Chapter 235 Summoning the Phoenix
Before the winter hunt, Xiao Qing attended the morning court session as usual, but this time the Grand Tutor was not present, supposedly because he was ill.
Wang Xiang presided over the government alone, arranging for officials from various regions to come to Nanhua to report on their duties, as well as the subsequent winter hunt. He also inquired about the progress of the Dali Temple's investigation, to which the Dali Temple replied that it was still investigating. Several officials then mocked the Dali Temple for its incompetence.
Xiao Qing acted as if he were a statue, sitting there without saying a word, but whenever something happened, he would look to Wang Xiang.
After the court session, Xiao Qing kept Wang Xiang, Sun Jinyi, and others behind for a discussion.
The meeting, though called a discussion, was really just a matter of Xiao Qing not knowing how to handle several memorials, so he brought them out to consult the Prime Minister.
Such good fortune used to be the exclusive privilege of imperial tutors. Fu Mingyi enjoyed it for several years, and now, the court and the public only know one imperial tutor—Fu Mingyi.
Wang Xiang, eager to show off, used the matters in the memorial to earnestly instruct the young emperor, thoroughly indulging in the role of imperial tutor.
It seemed that only then did Xiao Qing realize that the Prime Minister was on par with, or even better than, the Grand Tutor in terms of knowledge, ability, and connections.
Truly a veteran of two dynasties, a pillar of the nation!
Perhaps because his experiences over the past few days had been so satisfying, Wang Xiang felt like he was floating when he left the palace.
He couldn't quite remember what Sun Jinyi and the others said to him along the way, only that they were all smiling like flowers.
After he left the palace and got into his own carriage, he began to try to calm himself down.
Happiness came a little too quickly, making the old prime minister's heart boil with excitement.
However, his years of experience in officialdom made him instinctively cautious despite his excitement.
After returning to his residence, he first discussed matters with Mr. Sun in the study, then sat alone in the study until midnight, and finally instructed someone to secretly send out two letters.
One letter was addressed to his only son, instructing him not to return to Nanhua for the time being.
Another letter was secretly sent to Feiyan Residence.
Fu Mingyi, who was claiming to be ill at home, intercepted the two letters.
After reading it, he smiled softly.
Mr. Wu stood in the shadows with his arms crossed. "It seems that Zhao Youchen has a master on his side. I went there once, but I lost him outside the city gate."
Fu Mingyi carefully recounted the letter, saying, "He will have more than one person like this around him in the future, so there's no need to deliberately follow him."
He handed the letter to Mr. Wu, asking, "How are things in the other places?"
"Someone at Tianyin Temple is trying to approach Mingxiu. Our people are keeping an eye on him and haven't alerted him. Feiyan Residence should be making a move soon."
Mr. Wu paused for a moment, then said, "The old master wants you to get married and have an heir as soon as possible."
Fu Mingyi didn't seem to care much. "Which family has the old master taken a fancy to?"
"I spent a long time looking, but none of them seemed quite right."
“Then take your time choosing.” Fu Mingyi looked at Mr. Wu. “I need to go over there.”
When do we set off?
"Tonight. To be back before the winter hunt."
He has figured it out.
Perhaps now is an excellent opportunity.
The problem he had been thinking about before might have a better solution now because of this opportunity.
However, this means that Fu Mingyi will likely find it difficult to extricate himself from the situation in the future.
"I entrust the palace and Nanhua to you."
Mr. Wu seemed to curl the corner of his mouth slightly, "I wish Jin Yan all her wishes come true."
At this time, Modan was in the Flying Swallow Residence.
Feiyan Residence is said to be a newly established den of iniquity in Nanhua City, full of beautiful and talented young women. Some of them even teach in various private schools and have connections with the noble ladies of Nanhua. They are not vulgar people.
The most famous among them was the Nine Swallow Girl from Feiyan Residence. She was said to be a beautiful woman with a graceful figure and a voice like a nightingale. She was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and wine. What was even more remarkable was her graceful dance. She became famous throughout the world for her dance when she first established herself in Nanhua.
However, although this Miss Jiu Yan has been in Nanhua for more than half a year, she has a good reputation, but she usually covers her face with a light veil when she goes out. The number of people who have seen her alone can be counted on one hand, and most of them are female guests.
Rumors circulated in Nanhua City that Wang Yu, who was always confident in her dancing skills, once wanted to meet this Jiu Yan girl, so she sent an invitation to the Prime Minister's residence for a gathering.
Miss Jiuyan didn't go in person, but she sent over a self-drawn picture book—it is said to depict the dance steps.
Wang Yu was deeply ashamed after seeing this, and later personally visited Feiyan Residence, which made Feiyan Residence even more famous.
Mo Dan came back specifically to meet the legendary Jiu Yan girl.
To be honest, this was his second time here, but he still hadn't managed to see Miss Jiu Yan.
His status as a merchant was not high, and he lacked the knowledge to attract Miss Jiu Yan. Even if he spent more money, Miss Jiu Yan probably wouldn't like money.
This... is a difficult situation.
Given Feiyanju's reputation and momentum, it seems unlikely that he'll be able to succeed in the same business.
After leaving Feiyan Residence, he looked up at the sky. Deep in the clouds, there seemed to be waves, adding a touch of eeriness to the bleak and desolate winter.
Let's wait and see; it's easier to fish in troubled waters.
He inexplicably thought of the young man he had seen in Fu Mingyi's mansion.
He didn't really care about major issues concerning the national economy and people's livelihood; he only cared about a distant truth.
Mo Dan leisurely led his horse out of the city before galloping towards Tianyin Temple.
That night, Xiao Qing reviewed the list and information of all the officials who were coming to Nanhua, and then instructed Zhao Youchen to secretly send letters to Yu Zaiting and Zhao Ziyuan.
That night, Zhao Youchen secretly selected people from the Imperial Guards, disguised them in batches, and planned to send them to the Mengshan Villa outside the city, which was designated for the winter hunt.
That night, the deputy general whom Zhao Ziyuan had placed at the post station secretly left Nanhua and, carrying Zhao Ziyuan's military tally, rushed straight to Yingzhou.
That night, Fu Mingyi left three letters with Mr. Wu and secretly rode to Yuzhou.
That night, the Nine Swallow Maidens of Feiyan Residence performed a dance called "Attracting the Phoenix," which caused all the birds in Feiyan Residence to sing in unison. Under the starlight, they circled and danced in the sky above Feiyan Residence, and finally spread their wings and flew away in all directions.
The Nine Swallows said that in the bleak winter, she felt sorry for the suffering of living beings and released all the birds in the house as a way of doing good deeds.
That night, Wang Xiang was drinking alone in his study. He spilled a cup of wine on the ground, bowed, drank another cup of wine, and then bowed again.
That night, a young monk entered Mingxiu's meditation room and saw her copying scriptures at the table. He brought her some temple food and adjusted the dim lamp wick for the devout woman. Mingxiu, feeling dizzy from copying, unconsciously slumped onto the table and fell asleep.
That night...
In short, that night, the city of Nanhua, which had been peaceful and tranquil for three years, began to ignite the fuse of what would become known as the "Rebellion of the Three Clans" in the winter of the third year of the Dingyuan era.
Xiao Qing wanted to know what kind of demons and monsters were those cowards hiding in the shadows like rats.
She also wanted to know how the court would react when she could not be of one mind with the Grand Tutor and advance and retreat together.
He Shu's death left a deep mark on her heart.
Even if Fu Mingyi is incredibly powerful, he can't be right every time.
Fu Mingyi wanted to know whether Xiao Qing's open and blatant approach to Wang Xiang and others, who were being manipulated by the leech-like aristocratic families, was an expression of dissatisfaction with him because of the He family's affairs, or if she had other motives.
He also wanted to know whether the person he had chosen, after three years of his tutelage, had begun to develop the emotions and ability to resist him.
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