The news of Xue Rui's return to the capital spread in less than three days. Someone saw him entering and leaving the Supreme Court in broad daylight. Although he did not wear official robes or ride in a sedan chair, at least he showed his face. It was difficult to confirm the rumors of his escape.
In the following half a month, Xue Rui had people spread the news that he had been kidnapped in Fenghua Manor to teahouses, restaurants, and other crowded places. He himself often went in and out of Heng Wu Building and other places where high officials and nobles gathered. He was always surrounded by people, and his appearance was full of confidence. He did not look the slightest bit guilty or timid, and he did not look down on himself. On the contrary, it made people remember that three years ago, Master Bi of the City of Cheng was once a distinguished scholar in Anling.
Xue Rui's high profile actions naturally entered into Yu Shu's ears. Fortunately, she knew Xue Rui's character and didn't arouse suspicion, and she only knew that he surely had his reasons for doing this.
As expected, after half a month, the direction of the wind in the capital changed. Previously, it was said that the Xue family had disloyal intentions. Now, it was said that someone saw that Noble Consort Xue was pregnant and hated the Xue family's prosperity, so they set up a trap to frame her.
The most obvious result was that there were people in court who dared to speak up for Xue Lingnan. Perhaps Xue Rui's actions sent a signal and gave the Right Minister's people confidence.
One day, thirteen officials with important positions wrote a joint petition, begging the Emperor to show mercy and allow Xue Lingnan to return to court. Between the lines, they all said that Prime Minister Xue was the pillar of the country and the backbone of the Emperor. They also hinted at a muddle-headed Emperor of the previous dynasty who mistakenly killed a loyal official on a non-existent charge. There was a great suspicion that the Emperor was not willing to pardon Xue Lingnan because he trusted his trusted subordinates far away from the virtuous officials.
Emperor Zhao Qing had been on the throne for fourteen years and did not have any great achievements that could compare to the brilliance of his ancestors. To be honest, he had been a rather mediocre Emperor. At best, he had done nothing. But Emperor Zhao Qing did not want to be like this. He wanted to be like the other wise Emperors in the history of the An Dynasty. He wanted to expand the territory or reform the law to benefit the people and become a Emperor whose name would go down in history.
Unfortunately, he had the will but not the strength, so he was especially concerned about what the officials thought of him. He read the document asking for Xue Lingnan's pardon over and over again, and threw it into the corner several times, only to have someone pick it up again.
He did not want these officials who were trying to coerce him with soft words to get what they wanted, but he also did not want to prove that he was the incapable ruler that they had written about. Because of this, he agonized over it for half a day, and then he quietly sent someone to announce the Great Commandment to the Palace.
No one knew what the two of them talked about, but the next day at court, Emperor Zhao Qing mentioned Xue Lingnan in a seemingly unintentional manner. He said that it had been a while since he had seen Xue Lingnan and that he missed him. He did not mention that there had been people who had written a joint petition on Xue Lingnan's behalf the day before. With one sentence, he summoned Xue Lingnan to the palace for a chat.
On the third day, people once again saw the figure of the Right Minister in the court.
.....
After court, Xue Lingnan and a few of his old friends agreed to play chess at the Lookout Pavilion the next day. When he returned to the manor, he had someone bring Xue Rui in front of him.
"You did well this time, but in the end, you acted on your own and did not discuss it with me. Remember, this is the only time. There will not be a next time." It was rare that Xue Lingnan was not so serious today. In reality, he was in a good mood, otherwise he would not have chosen to meet him at the Sunset Plum Pavilion.
After Xue Rui returned to the capital, every single move Xue Rui made was carried out under his watch, and he didn't interfere, yet never had he imagined that Xue Rui would be able to influence public opinion in such a short period of time. Moreover, Xue Rui had incited all the ministers to jointly submit a petition on his behalf, forcing the Emperor to have no choice but to make a stand and allow him to return to the Imperial Court.
"Grandfather's teachings are correct, grandson will remember." Xue Rui did not claim credit or become arrogant. Everything he did was to repay the debt he owed, and also to repay the Xue family for their protection over the years.
"In two days, I will go ask for a grace for you, and let you resume your position," Xue Lingnan looked at him meaningfully, "Don't be idle for a few days, and then revert to your old ways. Don't be like those hedonistic sons, loitering around flowers and not doing proper work."
The position of Vice-Minister of the Supreme Court was, after all, very useful. It would be a pity to give it up.
"Grandson understands." Three years ago, after tearing away the shameful cloth of his identity, when facing the old man, Xue Rui always listened respectfully, not like a grandfather and grandson, but like a superior and subordinate.
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Xue Rui walked out of the Sunset Plum Pavilion, slowly releasing a breath. When Xue Lingnan returned to court, he could meet the Emperor. It would not be difficult to help him restore his position.
It was not that he did not want to give up his position, but there was a matter on his mind. He must return to the Supreme Court to solve it.
When he walked down the winding corridor, Xue Rui saw his attendant, Bao De, standing under the nearby doorway and sticking his head out to look around. With a single glance, it was obvious that Bao De was waiting for him, so Xue Rui gestured for Bao De to come over.
"What is it?"
Hōtoku reported in a low voice, "Old Lin sent someone to deliver a message, saying that there is a girl with the surname Jiang waiting for you at Wang Ji Lou."
Xue Rui frowned, thought for a moment, and then ordered, "Have Old Chui prepare a carriage."
Jiang Miya must have a request for him at this time to find him.
***
An hour later, Xue Rui saw Jiang Miya at Wang Ji Lou.
She had obviously disguised herself. She wore a gray coarse robe, her hair was tied up in a high bun, and her face was smeared with a layer of pot ash. She held a bamboo hat in her hand, and there was a bamboo basket on a shoulder pole at her feet. Anyone who saw her appearance would not be able to recognize that this was the young princess of Dongjing Wang fu.
"I heard that you were kidnapped before?" Jiang Miya saw Xue Rui coming in from outside and quickly got up. She subconsciously rubbed her cheeks with the back of her hand, wiping off a lump of black dirt. Her eyebrows were tied in a dead knot, and she said gloomily,
"After your accident, I looked for you everywhere, but I couldn't find your whereabouts. Later, when I learned that you were back, I wanted to see you, but the prince's mansion was full of spies. I was afraid that I would cause you more trouble, so I only found an opportunity to come out today."
After hesitating for a moment, she said hesitantly, "You should know that the emperor wants to force my brother to go overseas, so he has kept my mother and me under strict surveillance."
Xue Rui sighed inwardly. Emperor Zhao Qing's intention was very obvious. He chose this time to let Lord Dongjing go to Japan, so he planned to make a move against the Jiang family.
Lord Dongjing's family had been guarding the border for generations, and they had been trembling with fear until today. Finally, they had reached the limit of the emperor's tolerance.
If they looked into it, it was not surprising. In history, there had not been an emperor who could tolerate a vassal king who had a higher prestige among the people than he did, and whose military power threatened the court.
"I know everything. Sit down first before we speak." Xue Rui sat down opposite her and lifted up a cup of tea to moisten his throat. Recently, he'd been drinking too much every day, causing the heat in his liver to be exuberant, and he had a lot of phlegm that was difficult to swallow. If he didn't drink a few more mouthfuls of tea, his throat would be sore when he spoke.
It was rare for Jiang Qiya to be obedient, so she sat back down and did not argue with Xue Rui. Before she came, she was still worried that Xue Rui would blame her for the matter of Yu Shu and her Imperial Brother being a good match. When she saw his good expression, she finally felt relieved and dared to continue speaking.
"I know very well what the emperor is thinking. He is angry because of my brother's recent accumulation of troops. He thinks that my Jiang family is planning to raise troops and rebel. It is ridiculous. Few people know that my brother has sent secret memorials to the capital several times, speaking of the troubles in the north and asking the emperor to send troops to drive away the Tatars. However, the emperor did not listen. He is afraid that after my brother expands the territory, he will make great achievements and it will be even harder to shake my Jiang family. "
She spoke indignantly. It was obvious that she had been dissatisfied with Emperor Zhao Qing for a long time and did not have the slightest bit of respect.
She could not detect it herself, but Xue Rui understood. From her performance alone, he could see that the Jiang family's heart had been raised.
From the perspective of the ruler of a country, Emperor Zhao Qing's actions could not be said to be right or wrong. If the Jiang family really had ambitions, then killing him in advance was not wrong. However, if the Jiang family did not have the intention to rebel and was forced into a corner, it was possible that they would rebel.
Xue Rui had heard her indignant words, but he did not join her in despising the imperial court.
Instead, he asked her, "Does Madam Wei know that you came to find me?"
Jiang Ya nodded and suddenly became hesitant, "Actually, I, I came to find you today because I have something to ask of you."
Xue Rui immediately understood, but he heard her say hesitantly, "Do you have a way to help us leave Anling?"
Xue Rui did not answer. Jiang Ya looked at him anxiously, "I know it is difficult for you, but mother and I really have no other way. A few days ago, my brother sent us a letter by pigeon and asked us to ask you for help if we have nowhere else to go."
In reality, Jiang Huaiying flew over from Ning Dong City and the first sentence on the letter was: Pleading Zixin to leave Anling as soon as possible.
To prevent the letter from being exposed, he deliberately used Xue Rui's previous alias, Cao Zixin. It must be said that he trusted Xue Rui's character very much by entrusting it to his closest relative.
Xue Rui was Jiang Huaiying's brother after all, and he had witnessed Jiang Huaiying's unyielding temperament, so how could he not understand what Jiang Huaiying meant? If Madame Wei and Jiang Miya were to leave An Ling and return to Ning Dong City, Jiang Huaiying would no longer have any restraints, and he would be able to go all out and even … defy the imperial decree.
"You, let me think about it." Xue Rui rubbed his forehead and got up to get some fresh air outside. Jiang Huaiying had really given him a difficult problem.
Regardless of whether he had a way to send Madam Jiang and her daughter away, if he did not care about them, they would still try every possible way to leave the capital. Once they were discovered by others, they would not be able to escape.
On the contrary, if he arranged for them to leave the capital, it would be no different from deceiving the emperor. If there was a day when the Jiang family rebelled, he would inevitably be held responsible.
To go through water and tread on fire for the sake of brotherhood, or to be loyal to the emperor and betray the country, it was difficult for him to choose.
Jiang Ya looked at his hesitant back and felt apprehensive. She walked forward and raised her hand in the air. She wanted to pat his shoulder and tell him that it was fine if he was in a difficult situation. However, when she thought of her mother's warning before she left, her hand fell again.
"Second Brother." She called out in a low voice. Logically speaking, when Xue Rui and her Imperial Brother became sworn brothers, her Imperial Brother would request her to acknowledge Xue Rui as her brother. However, she felt uncomfortable in her heart, and she had always been unwilling. She insisted on calling him Xue Dalang over and over again in order to appear different.
"Think about it carefully. I have been out for too long today and must return. I will come find you in three days."
After saying that, she was afraid that he would say something to reject her, so she hurriedly put on her bamboo hat to cover her face and left through the back door with her shoulder pole.
Xue Rui watched as her figure disappeared behind the door, but in the end, he didn't call out to her. He just stood in the courtyard until dusk. The two doors were pushed open once again, and Yu Shu entered while stepping on the orange-red glow.
As soon as she saw him, she smiled. They had not seen each other for half a month. Now that she saw him, it was as if she had encountered something good. Even her footsteps became lighter.
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