Presumably, the officials already knew what kind of person He Zongwei was. Although the old grudges between him and Fan Xian were already very distant, given Fan Xian's vengeful personality, how could he not imprint this person's name deeply in his heart?
"Greetings, Scholar."
"Greetings, little duke."
He Zongwei was neither servile nor overbearing. With great steadiness, he lowered his body and bowed. Hu the Scholar chuckled and said a few idle words. He raised his arms, indicating that he did not need to be so polite. Fan Xian only stood to the side and looked calmly at the young official. Countless scenes flashed through his mind.
At the beginning of the seventh year of the Qing calendar, the military ambushed Fan Xian in the valley, giving the Emperor a chance to change the court with new blood. There were seven young officials who entered the Palace that day. They were called the Seven Gentlemen by the people. Of the Seven Gentlemen, Qin Heng had participated in the rebellion and had already died. Yan Bingyun peacefully worked in the Overwatch Council and was only waiting to take over Fan Xian's position as Commissioner. He Zongwei was the most trusted of these new blood and had risen the fastest.
After the Jingdou rebellion, Fan Xian, the Great Prince, and Ye Zhong were the most meritorious. The problem was that these three were already at the top of the nobility. The Emperor could not give them titles or reward them. However, because of this matter, He Zongwei received the Emperor's favor and rose three ranks in a row. Like a rocket, he entered the center of the court's politics. This kind of promotion speed was truly unusual. Perhaps only Fan Xian, who had just entered Jingdou, could surpass him.
It was not just Fan Xian who knew. He Zongwei himself knew. In reality, everyone in court knew that this person's promotion and the Emperor's trust and delegation of power were just the Emperor's naturally created power to balance Fan Xian. This was not because the Emperor had any misgivings toward Fan Xian. For a powerful official like Fan Xian, if there was no one in court to keep him in check, there would always be problems.
Although He Zongwei had entered the Hall of Governmental Affairs, he still held the position of Imperial Censor of the Left and reported to the Emperor. The Imperial Censor's power grew greatly and put great pressure on the Overwatch Council's power. During these two years, the Overwatch Council and the Imperial Censor had fought countless cases. The situation between the two sides was very tense. It also kept the Eighth Bureau's law department headed by Song Shiren and Chen Bochang busy.
The Law Department was a new Overwatch Council yamen that Fan Xian had set up on a whim. It was to deal with the Imperial Censorate's most glib-tongued Imperial Censors.
From this, it could be seen that Fan Xian did not like He Zongwei. He had overthrown his father-in-law and opposed him at every turn. Most importantly, under his upright and serious face hid an opportunistic heart that he hated the most.
The name "slave of three surnames" had come from Fan Xian's study. The main door of the Imperial Censorate had been kicked down by Fan Xian. Everyone knew that Sir Fan junior despised He Zongwei.
Each time they met in court or in the yamen, He Zongwei still maintained absolute respect for Fan Xian. It was as if he didn't know about this matter. It was as if the two of them still felt the same way when they first met in Yishi Tavern.
As the saying goes, one does not hit a smiling person. As long as the other party did not touch his bottom line, Fan Xian would not humiliate him harshly. However, it was He Zongwei's smiling attitude that made him secretly wary. It was impossible for such a petty person, who could summon clouds and rain with a flip of his hand, to make him suffer in the open. But, who knew what he would do in secret.
He Zongwei seemed to see that Fan Xian did not want to talk to him. He smiled helplessly and bowed again to the two of them. He said a few more things in an even voice and then followed the red lantern back into the darkness below the palace walls.
Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and looked at the lantern until he could no longer see the person's face. Only then did he gently let out a breath. Hu the Scholar looked at him warmly from the side and said, "Sir He's royal favor is steady, but he is not someone without a sense of propriety. He is only handling the dispute between the two departments."
Hearing Hu the Scholar speak on He Zongwei's behalf, the corners of Fan Xian's lips twitched. He jokingly said, "If you had to marry your precious daughter to him, would you be willing?"
Hu the Scholar coughed repeatedly. He pointed at Fan Xian with both amusement and anger, unable to speak. No one knew when, but there was a trend for late marriages in Jingdou. Even if the Palace did not like it, it could not be changed. For example, the heir of King Jing and He Zongwei were both men of their own age, yet they were still alone and did not wish to marry.
"Speaking of that girl in my family …" Hu the Scholar suddenly smiled slightly. "An Zhi, I heard you have taken the young lady of Governor Wang's family as a student. Since it is so, you don't mind having another one in my family, do you?"
Fan Xian immediately remembered that he had taken Wang Tong 'er as a female student. This matter had already become reality after the dispute with the Emperor in the royal study. At that time, he had been pleased with himself and retreated in order to advance. He had had the Emperor give him the entire matter of the Great Prince taking a Secondary fei. Hearing Hu the Scholar's words, only now did he know that he had caused another problem.
He repeatedly waved his hand and said, "What are you saying? The Scholar is extremely knowledgeable, and your daughter is exceptionally intelligent. What need is there for a useless person like me to do?"
Seeing his straightforward refusal, Hu the Scholar smiled and thought, If you are useless, then who in the world isn't useless? He couldn't help but feel it was a pity.
All of the civil and military officials in court knew that Sir Fan junior was a master in the world. He had taught the stubborn and mischievous Third Prince to become the gentle gentleman he was now. He had taught the young lady of the Ye family, who had once dominated Jingdou, to become a gentle wangfei. He had the reputation of being an immortal poet and a ninth-level martial artist. Even Hu the Scholar was willing to send his daughter to his manor. Of course, it was not to be a concubine, just to be a female student.
Fan Xian turned the topic back to his earlier words and said with a smile, "You are not willing to marry your daughter to He Zongwei because you know his intentions are not righteous. Why should I feign civility with such a despicable person?"
Hu the Scholar sighed helplessly. He thought that in the present court, only Fan Xian would criticize He Zongwei so viciously. However, he still did not understand why Fan Xian looked down on He Zongwei so much. Speaking of the things that happened in the past, it was actually the Emperor who had single-handedly facilitated them.
In the end, this matter could not be explained. Fan Xian's fear and disgust toward He Zongwei came from many aspects. It was still early, and there was nothing to do, so Fan Xian and Hu the Scholar began to chat idly.
Ever since Shu Wu had retired, Fan Xian was surprised to find that Hu the Scholar was like old Shu. They were both interesting people and not at all inflexible. Additionally, during the Jingdou rebellion, Fan Xian had received a great deal of friendship from Shu and Hu the Scholars. The old and the young usually interacted on official matters and got along well. Their relationship had also grown closer.
Fan Xian gathered with the two of them and talked about Hu the Scholar's New Culture Movement. Although this matter ended without any problems, it was the proudest thing in Hu the Scholar's life. It was even more so than entering the Hall of Governmental Affairs. Fan Xian was also a disciple of the Headmaster who had been baptized by the May Fourth Movement. He spoke happily. His laughter pierced through the silence below the palace walls.
In the darkness below the palace doors, countless red lanterns were actually all looking up. Many people wanted to participate in the conversation between the head scholar of the Hall of Governmental Affairs and the Duke, but they knew they did not have the right. As for laughing while waiting for the court conference, only these two people had the courage.
A moment later, Fan Xian straightened his body and suddenly felt that the atmosphere around him was strange. His brows furrowed slightly and he sighed.
Hu the Scholar glanced at him and knew that he had understood something. He smiled slightly.
Fan Xian had never known that after the Emperor quelled the rebellion, there had been a moment when he had considered the question of having him succeed the throne. Although the Emperor had resolutely erased this thought from his mind afterward, he knew the Emperor's initial arrangements for the Qing Kingdom's court politics.
He knew the Emperor's initial arrangements for the Qing Kingdom's court politics. He used He Zongwei's Imperial Censorate to balance the Overwatch Council's power. Hu the Scholar then led the Hall of Governmental Affairs to stabilize the court.
Such an arrangement could ensure 20 years of peace in the Qing Kingdom.
However, Fan Xian's power was too great. Furthermore, he was on good terms with Hu the Scholar. The Emperor's arrangements could not be carried out. He could only raise He Zongwei into the Hall of Governmental Affairs.
"The Emperor's intentions are clear," Hu the Scholar said warmly. "He does not want the officials below him to be like fire and water. At first, Sir He came to pay his respects with the intention of easing things. An Zhi, you are a clever person. You should know what to do. "
Fan Xian fell silent. His handsome face appeared incomparably calm under the illumination of the lanterns. A year and a half ago, he had kicked open the Imperial Censorate's doors and cursed a dozen Imperial Censors under He Zongwei to the point of death. The world only knew that Sir Fan junior was incomparably arrogant. Little did they know that afterward, he had also been cursed by the Emperor until his face turned green and white in the royal study.
This matter proved the Emperor's protection of the Imperial Censorate and the price he was willing to pay in order to maintain this balanced situation. From that day on, Fan Xian knew what he should do. He had always done this. As long as He Zongwei did not go too far, he would not be ruthless. Other than establishing the law department and making the Imperial Censorate extremely uncomfortable, he had not used any truly powerful tactics.
All of this had to be built on the premise that Fan Xian could endure it. If He Zongwei did something he could not endure, given his blood connection to the Emperor and his present true power, even if he killed someone like He Zongwei with one strike, what could it do? Would the Emperor bear to have his illegitimate child pay with his life for an official?
Hu the Scholar looked at the darkness under the palace doors and faintly sighed. He felt worried for He Zongwei. He immediately thought of the Emperor's intentions the night before and involuntarily furrowed his brows. According to common sense, although He Zongwei could not be considered a pure and good person, the past matters were all the Emperor's edict. Thinking about it carefully, Sir He was actually not bad. If Sir Fan junior was willing, the Emperor's suggestion could actually pacify the dispute between the two Councils.
All of this would depend on whether or not Fan Xian was willing. Hu the Scholar turned his head and glanced deeply at Fan Xian.
Fan Xian was wondering if Hu the Scholar's words were a message the Emperor had asked him to pass on or the attitude of the Hall of Governmental Affairs. Immediately after, he furrowed his brows and thought that although He Zongwei was usually very respectful toward him, he had never been as docile and calm as he was today. He did not have any temper at all.
All of this actually stemmed from the excessive power in Fan Xian's hands. An illegitimate child of the royal family. The Overwatch Council was in his hands, and the palace treasury could not be separated from him. Such power was too exaggerated. Fan Xian thought of the Emperor's thoughts and couldn't help but feel angry. Was it also a sin that his good character and family background were good?
… …
After the court conference ended, there was a routine small conference. In the end, the Emperor, the Great Prince, the Third Prince, and Fan Xian had an even smaller private family conference. Fan Xian walked out of the tall palace walls and apologized to the housekeeper of the Hu manor, who had been waiting for him with a warm smile. He said that something urgent had suddenly happened in the manor and that the drinking would have to wait for another day.
Sitting in the carriage heading back to the manor, Teng Zijing found that the young master's mood seemed to be very good. His eyes were constantly smiling, and the corners of his lips were constantly curved like the moon. Thinking of the matter his wife had been rushing him about recently, he carefully asked, "Young master …"
Fan Xian turned his head and glanced at him, listening to his most loyal servant speak quietly. After listening for a while, he finally understood. The Teng family had seen that some of the people in the manor had used the Fan family's prestige to go out and become minor officials. His heart was also itching.
In the present Fan manor, all the miscellaneous matters were basically handed over to Teng Zijing and his wife. Having this thought was something Fan Xian had long expected. He looked at Teng Zijing and said with a slight smile, "Today is the ninth year of the Qing calendar. Since you are already five years late, there is no point in you going out."
Teng Zijing did not understand the young master's enigmatic words. He smiled awkwardly and kept his mouth shut.
Returning to the manor, Fan Xian lifted the lapel of his robe and entered with the wind. He still maintained the warm and friendly smile on his face. All of the servants and women looked at this scene and felt happy. Fan Xian was used to buying people's hearts. Furthermore, everyone in the manor was proud of him. Seeing the young master happy, these servants were also happy.
The third housekeeper followed Teng Zijing and Fan Xian into the garden. In a quiet voice, he said, "The young lady of the Wang family has come. I heard she wants to formally take him as a teacher. Looking at the young master's mood, it should be approved. What should we prepare?"
Teng Zijing's face didn't turn. Like Fan Xian, he smiled mysteriously and said, "The young lady of the Wang family … is in trouble today."
"Why?" the third housekeeper asked in surprise.
Teng Zijing's face darkened. "The young master's mood is terrible today … unprecedentedly terrible."
…
…
No wonder he was a clever person who had seen Fan Xian's glorious future in Danzhou. No wonder he was Fan Xian's trusted aide who had followed him the longest. The situation developed as Teng Zijing had expected. Not long after Fan Xian walked into the study with a smile, the unruly young lady of the Wang family ran out of the study crying.
Wang Tong 'er cried and cursed loudly. She looked wretched. No one knew what Fan Xian had done to her to anger people and gods. The young lady seemed to feel that the study was not a place for people to stay. She covered her face as she walked, tears dancing in the air.
Her tears had become a poem, and it was in the pear blossom pose.
Behind her, the commander of the Jingdou garrison, Shi Fei, who had specially taken time off to come, also walked out of the study angrily and headed out of the manor. He muttered to himself as if he hadn't expected Fan Xian to not even give him face.
Teng Zijing looked at the dumbfounded third housekeeper and said, "Don't ask me. I also don't know what happened in the Palace."
Waiting for the news, the women of the Fan manor hurried toward the study. Only on the way did they learn that in the study, Fan Xian had harshly taught Wang Tong 'er a good lesson. In the end, he was even going to use a whip.
Everyone was shocked. This time, they had offended the Yanjing faction of the military, particularly a major figure like the Commander of the Jingdou garrison. For the matter of Wang Tong 'er entering the manor, he had personally come. He had given Fan Xian enough face. Who would have thought that Fan Xian would not leave any face for the other party?
The smile on Fan Xian's face was strange. He gazed at Wan 'er, Sisi, and Princess Rou Jia in the study and said, "Nothing happened. This was agreed upon beforehand. Entering my door, you have to take two whips to make up for your past sins."
Lin Wan 'er sucked in a cold breath. She wondered if her husband had lost his mind today. The so-called return of the whip was just a joke. How could it become real?
Fan Xian withdrew his smile and quietly said, "It's not a joke. It's an ethical matter. Such things need to be respected."
"But, you still can't do it in front of General Shi." Lin Wan 'er glanced at him helplessly. She had cleverly guessed that something must have happened in the Palace for Fan Xian to vent his anger on Wang Tong' er's head.
There was only one person in the world who could make Fan Xian angry and make him unable to vent it outside the manor.
"These words were told to me by that good uncle of yours."
Lin Wan 'er was angry and said, "That's your father."
The husband and wife were talking about the Emperor. Although everyone knew Fan Xian was the Emperor's illegitimate child, no one dared to say this truth. Fan Xian and his wife had said it smoothly in bed, but there were other people in the study, particularly Princess Rou Jia.
Her face was full of awkwardness and she didn't know how to respond.
Lin Wan 'er sighed. She knew she had said something wrong. She went forward and quietly said, "What exactly did the Emperor say to make you so angry?"
Fan Xian sat down with a headache. Shaking his head with a pained smile, he said, "The Emperor wants to appoint a marriage for Ruoruo."
Rou Jia's eyes turned and she said with slight joy, "This is a good thing."
Fan Xian glanced at her and said, "You think it's still going to be appointed to your brother this time?" His expression darkened. "The Emperor asked me privately today. It looks like he wants to appoint Ruoruo to He Zongwei."
After these words were said, the entire room was shocked, silent, and tense.
…
…
Lin Wan 'er's heart was beating very fast. She was afraid that Fan Xian would do something in his anger. Her brows furrowed slightly and she rushed to say, "How can this be done?"
These words were not to touch Fan Xian's hair. Due to Fan Xian's influence, everyone in the Fan manor looked down on He Zongwei, particularly Lin Wan 'er. On one hand, she remembered the fall of her father in Wuzhou. On the other hand, she had learned from Fan Xian that He Zongwei had once had thoughts about Ruoruo.
Back then, He Zongwei had been a Jingdou talent. It was not wrong for young people to admire Ruoruo. However, Fan Xian felt incomparably disgusted. After the meeting in the royal study, the Emperor had spoken of his intention to appoint a marriage. Fan Xian had been angry on the spot and had a big argument with the Emperor. In the end, the Emperor had used the position of ruler and official and the relationship between father and son to forcefully suppress it.
"He Zongwei … his character is not very good." Rou Jia hoped that Fan Ruoruo could become her sister-in-law. No matter how one looked at it, she had to fight for her brother, Hongcheng.
Fan Xian listened to Rou Jia's soft voice and red-faced criticism and couldn't resist a laugh. His mood actually improved a lot.
"The Emperor would not think that Sir He's character is not good." Fan Xian's expression calmed. "In the Emperor's eyes, He Zongwei is a talented person. He is also a high official and noble. He is also loyal to the Emperor. Of course, he is a good match for Ruoruo."
Actually, if one cast aside their prejudices, many people would think that Sir He and Fan Ruoruo were a match made in heaven. Everyone knew that He Zongwei was only working for the Emperor and was a very loyal official.
However, there was one thing that Fan Xian still did not understand. When he was in Qingzhou thinking about the matter of the Great Prince taking a Secondary fei, he had thought that the Emperor trusted and favored him greatly. He also knew that he had beaten Hongcheng into a lewd person for Ruoruo's marriage, so he probably would not forcefully arrange a marriage to seduce him. However, the Emperor now had the intention of marrying Ruoruo to He Zongwei. What exactly was he thinking?
"Since the Emperor is asking you privately, he knows you will certainly object. It is only a test." Lin Wan 'er immediately calmed down and began to analyze everything. "You shouldn't have resisted the Emperor. It's not like you don't know the Emperor's personality. The more you object, the more he wants to do this."
"I am just angry that the Emperor would be so muddle-headed. Did he think that by forcefully arranging this marriage, the court would be peaceful? " Fan Xian woke from his thoughts. A ray of light flashed through his mind. It was as if he had faintly grasped something.
His eyes narrowed slightly and a cold light flashed through them. His voice was pressed into a cold line. "I don't care about He Zongwei. If he actually dares to come to my door and ask for my hand in marriage, I will cut him in half. "
…
…
In one night, a thousand votes became a poem. I couldn't help but want to stand by the shore and sigh. Everyone is truly extremely flirtatious. Shamelessly asking to be bestowed monthly votes as wine in the pot, to get drunk and flirtatious to the end.
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