Liu Qingsong saw a group of people in the pavilion, halted his steps, and surveyed his surroundings, "I thought for a mont I had run through the wrong gate."
"Qingsong bro, I haven’t seen you for a long ti, co here, let’s catch up," Cheng Huailiang chuckled.
There was a reason they called Liu Qingsong "Qingsong bro." This group had played with Liu Qingsong since childhood, and Lady Xiao had treated him as family. They also didn’t dare to belittle him, especially since Liu Qingsong often helped them with their tribe school howork. They all liked Liu Qingsong imnsely. Particularly Cheng Huailiang, who had relied on Liu Qingsong’s help to cheat at the Imperial College years ago, and managed to pass exams effortlessly and even received comndations from their instructors. They all felt that with Liu Qingsong around, they could play at ease.
Initially, Cheng Huailiang called him "Qingsong Sir," but it felt not intimate enough, so he changed it to "Qingsong bro."
Liu Qingsong entered the pavilion and plopped down beside Cheng Huailiang, muttering, "Whenever there’s a gathering, there must be a conspiracy."
Liu Qingsong glanced at Xiao Song, who sat with a serene expression, his slender fingers rhythmically tapping on the table. Recalling the "wife-loving syndro" incident, a cold sweat suddenly broke out on Liu Qingsong’s spine. Whenever Xiao Song looked like this, he was sure to be ruthless.
Imdiately, he hurriedly changed the subject, "You all must know about the impeachnt Sang Suiyuan submitted, right? I just ca out from the palace, and I heard that the Emperor had first summoned Prince Wei into his study, and who knows what was discussed there. After Prince Wei left, the Emperor then summoned the Crown Prince, and it is said the Emperor was so enraged that he smashed a wooden armrest."
The group’s spirits imdiately perked up, even Xiao Song paused his tapping.
Li Dejian, knowing Xiao Song’s keen insight into court affairs, which was nothing less than that of the seasoned officials, imdiately asked, "Jiulang, how do you think the Crown Prince fares this ti?"
Xiao Song pondered, "It’s hard to say."
Though these friends had played together since they were in open-crotch pants, their perspectives and stances differed after becoming officials. Hence, they usually gathered mostly for leisure, and wouldn’t rush to discuss unless there was a potential for political turbulence.
Li Dejian, having a good private relationship with the Crown Prince and also subtly supporting him, had placed An Jin beside the Crown Prince not to overthrow him but to exchange information. Therefore, Xiao Song wouldn’t carelessly express his opinions in front of Li Dejian.
"Jiulang, we both know very well what happened last ti Lady encountered danger; don’t tell you still want to pretend to be wise and protect yourself?" Li Dejian dropped his frivolous deanor and beca stern.
Xiao Song gave a slight smile, "You don’t have to provoke ; how Prince Wei fares, how the Crown Prince fares, has nothing to do with . It’s easy to muddy the waters, but being wisely detached requires real talent."
Li Dejian stared at him for a while, then sighed, "Never mind then."
Xiao Song in his youth had a fiery temperant, full of the chivalrous spirit of settling scores. He was the type to hold grudges, and dared anyone to cross him, relentless in seeking retribution even to the ends of the earth. Hence Li Dejian tried to provoke him with that statent, though he was not sure if it would be effective. Xiao Song had changed a lot since returning from the battlefield, especially after becoming a civil servant, increasingly concealing his emotions, not returning to so semblance of his forr self until the rumors spread after his marriage.
"Right, we finally get a mont to gather; why discuss such troubling matters!" Cheng Huailiang exclaid. He never worried about these issues; no matter who was Emperor, as long as the royal house of Great Tang stood, his wife would still be a Princess, and his father, a Duke.
Probably because Cheng Huailiang’s voice was too loud, Ge Lan soon ca over and asked, "My lord, would you like so drinks and dishes?"
"Hmm," Xiao Song responded indifferently.
Ge Lan bent her knees and backed away. Li Dejian had already pushed aside the previous conversation, completely smitten as he said, "Even her voice is uniquely beautiful."
Ge Lan’s voice had been damaged and initially sounded sowhat hoarse, truth be told, it wasn’t pleasant.
"However unique, she’s not yours," Liu Qingsong remarked, distinctly rembering the reticent maid by Ran Yan’s side. Her insight and intelligence were uncommon among won, especially for a maid.
"I don’t believe it," Li Dejian turned to Xiao Song, "Jiulang, if you have no objections, I intend to pursue her."
"Suit yourself," Xiao Song said. Li Dejian’s father might have been Great Tang’s foremost general, but his mother ca from a dubious background, originally a courtesan kept by a powerful official of the forr Sui Dynasty. Their family was not strictly demanding about social standings. Xiao Song could see Ran Yan valued Ge Lan highly, and for soone of Ge Lan’s status, marrying into the Li family, even as a concubine, was not too bad.
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