old Master Xie: The Old Fox
Yanzi: Zhonghuli
Yaoyao: Little Fox
□□: Milk Fox
(Inspiration source: Teacher thh [dog head holding a rose])
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