chapter 22 – the bright fist in the dark night

The carriage was dimly lit, that young man’s lips were covered with a faint smile, some deliberate display for the sake of not being deliberate, some slight shyness flavor that a man himself should not carry, the faintly spread out end of the brow was like a fresco in a celebratory temple, there was a kind of natural feeling of antiquity and respectability.

“I can’t figure it out.” The young man’s smile had more than a hint of distress in it, “I can’t think of many things, like why he’s checking up on me, doesn’t he know that I really appreciate him?”

His fingers gently pinched the incense pouch at his waist, sniffed the scent of lilacs that gradually dispersed, and gently leaned his head against the soft compartment wall of the carriage, half-closing his eyes, “It’s only natural for me to admire him, father is used to life on a horse, so why is he so attached to his literary reputation?”

No one dared to take his words, no one was capable of taking them. So the young nobleman remained mired in that absurd sense of unreality.

“Why?”

“Why?”

The slightly shy smile faded from his face as he gently moved his fingers away from the bag of incense and put them to the end of his own nose and rubbed them twice, as if trying to preserve all of the remaining aroma at his fingertips.

“It doesn’t make sense.”

“But it can’t be helped.” The young man sighed, twisting his head to look at the bunch of green grapes laying beside him, suddenly reaching out to pick up the branch of the grapes and tossing them away with a grimace, “Father loved him too much.”

“More than he loved me.”

He somewhat nervously pulled the corner of his mouth and smiled, thinking of that prince in the palace, thinking of Xinyang’s aunt, waving his hand, he said to the imperial historian who was groveling and waiting beside him, “Beg for peace.”

The imperial historian He Zongwei was not involved in this action, he raised his head in consternation, but saw a hint of boredom flashing in the eyes of the second prince, and did not utter a word for a long time.

The imperial inspector of the metropolitan inspectorate was beaten to the point of separating flesh from bone and drenching blood, this matter naturally became the most sensational news in Kyoto lately, the new issue of the newspaper in the palace downplayed the situation, while the official internal residence newspaper was written clearly.

Everyone knew that through this incident, His Majesty had once again re-emphasized the authority of the Supervisory Yuan, and even more obviously, he had once again emphasized his intention to return to the young man called Fan Xian.

There was a seat in the Imperial Study Hall, a place in the Supervisory Yuan, and a face given to him by His Majesty’s scepter when the Imperial Historian referred to him. Fan Xian, a name that was already glowing, now had a thick black-and-gray edge to its golden connotations, so that the vast majority of officials did not dare to look it in the eye.

On the day of the royal historian’s beating, it was rumored that the young governor kneeled outside the imperial study before begging his majesty to stop the punishment of caning, and that the royal historian of the metropolitan inspectorate survived thanks to his pleading for mercy regardless of previous suspicions. The eunuch Hou, who was executing the sentence at that time, also casually disclosed that the reason why the imperial censor was not beaten to death with three canes was also the secret request of Mr. Fan Tisi.

Fan Xian did not explicitly turn this matter into a favor to the metropolitan procuratorate, he has always remained silent on the matter of the court cane, on the contrary, it is such an attitude, but let him gain more understanding and support, after all, it is he who has preserved the lives of those poor royal historians. And the original secretly on his side of the Kyoto scholars and students of the Imperial College, but also feel that they did not support the wrong person.

The folk of Qing, has always thought that the Supervisory Yuan is one of his majesty’s dogs, and until after this matter, perhaps because Fan Xian Poetry Immortal’s reputation is too dazzling, people began to learn to look squarely at this institution that has always been hidden in the darkness, for the Supervisory Yuan …… at least one place of the impression began to gradually reverse, between the black and the white is not without a transition The possibility of transition between black and white, the camp of good and evil, will also allow a different kind of beauty.

Gray silence, this, is the Supervisory Yuan.

The imperial palace’s chrysanthemum appreciation will still have some days, Fan Xian half inclined his head, sitting in his own courtyard, while guessing what exactly Wan Er is embroidering, one side is thinking about Fan Si Zhe this little ornery in the end in these days in the end in what to play, and occasionally also think about it, that with his own extremely similar to the second emperor is not the corner of the lips is still with the trace of the faintly ashamed of the smile.

Fan Xian was quite upset when he thought of this matter, slightly shy? Innocence? This was his own signature! Suddenly realizing that a figure more honorable than himself also had such a trait, he began to feel uneasy deep down.

“Young Master.” Fuji Zijing reported respectfully, “According to your wishes, Miss Shen has already moved into the garden.”

Fan Xian nodded and said, “Is there anything strange about her these days?”

Fuji Zijing responded, “Aside from being a bit gloomy in her thoughts, there’s nothing special about her.”

Fan Xian nodded, slowly closed his eyes, and said, “Send a post for me, inviting that young and old lord from the House of Words to come to the residence for a meal.”

“Should I inform His Lordship?” Fuji Zijing glanced at him and asked with small intentions.

Fan Xian smiled, “That is natural. If Lord Father knew that he would be able to have a meal at a table with Yan Ruohai, I’m afraid that his heart would be quite happy as well.”

Fuji Zijing responded and couldn’t help but say, “That imperial historian named He Zongwei is here again, is young master still not seeing him today?”

Fan Xian opened his eyes, not knowing what kind of meaning they contained. Of course, he knew He Zongwei, when he first entered Kyoto, he had socialized with him in Yishiju, and at that time, this Kyoto scholar was attached to Guo Baokun, the only son of Guo Youzhi, the Minister of Ceremonies, but he also refused to let go of the opportunity to make friends with himself, so he thought that he was a scholar who was passionate about power.

As for why he has now become a royal historian, Fan Xian is very clear about the hidden meaning of it, and knows that the other party has been visiting the door every day for the past few days, on behalf of that noble master, because he even shunned Li Hongcheng, and thought that His Highness would be a little disturbed as well.

“Meet.”

Fan Xian waved his hand and stood up, the preparations in the courtyard were almost done, meeting the other party and expressing his attitude would not be considered an undeclared war.

After walking in the garden for half a day, Fan Xian himself was a bit annoyed before walking to the front residence. Thinking to himself, the night he came back from Beiqi, how was it that he ran so fast? Maybe he was really worried about his sister skipping home and his wife cuckolding him?

Just thinking about jokes like this, only to feel that the stone path between the autumn trees is a little shorter. Walking to the study in the front house, the imperial historian called He Zongwei was already sitting in the room.

Seeing Fan Xian arrive, He Zongwei hurriedly stood up, arched his hand and saluted, “Greetings, Lord Fan.”

Fan Xian waved his hand and said, “It’s not the first time we’ve met, so what’s the point of being polite.”

This was true. In the days after spring last year, He Zongwei had come to visit Fan Mansion from time to time, perhaps also wanting to take the path of the Fan family. But I had not thought that Fan Xian had already seen his eyes on Ruo Ruo’s idea, coupled with the very dislike of this person’s deeply hidden temperament, so unusually clean and clear boundaries.

After a few visits, He Zongwei retreated, but this famous scholar in Kyoto was naturally no stranger to the people in Fan’s residence.

He Zongwei saw that there was no one else in the study, and said directly, “My official came because of a previous matter.”

“A former matter?” Fan Xian only said these two words and then stopped. The end of his eyebrows were slightly raised, and he looked with a hint of interest at the face of imperial historian He Zongwei, but then waved his hand, stopping the other party’s willingness to continue speaking.

He Zongwei’s face dark, a look to know young family poverty, but these years of Kyoto career, the officialdom of half a year of polishing, let him more silk stability, slightly in addition to some talented proud breath.

Especially that pair of eyes is exceptionally clear, full of unintentional righteousness, so that those who witnessed it had a sense of friendliness. But in Fan Xian’s eyes, it was incomparable contempt.

“What past events?” Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and asked with a smile, “This official is not very clear.”

He Zongwei was indeed worthy of being the Second Prince’s lobbyist, and with a shallow smile, a hint of a loyal smile that couldn’t be missed surfaced on his black face, “There is no such thing as a previous incident, my humble servant made a slip of the tongue, and only brought a box of good tea from Yunwu Mountain over for Your Second Highness.”

Fan Xian looked at the ordinary looking box in front of him and fell into silence. He knew that if he accepted the gift, it would be like getting even with that incident the other day with the imperial historian, and in the eyes of His Second Highness, perhaps saying that Fan Xian hadn’t suffered any loss, but instead had gained a great deal of face under the wooden staff in front of the palace wall, he should be willing to put the matter to rest.

“As Lord He speaks in a misguided manner, I’ve remembered a former incident.” Fan Xian looked at He Zongwei with a smile.

He Zongwei’s heart trembled for no reason, thinking that this young and handsome Lord Fan, this young man who had taken all the luster from himself as a talented scholar as soon as he entered Kyoto, how could he look so much like His Second Highness?

“What is it that Your Excellency is referring to?” He Zongwei’s heart was a little uneasy.

Fan Xian looked at him coldly: “This official left Kyoto in the spring and traveled to Northern Qi, but I didn’t expect to return in the past few months, only to find that things in Kyoto have changed a great deal, and even my own father-in-law has now been forced to retire.”

He Zongwei’s tongue was a bit bitter, unable to say anything at all, knowing that what he feared most had finally happened.

Fan Xian said quietly, “Lord He should know who Wu Bo’an is, right?”

He Zongwei steeled himself, “It’s a strategist in the old phase master’s family.”

Fan Xian raised an eyebrow and said, “Lord He is indeed someone with old feelings, this spring, your honor went to the capital along with Wu Bo’an’s widow, I just don’t know where that Mrs. Wu has gone now?”

He Zongwei clenched his teeth, stood up, arched his hand, saluted and begged, “Lord Fan, the student’s heart was hurt by the death of Guo’s old man that day, so he had the audacity to bring Wu to the capital. Not bad, the phase master stepped down and the student this move can not be unrelated, just this matter involves the Qing law state law, the student would not dare to hide, I hope that your honor to understand.” In his heart, he naturally did not have the luxury of hoping that Fan Xian would be able to put himself over, but relying on the fact that he had now befriended His Second Highness, he said forcefully, “Your Excellency can target He as much as you like, it’s just that His Second Highness has a sincere heart, so I hope that your Excellency won’t insist on a resignation.”

Fan Xian glanced at him and said faintly, “This official is an official of the court, so naturally I won’t target someone, but Fan Mou is just an ordinary person, and will always remember some personal grudges in his heart.”

He Zongwei eyes with hate color to look at him, know that today to come to peace has become a mirror, thought that although the phase master down with their own relationship, but that is their own as a subject of the Qing dynasty’s own, with some means and how? The two of you won’t be able to use the means? With this in mind, he got up, saluted, and was ready to brush his sleeves and leave.

Fan Xian gave him a disgusted look, and suddenly made a move that was extremely inconsistent with his status, walking forward and kicking the other man in the waist!

With a muffled sound, He Zongwei fell to the ground in an embarrassing and unimaginably muffled heap!

After all, He Zongwei was a famous figure in Kyoto, and now he was the Imperial Historian of the Du Caiyuan, so he climbed up in a great rage, pointing at Fan Xian and cursing, “You …… you …… dare to hit me!”

Fan Xian clenched his fists and said, “The one who kicked you is you! You came to the mansion to ask for a beating, so I naturally have to satisfy you.” A few more punches went by, and although he didn’t dare to beat the other to death, he still beat He Zongwei into a big pig’s head.

He Zongwei dared not to stay any longer, holding his head which was in immense pain, remembering that this lord was famous for his black fists when he started his career, he hurriedly rolled and crawled to the outside of the mansion, but when he was leaving the room, he again received a flying kick from Fan Xian, plus a tea box dart.

Fan Xian looked at that guy’s lousy figure, and only then did he feel better, spat down and cursed: “My father-in-law has fallen down, but he also ran to the mansion to beg for peace, damn it, this is not to ask for a fight is what?”

Fuji Zijing flashed over from the side and said with a bitter smile, “Young master, if this gets out, I’m afraid the master’s face won’t look good.”

Fan Xian shrugged his shoulders and said, “It’s just beating a dog that barks, and it’s not for his master’s eyes.”

That said, a few months ago, when Fan Xian was still in the northbound mission, he had been given the courtyard’s residence report, and had a clear understanding of the process by which Master Xiang, his own dear father-in-law, had stepped down. And with the help of the dead old man Sean, his judgment on this matter is even more accurate.

Wu Bo’an was a schemer that the Princess had planted in the Sang Reserve, and had instigated the second son of the Lin family to join hands with the Northern Qi side last summer to assassinate Fan Xian on Oxley Street, but unexpectedly ended up dying a horrible death under the grape arbor. Because of this incident, Wu Bo’an’s son was also in Shandong, tortured to death by the prime minister’s disciples. Fan Xian naturally doesn’t know now that this was the work of Yuan Hongdao, the nail that Chen Pingping buried the deepest.

Instead, Wu Bo’an’s wife was arranged by the Xinyang side to enter the capital, and skillfully, through the hands of He Zongwei, she stayed in the old mansion of an old imperial inspector of the Duzha Academy, and began to sue the imperial court.

The thing that really toppled Mr. Lin was a very unjustified murder.

On the streets of Kyoto, there were assassins intent on assassinating Wu Bo’an’s wife, and it seems that it was one of the Sangha’s men who wanted to silence her, but was unusually and unluckily saved by the Second Prince teaming up with the Prince of Jing.

The matter was stirred up in the palace, and Chancellor Lin Ruofu had no choice but to accept the deal under the table and leave Kyoto in disgrace.

It was from that courtyard report on the road that Fan Xian began to suspect the role that the Second Prince and Prince Jing played in this matter, and it was from that day that he began to think about the true relationship between this Second Prince and that Elder Princess of Xinyang.

Every time he saw Dabao, Fan Xian would think of that father-in-law who had gone back to his hometown – this wasn’t an official state matter, it was just a personal grudge between Fan Xian and the second prince, and although there were definitely more far-reaching thoughts behind Fan Xian’s mind, at the very least, Fan Xian, as a human son-in-law, had to retaliate in this matter.

Fan Xian rubbed his fists and moved his muscles, and indeed felt much better in spirit, so he turned around and headed back to the back residence, all the way walking, all the way saying in a clear voice to Fuji Zijing, “Don’t tell father about this, I think that He Zongwei would be too embarrassed to go around spreading the word.”

Arriving at the back residence, Wan’er was still embroidering the object seriously and carefully, Fan Xian looked at his wife and walked up with a slight smile.

He Zongwei was beaten, naturally he was too embarrassed to spread the word around, but the second prince still knew about this matter, and more and more did not understand what Fan Xian was relying on to be so arrogant. This second prince did not seem to have much power in the court, but in fact, with the help of the eldest princess of Xinyang, he had already gained the allegiance of many courtiers, so he did not really look at Fan Xian in the eyes.

But now when you think about it carefully, this Fan Xian …… is clearly a great talent with a literary heart and embroidered belly, so how did he turn into a brutal and unreasonable ruchen? Could it be that the institution of the Supervisory Yuan really has such a great influence on a person?

Still, His Second Highness thought that Fan Xian was at best just caught up in a battle of wills, and he wasn’t willing to condescend to see Fan Xian under the circumstances. He thought that Fan Xian should quiet down after beating up He Zongwei, so he just wrote a letter to Xinyang without much worry.

Within that beautiful departing palace in Xinyang, the oddly beautiful old tree was slowly and silently plucking away its branches and leaves, pieces of yellowish leaves fluttering and panning amidst those white veil tents. A soft hand reached into the air, softly followed by a leaf, the veins on the hand are not very thick, just faintly in the white jade-like skin dive, like the spirit of jade, very beautiful.

Li Yunrui, the eldest princess who left Kyoto for a year, yawned daintily like a young girl, threw the withered leaf in her hand to the ground, lifted her arm and lightly propped up her jaw, her eyes turned slightly, streaming light overflowing with charm, and said, “What does Mr. Yuan think about it?”

Yuan Hongdao, the strategist who betrayed Chancellor Lin Ruofu and now devotes himself to the Xinyang side, is expressionless, but his eyes appropriately show a hint of panic: “The Second Highness is the pride of heaven, so it is unavoidable to take the enemy lightly.”

The Eldest Princess ate and laughed, saying, “That Fan Xian is just a young man, calling it an enemy, Mr. Yuan is being overly cautious.”

Yuan Hongdao smiled bitterly and said, “This aunt is not an ordinary person, although the matter of Northern Qi has not been completed, the Princess’s plan has not been fully realized, but Lord Fan is clever in the middle of the hand does not get blood, but the Emperor of Northern Qi secretly indulged in Uesugi Tiger assassination of Shen Chong. This kind of character can not be described by the word “reckless”? What’s more, your uncle is a generation of poetry fairy, such a brocade mouth and embroidered heart character, I’m afraid that the mind is many times more complicated than an ordinary person.”

The eldest princess sighed, from the brocade couch slowly square up body, gorgeous palace dress outside the exposed a large back neck, white incomparable, like a swan general beauty appear.

“This kid, did not save Sean out also let it be, actually in the end also Yin bad Shen Chong, this Cui’s now every day to complain of suffering, the North Qi side of the Zhenfusi commanding officer’s position is still empty, those below the brocade guards do not dare to make a decision, a time to ship out the channel are blocked.”

Has been standing quietly at the side of the Princess’s beloved Huang Yi respectfully said: “Right now is discussing with the Empress Dowager of Northern Qi, just that the young Emperor of Northern Qi recently is very hard neck, hard to resist the Empress Dowager appointed Changning Marquis as the commanding officer of the Zhenfu Division of the decree.”

The eldest princess laughed coldly and said, “That old woman in Northern Qi is also really a fool, arbitrarily picking an inconspicuous beloved is fine, she has to ask her own brother to be the head of the secret service, when she thinks her own son is stupid?”

Yuan Hongdao reminded from the side, “Let’s leave the matter of Northern Qi aside for now, I just don’t know how the situation in the capital will develop.”

Huang Yi has always disliked the fact that he came to Xinyang not long ago, but was deeply trusted by the eldest princess, forcibly suppressing the faint jealousy deep inside, he said, “After a period of minor chaos in the capital, it should be smoothed out, I think that his majesty is also unwilling to have his own hand-picked successor of the Supervisory Yuan, to have irreconcilable contradictions with his own biological son.”

Yuan Hongdao laughed coldly: “I don’t know how his majesty thinks, I only know that that little lord Fan is a lord who refuses to suffer, this time the imperial historian of the metropolitan inspectorate enlisted him collectively, this is to remind him that there are some things that he can’t touch, where did I expect that his majesty would be so favored with him, that Fan Xian’s face has been damaged by a line, and this is the time to naturally think of a way to get it back. ”

Huang Yi couldn’t care less about his complexion, and said, “Could it be that Fan Xian still dares to make a big deal out of it?”

Only then did the eldest princess smile and open her mouth to say, “Mr. Yuan has a point, this palace shouldn’t have rushed to let the metropolitan police to touch that little guy this time, that little guy’s nature is stubborn as hell.” She suddenly covered her lips and laughed: “Huang Yi you don’t want to say this, my son-in-law ah …… is really a love of trouble, Fan Jian that old man to his son named An Zhi, think really have foresight, know my son-in-law quiet not down.”

She this cover lips a smile, away from the Palace is suddenly born bright color, that eyes in the vivid meaning, eyebrows contained in the flirtatious meaning, as in this autumn rain, moistening every space, so that Huang Yi froze in place do not know how to say, even Yuan Hongdao can not help but be a little lost in thought.

“I guess my good son-in-law, will definitely bite Lao Er two more times.” The Eldest Princess smiled and said, “Write a letter and have Lao Er beg for peace, no matter how much he has been injured.”

The most beautiful woman of the country of Qing words although gentle, but the power contained within is no one dares to discuss, Huang Yi wants to speak again and again, can not help but shake his head.

The eldest princess smiled sweetly: “mother wrote to say, let me return to the palace at the time of the New Year festival, wait for it, wait for the return to the capital, the palace and good son-in-law to have a good time.”

And in the middle of Kyoto, in the bosom of the autumn night, a secret agent of the Supervisory Yuan began to act.

The head of the Chintian Supervisor was an inconspicuous position, but at certain special times-such as when a meteor had fallen, or when the moon had been eaten by a dog-he was responsible for explaining things to His Majesty, and his explanations sometimes had very serious consequences.

He was Second Highness’s man, only before he could be of any use, he was taken into the mouths of those black dogs for which the Kingdom of Qing was best known.

Above the long street, with several whooshing sounds, a dozen black-robed men who looked like demons of the night jumped right into the residence of the Head of the Qin Tian Supervisor. By the time the guards reacted, their lord had already been tied into dumplings by these men in black!

And these strong thieves did not leave, but instead lit up the lights in the courtyard.

Under the lights that filled the courtyard, those guards who were burdened with force looked at the clothes of those men in black, but they didn’t dare to make a move.

Mu Tie, who was dressed in black and personally led the group, coldly looked at the idle people in the field and the family members of the Chintian Supervisor, and said in a single sentence, “The Supervisory Court is working on the case by decree.”

After saying these words, the officials of the Supervisory Yuan dragged the Supervisor of Qin Tian Supervision out of the mansion and stuffed him into a carriage, disappearing into the darkness of the night in just a few moments. The Supervisor’s mansion suddenly resounded with the sound of wailing, and the lights gradually went out.