Chapter 257 If the rift will end sooner or later
Wang Xiang couldn't remember how he got out.
But he remembered that when he left, Fu Mingyi was left inside.
He had no time to think about anything else; his mind was preoccupied with the fate of the Wang family and his own career.
The young emperor didn't say anything harsh and his attitude was very gentle. He only let them look at a few account books, saying that the matter was important and needed to be investigated in detail.
Is this a reminder? A warning? Or...?
Wang Xiang's heart was pounding.
He thought about the young emperor's dependence on and kindness towards him recently.
He wiped his forehead with his sleeve and quickened his pace.
He has many things to arrange.
At the same time, Xiao Qing invited Fu Mingyi to sit down.
Xiao Yan stood up. "Your Majesty, Grand Tutor, I still have some homework to do, so I will take my leave first."
At this point, Xiao Qing didn't insist and nodded, letting him go.
Xiao Qing walked to the window and watched him leave step by step without saying a word.
Fu Mingyi stood not far behind her and said calmly, "His Majesty wants to use Prince Yan."
"He will grow up eventually."
She paused for a moment, then said, "I can't decide his life, but I want him to see more possibilities."
This idea didn't just pop into her head now.
In fact, she had this idea before the incident at Mingxiu's home.
She just couldn't think of a particularly good solution.
Mingxiu's situation gave her new inspiration.
Some people and some things are beyond our control. If we can't change the status quo in a short time, we can only wait for an opportunity.
She just wanted to use this waiting time to work harder in the direction she wanted to go.
"Grand Tutor, I have said before that my thoughts on the future of Imperial Brother Yan are different from yours."
A faint smile appeared on Fu Mingyi's lips.
"I did not say it was not allowed. This is Your Majesty's decision, and it does not require my consent."
Xiao Qing tilted her head.
It feels like it's been a long time since we've spent time together so peacefully.
"The two children from the Hu family were brought here by the Grand Tutor."
She didn't use a question.
Fu Mingyi remained silent.
“The Grand Tutor wants to bring down Wang Xiang.” Xiao Qing paused. “No, it’s not just Wang Xiang.”
It started with Sun and Li and ended with Wang, and there may be more.
Fu Mingyi then smiled.
"Your Majesty made such a guess, yet you still summoned both Prime Minister Wang and your humble servant at the same time, and even laid out this box of account books before us openly."
Fu Mingyi has a handsome appearance; his slight smile alone can make people feel as if they are bathed in a spring breeze and feel relaxed and happy.
Xiao Qing's eyes flickered, and she turned her face away.
The events involving the He family left a shadow in her heart.
Fu Mingyi quickly noticed the hint of sadness hidden in the young emperor's evasive eyes.
He sighed inwardly.
"Your Majesty, the matter concerning the He family was due to my negligence. I am guilty, and I beg Your Majesty to punish me." He bowed his head.
Xiao Qing grabbed his arm, not wanting to see him kneel down.
Perhaps because of their intimate posture, when Fu Mingyi looked up, Xiao Qing looked directly into his dark eyes.
Profound, decadent.
She let go of his hand, her face stern, and said, "It's all in the past."
"Grand Tutor, you should not stay here any longer. Go back and rest."
They immediately chased people away.
Fu Mingyi knew in her heart that she still minded.
"Your Majesty has asked me so many questions, don't you intend to discuss the next steps?"
He looked at Xiao Qing; it had been about half a month since they last met.
Xiao Qing grew up little by little under his watchful eye.
He originally thought that only an emperor like Xiao Qing could allow him to fully realize all his expectations for the country.
But what if she really does drift apart from him as she grows up?
Just like—she had previously asked Ma Hong to keep him outside the palace gates.
Although he knew he shouldn't think that way, a thought often lingered in his mind.
The He family alone was enough for Xiao Qing to shut him out.
Regarding letting Xiao Qing take charge of the government, he felt that he had already made preparations since returning from Yingzhou.
But at that moment, he knew very well what he was thinking.
He didn't seem to be as prepared as he thought.
This is also one of the reasons why he was so eager to take control of the Fu family.
Having taught Xiao Qing for three years, he believed he understood her.
"The Grand Tutor has his arrangements, and I naturally have mine."
Xiao Qing turned her face, her bright eyes shining in the warm candlelight.
Fu Mingyi sensed a hint of competition in their voices.
He nodded, "Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in your trust."
As he was about to step out the door, Xiao Qing added, "Grand Tutor, I don't want to drag Yu Zaiting into this."
Fu Mingyi paused for a moment.
Facing Fu Mingyi directly is a very stressful thing.
But what needs to be said still needs to be said.
Fu Mingyi must know all the arrangements she made.
If he could approach Mingxiu after the He family's troubles, he might very well approach Yu Zaiting in the matter of bringing down Wang Xiang.
Perhaps he won't.
But what if he could?
Yu Zaiting was someone she recalled, but it was all done in haste. She thought she had to break with Fu Mingyi, and she didn't have any other options.
She had to admit her recklessness.
Yu Zaiting was merely a military governor in Jiangzhou, and the person he befriended was just a powerless Earl of Dinghai. Apart from overseeing the construction of Wangbeipo, he didn't have much influence in Jiangzhou.
But things were different when he returned to Nanhua.
Even though he was banished to another place by Wang Xiang as a student of Wang Xiang, he still had a significant place in Wang's faction.
She might not see this significance, but Fu Mingyi certainly might.
She was unwilling to let Yu Zaiting become a pawn in Fu Mingyi's game of bringing down Wang Xiang because of her recklessness.
Fu Mingyi walked in again.
And then he closed the door.
Ma Hong watched the door close, his lips twitched, he hesitated for a moment, but still didn't go in.
He kept his eyes and ears open, thinking to himself that thankfully the area had been cleared when Lord Zhao and Lord Zheng arrived earlier.
He stood before Xiao Qing, "Your Majesty has forgotten."
What?
Xiao Qing withstood the pressure and straightened her back even more.
“Mingxiu is just a palace maid by His Majesty’s side, but Yu Zaiting is a court official. If he wants to achieve success in his career, he must pay the price and take the risks.”
Fu Mingyi took another step forward.
"Your Majesty does not trust me, hence your warning. But does Your Majesty know what Yu Zaiting is thinking? Does Your Majesty know why he still visited his estranged mentor after returning to Nanhua? Your Majesty secretly summoned him back, so how do you know if he was waiting for Your Majesty's summons all along, waiting to be used as a pawn in the game?"
Xiao Qing was momentarily stunned.
"Your Majesty blames himself for failing to protect Mingxiu and doubts me, but does Yu Zaiting need Your Majesty to protect him as you protected Mingxiu? Has Your Majesty asked that?" His tone grew lower and lower.
Xiao Qing felt the pressure from Fu Mingyi was growing.
She jumped aside, stubbornly declaring, "I have no doubts about the Grand Tutor! Nor did I intend to protect Yu Zaiting!"
Fu Mingyi looked at her quietly.
"His Majesty is angry."
"I'm not angry!"
"Your Majesty is dissatisfied with my mistreatment of the He family, and with my decision to have Mingxiu raise the ghost worm within her. Your Majesty is equally dissatisfied with my arrangements for Prince Yan."
"I didn't..."
"Your Majesty has refused to see me at the palace gates until the winter hunt. As for the trouble caused by the Sun family, Your Majesty doesn't need me to do anything. Has Your Majesty realized that I am not on the same path as you? So since we are bound to drift apart sooner or later, why not push me away sooner?"
When Fu Mingyi is serious and doesn't smile, his eyes appear overly cold.
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