Chapter 130: Being beaten awake
Tang Song pleaded pitifully: "Yingying, you must save me, I really didn't kill anyone."
Tang Feng was furious: "You should stay in the cell for a few days and learn your lesson." After scolding, he begged Tang Ying: "My little cousin, he is a fool. He has cried a lot for his fifth aunt. If it is convenient for you, please give him a hand. If it is difficult, forget it. I will go back and apologize to the fifth aunt..." When he said these words, his face was burning and he was so ashamed that he wanted to crawl into the ground.
"My cousin, you don't have to do this." Tang Ying turned to Jing Feng to inquire about the situation: "I wonder if Master Jing could do me a favor and find out who is in charge of the trial of my cousin's case?"
Jing Feng finally got his chance: "Jingzhao Prefecture has been transferred over, and Lord Ming has also received a message from the steward of Zhang Shangshu's residence, saying that the murderer must be severely punished, and he is also in a dilemma."
When Ming Lu, the Minister of Dali Temple, heard about this, he was overwhelmed.
Since Zhang Wenhua introduced Xuan Zhen Taoist to Emperor Nanqi, as His Majesty became more and more fond of Xuan Zhen Taoist, he would occasionally practice alchemy with Xuan Zhen Qing in the palace, and Zhang Wenhua's favor with the emperor also rose. Sometimes when the emperor stopped attending court, he could also see the emperor, and Tang Ying was in charge of the Imperial Cavalry Division, and was considered the emperor's confidant and direct descendant. His power was also eye-catching. Ming Lu did not want to offend either side, and neither side dared to offend either side.
Tang Ying: "I see, Zhang Wenhua is quite quick. If the presiding judge is decided, please inform me, Master Xiaojing."
"I heard that the Queen Mother will hold a blind date banquet for the Thirteenth Princess in the palace in half a month, and will invite unmarried men and women to attend. If Manager Tang can give Jing some face at the blind date banquet, I would still be willing to preside over your brother's case." Jing Feng said slowly.
The Thirteenth Princess's biological mother was Concubine An, who died of dystocia after giving birth. The Queen Mother was lonely in the palace at that time, so she brought the girl back to the Central Palace to raise her. She was only fifteen years old, the right age to choose a prince consort. Although she was not born from the Queen Mother's belly, the Queen Mother loved her as her own daughter, so she was very concerned about the Thirteenth Princess's life.
Tang Ying was silent for a moment.
"Master Xiaojing, have you considered it?"
He actually got involved in a case that even Ming Lu, the Minister of Dali Temple, was unwilling to get involved in. Is there something wrong with him?
Zhang Wenhua now not only has the favor of the emperor, but he also has a powerful ally - Taoist Xuanzhen.
In front of Tang Feng and Tang Song, Jing Feng was firm: "If I can make Master Tang smile, I am willing to do anything for him."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Master Xiaojing."
Tang Feng: “…”
Tang Song: "Little cousin..."
The two of them watched Tang Ying and Jing Feng leave side by side. The man was a graceful and elegant lady, and the woman was a heroic and dashing woman. There was an inexplicable sense of harmony between them.
Tang Feng took the opportunity to remind Tang Song: "Don't cause trouble again, so as not to bring trouble to your little cousin, okay?" Without waiting for Tang Song to respond, he hurriedly chased after him.
After leaving the Dali Temple, Tang Ying tied the horse to the carriage and climbed onto Tang Feng's carriage. Seeing this, the old butler knew that they had something to discuss, so he quickly hid away and sat on the shaft of the carriage.
Tang Feng was very worried about her: "That Xiao Jing Lord... who is he?"
"The youngest son of the Prime Minister." Tang Ying rubbed his forehead. "Since my cousin has already passed the imperial examination, it is inevitable that he will enter the official career. However, the capital has been in turmoil recently. I am afraid there will be another bloody storm. Since my cousin is new to the officialdom, why not take up a post in a local government and wait until the storm subsides before returning to the capital?"
Tang Feng: "Why doesn't my cousin want to avoid the troubles in the capital?"
Although he was oblivious to what was happening outside, it didn't mean he was a fool. On the contrary, because he was good at observation and thinking, he thought more than others: "Last time, mother brought us to the capital to take you back, but you refused to go back and said you wanted to be with the man surnamed Fu. But after I arrived in the capital, I heard Tang Song muttering that the man surnamed Fu died inexplicably, and you rose to a high position, in charge of the Imperial Cavalry Department, in and out of the palace, and became His Majesty's confidant. Now that I think about it, you and the man surnamed Fu didn't have any romantic feelings. You were just deceiving us at the time, right?"
Tang Ying: "What does my cousin want to know?"
Tang Feng: "Little cousin, let's talk."
The carriage sped and soon arrived at the Tang residence. Tang Ying led Tang Feng straight into the study. After the servants served tea and left, only the brother and sister were left in the study. Tang Feng asked, "Little cousin, tell me honestly, since you have no romantic feelings for the man surnamed Fu, why do you insist on staying in the capital?"
Tang Ying: "Because I am ambitious and want to be an official." She said nonchalantly: "My father raised me as a boy since I was young, and my personality is not suitable for me to go back to Bingzhou with Aunt San and marry into a random family. I also don't know how to manage household chores, so I can only take this path."
"No!" Tang Feng guessed, "After I went back last time, I kept thinking about why you insisted on staying in the capital. I heard that Mr. Fu did something wrong and ended up dying in your hands. As a result, Weibei Marquis Shen Qian turned against you. Your love for Mr. Fu is just a joke, and you use it to fool us, the relatives in the countryside of Bingzhou."
Tang Ying: “…” She had no way to refute it.
"What else do you want to say, cousin?"
Tang Feng: "I have been thinking recently about why my little cousin is unwilling to return to the countryside of Bingzhou and what is the reason that makes you stay in Beijing and refuse to leave. After thinking about it, I can only think of one thing. Maybe... the death of Fourth Uncle and Cousin Jue in the war is not as simple as it seems."
He spoke slowly and stared at Tang Ying's expression. He noticed that when he mentioned the deaths of Tang Yao and Tang Jue in battle, his cousin's pupils suddenly constricted and her expression became stiff and indifferent. At that moment, it was as if a cold wall had been built between the two of them, trying to isolate him. After noticing his gaze, she quickly adjusted her facial expression and chuckled, "No, you're overthinking it, cousin." Just like the thawing surface of a lake in spring, with broken ice, the smile did not reach her eyes.
Tang Feng continued, "The Tang family has been in charge of the military for generations. During their heyday, there was a saying that Xin was in the south and Tang was in the north. Xin controlled the southeastern gateway, and the warships under their command were the best in Southern Qi. The court once strictly prohibited private maritime trafficking, but Xin took advantage of the time when he was in charge of the military to engage in maritime trade and accumulated a lot of wealth. Finally, the superiors wanted to kill him, and lured Marshal Xin 20 years ago. The rest of the Xin family, regardless of gender or age, would not be spared. It is said that in the end only a small number of Xin clan members took the boat away with their wealth, and the rest of the clan members were all slaughtered. Even the Xin clan in the south could not escape the disaster of genocide, let alone the Tang clan in the north. Many generals came from the Tang army."
"When you insisted on staying in the capital, I just had an idea at the time, but because Fu was a shield, I also thought that maybe after losing your father and brother, you really found a lifelong support. But the past two years have proved that you are not the kind of woman who regards your husband as your heaven. On the contrary, you are very talented, which makes me more certain of this. I'm sorry, little cousin, it's because your brothers are incompetent and hide in Bingzhou, leaving you to face this alone."
Tang Feng has the calmness and meticulousness of a scholar, which sounds irrefutable.
Tang Ying: "My cousin, you are overthinking. There is no inside story for my father and brother to die for the country. Besides, the Tang family is not the Xin family. The Xin family took advantage of the military power to make a lot of money, which is to seek death. And my Tang family has never been arrogant and domineering because of the military power. Instead, we work diligently and do our duty to protect the country and the people. Your Majesty also understands this." She repeatedly warned: "If my cousin wants to talk to me about this, just pretend that you didn't say what you said today. This matter comes from your mouth and enters my ears, and no third person will know it."
Tang Feng knew that she had made up her mind and it was futile to continue talking, so he stopped arguing with her, but secretly decided in his heart to help her to the best of his ability.
When he left, he asked, "Does that Master Xiao Jing really have feelings for my cousin?"
Tang Ying chuckled: "Who knows, maybe he just has nothing to do and wants to have fun. Don't be fooled by some men who say it seriously, it's just a trick to coax girls, who knows what motives are hidden behind it, let's just wait and see."
She doesn't believe in love at first sight.
※※※
Five days later, the flower show in Liufang Garden started, and Jingfeng really went to the garden to invite Tang Ying to join him.
Since Tang Ying had agreed, she would not break the promise easily. As expected, she changed into casual clothes and went with him.
Liufang Garden is a famous garden in Beijing. It cultivates many flowers of various colors in all seasons. Every year, a flower show is held according to the four seasons. On the first day, invitations are sent to the powerful families in Beijing. Naturally, there will also be invitations to the Prime Minister’s residence, but the invitations will not be delivered to the Prime Minister’s desk. Most of them are for the young masters in the mansion who have free time to go there to play.
Jingfeng also took off his official robe and wore a moon-white brocade robe. He had a jade-like face and red lips, and there was a sense of elegance in his every move. In addition, he had been an official for many years, but he was less frivolous than the dandies in the capital, which attracted a lot of attention.
As the two of them strolled around the garden side by side, he began to tell stories of interesting things that happened when he was an official in a locality, such as two families fighting over a cow, two villages fighting over water, petty disputes among the common people, or disputes over property among the wealthy, all kinds of folk scams, strange customs in the countryside... There were countless stories of various customs and interesting things.
Tang Ying found it interesting and smiled from time to time. Jing Feng became more and more interested in the conversation and would stare at her smile from time to time and say, "Master Tang should smile more. You are such a young girl , but you always have a stern face. I don't know how many young men you have been interested in have been scared away."
"I'm afraid that my laugh will scare others." Liu Zhong once said, "When the master laughs, I always feel that something bad is going to happen."
Facts have proved that Liu Zhong's intuition was correct. Every time they were slacking off, Manager Tang would always smile especially kindly when he wanted to give them more training.
"How could that be?" Jing Feng praised, "Master, you should smile more often."
The owner of Liufang Garden is also very interesting. On the day of the flower show, he did not come out to entertain guests. He just filled the garden with various blooming flowers for the guests to admire. He also had servants who shuttled among the flowers and trees and the paths to meet the guests' various needs.
Tang Ying and Jing Feng traveled together and met several familiar faces along the way, including Weibei Marquis Shen Qian and the Ninth Prince Consort Zhao Ji.
Zhao Ji was not stingy in greeting Tang Ying, and he repeatedly looked at Jing Feng who was traveling with him, his puzzled eyes constantly turning between the two of them: "This young man looks a little unfamiliar."
"I am Jingfeng."
"So he is the sixth son of the Jingxiang family. I have heard of your great name for a long time, but have never had the chance to meet him." Zhao Ji had been in the capital for a long time and knew a lot.
Shen Qian had already fallen out with Tang Ying. Hearing this, he burst into laughter three times and reminded Jing Feng: "Jing Liulang, be careful and don't be fooled by some people. Some people pretend to be affectionate on the surface, but they are vicious and murderous inside."
Zhao Ji quickly poked him and whispered to stop him: "Brother Shen, don't talk nonsense!"
Shen Qian sneered: "Did I say something wrong?!"
Tang Ying ignored him and turned away.
Jing Feng: "It is ungentlemanly for Lord Shen to treat a woman like this."
Shen Qian: "Jing Liulang treated a femme fatale with all his heart, be careful to be bitten back and leave nothing behind."
Jing Feng: "I think Lord Shen has some misunderstanding about Manager Tang. She is not that kind of person." He hurriedly chased after Tang Ying.
Shen Qian was so angry at Jing Feng's figure that he almost exploded: "You took my kindness for granted."
He suddenly felt a chill on his back and couldn't help but touch the back of his head, feeling inexplicably cold.
Jing Feng caught up with Tang Ying and apologized again and again: "I'm sorry, it's all my fault for not thinking it through. I didn't expect Weibei Hou to come here. How about... let's go to another place?"
Tang Ying didn't seem angry, her eyes wandered between the flowers and trees: "Master Xiao Jing, do you feel anything? I always feel like someone is watching me from behind."
Jing Feng comforted her: "You must be tired. You have been under long-term mental stress and it is rare for you to relax for a moment, so you feel that someone is following you secretly. Official duties are always busy, so you still have to take care of your health."
"That makes sense." Tang Ying agreed, but she was still suspicious in her heart.
In fact, it was not her fault. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Crown Princess gave birth to a son. The Emperor of Southern Qi was delighted to welcome his great-grandson. He had not practiced alchemy for several days. The important officials of the court presented gifts to the East Palace. Since half a month ago, gifts from princes from all over the country have arrived in Beijing one after another. Counting the days, the gifts from Prince Qing's Palace will soon arrive in Beijing.
She had been feeling something was wrong these past two days, sometimes at the street corner, sometimes at the gate of the Forbidden Cavalry Department or somewhere else. She always had the feeling that she was being followed, but several attempts to investigate had yielded no results.
After entering Liufang Garden today, this feeling became stronger, but I didn't feel any malice. An absurd thought popped up in my mind, but I felt that I was overthinking it - even if someone dared to sneak into the capital , Prince Qing and Princess Qing would not take it lightly.
She smiled sadly: "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Master Xiao Jing."
Jing Feng smiled good-temperedly: "As long as Manager Tang doesn't treat me half-heartedly, I'll be thankful."
Later, he met Jing Sanlang who was visiting the garden with his wife . Perhaps he did not expect that his sixth uncle would be visiting the garden with the head of the Forbidden Cavalry Division. He was stunned for a moment before stepping forward to greet them.
Jing Feng didn't have the patience to talk to the young man, so he sent him away.
Jing Sanlang looked back after walking a long way, and his wife pinched him and said, "What are you looking at, husband?"
Jing Sanlang had been studying hard for a long time. He was a real bookworm, totally oblivious to the world. He still couldn't figure it out: "Why is Sixth Uncle with Manager Tang? How can they visit the garden together?"
His wife rolled her eyes and said, "Uncle Six is unmarried, don't you know what you are doing?"
Jing Sanlang: "I wonder if Grandfather knows?"
"Haha, you underestimate your grandfather too much."
Madam Jing San felt that her husband was both pitiful and funny.
Jing Huai is a cunning old man who sees his youngest son as the next generation head of the Jing family who will bring honor to the family. It is obvious that Jing Feng is past the age of marriage and has wasted a lot of time, but he is not in a hurry to choose a daughter-in-law from among the rich and powerful. Doesn't he have other plans?
Seeing the two of them walking together, she finally understood.
That night, Weibei Marquis Shen Qian was beaten awake in his sleep. He screamed in pain, but he acted as if he was still in a dream, and almost cried while hugging the abuser.
