It's not a lie that the summer is bright, but it's not a lie that it's sweltering in the afternoon. The whole city of Kyoto is shrouded in heat, which makes people feel very uncomfortable. It usually takes less than half an hour for the clear water to drink to ooze out from the skin, carrying the remnants in the body and turning into a layer of greasy The greasy moisturizer envelops the whole person, making it difficult for people to breathe and feel uncomfortable all over.
Especially those lower-class people who were doing coolies, carrying big bags and walking up the stairs on the pier in the lower reaches of the Liujing River. Somewhat startling. The big trees by the pier stretch out their leaves, but they can't completely cover the sun in the sky, and the breeze blowing from the river can't blow away the heat, but it's rather stuffy.
A black dog beside the stone steps was lying under the shade of a tree, stretching out its scarlet tongue, panting for breath, and at the same time looking at the coolies who were almost out of breath under the burden of life with a little pity.
A plainly decorated boat was floating on the Liujing River. The Second Prince Qing slowly withdrew his sympathetic eyes from the bank, turned around and smiled slightly, and said, "Fan Xian is really powerful, not to mention the money transferred from the internal treasury. He purchased so much grain in Dongyi City and Northern Qi in advance, he must have guessed that this year is busy with embankment repairs, so the summer floods will be fine, but the grain in the south has not slowed down, and disaster relief is always needed."
There are many merchant ships parked on the pier of the Liujing River. Hundreds of coolies are carrying the grain purchased by the Qing Kingdom onto the ship, and then transporting it by water to the southern states and counties where the reconstruction after the disaster last year has not been fully completed.
The lovely girl next to the second prince blinked her bright eyes and smiled, but said nothing.
The second prince chuckled, and continued: "Are you wondering why I say good things about Fan Xian? Actually, the reason is very simple. Fan Xian is indeed worthy of praise, especially when it comes to government affairs, although he has never governed alone. Passing a road or a business, but he... is very caring. Maybe you don’t know, just found out, when his subordinate Yang Wanli went to the Water Transport Governor’s Yamen, a large sum of money was secretly poured into the account of the Water Transport Yamen. This is why the embankment repair of the big river will proceed so smoothly this year."
Speaking of this, the second prince had a sneering look on his face: "If those ministries in the imperial court are asked to raise money, the Ministry of Households and the Ministry of Industry will hesitate, and God knows how long it will take."
He continued to say quietly: "So to govern the world, skills can be cultivated, but a mentality like Fan Xian...is extremely rare. This is all the money he earned hard in the south of the Yangtze River, and he is not stingy. It was all smashed into the canal, the father got the name, and the people all over the world got the benefit, so what can he get? This Fan Xian... I can't see him more and more."
It's hot today, and the royal mansion in the capital is also getting stuffy, so the second prince brought his wife, newly married for half a year, to the Liujing River. . Just looking at the bustling scene on the pier from a distance, the second prince couldn't help being moved, and brought the topic to Fan Xian who was far away from the capital.
"Fan Xian... who knows what kind of person he is? No one can see through him." Ye Ling'er smiled slightly, with a complicated look on her brows, what kind of eccentric and cute little girl was this girl back then. Ren'er, now that she is married to the second prince and transformed into an imperial concubine, she naturally has a little more precious air, and she looks a little more mature.
"I really can't see through it." A self-deprecating smile appeared on the face of the second prince who was somewhat similar to Fan Xian, "How many people can see the things he did after he came to the capital from Danzhou?" through?"
After thinking for a while, he shook his head, smiled inexplicably, slowly took Ye Linger's hand, walked to the rear side of the boat, looked at the wide mirror water surface in the upper reaches of the Liujing River, and seemed to want to use The aura and openness of this world come to stretch your mind.
The servants of the palace at the stern looked at this scene, and they all stayed away from it knowingly, not daring to disturb the peace of the prince and princess. Everyone in the palace and even the entire capital knew that the second prince and Ye Ling'er had a very good relationship after they got married. Although there was no news that the princess was pregnant, this young couple was always tired of being together. The second prince has a handsome face, and Ye Linger is also a famous beauty in the capital, this pair of Bi people, I don't know how many others are envious of them.
Ye Linger leaned against the second prince, gently hugging his arms, her eyes clearer than the water surface looked at the gulls flying in the distance, and she thought of the man in the distance, her master, and couldn't help it. A smile appeared on the corners of their lips: "People in the capital are afraid of Fan Xian, and they all think that he is so sinister and terrifying in his bones, that's why he has caused so many things and killed so many people, but in my opinion, this Si is just a fool who likes to mess around."
The second prince also laughed. He knew that his wife had been in frequent contact with the Fan family before marrying him. He also knew that his wife and Chen Yatou sisters had an extraordinary friendship. He also knew that his wife had been secretly calling Fan Xian a master. ... It's just that he never doubted that there was any selfishness between Ye Linger and Fan Xian, because although Ye Linger sometimes has a little temper, she is a rare upright woman in general. He likes himself, even the imperial decree does not allow her to marry him, but... Occasionally, when Ye Linger mentioned Fan Xian in that familiar tone, he still couldn't hide a sense of absurdity and a slight sourness.
"How can it be so simple to be ridiculous and ridiculous." The second prince said gently: "A few days ago, I heard that the disciples of His Highness the Prince made a booklet to see how many people Fan Xian had killed and offended in the past two years, and the result... To have sorted out a long roster unexpectedly made our Crown Prince very happy."
Ye Ling'er chuckled, thinking how the master turned into a big devil, but including the Chunwei case, Fan Xian had indeed offended most of the forces in the court.
"So, no one can understand what Fan Xian really wants to do. Aunt is his own mother-in-law...and the aunt has already shown kindness, but...he doesn't accept it. I don't need to say, since he returned to Beijing, he has been I tried to reconcile with him, but he chose to knock me down." The second prince laughed at himself, "I admit that what happened on Niulan Street was my fault, but... in the court situation, enemies become friends, It's not uncommon."
Ye Ling'er glanced at him, and muttered, "He's stubborn, and he's fond of holding grudges, how can he be so persuasive."
"But what good does it do him?" The second prince frowned and said, "I have offended so many people. In the future... I mean, if the father is gone and the new emperor ascends the throne, he will definitely take back his authority. Without the Overwatch Council in his hands, these vengeful forces will fall on him, who can keep him?"
"How do you know that the new emperor will definitely take back his authority?" Ye Linger lowered her head and said, "I don't think His Highness the Crown Prince has many opportunities, and His Highness the Third Highness is Fan Xian's student."
"The third child is too young." The second prince sighed: "A person's growth process will always be interrupted by sudden accidents. I was like this back then. When the third child grows older, our royal father will naturally be interrupted by accidents." Find some way. If the third child really sits in that chair in the future, do you think the third child at that time will still be the third child now? He will allow Fan Xian to maintain his current power?"
"Our brothers are not as good as the father, so no matter who we succeed to the throne, the first thing to do must be to kill Fan Xian, this big tiger." The second prince smiled and said: "This is an inevitable thing. , with Fan Xian's intelligence, it's impossible not to think of this."
Ye Linger looked at him worriedly, and said softly, "You still haven't given up."
The second prince didn't answer this sentence, and said slowly: "Since Fan Xian understands this, and also knows that he has offended most of the officials and gentry, what can he do? Unless he plans to take a completely different path in the future, Otherwise, he will never be able to get rid of the chaos in the future."
"Which way?"
The second prince turned his head and smiled softly: "He sat on that chair by himself."
…
…
What kind of topic is there, what kind of topic is there, although what is said on the Liujing River boat is very shocking, but in fact this kind of topic is often discussed in various government offices, Ye Linger He was not too afraid, but felt a little bored, and said with a wry smile: "Based on my understanding of Master, he would not do this."
"Oh?" The second prince was very interested, "Why do you say that?"
"Fan Xian likes to travel around the world, don't you know?" Ye Linger said with a smile: "This time he was sent to the south of the Yangtze River, and the world knows that His Majesty exiled him in a disguised form, and he didn't want his background to cause too much trouble in the capital. The turmoil is coming, which means to avoid the limelight, but... as far as I know, Fan Xian has no complaints about this exile. , seems to be the greatest enjoyment."
It has to be said that Ye Linger really knows Fan Xian very well.
"Sit in that chair? Then it will be difficult to get out of the deep palace, and Fan Xian will suffocate to death."
The couple laughed at the same time.
The second prince thought for a while and said: "But if he doesn't grab this chair...will he be willing to let it go in the future? And even if he is willing to let go, will others let him go?"
"Is that chair really that good?" Ye Linger frowned and said, "What's more... why did Fan Xian grab it?"
"Why?" The second prince smiled and said, "With Father's incomparable trust in him, with the full support of the three old men, Dean Chen, Lin Xiangye, and Fan Shangshu, with the Overwatch Council in his left hand, the internal treasury in his right hand, and not Forget, his surname is also Li... To be honest, under the current situation, if there is no major turning point in the future, Fan Xian is the one with the greatest confidence in wanting to seize the throne after his father leaves."
Ye Linger only heard the words "big turning point" in these words. If what the lover around her said was true, then there must be many people preparing for this big turning point.
The second prince continued: "Fan Xian's only gap at the moment is the support of the military. He has no chance to get involved with the Ye Qin family, but don't forget, my dear elder brother, I don't know what happened recently. Act like Fan Xian is watching his family."
Speaking of this, the second prince finally showed a trace of resentment. Presumably, he and the first prince grew up together. There is nothing to say about their good relationship. Who knew that the first prince would stand by Fan Xian's side as soon as Fan Xian entered Beijing. Side, whoever it is, I'm afraid I will feel a little uncomfortable.
"The most critical weathervane is the Jiaozhou incident." The second prince said worriedly: "Although the father trusted Fan Xian very much in the past, he never let him get involved in any military affairs, but this time he was arranged to deal with the Jiaozhou navy. I'm worried that Father is planning to let go in this regard as well."
Ye Linger lowered her head slowly, and said after a while, "After talking for a long time, in fact, in the final analysis, you are still unwilling."
After a silence, the second prince said slowly but firmly: "I'm really not reconciled... Others can sit in that chair, why can't I sit in it? If I sit in that chair, I can do no worse than others. If there are not many people in the world With Fan Xian's words, why am I sighing and sighing on this boat?"
There was another silence.
"I admit that in the conversation with Fan Xian, I was completely at a disadvantage." The second prince suddenly showed a free and easy look, "But occasionally I will be a little bit dissatisfied. If the emperor was willing to hand over the Overwatch Council to me , give me the internal library, am I really worse than Fan Xian? I really don't want to be reconciled, I have been planning for so many years, but because of such a brother who suddenly appeared, everything came to naught. I still want to Let's fight, even if you lose to him in the end... you will be convinced to lose."
"Why bother?" Ye Linger sighed and looked at him.
The second prince's heart moved, and he found that since his wife married into the palace, her heartless and cute appearance was much less. Maybe this is the price of marrying him, and he always thinks about these intrigues all day long.
Ye Linger said softly: "I know that Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess has been asking you to reconcile with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince recently, and I also know why it is... Having said that, I have always disliked that Highness Eldest Princess, although she It's Chen'er's mother."
"My aunt is a very remarkable person." The second prince carefully chose his words, "She has done many things for the court, and... There are many times, she may not be doing it for her own selfishness. Take this matter as an example, if she At the beginning, it was really only for the sake of future glory and wealth, she would not have chosen me back then, and taught me, she can always stand by the East Palace, and the East Palace also needs her."
"Then why did she choose you?" Ye Linger's lips were sneering, "Isn't it because you are better-looking than His Royal Highness?"
…
…
"Enough!" The second prince pursed his lips slightly and let out a low drink. He never imagined that his wife would be so angry at His Highness the Eldest Princess.
Ye Ling'er snorted coldly and said, "Isn't it? She instigated you to fight with His Highness the Crown Prince, and now she wants you to reconcile with His Highness the Crown Prince and fight with Fan Xian's third son. What's the point of fighting back and forth? Even in the future Let her succeed, and Fan Xian will lose power, but what will you and His Royal Highness do then? Who will sit in that chair?"
"That's a matter of the future." The second prince lowered his head and said slowly, "My aunt loves me."
"What's going to happen in the future?" Ye Ling'er was furious, and finally returned to her clear appearance when she rode a horse into the capital, and said directly: "She was just intoxicated in the process of this matter. It's not her puppet, so why do you need to get involved with them? It's a matter of course for the crown prince to succeed to the throne. Fan Xian wants to protect himself, that's also his business. As long as you ignore it, you can get away with it. What's wrong with that?"
Suddenly, Ye Linger also seemed to feel that her words were too hasty, sighed, and said in a soft voice: "You don't think about others, but also think about me and the mother in the palace. Fan Xian Once I said a word, why not take a step back and open up the sea and the sky?"
It was Fan Xian again. Hearing these words, the Second Prince couldn't help laughing and said, "Then why didn't he retreat?"
"If he retreats, he will die, as you said." Ye Linger looked into his eyes without showing any weakness, "But if you retreat, who can do anything to you?"
"What can you do with me?" The second prince pursed his thin lips, and said quietly: "I killed Fan Xian's people, can he let me go in the future? The crown prince ascended the throne, can he let me go? The third... who knows What kind of person will he become in the future?"
Ye Linger fell silent in disappointment.
"The prince is just a signboard we need at the moment." The second prince closed his eyes, sniffing the wind from the river, and said softly: "We now need his title in the East Palace and the support of his grandmother."
Ye Linger knew that he still had a lot of things that he didn't tell himself, it was impossible to tell him, but he still heard some kind of dangerous sound approaching from this sentence, couldn't help shivering in this big summer, and said softly: "His Royal Highness is not a fool. How could he fail to guess what His Royal Highness is thinking? How could he believe her?"
"This is what my aunt needs to consider. How to bridge the gap at the beginning, how to make the prince and queen fully believe in my aunt's sincerity, it has nothing to do with me, I just need to wait."
The second prince spoke softly, slowly opened his eyes, looked at the river, and said word by word: "I just couldn't hold back last year, so I gave Fan Xian a chance, and now I have at least learned to be patient. After all, I am the emperor father." Son, no matter how the situation changes, I always have a fraction of a chance."
Ye Linger looked at him disappointedly, and said: "I understand what you mean, you think the eldest princess will choose you to succeed in the end. But...is it really interesting to be helped up?"
"Don't talk about being supported by others, so what if you are led by others?" The second prince suddenly laughed, "Father was also supported by a woman to sit on the throne back then, but in the future he will still become an emperor through the ages. As long as he sits With that chair, there's always something great to do."
※※※
Because of the Jiaozhou Incident, Chen Pingping, who had been living in Chenyuan for the elderly, was finally driven back to Kyoto by the emperor's three decrees, and returned to the square, dark building.
In that dark and secret room of the Overwatch Council, Chen Pingping lightly stroked the woolen blanket on her lap, couldn't help yawning, and said in a slightly high-pitched voice: "It's too big to bother me. "
Fei Jie miraculously didn't collect herbs in the mountains today, instead he sat beside Chen Pingping and said in a hoarse voice: "The key is a problem in the palace. Fan Xian made such a fuss again. Our emperor is getting more and more serious." The more I like him, but the people in the palace are more and more afraid of him... I'm afraid it will be earlier."
"Is the prince an idiot?" Chen Pingping asked slowly: "Of course, he is indeed an idiot, otherwise why would he get involved with that crazy woman again?"
"If the princess is crazy, then she is crazy. There are still ways." Fei Jie rolled his strangely colored eyes, stared at Chen Pingping and said, "Besides, didn't you arrange this? It was in vain that I worked so hard to do that." Come out with a medicine."
Chen Pingping sighed: "The prince is too timid, let's help him."
"This is really a crime of ransacking the family and exterminating the entire family." Fei Jie sighed, "I am a widow, and there are a lot of distant relatives in your hometown."
Chen Pingping said with a sneer: "You should be careful that Fan Xian will come back to Beijing during the Chinese New Year to trouble you. I prepared a medicine for Chen girl, and it turned out to be an extinct medicine. Fan Xian will die, and you will see how he will tear you apart."
Fei Jie said angrily: "It would be nice if the tuberculosis can be cured, what else does he want to say? How dare he deceive the master and destroy the ancestors?"
"Then I don't know. Anyway, his letters recently have been full of resentment, and... have been asking where you have been." Chen Pingping said indifferently.
In fact, Fei Jie had always felt guilty about this matter, so he subconsciously hid from his most accomplished disciple. Hearing this, he couldn't help being stunned, and said after a while: "Didn't he take in a big girl? Let's talk about it." And Haitang... the saint's body shouldn't be bad, and it shouldn't be a problem to give birth to a baby."
"Begonia Duoduo...not a hen, be careful not to let people in Tianyi know what you said." Chen Pingping said with a smile.
Fei Jie didn't bother to pay any further attention, and asked directly, "What do you think about the Jiaozhou incident this time?"
"What do you think?" Chen Pingping snorted coldly, "I gave him the shadow, I gave him the black cavalry, I gave him the entire Overwatch Council... but he made such a crude and inferior work for me! "
"Idiot." Chen Pingping couldn't help but shook her head, "After Yan Bingyun wasn't by his side, Fan Xian became an idiot when it came to things like conspiracy. But I really don't know if it's because his luck is inherently better than others, or what The reason... the result of this matter is not bad."