(I woke up late today. Someone was having a birthday celebration at home, and I wasn't feeling well, so I woke up late.)
Eunuch Yao had gone to the Fan manor first. He did not find Fan Xian in the manor. He didn't know where the Commissioner, who was currently recovering, had run off to. Even the Minister did not know. That special Lady Fan junior was also not in the manor. He could not find anyone to ask about Fan Xian's whereabouts.
But the Emperor was still waiting in the palace. Eunuch Yao was worried sick. After finding out that Lady Fan had returned to Lin Manor, he led the guards in that direction. Coincidentally, they bumped into this carriage at the intersection. If the guards hadn't recognized one of Fan Xian's attendants, they probably would have missed it.
Seeing Eunuch Yao gasping for breath, Fan Xian sighed. "I still have to go back to Lin Manor. Why am I being summoned now?"
The Emperor had summoned him, and he had responded so calmly. Eunuch Yao was worried sick. He had never seen an official who didn't take the summons of the palace seriously. He had always been on good terms with Fan Manor, so he couldn't say much. He only said, "The Emperor's edict has been out for a long time. If you go any later, I'm afraid the Emperor won't be happy."
Fan Xian grimaced. "Of course I have to go." He couldn't bear to see the old eunuch standing in the snow. He invited him into the carriage, and the group headed for the palace. He arranged for someone to go to Lin Manor to inform his wife.
"Lao Yao, tell me the truth. What happened?" Fan Xian rested against the wall, his eyes narrowed. He didn't look at the head eunuch. Fan Manor had always fed the eunuchs well, so he didn't feel like handing over any more banknotes.
Eunuch Yao didn't dare accept banknotes from Fan Manor anymore. He laughed. "How … how would a servant know? You'll know when you go. "
Fan Xian shook his head and pretended to be angry. "You don't do things properly." He paused. "I need to ask about something."
Eunuch Yao pricked up his ears. He looked around the carriage to make sure there was no one else around. He lowered his voice. "Sir, what is it? I'll tell you anything I dare to say. "
"Last time in the Hanging Temple … what happened to the eunuchs?" Fan Xian frowned.
Eunuch Yao shuddered. After a slight pause, he raised his palm and placed it flat against his throat, making a cut.
Fan Xian's expression did not change, but no one knew what he was thinking. He knew that this was the inevitable result. There was an assassin among the eunuchs, so the people present naturally could not escape death. He was afraid that the palace would have to purge a large number of them.
"Where is Old Dai?"
"No." Eunuch Yao sighed and said, "He is an old man. The Emperor can trust him. However, he has been implicated and can no longer stay in Taiji Palace. Thinking about how the Imperial Censorate reported on the matter of his good-for-nothing nephew two months ago, his life in the Palace was very difficult. Later, the Emperor, with great difficulty, gave Lady Shu face and promoted him to use again."
He glanced at Fan Xian. Fan Xian didn't say anything. Eunuch Yao did not know just how deep the fate of banknotes between Fan Xian and Eunuch Dai was.
"Who would have thought that there would be another assassination attempt … Old Dai's luck can be considered to be extremely bad. As a matter of fact, he's been stripped of all his duties, and he's been flogged a dozen times. He's been sent to the treasurer's office. Such an old man, doing hard labor in this cold weather … "Eunuch Yao and Eunuch Dai had entered the Palace the same year. Although there was usually conflict between them, seeing the other person collapse at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a bit sad. He rubbed his sleeve at the corner of his eyes.
"Old Dai … endure for a few days and wait for the Emperor's anger to subside. It's good enough that I can keep my old life." Fan Xian shook his head and then asked, "Then, who is on duty in Taiji Palace now?"
"Hong Zhu." Eunuch Yao looked at Fan Xian's confused face and explained in a small voice, "A young brat. This year, he started running the path of Taiji Palace and being on duty. The Emperor likes him for being efficient and efficient."
"The matter of issuing edicts is also given to that … Hong Zhu?" Fan Xian asked curiously.
Eunuch Yao shook his head and said, "What right does he have?"
— — —
The carriage had just passed Xinjiekou when it was called to a stop by Eunuch Yao. Deng Zi Yue was a bit dissatisfied. After all, the square in front of the Palace was very wide. In this snowy winter, to have the Commissioner, who had not yet recovered, sit in a wheelchair was truly too much. They weren't afraid of him freezing.
"Officials, there's nothing we can do," Eunuch Yao said with grievance. Feeling wronged, Eunuch Yao said, "After what happened last time, the Imperial Army was reorganized. Now, these soldiers are all staring at everyone like wolves. Looking at the situation, they want to scare away everyone who enters the Palace."
Fan Xian listened for a bit and then said, "Don't make things difficult for Eunuch Yao, let's get off."
Deng Zi Yue glanced angrily at the Palace doors. He carried Fan Xian off the carriage and placed him on the wheelchair. He quickly opened the large black cloth umbrella and covered the Commissioner's head. Behind him, there were already Overwatch Council officials pushing the umbrella. Snowflakes hit the black umbrella and made a slight sound.
Eunuch Yao didn't have such good luck. He used his hand to cover his head and rushed toward the Palace doors with a few guards beside him.
Fan Xian's entire body was shrunk into the large cloak to hide from the cold wind blowing toward his face. Half his face was covered by the fur collar. He still felt a chill seeping into his clothes. The light above his head was dim, and the sound of snow falling was mournful.
…
…
The imperial soldiers outside the Palace doors gave Eunuch Yao the procedures and looked in shock at the group of people slowly walking in the middle of the square. In the wind and snow, the group of cold-faced plain-clothed officials was pushing a wheelchair. There was only a black umbrella on the wheelchair that firmly blocked the snowflakes falling from the sky. Not a speck of snow fell on the person in the wheelchair.
"The Director wasn't summoned into the Palace today?" the captain of the imperial army asked in surprise.
"It's Commissioner Fan."
Everyone was startled. The captain of the imperial army quickly led a group of people to welcome them. They helped the person in the wheelchair block the wind and snow outside and brought this group of people to the Palace doors. After a slight inspection, they were allowed to enter the Palace.
— — —
The northern wind blew, and the snowflakes floated. Deng Zi Yue pushed the wheelchair and walked through the long side path beside the main hall. As the color of the Palace walls grew darker and darker, he finally stopped in front of the door on the right side of the Palace wall.
A eunuch had long opened a large plain umbrella and securely covered Fan Xian's head. Surrounded by people, he carefully led the young injured person into the back palace.
Deng Zi Yue stood outside the door of the back palace and watched the commissioner move further and further away under the escort of the eunuchs. Although his expression was calm, no one knew what he was thinking in his heart. A snowflake floated down and landed on the corner of his eye, making him narrow his eyes.
…
…
"Not in the royal study?" Fan Xian furrowed his brows and temporarily ignored the cold wind blowing toward his face. He asked Eunuch Yao beside him.
Earlier, there had been news that the Emperor had long waited for Commissioner Fan and had already lost his temper. The young eunuchs received Fan Xian and did not dare to be slow. It was as if their feet were on flaming wheels as they sprinted toward the depths of the Palace. The wheelchair they pushed creaked, and the eunuch holding the large plain umbrella swayed left and right. If it were not for the fact that the terrain in the Palace was flat, this mad dash would have long torn open Fan Xian's wound.
Eunuch Yao ran until he was out of breath. He replied, "In … in the bedroom."
Fan Xian's heart was slightly surprised. His expression was not very good. Eunuch Yao watched and only remembered that this young official was still injured. The Emperor could not wait, but if he allowed the commissioner's injury to worsen, he would not have a good time either. Only then did he quickly have everyone slow down. He scolded Fan Xian in the face and turned his face to the side in an attempt to curry favor. "Sir Fan junior, are you alright?"
Fan Xian nodded and said, "Not that expensive."
In a moment, everyone had arrived at a place in the Palace garden. It was not the bedroom where the empress was, but where Yi Guipin was. Eunuch Yao hurried forward and went inside to report. Not long after, someone came to receive Fan Xian.
Today, the Emperor was wearing a set of casual clothes and was sitting on a warm couch, talking casually with Yi Guipin. The Third Prince was sitting obediently to the side, copying something. Seeing the eunuchs push Fan Xian in, he stopped talking and calmly turned his head to look at Fan Xian.
"You're injured. Why aren't you staying in the manor to recover? Why are you running around?"
An Emperor seemed to be reprimanding a young official, but he was actually concerned about him. Logically speaking, the official should be grateful to him. Fan Xian laughed coldly to himself. If he really cared about him, why would he wait 17 years to show this? If he really cared about his injury, why was he in such a hurry to summon him into the Palace?
But his face was still slightly moved. He calmly replied, "Your Majesty, I've almost recovered. That's why I sneaked out for a stroll. I was just about to go to the Lin manor to pick up Wan 'er."
"Wan 'er … returned to the Lin manor? There's no one in the manor … except for that idiot. " The Emperor didn't seem to like associating his niece with the Lin manor. He looked a little unhappy.
Yi Guipin peeked at the Emperor's expression and laughed foolishly. She changed the subject. "Fan Xian, you haven't recovered from your injury, yet you're running around … aren't you afraid Minister Fan will beat you?"
The Emperor was a little surprised. He immediately laughed. "Fan Jian … how could I bear to?"
Although it was a joke, there was another meaning behind it. Fan Xian shivered slightly. He piled a smile on his face and didn't respond.
The Emperor glanced at the Third Prince, who was copying a book to the side. He said to Fan Xian, "A few days ago, you organized a few books of classics at the Imperial College. I had Chengping study them these days. The tutor thought they were too deep. What do you think? Chengping, go see the Commissioner. "
The Third Prince's surname was Li, and his name was Chengping. According to the customs of the Kingdom of Qing, princes were very respectful to their officials. The Emperor's order was not surprising. The Third Prince quickly put down his brush and carefully walked in front of the wheelchair. He bowed to Fan Xian.
"How can I do this?" Fan Xian sat in the wheelchair, unable to avoid it.
"You are now the Minister of Education of the Imperial College. This is part of your duty," the Emperor said calmly as if he was talking about something normal. Yi Guipin could tell that the Emperor wanted Fan Xian to be the Third Prince's teacher. Thinking of Fan Xian's reputation in literature and martial arts, as well as his influence in court politics, Yi Guipin couldn't help but smile. The more she looked at Fan Xian, the more she liked him.
The Emperor saw her expression and couldn't help but laugh. "Look at how happy you are."
The reason Yi Guipin was favored was because, at least on the surface, she didn't hide her thoughts. When she was happy, she was happy. Hearing the Emperor's teasing, she didn't panic. She laughed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for finding a good teacher for Ping 'er."
Fan Xian listened to the two elders talk to themselves. He felt bitter in his heart. He wondered why no one had asked for his opinion on this matter.
The Third Prince came over holding a scroll. Fan Xian took it and glanced at it. He raised his head and reported, "Master Zhuang's knowledge of the classics is excellent. The grand tutor thinks that it is reasonable for him to have a deeper understanding. However, these are only introductory things. It is not a problem for the Third Prince to study them in advance."
The ruler and official exchanged a few more casual words. Fan Xian responded carefully, but he knew that the Emperor would certainly have something to say to him. As expected, after drinking a bowl of hot soup, the Emperor opened his mouth in a seemingly casual manner.
"The snow outside has stopped … Chuxue, Ying Xi, Fan Xian, accompany me to the garden for a stroll."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Emperor stood. Yi Guipin smiled slightly and placed a large red embroidered fox fur robe on his body.
…
…
By the time they left Shufang Palace, where Yi Guipin lived, the snow had already stopped. The ground of the Royal Palace was clear and wet, but there was no accumulated snow. There were only a few traces of snow on the winter trees in the garden. The sky was gray and white. The red walls, yellow eaves, snow branches, and green bricks were very beautiful. There was not a trace of impurities in the air. It was unusually fresh.
The Emperor walked in front with a large cloak draped over his shoulders. A young eunuch pushed Fan Xian silently behind him. Along the way, the eunuchs and serving girls wearing cotton robes stayed far away. Those they met on the side of the road leaned to the side and didn't speak.
"There is no need to kneel when seeing me, snow or rain." Seeming to guess what Fan Xian was thinking, the Emperor quietly said, "This is a rule I set after I ascended the throne. Kneeling here and there every day, don't they find it annoying? If their clothes get dirty and torn, don't they need silver from the palace treasury to buy them?"
Fan Xian sat in the wheelchair and quietly loosened a cloth button on his collar. After the snow and wind had stopped, he felt a little hot. Hearing the Emperor's words, he knew that the topic was going to turn toward the palace treasury, but he shamelessly refused to follow up.
Seeming angry at Fan Xian's silence, the Emperor coldly asked, "Where is the second son of the Fan family now?"
At this time, they had already arrived at a garden in the most secluded part of the Palace. In front of them was a small lake. On the lake was a stone bridge that led to the pavilion in the center. There was some residual snow on the pavilion, but it was difficult to hide the black stone's austere aura.
(To be continued, if you want to know what happened next, please log on to WWW. CMFU. COM. There are more chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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