Niao Ni

Chapter 454 Remembering the Past in the Imperial Study

The imperial study was much warmer than the outside. Silver bamboo charcoal from Langya Prefecture burned in three braziers. The exquisitely designed braziers did not spill ash, only warmth, enveloping the entire room in a spring atmosphere that was out of season.

However, there was a faint burning smell, not unpleasant, but somewhat unsettling to Fan Xian's sensitive nose. He couldn't help but miss the warm scent of a certain white room in a distant world, recalling a witty saying he had once seen in his previous life – "Commoners haven't used cellphones, and emperors haven't enjoyed air conditioning."

The Emperor sat on the couch on his own accord. From his expression, it was clear that he was extremely satisfied with the warmth of the imperial study. The slight silver in his temples and the slight wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were smoothed out. He took off his dragon robe on the couch, and a young eunuch quickly brought him cotton casual clothes to wear, and then brought a bowl of warm bird's nest soup.

Fan Xian stood quietly to the side, but couldn't help but peek curiously. The daily life of the supreme ruler of the world was indeed unremarkable.

The Emperor was drinking when he caught a glimpse of Fan Xian's sneaky appearance out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Isn't there good food in Jiangnan? You're so greedy."

Fan Xian chuckled twice and said, "I had to enter the palace early today, so I just grabbed a quick bite for breakfast."

The Emperor waved his hand, signaling him to sit down. Eunuch Yao, who had been waiting for this order, quickly went behind the curtain and brought out a round embroidered stool. Fan Xian plopped down, unable to help but recall the scene of his first meeting in the imperial study a year and a half ago. He was also curious as to why the Emperor's imperial study meeting had not continued after the morning court session, but instead he had been summoned alone.

Having not seen the Emperor for more than a year, and contemplating the art of acting, Fan Xian didn't know how to start. Fortunately, in the relationship between ruler and subject, it was the Emperor who should speak first, and the imperial study fell silent again.

The Emperor put down the half-finished bird's nest soup on the table and looked up at Fan Xian's face, at that clean and pure face. For some reason, the heart that had been cold for twenty years stirred, and he couldn't help but slowly shake his head, wanting to eliminate that trace of emotion from the mind of the Emperor.

"How are your injuries?" The Emperor asked as calmly as possible.

Fan Xian bowed slightly and replied respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine." He knew very well that the Emperor must already know about the abnormal death of Yan Xiaoyi's son, but since the other party did not mention it, nor connect the matter with himself, he was happy to play dumb, too lazy to defend himself.

"Your Majesty...?" The Emperor repeated in his heart, sighed, and smiled, "Don't be so restrained, say whatever you want to say. Sending you to Jiangnan before the New Year was... I wanted to temper you, promote you, but I'm afraid you've suffered."

It was not easy for the Emperor to say such soft words, but Fan Xian's heart stirred slightly, but did not soften. He said in a gentle voice, "I really dare not hide it from Your Majesty, I am very willing to go to Jiangnan..."

He continued with a smile, "The scenery in Jiangnan is beautiful, I have always wanted to take a look."

Hmm, he no longer addressed himself as 'your subject' but as 'I'. This was how the dialogue between the two always developed, first ruler and subject, then old and young, then an ambiguous father-son relationship, never explicitly stated but understood by each other, ambiguous, sour, and shameless.

The Emperor laughed, and after a long while, he said quietly, "You did very well in Jiangnan... I am very gratified."

This was naturally referring to the matter of the Internal Treasury, the matter of Jiaozhou, the matter of Jiangnan Road, all the matters. Fan Xian had shown the demeanor and spirit that a young and famous official should have, and had squeezed too many benefits from the people and the army for this court and for this Emperor.

Fan Xian was now a knife in the Emperor's hand, and had basically offended all the powerful classes in the court. The Emperor also understood this, and thinking of the ambush in the valley, he couldn't help but feel a little pity for Fan Xian, but... not much.

After saying a few words about the affairs in Jiangnan, the political report ended. After all, the main purpose of returning to court to report on one's work was in the court session. After the grand court meeting in a few days, Fan Xian would naturally wear his official uniform and receive the praise or accusations of the civil and military officials by special decree. Today in the imperial study, it was just an exchange of hearts between an emperor and a close minister, especially regarding the matters of Jiangnan and Jiaozhou, which had long been fully informed to the Emperor through uninterrupted secret reports. The discussion today was elsewhere.

The 'elsewhere' was the matter of Danzhou. The Emperor seemed particularly interested in Fan Xian's visit to Danzhou to see his relatives, and asked in great detail. Although Fan Xian felt a little strange in his heart, he patiently explained everything one by one, even including the matter of Dong'er, as he didn't know how many spies the Emperor had around him.

The Emperor naturally also asked how the wet nurse in Danzhou was doing. Fan Xian answered one by one, and described the current scenery of Danzhou, those white seagulls, the steep cliffs beside the state city.

Then Fan Xian fell silent, because he unexpectedly discovered that the Emperor seemed to be distracted.

The Emperor's eyelids were slightly lowered, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes showed the unique charm of middle age. He did not look at Fan Xian, nor did he speak, but calmly recalled everything about Danzhou in Fan Xian's narration.

Suddenly realizing that the sound of the story had stopped, the Emperor was stunned and looked up, only to find Fan Xian looking at him with concern. He couldn't help but smile and said, "It's nothing, I was just thinking that since the last time I returned from the Western Expedition, I haven't left Kyoto again, and I can't help but miss the scenery of Danzhou."

During the last Western Expedition, there was a change in Kyoto. The Taiping Courtyard was washed in blood. Fan Xian was held by Wu Zhu and escaped to Danzhou in that carriage with black cloth. Fan Xian's expression did not change, but he asked hesitantly, "Your Majesty, have you also been to Danzhou?"

"Of course I have been." The Emperor's lips slightly curved, and he said with a smile, "When I went to Danzhou, you weren't born yet. It was there that I met your mother."

The ruler and his subject were both silent, and they both felt that this sentence was a bit idiotic. The father had just met the mother, so of course the son had not been born yet.

After a long while, Fan Xian said with a trace of loss, "So it was in Danzhou."

"Didn't Director Chen and... Minister Fan tell you?" The Emperor said with a smile that was not a smile, "I thought you should know something about what happened back then."

Fan Xian knew that at this moment, as long as he opened his mouth to ask, the Emperor, who was already immersed in beautiful memories, would definitely satisfy his curiosity, but for some reason, Fan Xian didn't want to ask, just like what kind of magnificent scenery was hidden behind that layer of gauze curtain, and in the mountains... there were monsters, big monsters.

He just smiled peacefully, "The elders don't have time to tell me these things. I only knew when I was a child that the imperial court had a special decree for Danzhou City. At first, it was exempt from taxes for three years. This time I went back and found that it was still exempt. The people of Danzhou live well and are very grateful to Your Majesty."

"I am the ruler of the world, and it is my duty to cherish my people. Why should they be grateful?" The Emperor smiled, looked at Fan Xian and sighed, "Exempting Danzhou from taxes for twenty years, one is because of the wet nurse, and the second is to thank that seaport back then."

Fan Xian didn't know how to respond to this. Was he supposed to talk about first love with the Emperor? Moreover, that first love was his own mother. At this moment, his stomach growled, and he rolled his eyes and said, "Your Majesty... I'm really hungry. Please reward me with a bowl of bird's nest soup."

The Emperor was stunned, and then laughed loudly. He pointed at Fan Xian's nose for a long time and couldn't say a word. Since Emperor Qing ascended the throne, he had been imposing and observant of the world. All the subjects in the court were terrified and respectful. For more than ten years, no subject had dared to clamor for food when talking with the Emperor, or asked for food... Even when the Crown Prince and the First Prince were young, they were held by the palace concubines and did not dare to speak so disrespectfully.

After a long time, the Emperor stopped laughing, his eyes full of loving tenderness. He scolded, "This shameless energy, there is not half of it like your mother... cough cough."

The Emperor forcibly swallowed the sentence, glanced at the half bowl of bird's nest soup on the table, pointed to it casually, and said, "It's still hot, eat it quickly."

Fan Xian was stunned, and then ran forward to take the clean white porcelain bowl. Without any scruples, he finished it in a few mouthfuls. He did not deliberately show a grateful and holy expression, but he ate it very smoothly.

The Emperor was very satisfied with this scene, thinking that Anzhi was indeed not a hypocritical person. But how could the Emperor know that Fan Xian was cursing in his heart, not cursing the Emperor for being stingy, but hating that the bird's nest porridge had been eaten by the other party.

Eunuch Yao, who was standing quietly to the side, was greatly shocked by this scene. He had been in the palace for many years, but he had rarely seen such a harmonious relationship between the ruler and his subject. The last time... it seemed to be when Scholar Shu Wu returned from Northern Qi. In order to show his favor and that he had no grudges, His Majesty rewarded him with half a piece of dried meat...

But last time, Scholar Shu was so moved by that piece of dried meat that he knelt in front of His Majesty with tears streaming down his face, praising His Majesty repeatedly. How could he be as comfortable and natural as Master Fan today.

However, His Majesty seemed to prefer Master Fan's style more.

Eunuch Yao lowered his head, but was admiring in his heart. This kind of ruler and subject, this kind of... father and son, was really rare in the palace. Just as he was thinking, he was awakened by a sentence from His Majesty. He quickly took the porridge bowl and retreated, walking along the palace eaves all the way, but still thinking about the scene just now, deeply fearing and admiring.

……

……

Only the Emperor and Fan Xian were left in the imperial study. After a moment, the Emperor suddenly said, "You are also someone with status now, you can't be as mischievous as you were in the Imperial College... Danzhou, um, to kick the son of an official's family so that he couldn't get out of bed for half a year for the sake of a family servant, it's always a loss of face."

Hearing this, Fan Xian straightened his neck, and said in a calm but stubborn tone, "What Your Majesty said makes sense, but if there is a next time, I will still kick him."

"Alright, alright." The Emperor laughed, "Kick him if you want to kick him, but mischief always has to have a limit, don't go too far."

Fan Xian noticed that there was another meaning in the Emperor's words, so he did not respond, but just nodded. The Emperor looked at the young man's eyebrows and frowned, thinking that this kid had made such a big fuss for a maid who was driven out of the family. In the valley, dozens of his subordinates were shot to death by crossbow arrows. According to this kid's vengeful nature, it would be difficult to make him swallow this anger.

Of course, the Emperor could directly tell Fan Xian to calm down, but the Emperor was unwilling to do so.

"I heard you are hosting a feast tonight?"

Fan Xian was slightly startled and said respectfully, "Yes, it has been more than a year since I left Kyoto. I haven't seen many adults and... so I am taking this opportunity for everyone to get together."

The Emperor's face calmed down, "It's still the same sentence as before, you can be mischievous, but there has to be a limit."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"The court will investigate the matter in the valley and will give you an explanation."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Young people, you have to look at things with a long-term perspective, don't just limit yourself to the present."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Find some time next year, I want to go to Jiangnan to see how you and Xue Qing are managing my granary internal treasury."

"Yes... um?"

Fan Xian suddenly raised his head, looking at the Emperor with a trace of surprise. The Emperor was going on a tour? This was something that had not happened in decades, especially now that the various forces in Kyoto were eager to move. Although the Emperor was sitting in the palace, no one dared to be too rampant, but the matter in the valley and the matter in Jiaozhou all showed that the volcano under the dragon chair had become active. At this time, the Emperor actually dared to... go on a tour!

Fan Xian didn't understand what the Emperor was thinking, and after a moment of silence, he said, "I think..."

Changing his self-address back to 'your subject' was a formal remonstrance, but the Emperor did not give him this opportunity. He waved his hand and said, "I have made up my mind. In my hands, the world, a few jumping bugs, why should I care... I want to go to Danzhou to take a look. After the beginning of the year, you go back to Jiangnan, remember to prepare well, but things must be done secretly."

Fan Xian had nothing to say, so he had to nod in agreement.

The Emperor looked at him and frowned, "Have you remembered what I said before?"

Fan Xian guessed with some headache, "Are you referring to... the matter of mischief?"

The Emperor nodded with satisfaction, "I... only have these few sons. You can make trouble if you want, just don't make trouble to the point of being unmanageable. I also understand some of your thoughts, very good, continue to do so."

Fan Xian was shocked in his heart. Sons, you, this was already a clear indication... but he felt that the Emperor's eyes seemed to have penetrated his body and seen through his mind - the Emperor knew his thoughts? - He immediately thought of the conflict with the Second Prince in front of Baoyue Tower the year before, and the conversation with the Second Prince in the teahouse.

If the Emperor was guessing Fan Xian's heart based on that conversation, it could not be said that his guess was basically correct.

"That Haitang girl has returned to Northern Qi, right?" The Emperor suddenly said a sentence.

Fan Xian was shocked again in his heart, but a trace of helplessness appeared on his face. He nodded and said, "Lang Tao brought people to pick her up."

The Emperor closed his eyes slightly and said, "At first, I didn't like it, after all, Girl Chen had been promised to you for less than two days, but later I felt that this matter might not be without any benefits. Tianyidao has deep connections with the sacrificial temples in various places. If you have the ability to control Tianyidao in your hands, it will be a great achievement for the imperial court, comparable to military exploits."

Without waiting for Fan Xian to speak, the Emperor continued lightly, "After Ku He's death, Haitang should succeed him. You have to think clearly about the connections between them."

Fan Xian lowered his head in silence.

The Emperor said, "It doesn't matter if you are close to the women of Northern Qi, but keep some distance from Northern Qi. I don't doubt you, but my Qing Dynasty is determined to dominate the world. Your various actions this year will always make some people in the army suspicious. They are all straightforward men on horseback, and what they want is to expand the territory... You must also feel that the Privy Council's attitude towards you is not very good on this return to Kyoto. This is one of the reasons."

Fan Xian remained silent, knowing that this was the conflict between the so-called dove faction and hawk faction, but the Emperor was definitely the kind of carnivore in his bones. Although he said he did not doubt, these words were actually a very serious reminder to himself.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Fan Xian replied gently, "I have a sense of propriety."

Looking at his submissive appearance, the Emperor smiled in relief and waved his hand, "It's rare to return to Kyoto, go around the palace..." He pondered for a moment and said, "Make the Empress Dowager happy."

Fan Xian accepted the order and left the gate of the imperial study.

……

……

Eunuch Yao was waiting outside the door. Seeing him come out, he led him to various places in the palace. Although Fan Xian had entered the palace many times and was very familiar with the roads in the palace, he knew that it was not in accordance with the rules for an outside minister like himself to enter the palace to pay respects to the concubines, so he had to be extra careful. Naturally, he needed a eunuch to lead the way.

In the end, it was his status as an extra member of the royal family plus the title of county princess's consort that gave him the opportunity to walk freely in the gardens of this palace.

The first place to go was naturally Guanghan Palace, the Empress Dowager's palace. The Empress Dowager had just woken up from her afternoon nap and was a little tired, so she did not say much to Fan Xian. However, Fan Xian sensitively noticed that although the Empress Dowager's attitude towards him was still indifferent, it was much better than when they had eaten mutton soup back then.

After saying some idle words, Fan Xian saw that the old lady's expression was a little uncomfortable, so he tactfully bid farewell, saying before leaving that he would enter the palace to pay respects together after Wan'er returned. The old lady was indeed a little happy.

Before leaving the palace, Fan Xian said a few words to the female official in a low voice, and wrote a prescription for the old lady to take care of her body. Although the female official in Guanghan Palace did not dare to use medicine indiscriminately for the Empress Dowager, she also knew the medical reputation of this popular figure in the court, and happily took it, waiting for the Taiyuan Hospital to review it before using it. She couldn't help but praise the consort for being filial.

Fan Xian smiled, did not say anything, and left Guanghan Palace, walking all the way west along the wide roads in the palace. When passing Guangxin Palace, he couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Eunuch Yao asked carefully from the side, "Lord Fan... that is Guangxin Palace."

Fan Xian was stunned, and scolded with a smile, "Of course I know, what are you thinking again, old fellow?"

Eunuch Yao smiled, "She is also your mother-in-law, after all. If you don't go to see her, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager will be unhappy if she hears about it."