Fan Xian looked around and found that there was no one around, so he simply found a rock and sat down. He took the water bottle the old gardener handed him and drank a few mouthfuls, casually chatting with him about growing flowers and grass. He basically knew nothing about this area, so listening to the gardener's exuberant explanation was somewhat refreshing. However, after listening for a while, he became a little annoyed. He wanted to leave, but when he thought of the poetry meet that was even more annoying, he gave up and sighed.
Hearing the young master sigh, the gardener asked curiously, "Why aren't you happy?"
"The poetry conference in the prince's manor is very boring." Fan Xian blinked at him, thinking that the gardener was only a servant, so there was no way he would be interested in the poetry conference.
Sure enough, the gardener nodded solemnly. "Reciting poetry is something only idle people do. It's not like they can earn a living. What a bunch of stupid pigs."
Fan Xian was startled. Wasn't he scolding himself as well? Soon after, a thought flashed through his mind, and he laughed out loud, "You really are a stupid pig!" He finally understood some things, and waved off the matter of reciting poems.
— — —
After the poetry conference was over, everyone went home or ran away. As for what happened next, it was not until the next day that the news spread throughout the capital.
That night, at King Jing's manor, the crown prince had planned to go to the Drunken Immortal Tavern to have some fun, but he was invited back by the old housekeeper. He sat uncomfortably at the table, waiting with his sister for their father's lecture.
King Jing sat at the head of the table. It was the old gardener that Fan Xian had chatted with that afternoon in the nursery. He looked down at his arrogant son and cursed out of nowhere, "You stupid pig! You only go to those places every day! "
Crown Prince Li Hongcheng knew that "stupid pig" was his father's catchphrase, so he did not get angry. He smiled bitterly. "Why are you angry today, Father?"
King Jing snorted, but did not continue his outburst. He asked, "Did you have that poetry conference again today?"
Li Hongcheng was startled, then smiled bitterly. He knew that his father did not like the business of scholars, but he had to help the second prince win over scholars in the capital. To his surprise, King Jing did not get angry. Instead, he asked with interest, "There was a young man at the poetry conference today. He was wearing a light maroon robe. Whose family was he?"
Li Hongcheng thought to himself, there are so many people here today, how can I remember all of them?
Imperial Prince Jing frowned, as if he was thinking about that person's characteristics. After a while, he said, "That lad is very pretty, like a girl."
Li Hongcheng chuckled. He knew who his father was talking about, and quickly replied, "You must be talking about the one in Fan Manor."
Imperial Prince Jing raised his eyebrows and revealed a hint of ferocity. He roared, "What? You say he's Fan Jian's son in Danzhou? I'll f * ck his mother! How could someone like Fan Jian have such a beautiful son! "
Princess Rou Jia blushed when she heard her father swear. However, she was also very interested to see what kind of person the man that Ruoruo treated like a teacher was. Li Hongcheng looked at his father angrily, thinking that it was fortunate that there were no servants nearby. But then he thought about it and realized that the servants were used to King Jing's mouth. He quickly asked, "Father, why are you asking about the boy?"
"Why?" Imperial Prince Jing snorted. After running into Fan Xian in the afternoon, who didn't know who he was, he thought he looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place him. And because Fan Xian disliked poetry gatherings, he was able to listen to him talk about the arts that he was most proud of. But he didn't expect that the pretty boy was Fan Jian's son. Anger rose in his heart, and he continued to lecture him. "You should learn from that... what's his name?"
"Fan Xian."
"Learn from Fan Xian. Don't be fooled by his unorthodox background, but he has good taste." King Jing sighed. He looked at his son and lectured him, "Fan Xian is able to talk to a gardener for half a day. You, on the other hand, are too proud of your status. You should know that being proud is not suitable for what you are doing right now."
Crown Prince Li Hongcheng knew that he was on good terms with the second prince. Of course, he couldn't hide it from his father, who was outwardly loyal and irascible, but was actually very astute. After the meal, the crown prince was about to return to his study to read in order to cheer his father up. Unexpectedly, King Jing said after a long pause, "Weren't you going to the Drunken Immortal Tavern?"
The Drunken Immortal Tavern was not a restaurant, but a brothel. The difference of one word was like the difference between heaven and earth. The crown prince's heart tightened, and he hurriedly said that he didn't dare. King Jing stared into his eyes and scolded him. "You're a man. If you want to go, then go. Don't be so irresponsible." Having said this, he called for someone to kick him out.
Li Hongcheng sat in the private room of the Drunken Immortal Tavern, holding the most popular courtesan in the capital, Yuan Meng. He was still thinking coldly about why his father had suddenly changed today.
Late at night, in King Jing's manor, King Jing drank and cursed. "That son of a bitch loved to go to brothels, and he actually gave birth to such a beautiful child. I'll let my son go there as well, so he can have a beautiful grandson in the future."
— — —
Putting aside the matter of King Jing forcing his son to go to brothels, Fan Xian waited until the poetry meeting was over. He climbed into a sedan chair early and met up with Teng Zijing and a few guards. After the poetry meeting was over, everyone was talking about the Fan family's poem. Seeing the Fan manor sedan chair, some scholars came up to bid farewell. Fan Xian hurriedly got down and sent them off with a smile. He then ordered the guards to take Ruoruo back to the manor.
Before Ruoruo got into the sedan chair, she nodded to him. Fan Xian knew that the matter had been settled. His spirits lifted, he began to make arrangements for the evening.
"Guo Baokun must be living in the manor of the Minister of State. He goes to the palace every three days or so. It's called editing, but in reality, he's the Crown Prince's study companion."
Fan Xian frowned. "How old is the Crown Prince this year? He needs a study companion?"
"The Crown Prince is the Empress's son. He's ranked third among the princes, and he's already 18 years old."
Fan Xian laughed. "Why would an 18-year-old need a study companion?"
Teng Zijing laughed bitterly. "He's just having fun, so he's found some people to play with him."
"Does the Emperor not care?"
"That … I'm not sure."
After what happened in the restaurant a few days ago, Fan Xian was worried that Guo Baokun would not be able to swallow his anger and would do something underhanded. So he ordered Teng Zijing to investigate, and found out where Guo Baokun often went, as well as the route he took home.
At today's poetry meeting, Guo Baokun's words were sharp. No matter how good Fan Xian's temperament was, he could only keep a smile on his face. Deep down, he was still very angry. Only now did he realize that the reason he had asked Teng Zijing to investigate was because he was subconsciously prepared to bully Guo Baokun, not because he was worried about being bullied.
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