Chapter 1409 They Test Each Other


    Cao Han lowered his head, but from the corner of his eyes, he kept looking at Yun Shang, "I once told


    you that Xia Houjing should have been hidden by the people of the Cao mansion. My mother has


    always trusted my brother. Xia Houjing should have been hidden in a mansion or in a courtyard under


    my brother''s name. Do you still remember that, your majesty?"


    Yun Shang took a nce at Cao Han. She then quietly grasped the brocade handkerchief in her hand


    and slowly nodded, "Yes, I did. What''s the matter? Have you got the exact whereabouts of Xia


    Houjing''s now? "


    Cao Han shook his head, "No, not yet. I''m just lucky enough to be chosen to attend the autumn hunting


    game with his majesty. Beforeing out, I was also lucky enough to be summoned by my mother.


    She told me again and again that since I aming out for his majesty''spany, I should seize the


    opportunity and try to show up in front of his majesty, so as to seek a better future for myself.


    She also reminded me that although I am an official already, Icked of my father''s teaching personally


    because he was too busy to do so before. Thus I don''t know much about the intricate affairs in the


    officialdom. My mother was worried that I would offend someone that I shouldn''t have in the court. Of


    course, what she feared most was that I would vite the taboo from your majesties. Thus she asked


    me to report everything in detail to her about what your majesties have done in the temporary imperial


    pce, so that she can give me some advice. "


    Yun Shang frowned at hearing all these, with a sh of disbelief in her eyes, "She will give you some


    advice? When you are in the temporary imperial pce, even if you send a letter to your mother, she


    will not receive it until at least ten days or a half monthster. And after that she will give you some


    advice? "


    Cao Han lowered his eyes and said in a lower voice, "My mother has arrived at Wei City."


    Wei City was the city by the side of the temporary imperial pce.


    "Your mother has got to Wei City?" Yun Shang was more surprised, "Why did shee to Wei City?"


    "She said among the several brothers in the Cao mansion, I''m the most promising one. I''m thus rted


    to the future of the whole Cao n. She thinks this is a good opportunity for our n, so she doesn''t


    dare to take it lightly,"


    reported Cao Han. He bit his lips and then went on, "But I think my mother must have received Xia


    Houjing''s order toe here. She is trying to make use of me and keep an eye on your majesties."


    With her hands sped behind her back, Yun Shang raised her head and looked into the distance for a


    while. Then she smiled and said, "That''s awesome! Your mother is so old now, but she is still working


    hard for Xia Houjing. I wonder what benefits Xia Houjing has given her as well as your Cao n."


    After a pause, Yun Shang went on casually, "I know it now. Do you have anything else to report?"


    Cao Han shook his head. He paused for a while and then asked, "Your Majesty, what should I do with


    this situation?"


    Yun Shang kept silent for a moment and then replied, "Just do as your mother said. However, you


    should know what to say and what not to say to her. I will go back and think carefully about how to deal


    with the situation. When I have any idea to deal with this, I will send someone to tell you. "


    Hearing this, Cao Han couldn''t help looking up at Yun Shang, but he quickly looked away and then


    answered, "Yes, your majesty. If you don''t have any other orders, I will... I''ll leave now?"


    "You can leave now." Yun Shang nodded.


    Cao Han stood up, bowed to Yun Shang, and left with his head down.


    He had just walked down two steps when he heard a voice from behind, as if that person felt relieved at


    Cao Han paused for a while, but he soon realized something and pretended to have heard nothing. He


    quickly walked down the rockery.


    Yun Shang stood in the pavilion and didn''t rx until she saw Cao Han leave the yard.


    In the evening, Luo Qingyan came again.


    "Didn''t you say that you wouldn''te tonight?" Yun Shang raised her eyebrows and asked.


    Luo Qingyan tutted, "Yes, I said I wouldn''te tonight, but it''s not night yet. It''s only at dusk. I''ll have


    supper with you and go back after dinner."


    Before Yun Shang said anything, Luo Qingyan asked again, "I heard that you have met Cao Han?"


    "Yes." Yun Shang smiled, "He has alreadye for a test on me. He told me that Xia Houjing was


    hidden by people from the Cao mansion. He is now either in Cao Yi''s mansion or in his court yard. He


    asked me if I knew it or not."


    "Before this, he had never mentioned that Xia Houjing was hiding either in Cao Yi''s mansion or court


    yard, had he?" Luo Qingyan raised his eyebrows and asked.


    "No," replied Yun Shang while ying with the brocade handkerchief in her hand, "And your majesty


    can remember it clearly.


    He was just testing me. And I just replied that I still remember it. Later, he told me that Old Lady Cao


    hade to Wei City with him and asked him to keep her informed everything we two had done in the


    temporary imperial pce so that she could give him good advice on how to behave well in front of us.


    He thus specially asked me what he should do with the situation.


    I asked him to find a way to deal with it. After Ie up with a n, I will teach him how to deal with it."


    Luo Qingyan smiled, "The real Empress has always got an idea. Anyway, this kind of thing is not a big


    deal. You don''t have to think it over before youe up with a solution.


    Otherwise, I''m sure Cao Han will doubt it."


    Yun Shang nodded, "Yes. During the first test, he might think that I did it on purpose. When ites to


    the second time, it''s difficult to disguise anyone''s subconscious reaction when something happens.


    Most importantly, when he left today, I let out a sigh of relief. I know he has heard it. I saw him pause


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    for a while.


    I believe when he heard it, he would definitely think whether I felt it an extremely ufortable thing


    dealing with him. He would try to find out why. "


    Yun Shang put the handkerchief into her sleeve and then went on, "That''s just a beginning. He will


    doubt it, but he won''t make a conclusion easily. He will have to wait for the banquet tomorrow... "


    The banquet was set at the noon of the second day.


    Yun Shang got up early in the morning and walked around the temporary imperial pce. She changed


    into a pce dress and made her hair in a bun. She first went to see Luo Qingyan, and then they two


    went to the Liuguang Pce, where the banquet would be held.


    On the way, Luo Qingyan walked ahead, and Yun Shang followed him three steps behind.


    They both entered the hall and took the main seats while all the officials present were sending their


    greetings.


    Yun Shang straightened her back. Her posture was the same as usual, but she seemed to look a little


    stiff today.


    The banquet began.


    The hall was full ofughter. Luo Qingyan kept turning around and talking to her from time to time.


    Every time Luo Qingyan turned around, Yun Shang would subconsciously lower her head to avoid his


    gaze.


    Luo Qingyan burst intoughter, "Cao Han has turned this side and looked at you seven times. If it


    weren''t for his usage, I really wanted to gouge his eyes out."


    Yun Shang chuckled. She lowered her head and said, "The banquet is over. It''s time for your majesty to


    leave with me. And I should leave too. If I leave earlier, I can get to the next ce before dark. "


    Luo Qingyan paused for a while and then looked at Yun Shang for a long time. Then he said, "Okay,


    let''s go."