"I'm an idiot?" Crown Prince Jing looked into Fan Xian's eyes seriously. "Please tell me that I really am an idiot."
Fan Xian did as he asked and said seriously, "I think in some ways, you really are an idiot."
Li Hongcheng was talking about Fan Xian's finger pointing up at the sky. Fan Xian was talking about the prince's insistence on participating in the princes' battle for power.
The autumn grass in the manor was neat and tidy. It did not give off a poignant feeling. On the contrary, it was like a yellowish blanket spread out on both sides of the road. Fan Xian knew that this was what King Jing, who loved gardening, worked hard every day. He pointed at the grass and said, "Look, this is life."
Li Hongcheng laughed mockingly. "If you are willing to tend the garden at home every day, I will have the second prince give you a few thousand mu of land in Jiangnan."
Fan Xian shook his head in distress. "I told you, these recent events were not my idea. You didn't believe me."
Li Hongcheng had a warm and sunny face, but at this moment, he was shocked by this news until his brows gradually furrowed. If the recent movements in the court were not Fan Xian's viciousness, but the Emperor's secret plans, then this matter could not be good. Was the Emperor no longer as fond of the second prince as he was in the beginning?
Fan Xian glanced at him. "Of course, I have my own selfish motives. You should know that I have no good feelings toward the second prince."
Li Hongcheng furrowed his brows. "Ever since you entered the capital, the second prince and I have been kind to you. Of course, we can't say we were wholeheartedly, but we were at least closer than we were to the Eastern Palace."
Fan Xian laughed coldly and didn't say anything.
The two of them walked side by side into the manor. They did not go straight to the back garden. King Jing's birthday banquet had not yet begun. Walking into the prince's secret study, Fan Xian sat by the table. There was a glimmer of coldness between his brows as he stared at Li Hongcheng.
The servant who had brought the tea had left, leaving only the two of them in the study.
"Polite? Having the Imperial Censorate act against me is polite? "
Li Hongcheng was slightly startled. He smiled bitterly and said, "The Imperial Censorate … that was my aunt's idea. You know why. Who told you to start investigating my aunt and the Second Prince as soon as you returned to the capital?"
Fan Xian did not bring up the matter of Niulan Mountain. Instead, he shook his head and said, "As I said earlier, I have my own selfish motives. You should also understand why I want to investigate the Eldest Princess and the Second Prince. All the money in the palace treasury has been taken by the two of them. You want me to take over an empty shell next year? "
Li Hongcheng said, "No matter what, you are the Eldest Princess' son-in-law. She only has one girl, Wan'er. Would she really force you into a dead end? Let's take a step back. It's always good for everyone to live in peace. "
"It's fine to take a step back." Fan Xian looked at him and said seriously, "I'm just worried about you. I know that the reason you stand on the Second Prince's side is because you think that if he becomes Emperor in the future, he will be more successful than the one in the Eastern Palace. His temperament seems gentle and kind, so you think that the manor will be more comfortable after he takes over. But have you ever thought that if he really becomes the Emperor, won't he remember these things? "
Li Hongcheng smiled and said, "It's a good thing that it came from your mouth. Otherwise, others would think it was a clumsy attempt to sow discord."
Fan Xian waved his hand and said, "This is serious talk. Just treat it as me being meddlesome. In the spring, I told you by the Liujing River that you shouldn't get involved in these things." He looked into Li Hongcheng's eyes and said, "I know what you've done. But because of your status as King Jing, even if you have thousands of women at your command, you don't have a single soldier. It's not that I'm being arrogant, but the power you have is less than mine. How can you travel among these princes as you wish?"
Without waiting for Li Hongcheng's reply, Fan Xian stood up and said seriously, "What I'm saying is actually a bit narcissistic. Perhaps you laugh at me in your heart, but since the Emperor has already been moved, I don't think the Second Prince will have many good days in the future. If you can keep your distance, keep it that way."
He patted Li Hongcheng's shoulder and said sincerely, "I'm not saying this for anything else. It's just for Ruoruo."
Li Hongcheng was silent. Although his face was expressionless, his heart was moved. After a moment, he said quietly, "You don't understand the Second Prince. He was forced to do this. Besides, he and I are friends. I can't let go."
Fan Xian shook his head and didn't say anything.
— — —
King Jing's birthday banquet began. There was a large, round table with flowers, and all kinds of expensive dishes. King Jing sat at the head of the table. His long beard floated in the wind, and he was dressed like a wealthy merchant. He didn't look like a prince, nor did he look like a gardener. Instead, he looked like a salt merchant in Jiangnan who was bored and worried about being rich.
Seeing his son walk in with Fan Xian, King Jing laughed and waved for Fan Xian to come over. He said, "Sit next to me."
Fan Xian was most afraid of King Jing's swearing, so he sat down with a bitter face. He turned his head and saw Wan 'er sitting next to him, giggling and looking at him. His sister sat next to Wan' er, her face calm. Thinking of how he had shamelessly used Ruoruo's name to temporarily appease Li Hongcheng, Fan Xian despised himself from the depths of his bones. He raised his cup to King Jing, and then to his father and Lady Liu, who were sitting across from him. Only then did he accept his punishment for being late.
There was no one else at the birthday banquet, just the Li and Fan families. But with the elders at the table, both the Crown Prince and Fan Xian couldn't help but be a bit reserved. The sumptuous banquet was tasteless.
After three rounds of wine, King Jing was a bit unhappy. He picked up the wine pot and said to Fan Xian, "How do you manage your children at home? With you here, Fan Xian and the others don't dare to say anything. "
Fan Xian picked up a silky deer tail and chewed on it. He said slowly, "It's better than you. At least I won't curse in front of my children."
"I'll f * ck you!" King Jing wiped the wine off his chin and scolded, "Don't speak ill of me in front of my daughter!"
Princess Jing died young. There were still a few concubines in the house, but they didn't have the right to sit at the banquet table. Princess Rou Jia and Crown Prince Li Hongcheng sat to his right. Rou Jia heard her father's profanity, and she secretly raised her head to look at Fan Xian. She was ashamed and angry, and felt very humiliated.
Hearing this, Fan Xian's face darkened. He scolded back, "Go slap yourself."
Since Wan 'er married into the Fan family, this was the first time she had seen the two families sitting together. Seeing that the two elders didn't seem appropriate, she quickly pulled on Fan Xian's sleeve. Hearing her father-in-law tell a prince to slap himself, she couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.
Fan Xian, on the other hand, was used to seeing it, so he didn't really care. Speaking of which, it was strange. His father had always been cautious and upright. It was only in front of King Jing that he would reveal his romantic and unrestrained aura, like when he slept in a brothel at night and broke a branch in the morning.
Hearing that Fan Xian wanted him to slap himself, King Jing was about to say something when he suddenly remembered what he had said. He couldn't help but let out a cry of surprise. Smiling bitterly, he raised his right hand and gently slapped his own face. The slap was a little loud.
Fan Xian didn't let it go. He pointed his chopsticks at King Jing's nose and scolded, "Your son is about to marry a wife, and you're not going to learn how to speak properly!"
King Jing said, "That was a slip of the tongue." He glared at the juniors, and fiercely said, "None of you heard what I said." Then he coughed awkwardly, and asked Fan Xian, "Fan Xian, how is my mother doing in Danzhou?"
Lin Wan 'er lowered her head to stifle her laughter. Only now did she remember why Minister Fan had dared to tell King Jing to slap himself. Her husband's grandmother's status was not ordinary. King Jing had been raised by that grandmother in Danzhou.
Fan Xian's face was bitter. He thought to himself, why drag me into your quarrel? He briefly talked about his grandmother's recent situation, which was nothing more than her health. He rolled his eyes and said, "King Jing, let's drink, let's drink. Right, since you have nothing to do in the capital, and Hongcheng is just idling in the capital, why don't we find some time next year to go back to Danzhou and play for a few days? The tea trees there are excellent. "
King Jing looked at Fan Xian and knew what he meant. He liked it more and more. He smiled and said, "That's a good idea. I'll go to the palace tomorrow and tell the Emperor … but you won't be able to go. You'll have to go to Jiangnan next year."
Li Hongcheng, who had been listening with his ears perked up, was shocked. He thought to himself, Fan Xian, what a brilliant move!
Fan Xian asked, "Why do I have to go to Jiangnan?"
King Jing scolded him, "You usually look very smart. Even the Second Prince suffered a lot at your hands. How can you be so stupid now? Next year, you're going to take over the palace treasury. If you don't go to Jiangnan, how can you do it? "
Fan Xian rubbed his head, confused. "Why do I have to go to Jiangnan to take over the palace treasury?"
King Jing looked at Fan Jing and widened his eyes. "I say, Fan Jing, is your son pretending to be stupid, or is he really stupid?"
Fan Jing glared at Fan Xian and said, "I had thought that although he didn't have great wisdom, he had some small tricks up his sleeve. Now I know that he doesn't even have small tricks up his sleeve."
Lin Wan 'er pouted and said, "My husband doesn't know that the three workshops of the palace treasury are all in Jiangnan … Uncle, go drink your wine. Why do you keep bringing up these boring things?"
King Jing almost choked. He laughed and scolded her. "Girls are always extroverted. No matter what, I'm still your uncle. How can you keep talking about the Fan family after getting married?"
Lin Wan 'er laughed. "I see that you also love my husband. Why do you keep scolding me?"
Li Hongcheng, who was sitting to the right, nodded and sighed. He looked at Fan Xian, who was sitting next to his father, and the way his father looked at Fan Xian with a smile in his eyes. His heart was filled with jealousy. Like the second prince, he was unhappy. Why did his father like Fan Xian so much? Whose father was he?
— — —
The banquet went on until the end. A few of the younger generation toasted and gave their birthday wishes. This finally made King Jing happy, and his words became more and more absurd. One time, he said that after the marriage, the two families should quickly have a baby. The next time, he said that when Rou Jia was two years older, she should just marry Fan Xian to avoid letting someone else take advantage of her.
Ruoruo grabbed her sleeves nervously, not daring to reply. Li Hongcheng's expression was calm. There was a glimmer of affection in his eyes. He glanced at his fiancée a few times.
Fan Xian was the most nervous. He quickly replied, "Who is Rou Jia? How could she be my concubine? King, you've really drunk too much."
Rou Jia glared at Brother Xian with hidden bitterness.
King Jing was drunk. He scolded, "The capital is full of bastards. How can I be at ease if they marry someone else? Who are they? Aren't they my daughters? Are they not good enough for you? "He turned his head to Wan 'er." Chen' er, do you have any objections? "
Lin Wan 'er smiled. "I don't have any objections. As long as you can persuade the Empress Dowager, this matter is settled."
As soon as King Jing heard the word "Empress Dowager," he sobered up. He remembered that his mother would not allow Fan Xian to marry both of his granddaughters at the same time. He couldn't help but curse. "We have to think of something. Rou Jia's temperament is too weak … Damn it, not marrying Fan Xian? Wouldn't that be giving Zikong to the woman in the north? It's not worth it, not worth it. Fan Xian is so beautiful. It's not worth it to let the tigress in the north take advantage. "
He looked at Fan Jing in a drunken manner. "What is the name of the woman in the north?"
Fan Jing had obviously drunk too much. He hiccupped and spoke with a hint of pride. "Haitang. She is a saintess in the north. She is the last disciple of Imperial Advisor Ku He. I don't know why she has taken a fancy to my good-for-nothing son."
Although he said good-for-nothing, it was clear that the old man was very proud of himself.
As soon as he said this, everyone at the table began to laugh. Even Lady Liu, who had been silent all this time, couldn't help but cover her mouth. Fan Sizhe and Li Hongcheng laughed the most. Fan Xian was the saddest person at the table. He had not expected his father to be so unrestrained after getting drunk. He had also not expected his father to remember Haitang's name.
Fan Xian felt a slight pain in his forearm, but his expression did not change. He gently grabbed Wan 'er's hand and raised his cup with his left hand. He smiled warmly. "Drink, drink."
There was another burst of laughter at the table. Even Ruoruo, who had been inexplicably uneasy, began to laugh.
…
…
"That Haitang …" King Jing suddenly spoke. "I'm afraid she is no longer Ku He's last disciple."
Fan Xian had been nervous when he heard the name "Haitang," but after hearing the last sentence, he knew that the things he had arranged had finally begun. The news had already begun to spread to the capital.
Fan Jing nodded and revealed a puzzled expression. "That is strange. That Haitang." He looked at his son and continued. "It is said that she is a genius. She is the youngest superior ninth-level master in history. The people of Northern Qi say that she is a Tianmai being … with a disciple like that, what could Ku He not be satisfied with? He actually wants to open up his own sect and take on another disciple."
Crown Prince Li Hongcheng also knew about this. He frowned. "Could it be a conspiracy by Northern Qi?"
King Jing scolded him. "Conspiracy my ass. Taking a disciple is a conspiracy, but is Ku He having a meal also a conspiracy? Don't think about these things every day. Be careful that you don't tire yourself out! You're a grown man, and yet you don't have any prospects. "
Li Hongcheng went off to make a fortune in silence. Fan Sizhe stood to the side and touched his cup with him with deep sorrow.
Fan Jing couldn't bear to watch King Jing lecture his son. "Although it cannot be a conspiracy, it is indeed strange … after Ku He went into seclusion for a few months, he suddenly said that he understood the will of heaven and wanted to take on two new female disciples. He also said something about a blessing from heaven … this is really strange."
King Jing slowly drained his cup of wine. With a serious expression, he said, "The four Great Grandmasters are the top figures in the world. Of the three we know, Ye Liuyun is a free and easy person who doesn't take on disciples. Although Sigu Jian took on few disciples, the Sword Hut opened, and this created many ninth-level masters in Dongyi. Imperial Advisor Ku He took on four disciples, and each one of them was a stunning talent. "
Fan Xian thought of Lang Tiao's soul-devouring curved knife and couldn't help but gently nod his head.
King Jing continued to frown and said, "But these three Great Grandmasters have not opened their doors for many years. At this time, Ku He suddenly wants to take on a disciple. This is truly a major event in the world. Although people like us do not care, for the martial cultivators of the world, this is a great opportunity. If they can become Ku He's disciple, not only will their martial arts improve, but they will also be able to form a good relationship with Tianyi Dao …" He sighed and said, "If they can get closer to Ku He's faction through taking on a disciple, I think the rulers of the world will be very willing."
Fan Xian showed a curious expression and asked, "Ku He is, after all, the Imperial Advisor of Northern Qi. If he wants to take on disciples, he must be looking for people in Northern Qi. What does this have to do with the Kingdom of Qing?"
Fan Jing looked at his son and said, "This time, Imperial Advisor Ku He has opened his doors. Everyone has a chance. Although he is the Imperial Advisor of Northern Qi, the position of a Great Grandmaster is very high. If any citizen of the Kingdom of Qing has the opportunity to be his disciple, I think His Majesty would be happy to see it. "
Fan Xian nodded to show that he understood, but he was thinking about something else. He didn't know how Haitang had convinced the Great Grandmaster, but it seemed that this girl was more powerful than he had imagined.
— — —
After the banquet, Lady Liu went to the back of the house to talk with the women. The young people went to the lakeside to drink in the wind, but Fan Sizhe suddenly disappeared.
In the garden that King Jing personally took care of, he and Minister Fan were lying on bamboo chairs, squinting at the grass in silence.
"Lately, Fan Xian has been a bit too aggressive. You should rein him in." King Jing's eyes were clear, and Minister Fan's face was calm. They didn't look like the two old drunkards at the banquet table.
Fan Jing softly grunted and said, "When this child first came to the capital, he said that I can't completely control him."
King Jing snorted and said, "If you and I can't control him, are you going to throw him to that old cripple? That old cripple is full of bad ideas. Who knows what he's playing at. "
Fan Jing smiled and said, "The old cripple was an old man from your manor. Otherwise, why would His Majesty trust him so much?"
King Jing laughed coldly and said, "You guys can do whatever you want. After that matter, my heart will be in peace." He then closed his eyes and said, "Fan Xian, this child, has a good heart. I only worry that His Majesty has squeezed him too much, and that it will be difficult to deal with him in the future."
Fan Jing sighed and said, "You also know that I have no say in this matter."
King Jing shook his head and sighed. "Let these kids play. My brother probably likes to watch this kind of drama."
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