No one responded to Song Chengyuan's words.
Zhou Wenxin and the Prefect of Shangjing were sweating profusely and had no time to care. Xiao Rencheng was too lazy to respond.
Feeling bored and annoyed, Song Chengyuan had no choice but to get off the city wall and board his luxurious carriage, heading towards the palace.
He was determined to hear what bad things Song Yinghuai would say about him in front of the emperor!
After the two big figures left, Xiao Rencheng suddenly realized that Lan Jinqin was not among those who had entered the city!
His heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly looked around and finally found Lan Jinqin still standing outside the city where he had told her to wait.
The woman's figure was graceful, her waist slender. The dim light of the city - wall torches fell on her face, making the fine fluff on her skin look as if it had been sprinkled with a layer of gold powder, hazy and alluring.
Xiao Rencheng felt his mouth go dry. He quickly ran over and looked at her apologetically. "Madam, I'm late. Why didn't you enter the city?"
Lan Jinqin raised her misty eyes to meet his. There was confusion on her face. "Didn't my lord tell me not to go anywhere and just wait for you here?"
Perhaps it was not intentional, but she was born with a pair of amorous eyes.
Her eyes were clear and gentle, with a faint smile in them as she looked around. When she looked at Xiao Rencheng, he couldn't help but feel a surge of tenderness.
A gentle look flashed across Xiao Rencheng's eyes. He apologized again. "It was my oversight. I was so busy evacuating the crowd that I forgot about madam... How about I find an opportunity to make it up to madam another day?"
Another day?
Lan Jinqin met Xiao Rencheng's burning gaze.
She was no longer a young maiden. How could she not understand the look in a man's eyes when he looked at a woman?
Xiao Rencheng, the Left Censor - in - Chief of the Censorate, actually had an eye for a married woman.
Although he had saved her life, his conduct was improper, and Lan Jinqin couldn't help but despise him in her heart.
Lan Jinqin gave a charming smile. "It's not a big deal. It's just that I'm stupid and only followed your order without knowing how to adapt. My lord doesn't need to take it to heart, nor do you need to mention making it up to me another day. My lord just saved my life!"
It was better to sever ties with Xiao Rencheng.
Xiao Rencheng stared at Lan Jinqin intently.
Although it was a big taboo for an unmarried man to have an ambiguous relationship with a married woman, especially for a court official like him, it was a taboo among taboos.
However...
He finally had a chance to get close to Lan Jinqin. How could he be willing to let this thread be broken easily?
Xiao Rencheng said in a deep voice, "As a court official, it is my duty to protect the people. So saving madam was my obligation, but forgetting madam here is my fault. I must make it up to you."
It seemed that he was determined to get involved with her.
Lan Jinqin's eyes flashed a few times. Her face remained calm as she smiled faintly.
"If my lord insists on making it up to me, there's no need to wait for another day. You can do it now."
Xiao Rencheng looked down in confusion. "What does madam mean?"
Lan Jinqin stretched out a hand, palm up, and said with a smile, "I love money. When it comes to making amends, money is the thing that can make me happiest. Since my lord is sincere in making amends, how about just compensating me with silver?"
Xiao Rencheng: ...
Xiao Rencheng thought he had misheard.
Lan Jinqin loved money...
But the woman's hand was right in front of him, proving her blatant desire.
Her fingers were long and fair, each one like a scallion, just like a young girl's.
Because she had stretched her hand forward, her sleeve had rolled up, revealing her fair and creamy wrist with a pair of delicate tinkling silver bracelets hanging on it.
Xiao Rencheng's Adam's apple twitched slightly. He was automatically captivated. "Madam, how much do you think would be appropriate for me to compensate?"
"Three hundred taels."
Lan Jinqin made an outrageous demand.
She might as well establish an image of being greedy and shameless in front of him to discourage him and kill his little fantasies.
Xiao Rencheng looked silently into her bright eyes.
He felt that he had been tricked, but somehow he was willing to be tricked.
He smiled, took off his personal jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Lan Jinqin, his eyes showing a hint of cunning.
"I admit to the three hundred taels of silver, but unfortunately, I didn't bring enough silver with me when I went out on business..."
"This jade pendant is my personal keepsake. I'll leave it with madam for now. Madam can come to the Xiao Mansion another day to claim the compensation silver from me."
Wasn't this getting involved with him again?
Lan Jinqin was also stunned.
She regretted making such an outrageous demand.
A look of annoyance flashed across her eyes. She opened her mouth to refuse. "No, it's okay. Just give me all the silver you have on you, and we'll be even..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Rencheng stuffed the jade pendant into her hand. "A real man keeps his word. Since I've promised to compensate madam three hundred taels, it will be three hundred taels. I won't say a word more. Madam, see you another day!"
"No, Lord Xiao! Lord Xiao!"
Lan Jinqin took small steps and chased after the man who was walking away in a hurry. In the end, she was left behind.
She looked dejectedly at the man disappearing in the distance and then raised the jade pendant in her hand to take a look.
The jade pendant was not made of the best material, but it was as smooth as mutton fat, which proved that it had been played with by its owner for many years.
Xiao Rencheng hadn't lied to her. It was indeed his personal jade pendant, not just a decoration.
"Fine! This jade pendant should be worth a few taels of silver!" Lan Jinqin sighed. "I can use it to cover the one - tael silver I gave to the old woman today."
She pouted.
Who would go to him to ask for the silver?
She would never go!
The palaces of the Great Ye imperial city were continuous, standing majestically in the center of Shangjing. They were tall, magnificent, and extremely luxurious.
The South Study was brightly lit.
Emperor Guangwu, Song Huairen, sat upright in front of his desk. He was wearing a bright yellow regular robe with cloud patterns of four - cornered good luck. He was staring at the memorial on the desk.
His wide sleeves fluttered slightly as he raised his hand, revealing his supreme dignity.
Song Yinghuai knelt below Song Huairen, his back straight as a mountain.
After a long time, Song Huairen threw the memorial at Song Yinghuai. His fingers trembled slightly, and his eyes were burning with anger.
"Fourth Son! I recalled you to the capital because your mother was seriously ill and missed you! But as soon as you returned to the capital, you accused her son of a serious crime!"
The sharp corner of the memorial hit Song Yinghuai's fair and handsome face, leaving a bloodstain on his forehead.
Song Yinghuai knelt motionless on the ground, his thin lips tightly pursed, his face expressionless.
"Your son knows that this act will stimulate mother, but as a member of the royal family, one should not only have family affection in mind but also put the common people of the world first. The eldest brother colluded with the water bandits, privately opened the imperial armory, misused military weapons, and commanded the Eastern Depot, the emperor's personal guards, to cause chaos with the water bandits who were harming the people... Such actions must be severely punished!"
The aged emperor still had his might. His face was cold and stern. "Do you know what kind of crime you are accusing the crown prince of? In a serious case, it could be punished as treason! What are you up to? Do you want me to depose the crown prince?"
Recently, the calls to depose the crown prince in the court had been getting louder and louder, and Emperor Guangwu was extremely angry about it.
Song Yinghuai had just accused the crown prince of several almost fatal crimes.
This made Emperor Guangwu couldn't help but suspect that Song Yinghuai was building momentum for himself.
Song Yinghuai naturally knew what the emperor was thinking.
He also knew that from childhood to adulthood, the only son in his father's heart was Song Chengyuan. To his father, the other princes were just pawns.
Trying to make Song Huairen depose the crown prince was like going against his scales.
He suddenly bowed his head and kowtowed. His voice was loud and clear. "Your son doesn't dare!"
"Your son has no intention of suggesting to depose the crown prince. Your son just wants father to give justice to the innocent people who died in Lingbi City!"
A sneer came from between Song Huairen's teeth.
Justice?
He didn't believe that all Song Yinghuai wanted was justice.
But since Song Yinghuai had said so, he would follow his words and do something. This could also silence Song Yinghuai.
The emperor remained calm. After his initial outburst of anger, he calmly sat down.
He tapped his finger on the table and said slowly.
"Of course... The crown prince's actions this time were a bit absurd. I will definitely teach him a good lesson..."
Just then, Song Chengyuan entered the South Study. "Father, your son..."
Song Huairen threw the inkstone on the table at Song Chengyuan. "You came just in time! Look at what you've done!"