Ever since he was in Suzhou, Fan Xian had been looking forward to the trip to Wuzhou. He knew that although the old Prime Minister in front of him had been quiet this year as if he had disappeared from the world, that was only an attitude he purposely put on to prevent the Emperor from being wary.
Of course, when the false became the true, the true became false. After putting on this attitude for a long time, this feeling would often seep into the bones. Fan Xian admired his father-in-law's courage to give up and gain.
He could not stay in court for long, so he left lightly. There was no need to discuss any conditions in detail. In any case, he had left behind a tail like Fan Xian in the capital and given the Emperor enough face. Naturally, the court would give the honorably retired former Prime Minister some face.
This kind of political wisdom made Fan Xian trust his father-in-law's judgment. Although he felt a chill and a faint excitement after hearing these words, he sank into deep thought most of the time, preparing to deal with the storm that was about to arrive.
The storm was difficult to calm. Although he had a hand in stirring up the waves, it seemed that Fan Xian had thought too little of the influence of this matter.
He understood the Eldest Princess' thoughts but was unable to immediately grasp the Emperor's thoughts. In the end, Fan Xian still had his own advantages.
For him, the person who knew most of the secrets in this world was that old cripple. The person who knew some of the secrets was his father. The person who knew some of the secrets was his father-in-law.
These three people were the three most capable subordinates of the Qing Emperor in the five years after the new policies of the Qing calendar, the three capable officials of the Qing court. Fan Xian remembered clearly that before he came to Jingdou from Danzhou, his father and Chen Pingping were like strangers. They had basically never spoken. Prime Minister Lin and Chen Pingping were the two biggest opposites in court.
Accurately speaking, it was never possible for this triangle to communicate with each other.
All of this, following Fan Xian's arrival in the capital and his marriage to Wan 'er, became a posture in the pile of old papers. At that time, other than the Qing Emperor, there was another lucky person like Fan Xian who could gather the resources of the three elders and share information from all three sides.
For Fan Xian, the present him could see even more clearly than these three elders. However, this kind of luck, or perhaps strength, could not be placed on an official. Thus, no matter what, one person in this triangle had to step down.
Prime Minister Lin Ruofu became the first sacrifice because he and the Emperor were not childhood friends.
Occasionally, Fan Xian would ask himself, and only then did he realize that his coming out of retirement had indeed brought great harm to the Lin clan. Of course, it was impossible for the Emperor to stop here. Thus, at the end of spring, the Jingdou court conference investigated the Ministry of Revenue.
Fan Xian woke from his thoughts and couldn't resist shaking his head. There were clearly still so many problems in the court, yet the Emperor had rushed to kill the dog first. However, the prey had not been killed yet. What was going on? Where did the Emperor's confidence come from?
"I won't ask about Jiangnan." Lin Ruofu interrupted his thoughts and slowly said, "I believe in your ability. Although, on the surface, this trip to Jiangnan seems a bit overboard, presumably you have a backup plan … only, you have to return to the capital to report on your work at the end of the year. It's good to make some preparations, especially since you don't know when those people will make their move."
Fan Xian thought for a bit and couldn't resist smiling. "Don't worry, it'll be fine."
Lin Ruofu also couldn't resist smiling. He looked with approval at the son-in-law in front of him. Looking at the steadiness and confidence that rose to the young man's face, he asked curiously, "The Emperor's confidence has past history to prove it. As for you, this confidence without a head or tail, where does it come from?"
Fan Xian thought for a bit and replied with a smile, "I believe that my luck is the best in this world."
Lin Ruofu was speechless and shook his head helplessly. A moment later, he said evenly, "What do you think of Yuan Hongdao?"
Fan Xian was slightly startled. He knew that Yuan Hongdao was once a guest of the Prime Minister's manor and a good friend of Lin Ruofu's for decades. However, it seemed that after the matter of Prime Minister Lin stepping down, this person called Yuan Hongdao played a dishonorable role. Now, this person had already become the foremost strategist in Xinyang. Without question, he had sold out his friend for glory.
Fan Xian didn't understand why his father-in-law would suddenly mention this person. He furrowed his brows and thought about how his father-in-law didn't seem to think of a way to kill this person for revenge. He felt it was strange.
"Yuan Hongdao is a very powerful person and a very free and easy person," Lin Ruofu smiled slightly. "I still don't understand why he would sell me out."
"Is he not one of the Eldest Princess' people?"
"Does Yunrui … have this ability?" Lin Ruofu sighed. "I'm not sure either. It has already been a year since the matter happened. My hatred toward Hongdao has gradually lessened, so I still don't understand the true background of this matter."
"Ask him for me," Lin Ruofu said with a glimmer of coldness. "… why?"
Fan Xian nodded his head solemnly. He thought to himself that this greeting would either be with a sword or a crossbow.
Lin Ruofu looked at his expression and shook his head. "In the future, if Jingdou is truly in chaos, perhaps he can help you."
Fan Xian was slightly startled. He didn't understand the meaning of these words.
Lin Ruofu sank into deep thought. He was also thinking about this question.
Perhaps the old cripple in the garden outside Jingdou was feeling proud.
— — — —
Fan Xian and his group stayed in Wuzhou for a few more days. When he had some free time, he would ask his father-in-law in the study. For one, he wanted to know some of the old matters of the past. For another, he wanted to learn from him the tricks of court politics. Although he had lived two lives and had an innate advantage and rich life experience, in these areas, it was clear that there was an eternal traitor at his side. Naturally, he would not let it go.
In the past, when he had gone to Northern Qi as a diplomatic envoy, in the carriage, Fan Xian had also learned from Sir Xiao En. This was Fan Xian's greatest strength. He could guarantee that he would meditate and train hard at two in the morning and would also seize every opportunity to learn life-saving skills. This kind of perseverance and determination was actually not in line with the laziness he displayed.
In the conversations these days, Fan Xian had focused on studying the important points of the court, particularly the military, which he was most unfamiliar with. The Qin family and the Ye family, who had performed meritorious deeds since the founding of the country, increased his perceptual understanding. Fan Xian found it increasingly strange. For a family as loyal as the Ye family, how could they have anything to do with the Eldest Princess?
But, this question could only be buried in the depths of his heart.
As for the Jiangnan matter, although Lin Ruofu didn't want to care, he still wrote a letter to the Jiangnan governor, Xue Qing. As for the contents of the letter, Fan Xian was too lazy to care. Whether or not the governor would give the former Prime Minister face was another matter. What was important was that his father-in-law had analyzed Xue Qing's personality for him.
Xue Qing was a close official of the Emperor. He was a person who liked to perform meritorious deeds, and his thoughts were meticulous.
This judgment made Fan Xian make up his mind. For this kind of official, the greatest hope was to become a famous official. Naturally, he would not step out and do those dirty things himself. In the future, he would use thunderous methods. As long as Xue Qing could stay out of it and give him a large amount of fame afterward, he would cooperate in secret.
The palace treasury's smuggling was still going on. The investigation on the sea route was still going on. The exploitation and weakening of the Ming family did not stop for a day. According to the news from Suzhou, Ming Qing was playing both sides but was unable to truly maintain contact with Taiping money house. Without any other choice, he began to increase the amount of silver transferred from Zhaoshang money house.
Very good.
Fan Xian thought to himself that as long as they passed that critical point, it would be time for the Ming family to be destroyed.
…
…
Outside Wuzhou were all green mountains, so they blocked most of the blazing sunlight from the south. Additionally, the mountain wind was light and quiet, slightly brushing away the summer heat. It was truly the best place to pass the summer heat.
Fan Xian and his group lived comfortably in Wuzhou. When they were far away from political matters, he would follow Wan'er and Da Bao to wander around the surrounding mountains, hunt some game, find some small streams, roast frogs, and tell Wan'er stories about Linghu Guazi.
There were also times when they spent the night in the mountains. At that time, the sky was filled with stars and was too beautiful to behold. The Magpie Bridge gradually closed, and the Milky Way went with the wind. Fan Xian held his wife in his arms and quietly teased her. In a loud voice, he looked at the stars at night. He didn't know whether the world would separate or unite. He only knew that the time of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl's year and day was coming.
Far away from the troubles of the secular world, he was very happy.
With great tacit understanding, the two of them did not bring up the matters of Suzhou, Jingdou, or any other place. They did not bring up Haitang, the Eldest Princess, or the Emperor. They only occasionally talked about Ruoruo, who was currently cultivating in Northern Qi, the game prepared by the Teng family in the Fan manor outside Jingdou, and the delicious drumsticks from Dezhou …
Heading west, the two of them pointed out mountains and asked about mountains. When they came across water, they went in. When they came across a deer, they took pity on it. When they came across a lone wolf, they were fierce. They walked by a stream beside a forest and lingered in the clouds by the cliff. This was a rare moment of quiet interaction after marriage. It was as if everything beside them no longer existed. There was only Fan Xian and Lin Wan'er.
Wrong, there was still Da Bao.
However, Da Bao's loveliness was that he was often quiet.
This kind of life could not continue forever. If Fan Xian wanted to keep this kind of life, he had to leave the mountains again and walk into the world of mortals.
…
…
"Da Bao is going to follow us?" Fan Xian opened his eyes and asked curiously. "Isn't it to send him to father-in-law's side to keep him company?"
Lin Ruofu lived alone in Wuzhou. Although there were countless disciples in the clan, there were not many who truly cared for him by his side. Wan'er was going to follow Fan Xian. If Da Bao also went with them, who would keep the old former Prime Minister company?
Without a child, it was like having no children. Fan Xian could understand this kind of loneliness.
"Father insists," Lin Wan'er said quietly. Wan'er said quietly. After these days of careful nursing by Fan Xian, in addition to playing in the mountains, Wan'er's body had indeed recovered for a long time. There was a healthy flush on her slightly moist cheeks, and the eyelashes on her large eyes fluttered slightly.
Fan Xian smiled and gazed at her. Gently holding her hand, he said, "Both are fine."
A number of days later, the completely black group of carriages left Wuzhou and slowly headed east. Along the way, they passed a number of small cities and large mountains before coming to a fork in the road.
They had already entered the territory of Dongshan Road. This fork in the road led to the two provincial cities under Dongshan Road.
To the east was Danzhou. To the north was Jiaozhou.
"Go to Danzhou and wait for me. I'm going to Jiaozhou to take care of some things." Fan Xian stood on the carriage and said evenly to Wan'er in the carriage. "At most, I'll be 10 days late."
Of course, Wan'er knew what he was going to do in Jiaozhou. She sighed in her heart, but she knew that with the Emperor's orders, Fan Xian could not refuse. She could only pile a warm smile on her face that reassured both of them. Sticking out her tongue, she said, "Don't go pick up flowers and grass."
Fan Xian smiled embarrassedly and bowed to the ground. "Don't worry, wife. I won't go pick flowers on the side of the road anymore."
Da Bao, sitting by Wan'er's side, had been sitting with a wooden expression the entire time. Hearing these words, he suddenly interrupted, "There are flowers in the garden."
Fan Xian was slightly angry. Wan'er was slightly hateful. Da Bao didn't know what had happened. The three of them parted for now.
…
…
Turning from the fork in the road, they had traveled less than three li when Fan Xian crawled out of the carriage. Stretching, he asked the subordinate beside him, "Are you ready?"
"Everything is ready, Commissioner."
On the side of the mountain forest in the distance, one could faintly see a group of grave and stern black riders carrying a cold murderous aura waiting there.
…
…
(Can't write more. Rest first.)
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