Yi Qing said, "Have you ever heard of a man named Deng Xiao?"
Grandma He was so eager to have a daughter - in - law that she thought every girl was excellent.
Moreover, even if Xue Miao'er wasn't her type, Xue Miao'er was good at acting!
She could act however Grandma He liked. How perfect.
Yi Qing thought her idea was simply brilliant.
Of course, she also had a bit of a joking thought. She just wanted to use Deng Xiao as a guise. She didn't really want Xue Miao'er to be a widow.
Deng Xiao's reputation was really suitable for the role of a man who could suppress the Meng family and wasn't afraid of the remnants of the previous dynasty that Xue Miao'er needed.
Hearing Yi Qing's words, Xue Miao'er instantly jumped up from the stool. "Which Deng Xiao?"
This name was truly terrifying.
"The one you're thinking of." Yi Qing replied.
"You're trying to kill me!" Xue Miao'er felt all the hairs on her body stand on end. "I don't want to experience the torture in the Jinyiwei's prison. And Deng Xiao is an old man, twisted and perverted, isn't he?"
"No." Yi Qing said. "He's very young and good - looking."
Saying he was twisted and perverted wasn't an exaggeration.
"You've actually met him!" Xue Miao'er's eyes widened like copper bells.
"Our family is in business. We're most afraid of being bullied and having our business ruined, so we always need a backer. Besides him, there are others, but I just have a deep impression of him."
"Of course you'd have a deep impression. He's Deng Xiao!" Xue Miao'er gasped.
Yi Qing added fuel to the fire. "My husband has a very good relationship with him. They're almost sworn brothers."
The implication was that she could speak on Xue Miao'er's behalf.
Xiao Tian silently spat. Bah, who was sworn brothers with that eunuch?
They used to be just acquaintances. Since Deng Xiao started to covet Yi Qing, they had become like enemies. It was either his death or Xiao Tian's.
Xue Miao'er's eyes blinked. In an instant, her mind was full of thoughts.
"Still no. I'm afraid of him. I'm actually quite a coward." Xue Miao'er kept shaking her head.
Using the same method to deal with Deng Xiao as with the Meng family was out of the question. Not to mention whether Deng Xiao needed a woman, even if it worked, would Deng Xiao let her off easily?
What would she do if he made her life a living hell?
One should pick the soft persimmons. Compared with Deng Xiao, the Meng family was as soft as it could be.
"… I can't marry him. I can't." Xue Miao'er was still muttering to herself.
Yi Qing pretended not to know her thoughts and said, "You're just looking for a backer. Why would you marry him? He's a eunuch. He doesn't need a woman. Just ask your father to prepare a lot of silver to pay tribute to him and ask him to suppress the Meng family."
"But, but… Well, you only know one side of the story."
"What's the other side?" Yi Qing asked.
"I can't even explain it clearly." Xue Miao'er sighed. "Anyway, this method won't work. I think money might not be able to impress Deng Xiao. Instead, it might easily offend him. What if he gets angry and comes to wipe out our stronghold?"
Eunuchs were unpredictable. Trying to curry favor with them was like trying to get chestnuts from a fire. One could easily get burned.
Trying to get close to a more evil person to defend against an evil one might not be worth it.
Yi Qing said, "Since you're so afraid of Deng Xiao, forget it. There's another type of person you can look for."
"Who?" Xue Miao'er immediately perked up.
"The sworn enemies of the Meng family. Those who are in the court can't be without opponents. The Lin family is in a marriage alliance with the Meng family. The two families control Henan. But there must be people who don't like them. If you have the Meng family's handle and give it to them, they'll help you suppress the Meng family without any special relationship."
"If only I just didn't want to marry into the Meng family." Xue Miao'er muttered in a very low voice.
The problem was that she wanted to drag others into trouble.
What Yi Qing told her was completely different from what she had in mind. It was also her fault for lying, so now the conversation had completely deviated.
"Moreover, if you hand over the evidence of their crimes, your father might even render meritorious service and obtain an official position. Then your father being an official himself would be much better than relying on others. Your father is still in his prime. If he makes some achievements, for example, fighting against the remnants of the previous dynasty we just talked about for the court, he'll surely be promoted in the future. Then who would you be afraid of? Of course, if you don't have such evidence, just ignore what I said."
Xue Miao'er left, lost in thought.
Xiao Tian crawled out from under the bed. Yi Qing took a deep breath and said, "I've given her so many hints. If she still doesn't understand, I can't do anything about it."
What she meant was that she wanted Xue Tianlang to testify against the Meng family, get an official position, and then go to suppress the remnants of the previous dynasty. This way, he could not only eliminate the danger but also make contributions. It was a win - win situation.
"If she doesn't understand, Xue Tianlang will." Xiao Tian patted the dust off his body. "It depends on whether Xue Tianlang dares to take this risky step. He may not believe that you can act as a go - between for him."
Yi Qing stroked her chin and said, "I think he'll agree."
Xiao Tian came over and sat down next to her, smiling. "Tell me."
"Xue Tianlang hates his in - laws to the core. He wishes they were dead. He promised Xue Miao'er's mother not to kill them, but if he has an imperial order, he can comfort himself that he has no choice. Besides, Xue Miao'er's mother has been dead for so many years. Xue Miao'er is the apple of his eye. Naturally, he should take care of the living first." Yi Qing said.
Xiao Tian looked at her with admiration and pride. "Your mind always works faster than others."
He had just said they should try to get information, and then Xue Miao'er rushed in.
Yi Qing could make Xue Miao'er take the bait on her own. He really had to admit it.
"If my mind didn't work fast, could I have caught you?" Yi Qing snorted and stared at Xiao Tian with squinted eyes.
Xiao Tian suddenly felt inexplicably guilty. He stood up and said, "We've talked so much. I'll go and pour you a glass of water."
"Dad, do you think this will work?" Xue Miao'er finished speaking in one breath, gasping for air. Her eyes were shining as she stared at Xue Tianlang.
She didn't dare to miss anything. She repeated everything Yi Qing said, including Deng Xiao, who she thought was completely out of the question.
Xue Tianlang unconsciously tapped his finger on the table. Although his expression showed some hesitation, after some deep thought, he still refused.
"Why, Dad!"
"Because we can't see through the affairs in the court. We don't know who is against whom and who has informants around whom. Handing over this evidence means breaking off relations with the Meng family. If we can't find anyone willing to help us, what will we do in the future?" Xue Tianlang was very cautious.
"Dad is right."
"So, Miao'er, don't think too much. Just marry into the Meng family first. Those pieces of evidence are for our self - protection. We can't hand them over easily unless it's a last - ditch effort."
Xue Tianlang paused and said, "But you said that Yi Qing's family is a wealthy merchant family and that she knows important officials in the court?"