Chapter 1340: Eunuch Jin’s Means
As soon as Xie Jinnian’s carriage drove into the City Lord Manor, a trusted guard immediately welcomed him and whispered to Ye Xun.
Ye Xun lowered the curtain. “Got it.”
The trusted guard retreated unobtrusively.
Ye Xun looked at Xie Jinnian and said with a solemn expression, “Young Master, Eldest Young Master actually targeted you. With the City Lord’s suspicious personality, I’m afraid…”
Ye Lang clenched his fists in righteous indignation. “Last night, he was the one who released the prisoners and dumped the blame. He didn’t succeed and shifted the blame to us. How shameless!”
The four brothers looked harmonious on the surface, but there were many hidden conflicts.
Xie Jinnian was used to it and was not surprised by Xiahou Zheng’s framing.
“Young Master, what should we do?” Ye Xun asked.
Xie Jinnian said calmly, “Go back to the courtyard first, take a bath, and change clothes.”
Ye Xun and Ye Lang looked at each other. Only their young master could be so calm in the face of a disaster.
Xie Jinnian returned to the courtyard and finished bathing comfortably. He walked out with his long black hair draped over his shoulders.
His face was fair and his facial features were exquisite. He was a rare good-looking man.
However, he always deliberately lowered his presence and often made people ignore his beautiful appearance.
Wuhu’s eyes widened.
This person… was too good-looking!
Xie Jinnian came to the bird cage and tapped his slender fingers on the iron cage.
Wuhu came back to his senses. “Ji!”
What?
Xie Jinnian said casually, “You’ve been a spy for so long. I’m very angry.”
Wuhu said, “Ruyi loves you.”
Xie Jinnian said, “Sweet nothings are useless to me.”
Wuhu whispered, “Grandpa my ass.”
Xie Jinnian was speechless.
Xie Jinnian lifted the bird cage. “It’s not so easy for me to forgive you. I don’t keep useless people around me, and that applies to birds.”
Wuhu muttered,” We’re both scammed. Why are you so anxious to fight to the end?”
–
Xie Jinnian dressed neatly and tied his hair. He brought the two phoenixes to Xiahou Qing’s bedroom.
Xiahou Zheng was still there.
In Thousand Mountains Island, other than Xiahou Qing, the City Lord, only Xiahou Yi and Ling Yun could enter directly.
Xie Jinnian had never felt unbalanced about this.
He obediently waited for the servant to inform him until Xiahou Qing agreed to see him.
Xiahou Qing couldn’t help but frown when he saw him enter with two phoenixes… There was even a festive knot on the cage.
“Greetings, Foster Father.”
Xie Jinnian put down the cage and cupped his hands.
Xiahou Zheng sized up his adoptive father’s expression and smiled faintly. “Second Brother, what are you doing?”
Xie Jinnian said, “The Hundred Flowers Palace gave me a pair of phoenix birds. I’m giving them to Foster Father.”
After a pause, he added, “Yun Lin chose them himself. He said that these two are easier to raise.”
Hearing that his son had chosen it, Xiahou Qing had nothing to say.
But he saw that his second son had serious business. “What did you do last night?”
Xie Jinnian said truthfully, “I rested in the courtyard for the first half of the night and followed the two elders to the Hundred Flowers Palace in the second half of the night. I didn’t return with the two elders until now.”
Xiahou Zheng asked, “Second Brother, why don’t you think about it again? Are you sure you didn’t do anything else?”
Xie Jinnian looked at him. “Brother, what do you mean?”
Xiahou Zheng said, “The prison is heavily guarded. It’s not so easy for Yuwen Xi and Yuwen Huai to get the key. Who do you think gave it to them?”
Xie Jinnian looked wronged. “Brother, are you suspecting me?”
Xiahou Zheng didn’t answer him directly, but his words could be considered to be tacit agreement. “I’ve asked Foster Father. You took the initiative to search the Hundred Flowers Palace last night. Why?”
Xie Jinnian sighed. “I just want to share Foster Father’s burden. I definitely have no intention of snatching credit from Big Brother.”
Xiahou Qing glanced at Xiahou Zheng.
In fact, among the four godsons, the second son was the most aloof from worldly affairs.
On the other hand, the eldest son prided himself on being the eldest son and suppressed his younger brothers in every aspect.
Xie Jinnian said, “Speaking of which, Big Brother’s actions last night were indeed a little inappropriate. He knew that Young Palace Lord Yun was amenable to coaxing but not coercion, so he shouldn’t have used his identity to suppress Young Palace Lord Yun. He’s actually very wise and reasonable like Foster Father.”
These short words praised both Xiahou Qing and Ling Yun.
Although Xiahou Qing was always unhappy with Ling Yun, only he could say anything about his son, and no one could say anything bad about him.
When Xiahou Zheng said that he had offended Ling Yun, wasn’t he implying that Ling Yun was petty and liked to argue with others?
In comparison, Xie Jinnian’s words were much more comfortable.
Xiahou Zheng hurriedly said, “Foster Father, I didn’t use Big Brother’s identity to suppress Yun Lin!”
Xie Jinnian looked innocent. “That’s what Young Palace Lord Yun told me. Could it be that he deliberately lied?”
How shameless was Xiahou Zheng for Yun Lin to personally defame him?
Xiahou Qing looked at his eldest son with displeasure.
Xiahou Zheng clenched his fists.
Xiahou Qing asked again, “Is Yun Lin angry?”
Xie Jinnian smiled. “At first, he was a little angry and said that Foster Father didn’t trust him. He’s Foster Father’s biological son. If he begged a few more times, Foster Father would naturally soften his heart. Why would he have to play such a trick? He even said, ‘At most, I’ll bring my mother’s memorial tablet over and see if my father dotes on me?’”
Xiahou Qing had an image of this arrogant and world-weary attitude.
Xie Jinnian continue sprouting nonsense without changing his expression. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask the two elders. They were also there.”
The two of them were made drunk by Wei Xu, so they naturally did not “hear” him.
However, the two elders would not say that they did not hear it. Otherwise, they would be admitting that they had drunk too much.
Moreover, his godfather would not ask.
Xiahou Qing did not intend to ask further.
Xie Jinnian’s brilliance was that he changed the conflict from suspicion to a crisis of trust between Yun Lin and Xiahou Qing.
When questioned, never fall into the vortex of self-incrimination.
He had to learn to divert conflict.
He continued, “Later on, the two elders explained the City Lord’s difficulties and how difficult it had been for the City Lord all these years. Young Palace Lord Yun understands that the City Lord is only dealing with it impartially. It’s not that he doesn’t trust him, but…”
Xiahou Qing’s heart tightened. “But what?”
Xie Jinnian smiled and said dotingly, “Foster Father, it’s best to coax him. Children have their pride.”
Xiahou Qing was very happy. “You’re the best.”
“I didn’t do anything. It’s all thanks to the two elders.”
As he spoke, Xie Jinnian looked at Xiahou Zheng. “Brother, Young Palace Lord Yun is actually an easy person to get along with. He threw a tantrum in front of Foster Father to gain his attention. After all, it wasn’t easy for his biological father to come after 24 years. Of course, he wants to use various methods to prove that Dad really dotes on him. Don’t think that Foster Father is biased. Foster Father has already taken care of us enough.”
If Yun Lin was easy to get along with, he would not always anger Xiahou Qing to death.
Xie Jinnian found a reasonable explanation for this contradiction, which pleased Xiahou Qing.
At the same time, it also pointed out Xiahou Zheng’s jealousy of Yun Lin.
“Foster Father, there’s nothing else. I’ll go back and catch up on my sleep first. You have to take good care of these two phoenixes. Young Palace Lord Yun knew that he was choosing them for you.”
His son had given him a gift again… It was not a small bottle of honey, but two priceless phoenix birds.
Xiahou Qing felt comforted. The more he looked at those two birds, the more he liked them.
Looking at Second Brother, he was not scheming at all. He was not greedy for any credit, nor did he question the eldest.
He was suddenly a little disappointed in Xiahou Zheng.
“Go rest first. You don’t have to come over for the next few days.”
“Yes, Foster Father.”
Xie Jinnian left.
Xiahou Zheng said, “Foster father…”
Xiahou Qing said in a low voice, “Enough! Don’t always target Yun Lin!”