贺宗纬是谁？想必各位看官都心知肚明。他和范闲之间的恩怨情仇虽然已经非常遥远，但以范闲这睚眦必报的性格，又怎能不将此人的名字深深烙印在心头。

“Greetings, Grand Secretary He.”

“Greetings, Young Duke Fan.”

He Zongwei bowed with composure and respect. Grand Secretary Hu chuckled and exchanged a few pleasantries, gesturing for him to dispense with formalities. Fan Xian, however, merely watched the young official with a calm demeanor, his mind replaying countless scenes.

In the early years of Qing Yu Nian's Qingli era, the military’s attempt to assassinate Fan Xian in the valley had given the Emperor a chance to introduce fresh blood into the court. On that day, seven young officials entered the palace and were known among the common people as the Seven Gentlemen. Among them, Qin Heng participated in the rebellion and died, Yan Bingyun worked steadily in the Supervisory Council, waiting to succeed Fan Xian as director, while He Zongwei was the most trusted and rapidly promoted among these new officials.

After the Kyoto rebellion was quelled, Fan Xian, the First Prince, and Ye Zhong were naturally the most meritorious. The problem was that these three were already top figures among the powerful, and the Emperor had nothing left to bestow. However, He Zongwei received the Emperor’s favor due to this event, rising three ranks and entering the political center of the court like a rocket. This speed of promotion was truly exceptional, and perhaps only Fan Xian after his initial arrival in Kyoto could have surpassed him.

And not only Fan Xian knew it, He Zongwei himself knew it, in fact, everyone in the court knew that this man's extraordinary promotion and the Emperor's trust were just the Emperor's way of balancing the power that Fan Xian naturally generated. This was not because the Emperor doubted Fan Xian, but just that a powerful official like Fan Xian would always pose some problems if no one in the court checked and balanced him.

Although He Zongwei entered the Ministry of Personnel, he still concurrently served as the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. Upholding the Emperor's will, the Censorate's power greatly increased, forming a significant pressure on the Supervisory Council. In the past two years, the Supervisory Council and the Censorate had engaged in countless lawsuits, the situation between the two sides was extremely tense, and it had kept the Eight Offices of Law Enforcement, headed by Song Shiren and Chen Bochang, extremely busy.

The Offices of Law Enforcement were a Supervisory Council department that Fan Xian had established on a whim, precisely to deal with this group of censors from the Censorate who were most adept at sophistry.

From this, it could be known that Fan Xian certainly did not like He Zongwei. This person had overthrown his father-in-law, opposed him in every way, and most importantly, beneath that upright and serious face, he hid a heart of opportunism that he most detested.

The name "Slave of Three Surnames" was spread from the Fan residence's study, the gate of the Censorate was kicked down by Fan Xian, and everyone knew that Lord Fan despised He Zongwei the most.

But whenever they met in court or in official halls, He Zongwei still maintained absolute respect for Fan Xian, as if he knew nothing of these things, as if they were still like they were when they first met at the Stone Residence.

As the saying goes, one doesn't strike a smiling face. As long as the other party didn't touch his bottom line for the time being, Fan Xian would naturally not treat him with harshness or humiliation. However, it was precisely He Zongwei's attitude of a smiling face that made him feel secretly vigilant. Such a person who could turn his hand to make clouds and turn his hand to make rain could not allow him to suffer an open loss, but who knew what the other party would do in the dark.

He Zongwei seemed to see that Fan Xian was not very willing to talk to him, smiled helplessly, bowed to the two of them again, said a few more words in a soft voice, and then followed the red lantern back into the darkness under the palace walls.

Fan Xian squinted at the lantern until he could no longer see the man's face, then gently exhaled a breath of stale air. Grand Secretary Hu watched him gently from the side and said, "Lord He's favor with the Emperor is stable, but he is not a person without a sense of proportion. The disputes between the two councils are only official matters."

Hearing Grand Secretary Hu speaking for He Zongwei, the corner of Fan Xian's lips curled up, and he jokingly said, "If I asked you to marry your precious daughter to him, would you be willing?"

Grand Secretary Hu coughed repeatedly, pointing at Fan Xian with amusement and annoyance, unable to speak. Nowadays, an evening marriage trend has arisen in Kyoto, even though the palace is very unhappy about it, it cannot be changed. For example, Prince Jing's heir and He Zongwei are both around thirty years old, yet they are still single and not thinking about marriage.

"Speaking of my girl..." Grand Secretary Hu suddenly smiled and said, "Anzhi, I heard that you have taken Miss Wang from Grand Commandant Wang's family as a student. In that case, would you mind adding my girl as well?"

Fan Xian was stunned, and then he realized that he had taken Wang Tong'er as a female student, and this matter had become a reality after the dispute with the Emperor in the Imperial Study. At that time, he was still complacent, using retreat as advance, letting the Emperor handle the matter of taking the First Prince as a concubine entirely by himself, but now listening to Grand Secretary Hu's words, he realized that he had caused another problem.

He waved his hands repeatedly and said, "What are you saying? Grand Secretary, you are learned and talented, and your daughter is also intelligent and lovely. Why would she need a good-for-nothing like me to do anything?"

Seeing him refuse so readily, Grand Secretary Hu smiled, thinking that if you are a good-for-nothing, then who in the world isn't? He couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

All the civil and military officials in the court knew that Lord Fan was an absolute expert as a teacher, turning the naughty Third Prince into the gentle and refined gentleman he is today, and turning Miss Ye, who used to gallop wildly through Kyoto, into a gentle princess. He has the name of a poet in literature, and the realm of a ninth-rank warrior in martial arts. Even Grand Secretary Hu would be very willing to send his daughter to his residence - of course, not to be a concubine, but just as a female student.

Fan Xian turned the topic back to the previous sentence, mocking and said, "Grand Secretary is unwilling to marry his daughter to He Zongwei, naturally because he knows that his heart is not righteous. Such a villain, why should I pretend to be friendly with him?"

Grand Secretary Hu sighed helplessly, thinking that in today's court, only Fan Xian would be so ruthlessly critical of He Zongwei, but he still couldn't understand why Fan Xian looked down on He Zongwei so much. Speaking of those things back then, weren't they actually promoted by the Emperor?

This matter was ultimately unclear, and Fan Xian's fear and disgust for He Zongwei came from many aspects. At this time, it was still early, and there was nothing to do, so Fan Xian chatted with Grand Secretary Hu.

Since Shu Wu retired, Fan Xian was somewhat surprised to find that Grand Secretary Hu, like Old Man Shu, was a very interesting person, with no trace of pedantry. In addition, during the Kyoto rebellion, Fan Xian received great kindness from the two Grand Secretaries Shu and Hu. The old and the young often interacted in official matters, got along extremely well, and their relationship became even closer.

Fan Xian and the two of them gathered together and talked about Grand Secretary Hu's New Culture Movement in those years. Although this matter ultimately came to nothing, it was Grand Secretary Hu's most proud achievement in his life, even more proud than entering the Ministry of Personnel. And Fan Xian was also a disciple of the May Fourth Movement, speaking extremely happily, and his laughter even penetrated the silence under the palace walls.

At this time, in the darkness under the palace gate, countless red lanterns were actually looking up at this place. The conversation between the head scholar of the Ministry of Personnel and the Young Duke was something that many people wanted to participate in, but they knew that they did not have the qualifications. As for laughing loudly while waiting for the court assembly, only these two had the guts to do so.

After a long while, Fan Xian straightened up, suddenly feeling that the atmosphere around him was a bit strange. His brows furrowed slightly, and he sighed.

Grand Secretary Hu glanced at him, knowing that he had understood something, and smiled slightly.

Fan Xian never knew that the Emperor had considered letting him succeed to the throne for a moment after the rebellion was quelled, although the Emperor had resolutely erased this thought from his mind afterward.

But he was clear about the Emperor's initial arrangement for the future court affairs of Qing Kingdom: use He Zongwei's Censorate to balance the power of the Supervisory Council, and then have the Ministry of Personnel, led by Grand Secretary Hu, preside over the top to stabilize the court.

Such an arrangement could ensure the stability of the Qing Kingdom's court for twenty years.

It was just that Fan Xian's power was now too great, and he was also extremely close to Grand Secretary Hu, so the Emperor's arrangement was somewhat difficult to implement, and he had to promote He Zongwei into the Ministry of Personnel.

"His Majesty's meaning is very clear." Grand Secretary Hu said gently, "He doesn't want the officials below to be at odds like fire and water. Initially, Lord He came to pay his respects, also intending to ease things up a bit. Anzhi, you are a smart person, you should know what to do."

Fan Xian fell silent, his handsome face appearing extremely calm under the light of the lantern. A year and a half ago, he had kicked open the gate of the Censorate and scolded more than a dozen censors below He Zongwei until they were half-dead. People only said that Lord Fan was extremely arrogant, but who knew that he himself was also scolded by the Emperor in the Imperial Study afterward until his face was ashen.

This matter proved the Emperor's maintenance of the Censorate, and the price he was willing to pay to maintain this balance. So from that day on, Fan Xian knew what he should do, and he had been doing it this way all along. As long as He Zongwei was not too excessive, he would not use harsh measures. Apart from establishing the Offices of Law Enforcement to make the Censorate extremely uncomfortable, he had not used any truly powerful methods.

But all of this had to be based on the premise that Fan Xian could endure it. If He Zongwei did something he could not endure, given his blood relationship with the Emperor, given his current true strength, what would happen even if he really killed a character like He Zongwei with one stroke? Would the Emperor be willing to let his illegitimate son pay with his life for an official?

Grand Secretary Hu looked at the darkness under the palace gate and sighed quietly, feeling worried for He Zongwei in his heart. He immediately thought of the Emperor's meaning the night before, and couldn't help but frown. According to common sense, although He Zongwei couldn't be considered a pure and good person, the old things in the past were all the Emperor's will. On closer inspection, this Lord He was actually not bad - if Lord Fan was willing, the Emperor's suggestion could really quell the disputes between the two councils.

All of this depended on whether Fan Xian was willing. Grand Secretary Hu turned his head and gave Fan Xian a deep look.

At this time, Fan Xian was thinking whether Grand Secretary Hu's words were the Emperor's way of conveying a message, or the attitude of the Ministry of Personnel. Then he frowned and thought that although He Zongwei was usually very respectful to him, he had not been as docile and peaceful as he was today, without any temper at all.

All of this was actually due to the excessive power in Fan Xian's hands. An illegitimate son of the royal family, with the Supervisory Council entirely in his hands, and the Internal Treasury inseparable from him, such power was too exaggerated. Fan Xian thought of the Emperor's thoughts and couldn't help but angrily think to himself, "Is it also a sin to have good character and family background?"

——————————————————

After the grand court assembly ended, another routine small meeting was held. Finally, the Emperor, the First Prince, the Third Prince, and Fan Xian held an even smaller-scale private family meeting. Fan Xian walked out of the towering imperial city, with a warm smile on his face, and said apologetically to the butler of the Hu residence who was waiting for him, saying that there was a sudden emergency in the residence today, and the drinking would have to be postponed.

Sitting in the carriage back to the residence, Teng Zijing found that the young master's mood seemed to be really good today. His eyes were smiling all the time, and the corners of his lips were always curved, like the moon. Thinking of the things that his wife had been urging him to do recently, he asked cautiously, "Young Master..."

Fan Xian turned his head and glanced at him, listening to his most loyal servant speaking softly. It took him a while to understand that the Teng family was also somewhat itching to see that some of the tenants in the residence were relying on the Fan family's prestige to go out and become minor officials.

Nowadays, all the chores in the Fan residence were basically handled by Teng Zijing and his wife. He had expected this idea. He looked at Teng Zijing and said with a smile, "Today is the ninth year of Qingli. Since it's already five years late, it's not very interesting for you to go out again."

Teng Zijing did not understand the young master's profound words, and smiled awkwardly before stopping speaking.

Returning to the front of the residence, Fan Xian lifted his robe and entered with the wind, still maintaining a gentle and kind smile on his face. All the servants and maids were happy to see this scene. Fan Xian was good at winning people's hearts, and besides, everyone in the residence was proud of him. Seeing the young master happy, these servants naturally became happy too.

Butler San followed Teng Zijing, walking towards the garden with Fan Xian, and said softly, "That Miss Wang is here, saying that she wants to formally become a disciple. Judging by the young master's mood, he should have agreed. What should we prepare?"

Teng Zijing didn't even turn his face, and smiled as deeply as Fan Xian, saying, "Miss Wang... is in for a terrible day."

"Why?" Butler San asked in surprise.

Teng Zijing said with a dark face, "The young master is in a very bad mood today... unprecedentedly bad."

……

……

As expected, he was indeed a smart man who had seen Fan Xian's brilliant future in Danzhou. As expected, he was a trusted aide who had followed Fan Xian for the longest time. The development of the situation was as Teng Zijing had expected. Not long after Fan Xian walked into the study with a smile, that arrogant Miss Wang ran out of the study crying.

Wang Tong'er cried and cursed at the same time, looking extremely miserable. No one knew what heinous things Fan Xian had done to her. The young lady seemed to feel that the study was not a place for people to stay, and walked all the way covering her face, tears flying in the air.

It was indeed a scene of tears forming poetry, still in the pear blossom style.

Behind her, General Shi Fei, the Kyoto garrison commander who had made a special trip today, also walked out of the study angrily and walked towards the outside of the residence, muttering to himself, seemingly not expecting that Fan Xian would not even give him face.

Teng Zijing looked at the dumbfounded Butler San and said, "Don't ask me, I don't know what happened in the palace."

The women of the Fan residence, having received the news, hurried to the study. Along the way, they learned that Fan Xian had taught that Wang Tong'er girl a good lesson in the study, and even wanted to use a whip in the end.

Everyone was shocked, thinking that this time, they had offended the Yanjing faction of the military a lot. Especially a big shot like the Kyoto garrison commander, who had come in person for Wang Tong'er's entry into the Wang residence, had given Fan Xian enough face. Who would have thought that Fan Xian would not leave the other party with any face at all?

The smile on Fan Xian's face revealed a hint of strangeness. He looked at Wan'er, Sisi, and Princess Roujia in the study and said, "Nothing happened. This was agreed upon in advance. To enter my door, you have to take two whips to offset the sins of the past."

Lin Wan'er gasped, thinking that her husband had lost his mind today. The so-called repayment of the whip was just a joke, how could it become real?

Fan Xian gathered his smile and said softly, "It's not a joke. Moral principles and ethics, these things always need to be respected."

"But you can't hit her in front of General Shi." Lin Wan'er looked at him helplessly, having already cleverly guessed that something must have happened in the palace that made Fan Xian vent his anger on Wang Tong'er.

And in the world today, the only one who could make Fan Xian angry and unable to vent it outside the residence was that one person.

"These words were all told to me by your good uncle."

Lin Wan'er was annoyed and said, "That's your own father."

The couple was naturally talking about the Emperor. The problem was that although the world knew that Fan Xian was the Emperor's illegitimate son, no one dared to say this fact. The couple could say it very smoothly in bed, but there were other people in the study at this time.

Especially Princess Roujia, who looked embarrassed and didn't know how to respond.

Lin Wan'er sighed, knowing that she had misspoke, and stepped forward to say softly, "What exactly did His Majesty say that made you so angry?"

Fan Xian sat down with a headache, shook his head, and smiled wryly, "His Majesty wants to arrange a marriage for Ruoruo."

Roujia's eyes rolled, and she said with a slight joy, "That's a good thing."

Fan Xian glanced at her and said, "Did you think this time it would still be arranged for your brother?" His face sank and said, "His Majesty asked me for my opinion privately today. It seems that he wants to arrange for Ruoruo to marry He Zongwei."

As soon as these words came out, the whole room was shocked, silent, and tense - tightly tense.

……

……

Lin Wan'er's heart was beating extremely fast, fearing what actions Fan Xian would take in his anger. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she preemptively said, "How can this be allowed?"

These words were not just stroking Fan Xian's fur. Influenced by Fan Xian, everyone in the Fan residence looked down on He Zongwei, especially Lin Wan'er. On the one hand, she was thinking about the downfall of her old father in Wuzhou, and on the other hand, she learned from Fan Xian that He Zongwei had once had some thoughts about Ruoruo back then.

In fact, He Zongwei was a talented scholar in Kyoto back then, and it was not wrong for a young man to admire a young woman like Ruoruo. However, Fan Xian just felt extremely disgusted. After the Imperial Study meeting today, the Emperor expressed his intention to arrange a marriage, and Fan Xian was immediately furious. He had a big fight with the Emperor, but in the end, he was suppressed by the Emperor with the status of a ruler and minister, and the righteousness of a father and son.

"He Zongwei this person... his character is not very good." Roujia certainly hoped that Fan Ruoruo could become her sister-in-law, and no matter from which point of view, she had to fight for her brother Hongcheng.

Fan Xian listened to Roujia's soft-spoken, blushing criticism, and couldn't help but laugh out loud, feeling much better.

"His Majesty would not think that Lord He's character is bad." Fan Xian's face calmed down and said, "In His Majesty's eyes, He Zongwei is a talented person, and now he is also a high-ranking official with a noble title, and he is absolutely loyal to him, so of course he is worthy of Ruoruo."

In fact, if one put aside biased views, many people would think that Lord He and Fan Ruoruo were a match made in heaven, because the so-called character and official character, everyone actually knew clearly that He Zongwei was just doing things for the Emperor, and was truly a great loyal minister.

It's just that there was one thing Fan Xian still couldn't understand. When thinking about the matter of the Grand Prince taking a concubine in Qingzhou, he had once thought that the Emperor trusted and doted on him enough now, and knew that he had spared no effort to label Hongcheng as a generation of lechers for Ruoruo's marriage, so he should not forcefully arrange a marriage to provoke him - but now His Majesty would actually intend to arrange Ruoruo's marriage to He Zongwei, what was he thinking?

"Since His Majesty is asking you privately, then he knows that you will definitely object, it's just a test." Lin Wan'er immediately calmed down and began to analyze all of this, "You shouldn't have confronted His Majesty head-on, you don't know His Majesty's temperament, the more fiercely you object, the more he will do it."

"I'm just angry that His Majesty would be so confused to such an extent. Does he think that by forcing this marriage, there will be peace and harmony in the court?" Fan Xian woke up from his contemplation, a light flashed in his mind, and he seemed to vaguely grasp something.

His eyes narrowed slightly, a cold light flashed in his pupils, and his voice was suppressed into a cold line, "I don't care about He Zongwei. If he really dares to come to propose marriage, I will chop him down with one stroke."

……

……

(A thousand votes overnight turned into poetry, I can't help but want to stand on the shore and sigh, you are really extremely coquettish. Shamelessly ask for monthly tickets to be used as wine in the pot, to be drunk, coquettish to the end.

Sincerely ask for votes again, thank you very much, bow silently,)