Chapter 23 Youth in and out of the Palace

Qingli five years of autumn, the palace eunuch Hong Zhu holding a thick stack of paperwork, half rickety body, all the way to the west corner of the door on the room jogging, looks a little small toes stepped on the slightly wet ground, without half a minute hesitation. He was wearing a light blue shirt hem has been lifted up, so as not to trip over the foot, while his right hand is placed on top of the stack of paperwork, wide sleeves will paperwork covered tightly, for fear that the sky if the lead-like heavy hanging clouds will squeeze out a few drops of rain, wetting the paperwork.

Across the threshold, fulfill the handover procedures, and the eunuchs in the room to each other once the name of the register, Hong Zhu then put down his heart, carefully in the table on the pledge, will be in the arms of the paperwork handed over.

The central book is the center of the Qing dynasty to deal with the important place, the status of the past is not as important as today, because there is a prime minister in the general leadership of the six ministries, a should always be the son of the master of the pen over, only to enter the palace to ask for a decree, and now the powerful prime minister Lin Ruofu has been eerily returned to his hometown, the central book of the province of the position of the sudden highlight, His Majesty and mention a few old ministers into the central book of the deliberations and the location of the deliberations on the palace’s corner door, convenient contact. It is convenient to contact.

Now in the middle of the book is responsible for court affairs, is the Shu University scholar and several old ministers.

Slightly cold autumn wind from the square in front of the palace over, Hong Zhu rubbed his hands, phew breath, quietly standing outside the door, waiting for a few bosses of the back of the chapter. He couldn’t leave at this time, and stood honestly outside the door with his ears perked up, listening to the movements inside.

Occasionally an official walked past him, all politely nodded to him. Hong Zhu knew his status and hurriedly smiled and saluted. However, no one thought it was strange for him to stay outside the temporary Hall of Books of the Central Book Province, as they all knew the duties of this little eunuch.

Occasionally, some of the eunuchs sent out from the palace to serve the bosses saw him and respectfully saluted him, asking him to go to the side room next to him to hide from the cold. Hongzhu to these small eunuchs not so much etiquette, self-respect nodded, but still stick to the door.

He is only sixteen years old this year, but he has such a little bit of small status in the palace, the reason is, his daily work is an extremely important part of the palace, and the more crucial thing is, his surname is Hong, so there have been rumors circulating in the palace that he might be some kind of relative with Eunuch Hong.

Hong Zhu touched the left side of his lower lip born of that small fire pimples, some annoyed, these days the Supervisory Yuan caught people caught the awesome, civilian ministers on the zhangzhang awesome, in the middle of the book of the noise of the awesome, their own palace palace a few times a day outside the run, busy ass, the body’s fire is too heavy, even washed out. He thought to himself, when he returned to the palace, he must go to the kitchen to ask for a bowl of herbal tea to drink.

The sound of the deliberations inside the door wasn’t very loud, but it still reached his ears.

“This is the affairs of the Supervisory Court. His Majesty sent this sangha back, I wonder what it means.”

“Perhaps ……” The voice that answered looked hesitant, “Is it that His Majesty feels that Fan Tisi has been doing things a bit too much lately?”

An old minister’s angry voice rang out, “More than excessive? He, Fan Xian, is clearly using his public power in his hands to crack down on dissidents! In just ten days, he arrested five ministers and entered the courtyard late at night to take people captive, this is not like the court’s supervisory authority, it’s simply a bandit in his hands!”

Another disapproving voice rang out, “Fan Tisi does things openly and honestly, after these five ministers were arrested, the next day there was a detailed charge, posted on the wall outside the Da Lisi, the people of Kyoto are all clear and unimaginable. I think Mr. Yan’s words are a bit too much. The Supervisory Yuan a do is to supervise the rule of officials such things, and combat dissidents have what to do? I see ah …… it is still those five ministers who are not handling things correctly that have this problem.”

The old minister surnamed Yan angrily said, “Not cracking down on dissidents? Then why did the Supervisory Yuan suddenly make so many more moves after the Ducha Academy senated him last time?”

The man said with a cold smile, “If it’s retaliation, why hasn’t little Lord Fan made a single move against the Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office?”

“That’s because His Majesty is wise enough to strictly prohibit the Procuratorate from participating in the affairs of the Capital Procuratorate!”

The man’s sneer seemed even more scornful, “Then may I ask Minister Yan, what is the relationship between the Qin Tian Supervisory Court and the imperial inspectors of the Public Prosecutor’s Office? If Fan Xian wanted to retaliate, why did he go and arrest the Supervisor of the Qin Tian Supervision?”

Yan Hangshu, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was momentarily chilled, and only after a long time did he say in a chilling voice, “No matter what, we can’t let the Supervisory Yuan expand the situation any further, and if they keep on arresting people like this, do they have to arrest all the courtiers?”

The man said mockingly, “Lord Shangshu can rest assured, ministers above the third rank, the Supervisory Yuan does not have the power to take action.” The hidden meaning of these words is a bit sinister, implying that the Minister of the Ministry of Justice is not correct, which is why he is so angry at the Supervisory Yuan for investigating the case, only that the Supervisory Yuan’s power has an upper limit, and the ministers of the third rank and above can not be moved.

Yan Xingshu’s angry voice immediately reached the small eunuch Hong Zhu’s ears outside the door: “Really ridiculous! Are you going to stand by and watch the Supervisory Court sit on its laurels from now on?”

The man who spoke at the beginning began to act as a peacemaker and said gently, “Lord Shangshu should not be angry, and Xiao Qin should not say anymore, the Supervisory Yuan can only investigate the case, not the decree special permission, can not judge the case, these several ministers ……” he coughed twice and said: “Guilty or not guilty, always have to Da Lisi trial said. Just His Majesty’s meaning is very clear, we a few, always have to have an opinion is.”

The person who was called Xiao Qin said first: “The affairs of the court is His Majesty’s personal affairs, Qin as a subject, do not dare to discuss.”

Yan Shangshu said angrily, “I think, this wind must not be long, if you let Fan Xian act recklessly, do you all colleagues really want my Daqing dynasty …… to produce another Chen Pingping?”

Hong Zhu, who was guarding the door, stood on his tiptoes and listened clearly to the conversation inside the door, and a cold smile spread on the corner of his lips, thinking that the relationship between His Majesty and the President of the Chen Academy, is not comparable to that of you, the civil ministers.

Just as he was thinking, he saw the Counselor of the Privy Council, Qin Heng, pushing out the door with a sneer on his face, he hurriedly stepped forward to curry favor and said, “Lord Qin, the slave is in a hurry to go back to the palace, when will I get it?”

Qin Heng is in his thirties this year, he is the biological son of the Privy Council Envoy, Old General Qin, and last year when he fought against Northern Qi, he was the commander of the Qing army at that time. With his seniority, he was not enough to be appointed to the Central Secretariat Province, but since General Qin has been sick since the last time he was caned by the court, His Majesty specially ordered Qin Heng to be appointed to the Central Secretariat Province, which is considered to be a generous favor to the Qin family, and it also indicates that the State of Qing still attaches supreme importance to the military achievements.

Privy Council to make the old general Qin said sick not dynasty, originally courtiers thought this is the Qin family is not accustomed to the Supervisory Yuan, Fan Xian in the dynasty of the red arrogance, but Hongzhu today heard Qin Heng even defend Fan Xian, can not help but some of the muttering.

Qin Heng glanced at this little eunuch, smiled, and said: ”Let them argue, in the end no one dares to go against His Majesty’s wishes. You, don’t keep eavesdropping here, anyway, if I give you eighteen guts, you wouldn’t dare to tell it as a joke to others, why do you bother to bore yourself.”

Hong Zhu lowered his eyebrows and smiled, watching this most popular military stalwart of the dynasty disappear into the entrance of the respectful room, shaking his head with some uncertainty.

It wasn’t long before the deliberation or quarrel in the Zhongshu Province finally came to an end under the mediation of Grand Maester Shu. The ministers politely noted their opinions on the paperwork, asking His Majesty to be more cautious about this matter, after all, the five ministers who fell from the horse are not of high rank, but they are all old men in the capital, the so-called things that hurt, these ministers are not willing to look at the Supervisory Yuan to pull them down so easily.

So Hongzhu again holding these documents, will light blue palace dress lifted to the waist, with the sleeve covered in the documents, tiptoe, arching buttocks, all the way to the palace trotting and go.

From the temporary residence until the palace royal study, all in the layer of clouds under the eyes of the people, under the protection of the guards, so there is no fear that someone will jeopardize the most important of these documents of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Zhu run up is extraordinarily pleased, along the way there are some courtesans with a soft voice of love to him to ask for good health, he did not have the time to pay attention to, in addition to those eunuchs currying favor with the eye is also oblivious to.

Ran to the imperial study outside, Hong Zhu calm breathing, low eyebrows and eyes pushed the door, carefully will be gently resting on the paperwork under the case.

Is frowning at the southern zhangzhang His Majesty the emperor picked a read, frowned more and more tight, thin lips suddenly opened, cold voice: “These mediocre! Shu Wu also only know huh haha, Yan Xingshu has a few moments of courage …… Well, the Qin family’s boy is not bad.”

Hong Zhu which dared to listen to these thunderous words of the Son of Heaven, quietly stood on the side, his heart was tense.

The emperor waved his hand.

Hong Zhu was relieved and exited the imperial study, which was considered to be the end of today’s matter. He along the green stone road around a few turns, came to the side of the taiji palace, that side room, there are a few eunuchs are playing with melon seeds, see him come, hurriedly invited him to take a seat, smiled and asked: “this day and what is rare?”

Hong Zhu said with impatience: “Every day is not to listen to those bosses quarrel, which has what new things.”

These eunuchs hurriedly complimented: “small Hong Gong Gong every day to and from the imperial study and the middle book between the important things of our Daqing dynasty, are under your nose happened, naturally do not feel fresh.”

There is also a joke: “That is, if you want to say that our Daqing dynasty’s vitals, all were held in the arms of small Hong Gonggong.”

Hong Zhu how proud, this point of vigilance is still there, quickly color black face said: “What nonsense? I am just a bit of lackey!”

The eunuch said with a smile: “In addition to His Majesty, our Qing officials and gentry, who are all lackeys ah …… small Hong Gong Gong, you do not know, now your name can be obvious to go, even the small outside the palace to buy embroidered fabrics, the other side of the heard that the small and your friendship, will look at it differently, all said ah, this Kyoto In addition to that little Lord Fan in the Shangshu’s mansion, there is only this little Eunuch Hong of yours.”

Hong Zhu reached out and flattened the flying hairs in front of his forehead, smiled and didn’t say anything, although he knew that he was far from being on the same level as that Little Lord Fan whose fame was astonishing the whole world, but horse’s farts are always loved by everyone, especially comparing himself with that person, his heart was inevitably a bit pleased.

At this time, a figure from the door of this side of the hall walked past, a few small eunuchs hurried to stop talking, Hong Zhu is also a trembling in the heart, see clearly that is the Shukui Fei’s palace in the Dai eunuchs, their own although took over to hold the paperwork of the messenger, but from the rank, than the Dai eunuchs are too far.

Until Dai Gong Gong went away, a small eunuch only to the ground spit a mouthful, seems to feel the silence just now some of the fall, hate said: “This Dai Gong Gong early than when. Thanks to me not coming back to my senses earlier, like him now this down and out, why should we care about him.”

Hong Zhu’s heart moved and asked, “What happened to Eunuch Dai?”

The little eunuch said with a fluttering brow: “Some days ago, the royal historian attended Lord Fan, and brought out Eunuch Dai, although in the end His Majesty beat the royal historian with a cane, but Eunuch Dai was also chastised for a while, and now I heard that not only did His Majesty take away Eunuch Dai’s duty of proclaiming the imperial decree, but even Your Highness is ready to throw him out of the palace.”

Next to another person to Hongzhu curry favor, said: “when Dai Gonggong when the red, to us these below is beaten and scolded, now he lost power, who is willing to go to care about him to go? He is that fall into the mud of the autumn leaves, which compared to the small Hong Gong Gong this fresh branch.”

Hong Zhu listened to the flattering words become more and more unpleasant and vulgar, frowned, said a few words casually, and hurriedly walked out of the side hall.

He rushed forward along the huge pillars of the temple, finally in front of the stone gate into the harem, he saw Eunuch Dai’s somewhat disheveled back and hurriedly ran forward, curtly saying, “Eunuch Dai, from afar I see that it’s you, hurrying to come and greet you.”

Dai Gong Gong looked at him with some surprise, recently these days, the palace, these little bastards are few like each other so courteous, he also knows that Hongzhu recently in the imperial study to do things, gradually to be red, so more and more feel strange.

Hong Zhu also did not say there is something, just a clever compliment to each other’s heart feed, will Dai Gong Gong coaxed extremely happy, which only separated.

Looked at the disappearance of Dai Gong Gong in the depths of the harem, the young Hongzhu only in the corner of the lips to show a hint of smug smile.

Onlookers thought that Dai Gonggong would lose power, but Hong Zhu did not think so. Because this Eunuch Dai, since he had a relationship with that little Lord Fan outside the palace, would definitely get back on his feet – Hong Zhu, a young eunuch, had little confidence in Eunuch Dai, but for Lord Fan Tisi, he had immense confidence.

Because he recently heard the proceedings of the Imperial Study Hall and the Central Secretariat every day, he knows to what extent that little Lord Fan is now red! The Procuratorate has arrested five ministers in ten days in one place! His Majesty, however, has remained neutral, and no matter how strong the opinions and backlash from the Central Secretariat, there is no way to move Fan Tishee one bit!

Five ministers in ten days, although they are all officials below the third grade, but as a eunuch in the palace, Hong Zhu also knows that to make such a big fuss, that little Lord Fan needs what kind of courage, and behind him, what kind of backing – he is often in the imperial study, and even more clearly know, this backing …… is the emperor of the kingdom of Qing!

Hong Zhu touched his lips that will soon spurt out of the pimples, the heart of the incomparable envy of the world outside the palace of the attention of the small Fan adults, thinking that are young people, how to live in the level of the difference is so big it? If you can attach yourself to the side of this little Lord Fan through Eunuch Dai’s relationship, it would be too good.

The fall of five consecutive officials from the Ministry of Qin Tian Jian and the Ministry of Appointments has renewed the darkness of the Supervisory Yuan, which has begun to cover the whole of Kyoto.

However, the people of Kyoto do not attach much importance to these, anyway, the bad luck of the officials, dry their own what?

But in the official circle, the evaluation of the Supervisory Yuan is more on the negative side. In addition to the things that hurt, more is not understand, no official can understand why the young Fan Tisi will be on these seemingly insignificant officials.

Aside from a very few people, no one knew that these officials who had fallen from the various ministries were all important pawns in the Second Prince’s secret system.

Many people thought that Fan Xian is in revenge, annoyed at the imperial historian’s collective senate, but in the way of His Majesty’s strict orders, can not take action on the Metropolitan Police Force, then like stimulated reckless general, holding seven pounds of killing knife, roaring in the long street above, every person will cut, especially the big kill without the power of the protection of the child, in order to vent their hearts of the frustration.

Just …… Fan Xian Fan Ti Si, from the performance of nearly two years into the Beijing seems, should not be so impulsive and brainless characters ah.

Fan Xian smiled and sat in the new wind museum, right hand holding chopsticks stirring red body, on the meat sauce tantalizing spittle noodles, left hand holding Mu Tie presented the case file in the read. These cases were tried extremely quickly, his own preparation is sufficient, a take the evidence is extremely real, it seems that even if it is sent to the Da Lisi or the Ministry of Justice to try to go, there should not be any problem.

Before this operation began, he of course first consulted his father and that old cripple, and both old foxes expressed their silence, so Fan Xian knew their attitudes.

This was one thing that had to be done. He had to make the Second Prince sore, to make him more cautious when listening to the Xinyang side in the future, and at the same time reduce some of the trouble for himself.

However, the second prince’s reaction, some out of Fan Xian’s expectation, after He Zongwei was kicked out of his own house, actually did not send another person to beg for peace, think it is the prince’s honorable self-possession let him stop further contact, but the other party did not start to counterattack, this matter is permeated with the silk oddity.

“What kind of place is the Moonwatch Tower?” Fan Xian asked with some curiosity.

A hint of obscenity appeared on Mu Tie’s face.

Fan Xian laughed and scolded, “You’re so old, go home and hold your grandchildren obediently, don’t keep thinking about these good things.”

Mu Tie said bitterly, “Although the Moonwatch House is a green house, it’s the newest place to spring up in Kyoto this year. A secret investigation shows that there’s a big shot behind this building, and recently there’s been a lot of commotion there, so it seems that some people are secretly planning something.”

Fan Xian had little interest in greenhouses, and the other side of the Flowing Crystal River was the sphere of influence of King Jing’s son, Li Hongcheng. Although he and the second prince were fighting in secret now, he did not want to tear his face off with Li Hongcheng so soon. Friends for a time, maybe in the future it would be all about what’s going on again.

But he was interested in Mu Tie’s words, “Big man? How big?”

Mu Tie deliberated for a while and then said: “This building has some evil spirit, a lot of guts, and dare to do anything wrong, in a few months’ time, it has forced the death of several women …… Seeing the Kyoto Prefect’s silent attitude, I’m afraid that the figure behind… . should be a prince.”

Fan Xian fell silent, not knowing whether it was the Crown Prince or the Second Highness behind this Moonwatch Tower, that Great Prince only liked to compete with people in the military department every day, and with His Majesty’s reward being so thick, there was no need in terms of silver for the time being.

In today’s situation, it was definitely impossible for him to offend everyone at the same time. Thinking that the Second Highness was a bit more likely, he felt slightly more at ease and said to Mu Tie: “Find some time for you to go and explore, if it’s really as you said, this high-class brothel is a place used by whichever prince to liaise with the capital’s officials, then you stuff a few people in there.”

Mu Tie shook his head, “It’s tightly regulated there, and it’s newly opened, so it’s hard to break in for a while, and the Supervisory Court only regulates the hundred officials, and there’s not much it can do about the private merchants.”

Fan Xian gave him a somewhat annoyed look and said, “Although the courtyard can’t regulate prostitutes, it can always regulate the yamen that regulate prostitutes, in any case, you keep a close eye on it.”

There was something he didn’t say to Mu Tie Ming, the second prince was too modest and quiet, and Fan Xian always felt that the other party was holding onto a certain trump card and was waiting to play it at some point.

After finishing his official business, he didn’t return to his residence, but instead rode in the carriage with a bit of a headache and went directly to King Jing’s residence.

Today, the entire Fan family was in King Jing’s mansion.

King Jing’s birthday, did not invite any foreign guests, just invited Fan Shangshu’s family, this kind of affection, this kind of favor here, even if Fan Xian no longer want to see Li Hongcheng, but also must go this trip.

Walking into the royal residence, Fan Xian first remembered, is a year and a half ago, he once in the royal residence of the lake memorized the old Du’s poem, and then there was later the night banquet, Zhuang Mo Han’s vomiting of blood, Beiqi’s gift of the book – a lot of things, it seems to be from the eyes of this quiet and full of noble royal residence to begin with.

Fan Xian suddenly remembered that carriage of precious books, after he gave these books to the Imperial College, he has not had the opportunity to take a look. Just as he was thinking, Li Hongcheng had already greeted him, holding a bowl of sour syrup from outside the royal residence.

Fan Xian sighed inwardly and took it and drank it, saying with a smile, “You know I crave this outside your mansion.” When he first came to King Jing’s Mansion, he had once swooned in the sedan chair and nearly vomited, relying on a bowl of sour syrup to restore his spirits.

Prince Li Hongcheng looked into his eyes, shook his head and sighed: “Now that you hold the power of supervision, you can arrest whomever you want, why don’t you arrest the peddler of sour syrup outside of my residence and take him back to your house?”

Fan Xian heard the blade in his words and let out a bitter laugh, “I knew I couldn’t escape this today, when you came over with a bowl of sour milk, I was surprised, I thought you had to slam your fist over.”

Li Hongcheng grunted and walked side by side with him towards the royal residence, saying, “You still know that I’m not happy in my heart?” He glanced at Fan Xian and said hatefully, “It’s not just me who doesn’t understand, the second doesn’t understand either, since you’re not one of the Crown Prince’s people, why do you bother with these things?”

Fan Xian shook his head and said with a bitter smile, “Do you think I’m happy to go around offending people? It’s still not that person forcing it.”

After saying this, he pointed at the thick autumn drooping clouds in the sky, his fingertips showing straight, saying that he was helpless.