"What do you plan to do?" Xiao Tian asked, looking into Yi Qing's sly eyes.
"A wise man always has his own tricks," Yi Qing replied proudly.
But after hearing her so - called "tricks", Xiao Tian's face darkened.
It was that damned eunuch Deng Xiao again!
Yi Qing smiled and said, "There's no other way. With the flying - fish robe and the embroidered - spring sword, just standing there makes one intimidating. If you're really jealous, how about I make a sacrifice and let you be castrated to replace Deng Xiao? You have such a good relationship with the emperor. He will surely grant your wish, right?"
"Yi Qing!" Xiao Tian gritted his teeth, pinned her down on the bed and ruffled her playfully.
"Alright, alright. You're so amazing. How could I bear to do that to you?" Yi Qing bit his earlobe gently, full of provocation. "It's just a piece of cake for Deng Xiao. And I've always been treating his mother. I can't do it for free. That would be such a loss for us."
Yi Qing went to Xu Maozhi to ask for his help.
"What?" Xu Maozhi thought he had misheard. "You're actually speaking for the Yianbo Mansion?"
Yi Qing said that Lady Sima missed her son, so she had asked Yi Qing to plead for her to visit her son in prison.
Previously, Lady Sima had tried many people to plead with Xu Maozhi, but all were rejected.
Come on. Whether for public or private reasons, he couldn't wait to get rid of Xiao Jinghong. How could he allow Lady Sima to visit him against the rules before the case was clearly investigated?
She was daydreaming!
Not only did Xu Maozhi refuse, but he also blacklisted all those who came to plead, vowing never to have anything to do with them again.
People with different values from his couldn't be friends.
So when he heard what Yi Qing said, besides being surprised, he was also angry.
"Didn't Ranran tell you what Xiao Jinghong did to her?"
When he saw Yi Qing nodding in acknowledgement, Xu Maozhi got even angrier.
"Ranran is so good to you. How could you side with others?"
Hearing Xu Maozhi's accusation, Yi Qing couldn't help rolling her eyes.
But she didn't tell the truth either. Pretending to be touched, she said, "Anyway, he's Xiao Jinghan's brother. Since Xiao Jinghan is gone, I want to do something for him. He has sacrificed himself for the country and can no longer fulfill his filial piety. There should at least be someone to take care of the Yianbo and see him off in his old age."
Better if it's tomorrow!
Xu Maozhi didn't quite believe her. "Why do I feel that you're being so insincere when you say this?"
Yi Qing thought to herself: Was I discovered? Am I so bad at pretending?
But on the surface, she didn't admit it. Looking righteous, she said, "Impossible. I really think so. I don't want you to bend the law and give a light sentence. Just have pity on the Yianbo and his wife and let them visit their son."
Xu Maozhi disagreed. Flicking his sleeve, he said, "No way."
"Then I'll go to Ranran," Yi Qing threatened, pretending to walk out.
"How could you have the nerve to go to Ranran?" Xu Maozhi was furious. "Aren't you betraying Ranran's trust and affection for you?"
"If you agree, I won't go," Yi Qing raised her eyebrows. "I won't tell her, and neither will you. It's just a visit. I guarantee I won't ask you for anything else."
Xu Maozhi thought for a while and said, "No. I don't trust you. You're too cunning. What if I agree, and then you tell Ranran? She'll definitely be angry with me."
As expected, Xu Maozhi wasn't really stupid and wasn't so easy to be deceived.
Yi Qing said, "Then I'll really go?"
"Go!"
Yi Qing went to find Ranran.
She didn't hide anything from Ranran and told her the whole truth, which left Ranran stunned.
"Sister - in - law, how are you so amazing?" Ranran looked at her with stars in her eyes, full of admiration.
"You're flattering me," Yi Qing laughed like a sly fox. "To put it simply, I'm just setting a trap for him and making Xiao Jinghong suffer in silence. This is just a lesson for him. I'm not satisfied."
Ranran was eager to fight. "You should have called me for this. I have new and old scores to settle with him. I can't wait to stab him a few times."
"No need to stab him. Now we need to make Lady Sima pay. Your mother's dowry back then shouldn't be embezzled by her for free. Now we'll make her pay it back with interest." Yi Qing's eyes showed a determined look.
Ranran was also inspired. Rubbing her hands, she said, "Sister - in - law, tell me what to do. I'll follow your lead."
"To catch a fish, you need bait first. Let her taste a bit of sweetness, and then she'll believe it," Yi Qing said. "First, we need to make her believe that I really have the ability to handle things. Then, slowly dispel her doubts, and she'll trust me."
"Okay," Ranran said. "What do you need me to do?"
"Seduce Xu Maozhi."
Ranran's face instantly turned bright red. Shyly, she said, "Sister - in - law, what are you talking about?"
Yi Qing burst out laughing. "Just kidding. For that fool, do you need to seduce him? If you stamp your foot, his heart will race for three days."
Although Ranran was still a bit shy, she proudly raised her head and said, "He listens to me."
Yi Qing told Ranran all her plans and then said, "Xu Maozhi is good in every way, but sometimes he's too stubborn and inflexible. If you tell him everything, he may have a psychological burden. So, just don't tell him. I'll take all the blame. You'll just be my assistant. He doesn't need to know anything and can still be a loyal and upright official."
"Okay," Ranran thought for a while and then readily agreed. "Sister - in - law, just wait and see what I can do."
When Xu Maozhi heard that Ranran wanted him to agree to Yi Qing's request, he was so surprised that his eyes almost popped out.
"Ranran, I don't understand," he stammered. "Don't you hate the Yianbo Mansion? Why are you speaking for them?"
Ranran turned her face away. "I do hate them, but after all, they're my elder brother's biological parents. If I don't help at all, will my elder brother still recognize me as his sister after I'm gone? It's just a visit. I'm not asking you to bend the law. I'm just doing this for sister - in - law and my elder brother."
"This..."
"Moreover, since sister - in - law has asked, if I completely refuse, how can we get along in the future? I've made it clear this time that this is the only time I'll help. Instead of having her ask you to bend the law in the future, it's better to let them have a visit. I've also told sister - in - law that you must be worried about them colluding. So even when they meet, your people will be there to guard. Sister - in - law has also agreed."
"Well, since you've thought so much about me, I'll agree. Ranran, this is completely for your sake."
Hearing this, Ranran felt a bit embarrassed. Biting her lips, she said, "Am I making things difficult for you?"
"Not at all. Not at all," Xu Maozhi quickly said. "I'm happy that you asked me. I'm willing to do this. Don't think about it when you go back. I'm willing to do anything for you. I don't want you to feel burdened."