Chapter 1422
Jin Yue 23
Chapter 1422 Jin Yue 23
Cheng Qian bowed slightly and followed Tan You into the main hall. Watching the three of them walk away, Lin Jinzhu slowly bit her lower lip; she felt there was something strange about the relationship between them.
To be honest, they certainly looked very close. But if you asked what was strange about it, Lin Jinzhu couldn't quite put her finger on it.
After going around the corridor, seeing that Lin Jinzhu hadn't followed, Cheng Sui whispered in Tan You's ear, "Mother, I used snake-attracting powder."
Tan You nudged his bottom: "I know, I can smell it."
Cheng Sui said in a low voice, "I thought Mother would blame me."
Tan You: "Why should I blame you? You wanted to avenge your mother, and your sincere heart is very precious. Why should I say harsh words that would hurt your feelings?"
"Besides, your actions were discreet and not seen by outsiders. You found the right opportunity and managed to clean up the mess without implicating others. You did a great job."
Cheng Qian couldn't stand it anymore: "Keep your voice down. If you praise him for his misdeeds, aren't you afraid of raising a little devil who will be fearless in the future?"
Cheng Sui couldn't stand Cheng Qian's words. He said with a straight face, "I will not be fearless. Mother said that only by knowing fear can one not act arbitrarily. Yun-ge'er knows how to be respectful."
Cheng Qian chuckled: "I didn't realize."
Cheng Sui ignored him: "You don't understand."
Tan You didn't bother talking to Cheng Qian, but instead started talking to Cheng Sui about how to use poison: "Your technique was good just now, and the timing was perfect. But it does have some limitations. This kind of method is easier to conceal when there are more people around..."
Cheng Qian's brow twitched as he listened. She taught both open and aboveboard schemes and underhanded tactics; she truly understood everything, from the dark to the light.
Cheng Sui listened attentively. He was still young and couldn't match the others in terms of martial arts skills, so he could only start from this aspect.
Once he becomes powerful, he can resort to open and overt schemes.
When they returned to the palace banquet, it was time to end the event. Wei Shi and Cheng Kun were standing at the palace gate. Cheng Kun had a gloomy face and stood two steps away from Wei Shi, seemingly looking down on Wei Shi, who was covered in gold, silver and jewels.
Wei twisted her handkerchief, lowered her eyes, and cowered like a quail.
Cheng Qian paused slightly, but still walked over. As he approached, he heard Cheng Kun say in a low voice, "I told you, don't choose all gold jewelry; it's dazzling. Couldn't you have chosen some jade?"
"Be more refined. You're acting like a nouveau riche every day. You're making me lose face."
Cheng Qian lowered his eyes. In the past, he thought Cheng Kun was right; this head full of gold jewelry did look rather tacky.
But after hearing Tan You's words, he realized how harsh Cheng Kun's words were.
He lowered his voice and said, "Father, when Mother donated money and grain to the soldiers on the frontier every year, you never thought she was vulgar."
"She just likes gold jewelry, what's wrong with that?"
"The Cheng family started out as military men, and they have absolutely no literary talent to speak of. Why would they need to be so refined? If grown men try to be cultured, others will only find it laughable."
Cheng Kun's words caught in his throat; he never expected his eldest son to contradict him so directly.
Unable to hold back any longer, Madam Wei lowered her head and wiped the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. Unexpectedly, Cheng Qian actually spoke up for her.
Watching this scene of motherly love and filial piety, Tan You felt utterly bored. She put Cheng Sui down and said, "It's about time, let's go back."
This brief exchange naturally attracted the attention of many officials and even their families. Cheng Kun, concerned with his reputation, didn't want his family affairs to be noticed by so many people, so he turned and walked towards the palace gate first.
Tan You led Cheng Sui to follow, while Cheng Qian supported Wei Shi's hand, saying, "Mother, the weather is cold, let's hurry back." Wei Shi's mouth moved, but she couldn't say a word, and she just slowly walked out.
Cheng Sui looked at Cheng Kun in front of her, then at Tan You: "Mother, I prefer gold to jade."
"Gold is so wonderful. You can buy food, clothes, and books. It can also be made into all sorts of beautiful jewelry."
"Food fills the stomach, clothes warm the heart, books teach me profound truths, and jewelry brings joy. These are all the functions of gold."
Cheng Kun paused, not expecting Cheng Sui to say such a thing. Although Cheng Sui didn't name him, every word seemed to contradict what Cheng Kun had just said.
A smile appeared on Cheng Qian's face. He lightly tapped Cheng Sui's bottom with his toe. "Little brat, you're quite the smooth talker. Don't you think gold is tacky?"
Cheng Sui staggered, turned his head and glared at Cheng Qian: "Those who say that gold and silver are vulgar have never gone hungry. When my mother and I lived in Yiranju, we had to stretch every penny in half. That's when I learned the importance of money."
The more touched Wei Shi was just moments before, the more nervous she became. Cheng Sui mentioned Yi Ran Ju, and she was afraid Tan You would bring up old grievances. Seeing Tan You slow down, Wei Shi quickly took her arm.
"girl……"
She looked at Tan You almost pleadingly, afraid that Tan You would turn around and punish her again.
Tan You flicked her fingers and said calmly, "Let's go back."
She wouldn't do anything to Wei Shi now; Cheng Kun is young and vigorous. If she killed Wei Shi, Cheng Kun would definitely remarry. Rather than marrying a restless woman, it's better for her to keep Wei Shi under her control.
As for what to do after the original owner returns, that depends on the original owner's wishes.
The carriages drove in one after another from the palace gates into different directions of the capital. Cheng Sui leaned against the carriage window and looked at Cheng Kun riding a horse outside, then turned to look at Tan You: "Mother, Father doesn't like her."
Tan You said casually, "Even if he doesn't like her, it won't stop him from having children with her. Perhaps in his eyes, he has already given her face, that's enough, and he even feels that he has done a good job."
"However, compared to your father, he is indeed quite good. At least he did not have a son born out of wedlock before marriage, nor did he favor his concubine over his wife or take his anger out on innocent people."
"Aside from being a kept man, he's alright in other aspects."
“If we’re not talking about love and just about appearances, he’s more charming than your father, even though he brought Shen Lian back and slapped the Wei family in the face.”
Cheng Qian felt embarrassed, but what Tan You said was true. However, the thought that he, a dignified prince, was inferior to his own father, this old man, made Cheng Qian feel somewhat awkward.
Tan You chuckled: "Some of what you said is quite good."
Cheng Sui blinked: "What did you say?"
Tan You tapped her teacup lightly with her fingers: "Many sons are not as good as their fathers. Look at your father and your grandfather, and you'll understand."
Cheng Suiteng stood up, his chubby face full of displeasure: "Mother, I will definitely be better than him in the future!"
How could he be inferior to Cheng Qian? He's miles ahead of Cheng Qian, okay?
Tan You supported Cheng Qian's waist: "Yun-ge'er is already better than him. Yun-ge'er knows how to care for your mother and understands how hard your mother has worked. He's already very good."
Cheng Sui was delighted. He glanced at Cheng Qian like a victorious little rooster, his meaning perfectly clear.
You think you can compare to me?