First-class baron, second rank.
Fan Xian pondered the weight of this title, worried that it would provoke some criticism. In truth, he was being overly cautious. Although the mission to Northern Qi was not a difficult or dangerous affair, it was still a difficult one. At the beginning of spring, His Majesty had disrespected Prime Minister Lin and Assistant Minister Fan, and had kicked him out of the capital. Although Fan Jian had been promoted to minister, giving Fan Xian the title of baron was, in the eyes of the common people, just a second compensation for the Fan family. No one was too surprised.
Furthermore, ever since he had entered the capital, everyone knew that the reason the Emperor of the Palace admired the Fan family's son so much was largely because of his literary talent. Fan Xian was in line with His Majesty's strategy of promoting scholarly governance. This time, Fan Xian had earned a carriage full of books in Northern Qi, and His Majesty would naturally reward him.
Although, given Fan Xian's current position, he did not think much of a mere baron, the title of nobility was still based on family and status. It would always have some benefits for doing things. He looked at his father and said, "When will the edict come down?"
By this time, father and son had been talking for a long time in the study. Fan Xian chose to talk about some of the less secretive parts of the diplomatic mission. Every time he touched on matters of the Council, Minister Fan waved his hand and told him to skip ahead before he could show any signs of awkwardness.
When all was said and done, Fan Xian had grown up in Danzhou. After entering the capital, he rarely communicated with his father. Most of the time, they talked in this simple and unique study. So, when it came to feelings, it was a bit lacking. But for some reason, he looked at Fan Jian's gray hair growing on his temples and thought of the romantic figures of the Northern Qi Kingdom who had already been beaten by the wind and rain. His sadness carried a glimmer of guilt.
The Director was right. Count Sinan did not owe Fan Xian anything. Fan Xian owed him a great deal.
"When I enter the palace tomorrow, there will probably be an edict." Minister Fan closed his eyes, drinking the fruit juice that Lady Liu had prepared every night. He seemed to be enjoying it. "You did well in the north. Director Chen has asked for much credit, and His Majesty appreciates it."
On this trip to Northern Qi, other than his own secret matters, he had not done anything for the court. Even Yan Bingyun's return to Northern Qi was something that happened along the way. It could not be considered a contribution. He could not help but smile bitterly. "Actually, on this trip back and forth, I really did not do anything."
"Sometimes, doing nothing is the best thing to do." Minister Fan slowly opened his eyes.
Fan Xian felt a chill in his heart. He thought his father was going to use this opportunity to teach him a lesson about how he had fought with the Great Prince outside of the capital. Unexpectedly, his father did not say a word about it. Instead, he changed the subject. "I've told you many times before not to get too close to the Overwatch Council. I didn't expect you to not listen to me. You were tricked by that old dog Chen Pingping..."
Speaking of this, Minister Fan seemed to be really unhappy. "To be able to safely guard the palace treasury is a rare opportunity in the eyes of others."
Fan Xian smiled bitterly. "I wish I could. The problem is, you know, that person in Xinyang is not willing to let it go so easily. Furthermore, she was the one who started it first. If I did not join the Overwatch Council, how could I contend with someone like that?"
Minister Fan sighed, thinking that he had indeed not thought through this matter thoroughly. He had not expected the Eldest Princess to have such a strong reaction. He could only wave his hand and say, "After all, she is the Emperor's sister, the empress dowager's favorite daughter, and Wan'er's birth mother. Let bygones be bygones."
Fan Xian believed this. Although he did not believe that his father was a man who would swallow his pride, he knew that his father's loyalty to the royal family was unquestionable. He only sought his own interests for the sake of the family. Furthermore, his father had always insisted that Fan Xian stay away from the Overwatch Council. He did not want Fan Xian to get involved in the capital's complicated and sinister political struggles.
But... the palace treasury was banknotes, and the bureaucracy was politics. Banknotes and politics had always been twins. It seemed that his father had not understood this law in the beginning. But no matter what, Fan Xian was grateful for Count Sinan's efforts. "Father, please do not worry. I will be careful."
Fan Xian was satisfied with his attitude. "Only the truly strong have the right to show weakness. The weak have always been weak. There is no need to show weakness. Think about it yourself."
Fan Xian understood what his father meant. He smiled. Suddenly, he thought of something else. "Father, when I return to the capital, can I still have Gao Da and the other seven follow me?"
Minister Fan looked at his son, and a gentle smile appeared in his usually solemn eyes. "You know that I only train and manage the Tiger Guards on behalf of the royal family. The real power lies in the palace. If you want to keep those Tiger Guards, I can only go to the palace and speak for you. But I don't think His Majesty will allow it."
Fan Xian smiled bitterly. In his heart, he did not want to part with Gao Da and the other seven Tiger Guards. With these silent masters as bodyguards, his safety would be greatly guaranteed. On the meadow outside Wuduhe, even Haitang could not gain the slightest advantage against the seven Tiger Guards. Compared to the swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council, this was a level higher. Not to mention the Qinian Unit that he had first established. The Qinian Unit was his most loyal force. Although under Wang Qinian's tutelage, whether it was tracking intelligence or other matters, they had slowly taken shape. Unfortunately, they were still a bit weak in terms of martial prowess.
But he also understood that the Tiger Guards had always been used as bodyguards for princes. For example, there were a few in the Western Army, and they were responsible for the Great Prince's safety. Although His Majesty would occasionally transfer the Tiger Guards to the side of certain ministers, those were special missions. For example, when Fan Xian's father-in-law, Prime Minister Lin, resigned and returned to his hometown, His Majesty had sent four Tiger Guards to accompany him. This was to commend the Prime Minister for his lifetime of service to the country, and to ensure the Prime Minister's safety on the road. After these specific tasks were completed, the Tiger Guards would return to the capital, disappearing into inconspicuous private residences.
Fan Xian knew so much because Fan Jian had always been responsible for handling these matters for His Majesty. Since the diplomatic mission had returned to the capital, if the Tiger Guards continued to follow him and the royal family found out, it would inevitably cause a lot of trouble.
Minister Fan looked at the regretful expression on his son's face and couldn't help but smile. Although this child had the style of his mother, and his talent was extraordinary, he was still only a young man. He couldn't help but remind Fan Xian, "When you left, that scholar Shi Chanli often came to pay his respects. I met him a few times, and he really is a talented person who doesn't show it."
Fan Xian was startled, but then he understood. After his father knew that he had decided not to ask for a reduction in power and leave the Overwatch Council, he began to plan for his future in the bureaucracy. This was to remind him not to forget about his students. Although Fan Xian's position in the hearts of the world's scholars had been established, and the students his father-in-law had left behind in the court could help him, as time went on, he needed some of his own people to speak in the court.
Understanding his father's thoughts, Fan Xian couldn't help but feel moved. But as a man, he learned not to show his emotions. He only bowed deeply to his father.
Minister Fan waved his hand, signaling him to return to his room. Fan Xian thought about it. Regarding his sister's marriage, it was best not to speak too soon. Such arrangements could only be made slowly, and so he respectfully left the room.
Watching Fan Xian's straight back as he left the study, Minister Fan couldn't help but show some pride and comfort in his eyes. With a son like this, what more could a father ask for? He gently drank the last drop of fruit juice in the bowl. He knew in his heart that this child had long since guessed something. But with this child's temperament, since the other party did not say anything, it naturally did not matter … The future of the Fan clan depended on this child.
Thinking of this, Minister Fan couldn't help but admire Prime Minister Lin, who was already far from the center of power in the Kingdom of Qing. He thought that old fox's luck was quite good. Minister Fan had paid a heavy price and worked hard for more than ten years, while Prime Minister Lin had only given birth to a daughter.
— — —
September was dull and boring. Everything was fine, except for the worry.
Fan Xian sat in the carriage, gently knocking on the wooden window lattice, humming a song that no one else could understand to the strange rhythm. Entering the palace was a serious matter for most officials, but he only felt bored. It was the first time he had returned to the capital, and he had made up his mind with his wife and father. He felt that there was nothing to worry about in the entire court, both inside and outside the capital. In a moment, he would enter the palace to receive his title, kowtow, and then go to the Council to sort out his affairs. It seemed that all he could do was return to Cang Mountain to practice jumping off the cliff.
His fingers, which had been knocking on the window lattice, suddenly froze. He suddenly remembered his sister's marriage, and remembered that Li Hongcheng was holding a feast on Liujing River to welcome him. His expression suddenly became unsightly. So this dull and boring September was actually such a dog's life.
…
…
Today was the day of the court. Early in the morning, many officials had arrived at the palace gates to wait. It was said that in the early years, some of the older officials, in order to show their loyalty to the Emperor, began to prepare their court attire in the middle of the night. They hurried to the palace gates before dawn, just to wait for the sound of the palace gates opening. After these old officials retired, not being able to hear the creaking of the gates for many nights made them feel particularly uncomfortable.
Now that the Emperor was on the throne, he hated those who sought fame. So the officials did not dare to come too early, but they also did not dare to come too late. It was unknown who had the idea, but some of the officials actually reserved seats in the teahouse at the corner of Xinjiekou. As soon as the sun had risen, they left the manor and waited in the private rooms of the teahouse. They had their attendants watch the palace gates from afar, so that they could line up at the right time.
There was no such thing as a Commissioner of the Overwatch Council. Aside from the mysterious figure that had long since been forgotten, Fan Xian was the first Commissioner since the founding of the Kingdom of Qing. That was why he was only a fourth-level official in the Imperial College. If it were not for the fact that the Emperor had to report to the diplomatic mission, he would not have had the right to attend court. So he did not need to wear court attire for half a day. Early in the morning, he set out from Fan Manor, leisurely all the way. When he arrived at the palace gates, he was much later than most of the other officials.
Popularity attracts jealousy, and this was especially true for a young man who had only been in the capital for a year and a half. Furthermore, this young man had torn the faces of most of the officials in the capital, killed a minister, and chased away another. As the saying goes, the turtle responds when the turtle cries, and the fox grieves when the rabbit dies. Everyone looked at this handsome Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, yawning as he got out of the carriage. Their eyes were filled with caution and disgust.
Fan Xian looked around and felt that the atmosphere was not quite right. These officials were either ministers of various ministries or officials of various temples. They were all second-level officials and above. Whose wife did not have a title of nobility, and whose home did not have a few toys bestowed by the Emperor? He was so young, and yet he had arrived later than these officials. If he did not have Minister Fan behind him, especially that old cripple, these truly high-ranking officials of the Kingdom of Qing would have cursed him out a long time ago.
Naturally, he could not curse them, but the officials would not give him a good look either. They coldly glanced at him and arrogantly turned their heads away. Among the officials, there were a few who had been promoted by Lin Ruofu. They had wanted to go up and talk to Fan Xian and comfort him, but seeing the disdainful gazes of their colleagues, they couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. So, they stopped in their steps and only used gentle gazes to greet Fan Xian.
Fan Xian felt very uncomfortable being swept by these heated gazes, but he still maintained a calm smile on his face. Neither servile nor overbearing, he cupped his hands and greeted the officials. As he cupped his hands, someone behind him coughed. For some reason, Minister Fan had arrived a little late today, and had not come with his son. Fan Xian quickly went up to greet him, and carefully helped his father down from the carriage.
Minister Fan looked at him and shook his head. "I am not that old yet."
Fan Xian smiled. He knew that he had gone a little overboard with his acting. Although Minister Fan looked a little unhappy, the officials could see that "old Qian Lazi" was unusually happy today. He did not even let go of his son's hand and led him over.
With Minister Fan personally leading the way, the officials could no longer boast. They all greeted each other. After a short while, Count Sinan had led Fan Xian around the court, allowing him to recognize all the powerful officials in the court. Fan Xian called them uncles, elders, and so on. When the officials looked at the smiling young man again, they found him to be much more pleasing to the eye. The officials who belonged to the Lin faction were even more affectionate, praising Fan Xian for being young and promising, and so on and so forth.
But there were still some officials who looked on coldly. Although they bowed, their faces were cold. After all, everyone in the Kingdom of Qing knew that Sir Fan junior was most famous for his seemingly gentle, but actually sinister smile.
The Minister of Appointments, who had been a veteran of three dynasties, saw the Fan father and son approach. He could not help but snort coldly. "Since the founding of the Kingdom of Qing, and even during the reign of the Wei family, it is rare for two sons and daughters to attend court at the same time like Count Sinan's.
Fan Xian laughed. "The Emperor's grace is like the sea, the Emperor's grace is like the sea." It was as if he could not hear the mockery in the other's words. He gave all the glory to the Emperor. Fan Xian smiled. He knew that there was no room for him to speak on such an occasion, so he simply kept quiet.
...
...
At that moment, three eunuchs slowly walked out of the palace gates. The one in the middle was clearly of a higher rank. He waved the horsetail whisk in his hand and said softly, "You have worked hard. Please, everyone."
The officials immediately stopped exchanging pleasantries. They tidied up their court robes and walked through the palace gates. Perhaps it was because they were used to being here, but they did not even bother to look at the imperial guards at the palace gates and the armed guards at the inner gates. In a moment, they passed the three eunuchs, their heads held high and their chests puffed out. They had the air of the masters of the country.
It was the first time Fan Xian had attended court, and it was not convenient for him to walk with his father. He could only pathetically drag himself to the back of the line and walk inside with the three eunuchs. The eunuch in the lead was Eunuch Hou, whom he was familiar with. But Fan Xian did not dare say anything to him, and it was even more impossible for him to casually hand over a banknote. He could only smile at him in acknowledgment.
A long time later, Hou San'er still thought about this question. Why did he think that Sir Fan was a trustworthy supporter from the very beginning? In the end, he concluded that every time Sir Fan looked at him, his smile was very sincere. He was not like the other officials, who would deliberately show him warmth when they needed him. Other times, although he smiled warmly, there was always a hint of disdain in that smile that made people feel uncomfortable.
— — —
It was Fan Xian's first time attending a court conference, so he couldn't help feeling nervous. However, he stood at the very end of the civil officials and was still far from the dragon chair. If it were not for his Tyrannical internal strength and exceptional hearing, he probably wouldn't even have heard what the Emperor said. He knew that the middle-aged man on the dragon chair would certainly notice him, but he still relaxed slightly and began to examine the decorations inside Taiji Palace.
Although he had entered the palace a few times, most of his time was spent in the back of the palace, talking with the concubines and touring the mountains with Wan'er. This Taiji Palace was the main palace of the royal palace, and he had only seen it from afar. He had never had the opportunity to stand inside. Now that he had entered, he found it to be nothing special. The beams were exquisitely carved with dragons and phoenixes, and the red pillars were imposing. A faint fragrance wafted through the spacious palace, and bronze cranes and strange beasts stood to the side. But compared to the palace of Northern Qi, where the sky, water, and color of wealth and beauty merged into one, it paled in comparison.
But this palace had a different aura. It seemed to be the smell of power, rising from the dragon throne and making the officials feel awe.
It had nothing to do with the dragon throne. The middle-aged man sitting on the dragon throne was the source of this aura. Although his palace was not as grand as Northern Qi's, and his food was not as exquisite as Dongyi's, everyone knew that he was the most powerful man in the world.
The main topic of the court meeting naturally could not be separated from the Great Prince and the diplomatic group. But it was not about the fight for the road outside the city. Even if the Imperial Censorate wanted to do something about it, they could not bring out a memorial today. It was not that the Imperial Censorate did not have the ability to rush a memorial overnight, but if they were to rush it, they would probably leave traces and make the Emperor unhappy.
Today's court meeting discussed the future arrangements of the Western Army, as well as the soldiers' requests for rewards. The Great Prince had already been made a king, but the 100,000 soldiers under his command had to be accounted for. This point was brought up by the Bureau of Military Affairs, and no one would raise any objections. Although the Emperor placed great emphasis on the rule of literature, the Kingdom of Qing was, after all, a valiant nation built on military might. No one would make life difficult for the military on this matter.
As for the diplomatic group, after reporting on what had happened along the way, the Chamberlain of Dependencies presented the letter of credence on behalf of the Northern Qi delegation, presenting the newly drawn map of the world. Looking at the gradually expanding territory of the Kingdom of Qing on the map, the Emperor, who had always seemed too calm, finally had a glimmer of passion in his eyes.
The officials knew what was good for them, and naturally, they cheered loudly and flattered the Emperor. The elders of the Bureau of Military Affairs stroked their beards proudly. This was the land that the sons of the army had fought for with their own blood and flesh …
At this time, not many officials realized that in the process of negotiations, the officials of the Chamberlain of Dependencies, including Xin Qiwu, Fan Xian, and the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council, had played a large role. Even if they realized it, they would purposely ignore it.
Fan Xian looked at the joy in the hearts of the officials in court. Involuntarily, a slight smile rose to the corners of his lips. After all, he had once participated in this major event. He thought that if the Eldest Princess had not sold Yan Bingyun out, the Kingdom of Qing would probably have gained even more. But the Eldest Princess had turned around and tossed Xiao En back to Northern Qi, causing the Northern Qi court to gradually develop signs of internal strife. The ruler and officials were at odds with each other, and this was a very powerful move. Comparing the two, the only difference was short-term benefits versus long-term benefits.
…
…
The most powerful middle-aged man in the world, after a burst of uncontrollable faint joy in his heart, immediately regained his calmness with great self-control. Supporting his chin with his hand, he wore a smile on his face as he listened to the praises of his subjects. His gaze, however, swept across the back of the ranks of his subjects indifferently. After seeing the smile on that little fellow's face, his mood somehow became a little better.
He waved his hand, and the eunuch holding the brush and the head of the secretariat began to recite the already drafted edict in a sharp voice. Because there were too many soldiers to be rewarded, and the opinions of the Great Prince and the elders of the military had to be consulted, it had to be delayed for some time. This edict was mainly for the members of the diplomatic mission.
The hall fell silent. Everyone knew that after the diplomatic mission, it was just a routine reward, and the officials did not care. They only pricked up their ears to hear Fan Xian's name from the eunuch's sharp voice.
"... Baron of the first rank, second rank."
The officials all breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that His Majesty still had a sense of propriety. Regardless of their relationship with the Fan family, these officials did not want Fan Xian to be given such a high title at such a young age. Everyone thought in different directions and stood in different positions, but their thoughts were very similar.
Xin Qiwu, Fan Xian, and the others had long since knelt in the hall and thanked the Emperor for his grace. Just as the officials were about to hear the words, "If there is something to report, if there is nothing to report, the court is dismissed," His Majesty sat on the dragon chair and said lightly, "The few of you stay."
His Majesty's gaze fell on the few high-ranking officials closest to the dragon chair. After Lin Ruofu resigned as Prime Minister, the court could not find a suitable candidate to replace him, so the current affairs of the cabinet were handled by a few scholars and ministers. These days, after court meetings, His Majesty would often ask them to stay and say a few more words. Today, the Crown Prince and the Great Prince were also in the hall, so they naturally had to stay and say a few words. So the officials did not feel that anything was amiss. After greeting the Emperor, they all retreated from the hall.
Then, these officials heard something that made them feel incomparably jealous and envious.
"Fan Xian, you stay as well."
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