Chapter 186: Dropping A Visit (Part 1) Su Ming Feng left staggeringly. When he left, he seemed to have experience a tremendous change that his soul was somewhat lost.
Shen Miao initially wanted to say a few words to Xie Jing Xing but Xie Jing Xing had returned to his indifferent appearance and smiled as he urged her to return to the residence to rest, unwilling to mention about the matter. Shen Miao was helpless and could only go along with what he wanted to do.
Some people liked to share their painful experiences to win the sympathy of others. However one would not be willing to share with others the thing that made one really upset as every time when one remembered about it, it would be stabbing oneself with a knife. For Xie Jing Xing type of person, most likely he was not willing to reveal his weaknesses to others so in the eyes of others, he was very strong and nothing was impossible for him.
However Shen Miao heard something from his words, "the most important point is that there is no nurturing but only expungement from Ming Qi to me".
Even upon returning to the Shen mansion, Shen Miao was still thinking about this matter. What was the meaning that there was only expungement from Ming Qi to Xie Jing Xing? What floated in Shen Miao"s mind was the events of the last lifetime.
In the last lifetime the residence of the Marquis of Lin An still fell at the end. Xie Ding and Xie Jing Xing both died in the battlefield and the remaining brothers, Xie Chang Chao and Xie Chang Wu were promoted as officials and Madam Fang also rose as a result. How in this lifetime, even though the three sons of the Xie family were gone, Xie Ding was still alive. As long as Xie Ding was still there, the residence of the Marquis of Lin An was not considered fallen. If Xie Ding had the intention to remarry, there was a possibility to have another son at this age. Even though it would look rather miserable, but comparing to the previous lifetime, it was already much better.
The difference between the last lifetime and the current one seemed to have started two years ago. In the previous lifetime, Xie Jing Xing did not set off to Northern Jiang but only did so in a few years" time and with time being s.h.i.+fted earlier, it had led to some changes. Just what exactly cause Xie Jing Xing to make this decision?
Because of her? Shen Miao was deep in thoughts. But what did Ming Qi do to push it?
In the last lifetime when Shen Miao knew of the Xie family"s matter, she would sigh. She had initially suspected if the Imperial family was involved in the matter but did not delve deeper into matters. Be it be relations or reasonings, other than the father and son of the Xie family being a scoundrels, they were nothing but loyal to Ming Qi. If it was just because of being wary of their meritorious achievements that they were obliterated, then the Imperial family was just too ruthless and unfeeling.
At this moment, a conjecture appeared in her mind.
a.s.suming the Imperial family had already pointed the head of the arrow towards the residence of the Marquis of Lin An, then the death of the father and son of the Xie family in the battlefield would be the ending that the Imperial family planned for the residence of the Marquis of Lin An. Then because Xie Jing Xing took the initiative to request for the expedition in advance, the Imperial family"s "plans" were brought forward.
The Imperial family had its wish fulfilled and made Xie Jing Xing "die in the battlefield" but at this time Xie Ding was still alive. Not only that, Xie Ding still had two sons but the ambitions of the residence of the Marquis of Lin An that Imperial family felt had not yet disappear. Fortunately Xie Ding was unable to recover after Xie Jing Xing"s death and thus there was no rush to carry out the "plan".
Two years later, the Shu sons of the Xie family die in an accident and since then Xie Ding had no possibility of changing his fortune, thus even if he was remained, there would not be any problems. The Imperial family then change their previous plans and even took the initiative to placate, to show kindness and compa.s.sion to the officials.
If one said that Xie Jing Xing had antic.i.p.ated everything that happened in the future, then the decision to go for the expedition two years ago was not a rash action. Just like what he told Su Ming Feng, it was the only way to protect the residence of the Marquis of Lin An.
However all these were Shen Miao"s thoughts and no one would know what the truth was. As she was thinking about it, she felt that it was better to find an opportunity to ask Xie Jing Xing about it. In the past life she did not delve deep into it but in this lifetime, she was just too curious about it.
On this night, Shen Miao kept on thinking carefully over it, Su Ming Feng endured the suffering and naturally there were still others that had no mood to sleep.
In the residence of Prince Ding, it was brightly lit the entire night.
Fu Xiu Yi sat on the highest position and looked at the subordinate that came to report before slowly asking, "Su Ming Feng went to the residence of Prince Rui?"
The subordinate said, "Exactly so. After exiting, the heir of the Count of Ping Nan seemed to have suffered an provocation and had a preoccupied appearance."
Fu Xiu Yi waved his hands and the subordinate withdraw. The aide by his side came up to ask, "For the heir of the Count of Ping Nan to go to the residence of Prince Rui in the middle of the night, could it be that there are some secret relations with Prince Rui?"
"The residence of the Count of Ping Nan is no longer in the officialdom circle so even if Prince Rui wanted to find someone to cooperate with, he would not look for him." Fu Xiu Yi"s gaze turned cold, "The Su family was originally a very good chess piece and if it was not at Su Ming Feng who suddenly became seriously ill and the Su family gradually withdrew from officialdom, one would not be at this step. However…" He continued, "It is really fortunate for the Su family to escape from misfortune."
The aide said, "Speaking of which, initially when the heir of the Count of Ping Nan was sick, it was really very strange. Because the heir of the Count of Ping Nan was sick, the Count resigned from his post and guradually retired that there was almost no news from them in Ding capital."
Fu Xiu Yi laughed, "Could it be that you really thought that Su Ming Feng was really sick?"
"May your Highness enlighten this one."
"Su Ming Feng and Xie Jing Xing, of the residence of the Marquis of Lin An, are best friends." Fu Xiu Yi said, "It is indeed strange that the Su family would suddenly withdraw from officialdom. Especially Su Ming Feng, at that time it was when he was flouris.h.i.+ng but suddenly he got seriously sick and no longer strove and directly resigned. It was said that he would not live past a few years but see, two years had pa.s.s and Su Ming Feng is living well in the residence of the Count of Ping Nan. This is obviously that he had wisent up for the sake of personal survival and quickly retreated like rapids. Naturally there was someone who reminded them. The residence of the Count of Ping Nan and the residence of the Marquis of Lin An always had good relations. Other than having one"s good friend reminding, other people would most likely be unwilling to meddle with other"s business."
"But…" The aide unconvincing asked, "There is still the Marquis of Lin An, Xie Ding, in the residence of the Marquis of Lin An, so why the one that warned them is Xie Jing Xing and not Xie Ding?"
"It is difficult for Xie Ding to save himself." Fu Xiu Yi took a sip of tea. "Xie Ding is proud and arrogant and would often be impudent in front of Imperial Father due to the military power he held. Imperial Father had long had the intention to remove it. If Xie Ding was a little smarter, he would have exercised restraint but take a look, has he ever exercise restraint in Ding capital? It is Xie Jing Xing that one cannot underestimate." Fu Xiu Yi said as he squinted his eyes.
"Didn"t Xie Jing Xing also acted arrogantly and unbridled?" The aide said, "When anyone in Ding capital mention about Xie Jing Xing, everyone would know that he was a stubborn and daring person."
"Yes but don"t forget one point." Fu Xiu Yi replied, "From the beginning, he did not enter officialdom."
"Everyone said that it was because of Xie Ding that Xie Jing Xing did not enter officialdom and deliberately delayed his purpose in life but I did not think so. During the Chrysanthemum banquet, when Xie Jing Xing dealt with his two Shu younger brothers, he had exhibited martial arts skills that mad one admire from the heart. He is a worldly talent but was not willing to display it. What is this called? This is concealing oneself."
"How many years Xie Ding have live? And how many years Xie Jing Xing live? Xie Ding had lived for so many year but was still blinded by the residence of the Marquis of Lin An"s riches and glory but even though Xie Jing Xing was at such a young age, he was able to judge and size up the situation. Xie Jing Xing is the scariest person in the residence of the Marquis of Lin An. So the person who warned the Su family was not Xie Ding but Xie Jing Xing and only Xie Jing Xing."
The aide looked towards Fu Xiu Yi, "Is your Highness viewing Xie Jing Xing too highly? Even if Xie Jing Xing reminded the Su family, it cannot prove anything."
"What cannot be proven?" Fu Xiu Yi looked at him and asked, "How about adding the Xie family army?"
"Xie family army?" The aide was puzzled and immediately thought of something before looking at Fu Xiu Yi in shock, "Your Highness means."
"In short, the scariest in the residence of the Marquis of Lin An is not Xie Ding but Xie Jing Xing." Fu Xiu Yi said, "When this person is young of age, he already had the ambition and brainds so if he was given power, the Ding capital would only be up in chaos. With him around, one would not be able to swallow down the residence of the Marquis of Lin An."
"Fortunately Xie Jing Xing is already dead." After the aide heard Fu Xu Yi"s words, he sighed in relief, "The current residence of the Marquis of Lin An can no longer make any waves."
"Correct." Fu Xiu Yi said, "Towards a dangerous enemy, one must always kill when it had not fully grown uet. But." He changed the topic, "I am now curious as to why did Su Ming Feng mix with Prince Rui?"
"Not only that." The aide continued his words, "Princess Rong Xin seemed to be investigating Prince Rui. Su Ming Feng"s people were also monitoring the Shen mansion, seemingly monitoring the every movement of the Fifth Shen Young Lady. Princess Rong Xin is also like so."
"Su Ming Feng, Prince Rui, Princess Rong Xin and Shen Miao." Fu Xiu Yi said, "There must be some special relations.h.i.+p between these people. Especially between Shen Miao and Prince Rui now that they were bestowed marriage by Imperial Father. I am understands Imperial Father"s temperament very clearly and he is one that would not hand things that one have claims over. The Shen family is already an object in Imperial Father"s back and Imperial Father will not give this advantage to outsiders so how would one bestow her to Prince Rui to be a Prince Consort unfathomably? From this view, this is an uneconomical transaction for Ming Qi."
"Your Highness means." The aide muttered to himself irresolutely.
"This marriage is requested on the initiative of the side of Prince Rui. Not only that, Prince Rui must have used some method to force Imperial Father to make this decision." Fu Xiu Yi suddenly smiled strangely, "Don"t you find it strange? Previously I suspected that there was an unusual relations.h.i.+p between Prince Rui and SHen Miao but felt that Prince Rui is not one who would change the world plans for a female. However from the current situation it seemed that I am wrong as Prince Rui have real feelings for Shen Miao. Thus he would rack his brains to obtain an Imperial decree."
"In this world there is no matter that will happen without reason. Su Ming Feng and Princess Rong Xing had never left Ding capital for an entire life so it is not possible for them to know Prince Rui. However their att.i.tude towards Prince Rui seemed to be as if they were familiar with him. Moreover Prince Rui and Shen Miao only encountered a few times so how would he take such a step for her? Could it be that Prince Rui had come to Ming Qi before?"
The aide was shock, "Your Highness mean that Prince Rui previously came to Ding capital and met them and had some relations.h.i.+p with them?"
"It is naturally not possible to come over brazenly." Fu Xiu Yi smiled, "Perhaps we have been deceived from the beginning or that Prince Rui had been living in Ding capital as a citizen of Ming Qi from the beginning. Otherwise why would he need to wear a mask? One heard that everyone in the Imperial family of Great Liang was shockingly beautiful so why does Prince Rui not dare to show his true face?"
"I think that he has a face that we will definitely recognise."
The aide was silent, as if this news had shock him so much that he could not say a single word.
Fu Xiu Yi smiled, "But all these are just my own guesses and it is not accurate now. It is alright as I have sent people to continue monitoring. It is just that now one look forward even more to Prince Rui"s secret." He paused for a while before suddenly remembering and asked, "How is Pei Lang doing?"
The aide was startled and recalled for a bit, "Still refuses to loosen his mouth."
Fu Xiu Yi smiled, "Continue. Just don"t let him die." He then said, "The people that the Shen family found all have really hard bones. One really envious."
The aide heard it and his entire body felt a chill but he dared not say anything and only respectfully withdraw.