Cao Dejiang just felt that Xiao Yan was particularly approachable today and could even make jokes. He laughed and was led by Tang Ning to sit down.
Only Fu Laiqing felt a chill on his back. Half of his buttocks were resting on the edge of the stool, his hands on his knees, his back straight, and he looked particularly well-behaved.
However, Cao Dejiang misunderstood that he was nervous because he saw the girl he liked, and secretly thought he was a loser.
"I have heard something about what happened last night. It was said to be very dangerous. Are the county princess and Princess Cheng safe?" Cao Dejiang asked with concern.
Tang Ning said softly : "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Cao. My aunt and I are doing fine."
Only those in the Cheng Palace knew that Princess Cheng was pregnant . Now that she had a miscarriage, Tang Ning did not want to spread the news any further. She said to Cao Dejiang, " The Cheng Palace had sent letters repeatedly saying that the old concubine was seriously ill and asked my aunt to go back to take care of her. Who could have thought that Prince Cheng was so vicious that he actually killed the old concubine and framed my aunt, and even wanted to silence her."
"Luckily, I was worried about my aunt's safety, so I begged my brother to go with me. I also happened to meet the Second Prince and Lord Wu who went to the Beijing Patrol Camp to request soldiers because of a murder case. Otherwise, my aunt, my brother, and I would have been killed by Prince Cheng last night ."
This was the unanimous statement made by Xiao Yan and his men to the outside world, and it was tacitly approved by Emperor An.
The Second Prince's confession last night made Emperor An want to protect his son, and he even acquiesced to the Second Prince's "coincidence" in running into Prince Cheng 's mansion.
Cao Dejiang's expression remained unchanged, as if he could not hear the loophole in his words: "That is really dangerous."
Fu Laiqing, who was standing beside him, was genuinely moved and terrified when he heard this: "How could the King of Cheng be so vicious? The old Concubine Dowager is his biological mother, and he actually used her life to plot against the Princess. Fortunately, the Second Prince and Marquis Wenxin happened to rush over. If something had happened to you, I don't know how many accusations he would have put on you."
"So it is said that God has eyes, and good deeds will be rewarded and evil deeds will be punished. The county lady and Governor Xiao are both good people, so they can get help from Marquis Wenxin and others."
Tang Ning looked at Fu Laiqing and realized that he actually believed that Wen Xinhou and the others were just a coincidence, so he remained silent.
Xiao Yan glanced at Cao Dejiang meaningfully.
Cao Dejiang: "…"
Even though Xiao Yan didn't say anything, he felt his face swelling. He raised his hand and slapped Fu Laiqing in the face and said, "Shut up!"
Fu Laiqing: "?"
He staggered, covering his head with his hands, looking puzzled: "Uncle?"
What happened to him?
Tang Ning looked at Fu Laiqing, who had a confused look in his eyes and had no idea what was going on, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
I felt that this young man from the Fu family was a little silly when I saw him last time. I didn't expect him to be so naive. He actually believed what everyone knew was just a perfunctory statement.
The people in the court were all shrewd people, and even the young men she had met in the past were mostly deep-minded, but it was rare to find someone like him.
Seeing Fu Laiqing looking back at her, Tang Ning quickly concealed her smile and coughed lightly, but the dimples on the corners of her mouth did not disappear, which made Fu Laiqing, who was originally a little embarrassed, couldn't help but blush his ears. He rubbed the back of his head foolishly and then grinned.
Xiao Yan: "…"
With a click, the cup in his hand cracked.
"Brother?"
Tang Ning turned around and saw the tea spilling onto Xiao Yan's hand. She immediately ignored Fu Laiqing and quickly turned around to reach out to grab the cup.
Xiao Yan moved aside and placed the two halves of the cup on the table: "These cups are not good, I'll ask someone to replace them later."
Tang Ning glanced at the broken cup and frowned, "It's time to change it. How can it break after pouring some water on it?" She hurriedly handed the handkerchief to Xiao Yan, and saw that the area around his palm was red. She immediately became anxious, "It looks like it's burned. I'll go get some cold water."
She got up and hurried out. Xiao Yan sat there, reaching out to take the handkerchief to cover the place that had just been burned . He raised his eyes and glanced at the two people in the hall with a distracted expression.
"My little girl has an impatient temper, sorry to make fun of her."
Cao Dejiang was fine. He didn't think too much about it. He just felt that Xiao Yan and Song Tangning's relationship was as harmonious as the rumors said. Only Fu Laiqing, looking at the broken teacup on the table and Xiao Yan's vague gaze on him, his originally blushing face froze and he didn't know what to do.
His future brother-in-law seemed to want to kill him.
Song Tangning hurried back with some cold water and placed it in front of Xiao Yan, soaking his hand in it. When she saw that the redness from the burn had subsided a little, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing her nervous expression, Xiao Yan said gently, "It's okay. I was burned countless times when I first entered the palace and was on duty. My skin is thick and I'm used to it."
Song Tangning's heart suddenly tightened: "How can I get used to this kind of thing? I'll go ask Sister Qin for some burn ointment later."
She pressed down Xiao Yan's hand as he tried to pull it away.
"Let it soak for a while longer to avoid bubbles."
Seeing this, Xiao Yan could only follow her lead, rolling up his sleeves and continuing to soak his hands in the water. At the same time, he looked up at Cao Dejiang and asked, "Mr. Cao just said that Tang Ning had asked you to find a clue about the deputy headmaster of the academy? I wonder which master it is?"
Cao Dejiang replied: "I'm afraid many people have never heard of his name, but his talent is outstanding. Most importantly, he doesn't care about fame or gain, and he clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. If Yiyang County Lady can invite him to the academy, she won't be afraid that he will turn against you for profit in the future."
Tang Ning became interested after hearing this: "May I know his last name?"
"His name is Shi Changan."
Shi Changan...
Tang Ning whispered the name, only to find it completely unfamiliar. When he looked at Xiao Yan beside him, Xiao Yan also shook his head: "I have never heard of this person."
"Of course you haven't heard of Governor Xiao, but you should have heard of his senior brother named Xiahou Ling." Cao Dejiang said.
Xiao Yan's expression paused slightly: "The imperial teacher of Beiling Dynasty?"
"Yes, that's him."
Xiao Yan perked up immediately. Seeing Tang Ning's bewildered look, he explained to her, "Beiling was originally a nomadic tribe, adjacent to the Chengjie River of Wei. In the past, Beiling was composed of dozens of tribes that governed themselves independently. But about thirteen years ago, a powerful Khan emerged from the Beiling Zongyan tribe, and with the help of a military advisor named Xiahou, he took control of more than half of the tribes in Beiling in just five or six years."
"That military advisor is Xiahou Ling?" Tang Ning asked.
Xiao Yan nodded , "It is said that this man is a genius, and even more mysterious in military affairs. He holds a very high position in Beiling. After the Khan of the Zongyan tribe came to power, he appointed him as the Imperial Master of Beiling. His power is second only to the Khan. But I have never heard that he actually has a junior fellow apprentice."
Cao Dejiang said, "I also found out by chance. Xiahou Ling was originally from Southern Qi and was from the same school as Shi Changan. However, he violated the school's taboo and defected from the school. Later, he killed everyone in the school, and even Shi Changan almost died at his hands."
"Shi Chang'an once served in the Northern Border Army and wanted to take advantage of the friction between Wei and Beiling to seek revenge on Xiahou Ling, but he failed to make a plan and nearly died in the Northern Border."
"I happened to save his life at that time, and from that I learned about the hatred between him and Xiahou Ling. Shi Changan has been to Beiling several times over the years, but each time he returned empty-handed. Two years ago, he even had one of his arms crippled in Beiling Imperial City."
"After returning that time, he probably gave up the idea and never went to Beiling again."