The New Year's Festival was Changchun, and it was the annual New Year's Festival. Without a doubt, it was not delayed, but there was nothing new.
This winter, Fan Xian had not spent most of his time in the Cang Mountains. Furthermore, after the events that had occurred, Wan'er and Ruoruo had been frightened into returning to the capital. Everyone was present except for the second Fan, so Fan Manor was quite lively.
There was a thick layer of red confetti in front of the mansion, like a big wedding carpet. The air was filled with the smell of smoke. It was a little pungent and a little sweet. The big and small kitchens were filled with fish and meat, which made the masters and servants feel that their lives were too blissful. Fortunately, the medicine that the Young Master caught was very effective …
On the night of the New Year's Eve, the palace gave them a few large dishes and a few small trinkets. Fan Xian did not pay much attention to it. He was in his room having a difficult conversation with his wife and sister. After solving the confusion of the two ladies, he did not wait for them to wake up from their shock and endless confusion. He led them to the front house.
After the New Year's Eve dinner was hastily eaten, the family gathered around and played a few rounds of mahjong. Fan Xian lay behind Wan'er and crossed his arms. From time to time, he would come up with some bad ideas, and successfully lost a lot of money to the two elders. He purposely picked a few classic jokes from his previous life and finally managed to alleviate some of the strange feelings at the table.
The next day, on the first day of the New Year, the young people who had been keeping watch struggled to wake up and went to the front hall to pay their respects.
Fan Xian was not careless at all. He knelt down on both knees, and under the strange gazes of the crowd, he was calm as usual. He kowtowed to his father three times, and with three loud thuds, his forehead touched the ground.
Old Master Fan stroked his beard and smiled. He was unspeakably comforted.
The women went out to play with glutinous rice balls. On the first day of the New Year, there were only a few bachelors left in the front hall. Fan Xian walked behind his father and gently massaged his shoulders. Ever since the rumors had spread, perhaps because he had broken through the demons in his heart, Fan Xian no longer kept himself behind a curtain. He began to express the emotions that a son should have. The distance between father and son seemed much closer than before.
Minister of Revenue Fan Jian rested while enjoying his son's service. He asked, "How is Sizhe over there?"
Fan Xian respectfully replied, "Not bad. Wang Qinian is a clever man."
Fan Jian smiled slightly. "You know many people in Northern Qi. I am not worried about that." He suddenly shook his head and said, somewhat baffled, "It's strange, An Zhi. I see that you treat the Northerners quite well, but don't forget that there is a death feud between our two countries that cannot be resolved. There's no harm in using them sometimes, but you can't trust them completely, especially not placing your last hope on them."
Fan Xian was slightly startled. He didn't know if his father had guessed something. He chuckled and explained.
Fan Jian suddenly asked with concern, "Old Fei treated your injuries, how are you now?"
Fan Xian didn't want his father to worry, so he didn't tell him the truth about his zhenqi dissipating. He nodded and said, "I'm almost healed. After two more months of rest, there shouldn't be anything to worry about."
"Two more months?" Fan Jian furrowed his brows and said, "Jiangnan is not like Jingdou. The mountains are high, the rivers are deep, and the Emperor is far away. Your body is also not as good as it was in the past. You must be careful in everything you do. You cannot be like you have been these past two years, fighting to be the first in everything. Once you make a move, you must put the opponent to death.
Fan Xian heard the worry in his father's words and also knew that his elder was reminding him.
In the battles in the capital, Fan Xian had always been ruthless. Even when facing the Eldest Princess and Second Prince, he had never retreated. He had always been ruthless and bold. However, once he went to Jiangnan, faced the officials of the borders, and went deep into the headquarters of the Jiangnan aristocratic families, although it seemed that no one could shake him in terms of power, without his father and Chen Pingping behind him, he should do things more smoothly.
Father and son exchanged opinions on the matters after the new year. They also made a sufficiently detailed analysis of what changes the Eldest Princess would bring to the court after she entered the capital. Fan Jian reminded Fan Xian that he should pay attention to Hu the Scholar, who would enter the cabinet after the new year. Fan Xian didn't understand what his father meant by specifically mentioning that literary master, but he still firmly remembered that person's name in his heart.
Fan Jian gently patted the pair of steady and young hands on his shoulder and smiled slightly. "It looks like the Emperor is truly prepared to hand the Overwatch Council to you. In the future, when you are in the Council, he will have to find a civil official in the court who can match your reputation and position. This is preparation for the future."
When Hu the Scholar led the change in the style of writing, he was just a young man in his early 20s. Now he was about 40 years old. In the south of the world, his literary name was flourishing. Before Fan Xian was born, he was truly in the limelight. However, in recent years, his official fortunes had not been smooth. He wandered from place to place among the seven Roads. His position was high but he had no real power. Now that he had entered the capital, he became the head of the Hall of Governmental Affairs.
Fan Xian smiled and shook his head. He didn't plan on interfering too much with court politics, and he certainly wouldn't provoke Hu the Scholar. Presumably, he wouldn't take the initiative to provoke him.
The father and son chatted a bit more. Fan Xian remembered that the clan still had to worship their ancestors today, so he asked probingly.
Fan Xian turned his head and glanced at his son. He sighed and shook his head. He thought to himself that it was a rare thing for this child to have such intentions. However, he could show his intentions, but he couldn't have his name enter the family records. After all, he still had to worry about the face of that person in the Palace.
Fan Xian was just trying to see if there was such a possibility. Seeing that his father's reaction was very direct, he knew that he was still dreaming. He felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart.
…
…
The morning sun shone warmly in the Fan family garden. Most of the people, including Minister Fan, Lady Liu, and Ruoruo, had already gone to the Fan clan ancestral hall where the country estate was. Even the housekeepers, nannies, and serving girls had gone. At this moment, there were only a few people left in the front and back residences. It seemed particularly quiet.
"I know you want to go," Wan 'er sat by his side and comforted him in a quiet voice.
Fan Xian was reading a book. The Danbo Bookstore had printed the first batch of "Zhuang's Commentary Collection." The name was given by Fan Xian, and the words were also written by Fan Xian. According to Seventh Ye, the sales were very good. The money was coming in faster than expected, particularly since the Northern Qi court had ordered 10,000 copies at once. It made Fan Xian's wallet bulge again.
Hearing his wife's words, he smiled slightly and raised his head. Carelessly putting the book to one side, he made a sound of acknowledgement. "What? Worried that I'll take things too hard? "
Wan 'er smiled and said, "Why aren't you worried that I'll take things too hard?"
Fan Xian gently stretched out his arms and pulled her into his embrace. Sticking to her slightly cold face, he asked with concern, "How has your health been recently?"
Wan 'er misunderstood what he was talking about. Resting on his shoulder, her face showed a slightly worried expression. "There's still no movement."
Fan Xian laughed out loud and said, "Who cares about that unborn daughter? I'm just asking how your health is. Sir Fei treated me the way he treats cows. Now I'm beginning to doubt his ability. "
"There's nothing wrong with my body." Wan 'er thought for a moment and then asked curiously, "Why a daughter?"
"A daughter is good. She doesn't have to stand in court and fight battles every day," Fan Xian said with a smile. His way of thinking was, of course, very different from that of the people of this world.
Lin Wan 'er pulled away from Fan Xian. Pointing to her heart, she giggled and said, "It's not good being a girl either. Marrying a husband and not knowing who he really is … It's not good here."
Fan Xian's hand went straight to his wife's soft chest. With a serious expression, he said, "Let me see if the problem is serious."
The couple joked around for a while, but they couldn't completely put that matter behind them. Wan 'er faintly said, "Who would have thought that you were … my cousin."
"Isn't that good?" Fan Xian smiled and said, "Sister Lin, let me hear you call me Brother Xian."
Wan 'er spat, "Bah! You're not Jia Baoyu. "
Fan Xian thought she was right. He was much prettier than Jia Baoyu. He rolled his eyes and left the room. Wan 'er didn't know what he was going to do and was very curious. Unexpectedly, after a while, Fan Xian returned to the room. It was just that … he was wearing tattered clothes that servants didn't often wear!
Lin Wan 'er looked at him dressed like a little beggar and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Fan Xian's eyes were wide open and his mouth was wide open. He happily said, "Cousin … Ahaha, ahaha … I've finally been waiting for you!"
Lin Wan 'er was stunned. Why did her husband suddenly go crazy? Was it fun to call her cousin like that? She hesitated and asked, "Cousin?"
Fan Xian laughed foolishly and said, "Ah, I'm your cousin, Hong Qi …"
…
…
Lin Wan 'er was dumbfounded. Hearing her husband speak nonsense with a Jiaozhou accent, she didn't know what to say for a long time. Fan Xian looked at her reaction and felt disheartened. Lowering his head like a defeated soldier, he went out to change his clothes.
"Husband, earlier … what were you doing?"
"Imitating East to West." Fan Xian's face was bitter.
"Imitating Show?"
"Show … show. It's what people in the south often call coquettish … don't ask, just think of it as me being coquettish."
Fan Xian's level of acting was actually very high. Ever since he was reborn into this world, he had begun to play the role of a naive child, an immortal poet, and a saint of love. Acting had always been his strong suit. If it weren't for this, he wouldn't have had the confidence to use such a passionate performance in the palace, in that little building, to deceive the unfathomable Emperor.
But people always needed rest, so he didn't want to hide too much in front of the people closest to him, such as his wife and his sister. After his past was exposed, Wan 'er was shocked, but she gradually accepted reality. Suddenly, her husband had become her cousin. She only felt a wonderful romantic feeling of being closer to him.
But for Ruoruo, her brother had suddenly become someone she didn't have any blood relations with. This was something she couldn't understand. So these days, Miss Fan had been intentionally or unintentionally avoiding Fan Xian, as if she didn't know how to face her brother.
Her mind was restless. Even Fei Jie's classes were muddled. The manor didn't dare let her go to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to discuss the important matter of saving people with the old masters.
"Ruoruo just hasn't come around," Wan 'er comforted.
Fan Xian smiled bitterly. "Am I not still her brother? This truth can't be changed. " He closed his eyes and rested for a moment. He then said, "After I leave, if things can settle down there, I'll take you there. As for my sister, I think she'll be leaving the capital soon."
Hearing these words, Lin Wan 'er was very happy. She clung to his shoulder and said, "I heard the water in Jiangnan is good. The people born there are all like in a painting. I've never traveled far before. This time, I have to have a good time. "
Fan Xian teased, "Don't tell me you're going to see a handsome guy."
Lin Wan 'er couldn't resist such a naughty joke. Her incomparably round face immediately flushed red. Seeking death, she clenched her fists and punched Fan Xian's body.
Fan Xian laughed and caught her pair of small fists. Seriously, he said, "The Eldest Princess has returned to the capital. You have to go see her."
Hearing this, all sorts of feelings welled up in Lin Wan 'er's heart. Her soft intestines were tangled. She didn't know how to deal with this relationship. Fan Xian comforted her. "I know this is very difficult, but you have to learn to tear this piece of paper in half. We don't cross each other's paths and each have our own business."
This matter could not be resolved with comfort and persuasion. Fan Xian also understood this, so he could only drop it and not talk about it. On the contrary, it was Wan 'er who braced herself and worried about the palace treasury matter on his behalf. "Husband, even if you take all of the shopkeepers of Qingyu Hall, I'm afraid you won't be able to control the palace treasury in the shortest amount of time. After all, mother has run it for so many years. Most of the local officials in Jiangnan have to look to her."
She hesitated for a moment and then said seriously, "Particularly if you take the Ye family elders to Jiangnan, it will easily cause discussion among the people and the court …"
Fan Xian nodded and calmly said, "I also understand, but this matter must be done. The shopkeepers have all been managing the businesses of the manors and manors these years. I also don't completely understand what they are thinking and whether or not they can trust me. However, those things in the palace treasury, if it weren't for them, it would be impossible. The reason the court has kept a close eye on them these years is because they understand the manufacturing process of the palace treasury. This information is of utmost importance to the court. They cannot allow the knowledge in their minds to spread to Northern Qi or Dongyi. However, the various businesses of the palace treasury always require technical guidance. That is how they have managed to preserve their lives. "
Lin Wan 'er was silent for a while, then quietly said, "Don't look at how these shopkeepers seem to move about freely in the capital. In reality, they have people following them for many years. If they show any signs of leaking secrets, the people around them will immediately kill them."
Fan Xian said with slight surprise, "I can guess that. However, I don't know which side those people are from. I've checked in the Council. The Overwatch Council is only responsible for the periphery. The person responsible for silencing them was not found."
"They are people from the palace," Lin Wan'er said with a worried expression. "They will probably follow you to Jiangnan."
"The eunuchs' subordinates?" Fan Xian smiled comfortingly. Ever since he entered the capital, he had a good relationship with the eunuchs in the palace. Regardless of which palace or which faction the eunuchs belonged to, they all deeply regarded Commissioner Fan as a close friend.
"Don't worry about these things," he said after thinking for a bit. He thought for a bit and then said, "Although the matter of the palace treasury has not been carried out, the general situation is already set. Your brother Shitou probably does not have much of a chance. The battle between the princes will not surface again for at least a few years. I think this is what the Emperor is most grateful to me for, although he did not say it."
Lin Wan'er sighed and gazed at her husband in a daze. A moment later, she faintly said, "Don't think of things so simply. In my opinion, the Emperor just doesn't like his sons making a ruckus. As for what exactly he is thinking, who knows? Take the second brother for example. Even if he is currently confined at home, who knows if he will suddenly make a comeback in the future. "
Fan Xian's heart froze as he listened to his wife continue her analysis.
"The Emperor is a very special person." Lin Wan'er opened her eyes wide, revealing a completely different intelligence and craftiness than usual. "He is a ruler of a generation who crawled out of blood and fire. His greatest characteristic is his self-confidence, extreme self-confidence. He doesn't believe that there is anything in the world that can truly shake his position. Thus, the battle for imperial power only brings him annoyance. It's just that as a father, he doesn't want to see his own flesh and blood fighting each other. I think he doesn't care about the title that the Crown Prince has. Who inherits the throne in the future will actually depend on what he thinks in his heart and how his brothers perform in the years to come."
"Even these things are not important to the Emperor," Lin Wan'er continued in a quiet voice. "Uncle's health is good, and he is not old. He thinks he can still live for many years. He has never thought about the problem of passing on the throne. His thoughts are actually still on the world. His ambition still exists. "
Fan Xian's temple throbbed. He furrowed his brows and said, "The Emperor … is he still preparing for war?"
"Hard to say." Lin Wan'er was, after all, a girl and did not like matters of the fires of war. Faintly, she said, "Actually, it has been quiet for a dozen years. It is already very strange. Presently, Xi Hu does not dare to come east. The Nanyue matter is about to be settled. The Emperor is only waiting for you to gather up the palace treasury. The people in Jiangnan will gradually be at peace, and the national treasury will have enough silver and grain. He will probably send out troops again."
"It depends on the scope," Fan Xian said. "The key is the level of the war. If it is still a small skirmish like last year, there is no need to worry too much."
"Worry?" Lin Wan'er smiled. "This matter is naturally for the Emperor and the Bureau of Military Affairs to worry about. You, you are going to be sent out to Jiangnan, so don't worry. Even if the Overwatch Council wants to participate in the war, it is the Third Bureau's business."
Fan Xian smiled and didn't explain anything. If the Qing Emperor was truly preparing to start the Second World War, he would have to go and dispel his thoughts. If intelligence did not work, then he would try violence.
Lin Wan'er didn't know he was thinking of such treasonous things and said to herself, "Logically speaking, the Crown Prince should be the one to take over the throne. As you know, the Emperor has never liked the empress, so there are variables in this matter. Other than the Great Prince, everyone else has a chance, even if the Third Prince is only eight or nine years old … although everyone in court knows that your trip to Jiangnan is a disguised exile, for the Emperor to have you bring the Third Prince … this matter is a bit strange. You have to look into it."
Fan Xian nodded and still didn't say anything. Very calmly, he listened to his wife's words. He knew that he was about to leave the capital and Wan'er was worried, which was why she had made an exception to say so many things.
"There seems to be no difference whether the empress dowager likes the Crown Prince or the Second Prince. She dislikes the Great Prince the most, and she also dislikes the Third Prince. " Lin Wan'er lightly spoke of the secrets of the Palace. "Although the empress does not have any real power, she has always been on good terms with mother."
Fan Xian listened attentively to the politics of the Qing Kingdom's harem and interjected, "Why doesn't she like the Third Prince?"
Lin Wan'er glanced out the window and hesitantly said, "Probably because of the relationship with the master … you also know that Yi Guipin has a close relationship with our family."
"Wan'er, in your opinion, what should I do this time when I go to Jiangnan?" Fan Xian asked very seriously.
Lin Wan'er very straightforwardly said, "Strictly control the Third Prince and maintain a distance. A teacher is a teacher. You can't let the empress dowager think that you are purposely trying to instill something into him … in addition, you have to investigate the case quickly and can't drag it out. If it drags out for too long, your days won't be easy … mother does not only have the Second Prince and the Imperial Censorate in court."
Fan Xian was startled.
Lin Wan'er's heart struggled for a long time before she quietly said, "Perhaps everyone thinks that she was on good terms with the Eastern Palace in the past only to hide the Second Prince's smoke bomb, but you have to be on guard. Perhaps one day, the Crown Prince will lean toward her side again."
After a moment of silence, Fan Xian became gloomy. The ways of the world made his own wife sink into such a pitiful situation. He knew that the Eastern Palace would not watch him grow up. This had to do with the hatred of the past. However, he had not thought that the Eldest Princess would be so good at dancing and acting like a two-timing ace.
Thinking of that amusing mother-in-law, Fan Xian couldn't help but smile.
— — —
On the first day of the New Year, ancestors were worshipped.
On the second day, a large group of officials from the capital swarmed to the door to give New Year greetings.
On the third day, the entire Fan manor escaped and hid in King Jing's manor for a gathering. Fan Xian and Crown Prince Hongcheng awkwardly met to reminisce.
On the fourth day, Ren Shao'an and Xin Qiwu jointly invited Fan Xian to a day of feasting as a farewell.
On the fifth day, the Yan father and son went to the Fan manor. After Yan Ruohai had resigned, he was quite fond of Go and played with the Minister until the sky darkened. Fan Xian and Yan Bingyun talked in secret in the little study until the sky darkened.
On the sixth day, they visited Chen Garden.
On the seventh day, tens of thousands of people went out in Jingdou. Chickens did not crow, dogs did not bite, and 18-year-old girls ran through the streets. Fan Xian took his wife, sister, Rou Jia, and Ye Ling'er, the four young ladies, and ran amok in the capital.
On the eighth day, at noon, the Duke's manor invited them. At dusk, the Fan clan gathered. Fan Xian became the focus of the banquet.
…
…
After the 15th day of the first month, Fan Xian left the capital. A group of people came to the dock south of Jingdou. This river was called the Wei River. The Liujing River flowed into it. A few hundred li south of the Wei River would merge into the Great River. Following the river, they would arrive in Jiangnan, which was even more prosperous than Jingdou.
Fan Xian followed the plan he had discussed with the Emperor. To the outside world, he only said he was going back to Danzhou to see his grandmother and then he would go to Jiangnan. To outsiders, this trip and return meant that he would not arrive in Suzhou until at least March. No one thought he would arrive earlier.
Leaving the capital today, Fan Xian did not have anyone send him off, including the officials he was familiar with in the Council and the officials in court. He had not expected that the students of the Imperial College would know the news ahead of time and all come to the dock.
Fan Xian had not held a position in the Imperial College for long, but he had always been very amiable. Last year, during the spring examinations, he had spent a large amount of silver to arrange for countless poor students. He had also uncovered the cheating case of the spring examinations and opened the eyes of the scholars under heaven. As for the poetry talks in front of the palace and the gifts of books by people, all of this added together to make his position in the hearts of the scholars high and not far off. His reputation was excellent.
After he entered the Overwatch Council as Commissioner, he had dealt with a number of bribery cases. While he was rectifying, he had played some small tricks in the light. Thus, the darkness of the Overwatch Council did not cause his brilliance to be greatly diminished.
As for the later case of his past, it was strange. In reality, scholars often considered themselves to be virtuous and did not take pride in their family background. When they learned that the leader of their group, that poet Sir Fan junior, actually had such a glorious and splendid background, the scholars did not feel the slightest bit of conflict in their hearts. On the contrary, they felt an unbearably sour and proud feeling.
So what if he was an official? So what if he was a merchant? The leader of us scholars … is also a prince!
On the pier, whether it was the instructors or the students of the Imperial College, when faced with this scene of parting, they all felt a sense of regret. For a moment, the pier was a boiling cauldron of voices. It was very lively. In the end, Fan Xian drank three cups of wine in a row before he finally returned the favor of the scholars. The scene was very lively and glorious. Presumably, it would not be long before the news spread throughout the court.
With great difficulty, he managed to persuade the crowd to leave. Fan Xian gently held Wan'er's hands and carefully warned her countless times. He also said that he would send someone to pick her up when spring warmed up. Only then did Wan'er's tears stop. Wan'er watched the distant scholars leave. She suddenly laughed and teased, "Did you tell them?"
Fan Xian's cheeks reddened a little. He explained, "I was fulfilling their beautiful wishes."
He turned his head to look and saw his sister hiding behind the family's servant girls. Her head was bowed and she did not speak. She did not want to come forward. It was clear that she was secretly crying. Seeing the girl's cowering appearance, Fan Xian did not know why his anger rose for no reason. He pushed aside the people who were sending them off and came in front of Ruoruo. He shouted, "What are you crying for?"
Ruoruo did not expect her brother to come directly in front of her. She jumped in fright and quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. She stuttered, "No … no … nothing."
She suddenly thought that it had already been more than ten years. Her brother had never been so fierce to her. How could he be so fierce today? After all, he was not her biological brother. He was not as gentle to her as he had been in the past. Thinking of this, she, who was as elegant as a chrysanthemum, could not help but feel sad. Tears flowed from her eyes, but she stubbornly bit her lower lip. She felt an indescribable sense of tragedy.
Seeing his sister like this, Fan Xian was so angry that he laughed. He gritted his teeth and did not know what to do. The servants beside him also quickly moved out of the way. They did not dare to stay next to these two masters of the Fan manor. Fortunately, Wan'er came over at this time. She hugged Ruoruo and quietly comforted her. She also said that Fan Xian was in a bad mood after leaving the capital, which was why he was so fierce. Only then did Ruoruo gradually calm down.
Fan Xian was fierce because he could not bear to see his sister sad and purposely avoid him. The anger he had suppressed for the past ten days was very strong. Seeing his sister looking at him with lingering fear, he sighed in his heart. Softening his voice, he said, "It is natural for me to be fierce to you. I am your brother, and you are my sister. If I am not fierce to you, you should be sad."
Ruoruo was also an exceptionally intelligent person. Hearing this, she understood the so-called close and distant relationship. If her brother did not see her as his own sister, why would he be fierce to her in front of so many people? The girl thought this through, and a glimmer of happiness appeared on her face. She said to Fan Xian, "Then … then … then seeing your brother go on a long journey, it is inevitable that you will be sad. Why are you so fierce?"
She raised her head and spoke boldly.
"Hahahaha." Fan Xian finally laughed. He knew that the knot in his sister's heart had been resolved, and his heart was full of comfort.
...
...
"Master! If we don't leave now, we will miss the time! "
On the large ship beside the dock, the servant girl Sisi stood with her hands on her hips and shouted loudly at the head of the ship. Fan Xian was going to Jiangnan, so he always had a few close attendants at his side. Sisi had followed him since Danzhou, so she was the first choice. Once this girl left the Fan manor, she returned to the time in Danzhou. Her entire person seemed to brighten.
Wan'er watched her shout loudly and couldn't help but smile. "Husband, you really spoil this girl rotten."
Fan Xian laughed and quietly reminded his sister of some important matters that were about to reach Jingdou. He then, in a shocking manner, pulled Wan'er into his arms and fiercely kissed her a few times. Only then did he wave his sleeve and board the large ship by the river.
As the saying goes, I wave my sleeve and take away all the silver.
… …
Sir Fan junior's departure from the capital had long become the topic of conversation for everyone in Jingdou. Regardless of whether it was in the taverns, tea houses, or deep mansions, they were all discussing this matter.
The Second Prince, who was under house arrest in his manor, listened to the report of his subordinate strategist and sighed. "That bastard has finally left."
The strategist had no plans and said hatefully, "It's a good thing he left quickly. Otherwise, I would have skinned him to help Your Highness vent your anger."
The Second Prince was squatting on a chair, scooping out frozen milk soup to eat. Hearing this, he furrowed his brows and didn't speak for a long time. He smiled self-mockingly and faintly said, "No wonder people always say that I am similar to Commissioner Fan … so there is such a story behind it … however, the resemblance is one thing. I am not a match for him. You all have to be clear on this point."
He jumped off the chair and looked at the free sky outside the courtyard. A sweet smile rose to his face. "That bastard has finally left … it feels so good, like someone has taken away the poisonous snake behind me."
300 li outside Jingdou, an absurdly long group was slowly moving west. The woman from Xinyang's Li Palace was walking on her way back to the capital. She didn't know that her son-in-law had also chosen to escape Jingdou on this day. Toward her kind expression and attempt to negotiate peace, the other party's reaction was to avoid it.
Inside the solemn Temple of Qing three li away, there was an extremely desolate yard. In the middle of the yard, there was a tall pile of dry firewood burning fiercely. The fire was so strong that it made the things inside crackle.
The Emperor held his hands behind his back and looked coldly at the pile of firewood. He looked at the body inside that was gradually turning into black smoke. Behind him, the Great Priest of the Qing Kingdom maintained the calm of an Ascetic Monk, but fear rose in his eyes.
Outside the Qing Temple, the eunuch Hong Zhu was chatting with the guards. Tomorrow, he would be transferred to the empress's palace as the head eunuch. Today should be the last time he would serve the Emperor.
…
…
A few days later, on the Wei River, Fan Xian stood at the bow of the boat and was silent for a long time. The chilly river surface hit him in the face, but it could not blow into the expensive fur clothing he wore.
He had already left the capital, but the reports were still coming in. The Eldest Princess had sent many scouts into the capital, and had the old servant bring many of the specialties of Xinyang to Fan Manor. Nominally, they were for Wan'er. It seemed that his mother-in-law had finally acknowledged Fan Xian's power after her failed attempts at assassination had been futile. She had begun to repair the relationship between mother and daughter.
This was only a minor detail and did not fall within the scope of the world that Chen Pingping had taught him.
What truly interested Fan Xian was the news that the Great Priest of the Qing Kingdom had returned to the country after many years. Because of his bitter training in the south, he had used up all of his essence and blood and died of old age. At the same time, he found out that Hong Zhu had been transferred to the empress's palace as the head eunuch. He was somewhat disappointed but also somewhat happy.
His student, Shi Chanli, used his hand to shield his eyes from the harsh river wind. He came to his side and asked, "Teacher, earlier the captain on the boat said that based on our current speed, we can pass Yingzhou tomorrow. In a few days, we will enter the territory of Jiangnan Road."
The Jiangnan group changed boats at a secret dock in the Overwatch Council not far from the capital. The boat they were on was a common navy boat modified into a civilian boat.
Facing the river wind, it was as if they could faintly see the picturesque lakes and mountains of Jiangnan. Fan Xian was slightly startled. He nodded and smiled. "Little Shi, although the beauties of Jiangnan are waiting for your attention, there is no need to rush."
Shi Chanli's expression became awkward. Baoyue Brothel's business was going to expand to Jiangnan, so both he and Sang Wen had to go. Sang Wen could drag it out until March, but as Fan Xian's student, he did not dare to drag it out. He thought of his good friends and classmates from Tongfu Tavern. They were all now officials in Jiangnan, while he was going to become a world-famous brothel owner. He did not feel good in his heart.
Traveling on the river in the cold and frozen weather was indeed a bit irritating. Sang Wen had the good fortune of being kept by Director Chen, but the other person's luck was not so good. He had been forcefully ordered out of the palace by his own father and did not have to wait until the warm spring flowers bloomed.
The Third Prince timidly lifted the thick curtain of the boat and looked at Fan Xian. "Sir Siye, time to eat." The reason Fan Xian had the right to educate the prince was because he still had the status of Siye of the Imperial College, so the Third Prince called him that.
Fan Xian turned his head and looked at the eight or nine-year-old child. His smile carried a sinister coldness. "Has Your Highness finished your homework?"
(I still have to dig into the details of the Jiangnan trip, so tomorrow this chapter will be shorter.)
(To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please go to WWW. CMFU. COM. There are more chapters. Support the author. Support the original reading!)
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