Chapter 60: False Meng Lang in the Seat

The Qing State ruled the world by filial piety, so when His Majesty, the wise and mighty Emperor, moved so much silver from the treasury to build a tomb for the dead empress dowager, the two maestros of the time, Shu and Hu, only superficially expressed their concern, and Fan Xian was even lazier to pay attention to this matter.

Today, Sun Jingxiu was celebrating his own mother’s birthday, so it was much more important than himself, and it was through this matter that he had the guts to invite Fan Xian. But when Lord Fan really stepped into the front door of the mansion with the hand of County Princess Chen, Sun Jingxiu still could not suppress his excitement.

He had been living a stormy life in the past few months, and it seemed that all the officials and Yamen had started to stare at him in an instant, making him feel like a thorn in his back and unable to live in peace. Thinking about it, he finally thought of Fan Xian’s head, but the Sun family and the Fan family actually did not have too deep a relationship, and he did not know whether it would work or not.

Although Sun Jingxiu’s lips were a little bitter, a little bleak, and there were a lot of apologies to his daughter, he looked at Fan Xian’s handsome face, and still bowed respectfully, and then welcomed this pair of beautiful people into the residence.

The mansion had already been properly arranged, all the female guests were in the back garden, the front house was filled with officials of the Kyoto government, the front and back halls, which had been specially vacated for the court officials, were empty and blindingly obvious at this time.

Fan Xian walked along with Sun Jingxiu towards the interior, looking at those empty long tables, and couldn’t help but smile. Lin Wan’er whispered something beside his ear, and then, accompanied by the sisters and under the small-minded service of the women of the Sun House, he headed for the back garden.

Turning toward the west wing, Fan Xian followed Sun Jingxiu into the study. By now, he already knew that Prince Jing and Duke Liu had already arrived, and the two honorable old men were now gossiping with Lord Sun’s mother, and there wasn’t too much to talk about when their age and seniority reached this point.

The study was very quiet, and Fan Xian looked at Sun Jingxiu and said with a smile, “Lord Sun, you’re really not a smart person.”

It was not yet time for the banquet to begin, and Sun Jingxiu was afraid of slowing down young Lord Fan, so he personally accompanied him into the study. At this time, the underlings’ tea had not yet been served, but the other party had already said these words very calmly and directly, Sun Jingxiu couldn’t help but be shocked, and he didn’t know how to speak for a long time.

“I’m a little curious.” Fan Xian looked at him and said in a harmonious voice: “In previous years, you never engaged in these means of guessing the heart of the Holy Spirit, so why did you go in the opposite direction this year, preferring to take advantage of my momentum to see what’s going on in the officialdom? Your honor is not a person who reads the stacks of power and nobility, it is really a bit surprising to me.”

After Sun Jingxiu was silent for a long time, he very sincerely bowed his hands and said, “Jingxiu asked himself that he was quite conscientious in being the prefect of this Kyoto prefecture, and I ask for your mercy.”

Fan Xian gently tapped on the table, seemingly pondering over the appropriate balance. He also did not expect that Sun Jingxiu would be so direct in his request, except that he also liked to negotiate more directly. After a moment, he nodded slightly and said, “I’ll go talk for you in the palace.”

“Lord He’s side?” Sun Jingxiu was overjoyed, but managed to keep his face calm as he asked in a slightly trembling voice.

Fan Xian slightly lowered his eyes and said, “He’s the left imperial inspector of the Duzha Academy, I can’t control him.”

Sun Jingxiu’s heart shook slightly.

Fan Xian raised his head and said with a smile, “But he’s also just walking under the door in the middle book, so if Grand Maester Hu doesn’t nod his head, what can he do with you, the Prefect of Kyoto?”

The conversation in the study ended very briefly. Fan Xian did not let Sun Jingxiu in front of his face, spit out what the meat and potatoes words of the liver and brain, know each other well, Fan Xian, since he is willing to help Sun Jingxiu such a big favor, Sun Jingxiu this life can only be sold to the Fan Xian – Kyoto prefectural magistrate is not an idle position, and Sun Jingxiu a glance to the officialdom, but also can only see the back of Fan Xian a person’s head, he He had no choice.

Just when Fan Xian and Sun Jingxiu were chatting, the stewards and servants of the Sun Mansion watched in disbelief as the official palanquins came in an endless stream outside the mansion, and those famous and famous people in the imperial court came to pay tribute to them with smiles on their faces and with a gentle touch……. They couldn’t help but think in their hearts, “Where did all these grown-ups go earlier?

A subordinate notified to the study, Sun Jingxiu could not help but smile bitterly. He knew that the reason why the attitudes of these grown-ups had changed so quickly was all because young Lord Fan had arrived in person and had invited both Prince Jing and Duke Liu to be the opening axe.

Fan Xian saw the bitterness in this man’s heart and said with a smile, “Things in the official world are this shameless, you’ve survived in the Kyoto Palace for so long, you should get used to it, or else if you always sulk like this, how many more years can you survive?”

Sun Jingxiu nodded and was taught.

There were only three tables in the main hall. All the ladies were freely and thoughtfully arranged in the back garden, and Fan Xian only accompanied Wan’er to accompany Old Lady Sun to say a few words, and then retreated back.

The main seat in the middle of the upper table was temporarily empty, Prince Jing naturally sat in the most honored position without ceremony, while the Duke of Liu was seated in the diagonally opposite number two position. The two elders are also known to the characters of a lifetime, although sitting a little far away, talking is extremely loud, casual conversation into a quarrel in general.

Prince Jing, as usual, full of obscenities, a sentence will have to bring a few XXX, so that the hall of three tables of officials are a little uncomfortable, bias Liu Guo Gong was also retired from the military characters, on this set of habit is familiar.

Sun Jingxiu was entertaining the rest of the officials. Fan Xian sat in the middle of Prince Jing and Duke Liu, laughing, chatting, eating and drinking, but also at ease. Prince Jing and the Fan family is a family friend, friendship naturally not to mention, while the Duke of Liu is Liu’s biological father, counting from the surface, but is Fan Xian’s grandfather, Fan Xian naturally also respectful.

He accompanied Duke Liu to talk about things in Tanyu State, Liu’s life is very good now, of course, when the grandfather is relieved, plus Fan Xian looked after the children and grandchildren in the State Duke’s Lane have their own piece of heaven and earth.

On the other hand, chatting with Prince Jing was a bit of a headache, because the old prince would vaguely talk about the medical center and other things without mentioning it. Fan Xian sighed in his heart and wondered if there was any possibility between Hong Cheng and Ruo Ruo.

Speaking of Li Hongcheng, after the New Year’s festival, as a great general of Dingzhou, he couldn’t keep fighting with the university scholars in Kyoto, so he returned to the west with some reluctance, but left a team of his own outside the Tanya Medical Center to keep an eye on the movements day after day. His Majesty the Emperor knows that he is fooling around, but also good angry, but there is nothing to do.

The guests gradually came together, three ministers, two ministers, seven or eight ministers, the important ministers of the entire Qing dynasty, surprisingly, came to a large half. With the face of the Kyoto prefect, naturally, he could not gather so many important big shots, but Fan Xian’s face had this killing power.

As time passed, Fan Xian had a bit of a headache. When these ministers came over to greet him, he naturally had to get up and return the greetings, accepting the considerate greetings, and was a bit tired after meeting the people at the three tables. However, that wasn’t the end of it, as there were so many other officials in the outer courtyard, who actually took turns coming in to greet him, and refused to let go of this rare opportunity to meet with little Lord Fan.

In one round, the entire hall was filled with the sound of horse’s farts, and Fan Xian’s face changed several times as he was patted on the back. Being flattered by dozens of officials was not a pleasant experience.

After three rounds of drinking, another minister began to mention Fan Xian’s great achievements in Dongyi City, and everyone’s eyes turned hot as they looked at him. At this time, not many people would care about Grand Maester He Zongwei, after all, this young lord was His Majesty’s own son, and had made so many achievements for Nanqing over the years, he really was a red-hot character. So what can a ruler do? It’s not impossible for him to be a king!

Fan Xian had a bit of a headache, thinking, “Are these officials here to celebrate the birthday of the old Taijun of the Sun House, or are they here specifically to kiss their own asses? But in the end, he understood that if they weren’t here specifically to kiss their own asses, why would these officials bother coming?

Prince Jing was obviously very interested in the affairs of Dongyi City, and pulled him to his side to ask about some confidential matters, but as it would take at least half a year for the treaty to be finalized, Fan Xian couldn’t say anything explicitly, and just picked out some unimportant things and secretly told the old flower farmer.

Officials of low rank could care less about the ass-kissing look, but those sitting in the main hall of the Shangshu Lord, the high officials, but still have to put on a calm look, only occasionally scanning their eyes toward Fan Xian’s face.

Fan Xian was oblivious, he knew that these people were waiting for him to get mad, and then was ready to see how to deal with what was going on behind the scenes.

As the sun moved on, the sound of the wine outside also stopped, Prince Jing and Duke Liu ate a few cups of wine and felt a little heavy-headed and tired, and didn’t bother to watch what happened next, so they found an excuse and left.

Sun Jingxiu respectfully sent the two dignitaries out of the door, only to return to the main hall, slightly pondering for a few moments, instructed his subordinates to guard outside the main hall, pay attention to the movement.

He stepped into the hall, and the hall three tables of the adults with a sin, laughing and gossip, and excused himself for a while, before really sitting back on the first table above the main seat.

At this time in the hall gradually quiet down, all subconsciously stop the art put cup, looking at the front of the various colors of dishes, with the face of the end of the Ning smile, showing their own official style of mind, waiting for the next thing.

First, Sun Jingxiu expressed his gratitude very sincerely, how it was cloudy, and then he too stopped talking and sat beside Fan Xian, extremely composed.

Fan Xian’s eyes were slightly downcast as he slowly put down the chopsticks in his hands. The ivory chopsticks rested on the celadon art pillows, making a soft ding-dang sound.

All the officials’ hearts were struck by this sound.

A somewhat uncomfortable silence, the entire main hall was quiet, compared to the bustle of the courtyard and the sound of silk and bamboo in the back garden, it was even more quiet to the extreme.

“I won’t go into the details of what your official reputation is like, Sir Sun.” Fan Xian raised his head, lightly opened his thin lips, and slowly said, “His Majesty has also had many words of praise in private.”

The officials on the table felt so ironic as they listened to this, if His Majesty really liked this Kyoto prefect, how could Lord He have let that wind out? Just …… the young lord said privately? Alas, what did the father and son say in private, who would know? Could it be that these people on the table still dare to ask something in front of His Majesty?

“All of you are officials in the same court, and all of you have bad times, so I hope we can help each other out.” Fan Xian’s words were extremely unstandardized, first of all, Sun Jingxiu’s dilemma was put out, and he lost the upper hand in the battle, and even the words of helping this kind of businessman were put out, which made him look a bit ugly.

But this kind of thing, always have to look at the role, even if the emperor writes a white dog on the swelling of the limerick, the words of the ministers also want to sing praises, so when Fan Xian said this, all the officers on the table are stroking their whiskers and nodding, thought that little Lord Fan’s words are very simple but not simple, very reasonable.

Fan Xian turned his head, looked at the official on his right, and said, “What does Mr. Wei Shangshu think?”

Today’s Ministry of households Wei Dongxing, also in the Ministry of households polished for a long time of cunning officials, in the past years to the Fan House and Fan Shangshu deliberations, do not know how many faces with Fan Xian, but he is now able to take over the position of Fan Jian, not only because of the performance in the Ministry of households, more accurately, because he to the side of His Majesty the emperor to fall thoroughly, single-mindedly in accordance with His Majesty’s wishes, the Ministry of households from the quagmire of the independent kingdom of the Fan family He had pulled the Ministry of Households out of the quagmire of the Fan Family’s independent kingdom.

Wei Shangshu of course knew that his behavior in the past two years had offended little Lord Fan, but behind him was directly His Majesty the Emperor, so he wasn’t too worried, and in the past two years, Fan Xian hadn’t expressed any dissatisfaction with him, and seemed to understand his predicament. It was because of this that today, when the Sun Mansion invited him to dinner, he knew of Fan Xian’s arrival, and after pondering for a long time, he still came.

He hadn’t expected that young Lord Fan would actually choose to lash out over the matter of the Kyoto Mansion, and that he would be the first to pick on himself. His heart was slightly shaken, knowing that Little Lord Fan disliked himself, or else the other party would not have picked the Ministry of Households to be the first to start at this table.

Faint coldness surged to his heart, just Wei Shangshu also have no other way, slightly pondering for a moment, and laughed in a harmonious voice: “The little lord said reasonable. The Ministry of households act according to the will of the Qing law, will never act recklessly.”

On the table are some in the officialdom in the floating for a long time the old oil, of course, know Fan Xian pick Wei Shangshu out of a separate question is what a charter, but the matter is not their own, of course, to hang up high. I did not expect, Wei Shangshu light words, actually Fan Xian top back, even a vague show of good commitment are not.

On one hand, the officials admired Wei Shangshu’s courage, but on the other hand, they were also a bit worried about what would happen next, and they were silent. The other two Shangshu lords raised their chopsticks and whispered to the several lords beside them to eat slowly.

“I’m a very peaceful person.” The smile on Fan Xian’s face grew more and more clear and beautiful as he stared into Wei Dongxing’s eyes and said in a harmonious voice, “If there is a decree coming down, naturally, I will follow it, but if there is no decree, this official would like to see what will happen to those villains in the end.”

The Supervisory Yuan and the court affairs are two sets of relations, well water does not offend river water, Fan Xian this paragraph has already some taboo, and the word “villain”, undoubtedly will Wei Shangshu’s face cut a through and through, his face suddenly ice cold, looking at Fan Xian said, “I do not know the young master of the meaning of this statement?”

Fan Xian remained unruffled, and simply smiled and said, “Nothing, I just want to go to the palace tonight to ask His Majesty what decree was given to the Ministry of Households recently, so much so that the Ministry of Households offices are not doing their proper work, and are guarding the Kyoto mansion every day.”

“This official is in charge of the Supervisory Court, yet he doesn’t dare to privately investigate officials above the third rank.” Fan Xian’s expression was still as gentle as ever, “Originally, today is the old Taijun’s seventieth birthday, I shouldn’t say these cold words that will ruin the scenery, but I can’t stay in the capital for a few days, and I’ll be going to Dongyi soon, and I’m thinking that Kyoto residence is a matter of great importance, so I can’t help but be in a hurry, so don’t laugh at me, all of you adults.”

The ministers on the table laughed dryly, how dare they really laugh. Little Lord Fan this paragraph has woken up clearly, he is the Supervisory Yuan’s mention, three days later will formally become the second president of the Qing State Supervisory Yuan, as for his other identity will not need to be mentioned again, and …… back to Dongyi City? This is another reminder to these ministers that Fan Xian today has enough credit to ask His Majesty for something, even if it is a decree.

Minister Wei’s heart shook as he chewed out the meaning in these two sentences.

Fan Xian raised a cup of wine and said to the ministers at the table, “My lords, let the Kyoto Palace be quiet.”

With these words, everyone knew that Fan Xian had officially stepped forward. After an awkward silence, someone slowly raised the wine glass in front of them, somewhat unevenly, but basically all the ministers raised their glasses.

Wei Shangshu still looked at the wine cup in front of him, he is indeed very difficult, because he knows clearly, Fan Xian is an extremely vengeful person, earlier smiled so gently, I’m afraid that the anger in his heart to the extreme, even if he begged for forgiveness and retreated one step, is it possible that in the future, Fan Xian will let go of himself? After all, he is the minister of the court, his status is decent here, and he has the full support of His Majesty the Emperor and He Zongwei, if he gives in on this, it’s really a bit hard to say.

Fan Xian also did not look at him, said with a gentle smile, “Although we are all officials in the court, in fact, they are all poor people, but also want to make some good prospects for their own children and grandchildren.”

“His Majesty once said that people born in the world need to have some reverence.” He looked at the people on the table, and said with a warm and vigorous voice, “This official walks between heaven and earth, and only has a sense of reverence for two things.”

The Minister of Rites frowned slightly, he was the first one to raise his glass earlier, unlike Wei Shangshu, he had not offended the Fan House, so he had the opportunity to make amends, and his heart secretly mocked, Wei Dongxing even still did not know what kind of character Lord Fan was, and what kind of tactics he had.

He knew what Shangshu Wei was thinking, the Supervisory Court simply could not control officials above the third rank, as long as His Majesty did not give the word, Little Lord Fan did not seem to be able to threaten himself at all. However, he knew that Mr. Wei seemed to have forgotten the history – when Fan Xian was still a white body, he had sent Guo Youzhi, the original Minister of Rites, to his death, and later on, he did not know how many ministers he had brought down, and this was a ruthless person who dared to force the Crown Prince to his death, and you were a minister of the district, why do you want to contradict each other?

With this in mind, the Minister of Rites asked with a smile at Fan Xian’s words, “I wonder why the young lord’s reverence?”

“I honor His Majesty on one hand, and my parents on the other.” Fan Xian gently twirled the small wine glass between his fingers and said with a smile, “His Majesty said well that without reverence, one tends to act in a monstrous …… manner I have acted in a somewhat monstrous manner in the past, and I ask that all of you adults please bear with me.”

There was another burst of laughter at the table, but again, the meaning in these words was heard clearly. Awe? The young lord is explicitly telling all of you, your reverence heart, in addition to heaven and earth, parents, His Majesty, do not forget yourself! Menglang? This young master is not only wilful, he is downright vicious!

As the old saying goes, it’s a threat that has no standard, but because the person threatening is so powerful, it seems to have a strong voice. In particular, Fan Xian’s earlier words about his descendants and relatives finally reminded some people that even if the Supervisory Yuan couldn’t move the Minister of the Shangshu, it would be easy to send the rest of your family to hell.

This was a very arrogant, cocky and wanton move, but His Majesty favored Fan Xian, and no one could change that fact. Wei Dongxing’s face gradually darkened and his fingers shook, he felt that young Lord Fan was too unreasonable, did you dare to lay hands on my family because of your own affairs?

But everyone knew that Fan Xian dared, although Little Lord Fan had a reputation as a poet fairy back then, he had never walked the path of the eerie ghosts and was habitually unreasonable.

Wei Dongxing eventually slowly raised his glass and drank it down, unaware of the taste of the liquor.

Fan Xian nodded, raised his glass again, and said his last words, “Everyone eat well and drink well.”

I don’t know if those ministers who stayed behind, especially that Minister of the Ministry of Revenue who was disdained by Fan Xian’s naked threats, were in the mood to eat and drink well, but anyway, Fan Xian was in a good mood, and he left the Sun Mansion ahead of time, and didn’t return home with Lin Wan’er, but instead rode in the black carriage in the direction of the northern city.

“Go to the Imperial College.” He instructed Mu Feng’er, “Grandmaster Hu is not on duty today and is lecturing in the Imperial College.”

Mu Feng’er answered and did not bother to think about why his lordship was in a hurry to see Grand Maester Hu.

Fan Xian rubbed his somewhat tightened brow in the carriage, in fact, his actions in the Sun Mansion were not appropriate, it was just that he had to put on this attitude, which would surely spread throughout Kyoto right away, so he had to rush to the forefront to deal with the aftermath.

He was going to enter the palace in the evening, and before entering the palace, he had to go and meet Grand Maester Hu, if he could convince this chief Grand Maester, then he would have a few more points to fight in front of His Majesty.