Looking at Deng Xiao, who was about the same age as Xiao Jinghong but already held a high - ranking position, Lady Sima couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy in her heart.
However, this wasn't the time to be envious. She was still counting on Deng Xiao to save her skin.
Just then, a familiar voice rang out.
"Xiao'er's back?"
Lady Sima looked up and sure enough saw "Nanny Wu".
Yi Qing's way of addressing Deng Xiao surprised her.
A servant actually dared to call the master by his first name directly? And this master was Deng Xiao, known for his unpredictable and mercurial temper.
Deng Xiao pressed his fist against his lips and cleared his throat, barely masking his smile as he gave a soft "hmm".
Yi Qing cursed him in her heart. She'd settle the score with him for ruining the good plan later!
Wasn't it just a request for him to cooperate with her in this act? What was he smiling about!
"Then go quickly. The old lady was just saying she wondered why you weren't back yet."
"Nanny," Deng Xiao deliberately emphasized the tone. With his back to the carriage and a teasing look in his eyes as he faced Yi Qing, he deliberately pronounced the title very heavily. "Are you going out, Nanny?"
"I'm here to greet a guest." Yi Qing pointed at the carriage. "An old acquaintance."
"Then invite her into the mansion. I'll have someone prepare a feast."
Yi Qing waved her hand nonchalantly. "No need. I'm not that close to her. Her son got into some trouble and came to beg me. You go back and accompany the old lady quickly. I'll see her."
Only then did Deng Xiao go inside.
Just now when he turned to glance at the carriage, Lady Sima met his sharp, hawk - like eyes and couldn't help but shiver.
Thankfully, Deng Xiao had gone inside. She could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Yi Qing walked over and got into the carriage. Looking at Lady Sima with a half - smile, she said, "Have you made up your mind? Did you bring the silver note?"
"No. No, it's not that I haven't made up my mind. I just didn't bring the silver note." Lady Sima quickly said. "One hundred thousand taels of silver is really too much. Do you think you could..."
Yi Qing sneered and turned as if to get off the carriage.
Lady Sima grabbed her and gritted her teeth. "I'm not bargaining. I just want you to give me a few more days."
"Sure." Yi Qing rubbed the corner of her brow. "Come whenever you like. As soon as I see the silver note, I'll find someone for you right away."
"But, but wasn't it always the case before that the service was provided first and the silver collected later?"
"The first time was to show you my sincerity. This time it won't work." Yi Qing said in a non - negotiable tone. "So, go back and collect the money slowly. I'm not in a hurry."
Lady Sima almost ground her silver teeth to pieces. But thinking of Deng Xiao's familiarity with Yi Qing just now, she no longer had any doubts about her.
"Wait for me. I'll be quick."
She'd go back right away to sell her houses and lands and at the same time go to the General's Mansion to ask for silver!
Yi Qing laughed lightly and merrily. "Really not in a hurry. Take your time."
Lady Sima almost left in tears.
Yi Qing stood behind the main gate of the Deng Mansion. Peeping through the crack of the door as the carriage of the Earl's Mansion drove further and further away, she clapped her hands and murmured to herself, "Mission accomplished."
"Now will you accompany me for a cup of tea and a chat?"
Yi Qing was greatly startled by the voice. She spat at the suddenly - appeared Deng Xiao. "Scaring people can kill, you know? No more tea. I'm going back to the mansion and waiting. Lady Sima might be crazy for the silver and come straight to my mansion."
"If she can break in, you might as well dismiss all those guards in your mansion." Deng Xiao said. "Besides, I've helped you so much. Don't you want to show your appreciation? It's not too much to accompany me for a cup of tea, is it?"
Seeing that Yi Qing still disagreed, Deng Xiao added, "I also want to ask about my mother's condition."
Only then did Yi Qing reluctantly agree.
Deng Xiao personally poured tea for Yi Qing. His movements were as smooth as flowing clouds and his face wore a smile that made one feel as if bathing in the spring breeze, which was very different from his usual cold and aloof self.
Hearing him ask about Old Lady He's condition, Yi Qing said, "She's recovering well. If there's anything to worry about... it's that she's always asking me to find a match for you. I'm really in a dilemma."
Unexpectedly, Deng Xiao didn't care at all and even laughed.
"What's so difficult about that? I think you're just fine."
Yi Qing: "..."
"Bring your son to the mansion to play next time. My mother will be very happy." Deng Xiao added.
"He's studying in the academy and has no time to come out."
"I heard that Xiao Jinghong also entered the academy before?"
"That was before. Isn't he locked up now?" Yi Qing said indifferently.
She was also quite regretful that Xiao Jinghong had been locked up before she had a chance to let Baozi practice on him.
Deng Xiao said, "You should have come to me earlier. I'm better than you at dealing with such villains."
Yi Qing smiled. "Thank you then."
But in her heart, she thought that although she wanted to rely on him as a backer, she couldn't get too tied up with him, otherwise she'd attract a lot of hatred.
"Do you want to go after Earl Yi'an now?"
"Earl Yi'an?" Yi Qing was stunned and then denied. "No. He's never even appeared in front of me. I haven't thought about taking action against him for the time being."
She'd knock down the white - lotus first.
"However," Yi Qing squinted at him. "Why do you ask this?"
Deng Xiao sneered. "Since it wasn't your order, then someone must be trying to show off in front of you."
"Explain yourself clearly."
"You can go back and ask your Xiao Tian." When Deng Xiao said this, there was a hint of sourness and schadenfreude in his tone.
"Xiao Tian?" Yi Qing frowned. It seemed that she understood why Deng Xiao had insisted on keeping her for "tea" - this guy was trying to sow discord!
"It's okay for you to frame Xiao Jinghong with the excuse of smuggling. The emperor didn't pursue it. But go back and ask what Xiao Tian has done. If it gets out, you might be dragged down by him too."
"Don't scare me." Yi Qing looked at him, her brow furrowing deeper. The tea in her hand no longer smelled good. "What exactly did he do?"
"Selling official positions."
"Ah?" Yi Qing was really stunned.
Would an old - timer like Xiao Tian sell official positions? With his relationship with the emperor, he did have the ability to do so. But he definitely wouldn't do such a thing.
Hearing Yi Qing trying to excuse him, Deng Xiao sneered. "Go back and ask him. Be careful that you and your son will be killed by him. If you have any difficulties, you can come to me."
Yi Qing: "… I just want to ask you one thing. Who did he sell the official positions to?"
"Earl Yi'an."
Yi Qing was puzzled. "Earl Yi'an already has a title. Why does he need to buy an official position?"
"It seems you really don't know your own father. He's an official - obsessed person, but he's mediocre in talent. The highest position he ever held was a sixth - rank idle post, and later the emperor removed him from it. So he really wants to make a comeback. Xiao Tian must have known this, so he wanted to make a move on this."
So that's how it was.
"However," Deng Xiao sneered with a proud expression. "He doesn't know that the emperor hates it most when others sell official positions. Even if it's fake, the emperor will surely punish them severely."
Looking at his proud face that seemed to say "When it comes to knowing the emperor, everyone is nothing compared to me", Yi Qing really wanted to laugh.