Qin Heng was a smart man. Otherwise, no matter how prominent his father's position in the military was, he would not have been able to sneak into the Great Prince's office at the age of 30 to discuss official business. So, he stood up calmly and raised his hands in salute to the Great Prince and Fan Xian. He said, "People have three urgent needs. You guys talk first. "Without waiting for the two of them to reply, he had already taken steady steps and did not reveal any strange emotions. Like a gust of wind, he swept past the corner of the hall and, under the guidance of the servants in Chen Garden, went straight to the latrine.
Fan Xian couldn't help but laugh. He thought of how he had caused a ruckus in the Ministry of Justice yamen. The vice-official of the Supreme Court, who had represented the military to make trouble for him, had, in the end, seen the conflict escalate and fled. It looked like the Qin family had already studied this trick to perfection.
The atmosphere in the hall was a bit heavy. In the end, it was the Great Prince who broke the silence. Slowly, he said, "Qin Heng and I have both been through war. Us soldiers are straightforward, so we speak frankly. I don't like to see soldiers throw their lives away and spill their blood while the nobles in Jingdou attack each other and make the country restless. If there is a fight between factions, no matter who wins or loses in the end, the talents in the court will always suffer some losses. "
Fan Xian tidied up his clothes and sat for a few breaths as if thinking about something. Only then did he slowly open his mouth. He couldn't help but carry a glimmer of coldness in his voice. "Prince Heqing's … meaning, I understand. However, presumably you know the cause of this matter. The soldiers have gone into the fire and knives for the court. Are the officials of the Overwatch Council not the same? I think that the secret agents of the Council in a foreign country face no less danger than the soldiers of the Western Expedition Army. I am a member of the Overwatch Council. Although my temperament is not straightforward, I am not someone who naturally likes to play tricks. If you want me to go to the north to do things for the court, I think I will be happy. But if someone comes to provoke me, even if this power comes from within the court, I will not be lenient. "
The Great Prince was silent. He suddenly raised his head and prepared to say something.
Fan Xian waved his hand and said, "It is only a fight of interests. It has nothing to do with the peace of the country. I am the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council. If I cannot even protect my own interests, how can I prove that I have the ability to protect the interests of the court? To protect His Majesty's interests? " He then sneered, "Your Highness, don't say that it doesn't matter who wins or loses. If the other party is aggressive and I'm beaten to the point where I can't fight back, are you … willing to be my lobbyist?"
The Great Prince furrowed his brows. His already tanned face appeared even darker. "Fan Xian, you need to be clear about your role. You are an official. When you do things … you need to know your limits."
These words were actually very common. In the eyes of the princes, Fan Xian's actions had already been a bit excessive. Furthermore, as an official, the courage he had displayed in this matter was a bit too strong. The Great Prince thought that his warning to Fan Xian should have been a form of goodwill. He had no idea that because of Fan Xian's background, he would often hear such words, which were particularly ear-piercing.
"I am a subject." Fan Xian stared into the Great Prince's eyes. "But in front of me, the so-called difference between a ruler and an official is that … the ruler is the Emperor, and the Crown Prince is the future Emperor … Aside from these two, I believe that everyone else, including you, is an official. There is no essential difference."
The Great Prince looked at Fan Xian with some surprise. It seemed that he had not expected Fan Xian to say something like this. He narrowed his eyes, and a cold light flashed in them. "For Chen 'er's sake, I must remind you again. If you get too involved in the Emperor's family matters, it will not be a good thing for the Fan family in the future."
Fan Xian smiled. "The Emperor has no family matters. Does Your Highness not understand this?" The Great Prince choked on the words' the Emperor has no family matters'. He angrily slapped the armrest of his chair.
Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and said evenly, "The furniture in the Director's house is all antiques. Your Highness, please go easy on them."
The Great Prince was stunned. After a moment of silence, he shook his head. "Fan Xian, perhaps I have underestimated you."
Fan Xian was slightly surprised. "Why do you say that?"
"My ambition is to be on horseback. If the military wants to beautifully attack everywhere on the stage of the world, we need a stable rear," the Great Prince said with narrowed eyes. The Great Prince narrowed his eyes and said, "That is why many people, including me, believe that the court needs peace. These past few years, I have been far away in the West, but I know that although the court is somewhat unstable, it can always be controlled within a certain range... until you came to Jingdou."
Fan Xian shook his head and smiled. He did not know how to respond.
"Your appearance was too sudden. Your rise was also too sudden." The Great Prince looked at him and said, "It was so sudden that most people in the court were not prepared, and you already have enough power to break the balance."
Finally, the Great Prince said the central idea of the day. "There are many people … who hope that you can maintain the balance in Jingdou and not wildly advance and sweep everything away."
Fan Xian fell silent. He knew that what the Great Prince said not only represented his attitude, but also the attitude of the vast majority of people in the military.
From Danzhou to Jingdou, in less than two years, he had already taken control of the Overwatch Council and made a name for himself. Putting aside the question of whether or not he would be in charge of the palace treasury next year, his current ability to control both civil and military meant that he already had the ability to call the wind and summon the rain in the officialdom. And this time, in the battle with the Second Prince's faction, the current trend of victory and defeat allowed his power to be displayed to the fullest. If a young official had the ability to easily defeat a prince, it would always make the other powers in the officialdom feel a trace of fear.
The military's message for him to go easy on the Second Prince was not a threat, nor was it a protection of the royal family's dignity. It was a test to see if he, the person who would take over the Overwatch Council in the future, was rational enough and sincere enough to maintain the balance of the Qing Kingdom. After all, the military and the Overwatch Council had always been on good terms. It could even be said that how many of the Qing Kingdom's soldiers could survive on the frontlines was directly related to the wisdom and bearing of the leaders of the Overwatch Council.
"Have you thought about why I am fighting this battle this time?" Fan Xian did not call the Great Prince "Your Highness", nor did he take the Great Prince's warning to heart. Instead, he asked this question with a smile.
The Great Prince frowned slightly. He had not thought deeply about this question, but now that Fan Xian had asked him, he understood. The Overwatch Council had never interfered in the battles between the princes. Thinking of all the possibilities, he suddenly raised his head and looked at Fan Xian with some surprise.
Fan Xian was slightly startled. It seemed that he had not thought that the Great Prince would be so ignorant of the tricks of power, but he still wore a smile on his face. "I just want to vent my anger, and at the same time, wake someone up a little."
After an extremely long period of silence, the Eldest Prince's brows suddenly twitched, as if he had understood something. He actually laughed out loud, and then calmly said, "That second brother of mine is actually a smart person. This time, he suffered such a great loss at your hands. I believe it will make him wary … Perhaps, there will be some unexpected results."
They were both smart men, and Fan Xian immediately understood the hidden meaning in these words. After thinking for a moment, he said evenly, "Perhaps... Your Highness and I have some intentions. But whether or not the Second Prince will be able to obtain those benefits depends on how you persuade him."
The Great Prince looked at him with great interest. It seemed that he had admitted this, but he did not dare to believe it. He said doubtfully, "I just don't understand. Why are you so worried about this matter?"
Fan Xian thought to himself. Even if they were brothers, it was not easy for them to be reborn. Were they really going to watch Xuanwu Gate unfold? But no matter what, he could not bring himself to say this reason, so he could only laugh it off. Besides, he was still wary of the Great Prince. Although everyone in the court knew that the Great Prince was the most broad-minded, only interested in martial arts, and had never coveted the throne … he was, after all, the son of that traitorous Emperor. Who knew what he was really thinking?
"Where it is possible to forgive, forgive." The Great Prince glanced at Fan Xian meaningfully. Given his status, it was not easy for him to speak and speak on behalf of the Second Prince in such a manner.
Fan Xian smiled and nodded. He knew that he could not kill the Second Prince, so he did not mind doing him a favor. This decision had nothing to do with the attitude of the Great Prince or the military. It was purely because the Emperor in the palace … was watching him.
Big Brother is watching you.
…
…
Fan Xian had given the military enough face, and the Great Prince could not say anything more. After all, he knew that his second brother was not someone to be trifled with. In the end, the Fan family had paid a great price for this. If they did not reap any benefits, they would not give up. But after the matter was settled, the two unfamiliar people sat in the hall of the Chen Garden. They could not find a topic to talk about, and the atmosphere was a bit cold and awkward.
Qin Heng left to pay his respects for a very long time. The two of them sat in chairs, drinking tea without much taste. Suddenly, Fan Xian said, "How has the Great Princess been? I have been busy with official business and have not been able to pay my respects. Please, Great Prince, send my regards. "
In officialdom, choosing a topic to talk about was a very learned thing. Fan Xian picked this matter to talk about for a reason. As expected, the Great Prince said seriously, "Sir Fan, you escorted me to the South. I thank you."
This was Fan Xian's strength. Only by choosing an appropriate topic could he effectively close the distance between them. At the same time, he had to make the other person feel indebted to him. He smiled and said a few humble words. He then began to talk about the scenery in the North with the Great Prince.
The marriage between the Great Prince and the Great Princess of Northern Qi was set for next spring. At the moment, the Great Princess was basically living in the palace. She had seen the Great Prince a few times. According to the rumors in the capital, this political marriage seemed to be quite satisfied with each other. Fan Xian had been the envoy last time, so according to the traditional view of the Qing people, he was the Great Prince's matchmaker.
After a shallow conversation, Fan Xian's impression of the Great Prince changed a little. As a prince, it was rare to see him so open and direct. Perhaps it was because his birth mother was not very noble. Back then, she was just a prisoner of war in Dongyi. The Great Prince did not have the noble air of the Second Prince, the Third Prince, or the Crown Prince. On the contrary, he was much more straightforward. When he spoke, his voice was powerful and loud. He did not pay much attention to hiding it.
No wonder his wife was the best friend of this prince, Fan Xian thought. A smile rose on his face as he chatted with the Great Prince. Hearing the Great Prince's enthusiasm when it came to military matters, Fan Xian could only sigh to himself. He knew very well that he did not have much talent in military matters. Compared to the Great Prince, who had led troops for many years, it was better to remain silent.
"Sir Fan, have you seen Shang Shanhu?" The Great Prince's face suddenly showed a leisurely yearning, with a slight look of admiration.
Fan Xian was slightly surprised. "I think I saw him from afar in Shangjing Palace, but I did not have much of an impression."
The Great Prince slapped his thigh and looked at him hatefully. "You do not know me, you do not know me. How could I miss such a great opportunity to make friends?" His words were full of regret.
"Oh?" Fan Xian raised his eyebrows. "Why does the Great Prince think so highly of Shang Shanhu?" he asked curiously.
"A heroic general of a generation." The Great Prince gave a very direct four-word evaluation. He narrowed his eyes and said in a cold voice, "Independently supporting the defense line of Northern Qi that stretches for three thousand li, preventing the Barbarians from invading south for more than ten years. He also sent out troops one after another to penetrate the snowy region and behead thousands of Northern Barbarians. Perhaps Sir Fan does not know this, but although the Hu people and Barbarians are fierce, the Western Hu people are much weaker than the Northern Barbarians. I have been dealing with the Hu people in the West for many years, and increasingly feel that Shang Shanhu has been able to hold out for so many years despite the instability of the Northern Qi court.
"It is a pity that Shang Shanhu has been transferred back to Shangjing. Perhaps there will be a chance to meet the Great Prince on the battlefield," Fan Xian said with a smile.
A glimmer of confidence rose to the Great Prince's face. He slowly said, "If we can make this great general work for the court, there will naturally be great benefits … No, this … if we really meet on the battlefield in the future, although I have always admired this person's strange and strange art of war, I will still have to use everything I have learned in my life to deal with him."
This was the so-called heroic spirit. Fan Xian looked at the Great Prince and felt a sense of loss in the depths of his heart. He knew that what he had learned since he was a child had gone in the wrong direction. With the ideas of his previous life at work, it would be difficult for him to cultivate the heroic spirit that had been forged in the fires of war in this life.
But he also had his own confidence. He smiled and said, "Although I have never learned Shang Shanhu's military tactics, seeing how he killed Shen Zhong in the rain, this person does indeed dare to act strangely. He is silent, like a sudden clap of thunder, catching everyone by surprise. He is decisive and resolute in killing. He is truly a master."
The Great Prince gave a faint smile and looked at him strangely. "The Provost of Northern Qi's Discipline Commission, Shen Zhong? I'm afraid this matter has something to do with Commissioner Fan. "
Shen Zhong's death was the first step in Fan Xian's and Haitang's plan. There were actually some people who suspected the role the Kingdom of Qing played, but now that the Great Prince had pointed it out, Fan Xian still felt a chill in his heart. He smiled and played dumb. "Your Highness should know that people like us do things that cannot be seen in the light. We are not as valiant as Your Highness or that Shang Shanhu, but sometimes we can help the court."
The Great Prince stared into his eyes and suddenly said, "This is why I said earlier that I underestimated you. Although Shang Shanhu was insufferably arrogant, he was still used as a puppet by Commissioner Fan. Master Fan, the way you do things is indeed... unfathomable."
Shang Shanhu's assassination of Shen Zhong in the rainy street had been cleverly arranged by the Emperor of Northern Qi and Haitang. But if the world misunderstood that he had played a more important role in it, it would raise his fearsome image and other people's assessment of his strength to another level. Of course, Fan Xian would not let such an opportunity pass him by. He laughed shamelessly and agreed.
"I hear... that Master Fan is a ninth-level warrior?" The Great Prince looked at Fan Xian, his eyes full of meaning.
Fan Xian tilted his head slightly and laughed lightly. "Your Highness, I have no interest in fighting with you. No matter who wins or loses, it will be a loss to the court."
The Great Prince did not expect Fan Xian to be so cunning. He immediately understood what he meant, and then used the words he had said earlier to shut his mouth. He could not help but feel depressed. He was a man who loved martial arts, and of course he wanted to compete with Fan Xian, who rarely fought.
"There are many people who want to teach me a lesson." Fan Xian thought about how he might run into the Shadow in a bit, and smiled bitterly. "Not many, Your Highness. Just yawn and let me go."
The Great Prince was surprised again. He had always been a cheerful and direct person, and he liked to make friends. But he was a prince, and he had a murderous aura built up from years in the army. Not many officials dared to speak freely to him. But this Fan Xian in front of him, outside the gates of the capital, had not been very respectful to him. Today, in Chen Garden, he had not been very polite. He laughed and cursed. It was as if he did not see the Great Prince as a prince.
He took a deep breath. He felt that the world was indeed different. At least around this young man called Fan Xian, the world was different.
"Master Fan, your words are interesting. I like talking to you." The Great Prince saw that Qin Heng had finally returned. He smiled and stood up. "You give me face, and we will forget about the fight for the road outside Jingdou. But, in the future, if I want to talk to you, you better not play sick or go to the bathroom."
Fan Xian smiled and bowed. "I dare not disobey. The Great Prince's words are more interesting than those others." Those others were, of course, the other princes of the Emperor.
— — —
The Great Prince did not say goodbye to Chen Pingping. He knew that this strange Director did not care about these empty courtesies. He left Chen Garden with Qin Heng. Before leaving the garden, Qin Heng said something to Fan Xian in a quiet voice. They set a time for him to go to the Qin manor.
They got into the carriage and drove out of the most heavily guarded mountain road outside Chen Garden. They passed by the guards of Fan manor and the members of the Qinian Unit of the Overwatch Council, who were squatting in the grass like bandits. Only then did the Great Prince put down the curtain and coldly said, "Fan Xian is indeed different."
Qin Heng smiled and said, "According to father, the stronger Fan Xian is, the better. Otherwise, in the future, the Overwatch Council will be controlled by a good-for-nothing. I'm afraid the old men in the Bureau of Military Affairs will die of anger. Our brothers in the army will not have a good life either."
The Great Prince nodded and suddenly sighed. "After leaving the capital for many years, I am not used to it. I don't even have anyone to talk to." Most of his bodyguards had been dismissed, and the establishment of the Western Expedition Army had also been disbanded. The Ministry of War had transferred soldiers to the Xu border in the west. He was now in the capital, and his situation was somewhat similar to that of the great general in the north. However, he was a prince after all, and compared to Shang Shanhu, his treatment and status were naturally much better.
"How was your talk with Commissioner Fan?"
"Not bad." The Great Prince said, "Your father should be able to relax. Even if Director Chen were to retire, I believe that with Fan Xian's ability, the Overwatch Council will still be able to maintain its efficiency and support the work of the army."
Qin Heng shook his head. "I believe that as well. But in my opinion, this Sir Fan junior might be even better."
"Sir Fan junior is meticulous and has made friends in many different countries. His martial arts are already at the level of a ninth-level fighter. He also has perfect control over the affairs of the Overwatch Council. Don't forget his identity as the Immortal of Poetry. He is a leader of the literati who was given books by Master Zhuang. In the future, he will become the Director of the Overwatch Council. Such a person," he said, his face full of disbelief, "has never appeared before. I think in the future, he will go even further than Director Chen."
The Great Prince sighed and said, "Don't forget, next year, he will take over the palace treasury. But to put him in the eye of the storm, to receive the attention of the world and arrows from the dark, I don't know what father is thinking."
Now that the Emperor had been brought up, Qin Heng could not continue the conversation. The Great Prince smiled and looked at him. He continued, "But Fan Xian is still young. Compared to the Director, he has a fatal weakness. I think he knows this very well. So this time, he is using the Second Prince's matter to show his power and shock the world. He is protecting his own weakness first."
"What weakness?" Qin Heng asked curiously.
"His mind is fettered." The Great Prince narrowed his eyes and said solemnly, "Uncle is different. Uncle has no children. His parents died young, and he does not have a single relative or a true friend. Although there are many beauties in the garden, he does not have a single woman he truly loves. He is truly alone … The enemies cannot find Uncle's weakness, so how can they defeat him? But Fan Xian is different. He has a wife, a sister, a family, and friends. These are all his weaknesses. "
Qin Heng thought about it. It was true. In the entire Qing Kingdom, no one knew who Chen Pingping had truly cared about in his life. Other than the Emperor.
"No relatives, no friends, no love. This kind of life … must not be easy." Qin Heng was not an old man. Thinking about this, he felt a bit sad.
"It is not easy for the Director," the Great Prince said with a respectful expression. "For Fan Xian to reach this realm, he is still far from it."
…
…
In the Chen Garden, singing was mixed with the sound of stringed instruments. It was as soft and soft as a powerless cloud, greasy and slippery as it floated in the air. A dozen or so beauties dressed in luxurious clothing were singing and dancing on a platform in the middle of the lake. Chen Pingping sat in his wheelchair, accompanied by Wan'er and Ruoruo. He looked at this scene with a face full of enjoyment. Sang Wen was holding a harp and playing a song for the dancing girls.
What an easy and carefree life of a noble. In the carriage that left the garden, the two young men from the Qing Kingdom's military felt great sympathy for Chen Pingping's life.
Fan Xian walked over from the other side. Chen Pingping gently clapped his hands, and the singing and dancing immediately ended. Another beautiful woman carefully led a few female guests to the back to rest. Wan'er knew that Fan Xian must have something to say to Director Chen, so she followed the beautiful woman. Before she left, she looked at Fan Xian, wanting to ask him how his conversation with the Great Prince went.
Fan Xian smiled and nodded, putting his wife's heart at ease. He walked behind Chen Pingping and consciously put his hands on the back of the wheelchair. He asked, "Where are we going?"
Chen Pingping raised his withered hand and pointed to the forest on the east side of the garden.
Fan Xian silently pushed the wheelchair in that direction. The old man and the young man did not speak. It was still early, but the autumn sun was still cold. It shone down from above the forest, dragging the wheelchair and the person's shadows. The wheels of the wheelchair squeaked as they rolled over the shadows.
"He calls you uncle." Fan Xian pushed the wheelchair and walked slowly through the sparse leafless autumn forest. He smiled. "Aren't you afraid of the Imperial Censorate reporting you? That's a big crime. "
"You're afraid of the Imperial Censorate reporting you? It's not like you'll lose two layers of skin. If all the memorials to me were kept, I'm afraid the Emperor's royal study would be full. " Chen Pingping expressionlessly said, "He calls me uncle. That is the Emperor's permission. No one can say anything."
"The Emperor's permission?" Fan Xian was a little surprised.
Chen Pingping turned his head and glanced at him. He said lightly, "Ning the Talented was a prisoner of Dongyi. During that northern expedition, the Emperor almost lost his life in the mountains and rivers of the north. It was because of Ning the Talented that he made it through. Later, the Great Prince was born."
Fan Xian had heard this story before. He knew that when the Emperor was in desperate straits, it was he who pushed the withered old man in the wheelchair and led the Black Knights to rescue him from the north. After thinking about it, he understood a little. He said, "You have a good relationship with Ning the Talented?"
"On the way back, the situation was rather wretched at the time. It left a deep impression in my mind. Later, our relationship became closer." Chen Pingping was still expressionless. "At the time, it was impossible to escape with a prisoner. When Ning the Talented was beheaded, I said something. Perhaps it was because of this that she has always been rather respectful to me."
Fan Xian laughed. "So you are Ning the Talented's savior."
Chen Pingping closed his eyes and faintly said, "The Emperor was injured at the time. His body was as hard as a block of wood. He couldn't move at all. As for the matters of wiping his body and urinating and defecating … he had to leave behind a careful woman to do it."
"Later, I heard that Ning the Talented's entry into the palace also caused a disturbance … at the time, the Emperor had not yet married and was about to take a Dongyi prisoner of war into the palace. The empress dowager was very unhappy." Fan Xian asked, "Did you also help her?"
Chen Pingping laughed, the wrinkles on his face turning into the skin of a bun. "At that time, my words were not as powerful as they are today … at the time, it was the lady who spoke, and Ning the Talented was allowed to enter the palace."
Fan Xian sighed and said, "So it turns out that my mother likes to meddle in everything."
"She likes to meddle in other people's business," Chen Pingping said. Chen Pingping said, then suddenly paused. "But … this is not a trivial matter. His Majesty will only make up his mind to get married if she asks."
Fan Xian made a face behind him and said, "I don't want to listen to the romantic stories of the older generation."
"It's good to listen." Chen Pingping laughed darkly. "At least now you know that in the palace, you still have someone you can trust."
"Ning the Talented?" Fan Xian shook his head. "A small favor from many years ago. I don't think the effect can continue until now."
Chen Pingping said, "Dongyi women have a shrewd temperament and distinguish between kindness and enmity … furthermore, 13 years ago, she also worked hard to avenge the lady … because of this, she offended the empress dowager and was demoted to Talented again. Until today, she has not been able to regain her position."
"Are you sure the Great Prince has no desire to fight for the throne?"
Chen Pingping said coldly. "He is a clever man, so when he was very young, he chose to run away. A mother knows her son. A prince taught by Ning the Talented is much more straightforward than the second prince and the Crown Prince."
Fan Xian was silent. After a moment, he suddenly asked, "Does Ning the Talented know about me?"
"I don't know." Chen Pingping educated him. "You can't play all the cards you have in your hand all at once. You have to hide a few in your sleeve."
"Does the Emperor … know that I know?"
"I don't know."
"Does this count as deceiving the Emperor?"
"Oh, since the Emperor did not ask, it is not convenient for us, the officials, to say anything."
The old man and the young man both laughed like two foxes.
"Is that all for the second prince's matter?"
"Have you achieved your goal?"
"In total, I have taken care of 17 officials. His power in the court is more or less gone. I do not have the ability to deal with people at the level of the Minister of Appointments." Fan Xian counted on his fingers. "The Cui family has also lost a lot of people. According to news from the north, they have been forced to open up their arms and legs. It will be much easier to cut them off."
"Don't let others know that your next target is the Cui family," Chen Pingping said coldly. "In court tomorrow, the Emperor will make a decision. It will be difficult for the second prince to make a comeback."
"Will there be a problem with my family?"
"You don't care about the baron's title?"
"I don't care."
"Then there will be no problem. Don't worry, that father of yours is more cunning than anyone else. He won't let you suffer." Chen Pingping seemed to have thought of something. "While I was not in the capital, he called you back from Danzhou … Who knows what he was thinking?"
"That is my father," Fan Xian reminded the Director, feeling a headache coming on.
Chen Pingping patted the armrest of his wheelchair and said mockingly, "I admit it. He is a good father."
Fan Xian was not happy to hear this, and he fell silent. Chen Pingping did not seem to think that the child would be so respectful to Fan Xian. He smiled, pleased. "What are you doing here today?"
"I brought my wife and sister here for a meal." Fan Xian forced a smile. "I also wanted to broaden their horizons. I wanted to see the beautiful women that a lonely old man like you has raised."
He suddenly did not want to continue joking with the old man. With a hint of melancholy, he asked, "I have a question for you."
"Speak."
"Are you … really a loyal minister?" This question seemed a little childish and childish.
Chen Pingping answered carefully. After a long time, he said seriously, "I am loyal to the Emperor, to the Kingdom of Qing … And you should know by now that no matter what you do, the Emperor is watching you do it. You can only do what he allows you to do … So, being loyal to the Emperor is actually being loyal to yourself. You must remember this, and always be loyal to the Emperor."
Was this loyalty to the Emperor or loyalty to himself? Fan Xian did not want to pursue this question any further.
"But this time, you acted too early. You were ahead of the Emperor's plan." Chen Pingping closed his eyes and quietly said, "And the way you do things is too obvious. The Emperor does not know that you have already guessed where you came from, and so it is inevitable that he will have doubts about you."
Fan Xian was silent. He knew that this was the biggest problem that had come with this incident.
"Do not worry. I will take care of it," Chen Pingping said softly.
Fan Xian was no longer worried. He pushed the wheelchair and walked out of the beautiful, yet desolate, forest. The two of them were walking west, and the shadow behind them was gradually pulling away. But the wheels of the wheelchair could not break free of the shadow.
— — —
The next day, the court meeting was held on time. The father and son of the Fan family, who had not been in court for many days, were finally standing before the court. They were prepared to be impeached and reprimanded by the officials. The Imperial Censorate had already submitted the memorials to the court a long time ago. The Minister of Revenue, Fan Jian, admitted that he had not been strict with his family, which resulted in the birth of Fan Sizhe, an unworthy son. Fan Xian had also submitted a memorial to ask for forgiveness.
But as for the other accusations, the Fan family did not accept any of them. After all, the murder of the capital's magistrate and the murder in the rain was not something the Fan family had any evidence against. Everything had been done very cleanly, and it was more than enough to shut the mouths of the censors.
On the contrary, compared to the accusations the Fan family made against the second prince, the Fan family had a hard time dealing with them. After all, it was Xie Bi'an, one of the eight generals, who had murdered the second prince outside the capital government. And Xie Bi'an had died in prison. One accusation after another was made against the second prince.
What puzzled the courtiers was that the Second Prince's attacks were not ferocious, and all of his counterattacks were superficial. After a while, everyone guessed that the two sides must have reached some sort of secret agreement. In other words, the Second Prince had admitted defeat.
The Emperor sat on his throne and listened quietly. It was only when Fan Xian stepped forward to ask for forgiveness that his eyes flashed with an unreadable expression.
Not long after, after a discussion with the Emperor himself, the matter had come to a conclusion.
The Minister of Revenue, Fan Jian, was not strict with his son, and allowed him to commit murder. But because of his many years of hard work, and the fact that he was the first to be promoted, he was given a lighter punishment. He was fined three years of salary, reduced by two ranks, and ordered to reflect on his mistakes.
The Commissioner of the Overwatch Council and the Imperial College, Fan Xian, was not a good person. He secretly mobilized the soldiers of the Imperial College. Although he was repentant on behalf of his brother, his crime was unforgivable. His salary was reduced, and he was ordered to revise the books given to him by Zhuang Mohan within three years.
The Ministry of Justice had issued a warrant for the arrest of the second son of the Fan family, Fan Sizhe.
The capital's magistrate had been arrested and imprisoned. He was removed from his position and would be tried later.
Some duke …
…
…
Finally, it was decided how to deal with the second prince: he was not a good person. He was to be demoted, and he was to be locked up for six months. He was not allowed to leave.
The result was finally out. Every word and sentence was worth pondering by the officials and the common people. But no matter what, the father of the Fan family only had his title removed. The punishment was heavy, but there was no real loss. On the contrary, the second prince's faction had lost many officials, and he himself was to be placed under house arrest for six months. The punishment could not be said to be light. Everyone knew that the Fan family had won this battle.
But when people listened to the edict written by the Emperor himself, they found an interesting coincidence. Both Fan Xian and the second prince's crimes were vague. They were both "not a good person." As the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, it was not a big deal if he was not a good person. But as a prince, it was a big deal if he was punished with "not a good person."
The winds of the court changed. Everyone knew that the Second Prince was no longer as favored by the Emperor as he had been in the past. However, the Emperor also did not summon Fan Xian to the Palace alone again. People couldn't help but wonder, could it be that the two tigers were fighting and both were injured? Would Fan Xian's extraordinary royal favor come to an end here?
But Fan Xian did not seem to have any reaction. He stayed in the Imperial College all day with a smile on his face, organizing books with the teachers. Occasionally, he would go to the Overwatch Council to take a look. He also took two days to visit the manor of General Qin of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and then he took Wan'er and his sister to the palace to visit various concubines. Coincidentally, he met the Great Prince in Shufang Palace, where the Great Princess of Northern Qi was temporarily staying. Of course, when he entered the palace this time, he did not see the Emperor.
Secretly, he was still discussing many things with Sir Yan junior. The arrangement of the smuggling routes in the north of the palace treasury had gradually entered the main topic. They were waiting to cut off the hand of the Cui family, which would cut off the largest source of income for Xinyang and the second prince. As for the matter of the zhenqi in his body, he was also attentively attending to it. At the same time, he was waiting for Teacher Fei Jie's reply to see if he would take the medicine or not.
In less than two days, in a cold autumn wind, the long-delayed Chrysanthemum Appreciation Festival finally began. But Fan Xian wrapped himself up like a dumpling, and looked fearfully at the last withered leaf outside the window. He thought to himself, in this damned cold weather, how could there be chrysanthemums that didn't care for their lives that would bloom?
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