chapter 6 – in september

First-class baronet, full second rank.

Fan Xian pondered the weight of this title in his heart, worried that receiving the title would cause some criticism. In fact, he was overly cautious, although the mission to Northern Qi is not a dangerous thing on the surface, but after all, it is also considered to be a hard job, in the beginning of the spring on the court, His Majesty refuted the face of Chancellor Lin and Squire Fan, hard to kick him out of the Kyoto, although after the fact, Fan Jian will be promoted to the Shangshu, but at this time to Fan Xian plus a baronetcy, in the eyes of the world, is only the second time for the compensation of the Fan family, no one will find it too surprising. No one would find it too surprising.

What’s more, since entering the capital, the world knows that the reason why the emperor in the palace appreciates the Fan family’s kid is that half of the reason is in the so-called literary talent, which is just right to cater to the emperor’s strategy of inspiring cultural rule.

Although Fan Xian’s current position is not very good for a baronet, but the title of a baronet is a matter of kinship and nobility, and there are always some advantages to his actions, he looked at his father and said, “When will the decree come down?”

At this time, father and son have been talking in the study for half a day, Fan Xian chose the not-so-secret part of the trip to talk about, whenever it comes to the affairs of the court, before he showed a difficult face, Fan Shangshu has already waved his hand, letting him jump over it.

In fact, in the final analysis, Fan Xian grew up in Tanyu State since childhood, and seldom communicated with his father after entering the capital, and most of the places to talk were in this simple and chic study, so when it came to feelings, he was really a bit lacking. But somehow, at this time he looked at Fan Jian sideburns Chinese hair gradually, and recalled those years of the North Qi man of the year has been rained on and blown away, the heart is gloomy with a trace of apology.

Lord Dean is right, Si Nan Bo does not owe Fan Xian anything, Fan Xian owes him a lot.

“When I enter the palace tomorrow, I will probably invent the decree.” Fan Shangshu closed his eyes, drinking the fruit syrup that Liu blended every night, and seemed to be enjoying himself quite a bit, “You did a good job in the north this time, Dean Chen asked for more credit, and His Majesty appreciated it as well.”

Fan Xian thought to himself that this trip to Northern Qi, in addition to those hidden matters of his own, he actually did not do anything for the court at all, including the return of Yan Bingyun, it was only a matter of passing by, and definitely could not be considered as a contribution, he could not help but smile bitterly, “In fact, this journey back and forth, I really did not do anything.”

“Sometimes, doing nothing is really doing well.” Fan Shangshu slowly opened his eyes.

Fan Xian’s heart flinched slightly, thinking that his father was going to use the opportunity to lecture him about his fight with the Grand Prince over the Dao outside of Kyoto, but unexpectedly, Fan Jian didn’t even say a word about the matter, instead, he pulled the topic elsewhere, “In the past, I’ve said to you many times not to get too close to the Supervisory Yuan, I didn’t realize that you wouldn’t even listen to me, and that you were tricked by Chen Pingping’s old dog into getting on the thieves’ ship ……”

Speaking here, Fan Shangshu seemed to be really a bit unhappy, “Safely guarding the inner treasury, what a rare opportunity this is in the eyes of the onlookers.”

Fan Xian smiled bitterly, “My child would like to, the problem is that you also know that the one in Xinyang is not willing to just let go, and it was also her who jumped the gun and stirred up trouble, if I don’t join the Supervisory Court, how can I fight against such characters.”

Fan Shangshu sighed, thinking that he had indeed been ill-considered in this matter, and hadn’t thought that Her Highness the Eldest Princess would react so strongly, so he could only wave his hand and say, “After all, she is His Majesty’s own sister, the Empress Dowager’s most beloved daughter, and Wan’er’s own mother, so what’s in the past, let it be in the past.”

This Fan Xian believe, although he does not believe that his father is only a defeated teeth to swallow in the stomach, but also know that his loyalty to the royal family is absolutely no second thoughts, only in the permissible scope for this family to seek their own interests, and father has been strongly requesting their own away from the Supervisory Yuan, also do not want to get involved in the Kyoto those exceptionally complex and insidious political struggles.

Just …… the inner treasury is banknotes, the officialdom is politics, and banknotes and politics have always been a pair of twins, think father at the very beginning, did not think clearly this law. But no matter what, Fan Xian was grateful to Si Nan Bo for his intentions and said, “Please rest assured father, my son will be careful.”

Fan Jian was somewhat satisfied with his stance and asked, “Only the truly strong are qualified to show weakness, the weak are inherently weak, where is the use of the word show, consider it yourself.”

Fan Xian understood his father’s meaning and smiled, suddenly thinking of another pile of things, he asked, “Father, after returning to the capital can you still let those seven people from Gouda follow me?”

Fan Shangshu glanced at his son, but a gentle smile appeared in his always solemn eyes, “As you know, my father is only training and managing the tiger guards on behalf of the royal family, but the real power of deployment lies in the palace, if you want to keep those tiger guards, I’ll have to go to the palace to speak for you, but I guess His Majesty won’t allow it.”

Fan Xian smiled bitterly, in his heart, he really couldn’t let go of the seven long-sword tiger guards, with such a few silent experts as bodyguards, his safety would be greatly guaranteed. In the meadow outside the Misty Duo River, the seven swords joined forces, even Haitang could not take advantage of half a point, this kind of strength, compared to the six departments of the Supervisory Board of those swordsmen, but also a layer higher, let alone their own most previously formed Qinian group – Qinian group is his most intimate and loyal force, although under the tutelage of Wang Qinian, whether it is tracking Although under Wang Qini’s tutelage, both the tracking and other matters have been slowly taking shape, it is a pity that the force is still a bit weak.

But he also understands that the tiger guards have always only been deployed to the princes as escorts, like the West Road Army’s personal battalion there are a few, that is responsible for the safety of the eldest prince. Although the emperor would occasionally transfer tiger guards to the side of certain ministers, but those were special tasks, for example, when his father-in-law, Chancellor Lin, resigned from his post and returned to his hometown, the emperor sent four tiger guards to accompany him, which was to recognize the chancellor’s lifetime achievements for the country and to ensure the chancellor’s safety on the road, and then when the specific matters were over, the tiger guards would go back to the capital, disappearing into the inconspicuous civilian houses.

Fan Xian knew so much because Fan Jian had always been in charge of handling these matters for His Majesty, and since the mission had already returned to the capital, those tiger guards would inevitably cause some big trouble if they followed him again and were known by the royal people.

Fan Shangshu looked at his son’s face showed a look of pity, could not help but smile, thinking that although this child is quite like his mother’s style, the talent of the world, but after all, it is still just a young man, he could not help but open his mouth to remind: “the day you left, that called Shi Hanyan Li’s talent, often come to the house to ask for good luck, I’ve seen a few times, is indeed a talented but not exposed characters. ”

Fan Xian was stunned, and immediately realized that his father had begun to plan for his future in the official world after he learned that he was determined not to ask for a cut in his power to leave the Supervisory Yuan. This was to remind himself not to forget those few disciples. Although their position in the world in the hearts of the literati has been established, father-in-law Chancellor left in the dynasty of those students can also wrap help, but years and months, always need to have some of their own people in the dynasty can speak.

Want to understand the father’s mind, Fan Xian can not help but be a little touched, just a man’s life, the end of the school will not show anything, just to the father bowed deeply.

Fan Shangshu waved his hand and told him to go back to his room in peace. Fan Xian thought about it, about his sister’s marriage or not too early to speak, this kind of arrangement can only come slowly, so he respectfully withdrew from the room.

Looking at Fan Xian’s back as he walked out of the study, Fan Shangshu’s eyes couldn’t help but show a few moments of satisfaction and comfort, with a son like this, what more could a father ask for? He gently drank the last drop of fruit syrup in the bowl, knowing that the child has long guessed what, but in terms of the child’s nature of mind, since the other side does not say, naturally, there is no obstacle to …… Fan’s clan’s future, depending on the child.

Thinking of this section, Fan Shangshu can not help but somewhat admire that has been away from the center of power in the State of Qing Chancellor Lin, said that the old fox luck is really good, he paid so much, hard work for more than ten years, he is good, but only gave birth to a daughter on the way to get.

In September, it was a dull and boring month, everything was fine, only lack of trouble.

Fan Xian sat in the carriage, gently knocking on the wooden lattice of the window, humming a song that no one could understand along with the somewhat odd rhythm. Into the palace for the vast majority of courtiers, is a very serious thing, but he just feel bored, the first day back to the capital, with his wife and father to make up their minds, actually feel that this full of up and down, inside and outside of Kyoto, there is nothing to worry about their own for the time being, stay a while into the palace received the title, kowtow, and then go to the yard to put things together to put things together, seems to be the only thing to go back to the Cangshan Mountain to practise jumping off cliffs to go.

Tapping on the window pane of the finger suddenly froze, he suddenly remembered his sister’s marriage, remembered Li Hongcheng this guy to be in the evening on the Liujing River wine for his own reception, his face suddenly ugly up. This bland and boring September, it turned out to be this kind of dog day life.

Today is the day of the great dynasty, early in the morning, there are many ministers came to the palace gate waiting. I heard that some years ago, some old ministers in order to show diligence and loyalty to the intention of the king, even in the middle of the night, they began to prepare uniforms, rushed to the palace door before dawn, just to wait for the palace door to start the sound of the key, and so these old ministers after old age, many days at night can not listen to the sound of the creaking sound, it is very difficult.

Nowadays, the Holy Prince is on the throne, and he is most tired of those people who are famous, so the ministers are not afraid to come too early, but also not afraid to come too late. Don’t know who’s idea, some adults actually in the new street corner of the place of the teahouse package seat, the day just wiped the light will get up and leave the house, in the teahouse of the private room waiting, so that the entourage far staring at the palace door of the movement, in order to be able to pinpoint the right time to go to the queue.

The Supervisory Yuan Tisi does not have an anonymous character to say, in addition to the mysterious figure that has been forgotten, Fan Xian is actually the first Tisi since the founding of the State of Qing Dynasty, so now is still only the fourth grade of the Imperial College, if not because His Majesty wants to listen to the delegation to return to the qualification of the court, so there is no what the court dress needs to be worn half a day. Early in the morning from the Fan House, all the way leisurely, when he arrived at the palace gate, but than most of the ministers to come much later.

People are cynical, not to mention a Beijing just a year and a half to the red purple young students, not to mention that this student is also once tore the face of most of the Beijing ministers, raw death of a Shangshu, drove away a Shangshu guy, the so-called tortoise and the turtle should be, the death of the rabbit is the fox sad, the people look at this yawning down the carriage of the Supervisory Yuan handsome Secretary, the eyes of more than one point in the caution, three silk disgust.

Fan Xian looked around, also felt the atmosphere is a bit wrong, these ministers are not the ministries of Shangshu is a temple of the Secretary, playing from the second grade upwards, whose wife does not have a grant, whose home does not have to set a few kinds of imperial gifts of playthings? His own young age, actually than these ministers also came a little late …… If his back is not Fan Shangshu, especially that old cripple, I am afraid that these Qing real senior officials, has long been on him a curse.

Now naturally can not be scolded, but the ministers will not give him a good look, coldly glanced at him, then self-respect to turn his head. There were several ministers who were promoted by Lin Ruofu back then, and they wanted to go up to Fan Xian to talk to him for a few words and give him some encouragement, but when they saw the disdainful glances of their peers, they couldn’t help but get a headache, so they stopped their steps, and only greeted Fan Xian with extremely gentle gazes.

Fan Xian was swept away by these fiery gazes, and felt uncomfortable all over, but his face still maintained a smooth smile, and he bowed his hand to greet the ministers without being overbearing. Just as he did so, someone behind him coughed twice-Fan Shangshu had somehow arrived a little late today, and had not traveled with his own son, so Fan Xian hurriedly greeted him and carefully assisted his father down from the carriage.

Fan Shangshu glanced at him and shook his head, “My father is not yet old enough for this.”

Fan Xian smiled, knowing that he had gone a little too far with this act. Although Fan Shangshu was a bit unhappy, the officials could see that the “old money basket” was exceptionally happy today, and without even letting go of his son’s hand, he led him over.

Fan Shangshu personally led over, those ministers will not be able to boast, have each other greetings. After a while, Sinanbo took Fan Xian by hand and walked around the venue, letting him recognize all the powerful ministers in the court, Fan Xian shouted down a series of uncle uncle uncle bosses and so on, the ministers looked at this smiling young man again, it was a lot of eyes, those who belonged to the Lin party ministers are even more cordial, and praised the young Fan how cloudy, how young and talented he is.

But there are still some ministers cold eyes, although salute, face is also cold to the extreme, after all, the Qing dynasty and the field, who do not know that the little Lord Fan is most famous, is that seems to be gentle, but actually sinister smile.

Has been the oldest of the three dynasties of the Ministry of Justice looked at Fan’s father and son line to the front, can not help but cold snort: “That said, the country since the beginning of the dynasty, and even when the Wei’s world, such as the Sinanbo House, like this, the two masters and the two at the same time on the court, is also very rare to see, it is really a spring breeze.”

Fan Jian laughed and said, “The grace of the sea, the grace of the sea ah.” It was as if he couldn’t hear the other party’s mockery, and gave all the luster to His Majesty the Emperor. Fan Xian smiled slightly, knowing that on this occasion, he really didn’t have much room to speak, so he simply fell silent.

Right at this moment, three eunuchs slowly marched out of the palace gate, obviously the one in the center had a higher status, waved the duster in his hand, and softly said, “All of you adults have worked hard, this is please.”

The ministers stopped exchanging pleasantries at once, somewhat redundantly straightened out their court dresses, and then walked towards the palace gates. About the reason that they were used to coming here, they did not even bother to look at the forbidden army with long guns at the palace gate and the guards with swords at the inner gate, and in a few moments they surpassed the three eunuchs, holding their heads high, quite like the masters of the country.

Fan Xian went to the court for the first time, but it was inconvenient to walk with his father in the same line, so he had to drag himself to the end of the line in a pitiful manner, and the three eunuchs walked all the way inside, the eunuch in the lead was still the familiar Eunuch Hou, but Fan Xian didn’t dare to say something to him softly at this moment, and even more so, he couldn’t–without any fireworks–hand over a silver ticket. — handing over a silver ticket, so he could only smile slightly at him as a gesture.

A long time later, Hou San’er was still thinking about this question, why did he think that Lord Fan was a trustworthy backer from the very beginning? In the end, he attributed it to the fact that every time Lord Fan looked at himself, the smile was very sincere, and not like other ministers that, when there is a use for them, they will be deliberately warm to themselves, and the rest of the time, although it is also a cordial smile, but that smile always contains a few threads that can not be seen clearly, and makes people a little bit uncomfortable with the taste of contempt.

Fan Xian’s first time to participate in the court, can not help but be a little nervous, but standing in the civil officials at the end of the line, away from the dragon chair is still a long way, if it is not his internal force domineering, ear, I am afraid that even the emperor said something can not be heard, know that the middle-aged man on the dragon chair will pay attention to their own, but he still a little bit relaxed, began to measure up the interior of the taiji palace decoration.

Although into the palace a few times, but most of the time is in the harem that accompanies the ladies to talk, accompany Wan Er swimming mountain, this Taiji Palace is the main hall of the palace, just far from a few eyes, and did not have the opportunity to stand to the inside. Today came in after a look, found that it is just so. Carved dragons and phoenixes on the beams, painting exquisite, red columns Wei Ran, broad palace incense micro-products, brass cast cranes and beasts serving on the side, but compared to the Northern Qi that the sky light and water color of the rich and noble and beautiful into one of the palace, the end is much inferior.

However, this temple has a different atmosphere, seems to be the flavor of power, from the dragon chair rises up, so that the courtiers in awe.

It had nothing to do with the dragon chair, the middle-aged man sitting on that dragon chair was the source of this aura. Although his palace was not as grand as Beiqi’s and his edibles were not as elaborate as Dongyi City’s, it was clear to everyone in the entire world that he was the most powerful person in this world.

The main topic of the court meeting, naturally, could not be separated from the grand prince and the envoys, but it was not about the matter of the dispute over the road outside the city. Even if the imperial censor has the intention to do some articles for this matter, but today is also not possible to take some ZhangZhong out, not those imperial censor does not have a night of urgent chapter of the ability, but so anxious on the senate, I am afraid that will instead show traces, let his majesty heart is not happy.

This time the court will discuss the future of the West Road Army, as well as the generals of the reward and so on. The eldest prince has already been crowned king, but the 100,000 soldiers under his command must have a statement, this point by the Privy Council, no courtiers will raise objections. Although nowadays his majesty deeply emphasizes civil rule, Qing is after all a pugnacious country that started with force, no one would cross the military on this matter.

As for the matter of the mission, after reporting the matters along the way, the Honglu Temple delivered the state letter on behalf of the Northern Qi Gift Delivery Mission, and presented the newly delineated world opinion sea map, looking at the gradually expanding Qing’s territory on the map, His Majesty, who had been looking a little too calm, finally had a hint of blazing color in his eyes.

The group of ministers know the fun, naturally, to hail and greet, and the Privy Council of the big old people also stroked their whiskers proudly, this is the children of the army a knife and a gun, take the blood and flesh back to the land ah……

At this time, naturally, not many ministers realize that, in the process of negotiation, the officials of the Honglu Temple, including Xin Qishu, Fan Xian, and the four of the Supervisory Yuan, in which played a big role. Even if they realized it, they would deliberately ignore it.

Fan Xian looked at the heartfelt happiness of the courtiers, and the corners of his own lips couldn’t help but bring on a slight smile; after all, he had been somewhat involved in this great event as well. He thought to himself, if the Eldest Princess hadn’t sold out Yan Bingyun, I’m afraid that Qing Guo would have gained even more. However, this eldest princess backhanded Sean tossed back to north qi, then let the north qi court gradually signs of internal strife, monarchs and ministers centrifugal, is also extremely powerful means, the two comparisons, just the difference between short term interests and long term just.

The most powerful middle-aged man in the world, after a burst of inner light joy that could not be suppressed, immediately returned to the calm with strong control, holding his hand in his jaw, with a smile on his face, listening to the ministers’ words of praise to the Holy Spirit, but his eyes swept in the back of the queue of ministers in a very indifferent manner, after seeing the smile on that little one’s face, his mood somehow became a little bit better.

He waved his hand, and the eunuchs with brushes under the steps and the Chinese ministers, holding the imperial edicts in their hands, began to recite the already prepared edicts in a slightly shrill voice. Due to the large number of military generals to be rewarded and the need to consult with the Grand Prince and the Grand Old Man of the Army, there would be a delay of some time, and this edict was mainly for the rewards of the members of the mission.

The temple was quiet all of a sudden, everyone knew that after returning from the mission, it was just a general routine reward, the ministers didn’t care much about it, they just pricked up their ears to catch the name Fan Xian in the eunuch’s slightly pointed voice.

“…… First Class Baron, full second rank.”

The ministers breathed a sigh of relief and put their hearts down, it seemed that His Majesty still had a sense of propriety. Regardless of the relationship with the Fan family, these ministers were unwilling to have Fan Xian granted too high a title at such a young age, everyone was considering different directions, their positions were different, but their thoughts were extremely close.

Xin Qimo, Fan Xian and the others have long been kneeling in the hall, kowtowed to thank the holy grace finished, just when the ministers are ready to listen to the sentence, “Something to report, nothing to retreat”, His Majesty the Emperor sat on top of the dragon chair, said faintly: “You few stay.”

His Majesty’s eyes and place, is the nearest to the dragon chair a few senior officials in the dynasty, Lin Ruofu resigned after the prime minister, the dynasty can not find a suitable candidate to replace, so now the cabinet matters, are by a few university professors and ministers in the office, these days, His Majesty after the court will often leave them to say a few more words, today, the crown prince and the eldest prince is also in the temple, naturally, also want to stay to discuss a few words, so the ministers do not feel strange! So the ministers didn’t feel strange, after asking for holy peace they all retreated outside the hall.

Then these ministers heard a sentence that made them feel incredibly jealous and envious.

“Fan Xian, you stay as well.”