Yang Fan and Feng Yuanyi walked out of Lu Zhou and stopped at the bottom of the stairs. He turned around and cupped his hands in obeisance, smiling, "Everyone Ru, please wait a moment. I won't trouble you to send me off!"
Master Ru Mei brought her new disciple Min 'er to the top of the stairs. She smiled and nodded, "Doctor Lang, take care!"
Min 'er did not dare to speak out of turn in front of her master. She only looked deeply at her brother.
Feng Yuanyi's eyes were filled with tears. He suddenly knelt down and kowtowed three times. It was unknown whether he was kowtowing to Ru Mei or to his sister who would rather stay in the capital and learn from him.
Yang Fan picked him up by the crook of his arm and brought him up. He nodded to Master Ru Mei and led him away.
The carriage slowly moved forward. In front of them was an undulating wavy garden wall with white walls and black tiles. There was a row of pear trees along the wall. Among the leaves, there were some unplucked ripe pears that weighed heavily on the branches.
Yang Fan comforted Feng Yuanyi in a low voice. Ever since he got on the carriage, tears streamed down his face like pearls from a broken necklace. He would never have thought that Young Master Jiang, whom he could not find even after searching everywhere, was just a wall away from him, behind these pear trees, in this very Scholar Xiang's residence.
Young Master Jiang clasped his hands behind his back and gently frowned. He crushed the half-withered leaves of the pear tree under his feet. He was defeated. First, he was defeated by Shen Mu and had to cede half of his territory. Then, he was defeated by Yang Fan and had to give up the remaining half of his territory. He was forced to 'retire' and hide here.
Although his plan to use Yang Fan's wife and son to force Yang Fan to be his own failed, it was not completely hopeless. He still had one last chance.
This chance was originally Yang Fan's. The aristocratic family originally wanted to divide a part of his power for Yang Fan and cultivate a third representative. It was because Yang Fan had become the key to the selection of officials in the southern border. Also, because his subordinate You Haoyang thought himself clever, Yang Fan decisively took control of the situation and took away his power.
However, there were two sides to every coin. Yang Fan's opportunity was also his risk.
Before Yang Fan, the two Sect Masters of the Succession Hall, Obvious Sect and Hidden Sect, did not have official positions in the imperial court, but Yang Fan was hidden in the imperial court. Therefore, as long as he could use the creation of officials in the Southern Border to create a storm and ruin Yang Fan's plan, not only would Yang Fan fail on the verge of success, but he would also very likely be beheaded by the Emperor.
If Yang Fan died, he might have a chance to make a comeback. Those old men of the aristocratic families weren't good horses that wouldn't return to eat grass, but a bunch of crafty old men who put profit above everything else.
This opportunity was not difficult to find. The reason why Yang Fan was able to rise to power was that he could use his position to provide convenience to the aristocratic families. Therefore, his list of officials would definitely be filled with the children of the aristocratic families. Perhaps most of them were more secretive, but this matter could be hidden from others, but it could not be hidden from Young Master Jiang.
If the Emperor found out about this, Yang Fan would definitely die! What he needed to do right now was to add fuel to the fire and use the remnants of his influence to help Yang Fan fight for as many seats as possible for the aristocratic families. Afterwards … how should he expose this matter? He had to remove Yang Fan from the picture and avoid suspicion.
Outside the wall, the rumbling of wheels and the clattering of hooves could be heard. These were the sounds of Yang Fan's carriage and his guards passing by. Young Master Jiang was lost in thought. He could never have imagined that the person he had schemed so hard to consign to eternal damnation was just a wall away from him.
…
Wei Manor. Wu Chengsi was seated behind his desk, his face as dark as still water.
Phoenix Pavilion's Benevolent Zhang Jiafu was chattering away in front of him. "Yang Fan hasn't reported to the Heavenly Official Manor yet. He went to see Li Zhaode first, and then King Liang. It's clear that he wants the support of those two! Li Zhaode's family is the only one in power right now. With his support, Yang Fan can do whatever he wants.
And His Majesty only wants the Wu clansmen to hold the authority. He doesn't care if it's you or King Liang. This way, as long as King Liang gains the upper hand, His Majesty won't object. Yang Fan's plan is truly wishful thinking. Your Majesty, if Yang Fan succeeds, Li Zhaode and King Liang's influence will expand even further. We … "
Wu Chengsi waved his hand with a gloomy expression, cutting Zhang Jiafu off. "There's no need to say anything else. I have my own plans!"
Wu Chengsi's fierce brows furrowed slightly, and he began to laugh sinisterly. "It seems like I won't be able to change this unfavorable situation if I don't use any drastic measures! Go back and continue to keep an eye on Yang Fan. See if he makes any moves. I have my own ways to deal with him! "
Zhang Jiafu hesitated for a moment, but when he saw Wu Chengsi's gloomy expression, he didn't dare say anything else. He could only cup his hands in greeting, then tiptoed out.
Wu Chengsi fished out a handkerchief from his sleeve, covered his mouth with it, and coughed a few times. When he removed the handkerchief, he saw that there were traces of blood on it. He couldn't help but frown. He hurriedly opened an exquisite porcelain box on the table, and took out a scarlet pill the size of a longan. He swallowed it with a mouthful of water. After a short while, a sickly flush appeared on his face, but his expression was much more spirited.
Wu Chengsi let out a long sigh, then ordered, "Servants, invite Daoist Zhang in!"
After a short while, a Daoist dressed in a Daoist robe of the Eight Trigrams strolled in, led by a servant in the study. This old Daoist had white hair and eyebrows, and his skin was rosy. He held a horsetail whisk in his hand, and had the demeanor of an immortal. When he saw Wu Chengsi, he cupped his hands together and smiled. "This humble Daoist was meditating, and my mind was wandering into the Great Void Immortal Realm. I was suddenly summoned by Your Highness. I wonder what's the matter? Have you used up all the Youth Restoring Pills?"
Wu Chengsi hurriedly came forward to welcome him, and said with a face full of smiles, "It's a sin to disturb Immortal Senior's peaceful cultivation. This humble Prince hasn't used up all the immortal pills. I've specially invited Immortal Senior over because there's an important matter that I need Immortal Senior's help on! "
Wu Chengsi waved his hand to dismiss the servant, and invited the old Daoist to sit on the seat of honor. He lifted his sleeves, then knelt before him, and said with great sincerity, "This humble Prince is in a difficult situation, and has no way out. I hope that Immortal Senior can help this humble Prince!"
…
Behind Luo Yang's palace city were Yaoyi City, Yuanbi City, and a few other affiliated palaces. However, they were all outside the high palace walls. This was a place to store miscellaneous items, and to deal with matters that would affect the environment of the palace city. For example, the large number of toilet bowls in the palace city were gathered here every day, and then transported out of the capital.
The area here was not small, and not every place was filthy. At this moment, four people were standing on top of a palace in Yaoyi City that looked dilapidated on the outside, but was relatively clean on the inside.
One of them was Eunuch Gao, Gao Yanfu. Behind him stood a strong-looking, stocky little fellow, who was dressed in the clothes of an inner servant. On the other side was Yang Fan, with Feng Yuanyi.
Eunuch Gao's duck-like laughter echoed in the empty main hall. "Yuanyi has already acknowledged me as his godfather. How can I not take good care of my godson, my dear husband? Yang Langzhong, don't worry. Hehehe, no one will bully him! "
Yang Fan smiled and said, "I know Eunuch Gao very well, so of course I trust you. However, I have always regarded Yuanyi as my own brother. Before we enter the palace, I have to be long-winded. I hope Eunuch Gao won't laugh at me. "
As Yang Fan spoke, he rubbed Yuanyi's head and said, "Hurry up and greet your adoptive father. In the future, be careful in your work in the palace and be filial to your adoptive father. I will not let you suffer."
Feng Yuanyi obediently went forward and knelt down solemnly before Eunuch Gao. He kowtowed three times and said, "Yuanyi greets Adoptive Father!"
"Good child! Good child! "
Eunuch Gao happily helped him up. He looked at the dark-skinned, quick-eyed youth behind him and said to Feng Yuanyi, "General Li Qianli has just sent a batch of people to the palace from Lingnan. I could have chosen two people to serve by my side, but I purposely chose him and left the other position for you. With you by my side, no one will dare to bully you."
Eunuch Gao pointed at the youth and said, "This child has also acknowledged me as his adoptive father. My surname is Gao, and I have already given him a name — Gao Jingang. Now that you are my adoptive son, I cannot favor one and discriminate against the other, so I will also give you a name. He will be called Jingang, and you will be called Strongman. From now on, you will be called Gao Lishi. What do you think? "
Feng Yuanyi crossed his arms and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Adoptive Father, for giving me a name!"
Eunuch Gao laughed and shook his buttocks like a duck. He brought his two adoptive sons, Jingang and Strongman, back to the inner palace.
Yang Fan looked at their backs. The son of the former Provincial Governor of Panzhou followed behind Eunuch Gao and never looked back.
Yang Fan looked at his stiff neck and let out a deep sigh, which echoed in the empty palace …
Gao Lishi still had to undergo a physical examination and be registered by the Yamen. As for his identity, origin, and arrangements, with Eunuch Gao's status and power in the Inner Palace, it was naturally up to him to decide. There was no need for Yang Fan to worry. Yang Fan left Yaoyi City, passed through the round wall, and arrived at the northern city wall.
Because this area was adjacent to the back of the palace, it was the city wall. People entering the city could not enter from this direction, so the palace gate was almost permanently closed. The road between the city wall and the palace wall was extremely wide, at least a hundred paces wide. This was to prevent enemies from attacking the palace with catapults if they came under the city wall.
With such a wide road and the obstruction of the round wall city and Yao Yi City, no long-range weapons would be able to land in the palace.
There were no pedestrians on this road. Although it was cleaned every day, there was still an air of old decay. Yang Fan's entourage and carriage were parked at the right side of the Xuanwu Gate, two miles away. Yang Fan could only walk there.
Yang Fan walked as he deliberated his plan. The high city wall and the palace wall were as quiet as the wilderness, allowing his thoughts to quickly calm down.
In the two days back in the city, he was really busy. He settled his family, met Xue Huaiyi, Li Zhaode, Wu Sansi, and the others, smoothly carried out his plan for the selection of officials in the southern border, and took some time to understand the affairs and sphere of influence of the "Successor Hall" that he controlled …
The handover of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Appointments had not been completed. A group of civil and military friends had not had time to meet. The matter of Feng Yuanyi and his brother had just been settled. Young Master Jiang's whereabouts were still unknown. He did not know how and when he would act. It was inevitable that there would be a battle between the two of them …
There were so many things to worry about. Fortunately, he was young, strong, and full of energy, so he did not collapse. Wan 'er had left the palace today to visit her relatives. She had just returned and would inevitably be with her mother, Zheng. When night fell, he would have to go through the wall and steal her …
Busy, really busy!
…
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