Chapter 4: Returning to the Capital

People are happy in the spring breeze, the horse’s hooves are in a hurry. In the Cangshan Mountain will be recuperated for a whole winter of Fan Xian, finally led a family of large and small from the Cangshan Mountain killed out, the carriage is actually row six, but also just with a part of the things. This time out of the mountain, and did not see Guo BaoKun and so on not long for the eyes of the noble family son brother, and there is nothing to worry about, just that the early spring winds cause all the women face full of intoxication.

Fan Xian spirit is very good, Cangshan winter for him, is a rare rest after entering the capital, whether it is martial arts cultivation or spiritual above, have made great progress. At this time, look around, only to see the foot of the Cangshan Mountain in a cold, there has been a little bit of verdure, light green branches from the winter tree growth out, seems to be back to the capital of the sky are dyed with a lot of vitality.

The sky light is light, a black cloud can be seen in the distance. Strange to say, that piece of dark cloud is extremely thin, can see the back of the gray and blue sky, and more above the silk of white clouds, but still give people the feeling is very thick black heavy.

In the sound of horses’ hooves, the carriage turned the bend of the mountain, out of the range of the Cangshan Mountain, the sun in the sky suddenly brightened up, illuminating those clouds glowing, looking very shocking.

Fan Xian retracted his bored gaze at the sky, smiled and said to his wife beside him, “After staying in the mountains for so long, I’m afraid I’m suffocating, right?”

Lin Wan’er looked at him curiously and said, “What was held back?”

Fan Xian was slightly stunned and said, “Although the mountains are good, but seeing all the snow and trees, I can’t help but feel a bit bored, Wan Er, don’t you miss the prosperous life in the capital?”

Lin Wan’er slightly smile, white face shows a faintly gloomy, said: “in the capital, either in the palace or in the courtyard, the gentleman knows that I live in the phase residence is not long, there are not too many out of the opportunity, the mountain days although monotonous, but always more comfortable than those within the high walls.” She looked at her husband’s heartbroken expression, her heart was warm, and she smiled cheekily, “And there’s always you in the mountains.”

After saying this, Fan Xian didn’t feel anything, but she herself became ashamed and turned her face away.

Fan Xian laughed, and then thought of that matter, so he said gently, “When the matter of the spring exam is busy first, I guess the court will send me to go to Northern Qi.”

The carriage was quiet, only the sound of hooves and horses snorting in front of them could be heard, the sound of wheels vibrating on the mountain road. After a long time, Lin Wan’er smiled and responded, “Don’t worry, I’ll be there in the capital.”

Fan Xian thought for a moment before saying, “I guess I will take Wang Qinian with me, if there’s anything you should ask father’s opinion first, if Mr. Fei Jie is still in the capital, you can also ask for his help, these things will be fine to be done through Tou Zi Jing, I’ve already instructed him to do so. Of course ……” he said with a smile, “I guess there’s not much going on.”

Back in the capital, traces of colored lanterns are still there, and the firecracker confetti in the secluded alleys has not been swept away. Looking around at the pedestrians wearing new clothes, still immersed in the atmosphere of the New Year’s Festival, Fan Xian couldn’t help but regret a little. He decided to enter the Cangshan Mountain on the fourth day of the new year, seems to have missed the lively lanterns in the first month.

The car arrived at Fan’s residence, and it was not without a good deal of fuss. The half-new couple bowed to their parents and met with everyone in the clan. Fan Xian at this time realized that Fan’s big family really live up to their name, although there is no big official in the dynasty, but those distant cousins, it seems that they are all in the important departments of the dynasty to eat a fat salary, each living quite nourishing.

A few days later, first led Wan Er back to the Xiangfu, pay a visit to the old man, and Dabao reluctant to say goodbye, and then went to King Jing’s house to pay a visit to that familiar prince. Have not waited to stop the array, too often temple junior secretary Ren Shaoan, hongluo temple junior secretary Xinqi things, and two banquets, this is once worked with the officials, how can not shirk, Fan Xian had to put together a drunken, the two piles to come and go.

In a flash into February, at this time all the way to the states and counties of the students have been into the Kyoto, rich people looking for an inn to live, some people looking for relatives to join, no money no one had to run to the outskirts of Kyoto in those schools will be a little bit, and even the dormitory of the Imperial College has now been opened for those who really do not have a place to go to the students to live temporarily for a while.

The examination was conducted by the Ministry of Rites and was divided into three sessions, which were held on the seventh, twelfth and fifteenth days of February. So when Fan Xian into the Imperial College inauguration, time has been a little tight, good thing that he is the fifth grade Fengzheng is just a virtual position, belongs to the saint under the pleasure of the point of nonsense, the Imperial College on his side there is no arrangement. The examination is close, the Imperial College naturally does not need him to teach, so also free.

But occasionally, there were still students from all over the world who were studying in the Imperial College, running to his room and looking at him with green eyes, like extremely hungry wolves.

Fan Xian opened the folding fan in his hand with a brush sound, and shook it incessantly in this late winter and early spring weather, chilling the students around him to a distance before saying with a smile, “Gentlemen, this official is still very young, and if I say the word “education”, I can’t afford it by any means, so please don’t bring this matter up again, so as not to humiliate this face of mine.”

Seeing him talk funny, this to seventeen years old, will be the official to the fifth grade of the dynasty of the big red man, does not seem to be that kind of white-eyed look at the people of the power of the nobility look, these students of the sense of separation gradually recede expectorate. Someone then boldly joked, “When Lord Fan first entered Kyoto, he once commented on the word “wind and bone” on the One Stone Residence, but now Lord has the heart to fan the fan.”

Fan Xian laughed and responded, “What does this mean? It shows that I have always been fond of fooling around, and I can’t be accurate in anything I say.”

The imperial court had already decided on the candidates for the examiner and the coordinator of the competition. By virtue of Fan Xian’s seventeen years of age, the fifth rank would have been somewhat appalling, but it was still far from enough to become one of these top priority roles. But after all, his reputation for poetry had long been spread, and even though he had once vowed never to write another poem, few people seemed to take him seriously. The students were always trying to coax something out of him, and at the very least, if they did get a compliment from Fan Xian, it would be a pleasant surprise.

Tanyu Bookstore’s “Half Idle Zhai Poetry Collection” had long been popular all over the country, so the students who came from all the counties couldn’t help but feel very curious about this young man who had made a name for himself in the capital, and some of them were even reckless enough to find the location of Fan’s house by relying on their mouths, only to realize that this Fan was not just a man with a beautiful belly, but a son of the powerful and noble, and that he was born with beautiful clothes on his back. These students dared not knock on the door to visit each other, so they could only leave unhappily.

Fan Xian did not stay in the Imperial College for a few days, but also with the superiors around to check the situation of the students after entering the capital, and found that some of the children of poor families after entering the capital is indeed very bitter, although the court has long had a clear order, so that the suburbs of the capital of the several large school all open, some of the earth temple also temporarily supply accommodation, but the Kyoto is not easy to live in, and there are still some people in the bag is so shy, and even the money for the meal can not afford to pay.

Thinking of the story Uncle Wuzhu had told in Tanyu, Fan Xian’s heart was slightly moved, so he spent some silver from the bookstore’s account, and asked the shopkeepers of Qingyu Hall to take care of it on his behalf, so as to settle the lives of those poor students for a while. Since it was not an act of market grace, he of course did not let those lifts know that it was his own silver, but went back to his home and complained to his father who had been promoted to Minister of the Household.

Fan Shangshu realized that this son of his was actually concerned about these things nowadays, and could not help but be slightly surprised. In addition to a hint of relief, more than anything else, Fan Xian seemed to be resting on his laurels, and was somewhat relieved.

The seventh of February, two days before the examination, Fan Xian stole half a day of leisure, from the Imperial College slipped out, he really can not stand some of those who do not seriously read the scriptures, but every day to take poetry to see their own students, some of those students old enough to be their own father, you say that this whole thing, is really a little twisted.

Walked through the imperial city outside, looking at the imperial ditch of water in the waterlily, Fan Xian feel very relaxed, to be honest, so far, the capital know what he looks like people are not much, so walking in the street, very comfortable. Especially walking under the red official wall, Fan Xian squinted his eyes and surveyed the high wall, looking at the far side of a solemn military guards, and then the calm nature can not help but give birth to a few points of complacency – this son of a time to sneak in, so what?

The corner of the Imperial City is the corner of the forbidden army, specializing in looking into the distance, when Yan Xiaoyi is from there a shocking arrow, will be opposite the palace wall of Fan Xian shot down.

Fan Xian withdrew his gaze from there and shook his head, Yan Xiaoyi had now been transferred to the northern capital, if he wanted to go to Northern Qi, he would have to pass through his jurisdiction, and he hoped that he didn’t know that the assassin that night was himself.

Soon after circling around the Imperial City, he entered the Heavenly River Road, where the flowing water was still gentle, and the golden characters in front of the Supervisory Yuan in front of him glowed faintly. Fan Xian passed by as if he hadn’t seen those words at all, with a calm demeanor, not even glancing at the afterglow.

“I say, Lord Fan, it’s so hard for this Shizi to even see you nowadays, it seems like you’ve really become a big celebrity in the capital.”

Fan Xian turned back with a bitter smile and saw Prince Jing riding on his horse, looking at him with a smile on his face. He arched his hand and said, “See you, Your Excellency, my humble servant was just trying to have a quiet moment, how did I know that I would have a coincidental encounter with Your Excellency.”

“Not a coincidental encounter.” Li Hongcheng waved the horsewhip in his hand and laughed, “But I chased you all the way from the Imperial College.”

Fan Xian was slightly startled, but his clear eyes immediately returned to calmness as he returned, “What is it that Shizi has to do?”

The World Son smiled and said, “Someone is invited today.”

“Who?” Fan Xian’s intuition told him that there was something wrong with this banquet today.

“The second prince.” Li Hongcheng said with a smile.

Fan Xian shook his head helplessly, this Second Prince had never summoned himself, and since he had opened his mouth today, he couldn’t avoid it no matter what.