In the corner of the square outside the palace, the street connected to Xinjiekou, looking along the long street, one can vaguely see a crescent moon hanging in the sky with a shy eyebrow. In the dim twilight, Li Hongcheng got off his horse, cupped his hands casually, looked at this beautiful lady-like friend in front of him, couldn't help but smiled and said: "I see layers of red light on your face, The color is inexplicable, I think I got a lot of benefits today."
Fan Xian replied with a smile, "I haven't seen you for a few months. This first sentence is just to make fun of me. You are a dignified Prince Jing's son, the fifth young son in the capital, why bother with such a miserable person like me?" Apart from the prince, among the younger generation, Li Hongcheng was naturally the most honorable. Fan Xian deliberately ranked him as the fifth prince. If it was an ordinary friendship, it would inevitably appear frivolous, but between the two of them, it would be frivolous. It seemed very affectionate.
Li Hongcheng was slightly taken aback, thinking that this guy is usually too lazy to provoke me in Beijing, and there is always a trace of hidden loneliness in his gentle smile, why did he change his temper today? Thinking of one thing, I thought I had figured it out, and laughed loudly: "You are suffering too? Your Majesty loves you so much, and even deliberately kept you here after the court meeting. I am afraid that those officials in Beijing will not accept this kind of hardship." I can't wait to grit my teeth and carry it."
Fan Xian waved his hand and said nothing. Teng Zijing, who had been waiting outside the palace, greeted him a long time ago, but seeing Shi Ziye talking to the young master, it was not easy to intervene, so he hurriedly said: "Young master, the master said earlier, let me follow you."
Li Hongcheng smiled and said, "What? Master Fan is worried that I will get Fan Xian drunk?"
Fan Xian said from the side: "Then you can follow."
While speaking, Fan's carriage drove over. Li Hongcheng was asking the prince's entourage to lead the horse. When he looked back, he asked curiously, "Why? You still only want to ride in a carriage instead of riding a horse?"
Fan Xian said, "If you're not in a hurry, what are you doing riding a horse?"
Li Hongcheng couldn't help but shook his head and sighed: "If it weren't for the people in Beijing to know that you are capable of writing and martial arts, just looking at your actions, I'm afraid they would look down on you and think you are just a useless scholar with no strength to restrain a chicken." Qing The country favors martial arts, young people are proud of being good at riding, but Fan Xian does the opposite. When he has a car, he resolutely refuses to ride a horse. This eccentricity has already spread throughout the capital during this year.
Fan Xian cursed something with a smile, then walked to the carriage and said, "Riding on a horse and bumping your ass."
The long guards of Prince Jing's Mansion had already surrounded them, together with the servants of the Fan Mansion's guards, they actually formed a small team of more than a dozen people, guarding a tall horse and an unremarkable black carriage, heading towards the east of the city. The direction drove slowly.
There is no such thing as a curfew in Kyoto. Although it is late, there are still many pedestrians on the street. Looking at this eye-catching procession, they can clearly see the handsome young man on the horse and the square and circle logo on the carriage. Know the identities of the two. The people in the capital all knew the news of the mission's return. Since they were walking with Prince Jing, they thought that the legendary illegitimate son of the Fan family was in the carriage. Now that Mr. Fan was young, they couldn't help but stop and watch, some of them were bold. Kuangsheng even called Fan Shixian, Fan Shixian to the carriage.
Last year's banquet in front of the palace had been spread among the people of Kyoto for a long time, and this time, the donation of books by everyone in Zhuang Mohan of the Northern Qi Dynasty was promoted by the Eighth Division of the Overwatch Council, and it became a street corner After hearing the anecdote, Fan Xian's reputation went even further. Afterwards, the poem "Do you know? Do you know?" was circulated, and the common people learned that Mr. Fan dared to go to Beijing in the Northern Qi Dynasty. The closed-door female disciple of Master Paokuhe, the people in the capital of the Qing Dynasty feel even hotter every time they think about it, it seems that this matter is more glorious than Zhuang Mohan's gift book—see? The crabapple you offered like a saint is not just a flower bud waiting to be picked in the hands of Mrs. Fan!
Fan Xian gave face to the people in the capital of the Qing Kingdom, and naturally the people in the capital also wanted to show face to Mr. Fan. Along the way, people kept greeting Fan Xian on the side of the street. Most of them were scholars, and occasionally there would be some face. The blushing girl bowed to her family with a slight blessing.
Master Xiao Fan won the hearts of the people, so naturally everyone ignored Prince Jing's son, even though he was also the most honored master in the capital. However, Prince Jing didn't seem to have any unhappy expression on his face. Instead, he smiled happily. It seemed that the respect Fan Xian received was also his honor.
Listening to the discussion outside the carriage, please be quiet, it stands to reason that even if Fan Xian didn't open the window and wave his hands like the head of a certain world, at least he should have a satisfied smile on his face, but who could? Thinking of him in the carriage, there was only a helpless wry smile on the corner of his lips.
※※※
The place where the prince arranged for Fan Xian to meet him was still in Yishiju, the restaurant where Fan Xian had given a good comment when he first entered the capital. This restaurant is considered a luxurious place in Kyoto, but it is not quiet enough, and it is far from the most extreme restaurant. Fan Xian couldn't help but wonder why Hongcheng chose such a place, but he didn't have any opinions.
When he got out of the carriage, he realized that the stone residence was unexpectedly quiet today. There were not many pedestrians on the long street in front of the building, and the building, which was full of people in the past, was even quieter. The lights were brightly lit, otherwise he would have doubted whether he had been on the diplomatic mission for several months, and the business of this premier gin restaurant had collapsed and closed its doors.
Seeing the doubt in the corner of Fan Xian's eyes, Li Hongcheng said with a smile, "I'll take care of it today."
Fan Xian said with a wry smile: "Although you are a dignified son, the situation is too great. I don't know how many high-ranking officials and nobles come and go to Yishiju every day. In order to treat me to dinner, you have made others talk. People are jealous. If you want to be quiet, go to as many places as possible in the west of the city. Even if you like the taste of this place, you can reserve a floor. The whole restaurant is waiting for the two of us. , is also not good."
Seeing his sincerity, Li Hongcheng was a little moved when he saw that he didn't speak for a moment, and said with a smile: "What are you afraid of? I'm afraid that everyone in the world knows that my royal father loves to grow flowers, but I love to pick them. Meng Lang has always been in business, and the title of the so-called prodigal son is always inseparable, so what does it matter."
Fan Xian knew that with his status, he could indeed afford this score, and shook his head with a smile, "You, you are almost married, so you don't know how to restrain yourself."
Hearing him talk about the marriage, Li Hongcheng showed a faint joy, but he was a little embarrassed to talk about it, and said: "Don't be too careless, you must know that the power in your hands is not small, and you married That good daughter-in-law... Let me tell you the truth, in the palace and in the mansion, we juniors naturally have to be a little bit more sensible, but if we leave the palace and the mansion, we are the real masters. Others said to go!"
What Meng Lang said was exaggerated and arrogant, but it came from Li Hongcheng's mouth, but it was not offensive.
Fan Xian also held back his idleness in the palace, so he just smiled and followed him to the building. Unexpectedly, when he went downstairs, he looked at the three gold-plated characters of "Yishiju" written by Mr. Pan Ling on the plaque. Li Hongcheng paused, pointed his finger and asked, "Do you still remember where you and I first met?"
Fan Xian laughed: "It's right here."
"Yes, but in just one year, you, who made harsh comments and kept saying that you look down on so-called talented people, have now become the most famous talented person in the world." Li Hongcheng couldn't help shaking his head and said with a smile: " If you could have imagined that Zhuang Mohan, a great master of a generation, would pass it on to you at the end of his life, would you still have thought of scolding these talents?"
Fan Xian couldn't help feeling a little bit emotional when he thought about what happened in the past year. He sighed, "I don't know what's going on at the end of the year. I'm not afraid of your jokes. At that time, I was just an illegitimate child who had never seen anything in Beijing for the first time. Naturally, it is inevitable that there will be a few big baskets of complaints."
Li Hongcheng looked at him with a smile, knowing that the reason why this young friend in front of him could have such a big change within a year was that despite the blessing of the Holy Grace, the secret protection of Fan Shangshu, and the three factors of marriage and power, the other party was so young. Being the commissioner of the Overwatch Council and having a seat in the imperial study room without some real materials is absolutely impossible, not to mention the collection of Banxianzhai's poems, which has been sold several times, which is the evidence that people all over the world can see.
Regarding the functions of the Overwatch Council, in fact, the dignitaries in the capital did not directly connect Chen Pingping with Fan Xian, they just thought that this was His Majesty's intention, and that loyal dog Chen Pingping was just acting according to the order.
"Although you always drag me around the Liujing River, I didn't rely on that bit of talent to fool the poor woman." Fan Xian looked at the slightly startled Li Hongcheng, laughed and patted him on the shoulder: "So those shits Talented man, I still have to scold what should be scolded."
In his heart, Hai Tang, who had been fooled by his poems, was naturally not a poor woman.
…
…
The two of them stood in front of the Yishiju restaurant, "reviewing the present and recalling the past", expressing emotion, but the shopkeepers in the restaurant were extremely nervous. Although I don't know how the master can invite the prince to hold the reception banquet here, but if Mr. Fan's first meal outside after returning to Beijing is at Yishiju, the reputation of the restaurant will go up to a higher level. I'm afraid that in the future, rich scholars from the south of the Yangtze River will choose to eat here. Isn't the money coming in vain? Although Yishiju is already famous enough, who would think too much of the three things of fame, power and money
Fortunately, they didn't get nervous for a long time. Li Hongcheng and Fan Xian had already walked into the restaurant with their arms, and the guards of the royal residence who were pressing on the two ends of the street behind them immediately came back and guarded the door of the restaurant. The carriage and the elders went elsewhere.
With a creak, the door of Yishiju closed. This was probably the first time the restaurant opened in Kyoto for thirty-four years.
When the door was closed, Li Hongcheng seemed to turn his head inadvertently, but he noticed several spies in ordinary clothes occupying the vital points around the restaurant. He knew in his heart that it was the Overwatch Council personnel who would personally protect Fan Xian, but even he wasn't sure where they were. The prince sighed inwardly, and said to Fan Xian, "You still say that I am arrogant, seeing that you have the Overwatch Council guarding the door for you every meal, and the Tiger Guards guarding you when you go on an envoy, in terms of arrogance, I am not as good as you .”
At this time, the two of them had already climbed up the steps to the third floor, separated by two screens, and a small round table had already set up a few plates of exquisite "cold opening". He said: "Tiger Guard is paid to the mission, and it will be taken away soon after returning to Beijing. As for the Overwatch Council..." He smiled wryly and said, "After the incident in Niulan Street, do you think the courtyard can still let me be at ease? Walking alone in Kyoto?"
Speaking of this, Li Hongcheng cursed angrily: "You kid is not mean enough, you just became the commissioner of the Overwatch Council in a muffled voice. Seeing the tense appearance of the Overwatch Council behind Niulan Street, I think you That's it already... If it wasn't for the trouble in the Ministry of Punishment, I would still be kept in the dark."
After all the calculations, during the murder incident on Niulan Street, Fan Xian hadn't had a night of poetic madness to startle the Holy Majesty. The prince was actually saying something secretly, not only him, but even the second prince hadn't fully figured it out. Why did the Holy Majesty trust Fan so much? idle.
Fan Xian didn't explain, just wiped his hands with a hot towel, and started grabbing him to drink, saying that he had been out for a long time, and he forgot the taste of the capital wine. Li Hongcheng smiled wryly, knowing that the other party would not explain it to him.
After a while, the head patrol served all the dishes, knowing that the Shizi and Mr. Fan had something to say, the shopkeeper and the shopkeeper knew the customer and the fellows didn't say anything more, and retreated. Fan Xian took a piece of fish belly with the tip of his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. He smacked it a few times and took a sip of wine, looking extremely enjoying it.
Li Hongcheng sized him up and said jokingly: "If you don't eat a bear's paw, even if you have trouble with a fish, you still can't get rid of your narrow pattern."
Fan Xian blurted out: "The bear's paw is what I want, and the fish is what I want. You can't have both. You can give up the bear's paw and get the fish."
Hearing what he said was interesting, Li Hongcheng asked with a smile, "Why?"
Fan Xian slapped his head, laughed and said, "You don't understand, it's just a matter of studying and reading back then."
…
…
Since it was a reception banquet, it shouldn't have been so deserted, but Fan Xian had already sent someone to pass on a message last night, asking the prince to remember the hard journey and not to have a large group of people to accompany him, and the prince also vaguely knew, because Fan Xian's backyard was on fire in that song, so he didn't call a kabuki to accompany him. But Li Hongcheng is also a son of the rich and powerful who is used to being gentle with others. The two are already acquainted with each other. They talk about the experience of the Northern Qi Dynasty, gossip, drink and eat food, light but comfortable, and Fan Xian can finally be seventy percent of his true self. On the contrary, it is very comfortable to eat.
After a few drinks, the son was a little overwhelmed by alcohol, pointed at Fan Xian and cursed: "I heard that you drank in Beiqi, and you got drunk when you drank, why did you run in front of me and become a wine fairy?" How could he be poured down by a few glasses of water and wine? The reason why he got drunk with Haitang last time in Beiqi was all because he wanted to vent his depression over the years and deliberately wanted to get drunk. Listening to Li Hongcheng's words, he said with a smile: "You old man, what good is it if I get drunk in front of you?"
Li Hongcheng suddenly showed fascination, and asked softly: "That girl Haitang... really looks like a fairy?"
Fan Xian took a sip of the wine, but fortunately he turned quickly, he just sprayed it on the ground, and laughed and cursed: "Could it be that's why you invited me to dinner today?"
After drinking for three rounds, Fan Xian's eyes became brighter the more he drank. Li Hongcheng became drunk, pointed to Fan Xian's handsome face, and said, "Fan Xian, you don't know what happened to you on this mission. There is something different about your face."
Fan Xian touched his cheek subconsciously, and asked curiously, "What's the difference?"
Li Hongcheng scratched his head, spilled the wine all over the floor, seemed to be thinking about how to express his words, and then laughed and said after a long while: "If we talk about you in the past, you still have a slight smile on your face as you do now, making people want to get close to you. You, but there is always a hint of estrangement hidden, and it seems that you don't want others to get too close to you. But now your smile is not so pure on purpose, but just reassuring, with clear eyes, whether it is speech or demeanor, it is like A piece of polished jade is extremely warm and moist."
Fan Xian smiled in response to the occasion, thinking that this was probably the change that the cave brought to him overnight. He finally figured out something. From the bottom of his heart, he began to regard himself as a part of the world, and began to serve for him. To make a real plan for one's own future, it comes from the inside and looks outside, and there will naturally be changes.
…
…
Li Hongcheng gradually became drunk, but Fan Xian was extremely sober.
"I know, the inner treasury of your palm has been appointed in the palace today." Li Hongcheng seemed a little drunk and embarrassed, "In the future, you will leak some soup from your palm for me."
Although it was a naughty joke, saying it as his eldest son already gave Fan Xian enough face. Fan Xian couldn't help being a little surprised, looked at him twice, and asked softly: "Your family is a hereditary prince, why do you care about these things? Could it be that His Majesty still owes your family."
Li Hongcheng showed a mocking look, and said with a big tongue: "You also know that I spend a lot of money. Although there is a shopkeeper in Qingyutang who helps the palace manage the money, and some income, but there is not enough..." He sighed, "You also know that although my brother is His Majesty's real brother, he has been unwilling to do anything for so many years. He even goes to the palace to see his grandmother once a month. He is stubborn and ruthless. Naturally, there are few people who are filial to an idle prince. And because of my identity, I can't let go of my airs and deal with those prefects and prefects, so naturally there will be times when I don't take advantage of it."
Fan Xian seemed a little surprised, he didn't know what to say: "If you say this outside, no one will believe it."
Li Hongcheng waved his hand, reeking of alcohol, and sneered, "It's useless to have the name of relatives and nobles, but it's useless. Don't be embarrassed. The internal treasury belongs to the imperial court after all. When it's time for you to fish, don't be polite." I don't know how much the prince has benefited from my aunt's management of the internal treasury these years. Even when the old Guo family ransacked by you, they copied 130,000 taels of silver, and the internal treasury was empty? If you go to Wuzhou If you take a look at the prince's palace, you will know where these people's anointings have gone."
Fan Xian's heart twitched slightly, knowing that Shi Zi said this specifically for himself.
…
…
Seeing Prince Jing's son drunk on the table, a sneer flashed in Fan Xian's heart, thinking Uncle Wu Zhu was right, there is really no one in this world who is worth trusting. During the trip to the Northern Qi Dynasty, I had a lot of feelings, and I knew that friendship was rare, so tonight I knew that Li Hongcheng was using the name of receiving the wind to represent the second prince to announce his close relationship with the second prince's party to Beijing, but he still did not refuse, but unexpectedly This prince would tell such a big lie in front of his face.
Li Hongcheng, Prince Jing's son, one of his confidantes, has been secretly handling all the flesh and blood business on the Liujing River. Transporting a large amount of silver. The son's activities are extremely secretive. If Fan Xian hadn't sent someone to investigate the red lady named Yuan Meng last summer, I'm afraid even the second office of the Overwatch Council would not have known about it—no wonder he dared to cry poorly in front of Fan Xian. .
However, Fan Xian also knew that the second prince might not have taken a fancy to the money in the inner treasury, but during the period when Princess Xinyang was at the helm, the East Palace must have done a lot of tricks in the inner treasury. Get the prince off the horse on the way!
And he also understands that there is truth in what the son said, that some princes and nobles do not live as they wish, and even himself, if he is not supported by a bookstore and has a big treasury manager in his family, I am afraid that he will Stretch out your hand everywhere - no one is filial, so do you only rely on the little salary from the imperial court
The banquet was over and the wine was gone, Fan Xian patted Li Hongcheng twice, but seeing no response, he didn't bother to care whether Li Hongcheng was really drunk or pretended to be drunk, so he pretended to stagger and stood up while helping the wine table, and walked out. The shopkeeper had already notified the relatives on both sides to come up and wait on them.
※※※
The wooden door of Yishiju had been opened, and the early autumn night wind blew in. Fan Xian shook his head, trying to treat his friend with sincerity, but he couldn't respond, so he was a little disappointed.
At this moment, a plainly dressed middle-aged man appeared out of nowhere, and made a big gift to Fan Xian in fear. Fan Xian turned his body slightly, frowned slightly, thinking that since Li Hongcheng has covered up this building and there are guards outside the door, how did this man get in
Seeing the doubt on Master Fan's face, the man hurriedly responded humbly: "Cui Qingquan, the owner of Yishiju, please take care of Master Fan."
It turned out to be the owner of Yishiju, probably here to flatter. Fan Xian was subconsciously preparing to smile when he suddenly thought of this surname and asked with a frown, "Cui?"
Cui Qingquan smiled apologetically and said, "That's right, the adults in the clan wanted to personally come to thank you for your kindness and virtue in training the second son in the north, but they just knew that Master Xiao Fan was poetic and bookish, and he didn't like such things. So I ordered the little one to serve the adults well today."
Fan Xian nodded expressionlessly. He knew that the Cui family was a well-established and well-established family in the capital. Knowing that his son had offended him, he did everything possible to settle the matter.
Cui Qingquan tactfully did not go forward, but just handed over a box and said, "It's a short-branched ginseng. Although it's not very tonic, it's the best for sobering up. It's been washed and chewed raw is the best."
Fan Xian nodded, and Fujiko Jing took it from the side.
On the carriage passing through the long street, Fan Xian opened the box on his lap, and found that there was no dwarf ginseng, but a thick stack of bank notes. Frowning, he found that there were a total of twenty thousand taels!
Sitting across from him, Fujiko Jing said dumbfounded, "The Cui family has done a great job."
Fan Xian's expression remained the same, but he was actually a little surprised in his heart. This was Danbo Bookstore's income for a long time, and the other party sent it over so easily. Of course, he also understands that if Mrs. Cui still wants to be a merchant in the north of the inner treasury, he must curry favor with him. Thinking of the courtesies he received all the way out of the palace and into the palace today, he couldn't help sighing. Although he has been a human being in two lives and his heart is much more resolute than ordinary people, but at this time he can feel the feeling of power so clearly. Slightly at a loss.
——But Cui's money was given away for nothing. Since Fan Xian had already made up his mind, Cui's only burial for the Eldest Princess in the future. Thinking of this, his loathing for the son faded away. After all, life is still a matter of using each other. It's just that he doesn't like Li Hongcheng treating him like a fool. After all, he still wants to save this son. friend.
Looking at the young master's face, Fujiko Jing knew what he was thinking, and frowned, "Is this appropriate?"
Fan Xian looked at him and smiled, and said, "Your Majesty sent me a word earlier: After leaving the palace, we are the real masters, what's wrong?"
…
…
The car arrived at a secluded street and alley, and the moon in the sky was about to reach the mid-heaven, and the silver light was soft and light. Fan Xian got out of the carriage and asked everyone in the palace to go back first. Fuji Zijing knew that there was always a team of Overwatch Council officials secretly protecting him, so he didn't say much.
He waved towards the shadow, and a spy from the Overwatch Council came over quietly. He was also the first member of the Qi Nian team, and he could be regarded as Fan Xian's confidant. Fan Xian looked at him and said, "Deng Ziyue, send a secret order to return to the court tomorrow to check whether the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, the Supervisor of the Qintian Supervisor, and the Imperial Envoy of the Left Deputy are related to the properties under the Cui family."
Deng Ziyue suddenly raised his head, his eyes were big and bright: "My lord, the royal family cannot be investigated without purpose." He had a very high rank in the Overwatch Council, so he vaguely knew that the second prince was behind the three ministers.
Fan Xian frowned and waved his hands: "It's just a few ministers who are investigating secretly. What are you afraid of?"
Deng Ziyue knew that his performance had dissatisfied the chief minister, so he quickly agreed.
Fan Xian looked at him and added: "Wang Qinian knows what to ask and what not to ask. Since you have taken his job, you must learn this."
Deng Ziyue obeyed in horror, and then saw that there was a box in front of him suddenly. He didn't dare to open it, so he hugged it in his arms and walked forward with Mr. Fan who was walking with his hands behind his back. How will you communicate with the courtyard in the future?" He didn't know if this question counted as a question to ask.
Fan Xian stopped in his tracks and said with a smile, "Don't go through the official channel, it will be recorded. You can go directly to Mu Tie."
"yes."
Fan Xian walked forward, it was rare to appreciate the capital late at night after a long absence, he didn't want to let go of this opportunity, so he just left a word.
"This box is not for you, it's for you."