Chapter 139 (1/2)
Chapter 139: The Truth Hidden in Catkin
Ning Que recalled that little Sangsang kept staring at Third Prince Xie at the announce result day, and then he realized that little Sangsang, just like him, was a mortal who focused on people's appearance. ”But why she never stares at me? The reason is quite simple: I am not handsome.” Thinking of this, Ning Que said in a gloomy voice, ”Generally speaking, a handsome man doesn't have a wise brain, such as that Prince Long Qing”.
Putting her head on her slim arms, Sangsang said fascinatedly, ”Young master, I just want to figure out how he is born with that face. It's so pretty; I am wondering where he buys his makeup, from Chenjinji cosmetic store or Yuzhiyuan cosmetic store? Well, it would be great if I can take a closer look and even better if I could touch his eyebrows.”
Looking at her face, Ning Que remembered that in all those years, except for doing housework, his little handmaiden almost had no interests. Thinking of this, a sense of pity rose from his heart. After a moment of silence, Ning Que smiled and said, ”Prince Long Qing is supposed to enter to the second floor of the Academy, if you want to look at him closely I could bring you there. At that time you could cheer for me by the way.”
”Good idea!” Sangsang clapped her tiny hands and sat up straight, and then she seriously stared at Ning Que and said, ”but I'll just drop by on the way to see him when I am going there to cheer you up.”
”You are so sweet, that's my girl.”
Ning Que smiled and rubbed her head, and then he walked toward the backyard with his hands behind and thinking, ”No matter for my own life or for my little handmaiden's dream, I must try every effort to enter the second floor of the Academy”.
Another spring
came. The catkin was fluttering in the air. They were flying above wells in the market street, flying across quiet and luxurious residence at southern city, flying through busy Vermilion Bird Avenue and flying over the high vermilion wall. The catkin naughtily touched the animal-carvings on eave, and then gently fell down, making the wet floor of laundry became a thin blanket.
”I'm wrong, I'm wrong. If his Majesty asked last year and I was a bit braver to admit it, now I will not be in this awkward situation. Right now what I feel is like I see a gold mountain, but I dare not to touch it.”
A voice with Hebei accent resounded in the air which was filled with catkin. A deputy commander of Great Tang named Xu Chongshan who was slightly overweight was standing in front of the handrail of the side hall. Gathering his hands in his sleeves, he watched those ministers who were joyfully and haughtily walking out from inperial study, and looked at those copies treated like treasures by them. And then his disdainful eyesight gradually turned into a sight that missing his first lover and his family.
”As you see, I am a boor so why would I play tricks like those ministers? I screwed up everything! I reaped what I have sown. Now that His Majesty likes it deeper, and the more people are involved, the more I am afraid to admit that I lied to his Majesty. As a saying goes, selecting a wrong path would lead you astray.”
The young eunuch Lu Ji glanced at the deputy commander, and then he advised in a low voice and said, ”Your honor, we have been waiting for months, yet no matter how secret Ning Que hid, the imperial court would dig him out one day. At that time, not only you and me but also our imperial bodyguard office would be sentenced for lying to his Majesty, so what if we... make a gamble?”
”How?” Xu Chongshan snorted and replied, ”His Majesty likes it, her Majesty likes it, and those ministers like it, no matter real or fake. Anyway, his Majesty has been disappointed for such a long time, if he finds out that you and I have kept the truth for such a long time, all his disappointment and likes will turn into anger, by then, Ning Que won't get into any trouble, yet you and I will be responsible for it instead.”
When talking about important things, the deputy commander lost his accent. Lu Ji didn't dare to interrupt him. He rolled his eyes and thinking, ”If that day really comes, then I must be the one who takes the responsibility. This matter... should be solved.”
”Lu Ji... who do you think is the most trusted person by his Majesty, in additon to her Majesty?” Xu Chongshan suddenly asked.
Lu Ji shocked for a while, realizing that the deputy commander had already seen through his mind. With a sour face, he bowed, thinking for a long time, and then he replied indeterminately, ”The Master of Nation?”
”I don't care what methods you use, but you need to handle this matter properly. Let his Majesty knows who wrote those words through the mouth of the Master of Nation, and keep the bodyguard office out of this at the same time.”
Xu Chongshan arranged few words, and then lifted his leg to walk toward the gate.
Taking over this troublesome matter from the deputy commander, Lu Ji definitely unwilling to let him stand out of the trouble. So Lu Ji followed anxiously and gabbled in a low voice, ”Deputy Commander, it's always easier talk than to do. What am I supposed to do?”
”If I know how to do it, what's the point to have you here?” Xu Chongshan glared back and angrily said, ”As a deputy commander, I am busy dealing with official business, how can I have time to deal with such a little matter?”