"Master, the Second Young Master is here," Feiyu reported.
Hearing this, He Xun was a bit surprised.
He had thought that given He Jin's personality, since he had been rejected by him, he would surely give up on his scheme. But he didn't expect He Jin to actually chase after him.
He Xun didn't stop his hand movements and simply said, "Let him in."
A moment later, along with the sound of the door opening, a faint smell of wine wafted in.
He Xun looked up and saw He Jin wearing a gentle smile. "Elder brother is busy with official duties all day long. It's too hard on you. You should take more care of your health."
He Xun glanced at the chair beside him and motioned, "Sit."
He Jin lifted his robe and sat down, looking calm and gentle.
He Xun put down his pen and sized He Jin up and down.
He Jin had a straight figure, fair skin, and delicate features with a touch of handsomeness. He was truly good - looking.
Actually, He Xun used to dote on this younger brother very much. After all, their father didn't have many descendants.
So even though He Jin was an illegitimate son, He Xun had never looked down on him. He had protected and doted on He Jin, trying his best to be a good elder brother.
But somehow, He Jin's actions had become more and more deviant.
During the few times He Xun returned to the capital, he always learned about some of He Jin's hidden scandals, which put him in a difficult position.
At first, He Xun tried to solve these problems, but He Jin showed no sign of improvement.
Later, He Xun simply let it go. After all, he couldn't always clean up He Jin's messes.
But this had aroused He Jin's suspicion and hostility. He Jin often complained about He Xun in front of their father. He Xun then saw He Jin's true character clearly and despised him deeply.
From then on, the two brothers had drifted apart and finally came to dislike each other.
However, He Jin didn't show his dislike on his face. He always wore a gentle smile and was the proper and polite Second Young Master.
A sneer appeared on He Xun's face, and then he said, "I'm powerless to help with your matter."
He Jin was still thinking about how to start the conversation when He Xun saw through his mind. His face immediately turned ugly.
He Xun ignored him and continued, "Kong Pengxing was removed from his post because of you, and he even implicated Lord Wan, the Palace Attendant, who was scolded by the Emperor for the lax governance and negligence of his department. So you can't go to the Department of the Palace Secretariat. Du Wenbai of the Capital Prefecture was demoted because of you, so you can't go back to the Capital Prefecture.
As for the Six Ministries, there are currently no vacancies. You can only wait. If you were diligent every day, it would be okay, and you would eventually get a position. But unfortunately, you were caught absenting yourself from your post without permission. Tell me, should I help you?"
He Xun's question was not harsh, but it made He Jin's face look worse and worse. Still, He Jin gritted his teeth and said, "Even so, Yao Kangning shouldn't have directly reported this without considering the face of the Marquis of Anshun. He clearly doesn't put Father and you in his eyes."
He Xun sneered, "He didn't directly impeach you just because he considered the face of the Marquis of Anshun. Otherwise, if this matter were to reach the Emperor's ears, combined with the previous matter of the refugees, do you think you could get out of this unscathed and only be suspended from your duties?"
He Jin was immediately speechless and couldn't find any more excuses.
"Go back. You've already got the best of this situation. Don't cause any more trouble."
After saying that, He Xun didn't look at He Jin anymore and lowered his head to work.
He Jin gritted his teeth and his face was gloomy. He waited for a long time, but He Xun didn't look up. Finally, he had to leave silently.
After He Jin left, He Xun said to Feiyu, "Keep an eye on him."
Don't let him do something desperate.
...
Su Nansheng learned about He Jin's suspension from his duties immediately. She felt a bit regretful.
If she had known that He Jin's official career would end so soon, she wouldn't have been in a bad mood for several days.
It not only hurt her body but also made her owe He Xun several handkerchiefs. It was really a bad deal.
He Jin, that trouble - maker, really deserved a visit to congratulate him on his suspension.
Su Nansheng smiled brightly. She felt like a petty person gloating over her success.
Seeing her so happy, Bitao was also excited. "I heard that Bitao Courtyard has been very lively these days. The Second Young Master either loses his temper or gets drunk every day. Anyway, there hasn't been a single peaceful day."
Bitao Courtyard hadn't been so lively for a long time. This time, it really satisfied her.
Hearing this, Su Nansheng said with a smile, "Let's go for a stroll in the garden."
Although she couldn't go to congratulate He Jin in person, she still wanted to see He Jin's dejected face.
The mistress and the maid hit it off immediately. Soon they walked to the garden closest to Bitao Courtyard, planning to eavesdrop there.
Unexpectedly, from afar, they saw Su Hele standing at the moon gate with a frown.
Su Nansheng stopped in her tracks. It seemed that she couldn't eavesdrop today.
Just as she was thinking, Su Hele also saw her and raised her head. "What are you doing here?"
Su Nansheng lifted her red lips slightly. "I came because I wanted to. There's no place in this mansion that I can't go."
Saying that, she took a few steps forward, stepped through the moon gate, and entered the garden to enjoy the flowers.
Just now, she was still hesitating whether to stay in the same place as Su Hele. Now that Su Hele asked such a question, she decided to stay.
She just didn't want to bother with Su Hele, not because she was afraid of her. Why should she back down?
Su Hele frowned and her eyes followed Su Nansheng.
Before, she often came to this garden to paint and had never met Su Nansheng.
Now that He Jin was losing his temper every day and she came here to avoid the noise, she met Su Nansheng. How could it be such a coincidence?
She suspected that Su Nansheng was here to laugh at her.
"Are you really here to enjoy the flowers?" Su Hele's tone was full of doubt.
Su Nansheng glanced at her. Of course not.
She was clearly here to eavesdrop. Couldn't she tell?
"I was busy renovating Tingfeng Courtyard before and didn't have time to congratulate the Second Young Master on his promotion. I just thought of sending some congratulatory gifts to the Second Young Mistress a few days ago, but I heard that the Second Young Master was suspended from his duties. You said it's really a pity."
It was really a pity that Su Hele was causing trouble here and she couldn't eavesdrop.
Su Nansheng's tone really sounded extremely pitying and very sincere, but Su Hele could hear something else in it, and it was very harsh.
"Hubby is just experiencing a temporary setback. He will surely regain his official position soon."
Su Hele's face showed displeasure, and her calm appearance was gone.
Su Nansheng curled her lips. It seemed that she had hit a sore spot with Su Hele.
"Of course. The Second Young Master was promoted and then suspended quite quickly. I wonder how quickly he can regain his position."
Su Nansheng continued to rub salt into the wound. When He Jin was promoted before, Su Hele had come to show off in front of her. She had to return the favor.
Sure enough, Su Hele's face changed, and she said angrily, "Su Nansheng, you're really here to laugh at me. Don't go too far."
Su Nansheng smiled slightly and didn't say a word.
Seeing that she didn't say anything, Su Hele raised her head and said coldly, "A petty person gloating over success."
Su Hele had said the same thing about Su Nansheng before, but Su Nansheng usually didn't bother to care.
But today, Su Nansheng was in a good mood and wanted to argue. So she stopped smiling and said coldly, "You have no manners at all. How dare you insult a court lady's wife? Bitao!"
Bitao immediately stepped forward, waiting for Su Nansheng's order.
Seeing Su Nansheng suddenly change her face and Bitao's eager look, Su Hele couldn't help but take a step back, then turned around and ran away quickly.
Bitao: "???"
Bitao looked back at Su Nansheng in disbelief.
Su Hele had actually run away, run away...
Su Nansheng snorted. She had thought that Su Hele would show more backbone and be unyielding.