"Why?"
Facing his son's extremely shocked questioning, Fan Shangshu didn't continue the topic, instead he smiled and said, "Is the situation in the palace all right?"
Fan Xian was stunned and then replied: "His Royal Highness is on duty with injuries, the Empress Dowager is seriously ill, and the crown prince has already been imprisoned in the East Palace. There should be no problem."
"En." Fan Jian nodded, watching his eyes gradually show a soft taste, and said with admiration: "You have only been back to Beijing for seven or eight days, and you can defend the capital for His Majesty under such a difficult and dangerous situation. Said, your progress has exceeded my expectations, and you have performed very well."
Being praised by his father, Fan Xian felt no joy in his heart, and said with a wry smile, "Boss and I worked hard in the capital, but who would have expected that His Majesty would have settled everything. Water, today the imperial city can't hold it no matter what..."
Before he could finish speaking, Fan Jian waved his hand and stopped him: "Your Majesty is far-sighted and far-sighted, and his sacred heart is far-reaching. Naturally, it is not us who are courtiers who can speculate on ourselves..." The tone in these words showed a little bit of unnaturalness, he Then he sighed: "The issue about the Ye family is really beyond everyone's expectations. The persecution for several years turned out to be a hidden move by His Majesty."
He looked at Fan Xian and smiled elegantly: "From this, after the sniper attack in the valley of Kyoto a year and a half ago, your judgment was correct, but I was wrong."
Fan Xian was silent. After the sniping incident in the valley last year, he and his father had studied the issue of those city crossbows. Although it was clear afterwards that the old Qin family did it, they also thought about whether His Majesty would blame Ye Zhong. The military deployment of all parties in the Qing Kingdom, it is surprising to find that in the past twenty years, except for Ye Zhong who has been the commander of the Kyoto garrison, the commander of the Imperial Palace and the leader of the inner guards are under the command of one person, and they only appear on Gongdian.
At that time, Fan Xian had doubted this point. Since His Majesty once trusted the Ye family so much, why did he force the Ye family to join hands with the second prince and sided with the Eldest Princess. But Fan Jian gave what he thought was the reason, and Fan Xian thought it was reasonable, so he let go of the question.
Unexpectedly, during the chaos in Kyoto this time, this question finally revealed the truth, and His Majesty forbears the truth of the weakness of suspicion.
His Majesty the Emperor constructed a big mystery, which not only confused the eldest princess and everyone in the world, but even Fan Jian, a close friend who grew up with him since childhood, was also deceived to death.
Speaking of the sniping in the valley, Fan Xian couldn't help but see the white snow, the red blood, the head in front of the Privy Council, and his own arrogance. He couldn't help but smiled wryly, thinking how naive and ridiculous his arrogance back then looked in front of His Majesty and the Eldest Princess.
His heart moved, and he asked, "Father, my son has always had a question. Qin Ye...why did he betray His Majesty?"
This is not only his question, but also the question of many people. It's just that the struggle for imperial power and the struggle for the world's general situation made everyone naturally think that the Qin family's betrayal was just like every internal strife in history books, and it was a matter of course.
But when Fan Xian heard the words of the eldest princess before she died, a poisonous flower bloomed in his heart, and he began to pay special attention to this problem—even though the Qin family had a 10% stake in the Ming family, and even though the Qin family secretly ordered the Jiaozhou navy to Tudao, but for a For a military veteran, his face alone is enough for His Majesty to gently expose the matter—as long as he remains loyal to His Majesty.
And what kind of person His Majesty the Emperor is, if he hadn't doubted Qin Ye's loyalty, how could he have been allowed to stay in the position of Privy Council envoy for so many years. It was never empty.
After he articulated his doubts, Fan Jian didn't think about it, and said indifferently: "It was also on the day when I was killed in the valley, I once said... the head of the queen's father was cut off by me, but who knows, those who Is the head that should be chopped off really finished?"
Fan Xian's heart trembled as he understood what his father meant. The old Qin family's rebellion on the side of the eldest princess may be inseparable from the strange death of his mother twenty years ago.
"Back then, I went to Xihu with His Majesty to fight. Chen Pingping was transferred to Yanjing to deal with the emergency situation in the north, and Ye Zhong was stationed in Dingzhou to support His Majesty..." Fan Jian lowered his eyes and said slowly: "...and At that time, Qin Ye was in control of the capital's military power center in the capacity of the Privy Council's envoy in accordance with the imperial court's old practice. If he also participated in the capital's change, no one would think it strange."
It's very strange, if Mr. Qin is also one of the culprits who murdered Ye Qingmei, then four years later on the Bloody Night in Kyoto, when the Queen's family was beheaded and the princes and nobles in Kyoto were bloodbathed, why was the Qin family not involved in any way? If His Majesty, Chen Pingping's father, and the three of them joined forces to avenge their mother, how could they let Mr. Qin go
Facing Fan Xian's questioning gaze, Fan Jian said slowly, "The problem is that there has never been any evidence that the Qin family was involved in this matter. Just like the Queen Mother, there is at most a crime of connivance..."
Fan Xian frowned slightly. Chen Pingping also once said to herself that the queen mother should not be the culprit for her mother's death, only the crime of connivance. However, after discussing with his father today, Fan Xian suddenly thought that Dean Chen might also have other thoughts in his heart, and he had endless doubts about the role the Qin family had played.
The person who can best prove Chen Pingping's love for the Qin family is naturally the deputy commander of the black cavalry—Jing Ge. For such a dangerous person who wished to destroy the entire Qin family, Chen Pingping still quietly took him into her account, why? Is it just to turn against the Qin family in the future
There was a chill in Fan Xian's heart. If the Qin family really participated in the murder of Ye Qingmei as Chen Pingping expected, why did he survive until now? As soon as he thought of this, a cold current gushed out from inside his body, and countless chills seeped out from the pores, making this study room feel like a cold winter.
He had guessed countless times, and it was infinitely close to the truth. But he didn't dare to ask, not even Chen Pingping. Moreover, Chen Pingping also cut off from him ruthlessly, without giving him any chance to speak.
Fan Xian has always had a knot in his heart, so he has been quietly shifting his focus to Northern Qi, and has a natural sense of fear towards Qing. But today this knot seems to be about to be untied, revealing the dark truth inside. So he was silent, smiled slightly at his father, and said: "If the Qin family really participates in this matter, it will be regarded as retribution today."
He was worried that his father would follow this line of thought and think of what he was afraid of before, so he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty will return to Beijing soon, and the court was still preparing for His Majesty's funeral, but I don't know how to turn around."
Fan Jian was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Of course the etiquette department will worry about these things. Why should you bother so much?"
Fan Xian shrugged and said nothing more. Fan Shangshu also fell silent, with a hint of doubt on his face. The atmosphere in the study was a bit weird.
Presumably, in Kyoto tonight, the surviving dignitaries and ministers are all silent in their respective residences. No one thought that His Majesty the Emperor was able to come down from Dadong Mountain alive. After being shocked, and then thinking of the Ye family's tricks and many tricks in the middle of the conspiracy, all the courtiers were in awe of His Majesty, and they were promoted to a level. Unprecedented levels.
Fan Xian looked at his silent father, got up again, said a few words, then turned and left.
Walked out of the study room, went to the back garden behind the street, and was going to visit Wan'er. All the way, the night wind and autumn coolness were as cool as water, blowing on his face, he couldn't help feeling a burst of pleasure. He took a deep breath, maintaining the injuries in his body, thinking a little dazedly. Chen Pingping's letting go in the valley sniper was exactly the kind of division. The old cripple is worthy of being the most powerful person in the world. He has already seen everything, but carefully kept the truth from himself, doing those things alone, and using these divisions To maintain your own peace afterwards.
Fan Xian has been learning from Chen Pingping, so he can only remain silent tonight. Father is about to resign and return to his hometown, why let his own guesses put him in danger in the capital again and unable to extricate himself? For each other's safety, each other must be separated, this is the real love.
Just like Chen Pingping loves herself.
At this time, Fan Xian wanted to see Chen Pingping very much.
※※※
At this time, Chen Pingping was traveling around the capital in style, occasionally giving orders to the Overwatch Council to cooperate with His Majesty's actions in the world. Even if he wants to return to the capital before the emperor arrives in Beijing, it cannot happen tonight.
However, someone came to Fan Mansion to look for Fan Xian. It was already late at night, and before Fan Xian had time to see his wife, he was reluctantly invited out of the house. He looked at the palace code at the door, took a deep breath, suppressed the irritability in his heart, and saluted: "My lord."
Earlier, he and his father were discussing this person in the study, knowing that he was one of His Majesty's most trusted people, so he naturally spoke in a very measured manner. But in Gong Dian's view, Mr. Fan is His Majesty's closest nephew, so he didn't dare to trust him, so he saluted as a subordinate, and said in a deep voice, "I have something to trouble Duke Danbo."
Now that Fan Xian is among the dukes, he deserves this gift, not to mention that he was still a minister overseeing the country for a day or two before the emperor returned to Beijing. Just hearing the word trouble, Fan Xian knew that there must be big trouble, and he couldn't help but get a real headache.
Too many people have died in today's capital, Fan Xian's mood is not very good. The battle in the four fields of Kyoto is still raging, but the city has gradually stabilized. He desperately needs to rest and think about it. Being disturbed by others, of course he doesn't look good.
But is it so easy to be a supervisor? Fan Xian forcibly suppressed the irritability in his heart, looked at him, and said as calmly as possible: "What's the matter?"
Gong Dian looked at him, he seemed to be hesitant and troubled, even when he slashed at the military veteran Mr. Qin in the midst of tens of thousands of rebels during the day, he was not so difficult.
Fan Xian didn't speak, just looked at him calmly. Maybe it was because of too much pressure, Gong Dian swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and said: "Grandpa, please go to the palace, I can't persuade Miss..."
Well, as soon as these words came out, Fan Xian immediately understood what had happened. During the day, he was busy killing and saving people, so he didn't think of going here at all. At this time, the night was quiet and the smoke cleared, and he immediately thought of a big trouble that the Ye family would encounter immediately after following His Majesty to make great achievements for all eternity.
"The commander-in-chief went out of Beijing to pursue, and ordered the general to take the young lady back to the mansion. Unexpectedly, the young lady refused to obey..." Gong Dian guarded Zhengyangmen for a long time at night, and immediately encountered big trouble at night. He knew that in today's capital, only Fan Xian could handle this matter, and he was qualified to handle the affairs of the royal family, so he no longer cared about Dingzhou's face, and directly stated the problem.
Fan Xian still looked at Gong Dian quietly, letting him speak, there was no contempt and sarcasm in his eyes, but it made Gong Dian feel uneasy and ashamed for no reason.
Fan Xian took a deep breath and said nothing. Among the people who are still alive, Wan'er and her close friend Ye Linger are probably the most suffering. His wife was heartbroken over the death of her biological mother, and Ye Linger's grievance and anger would probably not be less.
Back then when Ye Linger married the second prince, it was really a perfect match. It's just that no one could have guessed that this marriage was actually just a part of the plan between His Majesty the Emperor and Ye Zhong. In other words, Ye Ling'er is not even a chess piece, she just sacrificed her love and marriage to become the bargaining chip for the Ye family to win Princess Nobunaga. When the matter came to an end, she would be shocked to find out that her father wanted to deal with her husband-in-law wholeheartedly.
Of course, her husband-in-law also wanted to use her to control the Dingzhou Army.
Thinking of this, Fan Xian couldn't help but think of the three words the Eldest Princess said before she died - all men in the world are controlled by fame, power, and the so-called ideal of unifying the world, and they are really nothing - perhaps including himself. But he thought he couldn't do such a thing, and he hated Ye Chong for selling his daughter.
Gong Dian seemed to guess what he was thinking in his heart, and his expression was very unnatural.
Fan Xian shook his head and said, "The second prince is also locked up in the mansion?"
Gong Dian responded.
Fan Xian lowered his head and said, "No problem. His Majesty on Mount Dadong once said that if you can't kill him, you won't kill him, especially... Cheng Ze."
Gong Dian looked up in shock. He knew the news of His Majesty's survival, but it was the first time he knew that His Majesty had confessed to Fan Xian personally on Dadong Mountain. If His Majesty is really willing to save the second prince's life, that would be a blessing.
Everyone in Dingzhou actually liked Ling'er very much, so when the truth was revealed today, when Ye Linger died in the center of the palace, all the Dingzhou army felt extremely ashamed and uneasy. Hearing that the Second Prince doesn't have to die at this time, Ye Linger naturally doesn't have to be a widow, so it's easier to explain.
Fan Xian sighed in his heart. At this time, thinking of His Majesty's explanation on Dadong Mountain, he could understand that His Majesty had already confidently calculated that he would return to Beijing safely, and the eldest princess led the crown prince and the second prince to defeat , That's why I deliberately reminded myself to save my second child's life.
Leaving the life of the second child is actually just leaving Ye Linger a man, leaving a trace of face for the great hero of the Ye family. Otherwise, if the second child died suddenly, how would Ye Linger deal with herself? The whole world is talking about it, how can the Ye family live
…
…
Although His Majesty had already made plans, Fan Xian still went to the palace. Because even though he didn't have a good impression of the second prince, Ye Linger had called him master countless times after all. Moreover, as a state supervisor, he had to handle the captured prince with care and caution. If something went wrong in the palace, it would be difficult for him to explain it.
Without looking up at the plaque on the mansion, he went directly in accompanied by Gong Dian. There are sergeants guarding all around. Even if the second prince still has strength in his hands, it is difficult for him to transform into a mosquito and fly out of this cage.
This was the first time Fan Xian stepped into the second prince's mansion, and he couldn't help but feel a little weird. I don't know what the brother whose temperament, appearance and temperament are somewhat similar to his own is thinking at this moment.
Gong Dian stayed outside the backyard, and Fan Xian went in alone. This garden is quiet and quiet. It's not like the grand scene that the palace should have. There were still lights in the room. It seemed that although the night was getting late, the young prince and concubine still couldn't fall asleep.
At the entrance, I saw only Ye Linger, with a sad face, sitting at the table silently, without saying a word, there were still tears in the corners of the eyes, but there was something more inexplicable in the eyes that were usually bright like jade. Tiredness and grievances, and more of a hidden anger.
At this time, the princess is like a tiger that may jump up and kill someone at any time. Let alone being used by her husband, deceived by her father, and thrown out by the family, how can she bear it
Feeling a little pity in Fan Xian's heart, he walked to her side and said in a harmonious voice, "It's kind of Gong Dian to let you go back home. When things calm down in a few days, won't you and Cheng Ze still be together? "
Ye Linger was startled, only then did he realize that it was him who had entered the room, and the look of sarcasm in his eyes was full of sarcasm. He wanted to say a few words of sarcasm, but his heart groaned, he bowed his head and began to cry silently.
When had Fan Xian seen Ye Linger's graceful and sad appearance, he didn't know how to persuade her.
After a long while, Ye Ling'er raised her head and looked at him blankly: "You are not in the palace to be your supervisor, what are you doing in the palace?"
"I advise you." Fan Xian replied directly.
Ye Linger shook her head slowly.
"Don't be stubborn. Your father has nothing to do with this matter... After all, if the second child could listen to your persuasion and not get involved in this matter, why would we be in this situation today?"
Seeing Ye Linger's sad appearance, Fan Xian became angry for no reason. In the past few years, he has been attacking the second prince with all his strength, and a thought hidden in his subconscious is to use the favor of the Overwatch Council and His Majesty to cripple the power of the second prince and cut off his desire to seize the heir. Er's desire to seize power is so strong, coupled with the Eldest Princess' skillful teasing, this strategy has no effect at all.
Ye Ling'er smiled sadly, and said softly: "Master, I naturally won't blame you for this matter. How it ends up is his own business. Even you can't stop his fiery thoughts these few years. I How can a daughter's family persuade him?"
"You don't need to persuade me to leave the house... He is involved in treason, who will give him a way out?" Ye Linger's face gradually calmed down, "No matter what kind of person Cheng Ze is, he and I are husband and wife after all. Since my father and the people in the family have never regarded me as a human being, I will go with him, and we will be a couple again in the underworld. I think he will not be able to do it in that lonely place. The dream of being an emperor."
Fan Xian's heart shuddered, and he clearly saw a trace of death will in Ye Linger's calm expression, and said with a trembling voice: "Ming told you, His Majesty personally delivered the decree to me on Dadong Mountain, Cheng Ze... will not die. "
Hearing this, Ye Ling'er suddenly raised her head, a trace of anticipation and unexpected joy flashed in her eyes, but immediately dimmed, leaving Fan Xian a little confused.
Ye Linger shook her head and sighed softly: "Everyone says that he is gentle on the outside, but cold and heartless on the inside. In fact, this is not wrong... Even the mother in the palace is polite to him. In his life, how has he ever felt any real warmth? Not only is he ruthless to others, but he is also extremely cold to himself."
"I am his wife, and I know him better than you outsiders... You all don't know what kind of proud and conceited person he is in his heart. This complete failure has dealt him a big blow. Even if Royal father left him a way out, but how can he have the face to continue to live?"
She raised her head and looked at Fan Xian with helpless and sad eyes: "After returning home, he has been refusing to say a word... I know, he already has death thoughts. If even I leave at this time, All the people in the world have deserted him...he must have gone cleanly."
Fan Xian took a deep breath and said directly, "Where is he?"
…
…
The second prince, Li Chengze, was squatting on a chair, holding a bunch of purple grapes in his hand, and was sending them to his lips. Fan Xian has seen this scene countless times before, but tonight's second prince, with disheveled hair, has an expression on his handsome face that no one can understand, and the corners of his lips are slightly raised, as if he is laughing at something. It looked extremely decadent.
"If you die, who will take care of Concubine Shu? What about the princess?" Fan Xian sat across from him, speaking as calmly as possible. Looking at each other with eyes, it seems to see another self.
Fan Xian's temperament is very close to that of the second prince, this is the news that has been spread in the capital for a long time. The two obviously have different eyebrows and eyes, but sitting opposite each other, it's like looking at themselves in the mirror through a layer of mirror.
Fan Xian looked at each other and thought in his heart, if his mother wasn't Ye Qingmei, if he and the second child were swapped, I'm afraid that today he would have to sit on a chair and eat grapes without spitting out the grape skins .
The second prince seemed to have discovered Fan Xian's arrival at this time, smiled slightly, and said, "Can I still survive?"
Fan Xian had no choice but to repeat His Majesty's will.
The second prince smiled ironically and said: "Live like a yellow dog, and be imprisoned in the mansion for the rest of his life. When the father's hundred years is approaching, before the new emperor ascends the throne, the Ye family will also be slaughtered like a dog, and I will be given to death... You said, if I survive, will my future life be like this?"
Fan Xian was silent.
"Since that's the case, why should I drag Ling'er,...that shameless father-in-law?" The second prince shrugged, "And it's really meaningless to live like this."
Fan Xian said, "It seems that your ambition has finally been wiped out."
The second prince suddenly stopped sending grapes to his mouth. The purple grapes in early autumn were sweet and juicy, and the smile on his face was just as sweet at this time. He looked at Fan Xian and said faintly: "Now that I think about it, Baoyuelou In the former tea shop, what you said is correct... For the past two years, you have been thinking about destroying my ambition. Looking back, I must thank you."
"It's strange to say that I wholeheartedly thought that my aunt would help me, and that my father-in-law would help me... But after looking at it, it turned out that it was you, the greatest enemy of my life, who once had such a trace of sincerity towards me."
The second prince admired: "You are really an outlier in our old Li family, Miss Ye family is indeed as unusual as the rumors say."
"And me?" The second prince continued, laughing loudly, tears streaming down his face, "What am I? I thought I was scheming, with countless help behind me, and the throne was just around the corner, but I didn't expect that everything would be the same. My father arranged it, and I am a smart person, worse than a chess piece, even a coward Chengqian, I can't do anything, I have nothing to do, I'm like a helpless child, I only know Watching all this happen..."
The second prince was angry, and his voice became louder and louder. I don't know what he was angry about, but it was obviously not aimed at Fan Xian, maybe it was because he was put on the whetstone by his father since he was a child, and he was forced to get to where he is today, maybe it was because of Ye Chong His ruthless betrayal may be because he was angry at being born in the palace.
Fan Xian was silent. I know from Wan'er that this second brother with whom she has had a great relationship since childhood is nicknamed Shitou, but even if it is a simple and stubborn stone, it has been sharpened by His Majesty with the sword of imperial power for so many years, and it will bring him back for no reason. Add some hostility and negativity.
"What am I?" The second prince Li Chengze stared at Fan Xian, pointed at himself, with tears and snot running down his face, and said with a loud laugh, "I'm just a joke!"
Fan Xian wanted to say that in front of His Majesty the Emperor, it seemed that everyone in the world... was a joke. However, he didn't say this sentence, because he was shocked to see the second prince who was laughing and crying at the same time, spit out a mouthful of black blood after saying the word "joke".
A mouthful of black blood spat onto the purple grapes.