The sound of mahjong could be heard in the distance. The two old men looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Fan Xian is right. The Second Prince doesn't stand a chance. Most people in the court don't see it clearly." King Jing waved his hand. "My son is different from me. He doesn't want to learn from me. I'm a bit worried."
Fan Jian looked at him and said, "Hongcheng and the second prince are indeed too close."
Imperial Prince Jing sneered and didn't continue on this topic, "I think that my second son has become pedantic from studying. F * ck him. Wan 'er's mother is a crazy woman. How could he not get into trouble with her? My son is also an idiot. F * ck him! "
Fan Jian smiled. "You can't f * ck the Second Prince's mother. Lady Shu is the Emperor's woman. As for the Crown Prince's mother … you can f * ck her. I won't stop you. "
King Jing laughed out loud and scolded, "Hongcheng's mother has been dead for so many years, but I guess she's waiting for me in the underworld … You old man, you're finally willing to talk dirty. You used to be in a brothel every day, so I thought you've changed."
He patted the arm of the chair and looked around at the familiar scenery. He said, "Do you remember this house? That year in Cheng Wang Fu, when we were young, our Tong 'er grew up in this house. Mama raised Gege and then me, but she didn't care about you, her own son. At that time, you were so dirty. "
Fan Jian thought of his childhood. At that time, King Cheng was the Emperor's biological father. In reality, he was far inferior to the current King Jing. He was just a little prince without power or ambition. Although his family was a branch of the Fan clan, his mother came to the manor to take care of the children. It was still beneath her status, and she had to endure the cold words of many of the clan members.
"No one could have imagined that things would turn out like this." Fan Jian smiled and said, "I think mother should be very proud in Danzhou right now, to have raised so many of them."
"When the three of us fought, you and I always beat my brother, but we couldn't beat him," King Jing said coldly. King Jing said coldly, "Although it happened when he was still a child, you should know how ruthless he was."
Fan Jian did not respond. King Jing dared to speak ill of his brother, but he did not dare to speak ill of the Emperor. He smiled and said, "Chen Pingping was always on the Emperor's side. The Emperor is older than you, and Chen Pingping is stronger than me. Naturally, we could not defeat them."
Imperial Prince Jing shook his head and said, "Yes, that's why I don't want to fight at all. I just want to be safe and sound. I also want my children and grandchildren to be safe. Fan Xian actually knew about the matter of investigating the Second Prince. However, the Emperor lacked money, yet he sent the children to charge and break through enemy lines. His heart is too cruel. "
As the Minister of Revenue, Fan Jian of course knew about the state of the national treasury. He smiled bitterly and said, "It's not the Emperor's fault. The Emperor is really short of money. Money is needed everywhere. With the Empress Dowager on the throne, the Emperor can't be too harsh on the Eldest Princess. If Fan Xian is willing to be the knife, then he must have some confidence. Although Chen Pingping's temper is becoming more and more strange, he won't let Fan Xian suffer. Let's not worry about this."
King Jing looked at him. After a while, he breathed heavily and said, "You're still the same as before. You bury all your thoughts. You don't even want to tell me the truth."
Fan Jian smiled and didn't say anything.
— — —
After King Jing's birthday banquet ended, the Fan family took a few carriages back to the manor. Fan Xian led his wife and sister to his own manor. He was a little annoyed. "Where did he go this time? As sisters-in-law and sisters, can't you keep an eye on him? "
Lin Wan'er stuck out her tongue. She was willing to play mahjong with Fan Sizhe, but to keep an eye on a child? She hadn't completely gotten rid of her childishness. But hearing Fan Xian's words, she couldn't help but touch her belly. It had been so long. Why hadn't there been any movement?
Ruoruo was younger than Wan'er by two months, but her temperament was calmer. She had always been in charge of Fan Sizhe's discipline. But a few months ago, when the palace announced that they were going to marry, her heart began to race. She was so nervous that she began to prepare to run away. Hearing her brother's tone of voice, she knew that he was talking about her. She felt wronged and said, "I know."
Fan Xian also felt that his temper was unreasonable. There was no reason for a sixteen-year-old girl to be a nanny every day. He quickly comforted her. "Don't be angry. I'm just saying."
The three of them entered the room, and the servant girl hurriedly brought them tea. Fan Xian picked a small white porcelain cup and drank it. He asked curiously, "Where are Sisi and Siqi?"
Wan'er smiled. "They went with us to the manor. We should let them rest first."
Fan Xian smiled. "She's a servant girl after all. She's more precious than most young ladies."
Hearing this, Wan'er suddenly thought of something. "That Xiren … is she Sisi?" she asked innocently.
Fan Xian spat out a mouthful of tea and waved his hand. "What are you talking about?"
Ruoruo frowned and thought, "Sisi's temperament is like Qingwen's. She's very likable."
Fan Xian was silent. He thought that it was a shame that he hadn't copied the 77th chapter of the Red Chamber. Qingwen wouldn't have had a good ending. In fact, he was also in a dilemma regarding Sisi and Siqi. Logically speaking, Sisi should have been taken into his room long ago. He and Sisi had grown up together, and their relationship was deeper than that of a normal master and servant girl. But if he wanted to take Sisi, he would have to take Siqi, who Wan'er had brought with her. This was something Wan'er had insisted on.
Every time he thought about this, Fan Xian couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity.
But … perhaps he and Sisi still had some emotional foundation, but with Siqi … damn, it was the friendship they had had when they visited the courtyard at night, where they had been drugging each day. No matter how he looked at it, it was hard to imagine lying on the same bed with that girl.
But Sisi was getting on in years. If he didn't make a decision soon, it would be difficult for her to marry.
Looking at Lin Wan'er's confused face, Fan Xian pinched her cheeks. They were soft and felt very good. Putting this matter aside, he gave her a look. Wan'er understood. She knew that the brother and sister had something to talk about. So she got up and left the room, sending away the servants who were serving in the hall.
…
…
"Do you know what I like about you?" Fan Xian poured a cup of tea for his sister and said with a smile.
Fan Ruoruo tilted her head slightly. With a flip of her jade-like hand, she deftly took off the hairpin on her head. She loosened her scalp and shook her head gently. Like a black waterfall, her beautiful hair flowed down to her shoulders.
She dipped her finger into the teacup and rubbed it between her brows. Vexed, she said, "Brother, I'm about to die from worry. Don't tease me anymore."
Dipping tea and rubbing between the brows to clear the mind and calm the heart was Fan Xian's habit. Ruoruo had also developed this habit. However, Fan Xian liked cold, leftover tea, while Ruoruo liked warm, fresh tea. There was not much difference between the brother and sister.
"I'm not teasing you." Fan Xian sighed. "Sister, you are truly very calm. Just like today, when the two families in King Jing's manor were talking about marriage, it was already very difficult for me to pretend as if nothing had happened. You are the person involved, yet your face didn't change and your heart didn't jump. It is truly remarkable."
Ruoruo's personality was calm, but when it came to matters concerning her future, she could remain calm for another reason. She looked at her brother and smiled. "When you are not home, I am a bit nervous. But when you are home, I am not nervous. You have me."
The three calls of "brother" were like three mountains pressing down on Fan Xian's body, making it impossible for him to wash his hands of this. Fan Xian frowned and said, "His Majesty appointed the marriage, His Highness is happy, and Father is happy. Although the Crown Prince is a bit of a playboy, he is still the most outstanding young man in the capital. It will not be easy to cancel this marriage. Sister, you trust me so much. It makes me feel a bit pressured."
Ruoruo pursed her lips and said, "In any case … I will listen to you."
Fan Xian thought for a moment, then said seriously, "You should remember Si Lili, right?"
Fan Ruoruo looked at her brother's expression and nodded with some surprise. "The woman who wanted to kill you."
Fan Xian smiled. "Correct. I always felt that she was different from the women of this world. Regardless of whether what she did was right or wrong, at least she dared to think what she wanted and do what she wanted to do. On the day we left Shangjing, I asked her why. Si Lili said that perhaps it was because her family had been destroyed since she was young, and she had no choice but to flee the world. She wandered from place to place, so she had traveled more and experienced more than the average woman of this world."
Fan Ruoruo nodded slightly and said quietly, "You once said that to travel ten thousand li and read ten thousand books is something that is extremely beneficial to one's life."
"Correct. This is also why I am willing to go to Northern Qi. But reading can be done at any time. " Fan Xian looked at his sister's warm and pure eyes and said gently, "But to walk the world, to see a different scenery and life, is extremely rare. Especially for the young ladies of the capital's official manors. "
Fan Ruoruo laughed slightly at herself. "Other than living in Danzhou for a year when I was young, the furthest I have traveled in my life is the Cang Mountains. Like Wuduhe, the people of Northern Qi, the scenery of the meadow, I naturally have no luck to see it."
"Do you want to see it?"
Fan Ruoruo hesitated for a moment, then nodded heavily.
As she grew up, Fan Xian's "deceitful" teachings had been at work, so she was very different from the other daughters of government officials. Every time she thought of the world and the various forms of life that her brother had once described, her heart would stir a little. The women of the Kingdom of Qing might be able to wander around the capital before they were married, but after they were married, they were locked up in their manors. Even if they wanted to go out, they were not free. Such a life of confinement … Whenever she thought of the possibility that she might spend the rest of her life in such a muddled state, her heart was filled with great reluctance.
Fan Xian sighed in the depths of his heart. Since he had opened a window in his sister's heart since they were young and let her see the scenery outside, he had the responsibility to help her open a door and help her walk out.
"Before you marry the Crown Prince, I will think of a way to send you away," Fan Xian said with narrowed eyes. Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and said, "Everything is going according to plan. Seeing King Jing's and my father's reactions today, I know that this matter is indeed feasible and not as impossible as I originally thought."
Ruoruo was a talented girl in the capital and was exceptionally intelligent. She immediately guessed her brother's intentions. She said with great astonishment, "Could it be … that you want me to become a disciple of Ku He?"
Fan Xian gently patted her head. His hair floated gently. He smiled and said, "Have you finally come to your senses?"
Ruoruo's mouth opened wide. Her face was full of disbelief and shock. She muttered to herself for a moment before organizing her words. "How is this possible?"
"Why is it not possible?" Fan Xian raised his eyebrows. "Ku He opening the mountain to accept a disciple, how big of a deal is that? Since he used the move of sending auspicious signs from heaven, it is not limited by territory. My sister is a famous talented girl. Becoming his disciple is giving him face. How could he not accept her? "
Ruoruo knew this was a naughty joke. She lowered her head and said, "I don't know … martial arts."
"All paths are interlinked," Fan Xian encouraged her. "You are a talented girl. Not only can you write poetry, but you can also learn to fight quickly. Ku He is a Great Grandmaster of Tianyi Dao. Of course, he understands this."
Fan Ruoruo suddenly raised her head and looked at him with a not-quite-there smile. "What about the auspicious signs from heaven?"
Fan Xian smiled and shook his head. "Leave this matter to me. There is no such thing as auspicious signs in the world. In a few days, I will catch a fish in the kitchen at home and put a note in it."
Fan Ruoruo's face still carried that faint smile. She asked, "This matter … I'm afraid you planned it in advance?"
Fan Xian paused. A moment later, he smiled bitterly and said, "I won't hide it from you. When I was in Northern Qi, I began to arrange this matter. I just thought that if you were willing to marry Hongcheng, then there would be no need to continue. If you were not willing, then I had to do it this way."
"Northern Qi?" Fan Ruoruo looked at him with a smile. "It seems that the relationship between Haitang and you is indeed good."
Fan Xian could no longer explain this matter. To be able to make a Great Grandmaster open the mountain to accept a disciple, this relationship was too shallow. Of course, it could not be done. It was just that Fan Xian had paid a great price for this matter. Otherwise, how could he have made a Great Grandmaster act with him? But he did not want his sister to worry, so he did not say it clearly.
"Do you want to go to Northern Qi to study and travel? Studying abroad is very comfortable, "Fan Xian asked his sister directly.
Fan Ruoruo lowered her head and thought for a long time. It seemed that she was considering something important. She still did not nod.
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