There was a palace chaos in the capital of the Qing Dynasty three years ago, a large number of masters in the palace died, but the relationship in the palace became simpler, and the overall atmosphere became more solemn and direct. The empress is dead, and His Majesty seems to have no intention of becoming an empress again. The empress dowager is dead, and there is no old woman sitting in a high position to stare at those concubines. On the day of the fasting ceremony in the palace, His Majesty did not put her in the cold palace, which was considered extraordinarily merciful and merciful.
In today's palace, the women with the most powerful words are naturally the third prince's biological mother, Concubine Yigui, and the eldest prince's biological mother, Concubine Ning. The bloody friendship between them, and their cooperation in dealing with the matters in the palace, is extremely harmonious.
As for the succession of the throne that can most affect the atmosphere in the harem, it is impossible to cause any major problems at the moment. Although His Majesty has not appointed a new crown prince yet, anyone with a discerning eye knows that the prince who is most likely to take over the country of Qing in the future is naturally the third prince Li Chengping.
Although the third prince is still young, only a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, the only two "elder brothers" who can threaten his status are well known to the eldest prince, and they have no intention of spying on the throne at all. The blood of half of the female slaves in Dongyi City also made him have natural difficulties in succeeding to the throne.
There was another potential competitor, of course Fan Xian. But Master Xiao Fan is only an illegitimate child after all, and he is the husband of the third prince. The most important thing is that, judging from the events over the years, Master Xiao Fan has no interest in that chair at all.
Of course, as for whether Fan Xian is interested in the eyes of the ministers and the ladies in the palace, this is still a question worth pondering, but at least for now, the path of the third prince is bright, and the support beside him is real. The trajectory of the entire Qing Dynasty is clear, so the atmosphere in the palace is good, small gatherings of unity are held every day, and everyone's spirit and spirit reveal a sense of striving for progress.
…
…
Fan Xian traveled all the way, and it was dusk when he returned to the capital. After entering the deep palace, the whole sky turned dark. He sat in the imperial study room, touched his softly swollen belly, and couldn't help frowning, thinking that he should go to Xinfeng Hall to pick up the steamed stuffed buns before entering the palace.
This is just a wonderful idea, he has a heavy responsibility for His Majesty, since he is going back to Beijing to report on an errand, how dare he stay outside the palace. When he was secretly annoyed, he suddenly saw two young eunuchs walking into the imperial study with a food box.
His Majesty didn't know where to have dinner in the palace at this time, even if the inner court notified him that Fan Xian had returned to Beijing, he would not be able to make it at this time. Fan Xian stared blankly at the things in the food box, smiled, and said, "You know I haven't eaten?"
Eunuch Yao usually attends His Majesty's side. The head eunuch who stayed outside the imperial study today on duty is also an old acquaintance of Fan Xian's.
Eunuch Dai looked at Fan Xian with a wide-eyed smile, and said, "Young master is anxious about state affairs, so he must have missed his meal, so he picked some pastries first. Your Majesty is dining in the harem at this time, and he wants to reward you with a bowl of fish roe rice. I’m also afraid that it’s too late.”
Fan Xian was not polite either, and started to attack the contents of the food box. As a courtier, when His Majesty the Emperor is not around, he has already sat in the Imperial Study Room, which is the crime of beheading, and it is even more disrespectful to dine in the Imperial Study Room without an order, but he I got the special order a long time ago, so I can sit securely and eat with confidence.
Eunuch Dai smiled at the side and thought, Mr. Fan is not an ordinary courtier after all. Immediately thinking of the recent rumors in the world, Eunuch Dai's heart became hot again. Master Xiao Fan has made great achievements for the Qing Kingdom, and he doesn't know how His Majesty will reward him. The reason why the head eunuch is so hot is because he knows that most of his future is in His Majesty's hands. There is also a small half that is completely connected with Mr. Fan.
He was born in the palace with smooth sailing. It was not until Fan Xian appeared that he started to have bad luck and started to recover. Because he had made great efforts in the Kyoto rebellion, he has now become the deputy chief eunuch, and his status is higher than before. When in Concubine Shu's palace, she must be extremely dignified.
Occasionally, Eunuch Dai would be full of fear and think that if he had been on duty in Concubine Shu's palace, he would have become a member of the cold palace, or even died. Thinking of this episode, he couldn't help but glance back from the corner of his eye. The little eunuch who is following him now was also a celebrity in the imperial study room at first, but it's a pity that he later served the master in the East Palace. Although he didn't do anything wrong, But the status has already plummeted.
Fan Xian put down his chopsticks, spoke a few words to Eunuch Dai gently, and then slowly turned his gaze to the back of him, looking at the young eunuch who was getting more and more calm, but the pimples on his face were still very clear, Said calmly: "You are not dead yet, which is a bit beyond my expectation."
Hong Zhu saluted Fan Xian with a respectful face, and replied, "Returning to the young master, the servant has received the grace of the Holy Grace, and he only came out of the cold palace a few years ago."
"Remember to serve His Majesty with all your heart in the future." Fan Xian said something indifferent, and then stopped.
Eunuch Dai saw that he was not in a good mood, so he flattered him casually, and led Hong Zhu out of the imperial study, thinking to himself that there had always been rumors in the palace that this little Eunuch Hong and Master Fan did not see eye to eye. It was Mr. Xiao Fan who kicked this little guy to the East Palace. From today's point of view, it was indeed the case.
He couldn't help sneering three times in his heart, thinking to himself that Hong Zhu, even if old man Hong was looking after him, he was still no match for the hand that the young man stretched out from outside the palace. The location is embarrassingly awkward.
However, Eunuch Dai didn't notice at all that when he left the imperial study, Fan Xian and Hong Zhu looked at each other with a look of concern in their eyes, and then nodded lightly and unobtrusively.
The imperial study was quiet, and Fan Xian sorted out the thoughts in his head silently. It was a matter of course for Hong Zhu to come out of the cold palace. This kid has always been very popular with the nobles in the palace. In the matter of the rebellion, Hong Zhu didn't know anything about it on the surface. Of course, in this matter, Fan Xian made many detours, giving Hong Zhu some strength.
As for the three years of entanglement with each other, Fan Xian no longer thought about it. At least this little eunuch had helped him too much. In terms of love, he always owed the other party, not the other party owed himself.
Just thinking like this, there was a rush of footsteps outside the imperial study room, and a faint light from the other side of the glass window illuminated the night and drifted towards this side.
Fan Xian quickly retracted his stretched arms and stood up to meet His Majesty.
The door of the imperial study room was pushed open, and His Majesty the Emperor Qing, who was dressed in bright yellow single clothes, strode in. His slightly thin cheeks were calm, and only the white hair in his temples revealed his true age and the years of exhaustion. mind.
All the serving eunuchs didn't enter. Eunuch Yao cleverly closed the door of the imperial study room behind him. Only the emperor and Fan Xian were left in the entire imperial study room.
The emperor sat comfortably on the soft couch, rubbed his hands on his knees, looked at Fan Xian, and suddenly burst out laughing.
Fan Xian was confused by the laughter, and stood there awkwardly.
The emperor shook his head and said, "You are fine."
Since it is very good, why shake your head? Fan Xian smiled wryly, and took out the closet box prepared in the courtyard beside him, and put it on the low table in the soft couch.
The emperor opened the box and looked at it seriously. Inside this box are all the preliminary results of the negotiations between Nanqing and Dongyi City, the bottom line of Dongyi City analyzed by the Overwatch Council, the territory map donated by Dongyi City, and the details of population and financial distribution.
What happened in Dongyi City has already shocked the whole world. The missions in charge of the negotiations, including Fan Xian himself, maintained a daily communication with the Kyoto Imperial Palace on the details of the negotiations. The emperor was very clear about the details of the negotiations, but after all, the two places were far apart, and it was true that they really wanted to know the situation first-hand. Fan Xian needs to go back to Beijing for a face-to-face report.
The emperor slowly put down the scroll in his hand, stood up, walked to a wall of the royal study, and opened the curtain hanging on the wall.
Under the curtain is a large map of the whole world, which clearly depicts the roads of each county, and even the coastlines in the east and south are drawn in great detail. This map not only included the territory of the Qing Kingdom, but also the territory of the Northern Qi Dynasty and Dongyi City.
The first time Fan Xian actually entered the imperial study room to discuss matters, he sat with those senior scholars of Shangshu, and he had seen this map before, and knew the supreme enthusiasm of the king and ministers of the Qing Dynasty for Tuobian. It's just that there were three princes beside the emperor at that time, but now two are gone.
The emperor's steady palm moved on the map. Although the light in the imperial study room was bright, it was not the shadowless lamp in the operating room after all. Wherever his palm moved on the map, there was darkness, like black The arrow of the arrow contains countless authority, representing hundreds of thousands of troops, full of killing intent.
The palm landed on the top of Dongyi City and the surrounding vassal states, and patted it lightly. The emperor never turned his head, and said calmly, "I own this place without a single soldier. Fan Xian, what do you say about me?" How should I reward you?"
"The negotiation is not over yet, and there are still disputes within the sword hut. The princes of those vassal states are afraid that they will turn against the water. The most important thing is the garrison. I don't know if it will cause a rebound in Dongyi City in the future."
Fan Xian replied with a smile. He could see that although the emperor looked calm at this time, the joy deep in his heart could not be concealed. This emperor who wanted to rule the world and establish immortal achievements for thousands of generations spent countless After ten years, the two major opponents, Ku He and Si Gu Jian, were finally eliminated, and the first step of the journey of thousands of miles was taken. The joy cannot be disguised.
"How's Si Gu Jian?" The emperor turned around and smiled, instead of continuing to ask about the reward, he asked about something he was most concerned about.
"The whole body is paralyzed, and I will definitely die within three months." Fan Xian answered very quickly, without any sloppiness.
After pondering for a moment, the emperor sighed softly: "I'm about to die. It's just that I really admire this idiotic sword. After being hit by Uncle Liuyun and punched by me, I can still live for so long. Human physical strength is indeed the strongest among the few of us."
These words naturally exclude Wu Zhu.
Fan Xian's eyes moved slightly, and he said softly, "It's also fortunate that Si Gu Jian is not dead. Only he can suppress those strong men in the sword hut. If he hadn't nodded his head, this negotiation might not be successful."
The emperor smiled and didn't say anything. He also couldn't understand his son all the time. Are these words saying good things for Si Gu Jian? What's the point of speaking well of a dying grand master
After thinking for a while, Fan Xian said, "In Yichen's opinion, this negotiation will probably involve next year, by which time Si Gu Jian will already be dead, but since he has set the tone and spread it all over the world, it must be The disciples in the sword hut dare not disobey."
"Will Wang Shisanlang take over as the master of the Sword Hut?" The emperor asked suddenly. For this emperor, he didn't care about Fan Xian's personal relationship with Wang Shisanlang. To truly control the territory of Dongyi City, the owner of the Sword Hut must be someone who can be controlled.
And that Jianlu young apprentice named Wang Shisanlang has a very deep entanglement with Nan Qing, no matter what his ability is, he is first of all a person who can be controlled.
Fan Xian's heart tightened, his mind turned quickly, and he said, "The opening ceremony has been postponed for a month, and no one said anything, but I haven't found out who Si Gu Jian is going to hand over the sword house to."
"You don't need to inquire." The emperor's face darkened, "If Dongyi City is sincerely obedient, I must appoint the master of the sword hut. No matter who Si Gujian chooses, if I don't nod and seal it, it will fail."
Fan Xian's lips were slightly bitter. He was worried that Si Gu Jian would forcibly reveal the identity of the shadow and make him the second-generation owner of the Sword Hut. Now it seems that he should be worried about other issues. Your Majesty's approach is very absurd. It's like the style of enshrining the head of a lama back then.
But it's true to think about it carefully. Even if officials and troops are stationed in Dongyi City in the Qing Dynasty, in the hearts of the residents of Dongyi City, the children of Jianlu are really in charge. This point should also be written in the agreement between the two countries. Clearly, the Qing Kingdom will not make major changes to the layout of Dongyi City within fifty years.
If the Qing Kingdom didn't even have the nominal right to appoint and remove, what kind of surrender would Dongyi City be
"This point, after I returned to Dongyi, I made it clear to the other party." Fan Xian didn't think about it any more, and agreed directly.
"As long as Jianlu lowers its head, there is no need to think about the rest of the small country business houses." The emperor squinted his eyes and said: "If Si Gu Jian is smart enough, he won't do anything before he dies. If he is really an idiot, I will naturally teach him a profound lesson."
When the emperor was angry, the world bleeds. The lesson that Emperor Qing said was naturally to send out troops brazenly and forcibly conquer Dongyi City by force.
Fan Xian didn't pick up the topic, and asked directly: "If the Sword Cottage is settled, what about the City Lord's Mansion?"
"Didn't the people in the City Lord's Mansion be killed by the Sigu sword?" The emperor stood next to the map, and suddenly took a deep look at Fan Xian, "Actually, it's not just me who is surprised, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty felt a little horrified while they were overjoyed. An Zhi, Si Gu Jian, an old man, is very fond of you, I never imagined that he could really restrain his madness and agree to your request."
Before going to Dongyi City as an envoy, Fan Xian and the emperor had been arguing for a long time in the palace. Because in the eyes of the emperor, even if Si Gu Jian died, it was impossible for him to allow Dongyi City, which had been guarded by his sword for many years, to surrender to Nanqing without sending out any soldiers or arrows. Fan Xian insisted on his opinion, and it took him a long time to convince Emperor Qing to let him try.
The problem is, it actually succeeded! This fact surprised the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty of Qing Dynasty inexplicably, and made the emperor feel overjoyed, even a little uneasy, because his illegitimate son really gave the world too many surprises.
There was suspicion and suspicion in the eyes of the emperor Lao Tzu, but Fan Xian didn't seem to feel anything, and said directly with a wry smile, "I dare not take credit for it. If it weren't for my Daqing's strong national power, Si Gujian thought to himself that after his death, Dongyi City would have to surrender." Even if two roads are broken, they will definitely not bow to me, Daqing."
This is true. Any diplomatic negotiation is actually rooted in strength. Now that the general trend of the world is beginning to emerge, Northern Qi may have the strength to contend with Nanqing for many years, but Dongyi City is not solid at all because of its business establishment, like duckweed in the water, like light clouds in the sky, as long as a strong wind blows, It's a chaotic situation.
Under the oppression of Nanqing's powerful national power and military power, Dongyi City didn't have many choices. Fan Xian's success this time should actually be the success of His Majesty the Qing Emperor, because under his rule was an exceptionally powerful empire.
Fan Xian suddenly took a deep breath and said, "You also know that my mother came out of Dongyi City back then, and Si Gu Jian always had a certain respect for me."
He knew that he couldn't hide this matter from the emperor, and he didn't want to hide it, so he just said it directly. Sure enough, His Majesty the Emperor was clearly aware of Ye Qingmei's past in Dongyi City back then. After hearing this, he just smiled slightly and said, "That's true. What does Si Gu Jian want from you?"
Fan Xian raised his head and said earnestly, "He hopes that Dongyi City under Daqing's rule will still be Dongyi City today."
"I agree." The emperor waved his hand resolutely, and without waiting for Fan Xian to say anything else, he said directly: "The Dongyi City I want is the current Dongyi City. If it becomes like Jiangnan, I want it What are you doing?"
Fan Xian was extremely shocked. The problem that he was most worried about, the problem that Si Gu Jian was most worried about, turned out to be no problem in His Majesty's heart at all. What the emperor wants is the current Dongyi City. Dongyi City with a taste of autonomy.
Thinking of this, Fan Xian couldn't help but feel infinite admiration for the emperor Lao Tzu. Only an emperor with extremely far-sightedness can tolerate such a situation. I'm afraid His Majesty's vision is broader than he imagined...
Immediately afterwards, the emperor discussed with Fan Xian the details of Nadongyi's entry into the territory, as well as possible major problems and related countermeasures. At this time, the night was getting dark, but the lights in the imperial study room were always so bright.
The territory of the world gradually changed under the careful consideration of the father and son.
After a long time, the emperor rubbed his tired eyes, turned his head, and stared at the map again. The territory of the world has changed, but this map has not changed. The emperor said softly: "Tomorrow we will make a new picture."
"Congratulations, Your Majesty." Fan Xian said with a smile.
The emperor finally laughed at this moment, and suddenly slapped his palm heavily on the top of the map. The large expanse of foreign territory painted in blue, and the bright yellow clothes seemed to carry an unstoppable sense of determination.
"This is the only thing left in the world."
Fan Xian's heart suddenly shrank.
…
…
The emperor raised the previous question for the second time: "Anzhi, how do you think I will reward you?"
In history, there are many examples of people with high meritorious deeds who did not die well, and when these examples were unlucky, it was often because of this sentence. Because their contributions are too great, and they have received too many rewards, so that there is no reward, and it is impossible for the person on the dragon chair to share half of the chairs with those examples, so the examples all go to the office without exception. Running on the road of death.
Occasionally, there are examples of jumping out and rebelling successfully, but they are a minority after all.
Hearing this question, Fan Xian didn't feel the slightest bit of fright. He just grimaced and fell into deep thought. Because his contribution this time is not great, according to what he said earlier, the surrender of Dongyi City was in the final analysis due to the strength of the Qing Kingdom, he was just an introduction, an excuse, an excuse used by Si Gujian to convince himself.
As for the master of high power? Forget it, the emperor's self-confidence and narcissism is the first person in the ages. He has never worried about which courtier or son can run ahead of him in his life. A powerful emperor will have enough tolerance for the people under the dragon chair.
But Fan Xian does have the third worry of the examples, which is the problem of whether there is no reward. He is now a first-class public, sitting on the two treasures of the Internal Treasury and Supervisory Council, and the power in his hands occupies a full third of the world. One, let the emperor Laozi reward himself with something? Is it really like the king who the people in the mission secretly conjectured
But he had to ask for rewards. The whole world looked at the capital. If Fan Xian made the first contribution, but there was no reward that could be given, the courtiers would feel chilling towards His Majesty.
After a long time, Fan Xian suddenly smiled bitterly, looked at the emperor next to the map, scratched his head, and said mockingly, "Or...the Dongyi City will be granted to the humble minister?"
This is of course a joke, a big joke, Feng Wang is at most an indifferent king, if he really wants to divide Dongyi City, that is to crack the earth and seal the prince!
The emperor also laughed, but his smile was not as funny as Fan Xian had imagined, but instead revealed an inexplicable sense of teasing: "It seems that Si Gu Jian really misses you all the time as said on Dadong Mountain. Go be that city lord."
Fan Xian felt a chill in his heart, and replied with a wry smile, "Anyway, that city lord doesn't care about anything."
"Change it." The emperor didn't bother to answer his words, sat down, took a cup of warm tea and sipped slowly, and said directly.
Standing in front of the emperor, Fan Xian had a headache for a long time, and tentatively said, "But Dongyi City must be managed by someone, or... let the prince be the city lord?"
In today's Qing Kingdom, there is only one prince, the eldest prince, who has Dongyi blood and has a noble status. Moreover, if he wants to subdue the hearts of Dongyi's soldiers and people, it is indeed a wonderful move for the eldest prince to be the lord of Dongyi City. chess.
"This matter... will be discussed later." The emperor frowned, obviously a little tempted by Fan Xian's proposal, but more... worried.
"I don't take middle school." Fan Xian muttered suddenly, "Staying with those old men every day makes me bored to death."
The emperor laughed and said, "Isn't Mr. He also studying under the door now? He is also a young man."
This is just to say, the emperor certainly will not let Fan Xian give up the authority of the Overwatch Council, enter the sect, and destroy his own arrangements for the future of the Qing Kingdom. Hearing the emperor's words, Fan Xian immediately saw the face of the hateful minister outside the Danbo Medical Center, who was guarding his eyes every day, and said with a sneer: "If your majesty really wants to reward the minister, I would like to ask your majesty to reward you." Two wills."
Fan Xian and the Emperor have been fighting a cold war for more than half a year about the matter of finger marriage. The moment Fan Xian opened his mouth, the Emperor knew what he wanted to say. His complexion became difficult to look at.
"One decree for Ruoruo and one decree for Roujia." Fan Xian said in a low voice, "Please allow them to choose their own son-in-law."
The emperor looked at him coldly, and after a long while, he suddenly said, "You are allowed to deal with Roujia! But I am not allowed to marry your sister!"
Fan Xian pretended to be furious, but his heart was calm. He knew that the emperor would never let go of this matter because the other party wanted to use this matter to completely suppress him, unless he let go. The love of father and son, the intention of the monarch and ministers to plead with each other, the other party will never give up.
This is anger, not just anger. What the emperor wants is to completely control Fan Xian and make Fan Xian bow his head completely in front of him, because the emperor has always felt very clearly that his son is different from other sons. Traces of his mother.
The dead sons were very respectful to him on the surface, but secretly they were thinking about some things that were not as good as pigs and dogs, and Anzhi showed a trace of unwillingness to be honest from the bottom of his bones. Although the emperor appreciated Fan Xian's "sincerity", he wanted to label this sincerity as "loyalty".
"There is no need to talk about this matter." The emperor stared at Fan Xian with a cold face, suddenly thought of something, and said with a slight smile: "Just because of Roujia's decree, it is really unreasonable to reward you for today's achievements, but... I remember, you are still just the commissioner of the Overwatch Council?"
Fan Xian's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the show was coming, but his face was full of confusion.
"That old dog Chen Pingping doesn't care about anything anyway, so you just took over the post of dean and let that old guy have a good rest." The emperor looked at him slightly mockingly, and said, "You are in your early twenties, and I will let you be the supervisor. The position of dean of the academy can be regarded as Gao En is kind, why don't you hurry up and thank you?"
It is true that Fan Xian is only the commissioner of the Overwatch Council, but after so many years, under Chen Pingping's deliberate training and decentralization, he has already controlled the entire Overwatch Council. What is the difference between him and the dean? At this time, the emperor actually used such a natural promotion to dismiss his achievements in Dongyi City and blocked his idea of breaking the marriage.
The corners of Fan Xian's lips twitched twice, as if annoyed that he wanted to speak disrespectfully, but in the end he suppressed his emotions, saluted carelessly, thanked him, and left the palace. The emperor smiled in the imperial study, and did not take the son's rudeness as disobedience.
…
…
That night, Fan Xian returned to his home, and did not immediately go on to the second thing, because through the conversation in the imperial study, his mood was already relaxed. At least the seemingly omnipotent emperor, His Majesty, could not. Grasp the subtle movements of the whole world, and let him win another battle in the battle of temper and character.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, soaking your feet in boiling hot water, you can relieve your fatigue a bit. With a tired face, Lin Wan'er leaned on his shoulder and said, "I didn't know to tell you when I came back. The house is not prepared at all. The servants are all asleep, and you refuse to wake them up."
"Take a break for a few days, and I have to go to Dongyi City to host." Fan Xian gently held his wife's hand, and said with a smile, "I'm too busy."
"I don't know who took your name." Lin Wan'er yawned, she was a woman who gave birth to a child, but there was still a childishness on her face that was hard to wash off, especially her round cheeks, which were so funny. Fan Xian is very happy.
He pinched his wife's face lightly, and said with a smile: "Except for that one, who would choose such a disreputable name."
"Why are you so excited today?" Lin Wan'er suddenly groaned.
Fan Xian said triumphantly, "I have asked for a good official today, and tomorrow, my lord, I will leave the city and enter the garden to drive people away!"