"Three years ago, the entire Jingdou was hunting me down. If it weren't for the help of the Sun family, it would have been difficult for me to live until now, much less transport the Black Knights into the capital."
The atmosphere in the royal study was tense. Fan Xian lowered his head slightly and looked at the Emperor on the couch in front of him. His expression was slightly heavy as he slowly said each word, "From this perspective, the Sun family can be considered my savior and a meritorious minister in quelling the rebellion."
"Quelling the rebellion?" The Emperor did not raise his head. The dim yellow light shone on his tightly bound hair. A few strands of white hair could faintly be seen reflected. He only continued Fan Xian's words and coldly said, "If I remember correctly, that was the work of the young lady of the Sun family. What does it have to do with her father?"
"The young lady of the Sun family was always her father's child." Fan Xian raised his head and looked at the Emperor stubbornly and calmly.
The Emperor put down the file in his hand and also raised his head. He looked calmly at his son and was silent for a long time. It was as if he wanted to see the true thoughts in the depths of his heart. A moment later, he quietly said, "You came to the Palace today to say this?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Emperor once again fell silent. After a long time, he suddenly said, "Why?"
"I am a person who always returns favors and grudges." The reason Fan Xian gave was simple. "I am greatly indebted to the young lady of the Sun family."
"If you only want to repay the favor …" The Emperor said mockingly, "I gave Sun Pin 'er to you. Naturally, Sun Jingxiu's face will be bright. Why fight for this position?"
Fan Xian did not smile in embarrassment. His face was incomparably calm, but his heart tightened slightly. Gritting his teeth, he said through his teeth, "Because you promised me three years ago."
The Emperor sank into silence. Three years ago, Fan Xian had asked him for credit. Among them was the matter of Sun Jingxiu. He slowly opened his mouth and said, "What in this world never changes? The position of an official is the foundation of a country. How can it never change because of one word? Based on your words, if I promise you something, even if that person is corrupt and breaks the law in the future, I will still follow you and not touch him? "
Fan Xian's earlier words carried a glimmer of anger and a glimmer of unbecoming ferocity. The Emperor was angered by this intention of using his achievements to ask for rewards. In an instant, he calmed down. Perhaps the Emperor liked Fan Xian's personality of putting everything on the table to argue.
"Sun Jingxiu is a capable official." Fan Xian did not take a step back. Looking at the Emperor's face, he said in a clear voice, "If he dares to take bribes and bend the law, I will be the first to capture him and hack him to pieces."
A strange light flashed through the Emperor's eyes. It was as if he had not thought that Fan Xian would care so much about this matter. He faintly thought that it was probably because the method of reducing power had come too quickly and pierced this young man's heart.
The Dongyi matter was still being dealt with. The court had not truly rewarded An Zhi for his service, yet they were in a rush to arrange an opponent for him in court. No wonder An Zhi felt uncomfortable and forcefully pushed back. The Emperor smiled slightly, thinking he understood Fan Xian's thoughts. He shook his head and didn't continue on the matter.
"A routine performance appraisal will always have to be done," the Emperor lowered his head and said evenly. The Emperor lowered his head and said evenly, "Since you want to repay Sun Jingxiu's kindness in the past, I will not force you to be an unjust person. However, if he is not suitable to continue in this position, I will replace him."
The Emperor raised his head. It seemed to be a warning and also a reminder. "Even if you are the Director of the Overwatch Council, you cannot interfere too much with the matters of the court. The students of the Hall of Governmental Affairs work hard on court affairs. Don't interfere too much."
Fan Xian didn't say anything more. He lowered his body in a bow and left the royal study. In these last two sentences, the Emperor had already expressed very clearly that he would not personally interfere in this matter. However, He Zongwei would still act against Sun Jingxiu. Furthermore, he reminded Fan Xian not to make any secret moves against He Zongwei. Otherwise, the Emperor would truly be angry.
After Fan Xian left, the Emperor glanced helplessly at the files on the table. A faint annoyance rose in his heart. With one hand, he pushed the files away and sat alone in the royal study. No one knew what he was thinking.
Everything about An Zhi is good. It's just that his personality is too direct and stubborn.
As the Emperor thought to himself, he summoned Eunuch Yao in and asked him about what had happened in Jingdou. His expression gradually calmed. Hearing about the matter of the birthday banquet in Sun manor, the Emperor thought deeply for a long time. He understood why Fan Xian had jumped up like an old cat whose tail had been stepped on. An official who had just performed a great service was about to have his power reduced and his face swept away. Perhaps anyone would feel angry, let alone Fan Xian.
Perhaps this matter was a bit too rushed, the Emperor thought to himself. He did not want to admit that he had overlooked something. Coldly, he said to Eunuch Yao, "Tell He Zongwei to do as he pleases. As for An Zhi, don't worry about it for now."
The Emperor had not thought that Fan Xian's anger was mostly faked. He only wanted to use his anger and sadness to force the Emperor's heart to be moved and unable to bear to bully him. He wanted to keep the power in his hands for a while longer.
Eunuch Yao respectfully responded. Immediately after, he lowered his voice and said, "That matter has been investigated to its end."
The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgement. A cold light flashed through his eyes as he said, "Speak."
"The dispatch order from the Third Workshop and the order for the city-guarding crossbows to leave North Min have both been obtained. However, when we finally found the transfer order from the Bureau of Military Affairs, it pointed to the Qin family. We couldn't see a shadow of that side, "Eunuch Yao said in a trembling voice.
The internal court had been secretly investigating the attack in the valley for the past year. The Emperor had never let go of the suspicions from back then. He wholeheartedly wanted to capture that person and comfort Sir Fan junior.
To be able to do so many things without a sound and to have his hands and feet probed into the palace treasury was something that even the Qin family, once a member of the military, could not do. Furthermore, he did not leave behind any clues after the matter. In the entire Qing Kingdom, other than the Emperor himself, there were only the people of the Overwatch Council.
The Emperor's expression was complicated. He was a very vengeful and sensitive person. Presently, the situation under heaven could be anticipated. Although there were some small problems within the court, there was nothing that could threaten the foundation of the Li family's rule.
Thus, the attack in the valley had become a thorn in his heart. Not only because someone had almost killed his son, but also because he had discovered that that person had faintly broken away from his control.
Just like Fan Xian now, it seemed that he was also showing signs of breaking away from his control. As for Fan Xian, he could temporarily tolerate him because he was his own son, his most beloved son, and the son who had done the most for the Qing Kingdom. As for that person?
That person had done even more for the Qing Kingdom. Furthermore, the Emperor still had not figured out the reason. He sat tiredly on the soft couch as if he didn't want to continue thinking about this matter. After a long silence, he said, "The investigation of the valley ends here. In any case, they are all people who are about to die."
"Have you found out the person behind the two eunuchs?"
Eunuch Yao's temples burned with pain. He shook his head in fear. He knew who the two eunuchs the Emperor was talking about were. This was another mystery behind the fog of the Qing Kingdom. At the time, under the empress dowager's leadership, the entire Qing royal family was moving toward the Crown Prince's ascension. The Second Prince had also temporarily maintained peace with the Crown Prince. Coincidentally, two eunuchs jumped out of the Palace with the intention of assassinating the Third Prince, Li Chengping.
What exactly did they want to do? Furthermore, under the circumstances at the time, the Third Prince's life and death had no intrinsic effect on the Crown Prince's ascension. On the contrary, if the Third Prince had died tragically in the Palace, it would have been an infamy that the Crown Prince and the Second Prince could not bear.
Afterward, Fan Xian had investigated carefully, but the Crown Prince and the Second Prince did not admit to it. The Eldest Princess did not even talk about such a small matter before her death. Fan Xian could not continue investigating. He could only think that there were too many variables in the Palace at that time. He didn't know what kind of conflict had exploded to put the Third Prince in danger.
However, the Emperor did not think this way. He never let go of any of the smallest oddities. That was why he was able to accomplish such a grand undertaking.
… …
Fan Xian walked out of the Royal Palace in the dark and ignored the eunuchs and serving girls who bowed humbly around him. He flicked his sleeves and left with a dark expression.
When it came to his attitude toward servants, Fan Xian was definitely an anomaly in the Qing Kingdom. Putting aside the servants and serving girls in the Fan manor, even toward the eunuchs and serving girls in the Palace, his words were always gentle. Not only was he generous, but his attitude was also very different. It was as if he never thought there was anything to hate about these abnormal people.
Because of this, the people in the Royal Palace all had a heartfelt respect and love for this little duke. Although Eunuch Hou, who had died to the arrows of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council three years ago, was someone the Eldest Princess had secretly planted, he was usually full of praise for Fan Xian.
Fan Xian's unusual behavior fell into the eyes of many people. This behavior was very different from his usual behavior. These eunuchs and serving girls all felt a glimmer of strangeness. They all guessed that the little duke was probably arguing with the Emperor in the royal study again.
Walking out of the dark and secluded Palace gate, Fan Xian stood on the square in front of the Royal Palace. He didn't turn his head to look at the Palace gate. Instead, he spread his arms and let out a loud cry. It was as if he wanted to vent all the depression in his chest with this cry.
His voice echoed through the silent and empty square. It crashed against the red wall of the Royal Palace and then turned back. It lingered for a long time without stopping.
The guards inside the Palace gate, the imperial soldiers outside, and the eunuchs who were about to drop the key all turned their gazes toward him. They were all startled by this voice.
If it had been a normal person yelling like this at the Palace gate, the imperial soldiers would probably have long rushed forward and given him a good beating. Then, they would be sent to the Celestial Prison to wait for the fall beheading for the crime of disturbing the Palace. However, no one dared to move even after Fan Xian's random yell. There wasn't even a verbal reminder.
Even if this person had gone crazy, if he was Fan Xian, then everyone would only beautify it as the madness of a poet and turn a blind eye to it.
The person on duty at the Palace gate was the Commander of the Imperial Army, Gong Dian. He was the first official Fan Xian had seen after entering the capital. The two of them could be considered to be familiar. Hearing this cry, Gong Dian ran out from the duty room and hurried over. Dragging him back, he said, "What's wrong with you?"
Fan Xian tidied the sleeves on his arm and smiled coldly. "I'm really about to go crazy."
Although he said this, his expression had already calmed a great deal. Earlier, he indeed had some anger that needed to be vented. After enduring in this world until now, in front of everyone, Fan Xian no longer needed to hide anything or go against his nature. Other than the Emperor, acting in front of the Emperor was indeed very stressful. Furthermore, his emotions were very complicated.
Looking at the Emperor's thin and tired face, for some reason, Fan Xian thought of the portrait in the little building and the story from many years ago. A wave of blood and fire gathered in Fan Xian's eyes. He found it difficult to bear the feeling of being torn apart by these mixed feelings.
Even though he was yelling in front of the Palace gate, Fan Xian was actually acting. He knew that before long, this yell would be reported to the Emperor's ears in the royal study.
He wanted to act like a real person, an angry and wronged illegitimate child.
It was very tiring. He didn't want to act anymore.
"Accompany me to drink." He stared at Gong Dian like a refugee staring at a piece of pork belly. "I'll seal up Baoyue Brothel and call 60 girls to accompany you."
"Truly, truly crazy." Gong Dian's eyes were bright and full of expression as he stared back at him. He placed a hand on his forehead.
… …
There was a manor by the side of Xinhuai Alley. This residence did not take up a large amount of space. The overhanging eaves and walls were not very magnificent. Its location was also not very good. It intersected with the surrounding private residences and was not very different. This manor belonged to an old Imperial Censor of the previous dynasty. After this old Imperial Censor retired and returned to his hometown, the residence was left empty and handed to a few old colleagues to manage. Thinking that it would be more convenient for his descendants when they sought a future in Jingdou, he had no intention of selling it.
Three years ago, this manor was still sold. From then on, the quiet Xinhuai Alley became lively. Occasionally, officials would come to visit. During the New Year and other festivals, the crowd at the entrance was like a dragon. It was extraordinarily lively.
Following the gradual promotion of the new master of the Imperial Censor's manor, there were fewer and fewer officials who came to visit because the new master's incorruptible reputation gradually spread. No one wanted to touch his bad luck.
The Imperial Censor of the Left, the traveling scholar of the Hall of Governmental Affairs, He Zongwei, was the new master of this Imperial Censor's manor.
In reality, his colleagues had all advised against it. Even the Emperor had once mentioned that most of the officials lived in the south of the city. It was inconvenient for He Zongwei to live in the old Imperial Censor's manor in Xinhuai Alley. Furthermore, it did not match the dignity of a court official.
Scholar He, who was in the same light as the dust in court matters, deeply understood the Samadhi of officialdom, and was greatly appreciated by the Emperor and admired by his colleagues, was very insistent on this matter. He even refused the Emperor's edict to bestow him a residence. He still brought his two or three loyal servants, a widowed aunt, and a few distant brothers to live in this old Imperial Censor's manor.
He lived there for three years.
He Zongwei pushed open the door and walked into the somewhat dilapidated courtyard of the old Imperial Censor's manor. Looking at the messy spring scenery and the green leaves scattered everywhere, he couldn't help but shake his head self-mockingly.
The reason he had always lived in this old Imperial Censor's manor was because he had feelings for it. Furthermore, this manor represented many important meanings to his life. The first time He Zongwei truly stepped onto the stage of the Qing Kingdom was when Prime Minister Lin Ruofu resigned from his post five years ago.
He Zongwei "coincidentally" met the wife of the Prime Minister's strategist, Wu Bo 'an. Feeling indignant, he went to the Imperial Censor to file a complaint against the Emperor. He then "coincidentally" met the Prime Minister's killer. He then "coincidentally" met the Second Prince and the heir, Li Hongcheng. After a series of coincidences, he coincidentally followed the general trend of the Qing court at the time and forcefully brought down Prime Minister Lin Ruofu.
He Zongwei, who had missed the spring examinations because he was in mourning, was still a commoner. In everyone's eyes, he had brought down a treacherous Prime Minister with the strength of an ordinary man. At that moment, his reputation rose. In the hearts of scholars, no one saw him as just a Jingdou talent on par with Hou Jichang. Instead, they saw him as a remarkable figure with great ambition and a determined temperament.
It was also through the incident of Prime Minister Lin's fall that He Zongwei was able to see the Emperor's face for the first time. From that day on, he was deeply convinced by the Emperor's bearing and schemes. It was also that day that the Emperor also took a fancy to this young scholar. With an imperial edict, he had him enter the Imperial Censor and become an Imperial Censor.
In the following years, He Zongwei dealt with various powers and finally successfully ascended. He became the youngest scholar of the Hall of Governmental Affairs in the history of the Qing Kingdom. His limelight flourished and was unparalleled. Of course, that was because no one would compare him to that person. Even though he was Scholar He, in the hearts of thousands of people in the Qing Kingdom, that person would forever be the only one, the high and lofty one.
In He Zongwei's heart, that person was a shadow. This shadow floated above his head and blocked out the limitless light of his life, leaving only a patch of darkness and coldness. That shadow was Fan Xian.
When He Zongwei received the unanimous praise of the scholars because of Prime Minister Lin's matter, Fan Xian had already exposed the scandal of the spring examination and made 15 officials of the court, including the Minister of the Board of Rites, dead people. Furthermore, there was also the poem that night in front of the palace.
When He Zongwei was still a common Imperial Censor in the Imperial Censor, Fan Xian was already the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council. He had forced the Emperor to beat the Imperial Censors in front of the Royal Palace. Those Imperial Censors were He Zongwei's seniors and superiors.
When He Zongwei finally welcomed the most glorious moment of his life, Fan Xian still only looked at him with disdain. With one hand he held the Overwatch Council, with the other he held the palace treasury. Now, he had seized back a large piece of land for the Qing Kingdom, Dongyi.
He was a talent, and the other was an immortal poet. He was a scholar, and the other was the Duke of Danbo. Most importantly, he was just a poor child of a poor family, and the other was the Emperor's illegitimate child.
No matter when, no matter where, Fan Xian firmly pressed down on him until he almost couldn't breathe. He Zongwei looked at the spring garden in front of him. He looked at the messy grass growing without anyone taking care of it and sank into silence. He knew that in this life, no matter how hard he worked, he would never be able to surpass that person.
He Zongwei slowly closed his eyes and sighed helplessly. He had great confidence in his abilities and willpower. He didn't think he was any worse than Fan Xian. However, fate had long decided this. What could he do?
…
…
He heard that Sir Yan junior of the Overwatch Council kept a few vicious dogs at home, forcing no court officials to visit. He also heard that Fan Xian kept countless guards at home. If anyone shamelessly came to give gifts, they would all be chased out of the manor. He Zongwei's manor couldn't afford to keep dogs or people, but it had raised a black face.
In order to maintain his impartial and incorruptible image, He Zongwei had paid a great price. Furthermore, he could not be as unreasonable as the two people in the Overwatch Council. He had to reject bribes and also not make the other party feel uncomfortable. Thus, He Zongwei was also very tired. At least, he thought he was much more tired than Fan Xian.
The salary of court officials was not much. It was only one-third of the salary of officials of the same rank in the Overwatch Council. Additionally, He Zongwei had a reputation for being incorruptible, so it was difficult to maintain the manor's expenses. Although the Emperor knew of his family's poverty and had the internal court bestow a great deal of gold and silver, traveling to and from Jingdou was always too expensive. What He Zongwei worried about the most was not Sun Jingxiu of the Jingdou government but whether or not he should spend money to repair the garden.
He Zongwei let out a bitter laugh. Who knew how much he had sacrificed for the sake of such glory? He was not like Fan Xian, who had a large palace treasury to support and a bookstore and brothel to support him.
Strangely, the harder his life was, the calmer He Zongwei's expression was and the happier he felt. It was as if there was a kind of painful torture that could make him truly understand the meaning of his existence.
He wanted to do great things for the court. He wanted to become a truly famous official.
He Zongwei's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Looking at the chaotic spring garden in the night, he didn't say a word. He only thought to himself, Fan Xian had indeed gone to the Sun manor today. When the Hall of Governmental Affairs discussed matters tomorrow, what kind of attitude should I have? Earlier, the eunuch in the Palace had brought the Emperor's verbal edict. It had made his heart more at ease, but it had also made it more depressing.
"I have to find another way." He Zongwei lowered his head in the night wind. What great things? What famous official? Under Fan Xian's pressure, he had to first ensure that he could continue living after the Emperor died. Thus, before the Emperor died, he had to let Fan Xian die first.
…
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