Chapter 59: Reward and Dialogue

The one who came to Fanfu to announce the imperial decree was Eunuch Yao, three cannons sounded, Fanfu was busy for a while before setting up the incense, doing enough sets, the whole family was waiting in the lobby, and the Grand Prince and Princess of Beiqi were inconvenient to stay in the house, so they went away, and the Imperial Doctor was still strong enough to stay in the study.

The imperial decree was a big event, even Fan Xian was forced to be lifted out of his bedroom, but the palace thought that he was recovering from his injuries, so he was ordered not to get up to receive the decree, which was also considered to be a special favor.

As he listened to Eunuch Yao’s shrill voice, he realized that His Majesty had indeed rewarded quite a lot of things this time, and had not finished reading for quite a while. He is naturally not in the heart of these rewards, did not listen carefully, but felt that the eunuch’s voice is very good hypnotic, lying in the warm and soft couch, actually is the eyelids slightly hitching, about to fall asleep.

Fan Shangshu gently coughed, with a look to remind a little, Wan Er slightly shocked, gently pinched Fan Xian’s palm, which let him barely open his eyes, and ultimately just listen to what silk 500, and how many acres of land, a number of gold ingots, a number of silver ingots,……, ultimately, there is not a new thing.

Fan family lack of everything, is not lack of silver, this is the Qing people know things, so His Majesty is not prepared to make too much compensation for Fan Xian in this regard, just let Fan Xian restored the title, and incidentally raised Fan Jian a title, father and son with honor.

After the decree was pronounced, the crowd in the hall dispersed without a sound, and only then did Eunuch Yao begin to read out His Majesty’s secret decree in a soft voice.

The secret decree was not secret, but the benefits of this decree were not good enough to spread around.

Fan Xian’s spirit was revitalized, hearing that His Majesty had transferred seven tiger guards to himself, which made him feel that the emperor was not too stingy. In his joy, he subconsciously overlooked the other two decrees of His Majesty.

Nowadays, he is most worried about his personal safety. Next year, he will go to Jiangnan, who knows whether he will be able to return to his true qi by then, Uncle Wuzhu is now less and less serious about his own life, he still has to rely on himself for his own good.

Outside the garden, Fan Xian saw the seven familiar tiger guards, led by none other than Gouda. These tiger guards had been on a mission with him to Northern Qi a few months ago, so they were of course familiar with him, and now that they had been sent by His Majesty to protect Fan Tiji, they were extremely happy to be here – staying with Lord Fan was more comfortable than staying in the darkness behind His Majesty, not to mention that Lord Fan had excellent martial arts skills, so they didn’t have to worry too much about it.

The tiger guards with long swords on their backs, led by Gao Da, half-kneeled on the ground and saluted Fan Xian in unison, “My humble servant refers to Lord Tiji.”

Fan Xian coughed twice and laughed, “Get up, you’re all old acquaintances, in the future, this official’s little life will depend on you.”

The tiger guards thought that young Lord Fan was joking, but they didn’t know how to take it and laughed dryly. How could they know that Fan Xian was speaking the truth – with the seven tigers at his side, even if Haitang suddenly suffered from insanity and wanted to come and kill himself, he wouldn’t be much afraid of being at a loss.

“You guys go and meet father first.” Fan Xian looked at Gouda and said softly, “Although on a normal day, it’s not right to do so, but since you’re going to follow this official, you don’t need to be too scrupulous.”

Gao Da nodded, his heart thankful for Fan Tishi’s point, and somewhat excitedly walked towards the front mansion, eager to pay a visit to his old boss.

“Embroidered pillows? Beautiful wine? Clothes? …… actually have a set of musical instruments?”

Fan Xian was in his room, and it was only then that he began to listen carefully to the list of rewards. Glancing at his wife, he smiled bitterly and said, “Although I’ve been a conciliator, I’ve never played this.”

“It’s just the rules of the palace.”

Lin Wan’er explained. Seeing Fan Xian’s wan look, she didn’t say that the reward even included things like a toilet. At this time, the garden in the back of the house was a busy mess, Fuji Zijing was arranging manpower outside the house to take over the rewards from the palace, while Fuji Dazhong’s was busy categorizing them in the treasury, and some of the important things had to come to the room to ask for the young granny’s instructions.

Looking at the sweaty head of the daughter-in-law, Fan Xian couldn’t help but sigh, “Is this a reward or a punishment?”

The daughter-in-law of Mr. Fuji’s family said with a smile on her face, “Even if it’s just a needle or a thread, we can’t be ambiguous about it. This is all the blessing of the palace’s rewards……. In the whole of Kyoto, which other family can get so many rewards at once? Young master has earned a great deal of face this time.”

“Rewards aren’t food.” Fan Xian laughed to himself.

“It’s better not to take a life in exchange for …… face.” Lin Wan’er spoke almost simultaneously with him. Husband and wife are both somewhat unable to look into the eyes of this reward, and Wan Er is still afraid that the emperor’s uncle has bad intentions, and expects that the thicker the reward is, the more times his husband will block the knife for him in the future.

“His Majesty is also really petty.” Fan Xian laughed, “I listened carefully when the number of gold and silver was reported, and that number was really a bit pathetic.”

Lin Wan’er laughed and said, “You still care about that? It’s just a meaning, the more complicated the reward is, the more it shows that his majesty cares about your injury.”

“How do you not care?” Fan Xian raised an eyebrow and said, “Our family is relying on that bookstore to support …… us, so I’m sorry to have to go to the front house to ask my father for money whenever I need it, right? His old man’s hand silver is really much, but I can’t always be an old man.”

Gnawing family three words is quite simple, Lin Wan Er vaguely guessed to understand, smiled, saw the room and there is no idle, gently teased: “You are not there is a greenhouse? I’ve heard that it can earn tens of thousands of taels of silver a month.”

Fan Xian lost his smile and said, “That’s Xiao Shi’s, don’t take it from me.”

Lin Wan’er fake spat at him and cooed, “In front of your own family, you’re still pretending, and you don’t mind being tired.”

“Pretend anytime, anywhere, it’s best to hide yourself from the world.”

“What did big brother look for you to do earlier?” Lin Wan’er asked curiously, her eyes wide open.

Fan Xian thought briefly and said, “He doesn’t want to be that forbidden army commander …… to see if I have any methods.”

Lin Wan’er frowned slightly and said, “According to big brother’s nature, he definitely doesn’t want to stay in the capital.”

Fan Xian sneered, “Who wants to stay in the capital? It’s just that His Majesty doesn’t feel comfortable with one of his sons, who is such a capable warrior, leading the army outside all the time.”

These words were somewhat bold and venomous. Wan’er couldn’t help but tremble in her heart and said, “You’re also getting more careless with your words now.”

“It’s only when I’m in front of you that I can speak more bluntly.” Fan Xian sighed, “I would like to help the Great Hall, but after all, I am a bit of a courtier, and I don’t have the slightest say in these matters at all, and I really don’t know how the Great Hall is so piggish, and bold enough to speak to me in such a thorough manner.”

“Perhaps big brother thought that …… for my face, you are always not to harm him.” Lin Wan’er laughed bitterly, “He’s thought about things so simply since he was young.”

“The water in this Kyoto is too deep, I swam for half a day and realized that I haven’t explored the bottom yet.” Fan Xian frowned, “When we go down to Jiangnan in the spring, you and I will go together, and try to stay over there for a while longer, as well as really take a break.”

“It’s just that I don’t know that when the time comes, the court will let you settle for an admirable identity to check the inner treasury first, or will they directly appoint you to an imaginary position.” Lin Wan’er analyzed seriously, “If it’s the status of an imperial envoy, you can’t take your family with you, if you are nominally going to be stationed in Jiangnan for a long period of time, there’s no harm for me to follow you.”

Fan Xian shook his head and said, “Whatever he arranges, I’m taking you with me anyway.”

“That’s a rather unreasonable thing to say.” Lin Wan’er said with a smile, a little more sweetness in her heart. She also understood that with Fan Xian’s and her own status, no matter how much they broke the rules, no one would dare to say anything nowadays, but she just didn’t know if those ladies in the palace would agree to her going far away to Jiangnan. Since she was young, her body is weak, the farthest place is only last year in the Cangshan Mountain over a winter only, today listening to Fan Xian said, it seems that they have the possibility to go to the legendary beautiful and picturesque Jiangnan to see, the heart is very happy.

“And don’t go too far out of your way.” She suddenly thought of a pile of things, looked at Fan Xian and said, “Although His Majesty is sent a secret decree to let the tiger guards protect you, but there will always be people in Kyoto know, although you are now seriously injured, the tiger guards to come to a good reason, but …… the tiger guards are not the same, in your side will be very piercing. ”

Fan Xian reached out and touched the somewhat tangled beard on his lips and said with a smile, “Don’t worry, his majesty is a smart man, the reason used to let the tiger guards come to the house, naturally, is to protect you, the county mistress.”

Outside the room came knocking on the door, Fan Xian shook his head somewhat annoyed, not annoyed that someone came to disturb himself at this time, but found that after he lost all his true qi, for the changes in the surrounding environment, far less sensitive than in the past, at least no longer able to advance a long time, will be able to hear the sound of footsteps approaching.

Fan Ruo Ruo led the Imperial Doctor into the house, the Imperial Doctor saw Lin Wan Er was also in the house, panicked and hurriedly saluted, and turned his face away.

Qing Guo is not like Northern Qi, there were not so many rules between men and women, not to mention the fact that the Imperial Doctor Zheng is old enough to be Wan Er’s grandfather, his pedantic behavior immediately caused the people in the room to laugh.

“Father …… said that since my brother is in good spirits, he will talk with Lord Imperial Doctor Zheng.” Fan Ruo Ruo looked at her brother with a bitter smile.

Fan Xian’s heart went cold, knowing that it was his father, a shameless man, who finally couldn’t stand up to the Imperial Physician Zheng’s water-boarding and pushed him into the hands of his poor son to deal with him. However, he had also made up his mind in his heart about the Imperial Hospital’s request long ago, and with a smile, he looked at the Imperial Doctor Zheng and said, “Boss man, your intention to come is clear to this official.”

The Imperial Doctor was opening his mouth to speak, Fan Xian hurriedly blocked, “However, this official’s appearance, it is categorically impossible to go out of the house to teach ……” He looked at the old gentleman with an angry look on his face, and added, “However …… I will dictate something in the mansion, print it into a book, and then send it to your office.”

The Imperial Doctor was stroking his beard, seeming to think that this was a good result, and said after a slight meditation, “It’s just that one of the paths of medicine, the most important thing to emphasize is that the body passes on the hand to teach, and just looking at the books, it’s always not too proper.”

Fan Xian took two breaths and said, “After the book comes out, if there is any difficulty, I will let Ruoruo go and explain it.”

The Imperial Physician was filled with trepidation at his words, “How can you let Miss Fan show her face?” At the time of the surgery in the palace, he watched from the side, knowing that it was Miss Fan who personally …… moved the needle, and did not doubt her means.

“Ruo Ruo doesn’t know anything either, I still have to teach her at home.” Fan Xian sighed, “I’m sure the Grand Prince relayed my opinion earlier that this matter can’t possibly progress too deeply, but there are always some helpful notes that can be cross-referenced a bit with all the Imperial Doctor adults.”

He then said with a smile, “And my master will soon be returning to the capital, at that time, he will be responsible for his old man to go to the Imperial Hospital lectures, his standard than Ruoruo but a lot stronger.”

The Imperial Doctor is greatly happy and then slightly worried: “Mr. Fei …… I invited him a few times back then, but he didn’t come, I can’t do anything about it.”

“I’ll go ask for His Majesty’s decree, don’t worry.” Fan Xian comforted the old man in front of him like he was comforting a small child, a bad smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

Only after the eunuch doctor was leaving contentedly did Fan Ruo Ruo exclaimed, “Brother, but I don’t know anything, and I only did what you told me to do that night.”

“There’s no way.” Fan Xian smiled bitterly, “I’ll pick the ones that are good to start with, and wait for the teacher to come back to talk about the others, so you can follow along and learn.”

Fan Ruoruo froze, then a flash of light surfaced on her face, and she nodded heavily.

Fan Xian’s two parents were somewhat surprised that their sister would agree so readily, and looked at her not knowing what to say.

“Brother, you always say that in one’s life, one should find what one likes to do the most and then keep doing it.” Fan Ruoruo lowered her head and said with a slight shyness, “That night, although my sister did not put out much effort, but looking at my brother living, I realized …… that saving a person would be such a joy. So even if brother doesn’t have this arrangement today, I’m going to ask brother for medical advice.”

Fan Xian opened his mouth wide, half speechless. Could it be that his own haphazard behavior was going to allow a female doctor to appear in the future of Qing Guo …… Just don’t know whether Fei Jie teaching another female disciple would end up turning his sister into a Hua Bianqi or a Feng Hua.

Nope! It mustn’t be a female monster like Hua Bianzhi, but of course it should be a beautiful Queen Mother of the West like Feng Hua. Fan Xian looked at his sister’s beautiful face, which was becoming more and more vivid due to her excitement, and consoled himself with the thought that at the very least, it would have to be a Qing version of Da Chang Jin.

It was nightfall.

Si Si laid out the bedding and flicked the air vent of the heater just right, and then left the house along with Si Qi, who had brought in the water. The husband and wife lay quietly on the bed, looking at the candlelight outside the pavilion that was also dimming, and did not make a sound for a long time.

“Can’t sleep?”

“Well, this half day sleep too much …… you? How come you can’t sleep today either? Remember that when you were in Cangshan, you slept like a kitten every day.”

“Speaking of cats …… little white little yellow little black don’t know how it is.”

“Vine everyone’s hugged to the field farm, it was you who authorized it, why are you starting to think about them at this time?” Fan Xian opened his eyes and said with a smile.

Lin Wan’er cooed softly, “You were the one who said that raising cats is bad for carrying a child.”

Fan Xian was stunned and smiled bitterly. It’s not good to say to your face that you actually hate animals like cats, right? Regardless of whether it was an old cat or a kitten, looking at their lazy and cunning appearance was a bellyful of anger.

“Sanggong ah …… am I useless?” Lin Wan Er sidestepped her body, exhaling her breath like orchids spraying on Fan Xian’s face.

“It’s a bit itchy, help me scratch it.” Fan Xian signaled his wife to help him scratch his face and asked curiously, “Why did you suddenly think to ask this?”

Lin Wan’er gently helped him scratch under his ears, pouting her lips in the darkness, “The people around you all seem to have their own strengths that can help you. Si Zhe will do business, Ruo Ruo is now going to learn medicine again, she herself is a famous talented woman in Kyoto, Mr. Xiao Yan is helping you take care of the courtyard, let’s just say that Haitang in the north ……”

Fan Xian coughed dramatically twice, narrowly missing breaking his chest wound.

Wan Er gently stroked him above the wound, “That is also a strange woman, I’m only afraid that it is also stored in the big idea of settling the country. Only I …… have had a poor body since I was young, and I was spoiled by so many people in the palace, but I can’t do anything, and I can’t do anything in literature or in martial arts.”

Fan Xian heard the meaning of his wife’s words, and after a moment of silence, said, “Wan Er, in fact, there are some things I have not been able to say to you.”

“Hmm?”

“In life, it’s not that being useful is good and being useless is bad.” He said gently, “These roles are actually not something that those of us are willing to play. For example, me, my initial volunteer was to be a rich and noble idler, and like Yan Bingyun, in fact, why would he want to be the head of secret spies for the rest of his life, it’s not like you didn’t see that situation between him and Miss Shen.”

“And for me, Wan’er you are special in your own right.” Fan Xian’s lips were covered with a soft smile, but his eyes didn’t go to look at his wife on the pillow, “You grew up in the palace since you were a child, that kind of filthy, dirty and dangerous place, but it didn’t change your temperament, so it’s like a green lotus that grows freely, and letting the good fortune of me pick it off …… casually is in itself an extremely rare thing.”

Wan’er listened to the little words of love, her heart sweet, but still a little sad: “But …… after all ……”

Fan Xian stopped her from continuing, “And …… Wan Er you are very capable, playing mahjong even your younger brother doesn’t dare to call it a sure win.”

The couple laughed.

“Furthermore, I’m actually clear on what you’re really good at.” After Fan Xian was silent for a while, he said extremely seriously, “For judging the direction of the imperial situation, you are much more experienced than I am, and the accuracy of your vision is truly amazing. After the Chunin Exams, if it wasn’t for your activities in the palace, I wouldn’t have been able to live so freely …… I believe that if you were to help me strategize and plan, your ability would definitely not be below that of Yan Bingyun, it’s just …… just… …”

Lin Wan Er opened her bright eyes, her eyes unusually calm: “Just what?”

“It’s just that I’m not willing. I’m not willing for you to be involved in these things.” Fan Xian said firmly, “These things are too obscene, I don’t want you to be exposed to them. You’re my wife, so it’s my responsibility to make life easy and enjoyable for you, rather than also making you hurt yourself all day long.”

“I’m a macho man.” He concluded with a smile, “At least in that respect.”

After a long time, Wan Er sighed, but the sigh was filled with a trace of satisfaction and comfort, and said softly, “I am, after all, a member of the royal family, and in the future there are some things that you’d better not let me hear about …… Although I know that you are trusting me, you also said that these things are obscene and incomparable, and that between husband and wife I’m afraid it’s hard to avoid, I don’t want you to doubt me in the future, I’d rather you didn’t tell me those.”

Her and Fan Xian’s marriage, starting from His Majesty’s marriage, contains a clear political flavor, just the God of heaven, let this pair of young man and woman to chicken legs as a matchmaker, window to catch up on love, than compared to the general political marriage, to appear solid too much.

Just in the face of politics, how can a couple be more intimate? Such tragedies are not uncommon in history. Not to mention the fact that the eldest princess was ultimately her birth mother, so Wan Er’s words were not a hint of pretense, not to mention that they were not a retreat, but a real consideration for Fan Xian.

“Don’t think so much.” Fan Xian said calmly but firmly, “If one lives one’s life and can’t even trust one’s closest relatives, why should this pitiful day continue?”

What he wanted to say is that if life has a chance to start over again from scratch, but he has to always be on guard against the people on his pillow, then he …… would rather not have been reborn.

Kyoto fell the first snow, small grains of snowflakes drifted down on the ground, touching the mud that is melted, difficult to store. Civilian houses in the wet and cold gradually heavy, good in Qing is in a strong time, a should be abundant supplies, even the ordinary people’s homes are not worried about warm materials, far will be able to look at the civilian gathering place, black eaves of the fog on the complex, must be in the house with a warm stove.

A very ordinary carriage, in the capital do not know how many turns, finally came to the building of a unique courtyard in front of the residential courtyard. Today’s cold day, no one on the street, surrounded by a quiet, naturally, no one saw the carriage down the face of the people.

Deng Ziyue carefully carried Fan Xian to the wheelchair and pushed him into the small courtyard.

Fan Xian was wearing an overcoat today, the fur collar high above his neck, and it was very warm. Reaching up to his lips, he exhaled hot air to warm himself, and glanced at the young man who was chopping wood under the command of Su Wenmao in the corner of the courtyard, and was slightly startled.

That young man’s eyebrows were somewhat familiar, bare-chested, and in this winter there was no trace of fear of the cold as he kept chopping firewood.

“This is Si Li Li’s younger brother?” Fan Xian narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the young man, as if trying to find the shadow of the girl from the Northern Kingdom in him.

Teng Ziyue softly hmmmed, “After your honor handed him down, the dean issued another warrant and was picked up by us from the prison. When Miss Si entered the Northern Qi Palace, his identity was a bit sensitive and not well placed, so after the last request for instructions, he was arranged to come here.”

Fan Xian nodded, this small courtyard was the only place he kept to himself, apart from himself and the Qinian group, about the only person who knew about it was Chen Pingping, and it was the safest. The reason why he had come here today despite his injuries was because His Majesty had transferred the Tiger Guards to himself, and while the presence of these Tiger Guards could guarantee his safety, there were definitely His Majesty’s ears and eyes watching him among them as well.

Thinking that it would be difficult to come so easily in the future, he braved the snow to come today.

“This Duke Si is a reckless man …… who can run from Bei Qi to Qing Guo for his sister, and it is hard to guarantee that he will not run out of this courtyard in a few days.” Fan Xian clenched his fist in his mouth, coughed softly, and said, “Keep a close eye on him, and if there is any movement, kill him.”

Deng Ziyue responded expressionlessly and pushed him toward the inner room, his wheelchair running over the muddy snow on the floor.

The officials of the Supervisory Court inside the room came out to greet him, and looking at the Lord Tisch sitting in the wheelchair, they could not help but feel a slight chill in their hearts, as if they had created the illusion that another terrifying Chen Pingping had come out of Qing.