Chapter 58 – The Breaking Up Ring

Fan Xian had expressed all the emotions that he should have expressed today, and the emotions that he should have felt and the sadness that he should have felt and the firmness that he should have felt had already been turned into fresh cement paste in his head, plus his sister had talked about the real reason why she had come to find herself today, so naturally, she would not stay at these big graveyard buns any longer. The group quickly boarded the carriage and traveled towards the inner Kyoto. In the carriage, he listened attentively to his sister recounted what really happened in the house today, originally wrinkled eyebrows gradually stretched, because things are much simpler than he imagined, it is not a big deal.

In fact, when it comes to the governor of Kyoto, it should have been considered a big deal, but these struggles and conflicts in the officialdom, in the eyes of Fan Xian nowadays, it is really nothing, and it is just a matter of some trouble.

“She is this morning to come, mouth just said to pay a visit to the county princess mother, but according to the Fuji everyone said, look at Ms. Sun eyes, I’m afraid to come to find you.” Fan Ruoruo lowered her voice and said, “Sister-in-law went to the palace, there is no one in charge of the house, plus also know that her identity is sensitive, so she searched for my head.”

“What’s so sensitive about it?” Fan Xian raised a sensitive eyebrow and said in a highly unnatural manner, “If I don’t remember wrongly, Sun Knit is not much older than Rou Jia, so coming to the mansion to gossip with you guys isn’t too out of the ordinary.”

“I don’t mean that.” Fan Ruo Ruo saw through the discomfort on her elder brother’s face and said with a smile, “It’s just that the day after tomorrow, Sun Jing Xiu will have a birthday banquet, if he wants to invite you to go, when he himself comes to place an invitation, how can he not let his own daughter, who has not yet been released from the pavilion, show up.”

“How would he give me an invitation.” Fan Xian laughed, “He’s too afraid of me, and I’m considered a scourge to his reputation for the rest of his life. Besides, it’s only a third rank official, even if he wants to make a big deal out of it, he’s not going to bother me.”

“There must be something begging you.” Fan Ruoruo lowered her head in thought and said, “I just don’t know what kind of trouble it is.”

Fan Xian was slightly stunned. In the past few months, he had put all of his attention in the direction of Dongyi City, paying less attention to this side of Kyoto, and didn’t know that there were any movements, but now that the four seas were peaceful, and Qing’s imperial government was stable and unusual, how could someone take the initiative to jump out and cause trouble?

After thinking about it, he lifted the curtains and gave a wink to Mu Feng’er. Mu Feng’er understood and rode closer to the carriage, listening to Fan Xian’s soft commands and nodding his head.

The caravan entered Kyoto, circling around the side alleys of the south city street, and quietly stopped at the corner gate. Fan Xian took his sister out of the car, looked around twice, and sneaked in personally like a thief. After entering the garden, he didn’t rush to the side hall to see the Miss Sun, but instead made a hush gesture and hid in the third quiet study.

Fan Ruo Ruo looked at him with surprise, thinking that all the way in the carriage, his brother was obviously extremely preoccupied with the affairs of the Kyoto House, and obviously that Sun Knitting was in the side hall, so it would be good to go and ask for an understanding directly, so why did he hide here?

Fan Xian looked at his sister’s expression, smiled to himself and said, “After all, it’s a girl who hasn’t left the court, so it’s really a bit inconvenient for me to go and meet her in such a dignified manner.”

Fan Ruoruo let out a giggle and said, “You’re still afraid of this? If you really knew the difference between men and women, you wouldn’t have hid in Ms. Sun’s boudoir for several days three years ago.” When this statement came out, her face couldn’t help but be a little shy and red, blinking her eyes and looking at her elder brother twice, smilingly asked, “Not only me, even sister-in-law Sisi, later on, was very curious, those nights, you were in Miss Sun’s boudoir, exactly …… how did you sleep? ”

Fan Xian didn’t laugh or get angry, just helplessly sighed: “People are ice-clean and pure a girl’s family, being troubled by these rumors, is already my not, every time I think of it, there are some apologies for it, you still take this to make fun of it, it’s really unkind.”

Fan Ruo Ruo respected her elder brother the most, as soon as she heard this, she hurriedly restrained her voice, but the curiosity in her heart couldn’t be waved away. Three years ago, when Kyoto rebelled, Fan Xian hid in the boudoir of Kyoto Mansion, and secretly, with the formalities of Kyoto Mansion, he arranged for the Black Riders to enter Kyoto, and prepared for the future turnaround, and at the same time subdued Kyoto Mansion, which was the most talked about legend in Kyoto in the past few years.

Many people were speculating about the relationship between Lord Fan Jr. and the young lady of Kyoto Prefect Sun Jingxiu’s family. Why was that young lady willing to take such a big risk and turn her back on her own father to help Fan Xian? And why did Lord Fan vouch for Sun Jingxiu’s family after the incident, remembering his merits but not his grudges, and helping him to secure his position as the prefect of Kyoto without being implicated in the conspiracy?

Fan Xian himself do not know, the story of those nights, how was spread to everyone, very worried about will affect the reputation of the Sun knitting, for the daughter of the family to bring too much trouble, rumors spread the most ferocious when he was a little angry, then let the Supervisory Yuan to check, who knows that in the end it is actually checking the maiden in the Kyoto House of the subordinate.

Since the other side of the garden accidentally leaks the wind, Fan Xian also has no way to deal with, just pay extra attention to the relationship with the Kyoto House, the three years simply do not have any contact, that is, the Kyoto Prefect Sun Jingxiu adults, probably know what Fan Xian heart in the thought, deep feelings, in addition to official exchanges, even the name card has not even to the Fan House handed over a time.

After staying in the study for a while, Mu Feng’er led his cousin Mu Tie in. Fan Ruo Ruo had already taken refuge in the back room when she heard the knock on the door.

Fan Xian looked at the sweaty face of one of the organizers, Mu Tie, and looking at that dull black face, he couldn’t help but say, “Although I’m in Dongyi City, if there’s any big commotion in the capital, you’ll have to hurry to let me know.”

Mu Tie had already known from his nephew’s mouth that what his lordship was going to ask about today was the matter of the Prefect of Kyoto, and he had already prepared himself for it, but hearing the hidden displeasure in his lordship’s words, his throat couldn’t help but dry up, and he didn’t dare to argue anything, and he directly put the dossiers that he had already sorted out onto Fan Xian’s table.

Fan Xian picked up the dossiers and looked at them one by one, his brows gradually furrowed, and he sighed after a long time.

In the past few months when he had been concentrating on Dongyi City, there had indeed been some movement in the capital, and not only Sun Jingxiu, but also several other officials had been living a very miserable life, and the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Appointments had begun to secretly investigate these officials, and there were various kinds of things to be checked.

After staying in the Supervisory Yuan for a long time, Fan Xian knew clearly that any government office could not be a piece of clear jade, as long as one exerted oneself to investigate, no matter what the reason was, one could always find out some problems. The Kyoto government office was several ministries to jointly secretly check, has begun to bear the unbearable pressure, as the so-called storm is coming, I am afraid it is about to support, and the officialdom is the most sensitive, civil and military officials smelled the wind, even if they do not go to the well, but also began to look at each other with a cold eye.

No wonder Sun Jingxiu will suddenly think of doing a birthday banquet, probably he also has not yet feel clear about the meaning of the palace, in the end it is a routine view, or ready to borrow these things, so that he resigned, to do a birthday banquet, you can obviously look at the attitude of the palace.

Fan Xian shook his head, and thought that this prefect was serious and upright, even if he was on the wrong side of the rebellion in Kyoto, it was only a technical error, and it was this kind of nature that allowed His Majesty to tolerate him for another three years, but it was also this kind of nature that allowed this person to this point in time not to see out what the palace was trying to do, and he actually still wanted to be able to continue to sit down in the key position of prefect of Kyoto.

Fan Xian saw the reason for the storm in the official circle, including Sun Jingxiu and other officials, in fact, the buttocks are not very clean, although Sun Jingxiu finally made a great achievement, but after all, in the beginning, it is on the opposite side of His Majesty’s last decree, and those officials are in the Kyoto rebellion is not too stable, some of the suspicion of the wall grass – His Majesty is in the autumn harvest, but also in the autumn harvest. -His Majesty is settling scores in the fall, three years is not too late!

Now that the dynasty has long been settled, with His Majesty’s harsh nature, how can he still let go of these wretched officials who swayed back then?

Mu Tie looked at him in a trance, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, moistened his throat, and reminded in a small way, “The wind is from the Ministry of Households and Ministry of Appointments checking to start, but it must be the Door under the Central Secretary nodded to do things.”

This was a reminder to Lord Tiji that the intention to have the Kyoto prefect replaced might be the meaning that came out of the palace, reminding Fan Xian that he should not clash with His Majesty’s meaning just for a Miss Sun family.

Fan Xian smiled, of course he had no interest in flipping off the emperor at this time, and it would be too unworthy to flip off the emperor just for the position of Kyoto Prefect, even if his majesty wanted to drive Sun Jingxiu out of power, it would not be so bad as to want to kill him, in that case, let his majesty vent out the grievances that he had never fully vented out.

Suddenly his mind moved, thinking that the emperor had promised himself to keep Sun Jingxiu unhindered, it should not be so quick to renege, even if he wanted to renege, he had to look at his own face, it is impossible to let the door under the middle secretary to step in.

He frowned and asked, “Did Dr. Hu say anything about this matter?”

Nowadays, the Middle Book under the Door had Grand Maester Hu as its head, if the Emperor really wanted to make this arrangement through the Middle Book under the Door, then the inclination of the Middle Book under the Door should be revealed from Grand Maester Hu’s mouth.

“No.” Mu Tie glanced at him and said, “It’s just that that He Zongwei once said something after drinking, and the pressure on the Kyoto Prefecture has increased.”

The entire Supervisory Court, including the people in Fan’s mansion, all knew that Fan Xian greatly detested Lord He Zongwei of the Middle Book under the Door, so no one dared to show any positive emotional appraisal of He Zongwei’s admiration, respect, or anything else in front of Fan Xian.

Fan Xian let out a cold laugh and said, “To make the titular Kyoto Prefect lose his appetite after a drunken remark, this Lord He is quite formidable.”

Having said that, he also understood that with the emperor’s recent favor towards He Zongwei, He Zongwei was only using his own mouth to proclaim His Majesty’s intentions. If Sun Jingxiu had been sensible, he would have resigned from his post long ago, but this Kyoto prefect was obviously not a person who was clever and delicate, and did not even realize this layer.

Fan Xian pondered for a long time before saying, “I know about this matter.”

Mu Tie glanced at him and didn’t bother to clean up the dossier on the table, but simply said, “Even if your lordship wants to go to the Sun Mansion, he only needs to be reminded of it, there’s no need to do anything.”

“Got it, got it, you’re the one who talks too much.” Fan Xian waved his hand in annoyance, allowing their uncle and nephew to retreat.

Before Fan Ruoruo could come, another subordinate came to report that Yang Wanli had arrived. Fan Xian’s spirit was invigorated, thinking that this guy is now doing extremely well in the Ministry of Public Works, focusing on political affairs, but there is a long time did not come to ask for good health, how can I be free today, the heart is also happy, and hurriedly let the people invited him to the back of the house.

I did not expect Yang Wanli into the study, black face is full of grievances!

Yang Wanli is now the Ministry of Industry, River Department of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the authentic host officials, at this rate, within ten years when a minister that is stable, but not all because Fan Xian in the back for his sake, the official experienced the Jiangnan embankment on the exposure of the day’s training, has long been not only know that year to talk about saving the country of the sour and corrupt showman, but the authentic practical officials, so it will be in the Ministry of Industry to rise so fast. So Fan Xian today looked at his look, then some surprise.

The two of them whispered something, and as Fan Xian’s face became more and more ugly, he finally just whispered a few words of comfort and let him leave. Yang Wanli seldom came to the residence to visit, Fan Xian secretly knew that this son was indeed consumed in the government offices every day, and did not really blame him, but deliberately saved time for him.

It was only after Yang Wanli went out that Fan Ruo Ruo marched out from the back room and said with a slight frown, “What’s the matter again?”

Fan Xian’s expression was somewhat heavy, and after pondering for a moment he responded, “It’s actually about the same time as Sun Jingxiu’s matter …… He Zongwei that guy is getting more and more arrogant, and what I want to protect, he has his hand out wherever he wants.”

Fan Ruo Ruo quietly listening, only to know Yang Wanli recently in the Ministry of Public Works Yamen in the life is not how smooth, the Ministry of Public Works Yamen in the Ministry of Public Works now also checking the accounts, the focus is on his head of the Department of Water, and even behind the Da Lisi and the Ministry of the Ministry of the shadow of the officials.

Yang Wanli has Fan Xian’s silver every year, life is also generous, and is not a corrupt official, internal and external factors combined, from his hand over the accounts naturally clear, the Ministry of Revenue and how to check can not be found to the problem, even if the Ministry of Justice to ask him about his private questioning of his mansion and the number of servants questioned, but also by Yang Wanli a gift of the door division will be blocked back.

Those officials from the Ministry of Justice did not have the guts to go to Fan’s residence to ask Fan Xian for proof.

But Yang Wanli’s side was caught in the crossfire, and the reason was actually related to Fan Xian. This matter should also start from a few years ago, two years after the dike broke, Fan Xian in charge of the inner treasury, with his own means, his father’s help, and Xia Mingji and Fan Sicheng in the north of the line, from the inner treasury to get a lot of silver, and then turned a few corners, and then sent to the then Governor of the River Transportation Yamen.

At that time, Yang Wanli is still in the River Governor Yamen, this large amount of silver to make countless people scared, the main right in his hands, in the operation of the silver money is always a bit of negligence, was seized by some of the handle, especially the Ministry of the officials more vaguely questioned, these silver from where exactly?

If this question really goes deeper, I’m afraid that a lot of people will die, but where did the question come from? Fan Xian’s lips curled up slightly, let out a sneer, and scolded, “The silver is from the old man here saving money to gouge out, His Majesty knows it all, and still wants to come to check, it’s really a high grace and virtue.”

He glanced at his sister and sighed, “Even the Ministry of Household is meddling, it seems that it will be difficult for our Fan family to control the Ministry of Household anymore.”

In a society of imperial power, for Fan Xian, who was a vassal, to actually speak up about controlling the Ministry of Households was truly a treacherous complaint. However, he is also right, when his father Fan Jian was serving as the Minister of the Ministry of households or the Minister of the Ministry of households, the entire Ministry of households was managed as a piece of iron, whether it is the Crown Prince or the second prince, there is no way to reach in, even that year, the day of the spring and Jingming, His Majesty wanted to borrow the Ministry of households to make some noise, were Fan Jian was not Yin Yin not Yang blocked back.

The Ministry of Revenue was the legendary independent kingdom, right? If it was then, the Ministry of households who dared to check the Kyoto Palace, to check Yang Wanli this Fanmen students? Even if you can’t stop the upper will to check, I’m afraid that secretly also early to Fan Xian through the gas.

But as Fan Jian returned to his old age, the Emperor was not slow to install and transfer officials to the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Revenue of today was not the Ministry of Revenue of that year.

Whenever Fan Xian thought of this point, he was somewhat angry on behalf of his father, although this anger was really unjustified.

Since Fan Xian mentioned the words He Zongwei, Fan Ruo Ruo was quiet, her face slightly embarrassed and self-condemning. Fan Xian glanced at his sister and said after a long moment of silence, “Don’t get sidetracked, He Zongwei alone doesn’t dare to make a move on my people, this must be the palace’s intention.”

“Of course.” Fan Xian lowered his head and continued, “It seems that this popular Lord He has also given up on the idea of marrying our family and currying favor with me, and has decided to follow His Majesty’s heart closely and be a loyal dog.”

He said with a cold snort, “He Zongwei knows that if His Majesty raises him up to fight with me, he will only end up with a bad fate in the future, but he can’t help it, since that’s the case, of course, he hopes to really find out about the big problem between His Majesty and I, and keeps irritating me in the hope that I can really capsize the boat so that he can save his own life.”

“Why is His Majesty doing this?” This was the greatest uneasiness and disbelief in Fan Ruoruo’s heart.

Fan Xian smiled faintly and said in a self-deprecating manner, “His Majesty has already made up his mind to let me take over the position of President of the Supervisory Academy in a few days.”

This was a matter of water and water, and Fan Ruo Ruo did not congratulate him on anything, instead, the doubts in his heart grew stronger and stronger, why did His Majesty choose this time to suppress his elder brother’s power, given that the holy favor was as strong as it had been in the past?

“When you give a carrot, you have to knock a stick, his majesty is always aware of the proportion in between, this is a reminder to me, but also to actually weaken me, he doesn’t want to see a subject who has too much power in his hands.”

Fan Xian looked at his sister, and suddenly his brows furrowed as he said with a slight sneer, “And the most crucial thing is that the situation at hand is a situation that His Majesty has arranged for the future of Qing. The Zhongshu under the door is the pivot, with Grand Maester Hu leading the court, and the following Supervisory Court and the Metropolitan Procuratorate checking and balancing each other and supervising the hundred officials, so as to safeguard the tranquility of the court……. He’s starting to test the effects of counter-insurgency, to see what the state of Qing will look like a hundred years from now after he’s been there.”

“But He Zongwei is also under the door in the middle of the book.” Fan Ruo Ruo asked in disbelief.

“This is because the power of the Supervisory Yuan is too strong, before it was Chen Pingping, who could suppress him when the whole court was full of civil and military officials, just including that old father-in-law of mine? Later on, it was me, and just with He Zongwei’s status as a left imperial inspector of the Duzha Academy, along with His Majesty’s favor, then he wanted to resist me, and it was also something that could not be done.” Fan Xian said, “That’s why His Majesty had no choice but to let He Zongwei enter the Middle Book under the Gate, forcefully raised his rank, and now he’s helping He Zongwei to chip my shoulders first.”

“Of course, if He Zongwei’s power in the dynasty really grew, His Majesty would definitely help me chip him again.” Fan Xian laughed and said, “What kind of shit about the emperor’s mind and the way of balance is all just eating too much and doing nothing.”

Fan Ruo Ruo said after a long silence, “But Miss Sun …… is still in the side hall.” Hearing this, she already understood that the situation on the side of the Kyoto Prefect was really urgent, only after hearing her elder brother say that this was His Majesty’s arrangement, she didn’t think that Fan Xian would be able to help the Sun family in any way.

Who knew that Fan Xian was silent for a long time before saying, “Go tell Sun Knitting that I will be there the day after tomorrow.”

Fan Ruo Ruo was taken aback and said, “But didn’t you say earlier that this was His Majesty’s intention?”

Fan Xian bowed his head, crossed his two hands and calmly placed them in front of his abdomen, saying, “His Majesty and I have had a tacit understanding for the past three years, if it were before, if His Majesty wanted to cut my power, I would have let him do so, and what if I let He Zongwei be arrogant for a while?”

“But not now.” He raised his head and smiled, “I don’t know what will happen in the future, so I have to make sure that I still hold enough power now.”

“You want to fight His Majesty?” Fan Ruo Ruo’s eyes opened extremely wide and asked with a slightly uneasy surprise.

“I’m still young, and some fire in my heart is always allowed.”

Fan Xian smiled faintly, his smile extremely fresh and pleasant, not the slightest bit of fire could be seen at all. His thoughts were actually very simple, nowadays he had to protect everyone he wanted to protect, using the excuse of gambling to temporarily maintain the power in his hands, so that he could learn to be so positive about that powerful emperor, His Majesty.

Fan Ruo Ruo was silent for a long time, knowing that his elder brother’s mind was set, he no longer said anything more, but just couldn’t help but smile and asked, “You really don’t go to accompany that Miss Sun to talk to her?”

“I’m indeed afraid that she won’t be able to marry in the future, so it’s better if I don’t see her.” Fan Xian said helplessly, “Just tell her that I’m looking forward to the birthday banquet the day after tomorrow.”