Sun Pin 'er sat uneasily in the side hall. She sat very properly and wore a blue robe. She was so fresh and elegant that she did not seem like a guest. She was overly cautious. In the morning, she had already come to the Fan manor. Her mind had long become a mess. For a moment, she was angry and embarrassed that she, a girl, had come to the manor without any shame to ask for an audience. For a moment, she thought of her father sighing and sighing at home. She was very worried. In the corner of her heart, the most frantic part was occupied by Fan Xian's appearance.
It had been three years since she had seen Sir Fan junior. Although the serving girls often heard rumors from outside and talked about it in the room, Sun Pin 'er knew that he had lived well these three years. He had a son and a daughter, and his family was harmonious. There were also no problems in court. Her heart was comforted to the extreme. Sun Pin 'er wanted to see Fan Xian, but she knew that if she actually saw Sir Fan junior, it would be very inappropriate. For a moment, she could not cut it off or sort it out. She hoped that he would take the time to summon her, but she also hoped that he was not in the manor and that she could go back quietly.
The tea on the long table was slightly cold. Another serving girl came up to change it. This was already the fourth cup of tea. From sitting in the morning until now, the Fan manor had not treated the young lady of the Sun family coldly. After the Teng family returned from the medical shop, they began to chat with her respectfully and calmly. After talking for a number of hours, the words from the woman's mouth did not repeat anything.
Sun Pin 'er knew that this woman was the housekeeper of the Fan manor and did not treat her lightly. Hearing that Princess Chen was not in the manor, she let out a breath in her heart. Everyone knew that the princess of the Duke's manor was the most gentle and amiable. She never expressed any opinion on matters of the outside world. She only did her best to host the Hangzhou Conference and seek benefits for the poor people of the Qing Kingdom. Her benevolent heart was greatly admired by everyone. However, Sun Pin 'er knew the rumors in the capital, so she was always afraid.
After waiting for a long time, the Teng family only said that Junzhu had gone to the Palace and the Duke had gone on an errand and wasn't in the fu. They didn't have a host to entertain them and asked Miss Sun to be understanding. Sun Pin 'er had already seen with her sharp eyes that there were officials coming in and out of the garden. She had already guessed that Sir Fan junior was probably hiding in the back garden and unwilling to see her. Slightly disappointed, she was about to rise to say goodbye. Unexpectedly, the Teng family refused to continue her conversation.
Sun Pin 'er was slightly shocked. She guessed that the people in the back garden were probably discussing something about her arrival, so she calmly sat down.
Before long, Fan Ruoruo walked into the side hall. Sun Pin 'er quickly rose and bowed. The two women looked at each other and said something in soft and warm words. Fan Ruoruo then quietly repeated what Fan Xian had told her.
Sun Pin 'er's heart was filled with joy. She thought that if Sir Fan junior was willing to come the day after tomorrow, it would be wonderful. She quickly expressed her thanks, exchanged a few more polite words, and was about to leave.
Fan Ruoruo saw clearly the girl's joy and faint melancholy and couldn't help but sigh in her heart. She thought that her brother really had too many emotional debts. She couldn't resist saying quietly, "My brother is in the back garden. However, there are differences between men and women, so it is not convenient for him to come out and meet. Please understand his painstaking efforts."
Sun Pin 'er's body shook. She sensed some other meaning from the sudden addition of these words from the young lady of the Fan family. It seemed that she had faintly grasped Sir Fan junior's difficulties and tenderness toward her. Her cheeks blushed slightly. Her heart was filled with endless gratitude. She bowed deeply and left.
Fan Ruoruo looked at the girl's back and couldn't resist laughing bitterly. She turned her head and saw Fan Xian's furtive appearance. She smiled and said, "She's already gone. What are you looking at?" She paused and then said, "But, she understood your meaning. It looked like she was very grateful."
Speaking of this, she couldn't resist a rare glare at Fan Xian and said, "You, can you not be so careful? You seem to be thinking for Miss Sun, but who knows how deeply you've sunk her? "
Only after these words were spoken did Ruoruo realize that her words seemed to reveal a sense of darkness. Her heart jumped and she quickly hid it with a smile. "There is something I forgot to tell you. We all misheard earlier."
Fan Xian didn't pay attention to these words. He only smiled bitterly and sighed. "When did being a good person become a bad thing?"
After successfully avoiding the young lady of the Sun family and comforting his sister, Fan Xian became idle again. Crossing his legs, he read the letters from Shi Chanli and Su Wenmao as he quietly hummed something. The diplomatic group in Dongyi was still dawdling. Sigu Jian estimated that they could hold out for another two days. He was not in a rush. It would be fine to stay another six or seven days in Jingdou. It had been a long time since he had carefully dealt with his personal affairs. It was perfect for him to put some effort into it.
Su Wenmao's position in the three large workshops of the palace treasury in North Min was becoming more and more stable. With Ren Shao 'an's clansman as a helper, in addition to the close cooperation between the Overwatch Council and the palace treasury transport company, the former second-in-command had now become the leader of the three large workshops. Of course, this was mainly because he represented Fan Xian's will.
Shi Chanli was still traveling around the world. Five years had already passed. The scholar of the past had already accepted, half helplessly and half willingly, that he had no fate with an official career. If he was truly willing, it would not be difficult for Fan Xian to arrange an official position or two for him. However, Shi Chanli knew that in his teacher's heart, he was not the same as the other three. The things he had to do could not see the light of day and were more important. For the sake of Baoyue Brothel's intelligence system and silver circulation, he was willing to give up some important things to help his teacher.
Of course, no one dared to disrespect the present owner of Baoyue Brothel as he traveled the world. As a merchant, Shi Chanli was actually much more at ease than officials like Ji Chang and Wan Li. Even if Fan Xian decided to have Shi Chanli re-enter the official ranks, this brothel owner would still have to think carefully.
In reality, he did not understand Fan Xian as well as Sang Wen did. Fan Xian had built Baoyue Brothel all over the world. At the beginning, his starting point was truly because he pitied those pitiful women whose fates were not in their own hands. He tried to use Baoyue Brothel to influence the lowest profession from ancient times to now. He did not seek absolute justice, but at least he had to lean toward the proper.
After Fan Xian finished reading Shi Chanli's letter, he couldn't resist smiling. Looking at the stammering words in the letter, Shi Chanli and Sang Wen probably couldn't resist the long years of working together and finally developing some faint feelings.
Shi Chanli wanted Fan Xian to make the decision, but he didn't dare say it explicitly. Fan Xian felt that this matter was quite amusing. He had never thought of sending these two people to the same pile. From the beginning, he knew at Sang Wen's side there was a lonely jianghu man who wholeheartedly wanted to be her protector. He didn't know what the situation at Sang Wen's side was like.
Sang Wen's gentleness, Sang Wen's lips, and Sang Wen's attentiveness and low profile were all qualities that Fan Xian liked. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken her out of the brothel back then. Now that she and Shi Chanli were both older, it seemed that it was time to consider these things.
As Fan Xian thought this, he crumpled the letter in his hand into snowflakes. Tilting his head, he sat in the chair in a daze. He had calculated the power in his hands many times, but he had never thought about it as clearly as he did today. The Overwatch Council and the palace treasury were naturally the two most powerful weapons in his hands. If the Emperor sent down an edict, he estimated that at most 20 to 30 percent of the people in the Overwatch Council would stand firmly behind Fan Xian.
That lump of ice will probably stand in the middle. He will certainly not disobey the edict, but he shouldn't act against me either. Fan Xian silently thought about whether or not his friendship with Yan Bingyun would be able to stand the test of time in the future. Immediately after, he thought to himself, in the entire Overwatch Council, of the First Bureau, Third Bureau, and Fourth Bureau, his control was the strongest. The only people who could truly follow him through mountains of knives and seas of fire were the people of the Qinian Unit.
Fan Xian had begun to tamper with the palace treasury a few years ago. He believed that if the situation changed in the future, he would certainly have a way to make a powerful response. The palace treasury was a divine weapon that Fan Xian could use to fight against the might of heaven.
Shi Chanli and Su Wenmao's loyalty was definitely trustworthy. Additionally, there was Deng Zi Yue, who was now in Xiliang. Fan Xian suddenly realized that the power in his hands was indeed very strong. Furthermore, there were faint signs that it was about to break away from the Emperor's control.
No wonder the Emperor had begun to experiment with the future arrangements of court politics.
A glimmer of a smile rose to the corners of Fan Xian's lips. He thought that in the end, the Emperor still had not discovered the most important point. He would go fight him the day after tomorrow and confirm and protect the power in his hands. He should be able to hold out for a few more years.
Just as he and Haitang had once said, this world was those old people's and also theirs. In the end, it would always be theirs.
All they needed was time.
…
…
One day at the end of April, the spring flowers had not been destroyed by the heat and wind. Instead, they were scattered to the ground by a sudden spring rain. The flowering trees that stretched out from the courtyards on the long streets in the south of Jingdou watched helplessly as their clothes were torn into shreds by the seemingly gentle but actually merciless spring wind. They fell to the stone ground outside the courtyard walls and were stepped on by hurrying pedestrians. They sank deep into the mud, revealing only the pink edges.
The manor of the Jingdou magistrate, Sun Jingxiu, was on the main street in the south of the city. Not far behind this manor was the Jingdou yamen. However, the hall of the yamen was on the other side. The peace of power and wealth depended on each other but did not interfere with each other.
Today was not Sun Jingxiu's birthday. Rather, it was his old mother's 80th birthday. It was indeed an important day. What Fan Ruoruo said the day before yesterday was that she had misheard. The old matriarch of the Sun manor was also someone with a title. Sun Jingxiu rarely did anything, so when the various invitations were sent out, the officials would always come and entertain him.
Although there were no red ribbons and colored lanterns hanging outside the Sun manor's door, they had purposely added a sense of celebration. There were many people coming and going with gifts, but not many carriages came. On the long street, the housekeepers and servants only delivered the gift lists and boxes into the manor as usual. After saying a few words of apology on behalf of their masters, they left the Sun manor.
Some of the lower-ranking officials who did not know the inside story couldn't help but feel surprised when they saw this scene. They thought that the birthday of the Jingdou magistrate shouldn't be so deserted. It was a far cry from the bustling scene of the manors of other nobles.
The Jingdou government was in charge of the safety of the entire Jingdou people. The people they dealt with were mostly the various yamens, various manors, nobles, and various officials. Thus, it was difficult for the Jingdou government to do their jobs. However, the Jingdou government's status was also high. When the Second Prince fought for the throne, he had put a lot of effort into the Jingdou government. Normally speaking, no official would not give the Jingdou government face.
Today's scene was indeed a little surprising. The people around the corner door were whispering among themselves. No one knew what they were discussing. However, they occasionally thought of the rumors of the Jingdou magistrate, Sun Jingxiu, in officialdom and felt that this was a natural thing.
Sun Jingxiu was, without question, the luckiest person in the entire Qing officialdom. He was not a proper juren. Rather, he was a scribe. From the moment he became an official, he had been doing administrative work in the Jingdou government. He had been doing this for half his life. Given his background and lack of background, in such an important place, even if he worked for three lifetimes, he probably wouldn't be able to rise to the position of Jingdou magistrate.
However, during these six or seven years in the Qing Kingdom, the Crown Prince and Second Prince fought for the throne. After Sir Fan junior entered the capital, there were chaotic battles. The Jingdou government, which was in an important place, became the most important place for the various powers to fight over. The Jingdou magistrate was not like the governors of the various Roads. The various magistrates were far away from the Emperor, so they could protect themselves and not lean toward any prince. The government was in Jingdou, so no power would let them go. The Jingdou magistrate had to make his stance clear.
Thus, Mei Zhili was forced away, and the Jingdou magistrate that the Second Prince had helped into power was forced down. In a short five or six years, a number of Jingdou magistrates had fallen. No official had the courage to forcefully ask for this position. Thus, Sun Jingxiu, the editor of the Jingdou government, coincidentally sat in the position of the Jingdou magistrate.
In the past, the Jingdou magistrate also held the position of a scholar in court. However, after Mei Zhili, this rule became chaotic. By Sun Jingxiu's time, he was a bachelor Jingdou magistrate without any title of nobility.
Thus, in officialdom, the officials all carried a glimmer of jealousy and disdain in their comments. Sun Jingxiu was the luckiest Jingdou magistrate in history, but he was also the Jingdou magistrate with the least power. Who knew when he would be kicked off the stage?
…
…
However, Sun Jingxiu had his strong points. His long years of paperwork made him not good at interacting with officials. He was also not used to sucking up to the scholars of the Hall of Governmental Affairs. He threw himself wholeheartedly into state affairs. His conduct was honest and serious. He never took the rumors outside to heart.
It was this kind of personality that made him, who had not seen the so-called Emperor's posthumous edict in the autumn of the seventh year of the Qing calendar, accept the empress dowager's edict and do his best to put Fan Xian on the wanted list in Jingdou.
The affairs of the world were difficult to predict. Who knew that the Emperor had not died? Who knew that Sir Fan junior was a loyal official? Each time he thought of this, Sun Jingxiu couldn't help but feel a lingering fear. It was fortunate that he had raised a good girl, which allowed him to find a backer in court for the first time.
Furthermore, it was the highest backer in court.
Thus, the officials became even more jealous. The rumors of him selling his daughter for glory spread for a long time before they finally died down under Fan Xian's powerful suppression. Three years had passed. The officials found that the connection between the Fan manor and the Jingdou government was not close. Only then did they believe that the legend in the boudoir was only a legend. There was no follow-up story.
It was because they believed that Sir Fan junior and the Jingdou government did not have any relationship between a man and a woman that the front door of the Sun manor appeared so cold and cheerless. It was even more cheerless than the flowering trees by the side of the street.
…
…
The housekeepers from the various manors who had given their gifts left the Sun manor but did not leave the south of the city. Instead, they cleverly chose a tea house at the end of the street to rest for the time being. It was not even noon yet, but this luxuriously decorated teahouse was already bustling with noise and excitement. The stewards who were familiar with each other greeted each other with a smile and invited each other to sit in the middle of the table. In a short while, half of the teahouse was filled.
The smiles of the housekeepers were strange. They all revealed a tacit understanding and a faint disdain toward the Jingdou government. The masters of these housekeepers were either officials of the six ministries or officials of the three temples. Some were nobles from the Duke's Alley. Today, they only sent gifts, but they did not come in person.
The fact that these housekeepers were gathered in the tea house and did not immediately return to the manor to report on the completion of the mission meant that these nobles and officials knew very well what the Sun manor's birthday celebration represented.
Sun Jingxiu was muddle-headed. This was the common thought of all the civil and military officials. Since Scholar He of the Hall of Governmental Affairs had already leaked the news, it was the person in the Palace who had the idea. You still don't dare to immediately resign, yet you still want to hold a birthday celebration at this time?
Do you want to see the Palace's attitude? Do you want to see the rumors in officialdom? Or do you want to see something?
However, these nobles and officials did not want to take things too far, so they had the housekeepers keep watch near the Sun manor after they gave the gifts. They didn't know what exactly would happen. More accurately speaking, they were still a bit afraid of whether the rumor that had been quiet for almost two years was true or not.
They didn't know whether or not the Duke of Danbo would personally come. Logically speaking, given Fan Xian's identity, the Jingdou government's business should not disturb him. However, the officials were all cunning people, so they still needed to make a final confirmation.
…
…
"Whose family's sedan chair is that?" A housekeeper who was talking about romance suddenly narrowed his eyes and saw a large sedan chair pass by the door of the Sun manor. Looking at the number of people and the decorations on the curtains, it should not be of a low rank.
The matter of the Jingdou magistrate changing was still in the rumor stage. All of the officials knew that this was the first time the popular He Zongwei, with the Emperor's support, had independently completed a highly influential personnel change. Thus, the officials of the various departments cleverly stood behind He Zongwei. No one would stand in front of Sir He at this time.
Today's birthday banquet was a good time to pick a side. Everyone wanted to get closer to the young and gentle Scholar He. Thus, the entrance to the Sun manor was cold and cheerless. At this time, a rather eye-catching sedan stopped at the entrance to the Sun manor.
The housekeeper of the assistant minister of the Ministry of Appointments laughingly scolded, "It's probably some manor that doesn't participate in politics."
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Appointments had a good relationship with He Zongwei and knew the inside story of this matter. Thus, he had never thought of coming. Even this housekeeper's tone was slightly mocking.
Unexpectedly, a housekeeper shook his head and said, "Something's not right. It looks like Duke Liu's manor."
After these words were said, the housekeepers who had come from the Duke's Alley to deliver gifts quickly walked to the side of the railing. They looked for a moment and their expressions gradually changed. However, they didn't say anything to the people beside them. They met each other's eyes nervously. Taking advantage of the fact that the other housekeepers had not reacted, they sneakily slipped down the stairs.
The other housekeepers in the tea house did not notice the commotion. They were just curious. Why would Duke Liu, who never participated in politics, lower himself to give the Sun family face?
Immediately after, another large sedan chair slowly came from the north of the city and landed in front of the Sun manor's door. From a distance, it could be seen that the Jingdou magistrate, Sun Jingxiu, had just received the Duke into his manor. At this moment, he was crawling out again. He was so shocked that he was about to fall to the ground.
A housekeeper in the tea house cried out in a sharp voice, "It's old Prince Jing!"
As soon as these words came out, a strange and quiet atmosphere enveloped the teahouse that was previously very chaotic. All the stewards stopped talking and began to quickly calculate in their minds, trying to guess what this shocking scene in front of them meant.
Some of the smarter people had already connected Duke Liu and King Jing, two noble figures who would never appear in the Jingdou government, to another important figure. Their faces suddenly became deathly white as they quietly went down the tea house.
The remaining housekeepers were still staring nervously at the door of the Sun manor. It was as if they did not believe their eyes. They did not believe that Sun Jingxiu, this lonely old man, would be able to invite these two people to come out and help him.
At this moment, two unremarkable black carriages drove steadily along the streets in the south of the city. They drove past the tea house and stopped in front of the Sun manor's door.
The black carriages were unremarkable and eye-piercing. The faces of everyone in the tea house all paled as they watched the young duke walk down from the carriage. Even more awkwardly, they watched the magnificently dressed princess slowly ascend the stairs with the duke's support.
In an instant, the teahouse became incomparably quiet. All the stewards rushed downstairs at lightning speed and rushed back to their own mansions.
They had to notify their masters. Sir Fan junior had come, Princess Chen had come, King Jing had come, Duke Liu had come … Who are you? Hurry and go! Even if the Duke of Danbo only wanted to slap He Zongwei's face, you still had to go and watch with a smile, no?
For a moment, the manors of the officials in the south of Jingdou fell into chaos. Those who were looking for clothes looked for clothes, those who were sending messages sent messages, and those who were preparing new gifts prepared new gifts. But all the officials only had one goal, and that was the Sun residence.
Most of the officials who had nothing to do with the matter faintly guessed why the little duke was going to the Sun manor. Other than shock in their hearts, they couldn't help but feel a little excited. Jingdou had been peaceful for too long. It would be a good show to see how Sir Fan junior bullied the Scholar and the officials of the various departments.
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