People were proud of themselves in the spring breeze, and the horses were anxious. Fan Xian, who had rested in the Cang Mountains for an entire winter, finally led his family out of the mountains. There were six carriages lined up, and they had only brought a portion of their belongings. This time, they didn't see Guo Baokun or any of the other noblemen, nor did they have anything to worry about. It was only the early spring breeze that made the girls feel intoxicated.
Fan Xian was in high spirits. Spending the winter in the Cang Mountains was a rare opportunity for him to rest after entering the capital. Whether it was in martial arts or in spirit, he had made great progress. Looking around, he saw that the foot of the Cang Mountains was covered in a patch of green. Faint green branches grew from the winter trees, and it seemed to dye the sky of the capital with a lot of vitality.
The sky was light, and in the distance, a black cloud could be seen. Strangely enough, the black cloud was very thin. Behind it, one could see the gray-blue sky, and above it were wisps of white clouds. But it still gave people the feeling that it was very dark and heavy.
Amidst the sound of hooves, the carriage turned a corner and left the Cang Mountains. The sun in the sky suddenly brightened, and the clouds glowed. It was a very shocking sight.
Fan Xian withdrew his bored gaze from the sky and smiled at his wife. "Staying in the mountains for so long, I'm afraid you've been stifled?"
Lin Wan'er looked at him curiously. "What have you been stifled about?" Fan Xian was a little surprised. "Although the mountains are good, seeing only snow and trees makes me feel a little tired. Wan'er, don't you miss the bustling life in the capital?"
Lin Wan'er smiled, and a faint sadness appeared on her white face. "In the capital, if it's not in the palace, then it's in another courtyard. You know that I haven't lived in the Prime Minister's manor for long, and I haven't had many opportunities to go out. Although life in the mountains is monotonous, it's still more comfortable than living in those high walls." She looked at her husband's expression of concern, and her heart warmed. She giggled. "And you've always been in the mountains."
After saying this, Fan Xian didn't feel anything, but she was the first to blush and turn her face away.
Fan Xian laughed, and then immediately thought of that matter. He warmly said, "When the matters of the spring examinations are over, the court will probably send me to Northern Qi."
It was quiet in the carriage. Only the sound of hooves and the snorting of the horses could be heard, and the sound of the wheels on the mountain road could be heard. After a while, Lin Wan'er smiled and said, "Don't worry. I'm here in the capital."
Fan Xian thought for a moment. "I think I'll take Wang Qinian with me. If there's anything you need to do, ask Father's opinion first. If Teacher Fei Jie is still in the capital, you can ask him for help. These things can be done through Teng Zijing. I've already instructed him. Of course … "He smiled and said," I don't think there's anything wrong. "
— —
Back in the capital, the colorful lanterns were still there, and the firecrackers and confetti in the remote alleys had not been swept away. Seeing all the pedestrians wearing new clothes and still immersed in the festive atmosphere, Fan Xian couldn't help but regret his decision to enter the Cang Mountains on the fourth day of the new year. It seemed that he had missed the excitement of the first month's lanterns.
When the carriage arrived at Fan Manor, it was inevitable that there would be a lot of trouble. The couple, who were neither old nor new, bowed to their parents and met with the rest of the clan. Only now did Fan Xian realize that the Fan clan lived up to its reputation. Although they did not have any high-ranking officials in the court, their distant cousins all seemed to be well-paid in important departments of the court, and each of them lived comfortably.
A few days later, Fan Xian first brought Wan'er back to the Prime Minister's manor to pay respects to his father-in-law, and reluctantly bid farewell to Dabao. Then he went to King Jing's manor to pay respects to the prince he was familiar with. Before he could calm down, the vice-minister of Taichang Temple, Ren Shao 'an, and the vice-minister of Honglu Temple, Xin Qiwu, invited him to two more banquets. These were officials he had worked with before, and he could not refuse. Fan Xian could only get drunk and end these two banquets.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the second month of the year. At this time, the scholars from various provinces and counties had already arrived in the capital. Those who had money found inns to stay in, those who had relatives to seek shelter with, and those who had no money could only make do with the scholars in the outskirts of the capital. Even the dormitories of the Imperial College had been opened for the scholars who had nowhere else to go.
The examination was hosted by the Board of Rites, and was divided into three rounds, held on the ninth, twelfth, and fifteenth of the second month. So by the time Fan Xian entered the Imperial College to take up his post, time was already tight. Fortunately, his fifth-level official position was only in name, something the Emperor had randomly appointed in a moment of happiness. The Imperial College did not have any arrangements for him. The examination was approaching, and the Imperial College naturally did not need him to teach, so he was free.
Occasionally, there would be students studying at the Imperial College who would run into his room and stare at him with greedy eyes like a pack of hungry wolves.
Fan Xian opened the fan in his hand with a swish, and waved it incessantly in this late winter and early spring weather. After the students around him had coldly backed away, he smiled and said, "Everyone, I am still young, and I do not deserve to be called an educator. So please do not bring this matter up again, lest I embarrass myself."
Seeing that his words were humorous and that this seventeen-year-old man who was already a fifth-ranked official in the imperial court did not seem to be the kind of person who would look down on others with disdain, the feeling of estrangement between the students gradually disappeared. Someone boldly joked, "Master Fan, when you first entered the capital, you once commented on the strength of character at Yishi Tavern. Now you are in the mood to fan yourself?"
Fan Xian laughed and replied, "What does that mean? It means that I have always liked to fool around, and that nothing I say can be accurate. "
...
...
The court had long since decided who would be the chief examiner for this competition, as well as who would be promoted. Fan Xian was seventeen years old, and a fifth-level official position was already somewhat shocking, but it was still far from enough for him to take on such an important role. But his reputation for poetry had already spread far and wide. Although he had vowed never to write poetry again, it seemed that not many people took him seriously. The scholars always wanted to get something out of him, but if they could get Fan Xian's praise, it would be a pleasant surprise.
The Danbo Bookstore's "Banxianzhai Poetry Collection" had long been sold throughout the country, so the scholars who had come from all over the country could not help but be curious about this young man whose name had shaken the capital. Some of the more impetuous ones actually managed to find the location of Fan Manor with their mouths. But looking at the front door and the stone lions, they realized that Fan Xian was not just a talented scholar; he was actually the son of a rich and powerful family. With such a strict social hierarchy, these scholars did not dare to rashly knock on the door to pay a visit, so they could only resentfully leave.
Fan Xian had only been at the Imperial College for a few days, but he had followed his superiors around to see how the scholars had fared after entering the capital. He discovered that some of the children of poor families had indeed suffered greatly after entering the capital. Although the court had long since issued an edict that all of the major bookstores in the suburbs of the capital were open to the public, and some of the temples provided temporary accommodation, living in the capital was not easy. There were still some people who were so poor that they could barely afford to eat.
Thinking of the story Wu Zhu had told him in Danzhou, Fan Xian's heart stirred. He took some silver from the bookstore's account and asked the shopkeepers of Qingyu Hall to help him settle the poor scholars' lives. Since it was not an act of kindness, of course he would not let the scholars know that he was the one paying. But when he returned home, he complained to his father, who had just been promoted to Minister of Revenue.
Minister Fan found that his son was now concerned about these things, and he could not help but be a little surprised. Apart from a trace of gratification, he was more relieved that Fan Xian seemed to be content with his official career.
On the seventh day of the second month, two days before the exams, Fan Xian stole half a day of leisure and snuck out of the Imperial College. He really could not stand those students who did not study the scriptures seriously and instead brought him poems every day. Some of those students were old enough to be his father, and it was really quite awkward.
Walking outside the palace walls, Fan Xian felt very relaxed as he looked at the clear water in the imperial gutter. To tell the truth, there were not many people in the capital who knew what he looked like, so walking on the streets was very comfortable. Especially as he walked under the red palace walls, Fan Xian squinted at the high walls and looked at the solemn-looking guards in the distance. Even his calm temperament could not help but feel a little proud — I have sneaked in before, so what?
At the corner of the palace walls was a watchtower of the imperial guards, responsible for looking into the distance. It was from there that Yan Xiaoyi had shot Fan Xian down from across the palace walls with a startling arrow.
Fan Xian retracted his gaze and shook his head. Yan Xiaoyi had now been transferred to the Governor of the North. If he wanted to go to Northern Qi, he would have to pass through his jurisdiction. He hoped that Yan Xiaoyi did not know that he was the assassin that night.
Not long after circling the palace walls, Fan Xian entered Tianhe River. The water was still gentle, and the golden characters in front of the Overwatch Council glowed faintly. Fan Xian acted as if he did not see those characters, and calmly walked past, not even glancing at them out of the corner of his eye.
"I say, Master Fan, it is so difficult for me to even see you now. It seems that you have become very popular in the capital."
Fan Xian smiled bitterly and turned his head to see Crown Prince Jing on horseback, looking at him with a smile. He cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Crown Prince. I just wanted some peace and quiet. How could I have known that I would run into Crown Prince?"
"It was not a coincidence." Li Hongcheng waved the horsewhip in his hand and smiled. "I chased you all the way from the Imperial College."
Fan Xian was a little surprised, but his clear eyes immediately became calm again. He replied, "What is it, Crown Prince?"
The Crown Prince smiled. "Someone has invited me today."
"Who?" Fan Xian's intuition told him that there was something wrong with today's banquet.
"The Second Prince," Li Hongcheng said with a smile.
Fan Xian shook his head helplessly. The Second Prince had never summoned him, but now that he had spoken, there was no way he could avoid it.
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