Fan Xian smiled. "I heard that during the rebellion in Shangjing, you risked your life to leave the palace with a letter from the Empress Dowager. You mobilized the Brocade Guards under Sir Shen, and only then did you manage to salvage the situation. Since then, Sir Shen has had a successful career as an official, and he has always been on good terms with you, so I would like you to introduce me to him. "
This was the only glorious event in Chang Ninghou's life. Chang Ninghou was already drunk, and now his face was flushed. He was even more drunk than before, and his expression was one of pride. But no matter how stupid he was, he could tell that something was amiss. He hiccupped and stared at Fan Xian strangely. "Sir Fan, you are an envoy. Going to see the Provost of the Provost of the Discipline Commission... this is somewhat improper."
Fan Xian frowned. "As you know, there are always many inconveniences for an envoy in a foreign land." He lowered his voice and said, "To tell you the truth, I have offended a large number of officials in Jingdou. Even His Majesty could not protect me, so he used this diplomatic mission as an excuse to kick me to Northern Qi."
Chang Ninghou nodded and hiccupped. His heart was full of sorrow. Last year, when Northern Qi lost the war, all the nobles related to the Empress Dowager were roasted on the stove, so Chang Ninghou was demoted and sent home. As the Empress Dowager's brother, he was kicked to the south to sign that humiliating treaty... Fan Xian's offending of a large number of civil officials in the south was truly shocking. The Prime Minister of the south had been removed, the Director of the Board of Rites had been hanged, and 16 high-ranking officials had been executed. The civil service case had caused such a ruckus that even the officials of Northern Qi knew about it, so Chang Ninghou believed that Fan Xian was telling the truth.
"But why do you want to see the Provost of the Discipline Commission?" Chang Ninghou was in a bit of a dilemma. He really did not know what this young official wanted.
"I want to get rich. Does Master Marquis want that?"
Hearing the word "get rich," Chang Ninghou was immediately interested.
"Business." Fan Xian filled Master Hou's cup. There was no one else around the banquet, only the old man and the young man. Fan Xian spoke in a low voice, "Master Hou, you must have heard that I will take over the palace treasury in the south by the year after next. At least forty percent of the treasury's business is sent to the north, so I must build a good relationship with the Discipline Commission, otherwise how can I ensure my safety along the way?"
Chang Ninghou looked at him, his heart filled with shock. He instinctively shouted, "You're trying to smuggle!"
Fan Xian raised his index finger to his lips and smiled. Drinking a mouthful of wine, he said, "Marquis, do you think we should do this business?"
Chang Ninghou had already sobered up quite a bit. Half of it was from the shock, and the other half was from the joy. What did the Qing Kingdom rely on for its recent rise? Isn't it just the businesses left behind by the Ye Family? If he could turn the interests of the Southern Imperial Court into his personal interests, what kind of number would that be?
However, Chang Ninghou still found it hard to believe. Could this young Southern official really be so daring? Chang Ninghou thought about it for a long time. If Fan Xian wanted to smuggle, he indeed needed to build a good relationship with the Discipline Commission. As for the drawbacks? There was not a single one!
In any case, Fan Xian was greedy for the money in the Qing Kingdom's treasury. The Northern Qi Kingdom would suffer no loss at all! If he smuggled, the prices of those goods would fall, and the palace would save a great deal of money. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor's nephew would probably wake up laughing. Why wouldn't he do something like this that harmed others to benefit himself?
Chang Ninghou fiercely drank a mouthful of wine. "Deal! I'll arrange for you to meet with Old Shen, but … "
"But what?"
"Fan Xian, I must say this. I must get the palace's approval for this."
"That won't do!" Fan Xian said resolutely and decisively, "I have already said enough today. Originally, it was just the three of us getting rich. If the Marquis plays this game, then wouldn't my head be tied to the belt of the Northern Qi court?"
Chang Ninghou knew that Fan Xian's words were reasonable, but he still smiled bitterly. "I don't dare to take responsibility for such an important matter."
"Then please consider it, Marquis," said Fan Xian coldly. Fan Xian said coldly. "However, this matter involves the lives of my family, so the Marquis' mouth must be sealed."
A vicious look suddenly flashed in Fan Xian's eyes. Chang Ninghou saw this look, but the Marquis was not afraid at all. Instead, he laughed coldly and thought to himself, "You, a civil official, actually want to play such underhanded tricks. You're no match for the Discipline Commission." Perhaps Chang Ninghou had been shocked by the huge amount of money that could be brought about by smuggling, but he had forgotten Fan Xian's true identity, which was very similar to that of the Discipline Commission.
Fan Xian looked at Chang Ninghou's expression and knew that his bait today was just about enough. He chuckled and changed the subject. He told Chang Ninghou about the conflict between the diplomatic mission and Chang Ninghou's manor, and asked Chang Ninghou to help mediate.
Chang Ninghou's mind was occupied with arranging for Fan Xian to meet with Commander Shen, and thinking about how to enter the palace and persuade the Empress Dowager to do this profitable business. Hearing Fan Xian's words, he naturally agreed. "That brother of mine doesn't know how to do proper business," he scolded. "He only knows how to cause trouble. Don't worry, I'll handle this matter."
— — —
Not having eaten and drank to his heart's content, Envoy Fan left the manor and boarded the carriage, preparing to return to the diplomatic mission. Just then, he suddenly heard the hurried sound of hooves in front of him. It stopped next to the carriage.
Fan Xian lifted the curtain and saw that it was indeed the eldest son of Chang Ninghou's family, Wei Hua, the vice-minister of the Office of the Grand Herald, who had hurried back. He couldn't help but smile — it seemed that he had accomplished all four of his goals by delivering gifts to Chang Ninghou's manor.
"Master Fan, what exactly do you want to do?" Wei Hua gritted his teeth and lowered his voice to speak to Fan Xian, who stood by the carriage window.
Fan Xian burped, and the sour smell made Wei Hua quickly cover his nose. He smiled and used his palm to clear the air. "Your father and I were drinking buddies in the past. Since I've come to Shangjing today, of course I had to pay him a visit."
Wei Hua was both angry and angry. "You are an envoy of a country, and your words and actions will attract attention. If you truly wish to visit friends and relatives, you must do so after the affairs of the country have concluded. Then, the Office of the Grand Herald will make the arrangements, or you can request an edict from the palace through the Ministry of Rites. If your sudden visit is noticed by the court officials, how will my father explain it to the palace tomorrow? "
Fan Xian laughed. "The Marquis is a free and easy man. He doesn't care about such things. The vice-minister's elegance is a far cry from your father's. "
Wei Hua suppressed the anger in his chest and swallowed his anger. "Everyone knows that my father loves to drink … Master Fan, what exactly do you want to do?"
The drunkenness in Fan Xian's eyes disappeared, and he looked at Wei Hua calmly. The indifference in his eyes made Wei Hua feel a little uncomfortable. "What do I want to do? I want to introduce a business deal to your father. "
Wei Hua didn't know what he meant, but his intuition told him that it was extremely dangerous. He placed his hand on the window frame of the envoy's carriage and frowned. "Master Fan, if you have something to say, please say it."
"I'm looking for you today. You're hiding." Fan Xian looked at him with a faint smile. "I'm looking for the vice-provost, but he's not at the Ministry of Rites. I'd like to ask, who should I look for?"
Wei Hua replied awkwardly, "Aren't the envoys of your country currently in discussion with the Ministry of Rites?"
"The border is being demarcated, and so is the prisoner exchange." Fan Xian looked him in the eye and said coldly, "But as the vice-minister of the Office of the Grand Herald, you should know what I want to do. Don't think about delaying it any longer. I must see him by tomorrow."
Wei Hua said, "The procedures are complicated. Do you think you can see him so easily?"
"Fine. I'll come see your father tomorrow." Fan Xian was so angry that he laughed. "Drink, talk, and then discuss business. Such a life as an envoy can be considered a happy one."
With that said, the carriage began to move. Under the escort of the Northern Qi army, it happily made its way back to the encampment.
Wei Hua angrily threw the horsewhip to the servant and walked into the manor. Along the way, he asked when Fan Xian had come and what he had done. After hearing that Commander Wei had accompanied him all the way, his heart calmed a little. Presumably, the Emperor's officials would not be able to use this matter to make a fuss.
Entering the reception hall, Wei Hua saw that Marquis Chang Ning was still enjoying his wine. Wei Hua was furious, but he suppressed his emotions and respectfully bowed to Marquis Chang Ning.
Seeing that his most promising son had returned, Chang Ninghou smiled and said, "Come, come, come. We have a guest today. It's that Fan Xian I've always mentioned. Hey, that kid, he actually managed to get two jars of the liquor from the Xiushui Street store."
Wei Hua finally couldn't take it anymore. He sighed and said, "Father, he's an envoy from an enemy country. Who knows how many people in the court are watching our Chang Ninghou and Chang Ninghou families. Could you..."
Before he could finish, Chang Ninghou was already howling, "What? I'm the Empress Dowager's brother. Can't I have a guest at home? "
"That's no ordinary guest. He's an envoy from the Kingdom of Qing!" Wei Hua's voice grew louder. "It's precisely because our family is different from others that, for the sake of my aunt's reputation, you shouldn't have let Fan Xian through the door today."
For some reason, as soon as Wei Hua became fierce, Chang Ninghou softened. He hugged his wine cup, his face full of misery, and said with a sobbing tone, "What face? From the day your aunt entered the palace, your father, I, have lost all face! Who am I? I'm Zhuang Mohan's student! But in the eyes of others, what am I? Look at all the years I've been in the capital. Which official in the court was willing to visit me? Those who came to visit me were all those shameless things. I'm sick of them. "
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