After Fan Wujiu heard He Zongwei's cold words, he slowly lowered his head and did not have any obvious reaction. After a moment of silence, he said in a low voice, "Before reporting to the Emperor, you should think of a way to investigate more clearly."
"Of course. Alright, it's late. You should go rest," He Zongwei said casually. He waved his hand and picked up the files on the table again.
Fan Wujiu glanced at He Zongwei. A glimmer of darkness flashed through his eyes. He bowed, bowed, and took his leave. When he walked out of the study, He Zongwei immediately put down the files in his hands. He looked silently in the direction of the door and sank into deep thought.
He Zongwei was initially fearful of the Second Prince's eight trusted generals joining him. After all, there were many people in Jingdou who knew of Fan Wujiu's identity. If people discovered this in the future and it got into the Palace, who knew what the Emperor would think?
Back then, the Second Prince had been one of the conspirators in the rebellion. It was indeed risky for He Zongwei to take in his old subordinates.
However, he had quickly made a decision. After all, Fan Wujiu had his own abilities. Although the eight generals whose names had spread through the jianghu in Jingdou seemed unable to withstand a single blow in front of the Overwatch Council, in reality, they were all very powerful figures. The Second Prince had operated in court for a long time. The trusted aides he kept at his side were, of course, the most outstanding.
Other than Fan Wujiu's ability, He Zongwei had taken him in for two other important reasons. First, this person's goal was the same as his. They both wanted to defeat Fan Xian. Second, this person also controlled some of the resources the Second Prince had left behind.
The Second Prince had already lost and died three years ago. His power in court had long been swept clean by the Emperor and Fan Xian. In the end, there were still some officials hidden in the lower levels of the court who were waiting for an opportunity in the dark. Regardless of whether it was to avenge their master or find a new master, they would see the light of day again.
He Zongwei needed these people. These people also needed Scholar He in court. However, He Zongwei could not personally gather these powers. He had to go through Fan Wujiu. Only then could he appear more innocent in front of the Emperor.
When all was said and done, He Zongwei was walking on a lonely steel rope with endless abysses on both sides. It was very dangerous.
Not long after Fan Wujiu left the study, the cousin of the He clan who had left earlier quietly returned. The two of them met each other's eyes and saw the glimmer of emotion in each other's eyes. He Zongwei smiled warmly and said, "Go investigate the whereabouts of Wang Qinian and Gao Da. Don't use the people the Second Prince left behind."
The person bowed respectfully and replied, "I understand. After you and Fan talked earlier, Sir, Sir, Fan, Fan, Fan, and Fan.
He Zongwei nodded approvingly. "There are some things that are inconvenient for Mr. Fan to know."
There were many things that were inconvenient for Fan Wujiu to know. Earlier, Fan Wujiu and He Zongwei had discussed that if they wanted to bring down Fan Xian, they had to start with Wang Qinian and Gao Da, who might still be alive. However, given the power left behind by He Zongwei and the Second Prince, it was impossible to pierce through the layers of black fog of the Overwatch Council and find true clues. Thus, Fan Wujiu suggested that He Zongwei directly meet the Emperor and use the Emperor's suspicions to have the internal court act.
The problem was that He Zongwei had a power in his hands. It was a power the Emperor had given him, a power that no one knew about.
The Emperor trusted Chen Pingping incomparably and doted on Fan Xian. However, the Overwatch Council's power was truly too great. If it was only checked and balanced from the outside, an Emperor would not be at ease. That was why there was the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Furthermore, the Palace must have planted many trusted aides in the Overwatch Council.
Concerning this matter, Chen Pingping and Fan Xian were both aware of it. However, there was no need to make things clear to the Emperor. They were only guarding against it in secret.
Since the Imperial Censorate wanted to challenge the Overwatch Council, the spies the internal court, or perhaps the Ministry of Internal Affairs, had planted in the Overwatch Council had slowly moved from Eunuch Yao's side to He Zongwei's hands three years later. This power, darker than the night, was currently controlled by He Zongwei's cousin.
He Zongwei was silent for a moment and then said, "Investigate from the outside. If the Overwatch Council still has connections to Wang Qinian, then there will certainly be traces. However, don't let these people know exactly what you are investigating."
"If the Emperor knows you are investigating and asks, what will we do?"
"The Emperor will not care about such small matters." He Zongwei lowered his head slightly. "After the investigation is complete, report to the Emperor and ask him to make a decision."
Of course, if He Zongwei grasped this important matter that could incite the relationship between the Emperor and Fan Xian, he would not quietly and secretly report it to the Emperor and give the Emperor and Fan Xian a chance to privately negotiate. Instead, he would do everything in his power to blow this matter up.
The person understood the hidden meaning in Fan Xian's words and didn't say anything more. Straightforwardly, he said, "I will not disappoint you."
The study once again returned to silence. He Zongwei sat behind the desk and couldn't resist shaking his head. He didn't have a servant, but he had a few advisors. However, those advisors were all forbidden from entering the back garden. Other than his trusted aides, no one dared to go near this study. He knew that if he could truly trust Fan Wujiu, then this matter would certainly proceed more easily.
However, he could not completely trust Fan Wujiu, particularly when he appeared in front of him as a strategist.
For people like strategists, He Zongwei always had the greatest suspicions in his heart. Many years ago, he had successfully made a name for himself by bringing down Lin Ruofu. In reality, he knew that the fall of the previous Prime Minister had little to do with him. This was the Emperor's intention. The person who truly carried out the order and gave the Prime Minister the heaviest blow was the seemingly handsome and carefree strategist in the Prime Minister's manor, Yuan Hongdao.
Back then, He Zongwei had brought Wu Bo 'an's wife to live in this old royal manor. Under the Eldest Princess's orders, he was in contact with the Prime Minister's manor and had dealings with Yuan Hongdao.
He knew what kind of dangerous knife Yuan Hongdao had stabbed in this matter. The truth that had been slowly revealed a few years ago shocked him even more. Yuan Hongdao was actually a member of the Overwatch Council.
The Overwatch Council!
He Zongwei's heart felt a glimmer of coldness. He was very afraid of the Overwatch Council's power. Although he now held some internal members of the Overwatch Council in his hands, the more he understood about the Overwatch Council, the more afraid he was. He was afraid that the gardener in his manor was a spy from the First Bureau of the Overwatch Council. He was afraid that the chubby female servant was an assassin from the Sixth Bureau. He was afraid that the food he ate every day was laced with slow-acting poison from the Third Bureau.
He was afraid that even Fan Wujiu, the strategist the Second Prince had left behind, might also be a member of the Overwatch Council. Would he, in the future, stab his body with the most ruthless knife?
He wanted to deal with Fan Xian, so he was even more afraid that Fan Xian would deal with him. It had already been a number of years. He had received everyone's respect in court. When he returned to the manor, he was immersed in an unhealthy feeling of fear and unease. He always felt that everyone he saw in the manor could have been sent by the Overwatch Council.
Thus, the He manor did not have many servants and girls. He used very few people. Even if he had no choice but to use people, he would rather go through great hardship to find his brothers from his hometown. Unexpectedly, this had earned him a reputation for being honest and modest.
Sometimes, He Zongwei even felt that he was about to be driven crazy by this nervous feeling. Crazy! But, he could not go crazy. He had to obtain the final victory. He had already found a glimmer of an obscure yet blinding white light at the edge of the dark sky.
He pushed open the door and stood alone in the corridor. His face was slightly pale, and his mood was unusually heavy. Occasionally, he would think of that woman, and a trace of pain would appear in his eyes.
… …
No one knew what kind of torment Scholar He was suffering in his heart. No one thought he was a person who was about to go crazy. A few days after the birthday banquet in the Sun manor, the civil and martial officials in court, and even the scholars and common people who had heard some rumors, all knew that Scholar He had lost this battle. He had lost completely.
The Emperor did not issue an edict. Instead, he had He Zongwei handle the matter of the Jingdou magistrate himself. It was clear he wanted to use this matter to establish Scholar He's authority in court. Unexpectedly, after Fan Xian returned from Dongyi, drank some wine, went to the Palace to argue, and took a trip to the Imperial College, he had beaten back Scholar He's extended hand.
As for Scholar He's loss of face and failure, no one found it strange. After all, the opponent he faced this time was not an official of the Six Ministries in court or a disciple of the nobility. It was Fan Xian.
It was fine if Fan Xian did not take action. As long as he set his mind to do something, he would always be able to do it. This had already become the common understanding of the entire world.
It was clear that the Emperor did not have any good ideas for this illegitimate child. After all, he was just a mere Jingdou magistrate. The Emperor could not truly fall out with his most favored illegitimate child.
The old accountant sent by the Ministry of Revenue to check accounts left the Jingdou government wretchedly. The secret investigation by the Ministry of Appointments and the Ministry of Justice was also fortunately brought to a halt under the powerful pressure from the mountain. Although Hu the Scholar did not say anything in the Hall of Governmental Affairs, he quietly reminded the officials in front of He Zongwei. Although this sentence was light, it was also very heavy.
Jingdou was clear and bright.
It had long passed the April Qingming Festival. The spring scenery was bright and beautiful. Dressed in casual clothes, Fan Xian sat on a horse. Holding a willow branch, he pointed toward the east and smiled and chatted about something with the officials seeing him off.
He had beaten He Zongwei again and gained the upper hand in his argument with the Emperor. At least, he ensured that the power on his side would not be weakened too much in a short period of time. Fan Xian was in a good mood. Even though he was about to embark on another journey and go to the medicinal Sword Hut in Dongyi to suffer, he was still in a good mood.
After exchanging pleasantries with the officials seeing him off and accepting a large basket of flattery, as well as the cold and sour words secretly directed at He Zongwei, Fan Xian's expression did not change. He left the pavilion, dismounted from his horse, and continued to hide in his family's black carriage.
The surroundings were quiet, but there was another person in the carriage. Yan Bingyun looked at him and suddenly said, "There are already signs of unrest in Dongyi. Do you really not want me to go suppress it?"
"This time, I will bring the Black Knights into the city." A faint worry rose between Fan Xian's brows. "The old Director will be returning home in a few days. Stay here and watch for me. If you also leave with me, who in Jingdou will make decisions for the Council?"
Yan Bingyun acutely saw the worry in his heart. He did not understand but did not ask directly. Instead, he said, "He Zongwei has lost a great deal of face this time. Presumably, the Imperial Censorate will be quiet for a long time."
"Don't underestimate him," Fan Xian said. "Although these officials said bad things about him in front of me today, if this was a different occasion and in front of He Zongwei, who would dare to say anything loudly? The position of an official is still in the Emperor's word. As long as the Emperor's favor remains, he will not fall. "
"Furthermore, he is a powerful character," Fan Xian suddenly smiled slightly. Fan Xian suddenly smiled slightly and said, "In the past, I always felt that He Zongwei's scale was too small. Unexpectedly, he did something unexpected."
Yan Bingyun did not smile. Calmly, he said, "I found out that Fan Wujiu is in the He manor. If you really want to deal with He Zongwei, just let the Emperor know."
Fan Xian was silent for a moment. He then shook his head and said, "Fan Wujiu's choice surprised me. Back then, when he fled Jingdou, it was clear that he was a cowardly person afraid of death. Unexpectedly, after the Second Prince died, he had the courage to return to Jingdou and carry out his so-called plan of revenge."
He raised his hand to rub between his brows. Raising his face, he sighed in admiration. "Fan Wujiu's action is very old-fashioned. I admire it very much."
Yan Bingyun furrowed his brows and said, "I don't believe that you admire He Zongwei very much. I also don't believe that you would let He Zongwei go because of something like old-fashioned."
"Right now, I have to take care of a major matter. Before the Director returns home, you and I shouldn't do anything to prevent variables from happening," Fan Xian said seriously.
The tip of Yan Bingyun's heart trembled slightly. There were not many things that could shock him, but from Fan Xian's words, he smelled a very dangerous scent.
"There shouldn't be any problems," Fan Xian said quietly. "But, there can't be any more incidents in the near future. There can't be any big movements in court. Let's not rush to do anything."
"What is He Zongwei rushing to do?" Yan Bingyun handed a piece of paper to his hand and calmly said, "Although I haven't found out, there have been some undercurrents in the Council recently. I don't know the reason."
Fan Xian sank into deep thought. He was not an immortal, and the Overwatch Council was not omnipotent. Furthermore, it was probably because of some emotional reasons that he did not want to think about whether or not Old Wang, who had been closest to him, was doing well in the distance. For a moment, he had not thought about this. As for Gao Da, Fan Xian had long thought he was dead.
"Fan Wujiu alone is enough to force He Zongwei off the stage. It is as if we have a sharp weapon in our hands," Fan Xian said. "If He Zongwei does make any big movements, throw Fan Wujiu out. There is no need for an official who takes in the old subordinates of a rebellious prince to continue staying in court. "
Yan Bingyun was silent for a moment. He then said, "Sir He has made a fatal mistake."
Fan Xian said, "That is because he thinks he understands the Emperor and the abilities of the Overwatch Council. In reality, he doesn't know anything."
…
…
I made a mistake yesterday. It was a terrible mistake. It had nothing to do with mistakes in writing or words. It was purely a matter of not being serious enough. I apologize again to everyone.
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