"What needs to be considered?"

Emperor Qing raised his heavy eyelids. These past few days, signs of snow disasters in the South were emerging, and memorials from all over the states and prefectures were arriving more frequently than snowflakes in the sky. Some were reaching out to the imperial court for silver, others for laborers, and still others were lamenting their hardships, suggesting tax reductions or exemptions for the coming year.

Let them reduce if they must. That person was right; relying on digging silver from the land, even scraping it bare, wouldn't yield much. The silver, after all, had to come from selling goods. Since Anzhi earned so much silver for the imperial court in Jiangnan, the court wasn't so concerned about the trivial taxes from the various counties.

But Xue Qing had even sent an urgent plea from Hangzhou. Was the snow this heavy even in Jiangnan this year?

The Emperor frowned. The great flood of the previous autumn had drowned countless of his people and destroyed countless homes and fertile fields. After struggling for over a year, the court had barely recovered some strength, only to be hit by this sudden heavy snow.

This Heaven truly didn't give face to him, the Son of Heaven.

However, he had heard that the Hangzhou Guild in Jiangnan seemed to have foreseen the winter snow disaster and made considerable preparations in advance. After all, it was a civilian organization, so its disaster relief efforts were quicker than the government's. Whenever this was mentioned, his mother in the palace would smile, the old woman being a compassionate soul who couldn't bear to see the tragic scenes of the people. Now that this Hangzhou Guild was funded by the nobles in the palace, the women in the palace all felt proud.

The Emperor couldn't help but smile. Why was Chen Yatou so invested in this matter? It seemed she had indeed been stifled in the palace. Perhaps she had been influenced by her husband. A princess of the realm was concerning herself with these affairs.

He suddenly awoke, realizing he had been distracted. But even the things he thought of while distracted were related to… that young man. So, after a moment of hesitation, he smiled again and repeated his question.

"What needs to be considered?"

…

…

Kneeling in the hall was Grand Scholar Shu of the Department of Ministries. This Grand Scholar was old and had always been respected by His Majesty. He had always been known as a loyal and outspoken official in the court. That was why, during the previous discussion about investigating the assassination attempt on the imperial envoy, only this Grand Scholar had dared to stand up and refute His Majesty's opinion.

However, the ministers all assumed that His Majesty must be furious at this time, so they were somewhat timid. Even the outspoken Grand Scholar Shu didn't simply bow as usual but knelt directly to the ground.

But he didn't expect that the Emperor, sitting on the Dragon Throne, didn't seem to hear what he said and seemed to be distracted!

And the slight smile that had appeared on the Emperor's lips while he was distracted had also been seen by the ministers. They were wondering what could have made His Majesty so happy. Could it be that he wasn't as furious as the officials had guessed?

Impossible. The ministers shook their heads inwardly. Everyone knew that His Majesty favored Fan Xian, his illegitimate son. So, in the minds of these ministers, who thought they were clever by nature, this smile added a touch of mystery, causing them to tremble with fear.

"Your Majesty, please think thrice. Although the crossbow markings belong to Dingzhou, this… this clue is a bit too…" Shu Wu paused, not knowing what word to use. "Too obvious. I feel that a true villain is deliberately framing someone. I beg Your Majesty to think thrice and withdraw the previous decree."

The Emperor smiled, finally understanding what Shu Wu was afraid of. He waved his hand and said, "Get up and speak. You're so old; don't kneel every time you want to remonstrate."

These words sounded very gentle, and the Emperor's gentleness revealed a sense of confidence and stability, as if he didn't care about this matter at all. The ministers, who had previously worried about His Majesty's control over the court, couldn't help but click their tongues and blame themselves for being so muddled. Who was the one on the Dragon Throne? The most powerful monarch since the founding of the Qing Kingdom.

"My allowing Ye Zhong to return to the capital is certainly not as simple as a report," the Emperor said with a slight smile, stroking the short beard under his chin. "Since the assassination attempt on the imperial envoy involves him, he must explain himself. The Ye family has guarded the border for generations and made great contributions to the nation. Of course, I won't doubt them, but this matter must be resolved and explained."

Shu Wu wiped the sweat from his forehead and struggled to his feet with some difficulty. Supported by Grand Scholar Hu, he returned to the ranks. When he first heard His Majesty order Ye Zhong to return to the capital, he thought that His Majesty was furious and planned to arrest Ye Zhong directly to seek justice for his illegitimate son. That was why he had stepped forward to remonstrate out of fear. Now that he heard it wasn't the case, he felt relieved.

Although he was a civil official, he had been in the court for a long time and understood what the army meant to a country that had been founded for less than a hundred years. So, he was very afraid that His Majesty would harass the army because of the ambush in the valley, thereby shaking the foundation of the court.

Grand Scholar Shu was dedicated to the Qing Kingdom, so he was relieved. But the Emperor's words had a different meaning in the ears of the other ministers, something worth pondering.

"Why is His Majesty suddenly so gentle with the Ye family?"

It was precisely because His Majesty had been so unkind to the Ye family in the past two years that his sudden gentleness today caught many ministers off guard.

But such was the majesty of an emperor. In terms of ideological work, ministers had to adapt even if they couldn't. So, they prostrated themselves on the ground, praising His Majesty's sagacity and generosity.

…

…

The Emperor actually wasn't thinking about so many things. He wasn't as angry as the ministers imagined. As a monarch, he maintained a necessary sense of mystery and an unchanging calmness to show that he was as immovable as a mountain and that the world was in his grasp… Moreover, Fan Xian hadn't died.

If Fan Xian had been killed in the valley, it would have been a criminal case for Emperor Qing.

Since Fan Xian hadn't been killed, the criminal case had become a political event.

All great or foolish politicians had a common characteristic when dealing with political events: they weren't in a hurry. The former wasn't in a hurry because they were confident, and the latter wasn't in a hurry because they were at a loss and didn't know how to start.

The Emperor was naturally the former, but he had another identity. So, he still felt an uncontrollable anger about the assassination attempt on Fan Xian. As a father, what he wanted to do most was to bring Fan Xian into the palace to see how his injuries were, but this time, unlike the assassination in the Suspended Temple, he couldn't find any reason to bring Fan Xian into the palace.

However, later he heard the report that Fan Xian had left the city for Chen Garden not long after recovering from his injuries in his residence. The Emperor knew that Fan Xian's injuries weren't serious and put his mind at ease.

Yes, please don't forget that even if the Emperor of the Great Qing Dynasty was the most indifferent and ruthless person in the world, no matter how much of a bastard, he was still a bastard's father.

…

…

Just as Chen Pingping and Fan Xian desperately guessed and probed, this Emperor always possessed a confidence that ordinary people couldn't match, as well as an ambition that had been concealed beneath a calm face for more than a decade.

The Emperor was naturally somewhat shocked by this military assassination attempt. And even today, he couldn't fully find out who had done it, but he had a vague guess. But he wasn't too worried.

On the contrary, he welcomed someone starting to directly challenge his authority and skillfully guided the situation in the direction he wanted.

Everything in his own country had long ceased to interest him. Ruling the territory of this Great Qing Kingdom with stability, no matter how stable, was meaningless to him, who craved to leave his name in history, and in the most vivid ink.

He was waiting for that day, longing for it immensely, suppressing his excitement as he awaited that day's arrival.

"Reporting to Your Majesty," a eunuch knelt outside the threshold of the imperial study and respectfully said to the Son of Heaven in the large brocade robe on the couch. "The He Courtyard has been checked, and everything has been quiet in the various residences these days before Master Fan returned to the capital."

"Mm," the Emperor nodded, indicating that he understood. "Has the news from Cangzhou returned?"

The eunuch's buttocks stuck out even higher, and he softly said, "Governor Yan returned to the capital from his camp, and there were no abnormalities along the way."

The Emperor waved his hand, telling the head eunuch to retreat. The head eunuch didn't dare to say more, but the hand he was supporting himself with trembled slightly. He thought that there was still no news from Dingzhou. Why didn't His Majesty ask? Could it be that he had already guessed it was… or was he preparing to blame it on the Ye family?

"What do you think?" the Emperor casually picked up a scroll from the side of the couch and flipped through it.

The decrepit Hong Gonggong slowly walked out, bowed slightly to the Emperor, and slowly said, "Where would this old servant have any opinion?"

The Emperor laughed and said, "Everyone always has their own opinion."

Hong Gonggong coughed softly twice, and after a moment of silence, he said, "This old servant believes that Master Fan's assassination attempt in the valley was really strange. I always feel like it was something that was arranged… But I just can't figure out why someone with the power to arrange this situation would be detrimental to Master Fan."

The Emperor threw the scroll in his hand aside and said after a moment of silence, "Let's not talk about this matter."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Hong Gonggong bowed and said softly after a moment, "Empress Dowager asks Your Majesty to come to the Hangguang Hall later."

The Emperor smiled gently and said, "Do I need you to tell me this?"

Hong Gonggong hesitated for a moment and said, "News from outside the palace has reached the Empress Dowager's ears, and the old woman seems a little depressed."

The Emperor frowned slightly and asked, "What news?"

"First, the lawyer named Song Shiren hasn't stopped talking since returning to the capital and is still discussing the lawsuit against the Ming family in Jiangnan." Hong Gonggong carefully looked at the Emperor's face and asked for instructions, "The Empress Dowager doesn't like it."

The Emperor's face was a little cold, and his fingers were subconsciously tapping on the wooden table. Song Shiren was the person who helped Fan Xian with the lawsuit in Jiangnan. He had debated in Suzhou for three months, talking about the issue of the eldest son's natural right to inheritance under the Qing law. This lawyer had some fame in the capital and should be a clever man. How could he continue to publicize this matter after returning to the capital?

As soon as he thought of this, the Emperor immediately understood that someone must have arranged it. And the Empress Dowager certainly knew it, so she was a little unhappy… After all, the Empress Dowager still loved her grandson, the Crown Prince.

"Tell that lawyer to shut his mouth." After a pause, the Emperor said coldly, "But… don't get rid of him. He's Fan Xian's man, and I have to give the child some face."

Hong Gonggong quietly responded and didn't leave immediately.

"What else is there?"

Hong Gonggong's withered face didn't change, and he said softly, "The palace heard… Master Fan obtained a good sword in Jiangnan, which was sent by Wang Qinian, the head of the Supervisory Council stationed in Northern Qi."

The soft skin under the Emperor's left eye twitched twice, but he suppressed the trace of annoyance in his heart and said gently, "I know."

…

…

Walking under the damp, dark red and black mixed palace walls, passing under the winter-hardy golden thread willows in the garden. The palace lake had already frozen, but the autumn weeds didn't have the honor of receiving auspicious snow and had long been cleared away by the errand eunuchs.

A barrenness hidden under the cleanliness along the way.

The Emperor walked ahead alone, his hands behind his back, in the spacious palace. No one dared to get too close. Behind him, Eunuch Yao led a group of smaller eunuchs, carrying large coats, warm pots, and small hand stoves, following behind with small steps.

After walking for a short time, they arrived in front of a quiet small courtyard with a small building in it.

It was the small building where the Emperor and Fan Xian had their first heart-to-heart talk.

The Emperor pushed the door open, casually brushed away a few snowflakes falling from the top of the door, and went straight up to the second floor.

Eunuch Yao took over those items from the small eunuchs, gave a few instructions, and entered the small courtyard. But he didn't dare to go upstairs and could only wait quietly downstairs while starting to boil water and prepare tea.

The Emperor stood in the厢房 on the second floor, looking at the painting on the wall, looking at the woman in the yellow shirt gazing at the riverbank in the painting, and didn't speak for a long time, only remaining silent.

Although his eyes were fixed on her, he was thinking about other things in his heart.

The sword? Naturally, it was the Great Wei Emperor's sword that Wang Qinian had bought from Northern Qi at a high price to pay tribute to Anzhi. The lawyer? The Emperor sneered. Anzhi had been assassinated and seriously injured, but those people still wouldn't be quiet. The Empress Dowager's attitude toward Anzhi had already softened. Without asking, he knew that his good sister and the Empress must have been advising her from the side.

Half a year ago, Li Yunrui arranged for someone to enter the palace to tell the Empress Dowager the story of "Dream of the Red Chamber." The Emperor knew what his sister was planning in her heart.

Today, the lawyer and the sword… Naturally, they wanted to provoke the Empress Dowager to anger. There were many rules in the Imperial Family. It was indeed a bit unreasonable for a courtier to secretly hold the sword of the former Wei Emperor.

However, Anzhi was still injured, and those people couldn't help but want to do something. This contrast made the Emperor feel a hidden anger.

After a long time, a sigh broke the silence in the small building. The Emperor slowly turned around and sat down in front of the portrait, gently stroking an object on the table with his left hand.

Under the slender and steady palm was the sword, the Great Wei Emperor's sword that Wang Qinian had bought at a high price and sent to Jiangnan!

…

…

A smile bloomed on the Emperor's lips. He thought that those people didn't know that Fan Xian had sent someone to send the sword into the palace, into his hands, the day after he woke up, and had also attached a secret letter.

There was nothing special in the letter, and there were no major complaints about the assassination, only sincerity and respect, with the occasional hint of violence.

This hint of violence was well-revealed - revealed very frankly.

As a generation of monarch, the Emperor, just as he had thought when talking to Chen Pingping that day, valued the hearts of the people around him the most, and honesty was one aspect. Before and after the incident, Fan Xian behaved very honestly, while the other sons and ministers… were too dishonest!

He sat below the portrait, feeling a little tired and a little worried. The woman in the yellow shirt in the portrait also looked a little tired and a little worried. The two of them rested at the same time, one in the painting and one outside the painting.

After a long time, the firm and steady expression that the Emperor usually wore reappeared on his face. He stood up, held the sword that Fan Xian had presented in his hand, and walked downstairs.

Eunuch Yao carefully handed him a cup of tea.

The Emperor took a sip and handed the sword over, saying calmly, "Pass on my decree. Supervisory Council Tisi Fan Xian is loyal to the country and deeply comforts my heart. I hereby bestow upon him a treasured sword."

Eunuch Yao quickly took it.

The Emperor said faintly at the end, "Summon Yan Bingyun, He Zongwei, Qin Heng... to the palace."

He said the names of a dozen officials. These people had one thing in common: they were... young. Eunuch Yao accepted the order and left the building, assigning the small eunuchs to go to various places to summon people. He himself left the palace gate and, escorted by the guards, came to Fan's Residence. Without needing an incense table or firecrackers, he entered the back garden and bestowed the sword wrapped in yellow cloth to the young man.

Everything was ordinary, but this matter was recorded in the books, and presumably everyone in the capital would know about it tomorrow.

Fan Xian held the sword and began to stare blankly, thinking, why was the old Emperor being so polite?

And those young officials who rushed into the palace were also vigilant, secretly guessing His Majesty's thoughts.

…

…