The swing swung higher and higher. Suddenly, Sisi seemed to see something high up in the air. She stopped pushing the swing and let it slow down. Before the swing had completely come to a stop, she jumped down in a hurry. She didn't even put on her shoes, which had landed on the grass, and ran to Fan Xian's side.
The servant girls who were supporting her jumped in fright. Siqi was about to make fun of her, but seeing her expression, he wisely kept his mouth shut. Even the three masters on the other side felt depressed, wondering if this young lady had gone crazy. Why was she so panicked? Given Fan Manor's power, what guest would they be afraid of in the capital? Unless it was a eunuch leading the imperial army to search the manor.
"At the manor gate... it's King Jing's carriage!"
Sisi said, panting as she ran to Fan Xian's couch. She rubbed her heaving chest. Fan Xian was startled, but immediately came to his senses. He jumped up from the couch and shouted, "Retreat!" As he ran to the back of the garden, he didn't forget to turn around and praise Sisi. "Clever girl."
Looking at his nimble movements, he didn't look like a sick person who couldn't go to court. Wan'er and Ruoruo, who were by the couch, looked at each other in confusion. They immediately understood, and their expressions changed. They quickly stood up and ordered the servants to make arrangements to leave the manor. They also called for Teng Zijing to hurry and set up the carriage.
For a moment, the back garden of Fan Manor, which had been filled with laughter and laughter, immediately turned into a field of rations and horses before a great battle. Everyone was in a frenzy. Some tidied up the couch, some left, and some found clothes for their masters. After a while, they finally finished tidying up everything in the shortest amount of time possible. Fan Xian was escorted to the back door of the manor. At this time, Teng Zijing had also personally pulled the carriage to the door.
"He's still sick, so he has to hide everywhere." Wan'er draped a thick windbreaker over Fan Xian's body. "Uncle," she complained. "I told you not to come see."
Fan Xian didn't have time to answer her. Like a guerrilla, he bravely crawled into the carriage.
Lin Wan'er laughed mockingly. She turned around and saw that her sister-in-law was also nervous. She held a small incense burner and followed Fan Xian into the carriage. She was surprised. "Ruoruo, what are you hiding from?"
As Fan Xian's wife, Wan'er understood why Fan Xian had to flee the moment Sisi saw King Jing's carriage. Recently, the Fan family and the second prince's faction had been fighting. Fan Xian didn't know how many times Li Hongcheng had been slandered. Recently, King Jing had been imprisoned in his manor by King Jing. Needless to say, King Jing had come to find Minister Fan to ask what was going on. Secondly, he had come to talk to Fan Xian. As for the third, it was obvious that he had come to put in a good word for the crown prince and help both sides make peace.
The Emperor's own younger brother had come, and for so many years, the children of the Fan family had respected King Jing as an elder. They got along very well. If the other side came to make peace, what could Fan Xian do? It was impossible for Fan Xian to stop fighting with the Second Prince right now. Besides, if he said a few more words, the old gardener would be cunning enough to guess that Fan Xian was framing Li Hongcheng. Fan Xian was very afraid of the old man's foul mouth. His status and seniority were enough to crush Fan Xian. What could Fan Xian do? So, of course, all he could do was leave. Of the thirty-six stratagems, escape was the best.
Hearing her sister-in-law's question, Fan Ruoruo, who had always been calm, smiled awkwardly. "Sister-in-law, it would be very awkward to meet him now."
Wan'er was stunned. She immediately thought of how they had bullied Li Hongcheng for a few days. King Jing's reputation had been tarnished by her husband. It would be inappropriate for Ruoruo to meet her future father-in-law now. She suddenly thought of how her husband and sister-in-law had both gone into hiding. What would she do if she stayed in the manor? No matter what, the person who came was her little uncle … and her little uncle's mouth … Wan'er shivered. She took her warm robe from Siqi's hand, lowered her head, and went into the carriage.
The brother and sister in the carriage were shocked. "Why are you in here?"
Wan'er rolled her eyes. "Uncle is here to punish me. Do you want me to take the blame? I'm not that stupid. "
The servants of Fan Manor in and out of the carriage knew the old prince's temper very well. Seeing their three young masters so frightened, they couldn't help but laugh. Amidst the low laughter, Teng Zijing cracked his horsewhip. The carriage of Fan Manor, with the square and round logo on it, quietly drove out. The faint sounds of a few young people complaining to each other could be heard from inside the carriage.
The carriage was very careful not to take the main street. Instead, it took a detour and left the southern part of the city without being seen by the servants of King Jing's family. Seeing the carriage disappear at the end of the street, the servants of Fan Manor at the gate immediately dispersed. Not long after, they heard a voice like a bell ring through the back garden of Fan Manor.
"I'll f * ck them!" King Jing stood in front of a large group of uneasy servants. Hands on his waist, he looked at the empty and desolate back garden. There wasn't even a mouse left. He was angry. "These little bastards know I'm here, and they're hiding like a fart. Am I that scary?"
At the front of the crowd, Lady Liu, the mother of Fan Xian and his two brothers, heard the prince say "f * ck them". She couldn't help but look distressed. Lowering her voice, she replied, "Your Highness, I told you earlier that those children went to see a doctor in the western part of the city today."
King Jing looked at the swinging swing and spat. "Fan Jian's illness was cured by Fan Xian," he scolded. "Fan Xian's illness was cured by Fan Xian. Why would he need to see a doctor?"
— — — —
Two flowers bloom, one branch first. Putting aside the fact that King Jing was still throwing a tantrum at the air in the back garden, the three young people in the carriage had escaped the Fan manor. They felt relaxed and relaxed. They felt that the air in Jingdou was much fresher in autumn. Their moods were excellent.
Ever since Fan Xian returned from Northern Qi, a string of things had happened. Not to mention taking his family to the Cang Mountains for a vacation or to the country estate on the outskirts of the capital to rest, he hadn't even had a good stroll around the capital. All day long, if he wasn't playing tricks, he was playing tricks, and he was sulking with himself in the manor. These days, the situation had been settled, and he had a bit of leisure. But because he had pretended to be sick and didn't go to court, he had to give the Emperor enough face. He didn't want to openly wander the streets, so he could only talk to his wife and sister until their mouths were dry.
Fortunately, King Jing had come today, and Minister Fan wouldn't be angry at Fan Xian for running away. This gave the three of them a chance to sneak around the capital.
Sitting in the carriage, Fan Xian parted the curtains a little. Together with the two girls, they greedily looked at the scenery and people on the street. The stalls selling snacks were constantly yelling, and there were some selling strange things on the corner of the street. It was all peaceful.
Wan'er pouted. "We're out, but it's not convenient to get out. Are we going to just stay in the carriage?"
Ruoruo frowned. "It's not convenient for you to show your face in public …" She suddenly said, "But you can disguise yourself, right?"
Fan Xian laughed and said, "Even if the people in the capital don't recognize me, do you think they can't recognize the two flowers in the capital?" Even though they knew he was lying, Wan'er and Ruoruo still felt a bit happy. Girls were easy to please.
"Let's go eat at Yishi Tavern." Wan'er was a bit bored, so she suggested, "Let's find a quiet room on the third floor. No one will see us there, and we can enjoy the scenery."
Coincidentally, the carriage had just passed by Yishi Tavern. Fan Xian looked out the window and suddenly thought of the first time he went shopping after coming to the capital from Danzhou. It was at Yishi Tavern with his sister and brother. He couldn't remember what they talked about, but it seemed to have something to do with strength of character. But he did remember giving Guo Baokun a black fist, and buying a pirated copy of Story of the Stone from a friendly middle-aged woman downstairs.
The Guo family had already been brought down by him. The Minister of Rites, Guo You, had been hanged in prison for the spring examination case. But the case hadn't implicated him, so he didn't know where Guo Baokun had gone.
He didn't answer Wan'er's question. Instead, he said with some regret, "Yishi Tavern … why are there no more book sellers downstairs?"
Ruoruo looked at him and said quietly, "After my brother opened Danbo Bookstore, Fan Sizhe went to find some people, so the authorities have been stricter … there are fewer book sellers in the capital now."
Fan Xian was a bit surprised, and then he remembered that his brother had once said that he would use both black and white to break the business of those who sold pirated books. Thinking of this, he naturally thought of Fan Sizhe, who was now heading north. He said unconsciously, "Sizhe should be in Shangjing by the beginning of next month."
The carriage suddenly became quiet. Wan'er and Ruoruo looked at each other, and after a while, they said quietly, "It's cold up north. I don't know if he brought enough clothes."
Fan Xian lowered his head and smiled. "Don't worry about that … he's 14. He can take care of himself." Although he said this, what he was thinking was a different matter. At least, Fan Xian's dislike of the second prince had increased. He looked at Yishi Tavern again, and coldly said, "The Cui family's business is to give money to the second prince. I am not going to take care of their business."
Wan'er did not say anything. After all, the second prince had been with her in the palace for almost ten years, and they had some feelings for each other. Although she had chosen to remain silent and secretly support Fan Xian in the fight between her husband and her cousin, she could not say anything bad. Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit tense, she laughed and said, "If you are not going to support his business, then you should support our own business … otherwise …"
She rolled her eyes and teased, "Let's go to Bao Yue Brothel."
…
…
Taking his wife and sister to a brothel? Fan Xian was almost scared to death by this suggestion. He coughed and said, "Bao Yue Brothel is not my business. It belongs to Shi Chanli."
Wan'er rolled her eyes and said, "Everyone knows that is a trick. If you want to open a brothel, then go ahead. I didn't say anything."
Ruoruo tilted her head to the side and tried not to laugh.
Fan Xian raised an eyebrow and smiled. He said, "Why would I open a brothel? You know I am cleaning up my brother's mess."
Wan'er did not want to hear this, and she said, "It is our own business. Didn't you say the food there is the best in the capital? We are not going to find a girl; we are just going to eat. What is there to be afraid of? Besides, it is our own business, and we do not have to worry about people finding out that you are pretending to be sick and wandering around. "
Fan Xian immediately refused and said, "If you want to eat, I will ask the chef to make it and send it to the manor. You are a girl, and you are sitting in a brothel. It is not appropriate."
Wan'er playfully stuck out her tongue and said, "When the food is ready, it will be cold."
Fan Xian did not look happy and said, "Then can I call the chef to come home?"
Wan'er saw him insist, and she couldn't help but sigh. She said, "I really want to go to the Bao Yue Brothel. I want to see what my brother-in-law's brothel looks like." She blinked her big eyes and said, "To be honest, I am very curious about this kind of place."
Ruoruo, who had been silent all this time, suddenly opened her mouth and said, "If you want to go, then go." She saw that Fan Xian was about to say something, and so she said, "It is inappropriate for a girl to sit in a brothel, but is it appropriate for a man like you to sit there?"
She smiled and rested her chin on her hand. She said, "Besides, I heard from my brother that you let Miss Sang manage the business of the Bao Yue Brothel. I have not heard her sing in half a year. If I don't go to the Bao Yue Brothel, where else can I go?"
Wan'er, seeing that her sister-in-law agreed with her, was emboldened. She asked Fan Xian, "You know I like to hear Sang Wen sing. I haven't seen her for half a year, and now I know she was taken to the Bao Yue Brothel by my brother-in-law. Please take us there."
Ruoruo then said, "If men can go, then why can't we?"
Fan Xian was at a loss for words. He looked at his sister and noticed that she seemed to be getting bolder and bolder. Her way of thinking was different from that of other women in this world. Just from their conversation earlier, it was clear that she was more open, more reasonable, and more feminist than Wan'er. Of course, this was all due to the way he had taught her since she was a child. But he always felt that the extraordinary temperament she was displaying came from somewhere else.
He gave a wry smile and said, "Actually, there is no harm in going to take a look. You guys know that I am a person who loves to shock the world. But … there has been a lot of unrest in the capital recently, and I don't want the imperial censors to have too much to say."
Hearing that he had brought up a serious matter, Wan'er and Ruoruo sensibly kept their mouths shut.
Fan Xian turned his head to look out of the carriage, and he was shocked to find that not too far away was the front of the Bao Yue Brothel. He couldn't help but laugh at Teng Zijing, who was driving the carriage, and say, "You really brought us here? You only know how to please your mistress, and you don't know how to listen to me. Do you still want to be an official in Donghai County? You should know that your family has spoken to me many times already. "
Teng Zijing laughed and said nothing. It was Wan'er and Ruoruo who covered their mouths and began to laugh.
The Fan manor carriage arrived at the Bao Yue Brothel. Although they did not know that it was Fan Xian who was sitting in the carriage, the Bao Yue Brothel's receptionist did not dare to be disrespectful. Even Si Qing'er, who was in her room on the third floor, recovering from the injuries she had sustained in the capital government, limped downstairs to wait on them. When she saw that it was Commissioner Fan, who was rumored to be seriously ill, Si Qing'er couldn't help but be shocked.
To be able to see the legendary young procuress, the two noble ladies in the carriage were pleased. But they were disappointed to find that Sang Wen was not in the brothel. She was said to have been invited by some manor to sing.
Without this excuse, Fan Xian would not have allowed them to go to the Bao Yue Brothel. But he was a little puzzled. Sang Wen was now a free woman, and she had secretly joined the Overwatch Council. She did not need to care about the feelings of the nobles in the capital, so why would she go to someone's manor to sing? What kind of manor would have such an honor?
The carriage left the Bao Yue Brothel, and seeing the two disappointed ladies, Fan Xian smiled and said, "If you are out to have fun, you should be happy. The Bao Yue Brothel is not the most luxurious place in the capital, and the food the chefs here make is not the best."
Before he finished speaking, Wan'er cut in and said, "Don't try to lie to us. The Bao Yue Brothel is very famous. If you want to say it is not the best, then you have to say it is in the palace." She giggled and said, "I don't mind going into the palace to see those concubines. I haven't seen them for a few days … But husband, aren't you afraid that His Majesty will be furious when he sees you pretending to be sick in the palace?"
Fan Xian smiled and pinched her nose, saying, "Don't curse me … I will take you to a place that is more comfortable than the palace. The food they make here is better than the chefs in the palace."
The two ladies were shocked, and thought to themselves, "Everything under the sky belongs to the king. How could there be a place more luxurious than the palace? Even if the salt merchants had the power to do so, they did not have the guts to violate the rules.
…
…
The carriage drove out of the south gate of the capital, and when it reached the outskirts, the people on the road became sparse. The secret agents of the Qinian Unit and the guards of the Fan manor, who were protecting Fan Xian in secret, could not help but awkwardly reveal themselves. They looked at each other, and then uncomfortably followed the carriage not too far behind. They followed the carriage to a quiet mountain in the outskirts of the capital.
The closer they got to the mountain, the narrower the road was. It still maintained the standard of the Qing Kingdom, but the forest beside the road was even more beautiful. The scenery was beautiful. The yellow autumn grass was mixed with wildflowers that had not yet withered, and the trees with white bark and green branches were scattered behind the grass. Countless layers of color, as if it had been painted by a painter, naturally spread out in the surrounding forest. It was very beautiful.
Lin Wan'er and Fan Ruoruo could not help but sigh. The scenery here was very beautiful, but why had they not heard anyone mention it? He hadn't even been to this place on his previous excursions. Logically speaking, such a good place should have long been seized by the palace or some high-ranking official to build a residence. Why didn't he know who it belonged to? But looking at the width of the mountain road, they could guess that the residence they were about to go to must be the residence of someone extraordinary.
But seeing that Fan Xian was still deliberately mystifying them, the two women were a little unhappy, so they shut their mouths and did not speak to him, only admiring the scenery around them.
The mountain road gradually came to an end, and the carriage turned into a forest. A very large manor suddenly appeared in front of them. It was like the residence of an immortal, suddenly removed from the clouds of magic, appearing in front of the eyes of mortals. The buildings in the manor were not tall, but they were distributed very well. They were mixed with the short trees and stones in the garden, complementing the principles of nature. Although not ostentatious, the details of the eaves, corners, and doorknobs clearly revealed a noble atmosphere.
"How is it compared to the palace?" Fan Xian asked with a smile.
Lin Wan'er closed her mouth in surprise and laughed mockingly. "... each has its merits... but this is not our manor. What are you so proud of?"
Fan Xian waved his hand. "The owner of this place said that he would give it to me in the future. But there is something wrong with this place, and I do not want to move here."
At this moment, even Ruoruo was shocked. "What is wrong with this?" she asked in surprise.
"There are too many women," Fan Xian said seriously. "Who knows how many beautiful women are hidden in this manor."
...
...
Ignoring the shock of the two women beside him, the carriage stopped under Fan Xian's command. He got out of the carriage under the gazes of the two women. He took out the commissioner's insignia from his waist and abruptly extended it into the grass to the side.
Like a magic trick, a person appeared out of the grass. The person was wearing very ordinary clothes, like a woodcutter commonly seen in the mountains. The woodcutter carefully examined the insignia and stared at Fan Xian for a long time. Then, with great embarrassment, he said, "Sir, this is a dead rule. Please forgive me."
"I am not blaming you," Fan Xian said with a smile. "My wife and sister are in the carriage."
The woodcutter did not dare to respond. He respectfully retreated and found another unremarkable hiding place.
The carriage began to move again, following the mountain path toward the manor. The road was incomparably quiet, but at this moment, the two women in the carriage could guess that this road was no less guarded than the palace. It could even be said that there was danger at every step. Even if a small army wanted to attack, they would probably return in defeat.
Of course, these two women were exceptionally intelligent. At this moment, they had finally guessed who the owner of this manor was.
To be able to enjoy more luxurious things than the palace, to be able to live in such a garden, to be able to have such strict security, other than the owner of the Overwatch Council, who else could it be?
Behind the carriage, the two groups of people who were in charge of protecting the carriage also wisely stopped in their tracks. They helplessly squatted down and began to herd the goats. Since they were already here, there was no need for these people to be bodyguards.
The leader of the Qinian Unit, Su Wenmao, nodded to the leader of the Fan manor guards.
The leader of the guards returned the greeting with some embarrassment.
"Be content." Su Wenmao smiled to the people on the other side of the road. "For people like us to be so close to the Director's courtyard … it is all thanks to the Commissioner's good fortune."
"Of course." The leader of the guards glanced at the beautiful manor in the distance with some envy.
Then, they sat on the grass and began to chew on grass. Bored, they looked up at the sky and yawned.
…
…
In the beautiful manor lived Chen Pingping. In the entire Qing Kingdom, other than the Emperor, the old cripple with the most power. Unlike other civil and military officials, Chen Pingping's position in the Qing court was too special. He always claimed to be sick and refused to go to court, so he had time to live in the garden outside the city. Basically, his family in the capital did not live there much.
Today, Fan Xian, the young man who pretended to be sick, came to see Chen Pingping, the old man who pretended to be sick. After all, he had been here a few times, so he was familiar with the way. He went straight to the gate of the garden. The plaque in the garden had two large words written on it: "Chen Garden". It was personally inscribed by the late Emperor, and was incomparably valuable.
He looked at the two carriages parked outside the gate and couldn't help but frown. He never would have thought that there would be guests in the garden today. With Chen Pingping's cold and lonely temperament, and the Overwatch Council's evil reputation, ordinary officials would never come to drink tea. Who were the guests today?
Wan'er got out of the carriage behind him. With one glance, she saw the insignia of the first carriage. She smiled and said, "People of the royal family."
Fan Xian was slightly surprised.
The old man at the gate of the Chen Garden had long since flown down the steps to greet them. He knew that the young Master Fan in front of him was different from all the other officials in the world. He was the most valued junior of the Director, and was also the Director's appointed successor. Naturally, he did not dare to be arrogant. With great politeness, he said in a very quiet voice, "It's Prince He and young Master Qin of the Bureau of Military Affairs."
Fan Xian tilted his head and scratched the back of his neck. The Great Prince and young Master Qin? He knew that young Master Qin was currently in the palace discussing matters. He was already an important official who had entered the center of the court. Most importantly, above young Master Qin was Old Qin, the former Director of the Military Affairs and now the Head of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Old General Qin. This family was very powerful, and had deep influence in the Qing military. The Great Prince had fought in the west for many years, and his relationship with the Qin family was not shallow. Why would these two people come to Chen Pingping's manor?
Fan Xian stood at the bottom of the stone steps and was not in a hurry to enter. He wondered if this visit had anything to do with him. Although the relationship between the military and the Overwatch Council had always been very harmonious, this matter was still a bit strange. He smiled. He did not care that the court found out about his outing. He took his wife and sister into the garden. He wanted to see what this Great Prince had in mind.
Passing through the extremely beautiful and luxuriously decorated garden, they finally arrived at the main hall where Chen Pingping received his guests. Without waiting for anyone to announce his arrival, Fan Xian strode in. He had not thought of what to say, but when he saw Sang Wen singing in the corner of the hall, her face full of unease, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "I guessed it. In the entire capital, only your family would dare to force Sang Wen to come and sing."
Sang Wen was not at the Baoyue Brothel; she was in the Chen Garden!
Sang Wen was the shopkeeper of the Baoyue Brothel, and she was a new member of the Overwatch Council. For Chen Pingping to drag her to sing a song, it was only a matter of saying a few words.
The laughter echoed in the hall. Chen Pingping, who was sitting in the main seat, raised his eyes with a not-quite-there smile. He looked at the three young men and women who had arrived unexpectedly. His usually cold eyes now had a glimmer of warmth. His skinny hands gently stroked the gray wool blanket on his legs, which had not changed for many years. He laughed and scolded, "I thought you thought I had too many women here? Why are you here today? If you want to come, then come. Why did you bring your wife and sister? Are you afraid I will call some women to come and eat you alive? "
The two young men sitting in the guest seats were startled. They turned their heads to look in the direction of the hall, and for a moment, they froze. It was Sang Wen who stopped singing. With a face full of smiles, she stood up and bowed to Fan Xian and the two girls.
A moment later, one of the young men, who was dressed in casual clothing, still exuded the aura of a soldier. He first bowed to Wan'er, who was standing behind Fan Xian, and then he warmly greeted Fan Ruoruo. With a face full of smiles, he said to Fan Xian, "Young Master Fan, it is an honor to meet you."
Fan Xian had seen Qin Heng before, and he knew that his family background was excellent. He was highly appreciated by the Emperor, and he was a rising star in the Qing Kingdom. His future was limitless. Fan Xian bowed back and said, "Greetings, Young Master Qin."
Although Qin Heng's rank was higher than Fan Xian's, they both knew each other's power and status. So, there was no need to play games. Qin Heng smiled warmly and said, "Today, I came to visit the Director. I did not expect to see you again, Commissioner Fan. My luck is not bad."
Fan Xian saw that his smile did not seem to be fake, and he felt comfortable. He said, "I will not lie about being closer in the future. Since I have met you today, of course I will drink a few cups."
Qin Heng laughed loudly and said, "Commissioner Fan, you are indeed a wonderful person. Your actions are unexpected. You did not mention that you were sick and did not attend court. Instead, you wanted to drink to your heart's content. I wanted to make fun of you, but I could not open my mouth."
Fan Xian looked at Chen Pingping, who was sitting in the main seat. He smiled bitterly and said, "Of course, we are of the younger generation. It depends on whether or not the host is willing to bring good wine to our guests."
Chen Pingping opened his mouth and scolded, "You have more money than I do!"
Qin Heng's expression did not change. He smiled slightly, but his heart was thumping. He was extremely shocked. The officials had always thought that the reason Fan Xian was able to have such glory in the Overwatch Council was mainly because of the Emperor's appreciation and training. But now, seeing Fan Xian talk to Director Chen, who everyone feared, in such a "rude manner" and Director Chen's response was so natural, Qin Heng felt a little strange. It seemed that Director Chen and Commissioner Fan's relationship … was indeed not ordinary!
Although the Emperor's appreciation was important, if he really wanted to control the Overwatch Council … the most important thing was still Chen Pingping's attitude. It was only now that Qin Heng truly realized that this young man in front of him, Fan Xian, would one day truly control the Overwatch Council in his hands. Then the military … had to speed up the process of making friends with this person. It was no longer just him saying a few good words for Fan Xian and then using other people's mouths to convey goodwill to the Fan manor.
With only a few words, they had already exchanged a lot of useful information. Fan Xian also understood that Chen Pingping was using this opportunity to express his true attitude to the military and strengthen his bargaining chips.
The two of them exchanged a few more words before Fan Xian seemed to react. He turned around and prepared to salute the Great Prince, who was sitting to the side.
Logically speaking, his actions were a bit rude, but everyone in the hall knew that he and the Great Prince had argued the first time they met. And Qin Heng was on good terms with the Great Prince, so he did not care too much about this matter. As for Chen Pingping … he did not care about some palace etiquette or any of that sort of rubbish.
Just when Fan Xian thought the Great Prince would be angry, he turned his head and almost became angry. He saw his wife sitting obediently next to the Great Prince, beaming with joy as she said something to the Great Prince. Although he knew that Wan'er had been raised in Ning the Talented's palace since she was a child, which meant that the Great Prince had watched her grow up, and that the two of them were like biological siblings, seeing this scene, Fan Xian was still very unhappy.
Even more unhappy was that even Ruoruo was sitting next to the Great Prince, listening with great interest to what the Great Prince was saying.
Fan Xian perked up his ears and listened for a bit. Only then did he realize that the Great Prince was talking about the war in the west and the fight for horses with the Hu people. The people of Qing loved martial arts, and the Great Prince was a hero and idol among the people. Even Wan'er and Ruoruo could not stand out from the crowd.
Fan Xian felt a bit jealous, and his mouth was a bit bitter. He thought to himself, "I … I … I am a pacifist. Why don't I go fight a few battles and show you girls how powerful I am on horseback?" He was unhappy, but there was no reaction on his face. Instead, he laughed and very naturally bowed to the Great Prince. He said, "I am Fan Xian. Greetings, Great Prince … oh, I mean, Prince He."
When the Great Prince saw Fan Xian, he was already a bit depressed. Hearing his tone, he couldn't help but say, "I say, Fan Xian … did I offend you somewhere? When you see me, do you feel unhappy if you don't say a few words to me? " He turned his head to Lin Wan'er and said, "Chen'er, the husband you married … is not very good."
Lin Wan'er and the Great Prince were very familiar with each other. Hearing him talk about her husband, she was not going to let it go. She picked up a fruit from the table and stuffed it into his mouth. She said, "How can you talk about your brother-in-law like that when you see him?"
Fan Xian laughed. "Brother-in-law" sounded better. He went to sit below Ruoruo. A servant from the Chen Garden had already brought him hot towels and tea. Although he knew that the Great Prince and Qin Heng had come to see the old cripple for something important, he shamelessly stayed in the hall, not giving them a chance to speak naturally.
Lin Wan'er knew that outside the capital, the diplomatic mission and the Western Expedition Army were fighting over the road. In the end, this was Fan Xian's fault. But she also knew the reason why Fan Xian did this. Now that he had the Second Prince as a target, there was no need for Fan Xian to offend the Great Prince. Furthermore, she did not want to see her husband and the Great Prince, who was the closest to her, in conflict. So, she unconsciously pulled the two of them to talk, wanting to ease the tension between them.
Everyone knew what she was doing. It was just that men were bound to have times when they could not see through it. So the Great Prince looked at his nose and ignored her. Fan Xian just smiled and talked to Qin Heng. He asked him how the old Qin General was and when he would take the time to visit his manor.
Chen Pingping looked like he had fallen asleep. He was half lying in his wheelchair. It was strange. Even in his own luxurious home, he still insisted on sitting in his wheelchair instead of the more comfortable couch. Seeing this, Lin Wan'er could not do anything. She could only sigh. Ruoruo, on the other hand, began to laugh. The Great Prince, who was good at fighting, and the Great Prince, who was a popular official in the court, were fighting like two little boys. It was a very funny scene.
In the end, even Qin Heng felt that he could not talk to Fan Xian anymore. The Great Prince suddenly said coldly, "I heard that Commissioner Fan has been sick in bed recently and cannot go to court. Even the Imperial Censorate cannot defend you. I did not think that you would be so interested in traveling today …"
Fan Xian yawned and said, "I will go to court tomorrow. Tomorrow, tomorrow."
Qin Heng was shocked. He thought to himself, Are you not going to play sick anymore? Then tomorrow, there will be a good show to watch in court … but … I was dragged to Chen Garden by the Great Prince. The thing I wanted to talk about was not easy to say in front of Fan Xian.
It was not easy for him to say it, but the Great Prince was straightforward. He faced Chen Pingping and said respectfully, "Uncle, about the Second Prince, you should say something …" He tilted his head to look at Fan Xian and continued, "I do not care about what happens in court, but the rumors in the capital are a bit too ridiculous. Furthermore, the Second Prince has a few officials who are truly talented. If they are removed like this, for the court, it will be a loss."
Qin Heng thought to himself that Fan Xian was quite the scoundrel. He wanted to refute Fan Xian right in front of him. But now that things had come to this, he could only force himself to smile bitterly and say, "Yes, Director. The Emperor has not said anything. If you do not show yourself and things continue to get out of hand, it will not look good for the court."
Fan Xian smiled. These two were very straightforward. The Great Prince and Qin Heng's intentions were very clear. The Second Prince's faction was already being suppressed by the Overwatch Council, and it was not good for him to make an appearance himself. He could only ask his eldest brother to make an appearance, and he also pulled in the Qin family of the Bureau of Military Affairs. For them to go directly to Chen Pingping was a very good plan. They were not trying to poach Fan Xian; they were pulling in the firewood under Fan Xian's pot. If Chen Pingping really wanted Fan Xian to stop, he would have to agree.
However, he had already received the benefits he deserved. The Jingdou magistrate had been removed, and the officials sent by the Second Prince in the Six Ministries had all met with some misfortune. Fan Xian did not care much about these things. Instead, he cared about the way the Great Prince had addressed him earlier.
He had called Chen Pingping uncle!
No matter how unfathomable Chen Pingping's power was, no matter how close he was to the Emperor, it was still inappropriate for the Great Prince to call him uncle. If word got out, it would probably scare people to death. Who was Fan Xian's uncle? It was King Jing, not an official.
While he was thinking, Chen Pingping had already opened his listless eyes. He coughed and said, "We'll talk about the Second Prince later. I say …" He pointed at Lin Wan'er and Ruoruo and coughed. "Ahem … ahem … this is the first time you two have come to my garden. Why don't you greet the host?"
In reality, there were not many people who were not afraid of Chen Pingping. Especially in many legends and stories, Chen Pingping had been successfully made into the image of a demon who could not walk. Although Lin Wan'er and Ruoruo were of noble status, facing the leader of the dark forces of the Qing Kingdom, they still felt some fear. So when they entered the hall, they quickly sat next to the Great Prince.
Hearing the old man speak, Lin Wan'er and Ruoruo had no choice but to stand up with bitter faces. They walked in front of Chen Pingping and bowed, giving him the courtesy of a junior.
Chen Pingping laughed and said, "What are you afraid of? You have a mother and a father … you are not much better than me. "He was talking about the Eldest Princess and the crafty Minister Fan. He then said to the Great Prince, "As for the matter you spoke of, since the person in question is already here, you can tell him directly … he can make the decision. Princess, Lady Fan, help me push the old man's wheelchair. I will take you to see the treasures in Chen Garden. "
The two girls and Sang Wen pushed the old cripple's wheelchair out of the hall, leaving Fan Xian and the Great Prince Qin Heng behind. They looked at each other, thinking that the old man did not do things in the right way. He used his own home as a battlefield for the juniors to fight while he took three beautiful women to walk around the garden.
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