Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Let’s take another look at what’s in her heart…
After Su Ran's case was over, Xu Qing'an was promoted.
Xu Qing'an once worked in the Censorate and made many contributions there and in the Ministry of Justice. After Su Ran's death, he filled the position of Chief Censor. At the same time, considering his dual status and the young emperor's request for him to be his teacher, the court also let him take on the position of Secretary of the Central Secretariat, so that he could pass on what he learned from participating in the government affairs of the Secretariat to the young emperor.
Both official positions are of the fifth rank, and both are positions close to the central government and have real power.
Xu Qing'an was the most popular person for a while.
As for A Zheng, Xu Qing'an and Shangguan Xu didn't let anyone from the palace look after her. After discussing it, they felt that A Zheng was already dead to the outside world. So for her safety, they decided not to select anyone from the palace to take care of her, lest Su Wang's people notice anything and find out that she was still alive, which would bring her into danger of death.
But as it was late at night, Shangguan Xu still went to Xu's house to see her.
Although A Zheng's life is no longer in danger, her previous injuries were not light, so she went to bed especially early recently. When Shangguan Xu came to her at night, he let her go to sleep without saying a few words to her.
After A Zheng fell asleep, Shangguan Xu tucked the corners of the quilt for her, got up gently, and went to Xu Qing'an's study.
"Although I have trusted confidants in the Imperial Guards, I cannot leave the palace too often at night, so I'll trouble you to take good care of Azheng." Shangguan Xu entrusted Xu Qing'an.
Xu Qing'an simply nodded: "Don't worry, Madam. Now that I have saved Ah Zheng, I will not ignore her."
Shangguan Xu raised his eyes and looked at him with complicated expressions.
Xu Qing'an tilted his head and asked with a smile, "Why are you looking at me like that, Your Majesty?"
Shangguan Xu just wanted to ask him why he cared so much about A Zheng.
However, on second thought, he seemed to have given a similar answer, saying only that he would take good care of anyone she cared about.
And combined with what he said to her in prison...
Thinking carefully about what had happened in the past few days, Shangguan Xu found that he seemed to have found reasons to help her in many things.
This made her defense against him weaker, and even made her feel softer towards him.
Everything he did these days made her have new ideas about their future relationship. If the day really comes when Su Wang pays the price, will it be possible for the two of them to coexist?
But this idea was quickly dispelled from her mind.
After all, she had seen his dirty and cruel side, so how could she let down her guard against him just because of a little kindness? Moreover, considering his scheming, these methods might be used to confuse her.
Shangguan Xu smiled and said, "I was just thinking about Xu Qing'an's promotion. I wanted to see if Xu Qing had changed because of it."
"Oh? Did Her Majesty notice any changes?" Xu Qing'an asked curiously.
Shangguan Xu smiled and said, "Of course, he looks more energetic now. His face is full of light, and he has the feeling of spring breeze and triumph described in the poem."
Xu Qing'an chuckled softly, "Your Majesty, your words are so flattering that I feel embarrassed."
Shangguan Xu followed up on his teasing and said, "Why be so modest, Mr. Xu? You've kept your arrangements for A Zheng a secret from even Jingzhao Prefecture."
Xu Qing'an remained humble and said, "This isn't really my credit. Ziyang picked a female corpse that looked similar to A Zheng, and then made some modifications beforehand. The marks on the body could be covered up with the wounds, so we were able to conceal it."
"My dear! My dear!"
While the two were talking, two shouts were suddenly heard outside the house, and the voices were getting closer and closer.
Shangguan Xu just raised his eyes to look outside the door when the person walked straight through the door. When Shangguan Xu saw his appearance, his eyebrows raised and he was stunned on the spot.
The visitor was also stunned when he saw Shangguan Xu in the room.
It’s Zhang Fan who’s here.
The room suddenly fell silent, and several people looked at each other in panic.
Zhang Fan opened his mouth in surprise, but when he realized what was happening, he immediately bowed and said, "I didn't realize Your Majesty was in the room. I hope you will forgive me for my impoliteness."
Shangguan Xu ignored his apology, her brows still filled with confusion. She glanced at Zhang Fan and Xu Qing'an, then fixed her gaze on Zhang Fan and asked, "Does Mr. Zhang call him 'Lang Jun' in private?"
Zhang Fan clenched his saluting hand: "Yes... this..."
"Teacher! His Highness already knows about our relationship, so there is no need to deliberately avoid suspicion by using different names." Xu Qing'an said hurriedly.
Xu Qing'an glanced over, and Zhang Fan understood. "So that's how it is. It turns out that Your Highness already knew about the teacher-student relationship between me and Erlang."
Shangguan Xu asked suspiciously, "So Mr. Zhang just called Xu Qing "Lang Jun" just to avoid suspicion?"
Zhang Fanyang smiled. "Yes, Erlang discussed this with me before he came to the capital. He didn't want our teacher-student relationship to cause gossip in the officialdom. He was also worried that he might accidentally let something slip out of habit. So, to be on the safe side, even when we're alone, I'll call him 'Langjun'."
Xu Qing'an also added: "Yes, I actually call you 'Mr. Zhang' in private, just to prevent myself from letting the cat out of the bag."
This statement does make sense. If certain names are subtly engraved in people's minds, it is difficult to guarantee that they will be blurted out when they are relaxed.
However, Shangguan Xu still felt something was strange, but he couldn't tell what was strange about it.
She first asked, "Mr. Zhang came to the Xu residence late at night. Is there something important he wants to discuss with Mr. Xu?"
Zhang Fan hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's nothing important. It's just that Erlang got a promotion today, so I wanted to come and congratulate him. Otherwise, when we're out and about, we wouldn't even talk to each other to avoid suspicion."
Shangguan Xu smiled. "I see." She looked at Xu Qing'an. "Today is indeed the day to congratulate Xu Qing on his promotion."
Shangguan Xu took one last look at A Zheng and left. She knew that Zhang Fan and Xu Qing'an had other things to say, but she also knew from Zhang Fan's expression that he would not speak as long as she was there. So she was too lazy to waste time with them, so she called someone and left through the side door.
——
After Shangguan Xu left, Zhang Fan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That was a close call. I had originally thought I'd skip a step and go straight in through the main gate since it was already getting dark, but I didn't expect her to be here too. I just hope she doesn't notice anything."
In order to facilitate the two of them to travel together, Xu Qing'an chose to live in the same block as Zhang Fan. The blocks in this area were all popular places for court officials to live. When Xu Qing'an chose his residence, it happened that among the nearby blocks, only the current Anyi Block had a suitable house, so his choice was reasonable. There was no curfew in the block, which made it convenient for the two of them to travel together.
Xu Qing'an comforted him, "It's alright, Mr. Zhang, don't blame yourself. The excuse we just gave was reasonable, and she has no reason to overthink it."
"Besides, how far can she go? Does she think that the dead can be resurrected?" Xu Qing'an's voice became lower and lower, and he sighed suddenly.
She must have thought he was dead.
——
Inside the Su Mansion, Su Shang, dressed in mourning clothes and a white scarf on his head, knelt in front of the brazier and silently burned paper money.
He had wiped Su Ran's face clean with his own hands and had changed into new clothes.
There are many rooms in the Su Mansion, but the location where the mourning hall is located is an inconspicuous one.
However, in fact, there shouldn’t even be such a mourning hall.
Su Ran was a criminal when he died. According to the family traditions and teachings that Su Wang adhered to, how could he set up a mourning hall for a criminal just to appear to be in front of outsiders?
Of course, this mourning hall was requested by Su Shang.
"Are you planning to keep vigil for him all night?"
Inside the mourning hall, the sound of the wind blowing the flames was suddenly accompanied by a heavy, calm and hoarse voice.
Su Shang continued to burn paper money without turning his head: "Fifth brother died alone, I want to be with him in his last moments."
Seeing that there was no sign of anyone coming from behind for a long time, Su Shang asked again, "Father, won't you come and burn some paper money to send Fifth Brother off?"
Su Wang stood at the entrance with his hands behind his back, still wearing his usual brown scholar's robe embroidered with dark gold.
He replied to Su Shang in a flat tone: "I am the elder. Burning paper for Wu Lang will ruin his fortune after his death."
Su Shang snorted and laughed.
"Then Dad, please go back quickly, don't let yourself get hurt."
"Are you blaming me?"
Su Shang was speechless.
Su Wang stepped forward and said, "You have to understand, it wasn't me who wanted your fifth brother dead. If it weren't for that restless person in the palace, none of what happened today would have happened! But now, you're blaming me? I certainly won't let Wu Lang go. Whoever harmed him will pay with his life!"
"This matter has nothing to do with her!" Su Shang immediately spoke up after Su Wang finished speaking. "When the news came that you were assassinated on the street, I was in the palace, right next to her. I knew from her expression that she had no prior knowledge of the assassination."
His eyes darkened and his voice turned cold: "Someone else should pay with his life."
Su Wang took a deep breath and asked, "Who?"
"Who else could have ascended to power by stepping on Fifth Brother's corpse?" Su Shang called out word by word, "Xu Yanrong, Xu Qing'an. He's the one who started all this!"
He stood up and turned to face Su Wang: "Dad, hasn't he always wanted me to take over your power in the court? Well, starting tomorrow, I will come to help you. I will also go with you to collect the debt owed by Fifth Brother, but I want you to promise me one thing..."
"Before you implement your plan, please tell me in advance."
Su Wang stared at Su Shang, a barely perceptible smile appeared on his face, and he slowly said okay.
——
Zhang Fan went to see Xu Qing'an because he was undoubtedly worried that his promotion was too high-profile. The Chief Censor did not surprise him, but the fact that he also served as the Secretary of the Secretariat was a little worrying.
Zhang Fan asked, "Does the Queen Mother think too highly of you, or...does she want to use you as a target?"
In fact, Xu Qing'an had thought about Zhang Fan's concerns, but he had not yet thought through the details.
He pondered, "I really can't fathom her current intentions. Logically, she's already tested me, so she shouldn't have entrusted me with such an important position. But she also told me..."
"What did you say?" Zhang Fan asked.
She said she admired him.
Xu Qing'an's Adam's apple rolled as he said, "She said...she was willing to cooperate with me for a long time and even promised me the position of future Prime Minister."
Zhang Fan frowned, thinking, "But these are just empty words after all." He kindly advised, "My dear, you've seen her methods, so it's best not to believe her."
Xu Qing'an nodded. "Yes, I know. I will be on guard. Starting tomorrow, I will frequently go to the palace to teach the Emperor. I will have more opportunities to spend time with her, and I can use this opportunity to test her intentions."
Return to the old place and take a look at what is in her heart.
——
On the way back to the palace, Shangguan Xu kept thinking about Zhang Fan and Xu Qing'an's reactions just now.
She did have other arrangements for Xu Qing'an's position as the Secretary of the Central Secretariat. The Secretary of the Central Secretariat seemed to be an important position in the Central Secretariat, but he was under pressure from the Assistant Minister of the Central Secretariat and several major ministers, so there were actually not many things he could really take charge of.
She wanted to test his heart and see if he would be unable to contain himself because of this promotion.
However, judging from Zhang Fan's expression when he came to find him tonight, it seemed that the two of them also realized this.
There was no rush. Tomorrow was the day he would start teaching in the palace. She had plenty of opportunities to test him slowly.
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