Chapter 312: Reward and Conversation
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It was Eunuch Yao who came to Fan manor. The noise of three firecrackers exploding greeted his arrival, and the people of the manor were busy scrambling about to establish the incense table. They fell into the routine of this event as everyone went to the lobby. The eldest prince and the northern Qi kingdom's princess thought it was inappropriate for them to remain, and so they left. The royal doctor, however, stubbornly stayed inside the study room.
Having a decree arrive at the manor was a big thing. Even Fan Xian was forced out of his bedroom. During his time in the palace, he did not have to get up and receive messages, for he was still in recovery, and the Emperor had ordered everyone to wait on him hand and foot.
He heard Eunuch Yao's voice yelling, and it only just dawned on him how much the Emperor was truly rewarding him. He had not finished reading through the list, and he didn't care much for the actual rewards, however, so he wasn't paying too much attention to what was being called out. Instead, he thought the eunuch's voice was effective at hypnotizing people. He was lying on the warm sofa with his eyelids half-shut, falling asleep.
Minister Fan quietly coughed and used his eyes to remind Wan'er. When she took notice, she gently rubbed Fan Xian's hand to rouse him back into consciousness. His eyes softly opened to a reception of 500 stacks of cloth, how much land he was to get, how much gold and silver he would be given; it was the usual, nothing out of the ordinary.
The Fan family lacked everything except money, and this was something that was widely known. So, the Emperor did not gift them with too much money, for it was unnecessary. They brought back Fan Xian's title of baron and they raised Fan Jing's baron rank, and for this, they both shared the same honor.
After the decree was announced, the people in the lobby began leaving. Then Eunuch Yao began speaking out the secret decree that was also given to them by the Emperor.
The secret decree wasn't very secret, but the announcements inside weren't appropriate for accompanying the other decrees.
Fan Xian felt totally awake at the revelation of a second decree. He heard the Emperor was giving him seven tiger guards, and this at last made him think that perhaps the Emperor wasn't all that stingy after all. In joy of this news, he ended up missing the next two announcements.
Nowadays, it was his safety he was most concerned about. Next year, he was going to Jiangnan, and who knew if he would be able to receive his zhenqi back before then? Wu Zhu did not seem to care too much about his well-being, so it was better to rely on himself.
…
…
Outside in the yard, Fan Xian saw the seven tiger guards who he was familiar with. Their leader was Gao Da. These were the tiger guards who accompanied him on his mission to the Northern Qi Kingdom as an ambassador. He considered them friends, and now the Emperor had given them the task of protecting Fan Xian, something they were very much willing to do. Staying with Fan Xian was better for them than remaining cloaked in the shadow of the Emperor. Add to that Fan Xian's own skill, and they wouldn't have to be as alert and tread on eggshells as they did whenever they accompanied the Emperor.
Gao Da was leading the Tiger Guards, who were bearing longswords, and they all kneeled and spoke to Fan Xian in unison. "Greetings, Mister Fan the Commissioner."
Fan Xian coughed twice and said, "Stand up. We are friends, though my life is in your hands."
The Tiger Guards thought Fan Xian was just joking, and so they were unsure how to reply. Instead, they all just laughed in response. They had no clue that Fan Xian was speaking the truth. Having seven tigers by his side, even if Haitang went crazy and desired to kill him, Fan Xian would not be afraid.
"You guys should go and meet my father first." Fan Xian looked at Gao Da and gently said, "You may not have had to follow me these days, though you will now. Since you will be with me a lot, it is best that you don't avoid getting to know my father too."
Gao Da nodded. In his heart, he really appreciated Fan Xian's idea, and he was looking forward to enter the front yard and meet his boss' father.
"Silk pillows, wine, clothes and a collection of instruments."
Fan Xian was in his room. It was only now that he decided to properly read the list of rewards. He looked at his wife with a wry smile and said, "Although I used to be a conductor, I never knew how to play this thing."
"It's just the way of the palace." Wan'er explained.
Seeing Fan Xian's tired face, she did not say the reward list included some toiletry items. Right now, the back of the yard was full of hustle and bustle. Teng Zijing was outside the manor, arranging and assorting the swathes of gifts between people and where they should put them. More of his people were in the storerooms, arranging their storage neatly as could be. There were also a number of important items they were planning to present to Fan Xian, so he could tell them what they should do with them.
Seeing Teng Zijing running and sweating on this cold day, Fan Xian could not help but sigh and say, "Is this a reward or punishment?"
Teng Zijing's wife opened her eyes wide, smiled and said, "The storing of these gifts is like the threading of a needle; we cannot afford to be imprecise. This is truly a blessing from the palace. No family in the capital's history has ever earned such a reward. You have boosted our reputation by quite a bit."
"It's not as if I can accept the reward as I could food." Fan Xian self-mockingly said.
"If I was given the option, I would remove the existence of this reputation malarky completely." Wan'er almost said this at the exact same time as Fan Xian. This couple did not think fondly of the rewards they were given. Wan'er was simply worried that her uncle the Emperor had a more sinister motive to these swathes of gifts, thinking that the more her husband received, the more Fan Xian would attempt to defend him.
"The Emperor is quite stingy." Fan Xian laughed and said, "When they reported how much we got, I was listening. The monetary sum was pitiful."
Wan'er laughed and said, "You really care about that? It was a gesture more than anything. The inventory he provided had some thought behind it, and he probably did so to prove how much he cares for you and appreciate what you did."
"Why would I not care?" Fan Xian raised his eyebrows and proceeded to say, "Our family relies on a chain of bookstores to get by. It is quite embarrassing having to go to the residence and ask my father for a handout. He is an old man, and he does have a lot of money; but I am not entitled to it. His wealth does not mean I can rely on him all my life."
What he said was pretty simple, and Wan'er seemed to understand. She smiled, and acknowledged that there weren't many plainfolk in the room. She quietly told Fan Xian, "Don't you own a brothel? I heard that your brothel can earn a couple thousand coins in a single month."
Fan Xian was laughing, and he said, "That is Si Chanli's brothel! Don't get me involved."
Lin Wan'er gave a bilabial trill. She said, "You are directly in front of me and you still lie through your teeth. Don't you get tired of spouting lies?"
"I am going to do it 24/7; it would be a tremendous thing if I could develop the talent of lying to myself and getting myself to believe what I lie about."
"Why did my big brother come and see you earlier?" Wan'er's eyes were wide with curiosity.
Fan Xian thought about what to say, and then told her, "He said he does not want to be leader of the Royal Guard, and asked there was something I could do about it."
Wan'er frowned her eyebrows to say, "Judging from my brother's personality, it comes as no surprise that he does not wish to remain in the palace."
Fan Xian coldly laughed and said, "Who at all would like to remain in the capital? It was just that the Emperor did not feel content with his son, who was a powerful warrior, out and about away from home."
What he said was really rude and mean. It gave Wan'er a chill, and so she said, "You speak so carelessly these days."
"I only speak like this in front of you." Fan Xian sighed and continued, "I am actually willing to help the eldest prince, but I am just an officer. I don't really have any authority in this regard. I don't really know what's going with the eldest prince himself. Quite bravely, he told me everything straight-up."
"Maybe Big Brother thought that it was because of me that you would not bring him harm." Wan'er had a wry smile as she said this, "He thinks of things quite simply, and has done so since he was young."
"The water is too deep in this swamp of a capital. I could swim for half a day and not reach the bottom." Fan Xian furrowed his eyebrows. He then said, "In the spring, I will be going to Jiangnan. We should both go there. We should stay there for as long as we can, so we can truly relax."
"But I really don't know when. The officers gave you the job of investigating the palace treasury as a way of getting you to do nothing." With a serious look of concerned analysis, Wan'er said, "If it was a real job, as a commissioner, I do not think you can bring your family. And if that job had to keep you there for a long time, then maybe I could come with you."
Fan Xian shook his head and said, "I don't care what arrangements they make; I am bringing you with me anyway."
"Then that is unreasonable." Wan'er laughed, though her heart was touched by the sweetness. She understood her and her husband's status. If they were to break the rules, who would say anything against them? She just did not know whether or not the lady in the palace would agree in letting her go to Jiangnan. Her body had been weak ever since she was young. The furthest she had travelled was Cangshan, a place she stayed at for a winter. Hearing Fan Xian say this today, it seemed as if she could really go visit Jiangnan, a place everyone said was truly beautiful.
"Don't do anything out of line." Wan'er then thought of something all of a sudden. She looked right at Fan Xian and said, "Although the Emperor issued a secret decree, granting you ownership of these Tiger Guards, someone else in the capital is bound to know. Having them here was given to you for a good reason; you are heavily injured. But the Tiger Guard's identity are different, and they are sure to stand out around you."
Fan Xian touched his jaw, which had a spiky beard on it. He laughed and proclaimed, "Do not worry! The Emperor is smart. The reason they sent Tiger Guards here was for them to protect you, being the princess you are."
…
…
Outside the door, someone knocked. Fan Xian was annoyed, and shook his head. He wasn't annoyed at the prospect of someone disturbing them; it was because since he lost his zhenqi, he wasn't as sensitive to his surrounding environment anymore. He did not hear footsteps approach the door as he once did.
Fan Ruoruo was leading a royal doctor into the house. The royal doctor noticed Wan'er was in there as well, and so he quickly bowed before her. Then he turned around.
The Qing Kingdom was not like the Northern Qi Kingdom. There weren't as many rules for appropriate behavior amongst men and women here, and besides, this doctor was old enough to be her grandfather. That primitive movement he performed had everyone in the house laughing.
"Father said that if you are feeling well, you should speak to the royal doctor." Fan Ruoruo wore a wry smile when she said this as she looked at Fan Xian.
Fan Xian's heart was chilled, knowing that his father was a shameless man. He could not stand the constant pestering of the royal doctors, so he pushed the matters onto his poor son so that he could handle them. But Fan Xian had already made a decision concerning the royal doctor's request. He smiled and looked at the doctor, then told him, "Old Mister, I know why you have come."
The royal doctor was going to say something, but Fan Xian quickly interrupted him by saying, "But now that I am like this, it is impossible for me to teach others." He looked upon the old man's angry face and said, "But… I will stay in the manor, dictate content, and have it written down. The parchments will be sent to you."
The royal doctor stroked his long beard, thinking that that was a fine compromise. He let out an audible "hmm" and proceeded to say, "But this is a medical matter. This stuff must be taught first-hand, and simply reading this stuff is not appropriate."
Fan Xian took two deep breaths and then said, "Once this book is written and given out, should you have problems with its contents, I will have Ruoruo go over and explain."
The royal doctor heard this and looked shocked, saying, "How can you allow Miss Fan do such a thing?" When the operation was underway, he was there watching the procedure. He saw Ruoruo perform the surgery, yet here he was doubting her talent.
"Ruoruo does not know much; so I will have to teach her myself." Fan Xian sighed and said, "I think that it was the eldest prince who convinced me. We can't let this develop too deeply, but there must be some boon or benefit to be learnt from sharing this with you doctors."
Fan Xian smiled again and said, "And my teacher will return soon. I will have him, as an old man, go to the royal doctor and teach more. His skills are considerably greater than Ruoruo's."
The royal doctor was overjoyed at this news, but he looked worried and asked, "Master Fei…? I asked him quite a few times back in the day, but he never came. I could never make it work with him."
"I will go and ask the Emperor; do not worry about it." Fan Xian was comforting the old man as if he were comforting a child. A smile formed on his face.
When the royal doctor was satisfied, he left. Fan Ruoruo then looked shocked, and she said, "Big Brother, I don't anything! That night, I was just doing what you told me."
"There is nothing I can do." Fan Xian had a wry smile and said, "I will show you how to disinfect at high temperatures. I will teach you about isolation, contagions and infections. I will select these easier subjects to have written down and taught to you. Anything else, and I will wait for the return of my teacher. You can learn from him too
Fan Ruoruo was shocked, and her she soon had a very bright smile on her face. She nodded gleefully.
Fan Xian did not expect this reaction. He did not think his sister would agree with him so quickly, and because of this, he had no words to respond with.
"Big Brother, you said that being a human, you should find what you love to do most and then keep doing it." Fan Ruoruo lowered her head and sighed. She then said, "That night, although I did not do much, seeing my big brother's vitality restored, I realized that the saving of others is something that would bring me so much joy. So, although you did not arrange this today, I was planning to ask you to teach me about these medical skills anyway."
Fan Xian opened his mouth wide, as if to say something. He thought that it was because of his reckless decision that a female doctor was about to exist. He did not even know if Fei Jie would take Ruoruo as a female student and turn her into either Hua Bianque or Fenghua.
No, it could not be Hua Bianque; that female monster. It should be like Fenghua, that sort of beautiful mother of an Emperor. Fan Xian saw his sister was incredibly happy, and seeing that warm face of hers, he comforted himself by saying, it is not too bad to have Daichokon in the Qing Kingdom.
…
…
It was the nighttime.
Sisi was resetting the bed, and as she did so, she positioned the heater to face it. She exited the house with Siqi, who had brought water with her. The wife and husband quietly lay on the bed, watching the candles outside dim. Not a word was spoken, and all was silent.
"You can't sleep?"
"Yes. It is because I sleep too much, resting through half of the day. What about you? Why can you not sleep? I remember in Cangshan, you would sleep like a cat each and every night."
"Talking about cats, I wonder how Xiao Huang, Xiao Bai and Xiao Hei are doing."
"Mister Tang brought them to the farm. It was your idea; since when did you begin missing them?" Fan Xian opened his eyes and laughed after he said this.
Wan'er was mumbling to say, "You told me that having a cat while I am pregnant would be no good."
Fan Xian froze. He had a wry smile and did not say anything. Fan Xian spoke to himself, saying, I don't think it would be very nice for me to tell her I actually just hate cats a lot. Young or old, seeing the evil faces of cats just makes me mad.
"My dear, am I useless?" Wan'er turned over, breathing on Fan Xian's face.
"I am itchy; help me scratch the itch." Fan Xian signalled for his wife his desire for her to scratch his face. Curiously, he asked, "Why would you ask me this?"
Wan'er helped him scratch beneath his ear. He lifted her lips in the dark and replied, "People around me, it seems as if they each have a talent; they can help you in various ways. Sizhe knows how to do business, Ruoruo is now learning about the medical profession, but she was a smart woman in the capital before this anyway. Yan Bingyun helps you with the Overwatch Council, and that Haitang in the north…"
Fan Xian coughed twice, so hard it almost broke the wound in his chest.
Wan'er was rubbing the spot slightly above his wound and continued, "That is a strange woman. But she is still determined in keeping her country safe. As for me, I have been weak of body ever since I was young. The people in the palace spoilt me all my life. Because of this, I don't know how to do much of anything. I am not very smart, and I cannot fight."
Fan Xian knew exactly what she meant. He remained quiet for a while, and when he responded, he said, "Wan'er, there is something I have wanted to tell you."
"Yes?"
"Being in this world, it is not about whether usefulness is good and uselessness is bad." He softly proceeded, "These characters we play, it is not as if we were willing and selectively chose who we were to become. Like me, I wanted to become a rich and lazy person in the beginning. And Yan Bingyun? He has wanted to become leader of the spies his entire life. The situation between him and Miss Zheng is not something we can't see."
"And to me, you are very special." Fan Xian's lips were smiling, but his eyes did not look for his wife. "You grew up in the palace, and that place is a very dirty, dangerous place, full of evil. Yet that did not change who you are. You are like a healthy, blooming flower that has grown freely. I am the lucky man who picked it. This is a rare thing, too."
Wan'er listened to his sweet talk intently, and she felt love in what was spoken. Still, the sadness didn't completely leave her, and so she said, "But still…"
Fan Xian stopped her from continuing to talk. "And you are really smart. Even my little brother couldn't beat you in mahjong."
Both of them started laughing.
"Besides, I actually know what you are really good at." Fan Xian was quiet for a bit, but then he seriously told her, "In regards to the situations at court, you are better than me. And what you say is always accurate, and quite shocking. After the spring exam, if it wasn't for you in the palace, I do not believe I would be a free man right now. I believe that if you were going to plan a strategy for me, your abilities would not be worse than Yan Bingyun. But…"
Wan'er opened her bright eyes, and they looked really calm. "But what?"
"But I don't want that. I don't want you to get involved with my sordid businesses. What I'm involved in is too dirty, and I don't you to go anywhere near it. You are my wife, and I am responsible for providing you a relaxed and happy life, not bringing you trouble or sadness."
"I am a chauvinist," he said in conclusion, "at least in regards to these things."
…
…
A while later, Wan'er sighed. In the sound you could hear satisfaction and comfort. She quietly said, "After all, I am of the royal family. In the future, there will be certain things you should not hear about, although I know you trust me, but it is as you said: these things are dirty. It is something difficult to avoid, in the relationship between a husband and wife. I do not want you to doubt me in the future, so I would rather you did not tell me anything."
The marriage between her and Fan Xian was willed by the desire of the Emperor. Its composure was due to the politics that could arise between its conception, but it was greatly fortuitous that the two got along and loved each other as dearly as they did. Compared to the average politically motivated marriage, this was far more steady.
But before the politics, it did not really matter how close couples were; many tragic marriages took place due to their adherence of bureaucracy. Since the eldest princess was her mother, what Wan'er said wasn't just her being hypocritical. And she wasn't withdrawing, she was just deeply concerned for Fan Xian.
"Do not think too much." Fan Xian was calm when he said this in a very solid manner. "If you live your life without being able to trust the person you are closest to, why even remain in such a state?"
What he desired to say was, if he had the chance to be reborn and he always had to be on guard with whomever he would spend that next life with, he would rather not be reborn at all.
In the capital, the first of the snow arrived. The gentle, pioneering snowflake reached the ground and dissolved into nothing. Those that followed were unable to stack up, but it was a start. In the residence, it was both humid and cold. Fortunately, the Qing Kingdom was in one of its strongest years. The resources they had were bountiful, and even the average citizens did not lack the necessities to stay warm both in and out of their home. You could see from afar where the civilians lived, as steam would incessantly arrive from the eaves of their homes. It seemed as if everyone had a heater in their home to keep them warm.
There was an ordinary looking carriage writhing its way around the capital. It finally arrived at the detached garden before the yard. The day was cold, so there weren't many people occupying the streets. It was quiet out, and no one could see who dismounted that carriage.
Deng Ziyue carefully put Fan Xian in his wheelchair, and slowly pushed him to the yard.
Fan Xian was wearing a thick winter coat. The collar extended to cover his whole neck, maintaining his warmth. He brought his hands to his mouth and blew at them to keep them warm. He was looking at the young people who were being commanded by Su Wenmao to log firewood.
This young man looked quite familiar. His upper body wasn't clothed, and on this cold winter day, he was chopping wood with no reprieve. He did not look cold at all.
"Is that Si Lili's little brother?" Fan Xian squinted to get a good look at that young man, and it seemed as if he was trying to spy traces of the shadow of that northern lady and his heritage.
Deng Ziyue quietly said, "Mmhm. When you gave us the command, and Chen Pingping made the order, we removed him from jail. Lady Si went to the Northern Qi Kingdom's palace, and his identity became a rather awkward affair. We weren't sure of what to do with him, so, following your instructions, we brought him here."
Fan Xian nodded. This little yard was his sole private place. Aside from him and the Qinian Unit, only Chen Pingping knew. It was a safe zone for him. The reason why he did not care about his wound and came here was because the Emperor granted him a few Tiger Guards. With them being here, keeping Fan Xian safe, he still had the sneaking suspicion that a couple from the outfit were merely here to keep tabs on him on the Emperor's behalf.
He was thinking it would be difficult to come here easily in the future, so he came here even when it was snowing.
"That Mister Si is a crazy man. He ran all the way to the Qing Kingdom from the Northern Qi Kingdom for his big sister. It will be difficult to ensure that he wouldn't one day flee the yard." Fan Xian held a fist in front of his mouth and gently coughed. He said, "Watch him. If there's any funny business, just kill him."
Deng Ziyue emotionlessly agreed. He was pushing Fan Xian, and the wheelchair rolled across the frosty slush.
The officers from the Overwatch Council exited the house to welcome him. Seeing the commissioner there, sitting in a wheelchair, they were each brought a chill. For a moment, their eyes were disillusioned with the terrible thought of the Qing Kingdom receiving its second Chen Pingping.
Chapter 313: Love Letter
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
There weren't many residences along Shenzheng Road in the capital, and there were even fewer people occupying them. The priority task was to deliver Fan Xian's messages and receive the details from Wang Qinian in the north. Si Lili's brother and the others were living in these houses, and they kept a study room for Fan Xian when he desired to do business here. It was because of this that they did not warm and light a fire very often.
They knew that the commissioner was on his way there that day, which is why now they started a fire to warm it up. Still, it had been cold for a long time, and the fire was unable to get rid of the chill. Fan Xian sat on a wheelchair as he came into that pocket of cold, blowing his hands. He had a wry smile and said, "Are you people too cheap to maintain a fire? Is the council that poor?"
Deng Ziyue was heating up a plate of ink on a stove, and he called for a subordinate to bring over hot water to thaw the quill, which had frosted over. Hearing what Fan Xian said, he gave a wry smile and said, "Master, you are quite busy these days, and you are still injured, which is why I didn't make preparations for your arrival today."
He had been busy for quite some time. He held up his hand to support his head and watched Deng Ziyue as he whisked the ink, using warm water to heat the plate, and as if he were grinding a stone against a whetstone, he was finally able to get some ink running.
Fan Xian nodded his head in satisfaction. His new favorite subordinate's talent was almost as good as that of the royal doctors. He dipped the end of his writing quill into the ink and took to writing upon the snow-white paper…
Damn.
The ink was frozen again.
"What is this crap weather?" Fan Xian was furious. He threw his quill on the floor like a burnt incense stick and yelled, "Why is it not as cold as this back home!?"
Deng Ziyue felt a draught of chilling wind course through the house. With care, he told Fan Xian, "The manor's heater is much better. When we bought this house in the beginning, there was no heater here at all. Even the stone frame was not warm yet."
"I am not even sleeping here." Fan Xian looked annoyed. He continued, "You and Wang Qinian are both so cheap. Back in the day I gave Wang Qinian one thousand coins and he only spent one hundred and twenty coins to buy this broken piece of crap house. Do you want me to freeze to death?"
Deng Ziyue felt pity toward with his previous leader who was far away in the northern Qi Kingdom, for being spoken ill of by the commissioner every day. He nicely explained the location chosen by saying, "This place is quiet."
"It's not called quiet." Fan Xian looked at him with wild eyes and said, "This is called cheap. If there were any other chancellors from the capital who saw this place, they'd assume we were from some useless no-name department."
There were a few important letters he had to write out today, so he didn't care about the issue much longer. He went back to trying his hardest to write with the solidified ink, but he couldn't get it to flow. After a while he gave up, and so he smacked the table and said, "give me a biro!"
Deng Ziyue spent what almost felt like half the day bringing out a pen from his tight clothing. While he passed it to Fan Xian, he looked at Fan Xian with troubled eyes and spoke, "This pen is expensive. People say even the palace treasury does not have many of these left. Please, use it with great care."
Fan Xian snatched it out of his hands with little concern and gave Deng Ziyue a look of disdain. He was thinking that it was just a pencil; why he is he being so stingy? He should just go visit a lead mine in Jiangnan and more of these pencils could be produced with ease. If they did that, Fan Xian would get the palace treasury to gift them with two crates of the things. One crate would provide a lifetime supply of pencils, so that one could write freely until their death, the others you could use to play on the street with.
…
The pencil skated across the snow-white parchment. It was like a the gentle skiing of a woman on an ice rink. Only seldomly would it leave marks on this sheet of ice.
Deng Ziyue knew that he was writing a private letter, so he made sure to take a step back. In this cold study room, only Fan Xian remained - pencil in hand. His mouth was producing steam that dispersed on the paper, making for a chilling sight.
The letters were spooky as well. Although it was a secret letter for the Overwatch Council, what was written was something quite important. A pencil was used, however, and that meant the words could be quite easily removed. This concerned Fan Xian, so he decided to use words that were a bit more abstract and advanced. He also made sure to use the council's secret codes and terminology when it came to writing down times.
The letter was to be sent to Wang Qinian. What was written concerned the Cui family. Because the family had been persecuted by the capital, they were helping the second prince and Xinyang generate coin. They smuggled a lot of contraband into the Northern Qi Kingdom, but the paths there were not well-established, and the reduced speed of delivery led to a bit of a backlog.
The items that were left along the paths and what was contained in the northern warehouse was roughly worth 15-20% of the entire Qing Kingdom's income.
With an operation of this scale and worth, you could tell that the eldest princess was extremely daring, and with her past ties to the palace treasury, she was a corruptive force of nature.
It took a few months for Fan Xian and Yan Bingyun to establish this situation. They had been hammering the second prince and hindering the Cui family to create these problems. The time they had been waiting for was now upon them. He wanted to completely eradicate them, leaving them no faint chance of them ever coming back.
In his letter to Wang Qinian, the last line read: "It is time for supper."
…
…
Fan Xian remained in his wheelchair. He slightly moved his head as he touched the area above his wound on his chest. The area was wrapped up in bandages and it was beginning to itch. After he finished writing the letter, his hands were near frozen. He suddenly started to miss his time in Danzhou. Sisi had been helping him copy books everyday, and when his hands began to feel cold, she would lift them to her chest to warm them up. Her breasts were so soft and nice to touch.
His heart jumped, and so he picked up his pen and started writing again. This second letter was addressed to Haitang. When he started writing this letter, however, his heart felt at ease. The words came quick and easy, and the dialogue was casual and almost quite crass.
Ever since he returned from the northern Qi kingdom, his communication with Haitang rarely stopped. He had greatly enjoyed the to-and-from letter-exchange with his newfound pen pal in the north. They were, after all, two prominent figures of their respective kingdoms. To maintain a healthy channel of contact was a healthy thing to do, and it was something that could be built upon in the future.
In the letter that he now wrote, he spoke of the recent events that had transpired in the Qing Kingdom; this included the events at the Floating Temple. News of the attempted assassination had spread around the world by now, and the Northern Qi Kingdom had heard of it as well. But he was the person who was directly involved with what occurred, and so his insight provided a greater, more vivid and lively insight into the affair.
After that, there was something else hidden in the words. It stated his resolve and readiness to strike at the Cui family. He wanted to inform her so she could relay the news to the wimpy emperor of that kingdom so an effort of cooperation could be formed between them. At the end of the letter, he wrote a poem as proof that he was as talented as ever.
"I come here to reap my reward, my slaving trials are not of proliferous glory. The ancient ones are those who did good, but I fear their frozen bones sink beneath the soil of our tattered yards.
The old friends of court will long for me, as their pompous rags drag, and their waistbands wail for an escape. Rumours speak of a colder north; how do they live there?"
These were the words of Si Ma Guang; the poem "Kuhan Xing". Fan Xian felt cocky when reading it, and he rubbed his chilled hands. He thought that the poem he had just written out was too perfect. The words written were each filled with compassion. He was only afraid how long it would take for Haitang to think about and understand the meaning behind them. It was no problem for him, however, as he enjoyed giving ladies a brainstorm.
He made sure nothing was missing or left out, and he put it in an envelope and then sealed it with glue. All of a sudden his heart jumped. He was overcome with a feeling of dissatisfaction. He looked at the envelope and then thought of the woman it was for, the woman that looked like a plain country girl. He thought he was just facing an old friend, and then he fell into silent contemplation.
After, he took out another sheet of white paper and began writing once more.
"Duo Duo, how are you? That letter earlier was merely for business, this is just for small talk. Today, the capital received its first day of snow of the fifth year of the Qing Kingdom's calendar. It came earlier than usual , but I bet the snow in Shangjing has come in a far greater volume and that it is much colder there in response. On that day when I saw your crop garden, near the fence, a few berries had accumulated on a branch. I wonder if they have grown big and juicy yet, ready to paint the plain white colour of the snow around it."
"And how about the ducks you raised? You should be careful and not let them freeze to death. It is a common occurrence where I live. The yellow, white and black ducks often live outside of the farms of the capital. I hear that the people feed these three big fat cats as if they were a holy figure. There should be no problem raising them."
"My life has been good, personally. I eat and sleep. I wake up and then I eat. It is quite around in the household, and these past few days, my sister has been busy in the doctor's office. I heard that such a thing was quite rare in the capital. Wan'er returned to the Lin Manor today and my cute uncle hasn't received much attention lately, which has led to an upsetting of his temperament. I wonder what you're up to right now?"
Fan Xian wrote down his thoughts in a carefree manner, as if he were engaged in idle chit-chat with Haitang directly.
"And yes, my student named Shi opened a brothel. Business there has been very good. The food there is incredible; it's delicious! Perhaps someday, when you visit the Qing Kingdom, I will take you there. Ooh, I all of a sudden remembered that I have forgotten the name of the restaurant in Shangjing. I still recall how fine the alcohol was there. I think I spouted a lot of nonsense in your direction the last time we were there, but I'm not entirely sure how much you remember."
"By the way, I read the letter you sent me numerous times. It has given me an eyesore. You are a powerful woman; do not and try to learn the ways of scholars and include poems in your letters. Although I have earned the title of "Poem Fairy", I am not interested in correcting them."
"In your previous letter, you did mention how good Si Lili has been. I am not interested in talking about that subject anymore, however. I despise what happened and I have no idea why but I am given a headache whenever I receive news about her from you."
"Duo Duo, come to the Qing Kingdom and play. My wife is curious about you, and I would like to ask you something. Can you teach outsiders the Tian Yidao? I am really interested in the way you train."
This may seem like an ordinary question, but in Fan Xian's heart, it was an obscene one. It was one that was full of evil.
"The snow outside the window has started to thicken. The young man outside the house is still chopping wood, and it always surprises me how much energy the young men have. I am young too, but I have no idea why I feel so old. Seeing people around me, and observing the things that go on, it is difficult for me to generate excitement. Everything seems so boring… The blizzard outside is really strong. Perhaps it is hurrying me to end this letter. I suppose this is the end. The heater in this room is too crappy, and it has become a futile effort to try and raise the temperature in here. Although I would like to talk more, it is impossible to go against the plight of the weather. But there is one more thing; please take care of him. Thank you. I wish you all the best."
The letter looked ordinary, but there was a lot of useful intel to be gathered and learnt. He read the letter again and added a single sentence at the end of it. "Wang Qinian, if you are peeping again, I will make Wu Tie's cousin go and peep on your daughter while she showers."
-----
"Why is there more than one?" Deng Ziyue's eyes were widened as he looked upon Fan Xian. He counted the letters in his hand and asked, "You are sending two to Haitang?"
"Why are you asking so many questions?" Fan Xian rebutted. "Follow the old rules and just have it sent all the way to Shangjing."
Deng Ziyue nodded and promptly left the house. He handed over the few letters that were sealed over to the members of the Qinian Group, who were already waiting outside in the snowfall. They counted the letters in-hand and asked the same question Deng Ziyue did. "Why are there two letters?"
Deng Ziyue looked at the subordinate and his lips twitched twice. He took a deep, cold breath and replied, "Why are you asking so many questions?"
They both looked at each other and then nodded before going their separate ways. They were thinking: Commissioner Fan is using the supreme postal service to send a love letter? That is far too luxurious.
-----
Fan Xian remained seated in his wheelchair, and he went out into the garden of Shenzheng Road. He mounted his carriage and went towards Lin Manor, ready to bring Wan'er and Da Bao back home. In the carriage, he suddenly asked, "Being a teacher of the Imperial College, is there anything strange about having this job? I am long gone from the Supreme Court. Why am I being brought up to become a Commandant of Justice?"
Deng Ziyue resolved to explain his second question first. He told Fan Xian, "There are two Commandants of Justice. Commandant of Justice Ren is the leader, whereas you would become the vice-Commandant of Justice. But this is just a made-up position, it is not as if you would have to show up everyday. The Imperial College's academicians are in charge of seven departments in there, and these two positions are above fourth rank." He reminded Fan Xian, "Master, although you took over the Commissioner's position and you cannot be a politician of the courts anymore, the court did not send a message to say you have been removed from those two positions. And this time, the Emperor has ordered you to accept these two made-up positions. This shows that he cares for you deeply; I don't think there are any ulterior motives to discern from this."
Fan Xian shook his head. These two positions were the last things the Emperor mentioned in his decree. In the beginning, Fan Xian did not take them seriously, and he felt something odd regarding the declaration. The Emperor was a deep-thinker, and Fan Xian didn't believe he would not use his authority willy-nilly.
"These two positions… is there anything special about them?" Fan Xian furrowed his eyebrows as he attempted to articulate his words with care.
Deng Ziyue spent some time in thought before responding. He said, "The Commandant of Justice is a common position and nothing all too special. It's just for taking care of issues of lesser importance to the Supreme Court; but it does allow easy access to the palace. Academics of the Imperial College, on the other hand, have become a rare sight in recent years. After a few new policies were introduced, the position was a little messed up."
All of a sudden he slapped his lap and happily proclaimed, "I remember! In the past, the academics of the Imperial College were given permission to enter the palace and educate the princes there. The academics are assistants of the tutors."
Fan Xian froze and opened his mouth wide without saying a word. He finally understood why the Emperor had put him in these two positions. A Commandant of Justice of the Supreme Court plus the position of an academic of the Imperial College meant that Fan Xian was to become a teacher of the princes.
Basically, it meant that he was in charge of teaching the third prince.
He thought of this a little more and in frightened shock, yelled, "I don't have the time to go to the palace every day! Am I not supposed to go to Jiangnan? How could he arrange such wretched positions for me?"
The neighing of horses could be heard. It seemed as if the carriage was brought to a stop by the sound of Fan Xian's yelling. He lifted the curtains and took notice of a few guards being led by eunuchs to block their passage of the carriage.
Eunuch Yao saw Fan Xian inside the carriage. He was freezing, and his eyelashes were frosted. With a shaky, trembling tone he said, "Master, would you be so kind as to follow me? The Emperor desires your presence in the palace."
Chapter 314: A Garden Tour with Unease (1)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Eunuch Yao went to Fan Manor first today, but found nobody there, wondering where this commissioner could go with such wounds still on him. Even the minister had no idea, and he couldn't find that special Mrs. Fan either, leaving him nobody to ask.
Eunuch Yao felt quite anxious, as His Majesty was still waiting in the palace. Learning that Mrs. Fan had gone back to Lin Manor, he rushed there with the royal guards. On the way there, they occasionally came across a carriage, but would have nearly missed it were it not for a sharp-eyed guard who recognized one entourage of Fan Xian.
Seeing Eunuch Yao breathing heavily, Fan Xian sighed, "Why summon me now while I am on my way to pick up Mrs. Fan?"
Eunuch Yao was astonished at his indifference, since he never knew anybody who didn't respond seriously and actively to a summons from His Majesty. In view of the long-established good relationship with the Fan Manor, instead of scolding, Eunuch Yao only urged him: "His majesty had given the decree long ago. I fear he would be quite unhappy if you were late meeting him."
"Of course we will go," said Fan Xian unpleasantly. Unwilling to see the old eunuch stand in the cold snow, Fan Xian asked Eunuch Yao to sit in the carriage with him, heading towards the palace, and additionally arranged someone to notify his wife about this.
"Be honest, Yao. What happened?" Leaning backwards with his eyes partly closed, Fan Xian asked without even turning his head to the eunuch, since he knew these eunuchs had gotton enough from the Fan Manor.
Actually, Eunuch Yao dared not accept any more bounties from the Fan Manor now, and smiling obsequiously, he answered, "Well…how could a mere servant like me know? You just go and see."
"You cunning old man," said Fan Xian, shaking his head as he pretended to be angry. He paused before saying, "Give me something."
Eunuch Yao pricked up his ears, looked around to make sure there was nobody else near them, and finally said in a low voice: "What? My master? I'll tell you anything I can."
"What happened to the eunuchs in Xuankong Temple? " Fan Xian asked with a frown.
Eunuch Yao was startled for a bit, then put his palm flat in front of his throat and made a cutting motion.
No reaction was seen on Fan Xian's face, but nobody could tell what was on his mind. He knew that this was unavoidable. An assassin was mixed in with eunuchs, and there was no way for anyone in their presence to get away; there might even be more people who would die.
"What about Dai?"
"Still alive," Eunuch Yao sighed, "He is old, His Majesty trusts him. But he has been implicated and can no longer stay in Taiji Palace...Two months ago, he confronted the Court of Censors for his nephew's bad conduct, having felt quite embarrassed in front of the people, and ultimately, His Majesty recommissioned him for Noble Consort Shu's sake."
Eunuch Yao glanced at Fan Xian. But Fan didn't show any sign of expression. Eunuch Yao had no idea how many bounties were involved between Fan Xian and Eunuch Dai.
"Who would've thought that there'd be an assassination...I think Dai had nothing at all but bad luck in the world. He is now stripped of all his positions, even getting the cane and being banished to the treasury. Just thinking of how an old man like him does all the hard work on such a cold day..." The old eunuch wiped his tears with his sleeve. Eunuch Yao and Eunuch Dai came into the palace in the same year, and though there were some conflict between them in daily life, having seen the other fallen, Eunuch Yao couldn't help but grieve for his fellow colleague.
"Poor old Dai...Let's wait till His Majesty calms down. It would be lucky for him to stay alive." Shaking his head, Fan Xian asked again, "Then who is on duty in the Taiji Palace?"
"Hong Zhu." Noticing Fan Xian's confusion, Eunuch Yao explained in a low voice, "A young eunuch, who started to run between the Taiji Palace and the gate this year, His Majesty likes him for his agility."
"Even the delivery of imperial decrees?" Fan Xian asked curiously.
Eunuch Yao shook his head, saying, "How could he have the qualification to do this?"
The carriage was ordered to stop by Eunuch Yao as soon as it passed Xinjiekou. Deng Ziyue was a bit unhappy about this, since the square in front of palace was quite broad, and it wasn't right for the wounded Commissioner Fan to pass through this broad area in a wheelchair on such a snowy winter's day.
"Please understand," Eunuch Yao said, embarrassed, "that since the event last time, some substantial changes have been made among imperial guards. Now these guards watch everybody closely like wolves. It seems like they are trying to frighten away anyone who sets foot in the palace."
Hearing this, Fan Xian said: "Don't make Eunuch Yao feel embarrassed; let's get off."
Deng Ziyue glanced at the gate of the palace, and feeling annoyed, carried Fan Xian onto the wheelchair from the carriage, afterwards immediately opening a black umbrella to protect the commissioner from snow. An officer from the Overwatch Council then pushed the wheelchair. Snow fell onto the umbrella, making small noises.
Eunuch Yao was not lucky enough to enjoy such treatment, and could only cover his head with hands, hurrying to the gate in front with several guards.
Fan Xian crouched down in the cloak to avoid the cold wind blowing head-on, half of his face being covered by a fur collar, still he felt a chill forcing its way inside along the cloak. The sunlight was dim, and the falling snow made a mournful sound.
The imperial guards outside the gate of the palace explained the relevant procedures to Eunuch Yao, and watched in amazement those who were slowly walking in the middle of the square. There were, in wind and snow, a group of officers in casual clothes with no expression on their faces, pushing a wheelchair, and a black umbrella being erected over the wheelchair to block the falling snow, ensuring that not even a flake fell on the person sitting in the wheelchair.
"I don't remember the Council Director being summoned to come to the palace today, so what's going on?" The imperial guard captain said in surprise.
"It is Commissioner Fan."
Everybody was shocked. Without hesitation, the captain led several guards to up to the wheelchair to protect the person in it from snow, and accompanied this group to the gate, let them in after simple inspection.
Amid the northern wind and snow, Deng Ziyue pushed the wheelchair through the side aisle beside the main hall. Along the way, the color of the corner of the palace wall became darker and darker, and finally, they stopped in front of the door at the right side of the palace wall.
There were already a eunuch waiting for them, holding an umbrella in a plain color, and put it over Fan Xian' head as soon as he arrived. Then the young wounded commissioner was greeted into the imperial harem with great care.
Deng Ziyue stood outside the door, watching the commissioner go away in the company of eunuchs. He didn't show any concern on his face, but nobody knew what, if anything, was weighing on his mind. A fragment of snow fell on the corner of his eye.
"Not in the Imperial Library?" Fan Xian frowned, asking Eunuch Yao forgetting about the head-on wind for the moment.
It was said a while ago that His Majesty had lost his temper after having to wait for Fan Xian. Now that Fan Xian was here, those young eunuchs were so excited that they rushed towards the palace as if they were stepping on hot wheels, making the wheelchair squeak as they did. The eunuchs holding the umbrella stumbled along. If not for the smooth surface of the floor in the palace, the mad running might have caused Fan Xian's wounds to open again.
Eunuch Yao answered, out of breath from running, "To the living quarters."
Fan Xian felt a little surprised, and his face was off color already. Seeing this, Eunuch Yao remembered the young commissioner was still injured. It was because that His Majesty had waited too long, but having the commissioner be injured again would not do him any good, thus he ordered the group to slow down. After scolding others for running, Eunuch Yao turned to Fan Xian obsequiously, "My young master, you didn't get hurt, did you?"
Fan Xian nodded, saying: "I am not that fragile."
Soon they arrived somewhere in the garden, not where the empress lived, but where Yi Guipin (the mother of the third prince) lived. Eunuch Yao stepped inside first to send a message. After a while somebody came out to greet Fan Xian and accompanied him inside.
His Majesty was sitting on the warm bed in informal dress, talking to Yi Guipin casually, the third prince sitting in a corner quietly, writing something. Seeing people come inside, he stopped talking and turned back to give Fan Xian a look.
"Why are you running around with an injured body instead of staying at home?"
Obviously, there was concern in these scolding words. According to common practice, a courtier should feel grateful, but Fan Xian only thought to himself sarcastically, "If you really mean it, why show me the care 17 years later? If you really worry about me, why summon me in such a hurry?"
However, he still managed to show his appreciation, though that vanished in a flash, with him afterwards saying calmly, "Your Majesty, the wound is almost healed, so I decided to go out, and actually, I was on my way to pick up Wan'er."
"Wan'er...went back to Lin Manor? Why? No one but that moron is there." His Majesty seemed loath to mention his niece in connection with Lin Manor, and showed certain displeasure.
Yi Guipin peeped at His Majesty and changed the subject with a little giggle, "Fan Xian, aren't you afraid that Minister Fan would hit you knowing you run around while still injured?"
His Majesty paused and then smiled, "Fan Jian...He would never hit him."
He said it in a joking way, but there was hidden meaning in it. Fan Xian was shocked a little, then smiled without saying a word.
His Majesty glanced at the third prince, who was still writing, and said to Fan Xian, "The several classics you have sorted out in the imperial college...that is what Chengping has been learning these days, I asked him to do so, but the grand tutor thinks it is too deep for him, what do you think?... Chengping, go meet the commissioner."
The third prince was named Li Chengping. According to the rules of Qing Kingdom, princes should treat courtiers with great respect, so His Majesty's command was not astonishing at all. The third prince stopped writing immediately, and walked to the wheelchair modestly, bowing to Fan Xian.
"I can't accept this. This is too much." But Fan Xian couldn't avoid due to being of in the wheelchair.
"You are the commissioner of the imperial college now, so it is your job." His Majesty said casually, like he didn't mean anything at all. However, Yi Guipin knew immediately that His Majesty intended to make Fan Xian teach the third prince. Considering Fan Xian's civil and martial abilities, as well as his influence in the royal court, Yi Guipin couldn't help smiling, and found Fan Xian more pleasing.
Sensing her delight, His Majesty teased her, "Look at you, happy as a child."
The reason why Yi Guipin could win His Majesty's heart was because she never hid her thoughts, at least on the surface. At that moment, upon hearing His Majesty's teasing, she only giggled as she said, "I thank you so much, Your Majesty, for finding such a good teacher for Chengping."
Hearing these two discussing something involving himself, Fan Xian felt it unfair, wondering why nobody asked for his opinion.
The third prince brought his books over. After giving them a rough look-over, Fan Xian raised his head and said: "The classics from Master Zhuang are excellent. It makes sense that the grand tutor considers it too deep. However, it does no harm for the third prince to learn about these basic articles."
They had some more casual conversations, during which Fan Xian kept his answers prudent, knowing that His Majesty must have something serious to say, Just as expected, after hot soup, His Majesty said, in a seemingly casual manner,
"It stopped snowing outside...The first snowfall should always be cherished. Fan Xian, come with me to the garden."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
His Majesty stood up, and Yi Guipin put a crane cloak made of red brocade and lined with raccoon hair on him, smiling.
The snow had stopped completely by the time they left Shufang Palace where Yi Guipin lived. The floor of the palace was wet and clear, but without snow. Only some snow was left on the hollies in the yard. The gray sky, red walls, yellow eaves, snowy branches and blue bricks created a beautiful picture, and the air was extremely clean.
His Majesty walked in front in his cloak, and Fan Xian was pushed by a eunuch, following close behind. Along the way, eunuchs and maids wearing cotton gowns avoided them knowingly, and those they encountered turned to one side without saying a word.
"There is no need to kneel down to me on such a snowy and rainy day." His majesty seemed to have guessed what Fan Xian was thinking, saying softly, "This is the rule I set upon my enthronement. I am tired of all the kneeling...Besides, what if they kneel and rip their clothing? It is still the palace treasury who needs to pay."
Sitting in the wheelchair, Fan Xian released one of the buttons on the collar, since it was a bit hot after snow and wind vanished. Listening to His Majesty, Fan Xian knew he would turn the subject to the palace treasury, but was unwilling to take up the subject.
Seemingly unhappy about Fan Xian's silence, His Majesty asked coldly, "Where is the second son of the Fan Manor?"
By then, they had already reached the most private garden in the palace, in front of which there was a lake, a stone bridge extending across the lake to the pavilion at the center, and there was still unmelted snow left on the pavilion, all of which revealed a chilling atmosphere.
Chapter 315: A Garden Tour with Unease（2)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Although the light snow had ceased, the cold continued to be trapped within the palace. It was indeed difficult to withstand the might of heaven. However, Fan Xian was very warm sitting in his wheelchair. He wore a high-collared cloak that protected him from the wind and snow so well that he was feeling a little hot. As to the Emperor's questioning, he had prepared himself for it a long time ago. He had never expected to hide the fact that his family smuggled Fan Sizhe out of the capital from many people.
"I received a letter the day before yesterday. He has already settled in Shangjing."
Fan Xian casually glanced at the eunuch behind him. The Emperor was walking energetically in front them and so did not notice the exchange of glances between the two people.
The eunuch was Hong Zhu. As he watched Commissioner Fan's laughing gaze he, for some reason, suddenly felt a chill in his heart and began to feel a thread of fear—Hong Zhu understood. The Commissioner was warning him that some words must not be heard by the Emperor. Having been serving near the Emperor recently, he deeply understood the need for silence. He quickly lowered his head and did not dare to meet Fan Xian's gaze again.
Hong Zhu wanted to be able to be taken under the wing of Fan Xian. He dared not say anything that was unfavorable to the Fan clan.
"I am surprised that you said it aloud," said the Emperor lightly as he strolled beside the lake. "Although you and I both know the truth of these things, there is still a need for us to play politics."
Fan Xian lowered his head and allowed the soft fur on the collar to rub against his cheeks. "Since Your Majesty asked, I dare not speak a lie."
The Emperor suddenly came to a halt and the eunuch quickly drew back the wheelchair so as to not be level with the Emperor. Fan Xian rocked in his seat and he furrowed his brows.
"You dare not lie to me… but you dare to lie brazenly to the world?" The Emperor turned around and looked at Fan Xian with a smile that was not quite a smile. The lines at the corner of his eyes were not smile lines and carried more of a question.
Fan Xian raised his head and, somewhat rudely, met the Emperor's gaze. "There are many foolish people in the world… I am only loyal to the Emperor, not to those people."
"But someone once said…" The Emperor's gaze was suddenly very strange. "The people are most important, and the state follows. The ruler is the least important of all."
"Nonsense, who dares to say such things?" Fan Xian's brows drew together lightly. Of course he know who dared: the original author was Mencius. His mother had plagiarized that.
"The Ministry of Justice is still searching for your brother," the Emperor laughed. He turned around and continued walking forward, saying, "Are you not worried I will punish you?"
Hong Zhu pushed the wheelchair forward to keep pace. The squeaking of the wheels was giving Fan Xian a headache. He shook his head and said, "I trust Your Majesty understands my difficulties."
"Difficulties?" the Emperor laughed coldly. "I suspect that only now does the Second Prince feel like he has difficulties and no one to share them with."
"Ah…I am guilty."
Fan Xian knew that, right now, he should act as if he were slightly frightened, just like the ministers in those Qing dramas that tried to get close to the Emperor. But he knew that the Emperor had fully intended for the Second Prince to be brought down. He was nothing more than a tool. Furthermore, in the eyes of the Emperor, he was not just a simple minister. That factor remained in play, after all.
And so he did not feel even a thread of fear or nervousness. No matter how well he acted, it remained superficial and exaggerated. The three words "I am guilty" dragged out a little too long; it seemed overdramatic.
The Emperor lowered his voice and berated, "Even if this is an act, be more serious!"
Fan Xian made a forlorn face and said, "I am guilty."
Over and over again were the three boring words "I am guilty, I am guilty". Fortunately, the three of them had reached the wooden bridge in the middle of the lake by this time and their conversation was paused. Although Jingdou was already slightly cold, the light snow had not been cold enough to freeze the lake. It lay green and cold beneath the bridge. Even though the bridge was well-constructed and flat, the wheelchair still felt unsteady as it pressed down against the wooden boards. Fan Xian gripped the armrests of his wheelchair tightly and he stared intently at the gaps in the wooden bridge. He thought to himself that if the eunuch suddenly turned into an assassin, he was doomed.
The eunuchs and serving girls who were cleaning the pavilion ahead paid their respects and disappeared. They dared not to hang around.
The Emperor took a seat on a cushioned stone bench and indicated with his gaze for Fan Xian to help himself to a cup of hot tea. The Emperor himself instead used two fingers to pick up some pine nuts and began to peel them slowly. Eunuch Hong Zhu took his cue and stood to the side of the pavilion. Half of his attention was on the scenery and the other half was on his masters, ready to serve if they gave an order.
"How is it?" asked the Emperor.
Fan Xian seemed to have been scalded by his tea. He drew his brows together tightly and immediately asked, "Is Your Majesty referring to my injury or…"
"The latter."
Fan Xian replied in a very straightforward manner, "We are ready to move. The orders have been sent out. As this matter did not go through the official channels, it shouldn't arouse the attentions of too many people."
The Emperor nodded.
Fan Xian continued with the details, "At the moment, we can retrieve all the stock in our territory, however… if Northern Qi hears about it, they will also be able to make a fortune from it. After all, the Cui clan stored a great deal of stock in the north…" He hid very important information within these words, information he wouldn't reveal to the Emperor even in the throes of death. It was information about the plan for him and the Northern Qi Emperor to divide the spoils.
"There are three roads that lead north and we have them under control. As the people in the palace treasury spend a lot of time with them, they're not completely safe, so we haven't used them yet."
He furrowed his brow and carefully detailed the plan Yan Bingyun had devised. He hadn't yet finished when the Emperor waved his hands and said, "I… don't want the details. I only want the results."
Fan Xian hesitated then said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. In, at most, a year, the treasury will recover much of its revenue."
The Emperor shook his head indifferently. "It is impossible for the treasury to return to its previous glorious state… I think you understand why."
Fan Xian lowered his head.
"Let me ask you," The Emperor said, "how you were sure that I would support you acting against the Second Prince and the eldest princess?"
"Because… the court needed money."
After half a beat of silence, the Emperor huffed through his nose and said, "What the court needs to do is to expand… and so it needs money. Yunrui has dug too deep into the treasury over the years—even I could not allow it anymore, and so I wanted you to handle the mess. You didn't disappoint me. First, you had the daring to accept, and second, you did what you needed to do. You didn't let the other person's status scare you… this is why I used you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your appreciation." Fan Xian could only give thanks. He couldn't say much about the eldest princess. After all, she was his mother-in-law. Of course, he could not make improper comments.
The Emperor picked up a pine nut and brought it to his lips and slowly savored its flavor. Outside the pavilion, the wind had ceased blowing and the snow had stopped falling, it was a cold peacefulness.
"Ye Zhong has returned to Canzhou. I heard there is much discussion in the city because I allowed Prince He to take the position of Commander of the Imperial Army. What have you heard?" The Emperor seemed to ask very casually.
Fan Xian gave him a pained smile and replied, "It is difficult to avoid having people talk. After all, it does not seem to fit precedence."
"What do you think?"
Fan Xian was surprised. He wondered how it came to him to give an opinion on such a matter as this. He quickly replied, "Your Majesty has given it much deliberation. I dare not be so arrogant as to judge it."
"Speak, I absolve you of all offense." The Emperor did not look at Fan Xian's delicate face at all. He focused his gaze on the frozen trees in the palace gardens.
Fan Xian relaxed. He knew talking to the Emperor was a difficult task. That year, Wei Xiaobao had barely spoken any truths yet Kangxi had caught him. The things he, himself, had done in secret: sneaking in to the Royal Palace, his pact with Northern Qi, his conversation with Xiao En… all these things he hid from the Emperor in front of him. If things went awry, who knew what would befall him?
Only, this Emperor before him was rather unfathomable. If Fan Xian did not have his natural advantage he would definitely not dare to play such a game with the Emperor. His so-called advantage was that he knew the true nature of the relationship between himself and the Emperor, and the Emperor was not aware that he knew. And thus, Fan Xian was able to pretend to be the loyal minister. The guiltier the Emperor felt toward
himself, the larger his advantage.
"His Eldest Highness is unwilling to remain in the capital," Fan Xian replied in a very straightforward manner. "Furthermore, reducing a Prince to be used in such a way is very irregular. Most importantly, the Royal Palace is the heart of the Qing Kingdom, and so caution is absolutely necessary."
This comment was very straightforward, almost crossing the line. However, the Emperor did not have much of a reaction to it. He only said, coldly, "Unwilling? Much of life is not to one's liking. He doesn't want to stay in the capital. Then is he willing to watch me, his father, guard the capital alone? Fan Xian, you are not very skilled in persuasion."
Fan Xian flushed in embarrassment. He knew that he had not managed to keep the matter the Great Prince entrusted to him during his visit to Fan Manor away from the Emperor.
"If he settles down, leave second brother alone." The Emperor closed his eyes and concluded the matters that had been happening in the capital recently.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Fan Xian nodded. He had already achieved everything he wanted, why would he continue stirring the pot?
"You did very well in the Hanging Temple case," The Emperor suddenly gently said. "However, as the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, you allowed an assassin to slip into the capital. Before it all happened, the Second Bureau did not know anything of it at all. This is an oversight on your part. However, it is evened out by your success. I can only reward you with those useless things. Don't be resentful."
"I would not dare," Fan Xian replied seriously. "It was originally my oversight… as to my injury, it is also because I am not learned enough, and so I was injured by the white clothed assassin."
The Emperor asked with sudden interest, "That assassin… we never figured out who it was. You fought with them, can you make any guesses about them?"
The wind suddenly picked up outside the pavilion and Fan Xian's back instantly went numb. A drop of sweat rolled down from his neck and trailed down his body inside his clothing. He did not know why the Emperor asked this question. However, he felt that if he were not cautious, he would lose all that he had gained.
The white clothed assassin was the Shadow. No matter why Chen Pingping had set up this situation, he would not have told the Emperor anything before he had communicated everything to Fan Xian. So how should he answer? If he said he didn't know, would that affect the tenuous position he had managed to gain in the Emperor's heart?
It was only a brief moment of surprise and Fan Xian covered it masterfully. He asked suspiciously, "Didn't Your Majesty say that the white clothed assassin was the younger brother of Sigu Jian?"
The Emperor laughed coldly. "That year, in the turmoil of taking Dongyi City, Sigu Jian showed no mercy and countless numbers of his family were killed. There was a rumor that a younger brother had survived… so I guessed. That day, on top of the tall tower... that brilliant swordsmanship... If it wasn't the spirit of the sigu sword, then I think I must be blind."
Fan Xian's chest loosened slightly; he knew that he had gambled right. He smiled slightly and said, "It's a pity, if we had concrete proof…we could use this excuse in the coming year to send soldiers against Dongyi City. Then my injury would have been worth it."
These words tickled the Emperor's fancy; he liked these shameless methods. He smiled. "After the sigu sword was recovered from their destruction, they have never acted without thinking. How could they admit to this? First, they would not admit they had a younger brother still living; following that, they would send a diplomatic letter expressing shock at my assassination and offer their condolences. They would express disbelief at the assassin's diabolical behavior…"
The middle-aged person continued to talk without concern and discovered that no one was acknowledging his rare display of humor. He turned his head to find that Fan Xian was staring very intently at him, and the eunuch outside the pavilion was leaning toward him, and dared not make a noise.
Taking in this scene, he could not help but sigh from the bottom of his heart. He thought, After all these years, there has indeed not been another person like her who can laugh around with me without caring about our statuses.
The Emperor's mood was a bit gloomy. He slowly opened his mouth to ask, "Fan Xian…that day on the tower, why did you first save Ping'er?"
Fan Xian begged forgiveness from his wheelchair and was silent for a while before replying, "Given the situation at the time, if I had stayed near Your Majesty, I would have only been able to block the strike from the front, and wouldn't have been able to deal with the strike from behind… His Third Highness was in danger."
"Oh?" The Emperor smiled in a self-deprecating manner and said, "Perhaps my life is not worth as much as Ping'er's life?"
Fan Xian smiled bitterly and once again begged forgiveness. "I know I deserve to die. The situation at the time was very tense, and I did not react in time."
"When you rushed to my side…you had lost the initiative, were you not afraid to die?"
Fan Xian thought a bit, and then finally said something very treasonous. He met the Emperor's serious gaze and said bitterly, "At the time I thought, it would be best if I could block the strike with my life, but if I couldn't…hehe…to be able to go with Your Majesty into the next world would be a great honor."
The Emperor paused for a moment and then burst into laughter. His laugh shocked the skies and traveled far beyond the pavilion. The eunuchs and serving girls all over the garden could not help but look at each other upon hearing the laugh. They wondered what joke Commissioner Fan had told the Emperor today for him to be so joyful.
The Emperor stopped laughing and at this moment found great comfort in the familiar crease between Fan Xian's brows. His voice became gentle and he said, "On this trip to Jiangnan, you should be careful. Don't always rush to the forefront of things… I heard that you are similarly careless in the north. You're a minister, after all—you should know to treasure and protect your life."
Fan Xian felt slightly embarrassed, and knew that the Emperor was right. As a minister of a country, how many would be at the forefront of danger like himself? It was only because he enjoyed, to his very bones, being independent and alone. What it came down to was he didn't truly trust other people. However, the Jiangnan trip was still a few months away. The Emperor's farewell advice seemed to be a bit early.
"Your Majesty," Fan Xian remembered an urgent matter and said uneasily, "what you said earlier at Yi Guiping's… was it a joke?"
The Emperor glared at him. "A gentleman does not joke," he said coldly.
Fan Xian asked fretfully, "I am very young, and I do not have much moral prestige. How could I be the Royal Tutor?"
The Emperor smiled and said, gazing at him, "I heard… when you were in Northern Qi, even that little Emperor respected you… as for moral prestige, even Zhuang Mohan has praised you, so why can't you take the role? The Northern Qi tutor is only the descendent of Zhuang Mohuan… if it weren't for the fact you are really too young, I would openly summon you to lecture in the palace. Who would dare to disagree?"
"But…" Fan Xian regretted the illustrious name he had made for himself in his vanity. He replied in distress, "But, I am going to Jiangnan next spring. It would not do to harm the Third Prince's education."
The Emperor waved his hand, "Take Ping'er with you. I have already discussed this with the empress dowager."
Fan Xian opened his mouth and was speechless for a long while.
"Work hard," the Emperor said with a placid expression. "After the Jiangnan matter has concluded, stay in the capital for a couple of years. I will have you enrolled as a disciple under the palace secretary." He stared into Fan Xian's eyes and said softly, "I look favorably on you."
Fan Xian sank into silence for a moment and then nodded without argument. He understood the conversation had come to an end and he prepared to make his excuses to go home. However, unexpectedly… the Emperor waved his hand again and said lightly, "Today is first day of winter. There is feasting in the palace. You will stay here for dinner… I have already sent someone to your manor to pick up Wan'er."
Fan Xian was surprised again. He didn't know what this meant, or if this meant nothing at all.
"The empress dowager wants to meet you." The Emperor said, and then coughed to cover up. "She wants to see what Wan'er's husband actually looks like."
The Emperor left in his imperial carriage and the atmosphere in the pavilion relaxed. Only Fan Xian and the eunuch assigned to push his wheelchair today remained. Fan Xian watched the direction the Emperor left in, and a cold, self-deprecating look flashed through his eyes. Although his summons to the palace had happened unexpectedly, he still had a small thread of hope. Perhaps that middle-aged man would let him see that painting? Perhaps he would say something to him?
He had not expected them to still play the parts of the beneficent Emperor and the loyal minister. In his innermost thoughts, he was quietly disappointed. Of course, he understood very clearly that the imperial family was heartless, and he had never viewed that middle-aged man as his father… his disappointment was for that woman, Ye Qingmei.
Looking at how the Emperor treated him, it was clear that he was not a man who was consistent in his love. At least…he did not have the necessary appreciation for his mother. In other words, even if the Emperor trusted him wholeheartedly, even if the Emperor thought of him as his closest minister, he remained nothing more than a minister.
If, one day, he revealed his identity, not as a "loyal minister" credited with protecting the life of the Emperor, and brought to light the true origins of that chair… Fan Xian smiled coldly in his heart. He had no interest in being Emperor, however he had, ever since a young age, been interested in being the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council. Whether or not he accepted the position was up to himself, whether or not the middle-aged man allowed him to be part of the order was a question of ethics.
D*mn! I think about you a lot!
Having let out his anger toward the Emperor, Fan Xian took a deep breath. He knew that he had no reason to be so despondent. Due to the fact that Lady Ning was one of the Dongyi prisoners, many people had discounted in their hearts the Great Prince as the future heir, not to mention his own disgraceful role. Besides, there must have still been some loose ends concerning his mother's strange death all those years ago that had prevented the Emperor from acknowledging him up until now.
What confused Fan Xian was that he had severed such expectations from the day he had discovered his true identity. Why did he care so much now?
A drop of icy water dripped from the eaves of the pavilion and landed with a soft splash against the stone steps. The noise startled Fan Xian and he raised his gaze to the early winter scenery outside the pavilion. He sighed and thought that perhaps the atmosphere in the palace was too oppressive and was making him think these unnecessary things.
"Commissioner… sir… there is still some time until dinner. The Emperor has given orders for you to… go wherever you wish," said the eunuch Hong Zhu with lowered eyes and a stutter in his voice.
He could go wherever he wanted? He was not in the plum garden to recover from his injury; it was best if he didn't cause any trouble. Fan Xian shook his head. "I'll just watch from here." He noticed the eunuch's voice and squinted at him. His gaze swept up and down the eunuch's body like a pair of knives, causing the eunuch to feel very nervous.
"Cold?"
"Yes."
"Sweating?"
"…yes."
The corner of Fan Xian's mouth twitched up and he smiled. "Don't be scared. Since the Emperor let you stay and listen, naturally, he trusts you."
Today the Emperor's conversation with Fan Xian had appeared very domestic on the surface, however there had been a "wealth" of information hidden within. It was the first Hong Zhu had learned of the dispute between the Overwatch Council and the Second Prince, and the issue of the treasury, were all undertaken with the Emperor's implicit consent. Commissioner Fan was clever beyond words and understood the Emperor's true desires! It also seemed that Commissioner Fan was about to do something else important.
If these matters were to spread beyond the palace, it would likely create great unease.
"I'm not scared," Hong Zhu replied wretchedly.
Fan Xian stared that the pitted face of the eunuch and suddenly asked, with interest, "You also have acne?"
"Acne?" Hong Zhu was startled momentarily, before suddenly understanding Fan Xian's meaning. He replied, slightly angry, "I'm not sure either."
It was quiet outside the pavilion. In the distance there were unseen serving girls walking and the lake surrounded them, cold and awe-inspiring. A wind blew up from the lake and wrapped itself around the people in the pavilion. Tamping down the impatience in his heart, Fan Xian smiled. "You… are Hong Zhu?"