She said coldly, "Even if Xiao Tingchen is expelled from the family tree, I am also the fifth girl of the Xiao family, how can you turn me away?" ”

"Tsk, who in Chang'an City doesn't know that you and Xiao Tingchen are in the same group? The second lady has written to Jiangnan to expel you and Xiao Tingchen from the family tree. ”

Su Jiu frowned.

The old butler smiled, said "offended", and closed the door of the mansion.

Frost was angry, raised his wide sleeves and shouted: "Miss, get out of the way, the slave wants to kick this door open, go and ask the second lady, do you know what courtesy, righteousness and shame are!" When the master was in the limelight, she used the master's reputation to benefit the second son everywhere, and now that the master has fallen, she has completely left herself out! She has the ability to spit out everything she swallowed! ”

She's used to being spicy.

Su Jiu stayed for a moment and looked out into the street.

Xiao Tingxiu was dressed in court clothes and was riding a horse.

It was about the time since I came back from the palace.

She stepped forward, "Big brother." ”

Xiao Tingxiu turned over and dismounted, glanced at the closed door of the mansion, and said lightly: "Follow me to the side door." ”

Su Jiu followed him into the Xiao Mansion through the side door, and carefully inquired about Xiao Tingchen along the way.

Only then did she know that the person who was in charge of presiding over Xiao Tingchen was actually Rong Zheng.

"Rong Zheng has a grudge against him, and he can't wait to punish him for the Nine Clans, how can he help him? Big brother, we have to find a way to save him. ”

After Su Jiu finished speaking, he groaned, and still chose to tell Xiao Tingxiu the hole cards in his hand.

In her eyes, Xiao Tingxiu is silent and very cold on weekdays.

But she knew that there was no one in the world who was more trustworthy than Xiao Tingxiu.

When he came to Xiao Tingxiu's study, he pointed to the files piled up on the case, "All of them are the cases he committed." ”

Su Jiu opened it and looked at a few pages, but he was already dumbfounded.

These cases are more serious than she imagined, and the ghost knows how many family officials Xiao Tingchen has killed in just a few months!

She closed the file, "For the sake of today's plan, the only way to do this is to threaten Empress Zhao and Taishi Zhao with Yuanmin, force them to withdraw the accusation against Xiao Tingchen, and force Dali Temple to release him." ”

"Or there is another plan...... Xiao Tingxiu frowned, "use Yuan Min's background to completely bring down Empress Zhao and Taishi Zhao." Without them interfering in the court, I have a hundred ways to overturn the case for my fifth brother. ”

Su Jiu looked at him in a daze.

This young man acted calmly, but he hit the nail on the head.

She said tentatively: "But, how to let the emperor know Yuan Min's background?" I can't face the saint now, I can only rely on my eldest brother-"

Xiao Tingxiu's expression was indifferent, "I won't stand up for Xiao Tingchen without authorization." Su wine, I now represent the Xiao family, rashly come out, if there is an accident, it will only attract the resentment of the Zhao family and drag the Xiao family into the abyss. You know what I mean. ”

Su Jiu nodded.

After all, Zhao Taishi was at the height of his power, and if he failed, even Xiao Tingxiu would not be able to withstand the wrath of Zhao Taishi.

Only by bringing down the Zhao family first will he take action to clear Xiao Tingchen's name.

Su Jiu was about to say goodbye and leave, but after thinking about it, he suddenly asked, "Does the eldest brother know which courtyard the Xue family lives in?" ”

……

This is the first time that Su Jiu has taken the initiative to meet Xue.

She followed the maidservant through the corridor and walked for a full three quarters of an hour before entering a secluded and elegant courtyard.

The grass and trees in the small courtyard are swaying, and the pavilions are exquisite.

She looked up from the verandah, and saw in the distance a woman sitting upright reading a book in the window of the pavilion, and although she was nearly forty years old, the years had not left any trace on her.

She looks like a twenty-eight girl, as if she is still in the boudoir.

Stepping into the pavilion, the maidservant whispered: "Auntie, Miss Su asks to see." ”

The female voice coming out of it was as clear as water:

"Enter."

The maidservant pushed open the carved door.

Su Jiu stepped into the threshold, but saw that the room was full of the fragrance of books, the walls were full of calligraphy and paintings, a sandalwood carved ivory bed was placed in the corner, the Bogu shelf on one side was displayed with ancient books, and the desk near the window was full of pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, which were often used by the owner's family, and the large number of brushes in the pen holder were shiny with old luster, but they were more and more lined with the quiet years here.

Xiao Tingchen's biological mother sat on a rosewood rose chair.

Even if she looked closer, she still couldn't see the traces of time on her face.

The ice-like appearance, even if it is put together with those bright little girls in Chang'an City, it is still first-class and outstanding.

thinks that the reason why Xiao Tingchen was born so good-looking has something to do with his mother.

She stepped forward and blessed her body, "Aunt Xue." ”

"I don't deserve Miss Su's courtesy." Xue Ling turned a page of the book, her posture was elegant and beautiful, but she was also quite detached.

Su Jiu looked at her, "Xiao Tingchen was arrested and put in the water prison of Dali Temple, and he is being tortured. Although Li is his mother-in-law, she has no blood relationship with him, so she can't wait to break up with him. But Aunt Xue is his biological mother, and he is in danger, why are you still indifferent? ”

Xue Ling was indifferent, obviously enjoying the tranquility of this place.

Su Jiu couldn't see that Xue Ling cared about Xiao Tingchen, not at all!

Xue Ling indifferently turned a page of the book, "He brought about his own destruction, who can blame him?" I have done my duty to bring him into the world, and what does it have to do with me that he will decide all the blessings and misfortunes of life and death after that? ”

Su Jiu was silent.

She didn't leave, but sat down opposite Xue Ling.

Gu poured a cup of tea, she sniffed the bitter tea, "Xiao Tingchen is in prison, and he is widely implicated. Even I was targeted by major families, and it was difficult to enter the palace as if I wanted to enter the palace. But my aunt is different. I know that Xiao Tingchen is not the flesh and blood of the second uncle, but the emperor's dragon descendant. The emperor likes you, and he still likes you to this day. If it were you, you would definitely make the emperor change his mind and be willing to get Xiao Tingchen out of Dali Temple temporarily. Even house arrest in the Yongwang Mansion is better than in the prison, at least, it can save his life, right? ”

The pavilion is silent.

Birdsong in early summer can be heard outside the window, and the afternoon sun shines through the shade of the trees, dyeing it a little cool.

Xue Ling turned another page of the book, and her beautiful eyebrows were full of indifference, "The emperor really likes me very much, and even privately sent the Praetorian Guards to Xiao Mansion to ask me if I would like to enter the palace." ”

Su Jiu's eyelashes moved slightly, and there was a hint of expectation in his moist eyes, "What do you say?" ”

"Naturally, I refused." Xue Ling's lips were red, and there was a sense of coolness when she laughed, like a hibiscus that had bloomed to the top, "Xue Chengcheng died in the palace change back then, and now I am Xue Ling, just Xue Ling." I don't like the people I belonged to back then. ”

"Xiao Tingchen is your own son."

"He's from back then, too. What qualifies a thing that should have drowned in water at birth, to live in the world? ”

Xue Ling's voice seemed to be soaked in ice and snow, and it was cold to the bones.

Su Jiu condensed her for a long time, and from her fair and beautiful face, she really couldn't find the little warmth that belonged to her mother.

She got up, "Excuse me." ”

The girl left the pavilion, and Xue Ling, who was sitting upright with a book, closed her eyes quietly.

I can't tell if the mood is happy or sad.

A light breeze blows through the window, bringing the scent of gardenias in early summer.

Xue Ling opened her eyes and saw an early-blooming white gardenia appear on the windowsill.

It is also dewy, and the turquoise leaves are particularly holy and clean.

The ancient book in her hand fell to the ground, she ignored it, and suddenly got up and ran to the windowsill, "Sheng'er! Are you still there?! ”

Her voice trembled violently, and it was obvious how excited she was.

Silence outside the window.

Xue Ling grabbed the window lattice and lowered her head sadly, "I was sent a flower every day, but I was avoided every day...... Sheng'er, why is your heart so poisonous? ”

After a long time, Xue Ling thought that no one would answer her.

She turned abruptly, but heard a deep voice behind her:

"Mother treats her younger brother really viciously, right?"

，

My brother is here,