In the bright room, the Tian Shu version of "Cang Xuan" sat down on the chair in the study. He picked up a book, unfurled the black jade fan in his hand with a flick, and gently waved it. He looked truly suave and elegant.
Tian Shu was about the same height as Cang Xuan. When he pretended to be Cang Xuan, as long as he didn't speak and kept a straight face, he could really pass for the real one.
And Cang Xuan's handsome face, which could captivate the world, instantly became ordinary. He was so plain that once he blended into the crowd, no one could find him.
After changing his appearance, Cang Xuan quietly left the Cang Mansion through the back door and planned to head in the direction of the Fuxing Temple.
However, out of some perverse interest, after leaving the Cang Mansion, he deliberately walked around to the front gate and took a look.
The carriage of the Pingyang Marquis Mansion was still parked outside. Su Zeqian bowed to the gatekeeper and said anxiously, "I, the young master, really have something urgent and would like to ask Lord Cang for help. Please, young man, go and announce me again."
The gatekeeper said impatiently, "How many times do I have to tell you? Our lord said he won't see you, and he won't see anyone, not even the emperor! Hurry up and leave. Don't block the entrance and get in the way!"
Cang Xuan glanced at Su Zeqian's haggard face, snorted coldly in his heart, and then turned around and left briskly.
How dare such a useless person who couldn't tell right from wrong even dream of seeing him?
It was wishful thinking.
...
Outside the Cang Mansion, Su Zeqian watched the grand gate being mercilessly closed in front of him. His heart was half filled with anxiety and half with helplessness.
When he was still working in the Ministry of Justice, he had heard a bit about Cang Xuan's strange and overbearing temper.
This was a tough guy who even dared to turn a cold shoulder to the emperor and refuse to see him. Since the other party had said he wouldn't see him, he probably wouldn't easily change his mind.
He knew that he definitely wouldn't be able to see Cang Xuan today, but he was also reluctant to leave just like that.
After all, if he returned to the mansion empty - handed like this, he was afraid that he would be questioned by Lady Tong again. After much thought, Su Zeqian turned and went to a nearby teahouse.
When Su Zeqian arrived at the teahouse, he originally wanted to go straight to the private room. However, when passing by the main hall, he heard the tea - drinkers chatting about the gossips in Shengjing City. When he heard the words "Duke Yong" from the crowd, he couldn't help but stop and listen attentively.
After listening, he finally realized what had happened in Shengjing City in the past two days.
He never expected that in just two short days, the once - glorious Yan family had suddenly become traitors who plotted rebellion. And Duke Yong had taken over the Jingji Army. The Chief Minister Cang, who had just refused to see him at the gate, had been promoted to Prince Cang.
And all those ministers who had once pleaded for Yan Huan had been punished.
At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a chill of fear.
He remembered that a few days ago, someone had indeed come to the Pingyang Marquis Mansion and asked the marquis to plead for Yan Huan together, but the marquis had refused.
They themselves were constantly being scolded by the emperor and were already in a difficult situation. How could they have the energy to take care of the Yan family's affairs?
He never expected that this was how they managed to escape a disaster.
Then the tea - drinkers talked about Yan Huan's death and the atrocities committed by the Jingji Army, who were disguised as bandits, in Luoyan Village.
"...Those traitors from the Yan family were really crazy. They actually colluded with the Jingji Army to massacre the villagers at the foot of Yandang Mountain. Fortunately, Prince Cang and Duke Yong protected the emperor. Otherwise, the world would surely be in great chaos."
"Yes, the world has been peaceful for a long time, but there are always some traitors who want to cause trouble in the world."
"Hehe, the Yan family was never a good one."
Based on what the tea - drinkers said, Su Zeqian could also imagine how dangerous the situation had been at that time. His mind went blank for a moment, and an innocent and beautiful little face involuntarily appeared in front of his eyes.
For some reason, although his dismissal from office was related to that little girl from the Duke Yong's Mansion, when he thought of her, he didn't feel angry at all. Instead, he was worried about her safety.
He wondered... if that little girl had been injured because of this?
Su Zeqian was so lost in thought that he didn't notice that he was pouring tea. Accidentally, the tea overflowed from the cup and scalded his finger that was placed beside it.
The servant let out a startled cry and quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe the water off Su Zeqian's body. The burning pain came from the back of his hand and fingertips, making his heart inexplicably bitter.
Within a day, what had happened on Yandang Mountain had spread everywhere.
The news that Cang Xuan had been made Prince Cang had caused quite a stir in Shengjing City.
In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince was holding a half - naked beauty in his arms. There were other beauties on his sides, kneading his shoulders and feeding him grapes with their slender fingers. Below, his confidants looked extremely anxious.
"Your Highness, Cang Xuan has been rising so fast. He has been made Prince Cang just two years after entering the palace. We must quickly win him over and make him stand on Your Highness's side. If the Prince of Jin, the Prince of Huai and others get ahead of us, with Cang Xuan's ability, it may be disadvantageous to Your Highness!"
"Yes, Your Highness! The emperor trusts Cang Xuan so much. We should make friends with him. Only in this way can we be more powerful!"
The Crown Prince kissed the beauty beside him on the face and replied irrelevantly, "How is the Prince of Jin recently? Is his leg still mobile?"
The confidant replied, "The Prince of Jin doesn't go out very often these days. Our people can't enter the Prince of Jin's Mansion either. We don't know the Prince of Jin's current situation for the time being."
"As I remember, my good younger brother found a divine doctor who could cure his legs?" The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, it was Su Qingyu, the legitimate daughter of the Pingyang Marquis, who cured his legs and allowed him to stand up again."
Su Qingyu, the legitimate daughter of the Pingyang Marquis... The Crown Prince felt that this name was a bit familiar. He hugged the beauty in his arms and thought hard for a long time before he finally matched the name with the person in his memory.
"So it's her." The Crown Prince raised his eyebrows. "She is a graceful and charming beauty."
After a pause, he said, "However, compared with her younger sister Su Yuanyuan, she is far inferior."
Mentioning Su Yuanyuan, the Crown Prince sighed regretfully. "It's really a pity that such a beautiful flower - like beauty as Su Yuanyuan died in the hands of that old lecher Lu Chuan. If I had known earlier..."
He didn't finish his words, but everyone understood what he meant.
If he had known that Su Yuanyuan would do such a self - degrading thing at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, he would have taken her for himself before Lu Chuan did.
Such a beauty should have been his. Especially since Su Yuanyuan was the childhood sweetheart cousin of his useless younger brother. Everyone knew that she was very likely to become the Princess of Jin.
He really wanted to see what kind of expression his useless younger brother would have if he knew that Su Yuanyuan was sobbing and flattering under him.
It was a pity that Su Yuanyuan was already dead, and he would never see such a scene.
His eyes turned cold, and the Crown Prince said, "Think of a way to make sure that my good younger brother will never be able to stand up again."
The confidant below replied, "Yes, Your Highness!"