Chapter 111: Falling apart, a storm is brewing...
Time slips through our fingers, and May is about to turn the page.
The sunlight gradually lost its youthful intensity, scorching pedestrians with its fierce heat.
Zheng Xiaotang stood in front of the Xu family's lacquered red gate, leading her horse, looking haggard, her lips chapped and peeling.
She squinted at the blazing sun overhead, then turned her gaze to the gilded plaque of the Xu family mansion. A sense of unease crept into her heart, but she mustered her courage and cheered herself up.
Zheng Xiaotang, you are the bravest!
We can definitely persuade Lord Xu not to harm the virtuous and good!
She pursed her lips, her gaze resolute, and stepped into the Xu residence with a mindset of facing death without fear.
When Steward Xu Feng saw that she had returned looking travel-worn but still radiant, he guessed that she must have brought back good news that would benefit the master. With a happy face, he personally led her into the room. After she entered, he specially instructed the servants to boil water and prepare clothes to help Master Zheng wash and change.
When Xu Pin saw Zheng Xiaotang enter, he placed the book he was holding on a wooden table to the side and gently invited her to sit down and rest.
“Xiao Tang, you must be tired from your journey. Please sit down and rest. The servants will be here to make tea in a moment. You've only been on a long official trip, how come you've become so thin?” She frowned slightly, carefully examining Zheng Xiao Tang, and sighed, “If you haven't covered your expenses for the journey, just ask the local government for an advance. I will make up the difference. Why should you suffer like this?”
"Oh! What an honest and kind child."
A warm current flowed through Zheng Xiaotang's heart, she was deeply moved, and her eyes even involuntarily reddened.
She bit her lip, looking at the old man's kind and gentle face, and thought: Lord Xu must have been deceived by the blind officials below him, mistakenly believing that Zhang Ting was a corrupt official, which is why he asked her to investigate him.
Yes, that must be it!
"Lord Xu, you flatter me. I was merely acting in accordance with the law and it is not worthy of your praise."
Xu Pin stood up with a slight smile, and warmly grasped Zheng Xiaotang's hand, showing no disgust at the dirt on her clothes. "Xiaotang, my good child, after all these years you are still so honest and humble. Very good, very good." He then pulled her to reminisce about the past, talking about when he saved her back then, she was like a weak kitten, and now she has grown up completely and is a mature woman. He was very gratified, and so on.
"Speak less and do more in your daily life, and your good days are yet to come! With this old woman here, I will never let you suffer any injustice." Xu Pin looked at her and said. Although this simple-minded girl had no other strengths, she was honest and obedient, and knew how to remember kindness. She could be used for some minor dirty deeds, and if something happened, she could be made to take the blame.
Zheng Xiaotang had already cried once, and upon hearing this, she was deeply moved, wiping away her tears and nodding heavily. Her resolve to persuade Xu Pin grew even stronger. How could she let such a compassionate prime minister, such a kind elder, be deceived for nothing?
I must make her know the truth!
Zheng Xiaotang sniffed her reddened nose, stared intently at Xu Pin, and said bluntly, "Lord Xu, you have been deceived."
Xu Pin held her hand, intending to say something intimate to increase her loyalty, but was surprised by her words: "What?" Who dared to deceive her?
Zheng Xiaotang stared at her intently, her voice firm and resolute: "Through my investigation, both overt and covert, all the information points to the fact that Lady Zhang Ting is not only not a corrupt official who preys on the people, but on the contrary, she is exceptionally talented and enjoys a great reputation among students throughout the land. She is even a beacon of hope for others to live on. She is benevolent and loves people, and does many practical things to benefit the people. She is widely praised among the people, and some even have statues of her in their homes to worship her as the local guardian deity."
Zheng Xiaotang concluded: "Lord Xu, Lord Zhang is truly a good person and a good official who serves the country and its people. You have been deceived."
Xu Pin listened to her finish speaking, his face darkening. He gritted his teeth and said, "So the message you brought back is that Zhang Ting is a good official, and you found nothing?" She sent Zheng Xiaotang to investigate, hoping to get the conclusion that Zhang Ting was a good person?
She had already made it clear that if she was going to investigate the "corrupt official" Zhang Ting, she would fabricate evidence against him even if there was none.
But what did Zheng Xiaotang bring back for her? Zhang Ting, is she a good person?
If she's so great, why would I need you to investigate?!
Zheng Xiaotang thought Xu Pin was upset because she felt she had been deceived, but she didn't expect to be slapped hard by her the next moment.
Xu Pin's face was as dark as thunder, surrounded by sparks, as if it could explode at any moment.
"Very well! I sent you to investigate 'corrupt officials,' and this is the good news you brought back for me?" She angrily stretched out her arms, her gaze turning sinister and disdainful, as if looking at some incompetent and lowly piece of trash.
Zheng Xiaotang's face stung with pain, and she took two steps back in shock, unable to withstand the oppressive aura of the other party's gloomy rage.
She repeated, "Lord Zhang is a good official. We cannot, we cannot, harm virtuous and good people."
Recently, he had been at odds with Ning Yuanzhi in court, which had already made him feel suppressed and anxious. Zheng Xiaotang's words were like igniting dry tinder: "A good official? Would a good official need you to investigate him?!"
A dark cloud hung over her cloudy eyes as she pointed at Zheng Xiaotang, saying, "I thought with a little training you could become one of my soldiers, but I never expected you to be such an ingrate! What did Zhang Ting do for you that you would disregard past favors?"
She approached step by step, saying, "You heartless wretch! If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have saved you in the first place!" She turned her back, flicked her sleeve, and looked cold and angry.
Zheng Xiaotang blushed as she was scolded. She stammered, "Lord Xu, I..." But Zhang Ting was clearly a good person, so why did he have to frame her in every way?
Xu Pin had poured a lot of effort into Zheng Xiaotang, but in the end he couldn't bear to let it all go to waste. "If you go and investigate again and get back the evidence I want, I will pretend that nothing happened today."
"But if you continue to speak up for that ignorant madman, you'll become her lackey from now on!" Xu Pin glared at her fiercely, gritting his teeth as he said, "Don't even think about setting foot in the Xu residence again!"
With things developing this way, even someone as dull-witted as Zheng Xiaotang would realize Xu Pin's purpose.
Her once straight shoulders slumped, and her eyes dimmed.
It turns out that Xu Xiang wasn't tricked; her intention was to frame the virtuous.
For a moment, Zheng Xiaotang felt it was unbelievable. Just now, Xu Xiang had been looking like a kind old neighbor. How could he have changed into a different person in an instant?
Was it all an act to deceive her before?
Zheng Xiaotang felt as if her once clear and bright sky had collapsed in an instant.
She said goodbye to Xu Xiang in a daze and went home blankly.
Xu Pin watched Zheng Xiaotang leave with a cold eye. He never thought he would be so blind as to mistake a fish eye for a pearl. However, since he dared to break up with her, he would have to return all the benefits he had gained from her.
If you can't vomit it up, then pay with your life!
After standing in the study for a while, she gradually calmed down and called to the servant, "Please invite Master Xu over." A cold smile quietly appeared on her lips.
A rabbit has three burrows; why would she put all her eggs in one nest?
After a while, Xu Shan led her niece Xu You in.
"This humble official pays his respects to Prime Minister Xu and inquires about his well-being."
Xu Pin's expression brightened, and he returned to his gentle, old-man demeanor. "Lord Xu, please rise. We are colleagues; you are being too polite."
"This must be your esteemed cousin, right? She's quite beautiful, just like you were back then."
Xu You was secretly pleased to see that even Prime Minister Xu was praising him, and he really thought he was extraordinary.
Xu Shan appeared calm, but her face was haggard, her eyes were filled with deep sorrow, and many silver strands had appeared at her temples.
"Minister Xu is too kind."
Xu Pin warmly invited the two to sit down, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, he couldn't wait to get to the point, "Has Lord Xu truly made up his mind?"
Xu Shan somehow learned that she was hostile to Zhang Ting, and took advantage of the night to come to her residence for a secret meeting, intending to conspire to get rid of this person.
When Xu Pin first heard Xu Shan's purpose, he was taken aback. Although this Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was only a fifth-rank official, he was a steady and cautious person who cherished his reputation. He did not stand out and had been an official for more than ten years. He had been able to navigate factions smoothly and no one had ever caught him doing anything wrong.
Xu Pin was shocked that such an official, so eager for fame and fortune, was so determined to punish someone, even more so than she had been.
"I think Zhang Ting deserves to die," Xu Shan said calmly, as if she were saying something completely ordinary.
“Auntie…” Xu You, sitting in the back row, was startled and looked at his aunt in horror.
"The current dynasty strictly prohibits officials from engaging in commerce. Zhang Ting, a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, knowingly violated the law, abused his power for personal gain, attacked his peers, and abused his servants. He deserves to die a thousand deaths."
Xu You knew she was involved, and said timidly, "But...but she hadn't been involved in the restaurant's management before the imperial examination..." She really didn't want to get involved in this mess.
Xu Shan glanced at her gently and said, "You'er, think about your cousin who died tragically, and think about how much effort your aunt has put into raising you all these years."
Xu You slightly widened his eyes, then lowered his head and said nothing more.
Xu Shan turned to Xu Pin and said, "I have already informed Lord Gao. She will not protect Zhang Ting."
Zhang Ting offended both of the two most powerful figures in the imperial court as soon as she arrived. Was this a sign from heaven?
Xu Pin smiled and was very satisfied with Xu Shan's actions. "Since we have the same enemy, even if Lord Xu is one of Prime Minister Gao's men, she is still Prime Minister Gao's friend." He implied that she would receive many benefits in the future.
Xu Shan remained unmoved by Xu Pin's promises, and gave a weak smile, "This humble official has something else to report."
Xu Pin patted her shoulder with amusement, "Lord Xu, please speak frankly. There's no need for such formalities between us."
Xu Shan stared straight into her eyes; her face was pale, and her lips were dark purple. As they met, Xu Pin noticed her dazed expression and was inwardly amazed.
The next moment, she said, "I must also report that Zhang Ting has privately taken in a slave from the Zong family, which violates the rules of etiquette and morality, disregards the court, and shows contempt for the emperor's authority."
These words struck Xu Pin like a thunderbolt, and it took her a while to catch her breath before she pressed for an answer: "Is this true?!"
The son of the Zong family is someone His Majesty has deliberately demoted to a slave, defying the imperial clan. If this matter comes to light, one can imagine His Majesty's furious reaction.
Xu Pin pressed Xu Shan's shoulder and said "good" three times in a row. Beneath his smiling face, he secretly sneered.
She was just a minor Hanlin scholar; suppressing her was as easy as crushing an ant.
Xu Shan, however, curled her lips into a sneer amidst the laughter of the other party, her eyes lowered in sadness as she thought of the moment she was about to leave the manor.
She caressed her daughter's belongings.
When she recalled picking up her daughter, she was coughing up blood, her eyes were wide open, and her buttocks and legs were eroded, with bones showing.
Since Xiao Lan is so determined to kill Zhang Ting, I, as her mother, must help her no matter what.
Zhang Ting should also go underground to be with Xiao Lan.
Just moments ago, the sun was shining brightly outside, but in an instant, dark clouds gathered and loomed over the entire city of Kyoto. The dark clouds pressed down on people's nerves, and a storm was brewing.
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