825 Visit (2)
That night, Shen Miao was deep in thought. Su Mingfeng was racking his brain to sort out what had happened, while there were others who couldn’t fall asleep.
Prince Ding’s mansion was bright all night.
Fu Xiuyi sat at the head of the table and looked at the person who came to report. He slowly asked, “Su Mingfeng went to Prince Rui’s mansion?”
The person said, “That’s right. After coming out, he seemed to be dumbfounded and was in a daze.”
Fu Xiuyi waved his hand and his subordinate left. The aide beside him went forward and asked, “Could it be that the heir of the Earl of Pingnan is working with Prince Rui?”
“Su Mingfeng is no longer an official. If Prince Rui really wanted to find someone to work with, he wouldn’t find Su Mingfeng.” Fu Xiuyi’s gaze turned cold. “The Su family was an excellent chess piece. If not for the fact that Su Mingfeng suddenly fell seriously ill and the Su family gradually left the bureaucracy, this wouldn’t have happened. However,” he said, “the Su family was lucky to have escaped a calamity.”
The aide said, “Speaking of which, the illness he was suffering from was really strange. Because Su Mingfeng was sick, the Earl of Pingnan actually resigned. Now, he’s gradually retired and there’s almost no news about him in the capital.”
Fu Xiuyi smiled. “Do you really think Su Mingfeng is sick?”
“Your Highness, please enlighten me.”
“Su Mingfeng and Xie Jingxing of the Marquis of Lin’an are good friends.” Fu Xiuyi said, “It’s strange that the Su family suddenly quit their official career, especially Su Mingfeng. At that time, he was on the rise, but he suddenly fell seriously ill and resigned. It was said that he would not have more than two years to live. Look, two years have passed, but isn’t Su Mingfeng still alive and well? The Earl of Pingnan is clearly trying to protect themselves by walking away from the imperial court. I think they were reminded to do so by someone. The Earl of Pingnan and the Marquis of Lin’an have always been on good terms. Apart from Xie Jingxing, I can’t think of anyone else who would give Su Mingfeng this idea.”
“But.” The aide asked in confusion, “Why is it Xie Jingxing who reminded them and not Xie Ding?”
“Xie Ding can’t even protect himself.” Fu Xiuyi took a sip of tea. “Xie Ding is arrogant and presumptuous. Relying on his outstanding military achievements, he has been impudent in front of my father. My father has long wanted to get rid of him. If Xie Ding was smarter, he would restrain himself. But look, in the capital, he has never restrained himself. On the other hand, this Xie Jingxing.” Fu Xiuyi narrowed his eyes. “He’s not to be underestimated.”
“Isn’t Xie Jingxing also impudent?” The aide said, “Everyone in the capital knows that Young Marquis Xie is a mischievous and wild person.”
“That’s right, but don’t forget one thing,” Fu Xiuyi replied. “From the beginning to the end, he didn’t become an official.”
“Everyone says that Xie Jingxing didn’t become an official because he was deliberately disobeying Xie Ding to anger him. I don’t think so. At the Chrysanthemum Banquet, Xie Jingxing dealt with his two half-brothers alone. The martial arts he displayed were admirable. He had peerless talent, but he didn’t want to show it. He was hiding his talent.”
“Xie Jingxing is the most terrifying person in the Xie family. Therefore, the person who reminded the Su family was not Xie Ding, but Xie Jingxing. Only Xie Jingxing could do it.”
The aide looked at Fu Xiuyi. “Your Highness, don’t you think too highly of Xie Jingxing? Even if he reminded the Su family, it doesn’t prove anything…”
“Doesn’t prove anything?” Fu Xiuyi looked at him and asked, “Then how about the Xie army?”
“The Xie army?” The aide was puzzled. Then, he thought of something and looked at Fu Xiuyi in shock. “Your Highness, you mean…”
