Chapter 54: Robbing the House and Seizing Power

The big bed in the back of Fan’s mansion was still as soft as ever, and the pair of children, who were usually offered up like little ancestors, were also sleeping quietly under the careful care of the sisters, so that no one would disturb the people in the main room. But Fan Xian was indeed sleepy, and after only a few brief words with Wan Er, he fell into dreamland, those feet even soaking inside the hot water. Lin Wan’er let out a sigh, got up and put on a single piece of clothing, and began to continue the follow-up work.

Late at night in Kyoto, a peace and quiet, the vast majority of people have already entered the dark sweet dream, only our diligent and uncharacteristic Emperor, is still reviewing the seven way states and counties sent over the sangs, although these sangs have already been passed twice by the door under the middle book, but the emperor he is used to review the world in detail, so the workload is still very large.

The light in the imperial study room did not have a single tremor, but the door trembled, Eunuch Yao led another eunuch with a simple face, without opening his voice to ask for permission, he walked directly into the imperial study room.

The emperor looked up at the two men, frowned, and said, “What have you found out?”

Elder Eunuch Hong died on Da Dong Mountain, Eunuch Hou died in the middle of the Kyoto Sudden Palace Operation, and nowadays, the inner court eunuchs are all under the control of Eunuch Yao. Although the power of the inner court was not strong, its ability should not be underestimated due to its special status. In addition to the defense of the palace, one of the most important duties of this department is that His Majesty the Emperor secretly controls the bridge of the Supervisory Yuan.

This was the Department of Internal Affairs that had caused the officials of the Supervisory Yuan an incomparable headache back then.

Only because of Chen Pingping’s existence, the inner court was placed in the eyes of the Supervisory Yuan to appear more humble, and couldn’t play much of a role, coupled with the fact that later on, His Majesty the Emperor let the Ducha Academy begin to fight with the Supervisory Yuan, so a lot of people had begun to forget that the inner court still had such a function.

Eunuch Yao didn’t dare to say anything, and directly took the two dossiers from the plain looking eunuch, placing them on top of the desk in front of His Majesty. The dossier was very thin, the content inside must not be much, the emperor lightly scanned a few eyes, his face slightly changed, and immediately returned to his normal appearance.

But it is such a small change, but let the heart of the Yao eunuch fell into the snow, his majesty is the east mountain collapsed in front of the face does not change color, under the siege of the two great masters, still laughing and joking, but because of this thin paper and move, you can imagine, the content of his majesty’s heart and soul caused a great impact.

The content on the paper had nothing to do with the assassination of the Hanging Temple, and even if it did, it was only the later part. The content that the inner court had embarked on investigating in the past two years was the whereabouts of the several city guard crossbows that had been produced by the inner treasury’s C workshop that winter.

Those city crossbows, in the valley on the outskirts of Kyoto, nearly killed Fan Xian, and later the emperor and Fan Xian both found out that the sniping was done by the Qin family, but these city crossbows were military items numbered in the name of the Dingzhou army.

The emperor put his eyes back from the case file, silent for a long time without saying a word, also seems to be somewhat unable to understand this matter. When Fan Xian assassinated on the outskirts of the capital, he was a king, a father, it is difficult to suppress anger, but this check to check, but never find out what specific matters, until today, the inner court hard under the investigation only to find out, the original thing behind, there is even a shadow sitting in a wheelchair.

The emperor was shocked, is unknown. Even for a person of his stature, he could not figure out why that old dog would do such a thing at that time.

Moreover, An Zhi obviously didn’t know about this matter, or else he wouldn’t have gone around so many corners tonight, but also had to plot a honorable and comfortable retreat for that old dog. The emperor rubbed his somewhat tightened brow, gently coughed twice, picked up another dossier, and asked after glancing at it briefly, “The one from Northern Qi also went to Eastern Barbarians?”

“Yes.” The plain-faced inner court investigator said respectfully, “Lord Tanyu captured the Emperor of Northern Qi into his hut, and afterwards had a private meeting by the sea; as for what specific things were said, the subordinates could not find out.”

Fan Xian had not reported this matter to the emperor. The emperor looked at the piece of paper, at Fan Xian’s every move in Dong Yi recorded on it, and his brows became somewhat somber, saying after a long time, “What else?”

“The sword that appeared in Qingzhou City was indeed a production of the Inner Treasury’s C Square, but it was a trial model that hadn’t yet been assigned to the military, so it couldn’t have trickled out from the military.” The plain-faced eunuch continued, “A total of three knives of that kind appeared, and in the end, we only obtained one, and following His Majesty’s orders, this knife was sent to Lord Xiao Fan to give him a heads up.”

“According to what I saw later, it should have been the one on the grassland who took away the remaining two knives, and it looked like he was covering up something for Lord Po.”

“Xia Mingji and the second young master of the Fan family have been keeping an eye on their cross-border shipments, all of which are livelihood items, and these knives shouldn’t have gone out through that channel.”

Although Eunuch Yao was nominally the chief eunuch of the inner court, but in reality, the inner court’s outward investigation was directly responsible to his majesty, so it was also the first time he heard these seemingly vague, but in reality, it was heart-stoppingly frightening news, his face was a little white, knowing that if his majesty really believed the inner court’s investigative report, I’m afraid that young lord Fan would have to fall on bad luck, and that old man in the wheelchair wouldn’t have much of a good time either.

Out of Eunuch Yao’s expectation, the Emperor laughed coldly at this time: “A mere three knives, you want to separate Daqing’s ruler and ministers, and alienate me from An Zhi’s father and son’s righteousness?”

This statement, Eunuch Yao and that plain-faced eunuch quietly glanced at each other, both saw the fear in each other’s hearts. Everyone in the entire world knew that Lord Little Fan was His Majesty’s illegitimate son, but it was impossible for everyone in the entire world to state this fact in front of His Majesty, and by chance, today, His Majesty was directly picking this matter apart in front of the two of them, the eunuchs!

“That little one in the Upper Capital is very interesting.” The Emperor laughed slightly, “Utilizing a little bit of An Zhi’s mercy, he even thought of such a thing to come out.”

That eunuch swallowed his saliva and said cautiously, “Your Majesty, do you still want to continue investigating?”

“The matter of the valley sniping continues to be investigated, and the matter of the Hanging Temple …… can also be investigated.” The emperor closed his eyes somewhat tiredly and said, “Don’t investigate on An Zhi’s side, and let go of anything in the future as long as you investigate to him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The emperor closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time, he did not understand what role Chen Pingping had actually ever played without his knowledge. Suddenly, his heart stirred and it occurred to him that perhaps Fan Xian, his son, had knowledge of that role that Chen Pingping had played, and that was why he was so eager to seize the court and seize power.

He believed in Fan Xian’s loyalty. Just like everyone under the sky, from all perspectives of interest, morality, and heart, Fan Xian could not possibly betray him, and the emperor had this confidence that even if one day in the future, this son knew the story of what had happened many years ago, at most, he would only be able to inflict a sorrowful rage on himself, and would not betray this kingdom.

The next day there was rain in Kyoto. There was rain again. Dressed in a black lotus suit, Fan Xian marched through the rain, followed by the three members of Qiyan’s group, plus a group of Sixth Office’s protective swordsmen, and silently entered an alley, and after exiting the alley and circling outward, he saw the not-so-spacious gate of the mansion.

Every time he came to the House of Words, it seemed to be raining. Perhaps the heavens also knew that the father and son who lived in this mansion were one of the most powerful Infernal Walkers under the heavens, maintaining their detachment from the worldly society in a grimace of blackness and light, and somewhat sympathized with them.

Jing Cheng Zi House is still Jing Cheng Zi House, it has been so many years, the House of Words is still so low key, His Majesty’s rewards, the court’s favors, none of them have been placed on the face.

Fan Xian took off his wet raincoat at the concierge, and without waiting for a briefing, he marched directly toward the backyard. Before long, he saw the large rockery that blocked the view of the backyard.

When he first entered the House of Words, Fan Xian had noticed this large rockery. Although the building did pay attention to a set of hidden scenery to cover the door, but this big fake mountain is also too big, too fake, too abrupt, too ugly.

Today is a holiday, usually busy busy little Yan Gongzi, a rare half a day of leisure, is playing checkers with his wife. He and Miss Shen had been married for some time, but there was still no movement in Miss Shen’s stomach, but Yan Bingyun was not in a hurry, and judging by the situation, the entire Yan House was not in a hurry.

Seeing Fan Xian’s arrival, a trace of surprise clearly flashed across Yan Bingyun’s face. He knew that Fan Xian had returned to the capital last night, but he always thought that with the laziness of the Lord of the Tishek, he would either be playing with spring sleep in his house today or going to the Prince of Heping’s Mansion to spar with the Grand Prince, but he did not think that the other party would have found his own mansion.

Little Yan Gongzi when he was a teenager in Kyoto, and later disguised in the upper capital city, are famous talent, zither, chess, calligraphy and painting, but in front of Fan Xian, he is simply not willing to wield his half talent and humor, like a square ice cube, strictly adhere to the division of superior and subordinate, so boring, so Fan Xian is generally not willing to carry out recreational activities outside of official business with this guy, whenever Fan Xian entered the House of Yan, that is the Supervisory Yuan …… something big is about to happen.

“Good fun today.” Fan Xian said with a smile.

Miss Shen gave a cursory blessing to the top of the phalanx and retreated to the back of the house. This Shen Chong’s daughter had always remained a female fugitive from Northern Qi, and some years ago she had stayed in the Fan Mansion for a long period of time, and was on good terms with the women in the Fan Mansion, but there were always some very complicated emotions in her heart in front of Fan Xian, so naturally, she didn’t know how to get along with them.

Although no one had ever explicitly said anything, Miss Shen knew that her father’s death and the family’s ruin was not only due to the connivance of the Beiqi royal family and the murderous intentions of the Uesugi Tiger, but also had a great deal to do with this young leader of the Southern Qing Supervisory Court.

Looking at the woman’s figure that was hidden into the room, Fan Xian’s mood lowered, and he suddenly opened his mouth and said, ”How about what I told you last time? If you’re willing, I can let her shed her status as a fugitive from Northern Qi.”

Yan Bingyun stood up and stood under the porch seemingly watching the rain, seemingly thinking, and after a long time said in a cold voice, “That bit of collusion between you and the Northern Qi people, don’t think that no one under the sky knows about it. Before it does not matter, but now what is the situation? Once the two sides go to war, you are the behavior of enemy funding …… not hurry to wash off, actually want to use this layer of relationship to ask for some benefits, do not think that you have a special identity, there will be no one to suspect you of treason.”

“Treason ah.” Fan Xian laughed and scolded, “Aren’t I also in a hurry to earn silver? Besides, I didn’t spend most of the silver myself, and you’re just as likely to pass over the accounts of the Hangzhou Association and the Riverworks Yamen in previous years.”

“I just don’t understand this point, anyway, this silver you are given to the court, why do you want to make a detour in the middle? The key thing is that the court gets less silver for avoiding the secondary tax in the middle.”

“With fewer procedures, there are fewer bad experiences of being flayed by the officialdom.” Fan Xian said, “And I like to master these things myself.”

“The palace definitely knows about these things. His Majesty has been holding back, and you know exactly why. You shouldn’t go too far.” Yan Bingyun couldn’t help but give a reminder.

“The Rapunzel can fish for it, but I can’t?” Fan Xian said, “Monks can touch, I can also touch …… how to change the topic again, earlier I said that thing you in the end willing to do? If you are willing to do it, I have to send a letter to the capital.”

“Her family is dead, anyway, and will not return to Beiqi, care about that what to do?” Yan Bingyun shook her head.

“There’s always the day when the homeland goes back.” Fan Xian smiled, patted his shoulder, and said, “Find a quiet place, there are some important things to discuss with you.”

Yan Bingyun’s expression stared for a moment as he said, “Let’s do it here, no one in my mansion dares to eavesdrop on anything.”

Fan Xian was silent for a moment, recognizing the other party’s confidence, Yan Ruohai was an open spy that the Supervisory Court had planted in the military for decades, and Yan Bingyun was also one of the most successful spies in the history of Qing, such a father and son duo must have eyes like needles, and would never allow anyone unreliable to remain in the mansion.

“I’ll be taking over the position of dean soon.” Fan Xian looked at the rain sliding down in front of the porch and said softly.

Yan Bingyun’s face did not show much surprise, Chen Pingping had long since ceased to see things nowadays, and there was no difference between Fan Xian and the dean himself, as for whether he himself would immediately take over the position of Tishei, he was not very concerned about the matter, but since Fan Xian had opened his mouth, he was silent for a few moments before he still said, “Congratulations.”

Fan Xian lowered his head and said softly, “That’s why I need you to hurry up and draw up a bar out, I want to be the real dean.”

Yan Bingyun’s gaze stared at him silently, as if to discern the other party’s true meaning from his words.

“Including your father, that bald-headed organizer from the seventh division, and even that old servant beside the old cripple, the control over the institution is actually far above what we can imagine.” Fan Xian didn’t seem to be able to feel his gaze as he said indifferently, “If I’m going to be the real dean, I’m going to let my old comrades rest completely, and these people must be isolated from the affairs of the institution.”

“You mean to say, let Dean Chen completely disengage himself from the Supervisory Academy, or even if he wants to reach out, he has no hands to do so?”

“That’s what I mean.”

Rao Yan Bingyun’s calmness, at this moment also couldn’t help but feel endlessly stunned, he looked at Fan Xian in a daze, not knowing why the other party would suddenly give birth to this idea, after a long while, he said with an angry smile, “You’re trying to make me deal with my own father.”

“Metabolism.” Fan Xian laughed, “It has nothing to do with dealing with, it’s just cutting.”

“I need a reason.”

Fan Xian was silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll tell you a story, a story that has something to do with the wind and snow in the valley.”

After the story was told, Fan Xian looked at Yan Bingyun.

“I don’t understand.” Yan Bingyun’s face was quite ugly, “The old dean thinks so highly of you and loves you, how could he possibly do those things.”

“I don’t believe it either.” Fan Xian lowered his head somewhat painfully, “But His Majesty seems to have found out something, and if His Majesty really believes this, if the old cripple really wants to kill me, how do you think this will end?”

“His Majesty once summoned you to the palace, you are one of the seven gentlemen in his heart, Qin Heng is dead, but there are still six of you young men left. Do me this favor and let the Inspectorate truly fall into my hands.”

Sitting on the carriage out of the city, Fan Xian began to laugh gleefully again. Last night, he had tricked the Emperor’s father once, and today, relying on his excellent acting skills, he had tricked Yan Bingyun, and with this official of the Supervisory Yuan, coupled with the interview with Chen Pingping later, he was sure that what he had been most worried about would be turned into a never-ending story because of the Supervisory Yuan’s complete rest.

Behind the valley sniping itself there is the shadow of the Supervisory Yuan, if it was not Yan Ruohai’s will to fulfill Chen Pingping’s will and cooperate with the Qin family, with the Qin family’s Banshanchong’s private soldiers and Qin Heng’s Kyoto guard division’s cover, it was impossible to figure out the route of the caravan of Fan Xian and his party returning from Jiangnan, and even more impossible to launch the fierce attack.

If Chen Pingping wanted to kill Fan Xian, this alone would be enough, and Fan Xian also used this story to convince Yan Bingyun of his sincerity, and to make Yan Bingyun believe that he did not have the slightest intention to retaliate, but only wanted to follow the old example of striking the second prince, and to pre-empt the old dean’s retirement in peace.

The reason why he had to make such a detour was because regarding the matter of the shadow, regarding Ye Qingmei’s matter, Fan Xian was dead set on not daring to say anything to anyone, not Yan Bingyun, not even his wife.

“How many people under the sky do you think actually know that you once thought of killing me.” Fan Xian sat in the middle of Chen Yuan’s quiet room with a frown on his face, listening to the babbling of the distant house and looking at the pale-faced Chen Pingping beside him.

Chen Pingping’s face was calm, she gave him a cold look and said, “In order to force me to leave Kyoto, you are willing to give it up, that incident was done by Yan Ruohai, could it be that Yan Bingyun will investigate?”

“I don’t expect to investigate, I just expect you to hurry back home to find your first love.” Fan Xian laughed out loud and said, “You should know that from tomorrow onwards, I will be the president of the Supervisory Academy, and you are just a widowed old man who has retired, so what are you going to do to fight with me?”

When these words came out, Fan Xian suddenly fell silent and said with extreme heaviness, “You promised me to let go at first, saying that you wanted to open up, but you didn’t, so I had to force you to go.”

“You little bastard!” Chen Pingping coughed on one side and cursed on the other side, “Laozi didn’t care about anything anymore, you are still not assured?”

“At ease?” Fan Xian said with some sadness, “If you were assured you wouldn’t have done these things. Tell me …… why you let yourself be poisoned three years ago?”