"Reconsider what?"
The Qing Emperor raised his heavy eyelids. Recently, the signs of a snowstorm in the South had gradually appeared. There were more memorials from various provinces than the snowflakes floating down from the sky. If they didn't stretch out their hands to ask the court for silver, they wanted to recruit men, or they repeatedly complained that taxes were going to be reduced next year.
If it was reduced, then so be it. That person was right. If they relied on digging for silver from the ground, even if they scraped three feet of the ground, they wouldn't be able to get many silver shavings. For something like silver, they still had to rely on selling things. An Zhi had earned so much silver for the court in Jiangnan, so the court was not in a rush for the rice stalk money from each county.
However, Xue Qing had sent an urgent message from Hangzhou. Was the snow in Jiangnan this heavy?
The Emperor furrowed his brows. In the autumn of the year before last, there had been a great flood. Who knew how many of his people had drowned and how many of their houses and fields had been destroyed? With great difficulty, it had taken more than a year for the Imperial Court to recover and accumulate some strength. Who would have thought that there would suddenly be another great snowfall?
The heavens truly did not give him, the Emperor, any face.
However, he heard that the Hangzhou Conference in Jiangnan seemed to have anticipated the winter snowstorm and made a great deal of preparations. After all, it was an organization of the people. When it came to disaster relief, they moved faster than the government. Every time this matter was brought up, his mother in the Palace also had a smile on her face. She was a merciful person and could not bear to see the wretched sight of the people. No matter what, the Hangzhou Conference was something the nobles in the Palace had pooled together money to put together. The women in the Palace all felt proud.
The Emperor couldn't resist smiling. Why did Chen girl put so much effort into this matter? It looked like she had indeed been stifled in the Palace. She had probably been led astray by her husband. She was a princess, yet she spent so much effort on these matters.
He abruptly woke up with a start. Only now did he realize that his mind had wandered. Even if it was something he was thinking about, it had something to do with that young man. After a slight pause, he smiled and repeated his question.
"Reconsider what?"
…
…
The person kneeling in the hall was Shu the Scholar of the Hall of Governmental Affairs. This scholar was old and had always received the Emperor's respect. Furthermore, he had always walked in court as an outspoken official. Thus, when they were discussing the investigation of the assassination of the imperial envoy, only this scholar dared to stand out and refute the Emperor's opinion.
However, the officials all thought that the Emperor must be angry right now, so they were a bit timid. Even Shu the Scholar, who dared to speak frankly, did not bow like he usually did. Instead, he knelt.
But he didn't think that His Majesty, who was sitting on the dragon throne, didn't hear what he said clearly and seemed to be distracted!
The glimmer of a smile at the corners of the Emperor's lips while he was lost in thought also fell into the eyes of the officials. The officials muttered in their hearts, wondering what the Emperor was thinking about to make him so happy. Could it be that he was not as furious as the officials thought he was?
Impossible, the officials shook their heads in their hearts. Everyone knew that the Emperor favored this illegitimate child the most. Thus, in the hearts of these officials, who thought that they were naturally astute, this smile gained an additional mysterious and unfathomable meaning. Everyone's hearts trembled.
"Please reconsider, Your Majesty. Although the city-guarding crossbow belongs to Dingzhou, this clue is a bit too …" Shu Wu thought for a moment and didn't know what words to use. "It is too obvious. I keep feeling that a true traitor is purposely framing us. Please reconsider and take back the earlier edict."
The Emperor smiled. Only now did he understand what Shu Wu was afraid of. Waving his hand, he said, "Stand up and reply. You are already so old. Don't easily learn from others and kneel to admonish."
These words appeared very gentle, but the Emperor's gentleness revealed a sense of confidence and stability. It was as if he didn't care about this matter at all. The officials had been worried about the Emperor's control over the court earlier. Looking at this scene, they couldn't help but be speechless and blame themselves. How could they have been so muddle-headed? Who was the person on the dragon throne? He was the most valiant monarch since the founding of the Qing Kingdom.
"Of course, I am not having Ye Zhong return to the capital for something as simple as debriefing." The Emperor smiled slightly and gently stroked the short beard on his chin. "Since the assassination of the imperial envoy has implicated him, of course, he has to explain. The Ye family has guarded the country's borders for generations and has performed meritorious deeds under heaven. Of course, I will not doubt it. However, there has to be a decision in this matter and a clear explanation."
Shu Wu wiped the sweat from his forehead and climbed up from the ground with some difficulty. With Hu the Scholar's support, he returned to the ranks. When he had first heard the Emperor order Ye Zhong to return to the capital, he had thought that the Emperor, in his anger, was going to directly throw Ye Zhong into prison to seek justice for his illegitimate child. Thus, in his fear, he had stepped out to admonish. Now that he heard this was not the case, he felt at ease.
Although he was a civil official, he had been in court for a long time. He understood what the military meant to a country that had not even been founded for a century. Thus, he was very afraid that the Emperor would wantonly humiliate and harass the military because of the assassination in the valley and shake the foundation of the court.
Shu the Scholar's heart was for the Qing Kingdom, so he was at ease. However, the Emperor's words fell into the ears of the other officials and had a different meaning.
"Why is the Emperor suddenly so gentle toward the Ye family?"
It was because the Emperor had not been gentle toward the Ye family in the past two years that the Emperor had suddenly become gentle. For a moment, countless officials could not wrap their heads around it.
However, the so-called might of an Emperor was something the officials could not wrap their heads around. They still had to wrap their heads around. Thus, they all prostrated themselves on the ground and praised the Emperor's wisdom and magnanimity.
…
…
The Emperor actually did not think too much about it. He was also not as angry as the officials imagined. As an Emperor, he had to maintain a necessary sense of mystery and eternal calm to show that he was as unmoving as a mountain and that the world was in his hands. Furthermore, Fan Xian had not died.
If Fan Xian had been killed in the valley, for the Qing Emperor, it would be a criminal case.
Since Fan Xian had not been killed, the criminal case had become a political matter.
However, when great or muddle-headed politicians handled political matters, they all had a common trait. They were not in a hurry. The former were not in a hurry because they had a well-thought-out plan. The latter were not in a hurry because they didn't know how to act.
The Emperor was the former. However, he had an additional identity, so he still had an uncontrollable anger toward Fan Xian's assassination. As a father, what he wanted to do the most was to bring Fan Xian into the Palace to see how his injuries were. However, this time, it was not an assassination in the Hanging Temple. He could not find any reason to bring Fan Xian into the Palace.
Later, he heard reports that Fan Xian had not been recovering in the manor for long before leaving the city for Chen Garden. The Emperor knew that Fan Xian's injuries were not serious and relaxed.
Do not forget, even if the Qing Emperor was the coldest and most emotionless person in the world, no matter how much of a bastard he was, he was still a bastard's father.
…
…
Just as Chen Pingping and Fan Xian did their best to guess and test, the Emperor always had a confidence that was difficult for the common people to reach, as well as a great ambition that had been hidden under his calm expression for a dozen years.
As for the military's assassination this time, the Emperor was shocked. Furthermore, even now, he was unable to completely find out which family had acted. He only had a faint guess, but he was not very worried.
On the contrary, he welcomed the fact that someone had begun to challenge his authority, and cleverly guided the situation in the direction he needed.
Everything in his own country had long ceased to arouse his interest. No matter how stable he ruled the Qing Kingdom's territory, for him, who longed to leave his name in the annals of history, it was already meaningless, especially one with the most ink stains.
He waited for that day with incomparable longing. He forcefully suppressed his excitement as he waited for the arrival of that day.
"Your Majesty." A eunuch knelt outside the doorsill of the royal study and respectfully said to the Emperor wearing a large brocade robe on the couch, "I've checked with the Council. In the days before Sir Fan junior returned to the capital, all the manors were quiet."
"Hmm." The Emperor nodded his head to indicate that he understood. "Has news from Cangzhou come back?"
The eunuch's buttocks rose a little higher. In a gentle voice, he said, "Governor Yan left the camp to return to the capital. There was nothing strange along the way."
The Emperor waved his hand and had the head eunuch retreat. The head eunuch didn't say more. However, his hand on the ground trembled slightly. He thought, There is still news from Dingzhou that hasn't been reported back. Why hasn't the Emperor returned? Has he already predicted … or is he preparing to blame it on the Ye family?
"What do you think?" The Emperor casually picked up a book from the side of the couch and flipped through it.
The old Eunuch Hong slowly walked out. He bowed slightly to the Emperor's side and slowly said, "How could I have any opinions?"
The Emperor smiled and said, "Everyone has their own opinion."
Eunuch Hong gently coughed. After a moment of silence, he said, "I think that Sir Fan junior's assassination in the valley this time is truly strange. I keep feeling that it was arranged by someone. However, I cannot understand why someone with the power to arrange this would harm Sir Fan junior."
The Emperor threw the book in his hand to the side. After a moment of silence, he said, "Don't speak of this."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch Hong bowed. A moment later, he quietly said, "The empress dowager invites Your Majesty to sit in Hanguang Palace in a moment."
The Emperor smiled warmly and said, "Is there a need for you to say this?"
Eunuch Hong hesitated for a moment and then said, "There is news from outside the Palace that has entered the empress dowager's ears. She seems to be a bit depressed."
The Emperor furrowed his brows slightly and asked, "What news?"
"First, after that lawyer, Song Shiren, returned to the capital, his mouth has not shut. He is still discussing the Jiangnan Ming family lawsuit." Eunuch Hong carefully glanced at the Emperor's expression and asked, "The empress dowager does not like it."
The Emperor's expression was slightly icy. His finger unconsciously tapped on the wooden table. Song Shiren was the person who had helped Fan Xian with the lawsuit in Jiangnan. He had argued continuously in the Suzhou government for three months. What he had talked about was the issue of the eldest legitimate son's right to inheritance in Qing law. This lawyer had some reputation in the capital. Presumably, he was a clever person. How could he have spread this matter so widely after returning to the capital?
Thinking of this, the Emperor immediately understood that someone must have arranged it. The empress dowager must also know, which was why she was unhappy. After all, the empress dowager still loved her grandson, the Crown Prince.
"Have that lawyer shut his mouth," the Emperor said coldly. After pausing for a moment, he then coldly said, "But … don't make him disappear. He is Fan Xian's person. I have to give the child some face."
Eunuch Hong restrained his voice and quietly made a sound of acknowledgment. However, he did not leave immediately.
"What else is there?"
Eunuch Hong's withered expression did not change. In a quiet voice, he said, "The Palace heard … Sir Fan junior obtained a good sword in Jiangnan. It was sent by the head of the Overwatch Council stationed in Northern Qi, Wang Qinian."
The soft skin under the Emperor's left eye couldn't help but jump a few times. He forcefully suppressed a glimmer of annoyance in his heart and warmly said, "I understand."
…
…
Walking under the damp, vermillion and black Palace walls, passing by the winter and cold-resistant Golden Thread Willows in the garden, the lake in the Palace had already frozen over. The autumn grass did not have the honor of receiving the auspicious snow and had long been cleared away by the servants and eunuchs.
Along the way, a patch of cleanliness hid the desolation.
The Emperor walked in front with his hands behind his back through the spacious Palace. No one dared to come too close around him. Behind him, Eunuch Yao led a group of young eunuchs. Holding coats, warmers, and small hand stoves, he followed behind with small quick steps.
Before long, he came to a quiet little courtyard. There was a building in the courtyard, a small building.
It was the small building where the Emperor and Fan Xian had their first heart-to-heart talk.
The Emperor pushed open the door and entered. Casually brushing away a few snowflakes drifting down from the top of the door, he went straight up to the second floor.
Eunuch Yao took the items from the hands of the young eunuchs and gave a few reminders. He then also entered the little courtyard but did not go upstairs. He could only wait quietly downstairs. At the same time, he began to boil water and prepare tea.
The Emperor stood in the side room on the second floor. His eyes looked at the painting on the wall. He looked at the yellow-clothed woman in the painting gazing at the river bank. He did not speak for a long time. He was only silent.
Although his eyes were focused on her, his heart was thinking of something else.
Sword? Naturally, it was the sword of the Wei Emperor that Wang Qinian had bought from Northern Qi for a great deal of money to honor An Zhi. Lawyer? The Emperor smiled coldly. An Zhi had been killed and heavily injured, but those people were still unwilling to be quiet. His mother's attitude toward An Zhi was already calm. Without asking, he knew that these things were instigated by his good sister and the empress.
Half a year ago, Li Yunrui had arranged for someone to enter the Palace to tell the empress dowager about Dream of the Red Chamber. The Emperor knew what his sister was planning.
Today, the lawyer and the sword … naturally, she wanted to provoke his mother into anger. There were many rules in the royal family. An official secretly holding the sword of the former Wei Emperor was indeed inexcusable.
However, An Zhi was still injured, yet those people couldn't help but want to do something. This contrast made the Emperor faintly angry.
After a long time, a sigh broke the silence in the little building. The Emperor slowly turned and sat down in front of the painting. His left hand gently stroked an item on the table.
Under his slender and steady palm was that sword. The sword of the Wei Emperor that Wang Qinian had bought for a great deal of money and sent to Jiangnan.
…
…
A slight smile rose to the corners of the Emperor's lips. Presumably, those people did not know that the second day after Fan Xian woke up, he had asked someone to deliver this sword into the Palace and into the Emperor's hands. There was also a secret letter attached.
There was nothing special in the letter. There were no major complaints about the assassination. Instead, it was just sincere and respectful with an occasional hint of viciousness.
This glimmer of viciousness was well revealed. It was revealed very openly.
As a ruler, the Emperor valued the hearts of the people by his side the most, just as he had thought when he spoke with Chen Pingping that day. Honesty was one aspect of it. Before and after, Fan Xian appeared very honest, but the rest of his sons and officials … were not honest at all!
He sat like this under the painting, slightly tired and worried. The yellow-clothed woman in the painting was also slightly tired and worried. Just like this, one in the painting and one outside, the two of them rested at the same time.
After a long time, the usual unswerving and steady expression reappeared on the Emperor's face. Standing, he flipped his hand around the Emperor's sword Fan Xian had presented and walked downstairs.
Eunuch Yao carefully handed over a cup of tea.
The Emperor took a sip and handed over the sword. Calmly, he said, "Pass on my edict. The Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, Fan Xian, is loyal to the country and has deeply comforted my heart. He is specially bestowed with a treasured sword."
Eunuch Yao hurriedly accepted it.
In the end, the Emperor lightly said, "Summon Yan Bingyun, He Zongwei, and Qin Heng into the Palace."
He said the names of a dozen officials. These people all had one thing in common. They were all young. Eunuch Yao accepted the order and left the building. He sent out various eunuchs to various places to pass on the information. He then left the Palace himself. Escorted by guards, he arrived at the Fan manor. There was no need for incense or firecrackers. He entered the back garden and gave the sword wrapped in a yellow cloth to the young man.
Everything was normal. However, this matter was recorded. Presumably, everyone in Jingdou would know about it tomorrow.
Fan Xian held the sword in a daze, thinking, Why was the Emperor so polite?
The young officials who had rushed into the Palace were also wary and secretly guessing the Emperor's thoughts.
…
…
If you want to know what happened after, please log on to WWW. QIDIAN. com. There are more chapters. Support the author. Support the original reading!)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
