Chapter 111: Getting Ready
The last time he came to the Imperial College was a few months ago.
On that day, when the spring rains were shaking, Fan Xian came to the Imperial College in order to meet Dr. Hu, for the matter of Sun Jingxiu, the prefect of Kyoto. At that time, he returned to the capital with the unparalleled success of the east side, and was really glorious and honorable to the extreme, resisting the pressure of the middle minister under the door, insulting the will of the great scholar of the University of He, being dashing and arrogant, and climbing up to the peak of the second time in his life.
Once the rain stopped, the black umbrella fell, he was recognized by the students of the Imperial College, and caused a small commotion.
And today the autumn rain was miserable, he fled from the Qing Temple, his face slightly white, his arms slightly shaking, the rainwater leaked along the cloth umbrella and wet his clothes, making him look a bit lousy. Now Fan Xian has been taken away from all the official titles, become an authentic white civilian, and the whole of Kyoto know, His Majesty the emperor is torturing the young man who used to have unlimited glory, Fan House is like house arrest, no one dares to go to the door, no one dares to show solidarity.
Just a few months time, life situation has been turned over, the thought of this, Fan Xian can not help but smile, lowered his head, holding the umbrella, from those who do not know what the discussion of the students of the Imperial College side walked past, toward the depths of the Imperial College line.
In the rain, the Imperial College looks particularly beautiful and quiet, ancient trees on both sides of the stone road stretching old branches, for those who are running in the rain provide a rare comfort, all the way, autumn yellow is not yet on the spring green is still in the twilight of the school bells ringing in the distance, clearing people’s minds.
Fan Xian is no longer worried about those back tracking to the Qing Temple ascetics, not to mention in this hundreds of students of the Imperial College surrounded, the other side can not find themselves, only to say that the Imperial College of this sacred and important place, even if those who are willing to sacrifice their own ascetics, about not dare to risk the Bachelor clamor, so like a butcher general kill in.
Umbrella to the Imperial College, has been walking for a long time, only to come to the more quiet some of the seat of the teaching, Fan Xian is very accustomed to go around the long corridor, into a small courtyard, traveling through the wall, but slowly stopped in his footsteps.
This was his house in the Imperial College, where several teachers and talented students had been transferred to his staff, and where he had been working for several years on the compilation and repair of books. The wagonloads of books given to Fan by Mr. Zhuang Mo Han had been rearranged here, then sent to the Xishan Paper Workshop to be finalized, and then finally sold at an affordable price by the Tanya Bookstore of the Fan family.
Over the years, the organization of the books had continued, so the Tanyu Bookstore had been losing money, but Fan Xian didn’t care, just as he had felt when he saw the bookshelves in Sun Knitting’s boudoir during the Kyoto Rebellion, Fan Xian thought that this kind of thing was meaningful, and that since it was meaningful, of course, he should continue to do it.
He stood quietly beside the wall and watched the movements within the house, somewhat comfortably realizing that although His Majesty the Emperor had branded himself as a grasshopper, these Taixue instructors and students who had been with him for several years had not been implicated, and that the work of organizing and editing the books here had continued without much impact.
Fan Xian’s heart was a touch warm, looked at the room and smiled, before those Taixue instructors found themselves, turned around and left this familiar courtyard, diagonally across the dense forested hill in the northeast corner of the Taixue, along a shallow lake to another familiar courtyard.
This courtyard, these rooms, was when Shu Wu University Professor teaching residence, later Hu University Professor was recalled to Kyoto by imperial decree, then also crowded in. When Shu Wu returned to his old age, this courtyard naturally belonged to Dr. Hu alone, and the last time Fan Xian begged Dr. Hu for help, it was in this courtyard that things happened.
Fan Xian pushed the door in and saluted the several officials who looked shocked, then walked to the study on his own, leaving behind a group of people who were staring at each other in disbelief.
Hearing someone push the door in, has been buried in the book case of Hu Daoshi raised his head, will be on the bridge of the nose on the crystal glasses action very quickly removed, face quickly changed into a solemn expression. This chief of civil officials of the Qing Dynasty was in a somewhat uneasy mood, with his status, what kind of person would dare to directly barge in without even being summoned?
However, he saw a face he hadn’t expected in any way, and after being slightly stunned for a moment, a hint of bitterness spread across the Grand Maester’s face as he said, “It’s really surprising.”
Fan Xian actually did not expect that Grand Maester Hu must be in his room, having been busy for a long time over in Dongyi City, he had somewhat forgotten about the duty times of the court meetings and the Menxia Zhongshu, and was not sure if this maester would be in the Imperial College or not, except that he did have some words he wanted to chat with someone today, and since he had arrived at the Imperial College, he naturally had to come and find this one.
In today’s imperial court, the only person who could have private contact with Fan Xian without worrying about being dismissed by His Majesty’s wrath was probably this Grand Maester Hu.
“Something happened today, and I’m in a somewhat unpleasant mood, so I’ve come to find you to gossip.”
Fan Xian said as he walked over in the direction of the book case, the umbrella he held in his hand dripping water along the way. Grand Maester Hu frowned and pointed, and only then did he come to his senses, smiled, and rested the umbrella behind the door, unceremoniously picking up the cup of warm tea on the table and drinking two mouthfuls of it, warming his body that had been iced over by the rain in the Temple of Celebration.
“How is this so down and pitiful.” Looking at the wet Fan Xian grabbing the hot tea to drink, Grand Maester Hu couldn’t help but smile, only this smile appeared to converge, because he realized that this joke could easily be extended to mean something else nowadays.
As expected, Fan Xian naturally went along with this and said, “Now that I’m just a grasshopper, I can have a sip of the hot tea on the table of the Grand Maester, so of course I must cherish the opportunity.”
With these words, the quiet house went cold, and both men stopped talking and instead fell into their own different thoughts. Especially Grand Maester Hu, he thought that Fan Xian had come specifically to seek himself out, so he had to be cautious, every word, every move, had to be deeply thought out before being expressed.
After a long time, Grand Maester Hu looked at him and spoke, “Why did you think to come out for a walk today?”
The corners of Fan Xian’s lips spread into a strange smile, and his voice was slightly cold: “Is there a decree in the palace to imprison me?”
Senior Hu laughed. Fan Xian then said gently, “Since there isn’t, why can’t I come out for a walk? Especially since His Majesty has taken away all of my duties, but wonderfully left me with a rankless and unranked position as a tutor in the Imperial College, my coming to the Imperial College today is considered to be a consideration of His Majesty’s will to show that there is no resentment on the part of the grassroots.”
In these words, there is already resentment, if a general official said such words in front of Hu Daoshi, Hu Daoshi would be sternly reprimanded, however, in the face of Fan Xian, he could only remain silent. Of course, the atmosphere of today’s conversation was completely different from the one in the spring rain, after all, the Fan Xian of that time, although his words were taboo, but that was the taboo allowed by his majesty, and Hu Da Daoshi could still make fun of it, but now his majesty had withdrawn this permission, and Hu Daoshi’s response at this time was also particularly difficult.
After a pause, he looked at Fan Xian and said seriously, “I’m not very clear about what you think, but I had a conversation with His Majesty yesterday when I entered the palace, and when it came to the matter of the Fan House, His Majesty once had a criticism of you.”
Fan Xian slowly lifted his head without asking a question, the calmness in his eyes did not coincide with his inner doubts.
“This child An Zhi is good at everything, it’s just that his temperament is too direct and stubborn ……” Grand Maester Hu glanced at him, took the teacup from his hands, and went to the small bright stove next to him with a slight stoop to refill the tea.
Hu Da Daoshi turned his back to Fan Xian, his voice was very straight and bland, and said softly, “Direct and stubborn, it seems that his majesty understands you, and is also considerate of you, and then the biggest faults, can also do everything possible to use these four words to wash away, this is the problem of temperament, and is not a problem of endowment …… You have to sympathize with his majesty’s bitter heart .”
Bitter heart? Fan Xian’s brows slowly furrowed, frowning in an extremely nice, extremely cold manner. Of course he understood what this comment relayed by Grand Maester Hu represented, that man in the palace still retained three points of hope and three points of tolerance for his illegitimate son, and how much of the remaining four points was anger, and how much was scorn? That no one can say.
Dr. Hu turned around, put the cup of tea in front of Fan Xian, looked at his eyes and said seriously: “Direct and stubborn, this is a person of character, His Majesty likes a true person like you. The mistakes you’ve made in these days, it’s not that his majesty can’t forgive you, but the key now is that you must know where you’re wrong, and let his majesty know that you …… know you’re wrong.”
Fan Xian sat silently in his chair, knowing that Hu Daoshi had misjudged his own intentions today, only that it was simply impossible for the two to pick their words apart as in days gone by, and he wouldn’t be foolish enough to refute anything, only subconsciously saying slowly, “Where is the mistake?”
“You know where it is, you need to show your attitude.” Hu Daoshi’s brow wrinkled, slightly anxious said, “This ten days you do things, no matter which Tsubaki are enough to let you be hit in the dust shall not turn over …… black rider passed through the state and county, these days to participate in the crime of your zhangzhang, like snowflakes to the door under the middle book. ”
“Probably these local officials still don’t know that His Majesty has already descended on you long ago.” Fan Xian smiled.
“How has His Majesty ever really smitten you?” Grand Maester Hu’s frown deepened, and even the skin-supporting cream he had to apply daily was about to fail to hide the deep wrinkles on his forehead, and he looked at Fan Xian with slightly disappointed eyes, saying heavily, “If you really have to be punished according to the Qing laws, even if you were to enter into the body of the Eight Discussions, how many heads could be chopped off? How many heads can be offset against these?”
Hu Daoshi looked at the silent young man in front of him, and for some reason, an unquenchable anger arose in his heart, and he lowered his voice to rebuke, “Don’t you understand that his majesty has already been lenient enough with you, and if you continue to challenge the authority of the court like this, and sharpen his majesty’s patience …… ”
“So what?” Fan Xian cut off Grand Maester Hu’s words somewhat woodenly.
Grand Maester Hu looked at him quietly, the color of disappointment in his eyes growing thicker and thicker, and after a long time, he said in a hoarse voice, “Could it be that you want to die?”
Fan Xian raised his head to look at him.
“Don’t rely on His Majesty to favor you and go on being so lawless.” It looked like Grandmaster Hu was really angry, as the head of the civil officials of Qing, he had recently been like other officials in the court, watching His Majesty and Fan Xian’s father and son turn against each other, and watching the originally clear and beautiful autumn scenery of Qing, but because of this sudden change of heart, countless clouds were added to the scene, as a high-ranking official of Qing, and as a citizen of Qing, they wanted to persuade Fan Xian to enter the palace to beg for forgiveness, and thus end this period of turmoil! They all wanted to persuade Fan Xian to go to the palace and apologize for his crimes, thus ending this period of turmoil.
However, the attitude that Fan Xian had displayed over the past few days had gradually cooled the hearts of everyone, including Grand Maester Hu.
“You think I’m just a favored minister?” Fan Xian didn’t want to boast about his abilities like a child, but still couldn’t help but ask with a slight frown after hearing these words.
“It has nothing to do with favor, you are just …… a minister, and I am a minister as well.” Hu Grand Maester forced to suppress his anger and said quietly, “You and I are both His Majesty’s subjects, perhaps you think that His Majesty treats you badly, but think carefully, since the founding of the country, which subject has ever received such favor from you? The history of the Kingdom Dynasty over the years has been clear for you to see, and you should know that His Majesty has already showered you with the greatest degree of tolerance and forbearance.”
“Don’t be superstitious about your power, because in the end, your power was bestowed upon you by His Majesty. It’s not that His Majesty has no way of taking your ruthlessness these days, it’s just that he doesn’t want to be intolerant of not wanting to make those decisions, not that he can’t do it.”
Grand Maester Hu slowly lowered his eyes and said in a solemn voice, “Of course, it must be recognized that you are a very outstanding courtier ……”
Grand Maester Hu did not finish because he wanted to tell Fan Xian that if His Majesty really did not have an ounce of leniency towards you, perhaps he would have already taken you to prison or even executed you a long time ago because His Majesty has always had the ability to do so, however, these matters involving the father-son relationship between His Majesty and Fan Xian, Grand Maester Hu, while in a stirring mood, realized that he had already said too much, so he silently changed the subject.
“No one would like to see a great accomplished official of the Kingdom of Qing disappear into Kyoto because of his own arrogance and insolence.” Grandmaster Hu looked at Fan Xian and said solemnly, “Lost causes must be realized, and there must always be a limit to stubbornness.”
“It seems like I’ve heard this from a lot of bald heads not too long ago.” Fan Xian laughed sadly, stood up straight, and said, “It seems that today’s Kyoto, today’s world, all think that I’m the little insect straddling the front of history’s carriage, and that either I hurry to get out of the way, or I’ll be crushed to death, and that if I have my own ideas, then I’ll be a sinner.”
He gradually converged his smile, thought of the group of playboys who beat and scrapped many years ago outside the Moon Embracing Building, and thought of the words Wan Er once said and Hu Da Da Shi meaning extremely similar, the emperor’s patience is ultimately limited, he is now trapped in Kyoto not allowed to get out of the city, and he is going to kill himself to scrap himself, is only a matter of words.
This was different from the siege of the ascetics in the Qing temple, once the Qing court really decided to remove Fan Xian as a destabilizing factor, even if Fan Xian’s personal cultivation was more or less astonishing, he could not escape this destiny – after all, he was not a great master.
“Earlier, when I braved the rain to enter the Imperial College and watched those maesters walk past, I was thinking that perhaps one day, I too would become an object worthy of scorn in their eyes.” Fan Xian bowed his head slightly and said wearily.
“No, no one has ever blamed you or spurned you, not only these students, but even the officials and people in Kyoto, once they discuss what happened in the court of law, they still have a few moments of respect for you.” Hu Daoshi coughed twice, slowly said, “Just as His Majesty’s criticism of you in general, the matter of President Chen, you showed enough stubbornness and ruthlessness, and this kind of true nature can make many people understand you …… but, you yourself must learn to think these things through.”
“The people respect you just respect your affection, however, if you really have some treacherous actions …… or even even ideas.” Hu Daoshi’s voice chilled, “This official can’t tolerate you, the court can’t tolerate you, the people can’t tolerate you, and His Majesty can’t tolerate you even more!”
“You must think to understand, this is the unified will of my Daqing dynasty nowadays, all hope that you do not fool around.”
“Fool around?” Fan Xian smiled, but there was a lot more heavy pressure in his smile, being the enemy of the world wasn’t something he was afraid of, his heart was just still recalling those thoughts in his head from earlier, and he was a bit unable to come back to his senses.
After a long time, he very solemnly saluted Grand Maester Hu, but without saying anything or giving any information, he turned around and wanted to walk towards the door.
“As much as I don’t want to admit it, I must admit that I have grown old.” Hu Daoshi looked at Fan Xian’s back and suddenly spoke out of turn, saying leisurely, “What I said today would be a bit over the top, it’s just that …… the world is still unsettled, the war can’t be rested, and for the sake of all the officials in the court, and for the sake of the people in this world, I hope that you’ll be able to think about it a bit more.”
What Dr. Hu said was sincere, he was the next choice of the emperor’s majesty to be the next chancellor, however, with the change of the situation in the court, his prospect was blurred.
His majesty in order to fight against Fan Xian and held out the He Zongwei, the He adult on the body of the sacred heart, but also adept at political affairs, acting sophisticated and mature, actually can not pick a mistake, now Fan Xian power decline, He Zongwei naturally sit under the door of the position of the Secretary of His Majesty’s trust, very much, red for a while, vaguely over the head of the Hu faction.
Even if Hu did not want to hold on to his position of power, he might have some sighs in his heart, and I am afraid that his persuasion of Fan Xian might have the meaning of leaving a familiar helper in the court, but of course, the most fundamental reason is just as he said earlier – nowadays, the State of Qing, which is pointing at the world, needs a stable court and a harmonious society, and Fan Xian will not bow to His Majesty for one day. As long as Fan Xian did not bow to His Majesty, I was afraid that there would be no peace in Qing.
Unless Fan Xian died, and in reality, not many people in the courtroom of the Qing Kingdom, in the streets and alleys, were really willing to have young Lord Fan, who had just made an unparalleled achievement, die just like that.
“I understand what you mean.” Fan Xian did not turn his head, and after a long silence, said, “Perhaps one day when I think about it, I will enter the palace to ask for forgiveness.”
Grand Maester Hu laughed bitterly behind him, thinking, “To wait until you figure it out, how many years and months will it take?
“Maybe …… I’m really wrong?” Fan Xian’s back in the doorway was extremely tired, and his slightly sandy voice softly muttered to himself.
However, these words fell into Grandmaster Hu’s ears, but they caused his heart to heat up and his brows to slowly furrow, and it was at this moment that he decided to enter the palace again this night.
His Majesty and Fan Xian, father and son of these disputes in his view, is not something that can not be resolved, but only who are not willing to bow first, if you can persuade His Majesty, issued a call Fan Xian to the palace decree, perhaps Fan Xian will be smooth water ……
Thinking like this, Fan Xian suddenly turned around and said, “Although I’m not in the Supervisory Yuan anymore, I know a very interesting piece of news, perhaps you’d like to hear it.”
Grandmaster Hu looked up in a slight daze.
“Fan Wusu is working as a strategist in Grand Maester He’s residence.”
Fan Xian bowed once more and walked out of the house. At this time, the rain in the Imperial College was still falling unhurriedly, and Fan Xian’s calm face under the umbrella was not the least bit moved. Today’s conversation with Grand Maester Hu had accomplished all that it was intended to accomplish, and he had accurately learned what the upper echelons of the court officials thought of him, and he had also learned a little bit about where His Majesty’s leniency towards him in the palace actually lay – of course, the most crucial thing was those last two sentences.
Fan Xian walked in the rain in silence with his umbrella, secretly thinking that it seemed that either tonight or tomorrow, the palace would probably pass out the decree calling him into the palace. By releasing some sort of signal to the palace through Grand Maester Hu, he might be able to conceal himself from the man in the dragon chair.
Everything was only because the people of the Qiyan team had just left the capital, so Fan Xian was not prepared; he had to keep this cold war between the ruler and the minister within the limits of spring failure, and he was preparing for it, always ready for it.
That night, Hu Da Daoshi entered the palace, and it was not known what he said to His Majesty in tears and snot, but the eunuchs serving in the imperial study knew that His Majesty should be in a much better mood, for a decree went out of the palace on the spot, and the dark killing field outside the Fan mansion, which had been tossed around for the past seven days, came to an end.
Until Hu Daoshi exited the palace with a peaceful face, he did not tell His Majesty the shocking news that Fan Xian had told him, for one thing, he did not understand why Fan Xian had to tell himself about this important matter, and whether there was any conspiracy hidden behind it, and secondly, today’s Qing Dynasty, just as Hu Daoshi’s beliefs were generally, needed unity.
In the Imperial College, he just felt that the name Fan Wusu was somewhat familiar, but did not think of who it was, but after all, it is the head of the door under the middle book of the Grand Maestro, only used a tea effort, the subordinate officials will find out clearly, this person called Fan Wusu, is the year of the second prince in the house of the eight family generals one of the eight.
Walking out of the palace gates, Hu Daoshi who got on the carriage couldn’t help but sigh, lightly stroking his beard and smiling, thinking that little Lord Fan is really a lovely person who holds a grudge.