It was the first day of Xiaoxue, and the cold air in the palace was smoldering. This Tianwei was really hard to resist. But Fan Xian sat in the wheelchair and was very warm. The high-necked cloak he was wearing protected him from the wind and snow, and even warmed up a bit. He was already mentally prepared for the emperor's question, and he never expected that his family would hide Fan Sizhe from many people if he smuggled Fan Sizhe out of Beijing.
"I just received the letter the day before yesterday, and I have settled down in Shangjing."
Fan Xian intentionally or unintentionally glanced at the little eunuch behind him. At this time, the emperor was walking ahead happily, so he didn't notice the eye contact between the two behind him.
The little eunuch was that Hong Zhu. He looked at Fan Tisi's smiling eyes, but for some reason he felt a chill in his heart, and a trace of fear arose—Hong Zhu knew that this Tisi lord was warning him that a certain These words must not be heard by others—this little eunuch has been following His Majesty recently, and he deeply understands that Banjun should keep a silent attitude, so he quickly lowered his head, not daring to meet Fan Xian's gaze.
Hong Zhu also wanted to climb the mountain of Fan Xian in his heart, so how dare he go around preaching things that are not good for the Fan family.
"Is that how you said it?" The emperor said calmly as he walked towards the lake, "I thought that although people in the world know many things well, there are some superficial things that must be done."
Fan Xian lowered his head and turned his neck so that his cheeks rubbed against the soft fur on his collar: "Your Majesty has a question, and I dare not speak half a lie."
The emperor stopped suddenly, and the little eunuch quickly grabbed Fan Xian's wheelchair, not daring to stand side by side with the emperor. Fan Xian couldn't sit still, and frowned.
"Don't tell lies to me... dare to lie blatantly to the people of the world?" The emperor turned his head and looked at Fan Xian with a half-smile, the few wrinkles in the corners of his eyes were more than a smile. challenge.
Fan Xian raised his head and looked directly into the emperor's eyes with some impoliteness: "There are so many foolish people in the world... I am only loyal to His Majesty, not to those common people."
"But someone once said..." The emperor's eyes suddenly became a little strange, "The people are the most important, the community is second, and the king is the least."
"Nonsense, I don't know who has the guts." Fan Xian frowned slightly. Of course he knew who would have the guts. The original creator was Wei Zi, and the copycat was Mom.
"The Ministry of Criminal Justice is still looking for your younger brother." The emperor laughed twice, turned around and continued walking, and said, "Aren't you afraid that I will punish you?"
Hong Zhu pushed the wheelchair and followed. Hearing the squeaking sound of the wheels, Fan Xian felt a little headache. He shook his head and said, "Your Majesty is wise, you will understand my difficulties."
"Difficulties?" The emperor sneered: "I'm afraid that the second child will feel that he has difficulties and cannot complain now?"
"Ah... the minister is guilty."
Fan Xian knew that he should play a slightly horrifying role at this time, just like those courtiers who were close to the emperor in Qing court dramas. But he clearly knew that it was the emperor's own intention to dismount the second prince, and he was nothing more than a knife. Moreover, in the heart of the emperor, he is not a simple courtier, after all, that relationship is at work.
So he didn't have a trace of fear at all, and he didn't have a trace of nervousness, so that no matter how much he played his acting skills, it was still superficial and a bit exaggerated.
The emperor cursed in a low voice: "It's just a play, I don't know how to be serious!"
Fan Xian replied with a bitter face, "I am guilty."
Over and over again, there are boring words such as the subject is guilty and the subject is guilty. Fortunately, at this time, the three of them had already boarded the wooden bridge in the lake, and the conversation was temporarily suspended. Although Kyoto is already quite cold, but in the first snow weather, the lake must not be so desolate as to freeze, and it is still green and cold under the bridge. Although the wooden bridge was built flat and firm, the wheelchair always felt a little unstable when it was pressed on it. Fan Xian grasped the handles of the wheelchair with both hands, staring at the gaps between the wooden bridges, thinking that if the little eunuch behind him at this time If he suddenly became a killer, he would be miserable.
The eunuchs and court ladies who had come to clean and arrange the pavilion in front of them gave a bow and then disappeared without a trace, not daring to accompany them.
The emperor sat on a padded stone bench, and signaled Fan Xian to drink a cup of hot tea with his eyes, but he picked up the pine nuts with two fingers and peeled them slowly. The little eunuch Hong Zhu retreated to the side of the pavilion knowingly, on the one hand to watch the wind, and on the other hand to be ready at any time for any orders from the masters in the pavilion.
"What's the matter?" asked the emperor.
Fan Xian seemed to have been scalded by the tea in the cup, frowned, and immediately responded: "Your Majesty is referring to the injury of the minister, or..."
"the latter."
Fan Xian responded directly: "We are ready to do it, and the court order has been issued. This matter has not passed through the court, so it should not attract too many people's attention."
The emperor nodded.
Fan Xian continued to explain the details: "All the goods that are still in the territory can be intercepted, but... I am afraid that the Northern Qi people will find out about the news, and make a lot of money from it. After all, the Cui family also stocked a lot of goods in the north..." He concealed very important information in these words, even if he was killed, he would not tell the emperor that this was his plan to share the loot with the Northern Qi emperor.
"There are three routes to the north. At present, the four routes have been controlled. The manpower in the courtyard of the inner warehouse has been with the people there for too long, so I don't feel at ease. It is useless for the time being."
He frowned, and explained Yan Bingyun's plan in great detail, but before he could finish, the emperor waved his hand and said, "I... don't want details, just the result."
Fan Xian paused and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured that most of the income from the internal treasury should be recovered within a year at the latest."
The emperor shook his head indifferently: "It is impossible for the inner treasury to return to the grand occasion...I think you understand the reason."
Fan Xian lowered his head.
The emperor asked: "I come to ask you, why are you so sure that I will support you in attacking the second child and the eldest princess?"
"Because... the imperial court needs silver."
After a long silence, the emperor hummed through his nose and said: "The imperial court wants to do things, to expand borders...you need money, and Yunrui has spent so much money in the internal treasury these years that I can't stand it anymore, so I just did it." I prefer you to take over this mess. You did not disappoint me, firstly because you have the courage to take over, and secondly because you are ruthless enough to not be afraid because of the identity of the other party... This is what I have learned from you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your appreciation." Fan Xian could only thank him, because the eldest princess was his mother-in-law after all, so of course he couldn't make unreasonable comments.
The emperor picked up a pine nut and put it on his lips, slowly chewing on its fragrance. Outside the pavilion, the wind stopped and the snow disappeared, and there was a slight chill in the tranquility.
"Ye Chong has returned to Cangzhou. I asked Prince He to be the commander of the imperial army. I heard that there were some discussions in Beijing. Did you hear anything?" The emperor seemed to ask casually.
Fan Xian smiled bitterly, and replied, "Discussions are unavoidable, after all, it doesn't seem to be in line with the old rules."
"your opinion?"
Fan Xian was taken aback, thinking how it was his turn to give advice on such matters, and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty is far-sighted and calm, so how dare I speak out on my own."
"Speak, I forgive you for your innocence." The emperor never looked at Fan Xian's handsome face, but focused his attention on the winter-cold tree in the palace garden.
Fan Xian calmed down. He knew that it was very difficult to talk to the emperor. Wei Xiaobao was a fake Jiuzhenyi back then, but was finally caught by Kangxi, and what he did secretly was to sneak into the palace, make an agreement with Beiqi, and Sean's conversation... all of this is hidden from the emperor in front of him. If the incident happens, who knows what will happen to him
It's just that the emperor in front of him is really unfathomable. If Fan Xian didn't have that natural advantage, he definitely wouldn't dare to play with him. The so-called advantage is that you know the real relationship between the other party and yourself, but the other party doesn't know that you know this - so, Fan Xian can pretend to be a courtier and play pure loyalty, the more the other party feels sorry for him, the more benefits he can get big.
"His Royal Highness doesn't want to stay in the capital." Fan Xian said straightforwardly: "It's also against the rules for a dignified prince to lower his rank to use it. The most important thing is that the imperial palace is the heart of Qing, so we have to be careful."
These words were very straightforward, even a bit out of bounds, but the emperor didn't have any big reaction, but said coldly: "I don't want to? If things go wrong in the world, nine times out of ten, he doesn't want to stay in Beijing, so he is willing to watch Do you want me, a father, to stay in the capital alone? Fan Xian, you really don't have much skill as a lobbyist."
Fan Xian looked embarrassed, knowing that the eldest prince had visited him in Fan's mansion, he did not hide it from the emperor.
"Don't quarrel with the second child, if he settles down." The emperor closed his eyes, and ended the matter in the capital some time ago.
"Yes." Fan Xian nodded. He had already achieved what he wanted to achieve, so what's the fuss about
"You have made great contributions to the matter of the Hanging Temple this time." The emperor suddenly said quietly: "However, as the commissioner of the Overwatch Council, you actually let assassins infiltrate the capital. Your dereliction of duty. The two cancel each other out, so I have no choice but to reward you for those useless things, so don’t feel resentful.”
"I don't dare." Fan Xian replied seriously: "It was because of my negligence... As for the injury, it was because of my lack of skill that I was injured by that white-clothed swordsman."
The emperor suddenly asked with interest: "The swordsman... I haven't found out who it is, you have fought against him before, can you guess something?"
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A cold wind suddenly blew up outside the pavilion, and Fan Xian's back suddenly became numb, and a drop of sweat trickled down from his neck, dripping down the inside of his underwear. He didn't know what the real purpose of the emperor's question was, but he felt that if he was not careful, he would lose all the previous rounds.
The white-clothed swordsman is a shadow, no matter what reason Chen Pingping did this game, of course she will not tell the emperor the truth before ventilating with herself. But if the emperor vaguely guessed this matter, how should he answer? If you say you don't know, will it shake the position you have finally established in the emperor's heart
It was only a moment of astonishment, Fan Xian hid it well, and asked in surprise, "Didn't Your Majesty say that the swordsman in white is Si Gu Jian's younger brother?"
The emperor sneered and said: "Dongyi City was in great chaos back then, Sigu swords were ruthless, and he killed countless members of his family. It is said that a brother escaped... I guessed. On the tall building that day, the bright Ri Yijian, if it wasn't for Si Gu Jian's sword intent, I'm afraid I'd be blind."
Fan Xian felt relieved, knowing that he had made the right bet, and said with a smile, "It's a pity, if you can hold the evidence... I will use this name to send troops to Dongyi City next year, and the injury will be worth it."
These words tickled the emperor's itch, the emperor liked this kind of shameless trick the most, and said with a smile: "After Si Gu Jian was cured by Fei Jie, he has never been an idiot again, how could he admit it? First of all, he refused to admit that there is still a younger brother alive in the world, and then he sent a letter of credence, expressing his shock and condolences for my assassination, and expressing his disbelief at the murderousness of the assassin... "
The middle-aged man talked to himself, but found that no one responded to his rare humor. Looking back, he found that Fan Xian was looking at him very seriously, and the little eunuch outside the pavilion was even half bent, not daring to speak. .
Looking at this scene, he couldn't help sighing in his heart, thinking that after so many years, there was no one who dared to fight with him like her up and down... Sure enough, there was no one else.
The emperor felt a little sad, and asked slowly, "Fan Xian... upstairs that day, why did you save Ping'er first?"
Fan Xian pleaded guilty in a wheelchair. After a long silence, he replied: "At that time, if I came to Your Majesty's side, I would only be able to block the sword in front, but not the one behind me... His Highness is in danger."
"Oh?" The emperor laughed at himself, "Could it be that Zhen's life is not as valuable as Ping'er's?"
Fan Xian smiled wryly, and pleaded guilty again: "I deserve death for my crimes. The situation was tense at the time, and I didn't react for a while."
"When you rush in front of me... the opportunity is lost, don't you fear death?"
After Fan Xian thought for a while, he finally said something outrageous. He looked into His Majesty's quiet eyes, and said bitterly: "At that time, I was thinking, risking my life, if I can block that sword, it will be great, if I can't... Hehe... I can go to another world with Your Majesty It’s a great honor to see the scenery.”
The emperor was taken aback for a moment, and then he burst out laughing, the laughter was so loud that it spread far outside the pavilion. Hearing His Majesty's rare happy laughter, the eunuchs and maids waiting for orders at the corner of the palace couldn't help but look at each other, wondering what joke Fan Tisi told today that made the Holy Majesty so happy.
The emperor stopped smiling, and the more he looked at the familiar expression on Fan Xian's brow, the more comforted he became, and he said in a slow voice, "Going to Jiangnan, you should pay more attention to yourself, don't rush ahead with everything... I heard that you are also making such a fuss in the north, and the dignified minister doesn't know how to save his life."
Fan Xian felt a little embarrassed, knowing that His Majesty's words made sense. How many ministers of the country would be as accustomed to taking dangerous actions as he used to do? It's just that I like to travel alone in my bones, and I still don't trust others very much in the end-however, there are still a few months before the trip to the south of the Yangtze River, and the emperor's parting order seems to be too early.
"Your Majesty." Thinking of an important matter, Fan Xian said with some anxiety, "What you said to Concubine Yigui earlier... was it a joke?"
The emperor rolled his eyes and said coldly: "You are not joking."
Fan Xian was terrified: "Your age is not high, and your virtue is not high, how can you be the prince's teacher?"
The emperor laughed, looked at him and said, "I heard... when you were in Beijing in Northern Qi, that little emperor respected you very much... As for Virtue, someone who even Zhuang Mohan admired, why can't you do it? It's just Zhuang Mohan's descendant... If I didn't see how young you are, I would directly announce you to give lectures in the palace, who would dare to say anything?"
"But..." Fan Xian somewhat regretted the illustrious fame that his vanity caused, and replied distressedly: "But I will go to the south of the Yangtze River next spring, and the Third Prince's studies will be missed."
The emperor waved his hand: "Take Ping'er, I have already agreed with the Queen Mother."
Fan Xian opened his mouth wide and remained silent for a long time.
…
…
"Do it well." The emperor said calmly, "Forget about the Jiangnan matter, and stay in Beijing for another two years, and I will let you enter the school of Zhongshu."
He stared into Fan Xian's eyes, and said softly, "I value you."
After being silent for a while, Fan Xian nodded without pretense, knowing that the conversation was over, he prepared to resign and go home. Unexpectedly... the emperor waved his hand again, and said calmly: "Today is Lidong, there is a banquet in the palace. You can eat in the palace... I have sent people to pick up Wan'er at your house."
Fan Xian was shocked again, not knowing what this meant, or it couldn't explain anything.
"The Empress Dowager wants to see you." The emperor said, coughed twice to cover up: "The old man wants to see what Wan'er's husband looks like after all."
※※※
The emperor left in his imperial chariot. The pavilion became quiet, only Fan Xian and the little eunuch who was in charge of pushing the wheelchair today were left.
Fan Xian watched the direction in which the emperor left, and the cold self-mockery in his eyes was fleeting. He was called into the palace today. Although the incident happened suddenly, he still had some small expectations. Maybe the middle-aged man would let him see the painting? Maybe the middle-aged man would say something to himself
Unexpectedly, in the end, it was still such a benevolent and loyal minister, and he was a little disappointed in his heart. The emperor's family is ruthless, of course he knows this, and he never regards that middle-aged man as his father... The so-called disappointment is actually just disappointment for that woman named Ye Qingmei.
Looking at the emperor's attitude towards him, one can tell that he is a ruthless person, at least... for his mother, he does not have the gratitude and nostalgia that should be due. In other words, even if the emperor has great trust in himself now, even if he has regarded himself as the closest courtier, he is still just a courtier.
If one day he really reveals his identity, he will no longer be a "loyal minister" who has meritorious escorts, but will involve the ownership of that chair... Fan Xian sneered in his heart. , but it is the interest he has cultivated since childhood. But whether it is right or wrong is one's own problem. Whether middle-aged men let themselves stand in the sequence of arrangement is a moral problem.
Hold! ... I often say you!
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Fan Xian took a deep breath after scolding the emperor's wife to vent his anger, knowing that his depression was really unreasonable. Because Ning Cairen was a female captive of Dongyi, the eldest prince was automatically deprived of the right to succeed by many people, let alone such a shady character like himself. Besides, the mother's bizarre death back then, there must have been some tails that were not cleaned, which made the emperor dare not recognize him even today.
What made Fan Xian a little confused was: since the day he guessed his identity, he had given up thinking about it, why did he suddenly become so fussy today
There was a soft ticking sound, and it was a drop of snow water dripping from the eaves of the pavilion, hitting the stone steps softly. The sound awakened Fan Xian. He looked up at the early winter scenery outside the pavilion, sighed, and thought, maybe it was because the environment in the palace was so depressing that he let himself think about those boring things that he didn't need to think about.
"Tis... my lord... there is still some time for dinner, Your Majesty has told you that you can go...for a stroll." The little eunuch Hong Zhu lowered his eyebrows and said pleasantly, but his words trembled.
Can you wander freely in the harem? I'm not recuperating in Meiyuan, it's better to avoid some taboos. Fan Xian shook his head: "Just take a look in this pavilion." He noticed the voice of the little eunuch, narrowed his eyes, and swept the little eunuch like two small knives, his eyes made the little eunuch nervous .
"cold?"
"yes."
"Sweating?"
"… yes."
The corners of Fan Xian's lips curled up slightly, and he smiled: "Don't be afraid, since His Majesty let you listen here at ease, he naturally trusts you."
It is also true that today's conversation between the emperor and Fan Xian in the pavilion seems to be commonplace, but the information hidden in it is very "rich". Hong Zhu knew for the first time today that the fight between the Overwatch Council and the second prince, and the matter of the internal treasury, turned out to be the emperor's acquiescence. And it seems that Fan Tesi is going to make some big moves soon.
If these things get out of the palace, I'm afraid it will cause an uproar.
"Slaves are not afraid." Hong Zhu replied pitifully.
Fan Xian looked at the little eunuch's pockmarked face, and suddenly asked curiously, "Eunuchs also have pimples?"
"Acne?" Hong Zhu was slightly taken aback, and immediately understood what it meant, and replied angrily, "I don't know even the small ones."
It was quiet outside the pavilion, there were maids walking in the distance, the surrounding cold lake was awe-inspiring, and there was a gentle wind blowing from the lake, entering the pavilion and circling around, calming down a little. Fan Xian laughed: "You... are Hong Zhu?"