The garden of the Marquis of Fu'an's mansion was at least twice the size of the Wei mansion's, and it had a greater variety of flowers and plants, including fiery red pomegranates, chrysanthemums in bud, and some small, unnamed flowers and plants.
"My mother didn't say anything strange to you, did she?" Murong Jing asked casually.
God knows how surprised he was when he entered the house and saw the man sitting next to his mother.
When I saw her off at the city gate yesterday morning, I was wondering if we would ever have a chance to meet again. I never expected to see her again the next morning, and in my own home no less.
“No, the princess is very nice, easy-going and warm,” Hong Xiaoduo replied.
He looked at her with an overly intense gaze, and then asked if her family had arranged a marriage for her. After learning that they hadn't, he praised his son in various ways, saying that Murong Jing had learned to ride a horse at the age of eight and dared to comment on the emperor's poems when he entered the palace at the age of nine.
When he was around ten years old, he was often invited to the palace to play chess with the emperor and offer his thoughts on political affairs. He didn't ask for an official position, but the emperor bestowed upon him a golden imperial edict that could mobilize troops and officials from various departments. In short, it was to tell Hong Xiaoduo that her son, Murong Jing, was very powerful, excellent, and awesome.
Hong Xiaoduo wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that the princess looked a lot like a top salesperson in modern times!
"I'm here to ask you for help with something." Hong Xiaoduo knew the other party was curious, so she didn't wait for him to ask and spoke directly.
Since we're already here, there's no need to go around in circles.
"Hmm? Go ahead." Hearing her say that, Mu Rongjing felt a strange sense of joy.
Upon seeing her, one knew something must have happened; otherwise, she wouldn't have left yesterday and returned today, even coming to the Marquis's residence.
She asks him for help when she needs something, and that's good!
"You should know Dong Yuefan, right?" Hong Xiaoduo asked.
Dong Xiang's youngest son? Of course I know him: "You?"
“Yes, I met him. I only returned after hearing about him on the way.” Hong Xiaoduo gave a brief account.
After hearing her words, Mu Rongjing frowned without realizing it. It was not surprising that she would know the Dong family's son while traveling, but could their friendship be so deep that she would rush back to the capital overnight for that boy?
She didn't even plan to see me when Wei Shangshu's grandson came to the capital. Kaiyang was so reluctant to part with her, yet she still hardened her heart and left without staying in the capital for a few more days. Now, for the sake of Dong Xiang's good-for-nothing youngest son, she actually came to ask him for help.
Is that kid Dong Yuefan really that important to her? The little bit of joy that Mu Rongjing had just felt was suddenly blown away.
If I had known it would be like this, I shouldn't have chased my mother away when I saw her in the living room, just so I could be alone with her.
He should let his mother continue talking to her, even if it's about strange or embarrassing topics.
"You want to help him?" Mu Rongjing still wanted to confirm.
Hong Xiaoduo nodded: "Yes."
"Um, if I may ask, how did you meet Dong Yuefan? Would it be convenient for you to tell me?" Mu Rongjing thought for a moment and felt it was necessary to ask.
Maybe she was fooled by that guy?
"Yes, we met by chance. He's a nice guy and helped me and those seven kids." Hong Xiaoduo didn't mention that the help was for making fake travel permits.
Even if I know the person in front of me is a good person, it's not that I don't trust him, it's just that I feel I shouldn't say it.
After hearing this, Mu Rongjing didn't press for details about what specific help she had given that made Mu Rongjing trust her and offer assistance, even though she knew the other person's current situation.
Asking further questions would imply pressing for answers, which is inappropriate.
Even if she came to him for help, he still had to be careful about his tone and word choice.
"I know a bit about his current situation, and to be honest, it's very bad for him—there are witnesses, evidence from the scene, and so on. Are you sure you really want to get involved?"
"His father, Prime Minister Dong, is now at a loss and anxious." Mu Rongjing said, looking at her.
“I’m sure, I just feel that he’s not the kind of person who would do such a thing, so we can’t let him die unjustly, right? I know this is a very difficult task, but how do we know it won’t work if we don’t try our best?” Hong Xiaoduo replied with great certainty.
Judging from Mu Rongjing's expression and attitude, he didn't have a good impression of Brother Dong.
"Tell me, how do you want me to help you? I do have some abilities, but even if I could get someone out of trouble, I wouldn't do it directly," Mu Rongjing stated his bottom line.
Hong Xiaoduo laughed upon hearing this: "Don't worry, Prince Mu, I would rather break into prison and rescue people myself than ask you to do such a thing."
"Breakout from prison? You can joke about that to me, but I don't think she's joking. She's capable of doing something like that."
"If he is truly innocent and wrongly accused, but has no way to seek justice and is sentenced to death, I will absolutely not watch him get his head chopped off. A prison break is not out of the question." Hong Xiaoduo was not joking.
"Alright, just tell me, how do you plan to get my help?" Murong Jing suppressed his discomfort and asked.
"Well, Your Highness, could you let me see him? Of course, if it's difficult, could you ask him what he has to say? I just want to get some reliable information." Hong Xiaoduo wasn't sure if she was asking too much of him.
She was only acquainted with this young master, and their relationship wasn't particularly deep. Thinking about it this way, Hong Xiaoduo suddenly felt a little guilty.
Just because you know him doesn't seem like it's right to bother him.
Upon hearing this and seeing her expression, Murong Jing felt a sudden tightness in his heart: "What's so difficult about this? It's not like I'm being asked to use connections or engage in favoritism."
Dong Yuefan's case falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. Because he is the son of Prime Minister Dong and refuses to confess, the Emperor decrees that the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate will conduct a joint trial tomorrow.
You must be exhausted from traveling all night. Go and rest for a bit, and I'll try my best to arrange for you to see him. I've made all the arrangements; I'll come back to pick you up.
"Of course, I can't guarantee it will work. If it doesn't, please don't be disappointed," Mu Rongjing said.
"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Your Highness." Hong Xiaoduo didn't stand on ceremony; it would be good to take a nap and recharge.
Actually, she didn't have a specific plan for what to do. She just wanted to see Brother Dong first, hear him tell her the whole story, and then find a solution.
Mu Rongjing ordered a maid to take Hong Xiaoduo to wash up and rest, while he himself went outside.
He knew Dong Xiang's youngest son, but they weren't close and had never spoken.
As she walked out, she was still wondering to herself, how could Hong Xiaoduo take that good-for-nothing boy from the Dong family so seriously...
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