353-356
Chapter 353: Some Things Can Be Done But Not Said
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
By mid-March, spring had long since swept across the world. Regardless of whether it was Shangjing in the North or Jingdou in the South, they were all enveloped by a flourishing scene. In Jiangnan, the crystal-clear waters undulated, the green mountains shadowed each other, and the willows along the river pushed out their tender new branches. They all fully embodied the word "vitality."
The palace treasury was southwest of Jiangnan Road, and it could not escape the blessings of nature. In only a few days, up and down the river and outside of the workshops, shoots of green grass began to slowly grow. Light pink flowers adorned the slightly dry and dusty yamen and workshop. It greatly lessened the harsh and cold atmosphere.
Amidst the peace and harmony, officials going to the yamen to receive their assignments had faces full of smiles and raised their hands in greeting. Now that the bloody rains had passed, the imperial envoy was going back to Suzhou to host the spring opening bidding. The mood of officials was relaxed.
Opening the court to discuss matters, Fan Xian sat in the center seat and spoke briefly about arrangements for the coming days. However, there were no trusted aides at his and much of what he said was quite standard. For example, other than reviewing the articles of the Qing law in making arrangements for various workshops, the special regulations the court had revised for the palace treasury couldn't be violated.
No matter whether it was wages or officials' salaries, they had to be passed down promptly. The day-to-day maintenance of law and order and defensive work also needed to be done more vigilantly. The officials agreed to whatever the imperial envoy said. With the vision of five headless bodies from before, no one was stupid enough to clash with him face to face.
Fan Xian arranged for Su Wenmao to remain behind, except he did not have a position in the transport company. Fan Xian temporarily shifted his jurisdiction into the Fourth Bureau. Together with Dan Da, they led the Overwatch Council spies in the palace treasury.
The officials knew that after Fan Xian finished hosting the spring opening of the palace treasury in Suzhou, he would make his home in Hangzhou. This was a practice established many years ago so the transport company manager did not live in the palace treasury. Thus, Su Wenmao who remained in the palace treasury, essentially became the representative of the imperial envoy. The officials dared not be irreverent, so they quickly stood and greeted Su Wenmao.
As the greetings were exchanged, Fan Xian furrowed his brows. He quietly said to Deputy Ma Jie beside him, "The matter we talked about last night; I am about to do it."
This was a superfluous show of respect toward the deputy, however, Ma Jie's face looked pained as he shook his head.
Sitting on Fan Xian's right hand, a strange light flashed through General Ue's eyes. He didn't know what the imperial envoy was up to. He hadn't been informed him, but his questions were quickly answered.
Smiling insincerely, Su Wenmao walked to the front of the hall. He raised his hands in greeting. "Today, we have made certain acts undertaken by some palace treasury officials illegal…those who mobilized treasurers to cause trouble and rocked the foundations of the palace treasury. Apologies to all for the offence."
Following the apology, seven or eight Overwatch Officials came in from the side of the yamen and openly and rudely asked a few of the seated officials to leave their seats, then rudely removed their official's hat.
These officials became angry. As they refused, they berated, "You are too daring!"
The other officials who it wasn't aimed at relaxed a little, but they knew the methods of the Overwatch Council. In front of the Overwatch Council, the Qing Court civil ministers were in a natural alliance. They quickly stood up and asked Fan Xian, "Sir, what is this for?"
In reality, none of them were stupid; they knew. The officials who had their official's hat removed by order of Fan Xian were all trusted aides the Eldest Princess had planted in the palace treasury. The imperial envoy's action was nothing more than uprooting the previous person and replanting his own seedlings. This still concerned the officials. To aggressively take people in the yamen left the officials nowhere to hang their face. It was understandable they had to argue a bit with Fan Xian.
Fan Xian glanced at the officials and said warmly, "There is no need to be suspicious, and there is no need to ask for mercy. I will definitely be taking down these officials."
To his right sat General Ye, who had an unpleasant expression. He glanced at Deputy Ma Jie beside him and saw that although he was hiding the awkwardness with difficulty, there was no expression of surprise in his eyes. He had probably been notified by Fan Xian last night. General Ye's mood became gloomy. He said in a muffled voice, "Sir, these officials had worked the transport company for a long time and dedicated themselves selflessly to public duties. To just take them like this, perhaps…it will be difficult to explain."
Fan Xian glanced at him, and then smiled and said, "Dedicated themselves selflessly to public duties? I'm afraid that likely is not the case."
General Ye's expression was slightly heavy. "Even if they have occasionally acted inappropriately, you gave out the three-day order and these men followed and done as ordered. You said clearly that no one would be punished, so they should not be punished."
Fan Xian lowered his head. He knew why General Ye and the other officials had jumped out to oppose him today. The reason was actually quite simple. When he suppressed the strike, the general knew that he could not hold back his methods and the hat he used to suppress him was sufficiently large. The court could not afford to have the palace treasury not working for a day. However, taking down the officials today touched on a sensitive line. They were scared that the dual positioned Overwatch Council commissioner and imperial envoy would use this as an excuse to weave a large net and overturn the entire transport company.
For General Ye, his family had already been forced heavily. Adding to the fact was Ye Ling'er's relationship to the Second Prince, so they were already faint signs of them leaning that way. Although General Ye had never received any secret messages from the Ye family in Dingzhou, he knew that Fan Xian was capturing people today to dig out the Eldest Princess' trusted aides in the palace treasury. He instinctively wanted to keep something for the Eldest Princess. In case Fan Xian expanded his power in the palace treasury, General Ye was worried that his future would not be a smooth one.
Fan Xian did not explain anything. He simply took out a scroll from his robes and handed it to General Ye.
General Ye was surprised and accepted the scroll. He spread it open. His expression gradually darkened as he read it. On the scroll was listed all the shameful and illegal wrongdoings of the officials being captured. The crimes were not focused on the so-called bribery matter, rather they zeroed in on the inglorious roles these officials played on the jianghu. All of the evidence, even the confessions of the traitorous treasurers, were clear. It listed which official spoke at which time to which treasurers and what was said. The places and names were all written clearly. The strike description was extremely accurate, and it was truly a superior move by the Overwatch Council.
Looking at the lines of evidence, the general began to develop a chill in his heart. This imperial envoy had only been in the palace treasury a few days, so how could he have investigated all of the secrets of the transport company so clearly? Furthermore, how could the people of the Overwatch Council know so clearly the conversations between Xinyang's trusted aides and the treasurers? Was it to say that there were Overwatch Council spies within the palace treasury itself? Thinking of this, General Ye remembered the rumors of the Overwatch Council terrors—spies described as night vipers who found their way in through any crevasse. Involuntarily he began to worry about himself and his own manor. Would there be Overwatch Council spies in there?
As a general in charge of the palace treasury defenses, he was not particularly afraid of the Overwatch Council. First of all, he was a Third-level official, and the Overwatch Council did not have the power to investigate him without applying for an edict. Second, as a member of the military, he was not part of any faction. Looking at the power of the Qing Kingdom army, the Overwatch Council had to give him some face. In terms of the jianghu, General Ye speculated that his performance was decent. Today truly involved the matter of the Eldest Princess' face as well as the matter of the princes in Jingdou. He resisted the unease in his heart and stood up. He saluted Fan Xian and said sincerely, "Sir, this…"
After all, he had the identity of a leader and wasn't sure how to organize the words to ask for mercy. Fan Xian smiled and look at him. He shook his head and said, "There is no need to ask for mercy."
General Ye was terrified that Dingzhou had not sent any messages. He did not know which side to stand on, thus he sunk himself into a position between a rock and a hard place. However, Fan Xian moved first, so he gritted his teeth and gathered up his courage to speak. "But Sir, these people are all officials of the transport company. Are you taking them in as the manager of the transport company or as the commissioner of the Overwatch Council?"
He lowered his voice and said, "Sir, even as an imperial envoy and all the evidence is present, if the case is to be tried, the court still needs a few days to open. This…the palace treasury is about to open."
Fan Xian glanced at him and was slightly surprised by his daring. He thought about it and understood. If he wanted to take in these officials, the identity under which he did so was important. If he used the identity of the Overwatch Council commissioner to investigate the case, then it could incite discussions in court once it got back to Jingdou. The court elders would likely think he was targeting the Eldest Princess and so on. If he used the manager of the transport company identity or that of the imperial envoy, he didn't have the time to drag it out.
But, who was Fan Xian? Why would he care about the discussions in Jingdou? He smiled and said, "General Ye, don't worry too much. I have always believed in the Qing law and would not do things carelessly. Today, I am taking in this officials. For the sake of being fair, I will not try these officials myself."
General Ye was startled and thought\: As long as it is not you personally trying the case, no matter who tries will always look at which way Jingdou leans. Having received Fan Xian's promise, he now had an explanation for Jingdou, so he mumbled and retreated. He was only curious about why Fan Xian was not trying the case personally. Was he going to shut these officials in the palace treasury? They couldn't always be kept shut away. The court would eventually send out an inquiry.
"I will bring them with me," Fan Xian said. "The palace treasury also belongs to the court, although they rarely interact with court officials, by the regulations they are governed by Jiangnan Road."
He gazed at the uneasy faces of the officials and said comfortingly, "I know what you are all worried about. Please be assured, I am not one to hold a grudge and seek revenge. Just as I said to General Ye earlier, for the purpose of being fair, I will not personally try these people, instead I will hand them over to the Suzhou governor."
He smiled slightly. "With Sir Xue trying the case, I trust that you will no longer have any suspicions." He looked at the trusted aides of the Eldest Princess still standing opposite the Overwatch Council officials. A thread of anger flashed by the corner of his mouth. "When did capturing people become a game of eagle catching chicks?"
Su Wenmao's face flushed slightly as he glared viciously at his subordinates. The Overwatch Council official felt shame in their hearts. They went forward. A few circle kicks later, they had palace treasury officials who cried their grievances to the heavens and would not submit kneeling on the ground, so they tied them up securely.
The officials in the hall couldn't resist shaking their heads. They had wanted to urge the imperial envoy to leave some face for the officials, but remembering Fan Xian's earlier warmth then graveness, they were frozen by his warm coolness and temperamental attitude. They didn't dare ask for mercy. As a subordinate, they were not afraid of a strict superior but of a temperamental one who could randomly pull out the knife again.
Thus ended Fan Xian's last court opening in the palace treasury. After the hall was dismissed, he kept Deputy Ma Jie back. The two of them walked in the back garden of the manor. On one hand was the air of the approaching spring, on the other they talked about matters more reminiscent of an austere autumn.
"Don't blame me for striking so hard," Fan Xian said as he rubbed the slightly dry corners of his eyes. "Since they dared to meddle when I just assumed my post, don't blame me for taking off their official's hats."
Ma Jie gave a bitter smile. Although in name he was Fan Xian's deputy, and their levels appeared similar, he knew that in reality the young master in front of him held power that was shocking and even more terrifying than that of the princes. When Fan Xian discussed cleaning out the Eldest Princess' trusted aides, although he expressed a little worry and tried to absolve them a little, he did disagree to Fan Xian's face.
Fan Xian once again asked him, alone, to stay behind and had said such honest words to him. Ma Jie knew that the other party was preparing to nurture him as his trusted aide. He was secretly happy, but also a little worried. After all, no one knew who would win between this young master and the Jingdou elders.
The court officials were very sensitive about who the dragon chair would belong to. Although it seemed, at the moment, that it would be inherited by the Crown Prince, the Emperor's behavior the past two years had been overly strange. No one dared to believe it completely. If the Second Prince were to inherit…everyone knew Commissioner Fan and the Second Prince did not get along. If Ma Jie set his heart on following Fan Xian, he would certainly not have a good ending if the Second Prince inherited the throne.
This was what Ma Jie continuously had misgivings about. He was clear that although one needed to ingratiate oneself with all sides, on matters of vital importance, the most tabooed thing to do was to stand to the side as an opportunist. Today was the last day before Fan Xian left the palace treasury, and he was again talking with him. It was because Fan Xian wanted him to make his stance clear.
Ma Jie had thought about it all night last night and was not panicked. Calmly he said, "What Sir is discussing is what I was going to ask. I will immediately write two documents concerning this matter. One will be delivered down to the palace secretary, and one will be sent by a fast horse to the Governor's manor in Suzhou. Please…be reassured."
Hearing these words, Fan Xian knew that Ma Jie understood that he had bound himself to Fan Xian. The fact that he did not hesitate to send out these two documents to help Fan Xian shoulder the criticisms he might receive, and, furthermore, he was using this opportunity to make clear his stance to others in the officialdom…he had made up his mind. He looked at Ma Jie warmly and said, "Sir Ma has been considerate."
Ma Jie smiled slightly and replied, "As the deputy of the palace treasury, I should have investigated by subordinates. To let them cause such trouble this time is already an oversight on my part."
Fan Xian smiled. He hesitated briefly and then asked, "I wonder if you think my solution today was appropriate?"
Ma Jie thought about it for a bit then respectfully replied, "Sir has planned far ahead, and it is a good plan. Officials cannot be compared to treasurers; they cannot be casually killed or punished. If the case was tried at the transport company court, it would, for one, drag out the time too long, and, second, easily attract discussion by others. You are taking these criminal officials to Suzhou tomorrow and handing them to the governor to try. The governor is a pillar of the country; his official reputation is powerful, and he is well admired. He is sure to be able to try the case clearly on behalf of the court and give the Emperor an excellent explanation."
Fan Xian quietly gave his approval in his heart. This deputy had indeed guessed his intentions perfectly. Fan Xian was going to clean out Xinyang's trusted aides from the palace treasury. Although the matter on the jianghu this time had given him a good excuse, if he did everything himself, it would not be appropriate. When it involved the Eldest Princess, the princess, and Palace nobility, throwing this hot potato to a super official was a clever idea. The Jiangnan Governor already had jurisdiction over this matter. Plus, although Xue Qing would curse him a little in secret, as the border region minister, his position was not the same. He would not be afraid of the Eldest Princess far away in Jingdou, rather he would be more concerned with Fan Xian who was deep in Jiangnan territory. Weighing the two sides, Xue Qing should be clear on what to do.
"Before I came, Shao'an had mentioned to me a cousin who was talented at governance. Through our interactions these days, it is clear that Shao'an had not been boasting." Fan Xian smiled and changed the topic. He began to use Ren Shao'an again, a middle-man, to pull them closer together.
Ma Jie smiled and said, "Two years ago you entered the capital and became friends with Shao'an on sight. When Shao'an sent letters, he would often mention your talents and glory, and that you were sure to be an official who could rectify the world."
The manager and deputy talked happily, each praising and currying favor with the other. They also verbally agreed to regulations for the palace treasury. After this, they both raised their hands in a salute and left.
Seeing him to the door of the garden, Fan Xian watched as Ma Jie slightly bent in a bow. Fan Xian blinked. I seemed there were indeed plenty of incredible people in the court. Unfortunately they lacked much of an Emperor's favor from a previous generation, so they did not have many opportunities to demonstrate it. Now that today's matter was set, the palace treasury no longer had major problems. He felt himself relax. The job of stuffing his own trusted aides into the transport company would gradually expand in the middle of the year. Having obtained Ma Jie's help, this matter would go along smoothly.
Fan Xian was only a bit confused as to exactly what made Ma Jie choose him rather than a legitimate prince. This certainly was not something his close relationship with Ren Shao'an of the Taichang Temple could sway.
In reality, the reason Ma Jie capitulated was simple: it was because of the relationship between the Third Prince and Fan Xian that had him putting down a huge bet concerning his future road as an official and the prosperity and decline of his family. He put all his silver all on the small odds.
…
…
Fan Xian appeared to be abnormally busy. Seventh Ye was the leader of the four shopkeepers who had come with Fan Xian south this time, and he was already the director of the Qingyu Hall. These years he had been helping the Fan manor accumulate wealth. He got along well with Fan Sizhe and was familiar with Fan Xian. Thus some of the things Fan Xian did not dare to ask the other shopkeepers, in front of him, Fan Xian was able to speak straightforwardly.
One elder and one youth stood closely together and talked in secret. It was nothing more than problems concerning future management and production of the palace treasury. Fan Xian knew that he was a laymen when it came to production management, chemistry, and physics, so he had delegated powers relating to these down to Seventh Ye. There was not much good to say about him, but he did use people without suspicion. He did so now in the palace treasury and in the past in Jingdou. If it involved the making of a covert plot, it was all up to young master Yan in the Fourth Bureau to handle. Fan Xian absolutely trusted the other party's professional ability and would not idiotically make suggestions and order things about.
After confirming these matters, Fan Xian felt reassured. Back in the day, the Ye family was successful. Now under the control of the shopkeepers, they would certainly be able to gradually turn around the problems around production quality and quantity that arose from the palace treasury being poorly operated. As long as they could make more silver, it would be a preliminary justification for the Emperor. This was a matter Fan Xian was particularly interested.
"The problem of delayed and owed wages cannot happen again." Fan Xian furrowed his brows and sighed. "You will have to keep an eye on the standard quality of the goods."
Seventh Ye glanced at him and was confused as to why the commissioner always brought up the matter of the wages. He could not figure out the reason. As the spring sunlight filled the garden, the old shopkeeper looked at Fan Xian's handsome appearance and became a little absent-minded. Although the young master did not look much like the mistress, they were both the most elegant of people. Now that the young master had finally gotten hold of the Ye property, even if he only managed it, the old shopkeeper still felt a difficult-to-contain sorrow and couldn't stop sighing in his heart—although he hid it well from his face. He had to hide it because the nearly 20 years of his life he had been under house arrest in Jingdou had made it clear to these old shopkeepers that some things could only be done or said. If any signs were revealed, they would bring unnecessary trouble for the young master.
"I had originally planned to invite you to go to Northern Qi to help second brother…" Fan Xian had not noticed the thoughts in Seventh Ye's heart. "I didn't expect those eunuchs to be following the entire time. The Palace is watching closely, so I could only have you come to the palace treasury."
Seventh Ye smiled slightly and said, "For your sake, the eunuchs have treated us very warmly up to now. The Second young master is a natural merchant, so there is no need for you to worry. As for the palace treasury…you should know, I very much wanted to come and have a look."
Fan Xian sank into silence and said after a moment, "Su Wenmao is here. If you elders are uncomfortable or if anyone dares to raise their eyebrows at you, just speak to him. I have left instructions. Since you have left the capital, there is no need for you to suffer other's sullen anger."
Seventh Ye felt moved but did not say anything.
A gust of wind blew by. The tender green leaves on the trees in the garden had not yet grown securely and was blown off by the wind. Fan Xian made a soft sound and smoothly scooped it into his hand. Looking at the place of the new break, his brows furrowed for a long time.
After a long while, he quietly and faintly asked, "Can the crafts…be written down?"
Seventh Ye's body trembled slightly. A moment later he shook his head. "It is an inflexible rule. It cannot be formed into words, only passed on verbally."
Fan Xian said, "The blueprints cannot be verbally passed down."
Seventh Ye shook his head. "Before it was guarded closely, now we don't even know where they are anymore."
Fan Xian thought about it for a while and then a faint smile floated onto his face. "In a few months, come to Hangzhou to tell me about it. My memory is very good."
Chapter 354: Road Of Spring
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The four-wheeled carriage rolled across the newly grown grass on the official road. When it hit against the gaps in the rocks, it made a squeaking noise that harmonized with the sounds from the reed between the pivots of the carriage. It was as cheerful as if it were singing.
The road out of the palace treasury was one filled with joyful scenes. Little birds swept at startling speeds through the woods near the rice paddies in the distance, green seedlings shyly showed off their long figures, and the wild grass in the rice paddies beside them did not disdain to look at them. There was a continuous line of carriages on the road and goods ships went to and fro along the river taking the goods of the palace treasury out through various routes to sell to all. It was a lively scene.
Soldiers cleared the way for a group of carriages, so they passed easily through the innermost inspection lane. Originally, the goods carriage on the official road did not dare fight for road space with the group of carriages and unconsciously slowed down, however someone in the group of carriages seemed to have noticed that there were too many goods leaving the palace treasury today and that was the reason the traffic was so busy. The person then gave an order for their group of carriages to stop at a patch of grass beside the road and unexpectedly allowed the goods carriages to pass through first.
In the second to last carriage were the pitiful palace treasury transport company officials who had been stripped of their official's hats and robes. These officials were the Eldest Princess' trusted aides who had been put into the palace treasury. Although they had expected their lives to be more difficult once Commissioner Fan took over, they had not expected Fan Xian to not leave any face for the officials or his mother-in-law. He straightforwardly had them captured for matters related to the jianghu. Only now did the officials realize they had fallen into Fan Xian's trap. They felt panicked.
However, Fan Xian did not immediately open the court and try the case. These officials had friends and family. They found out last night in prison that Fan Xian was going to take them to Suzhou to have the governor of Jiangnan Road, Xue Qing, personally hear their case. Hearing this news, the officials' mood became a little bit better. As long as they were not facing the tiger's bench and pepper spray of the Overwatch Council, how could this case be so easily decided? Even if the Overwatch Council held the confessions of the traitorous treasurers and they denied all charges in Suzhou, Sir Xue Qing would have to give the Eldest Princess some face. As long as they could drag it out until pressure from Jingdou arrived, Fan Xian would not have the time for them and would probably pay no more attention to them.
"Why are you having Xue Qing try the case?" Haitang half leaned on the side of the window and slightly furrowed her brows.
Fan Xian lowered his head and said, "I am not suitable for doing this."
Haitang hmm'ed slightly and didn't continue to speak. Ever since the day of the strike, the atmosphere between the two of them had become a little strange. The trust they had in each other seemed to have weakened. They treated each other with respect, but there was now distance between them. After the incident, Haitang thought it over and understood something. She knew that her request to explore that day had indeed put Fan Xian in a difficult position, however, in the following days Fan Xian was always purposely lighthearted and she didn't find a good time to speak up and explain. After all, no matter what was said, as the female sage of Northern Qi, Haitang's position was special. Fan Xian's pride also triggered her pride.
Thus, the two of them maintained this awkward question and answer.
"I want to confirm one more time, has the silver arrived in the account?" Fan Xian furrowed his brows and asked.
A faint smile rose to Haitang's face as if mocking Fan Xian's concern for his personal loss and gains. She quietly replied, "I already told you last time in Suzhou, why are you so worried? Perhaps you don't trust me anymore?"
Fan Xian suddenly felt that the atmosphere in the car was somewhat oppressive. He said some words to Sisi beside him in a low voice and then raised the curtain to get off the carriage.
Sisi slightly tilted her head and looked at Haitang with curiosity. She didn't know how this girl, whose name rang out everywhere under heaven, had offended the young master. She saw clearly these few days that although the young master and Haitang did not have any romantic relations, their initial behavior was that of old friends who had known each other for years. They were a bit strange recently.
Haitang was confused by Sisi's gaze and suddenly smiled."What are you looking at?"
Sisi replied grumpily, "Is it only you who can look at me, but I can't look at you?"
Haitang smiled and shook her head. Out of habit, she tucked her hands into her waist and to find it empty. Recently she had been wearing the clothes of a serving girl rather than the flowery jacket she was used to. There were not two big pockets in front.
She gazed at Sisi and teased, "I'm looking at you to see what a girl that Fan Xian likes looks like."
This was an honest reply. Haitang never understood how Fan Xian could always stay calm in front of Si Lili and purposely maintained his distance, even though her friend was clearly the most beautiful girl in the world. Even after that one demented night, he did not have any lingering feelings for Lili. They had been in Jiangnan a dozens of days now and Fan Xian had not even asked her anything like how Lili had been doing recently.
Even if someone was heartless, they wouldn't be so cold toward a world-class beauty. They had one night of fate and the blessing to share a carriage with. Haitang had begun to suspect that Fan Xian might have some kind of unmentionable disease, like that of the Emperor.
However, Fan Xian had taken Sisi into his rooms. Haitang knew that Sisi was the girl in Fan Xian's room and felt it was a little strange. However, after watching these few days, she didn't see anything strange about Sisi. Her appearance was dignified and delicate, but far from Si Lili's charming and full figure.
When Sisi heard Haitang say "a girl Fan Xian likes," her face immediately blushed red. In a timid voice she replied, "How could the young master…like me?"
Haitang gave a pained smile and shook her head. "If he doesn't like you, why would he take you into his rooms? Although Fan Xian is a cold-blooded and ruthless man, I don't think he would act like this."
Sisi suddenly raised her face and revealed an expression that was both proud and confident. "You got it wrong. The young master is someone who attaches a lot of importance to emotions."
"Emotions?" Haitang tasted the word, remembering that Sisi had served Fan Xian from a young age. For a moment she furrowed her brows and felt suspicious. Was Fan Xian, this cold-blooded, ruthless, young and powerful official who calculated others for fun, truly someone who valued emotions?
She sighed. As the clothing did not have a big pockets, she regretfully tucked her hands into her sleeves and asked, "Sisi, why were you staring at me earlier?"
Sisi actually had conflicting emotions about Haitang, who had not left the young master's side these few days. After all, she was not the wife of the young master and was a person of Northern Qi, who they were enemies with. After she had interacted with her for some time, Sisi, like many others who interacted with Haitang, easily began to like this warm-speaking girl whose actions were done openly and was straightforward in personality without being brutish. Haitang's identity was noble. Although her appearance was plain and she didn't speak much, she treated everyone with sincerity. No matter their identity, she would always view them as equals, for example, Sisi who was still a serving girl. On this point alone she had far surpassed many others. It was a respect and equality from her bones.
Hearing Haitang's question, Sisi couldn't help covering her lips as she smiled and said, "The same reason as you. I also wanted to see what a girl that Fan Xian likes looks like."
The carriage became silent. Haitang looked at Sisi without her big and bright eyes like she was watching a small cute animal. A moment later, with each of her hands tucked into the other's sleeve, she loosened her shoulders and said, "Will the Hu stop killing people?"
Western Hu and Norther Man have for hundreds of years brutally killed countless people of the middle plains and their ferocious names had spread in all directions. Sisi answered firmly, "Impossible!"
Haitang slowly blinked and gave a slight smile. "It's is the same logic."
…
…
A soft wind caressed Fan Xian's face telling him it was spring. He closed his eyes and welcomed the breeze against, breathing in the scent of life. He felt content. The wind rustled the green leaves in the trees beside the rice paddy in front of him. His eyes moved slightlysuddenly upon hearing a rustling sound coming from behind him.
It was not the wind brushing through the trees, sweeping on the street, throwing of a dice,pencil writing on paper, or silkworm eating mulberry leaves. It was her walking. The village girl was walking.
Fan Xian didn't open his eyes and slowly asked, "What is impossible?"
"Hm?" Haitang walked peacefully to his side. Her light reply was very much like how the blind man used to represent his questions to Chen Pingping.
The corner of Fan Xian's mouth turned up a little and said, "Why do you think it would be impossible for me to like you? According to news from the Council, the Northern Qi empress dowager is anxious about the matter of your marriage."
Hataing tucked both hands into her sleeves and stood beside him looking at the plowing ox in the rice paddy in front of them. She smiled a shallow smile. She knew her conversation with Sisi in the carriage had completely been heard by him. She opened her mouth and said, "Looks like you're zhenqi is recovering well."
Fan Xian opened his eyes and stared at a little bird that had landed on the back of the plow ox. He smiled and asked, "I asked…why is it impossible for me to like you?"
Haitang twisted her head to glance at him and found that he was asking this question seriously. Grudgingly she replied, "You are always say such pretty words, but it's not like you'll get anything out of it."
Fan Xian was silent, remembering his conversation with Seventh Ye yesterday. After he was reborn, there were many things that he could only do but not say. With Haitang, it seemed like he could only speak and not do? He couldn't help smiling and said, "I am just curious as to why you are so certain."
Haitang smiled. "When we were in Shangjing, you once said that as long as it is a man, or any male creature, they all think with their lower half. I speculate that I do not have the appearance to attract your intentions. After all, my identity is not the same. You are afraid of the consequences and will not be able to obtain any benefits, why would you like me?"
Haitang was a Northern Qi sage girl, and Fan Xian was a powerful official of the South Kingdom. The two could interact as friends, but if they truly wanted to become a couple, the Northern Qi dowager empress and the Emperor of the South Kingdom would certainly not allow this kind of thing to happen. On the contrary, it would damage their plots. However, Fan Xian was not thinking of these things and mockingly said, "The matter of liking has nothing to do with benefits. I have discovered that in less than half a year, your temperament is very different from before."
It seemed like Fan Xian had said this to Haitang before in Hangzhou.
Haitang was quiet for a moment before slowly opening her mouth to say, "The Tianyi Dao is about interactions between heaven and mankind—to consider the heavens above and to care for the tens of thousands of people below. I originally thought it was fine to allow these things to take their own paths, but after half a year of being involved in many plans that have been completely different to the heart, it is impossible to not be accustomed."
Fan Xian nodded his head slightly and said with approval, "These fighting and scheming things are indeed more suited for people like me to do. You should go back to being a village girl, a profession with a future." He thought of something and sighed, "Speaking of your temperament being not harmonious, the fault lies with me. If I hadn't pulled you into the situation in Shangjing, perhaps you would still be in your garden raising chickens and teasing donkeys."
He turned to Haitand and smiled slightly. "Does this count as me luring you on to the path of evil?"
"What evil path?" Haitang replied peacefully. "It is nothing more than demons of the heart. If there is desire, there will be loss. Although my desires appear grand, I will still have losses. This is the so-called way of nature."
Fan Xian asked, "Then you will continue to persist?"
"Of course," Haitang said in a gentle voice. "An Zhi, you once said something that resonated deeply in my heart."
"What did I say?"
"In this world, there are never good battles, and no bad peace." Haitang smiled slightly. "And so for this goal, I am willing to help you."
Fan Xian once again sank into silence, looking at the scene before him absentmindedly. He saw the bird, perhaps not finding any parasites on the yellow mud-caked back of the plowing ox, gave a cry and then flew away.
"You don't have to feel so inferior," Fan Xian twisted his head to gaze at Haitang and said in a serious voice. "I have always thought you looked very dignified."
Haitang was surprised and took a moment to react. "Please instruct me, is this praise or are you ridiculing me?"
Fan Xian smiled and shook his head. "It is only in response to what you said earlier about the reason I could never like you. I just had something to express on it."
Haitang finally couldn't resist rolling her eyes at him like a little girl. It was a rare occurrence.
Fan Xian felt the point between his eyebrows itch and extended a finger to rub it. He said gloomily, "Don't compare with me. If the women in this world are compared to me, there will be few beauties left. This is not my problem, this is my parents' problem."
No matter how self-confident Haitang was, she was still only a teenage girl. Unless they were blind, which girl did not care about their appearance? She became frustrated by Fan Xian's words that were comforting on the surface but teasing underneath. This bastard's mouth is indeed irritating. She gritted her teeth and said, "As a high-ranking official, it is better to not speak nonsense."
Fan Xian seemed to not have noticed her growing rage and explained seriously, "It is not nonsense. You said that it would be impossible for me to like you because you are not pretty enough, and I am explaining to you that, in my eyes, your appearance is truly not bad…"
Haitang was startled. Fan Xian's next words came quickly. "After all, there is precedent. That wife of mine, everyone in Jingdou says her appearance is just delicate and pretty, but in my eyes Wan'er is the most beautiful woman in the world…" He shook his head and sighed. "My idea of beauty is probably very different from most of the people in this world."
These words knocked Haitang over. She gave a muffled snort and removed her hands from her sleeves, shook her sleeves and left. This shaking of her sleeves caused bits of grass on the ground to fly around chaotically and a wind to blow for no reason. Her manner was imposing and threatening. This must have been a shake that held the supreme zhenqi of the Tianyi Dao.
Fan Xian stretched out a hand to cover his eyes and looked tragically at the patch of grass. He rocked back and forth as if he could fall at any moment and not get up again. Even like this, his joyful laugh rang out from among the sky full of grass.
The wind stopped, and the grass fell. Haitang stood silently to one side with a trace of ridicule on her face. She looked at him and mocked, "Now that you've humiliated me, have you let out your anger from the previous days?"
Fan Xian was slightly startled. He sighed and smiled slightly, "Duoduo, are you still angry?" This was the first time after the jianghu incident that he had called her "Duoduo."
Haitang paused for a moment then slowly turned and walked toward the carriage. The swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau in the carriage had come out to watch, and the Tiger Guards, led by Gao Da, were also staring alertly at Haitang. After all, these subordinates of Fan Xian did not know what was happening with the wind and grass earlier. They were very afraid Haitang would suddenly strike.
Fan Xian caught up and said with a slight smile, "Don't rush to get into the carriage yet. Walk with me awhile." He waved his hand to have Gao Da and company retreat. He gave them a few more instructions before heading off with Haitang shoulder to shoulder along the official road toward the trees.
…
…
The two walked next to each other and were already some distance from the group of carriages. Sunlight filtered through the spring trees around them in streaks, dots, and forks, they became different kinds of beautiful sunspots lighting up their clothes.
"I am someone who cares deeply about the word 'trust'," Fan Xian said quietly. "Perhaps it is because it has always been difficult for me to find someone worth trusting. When you wanted to leave the manor, I was a little disappointed."
Haitang lowered her head slightly. She didn't explain anything. Instead she said straightforwardly, "I am also someone who cares greatly about trust. After all, we are subordinates of two countries. If we do not have the trust, it will be very difficult to succeed."
Once everything was laid out, it became simple. It was no longer necessary to ask whether Haitang wanted to spy on the workshops that night or if Fan Xian had misunderstood the girl. Since Fan Xian's scathing mouth had repaired some of the trust between the two of them, to bring up old matters again would be stupid.
The two walked forward shoulder to shoulder. Haitang used the remaining light to glance sideways at him and furrowed her brows. Her hands were still in her sleeves. It was just not as comfortable as Fan Xian's hands in his big pockets. Fan Xian explained quietly, "It's the robe of the Overwatch Council. I had Sisi add two pockets."
Haitang smiled slightly and sighed a little regretfully.
Among the trees beside the official road, the rustling began again. For this man and woman without romantic interests, who particularly demanded each other's trust, it was like half a year ago in the Royal Palace in Shangjing, Northern Qi, on the path beside the Yuquan River. A kind of natural and involuntary dragging of the feet and lazy walking.
Behind and before them were all spring colored, and the green leaves above their heads were tender and loveable.
"How are you planning to defeat the Ming family?" Haitang asked quietly.
Fan Xian's eyebrows rose slightly. "There are 16 items at the palace treasury opening bidding. In the past, the Cui and Ming families would take up 14 of them. Now that the Cui family has fallen, they left about six places. I have arranged for people to take them over. Once Sizhe is about done with taking over the broken pieces of the Cui family business in the North, the North and South can join and the road will reopen again…as long as your commander doesn't meddle randomly, the road for the goods to the North shouldn't be a problem. As for what portion will be smuggled goods, this will have to depend on what kind of control I have in the palace treasury. Other than that are the helpers my father have transferred to me. I don't know how much use they will be."
This was his agreement with the young Emperor in Northern Qi. Haitang had come north to keep an eye on the matter, as well as that huge amount of silver.
Haitang was silent for a moment and then said, "Even if you manage to completely control the palace treasury in a short amount of time, if the quantity going north…per the agreement, was more than what the Eldest Princess smuggled every year, how will you ensure the quantity you promised the Qing court? I am worried you won't be able to justify yourself to the Emperor of the Qing Kingdom. On my trip here this time, His Majesty asked me to bring a message for you. Since it would impossible to satisfy the needs of the North this year, we can postpone for two years and discuss it after you are standing steady. After all, this is a long-term plan."
Fan Xian was startled. He didn't expect the Northern Qi Emperor be so considerate of him and couldn't resist laughing. "We'll see how it goes. As long as the palace treasury can produce markedly more than previous years, it will be easy to explain to the court."
Haitang glanced at him and asked with suspicion, "Where will this increase come from?"
Fan Xian answered calmly, "First, the production of each of the workshops in the palace treasury will have to increase. After the financial resources have been expanded, there will be the old shopkeepers, Su Wenmao, and old officials of the Ministry of Revenue who can change the accounts to smuggle goods out. You know that the person who inspects the accounts of the palace treasury is myself. If I want to smooth over any traces, it would not be difficult. Second, I plan to take a big ruthless chunk out of the Ming family and dig out the wealth of this big family to offer with both hands to the Emperor. The Emperor is sure to be happy."
They had returned to Haitang's original question: how exactly was he going to defeat the Ming family? Listening to the tone of his voice, it seemed to Haitang that he did not intended to crush the Ming family in a short amount of time. "You can suffer the Ming family?"
"I have to suffer them, at least for this year." Fan Xian smiled self-deprecatingly. "The roots of the Cui family were too superficial and their battle lines were too far away, so the Overwatch Council was able to defeat them in one battle. However, the Ming family is a centuries-old big family. Before the palace treasury, they were a famous family in Jiangnan. Their roots are very strong. They are a large family of tens of thousands of people, with countless members in court as officials. If we used a lightning-strike method to defeat them, Jiangnan Road would probably sink into chaos. Most importantly…"
His expression became serious. "The Ming family has benefited greatly from the palace treasury these years. As it is such a large business, they were not the only ones to do so. Behind this setup are the shadows of the royal family—the Eldest Princess, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince—who all have shares in it. Perhaps you won't believe it, but even the Fan family has a place in this. Furthermore, they deliver expensive gifts to Jingdou every year. Every ministry, even the Bureau of Military Affairs, have an extremely good impression of them. Plus they always keep a low-profile. You've seen the young master Ming. His person and way of doing things are both steady. Their reputation among the people is not bad. If we want to move them, it is truly difficult."
Haitang was beginning to feel that this matter was a little complicated, however, she found that although there was worry between Fan Xian's brows, he had not lost his confidence. "What is your trump card?"
"The Emperor," Fan Xian said seriously. "The Ming family has stolen silver from the palace treasury and given it to the princesses, princes, and officials. Everyone in the world likes the Ming family, except the Emperor. The silver the Ming family has stolen is his."
Chapter 355: Borrowing Your Hand To Hold The Northern Qi Emperor's Hand
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After hearing Fan Xian's analysis, Haitang felt reassured. As long as he was sure of this point and had the secret indulgence of the Qing Emperor—combined with their thorough and detailed plan, and arrangements for secrecy—then the collapse of the Ming family was only a matter of time. No matter how tyrannical the other party, or deep-rooted the local grand family, they were still the weak egg next to the rock faced with the powerful machine of the state.
"This year's goal is to take the Ming family's money into our account," Fan Xian said. "The palace treasury bidding needs the pressure of the Ming silver. After the bidding, we need to leave the bottom four-tenths amount. In this spring opening, I will have people compete with the Ming family for bids and raise the price to heavily bleed the Ming family so they won't have the ability to compete with me for the places the Cui family left. At the same time, it will bring in some quick silver to be sent urgently to the national treasury."
"How high are you going to raise the prices?" Haitang asked.
Fan Xian smiled and said, "As high as possible. You know I am a very greedy person."
Haitang furrowed her brows. "Since you don't intend to clash with the Ming family openly, you can only use the matter of the opening bid to attack the other party. With something like raising the price, it's not like they are yelling prices into a dice tube in the bidding room. What if you raise the price too high and just stole it directly from the Ming family? Sixteen items of the three large workshops of the palace treasury, four-tenths silver in reserve…you can calculate how much silver that is. How will you bring that out?"
"It's an open bid," Fan Xian explained. "To stop officials and merchants colluding, the palace treasury spring opening bid has always used open bidding. since things are all done in the open, this gives me the perfect opportunity. Naturally I will…" He thought about it and didn't continue to hide anything. He said in a light voice, "I will have Xia Qifei mark out an appropriate price and then let the Ming family know."
"Xia Qifei?" Haitang was surprised. "The boss of the Jiangnan water bandits? A famous figure on the jianghu? How could he listen to your arrangements against the Ming family? You must know that he is a Jiangnan person born and bred."
Fan Xian would not continue to discuss Xia Qifei's past. After he made clear that Xia Qifei was his man, he explained the problem of the silver. "It is as you say. The silver in our hands it is nowhere near enough to take all 16 items of the palace treasury. Some will be left to the Ming family. For one it is to comfort the other party and, for another, it is to use that giant amount of cash to sink the Ming family into Jiangnan so they are unable to escape."
Haitang asked, "How are you sure that the Ming family won't just cut their losses? They have earned too much money these years, and everyone knows that you have come to Jiangnan this time to defeat them. If you have Xia Qifei call out a shocking price, what if one of the old Ming masters dusts off their hands and stops playing? Wouldn't you have suffered a sorry loss? If you can't bring out the deposit, the Qing court is sure to make Xia Qifei suffer."
Fan Xian smiled coldly. "Even if the Ming family has to vomit blood, they will certainly win the palace treasury bid. So what if their family has vast and fertile lands? In the end, they are all dead objects. How can they compare to the live income of the palace treasury in amount? Furthermore, it involves the interests of major members of the royal family. The Ming family needs to send out silver to protect the interests and face of the Eldest Princess. They must continue to have a stake in the palace treasury."
He watched the black smoke slowly rising from the other side of the trees and narrowed his eyes. "In the end, merchants are just puppets. The Ming family produces their own pirates to steal the goods of the palace treasury, and then turns around to take money from the court. Their methods are ruthless. Once they let go and stop, and the people in Jingdou stop receiving tributes, in a rage of humiliation, how could they let the Ming family go? At that time, I won't even have to raise a hand and they will collapse."
Thus, the Ming family had to, no matter the cost, hold the majority of the selling rights to the palace treasury products this year. They had to get through these two years safely first and then they could see what the situation was like in the extremely sinister but bloodless battle in Jingdou.
"That silver, you're going to transfer it to Xia Qifei?" This was a question Haitang was interested in.
Fan Xian nodded. "A part of it. Father has prepared some for me. Bu, with the opening of the palace treasury, the eyes of everyone in the world are on me and the storehouse of the Ministry of Revenue. The Eldest Princess has probably long since guessed this source of my money. If I really used the reserve silver in the Minister of Revenue to fight the Ming family…one careless move would probably cause me to lose everything."
He smiled self-deprecatingly. "Mobilizing the silver in the national treasury is a crime that would result in the beheading of my entire family. I'm too much of a coward."
Hearing him name himself a coward, Haitang did not comment and shook her head. In a quiet voice she asked, "But to use the Taiping money house to transfer money behind the Taiping money house in Dongyi, are you not afraid they will notice something?"
Fan Xian glanced at her and said slowly, "This is the arrangement of your Emperor. Perhaps even you didn't know about it. Since the month after the Niulan Street incidence the year before last, the silver of the Northern Qi palace treasury began to be funneled slowly, as to not to attract any notice, into the Taiping money house through a dozen routes. Who knows how many turns there were in the middle before the silver was transferred into Jiangnan."
Haitang was stunned speechless.
Fan Xian continued. "I have the help of the Overwatch Council and Ministry of Revenue, and I didn't even notice the movement of these dozens caches of silver. Although the amount of silver was enormous, it was not particularly noticeable when put into Taiping money house, the greatest one in the world. I don't think Dongyi noticed anything."
Haitang shook her head in disbelief. "Wait…wait. You are saying this cache of silver was moved by the Emperor, starting two years ago, into Jiangnan? How is that possible? I only learned of this matter in September last year, and there hasn't been a whisper in Shangjing."
"Correct." A tread of approval and warning flashed through Fan Xian's eyes. "I began to investigate the beginnings of the clues anew after you and I had put all our cards on the table. In the end, I didn't find anything for sure, just a faint trace that the time these dozen caches of silver had entered the Taiping money house was about two years ago."
"Two years ago?" Haitang furrowed her brows. "You had just entered the capital. How could the Emperor guess that after two years you would control the palace treasury? How could he know that he would ally with you after two years and swallow whole the selling rights of the palace treasury?"
Fan Xian smiled self-deprecatingly. "At that time I was just a no-name illegitimate child in Count Sinan's manor."
He faintly sighed. "Perhaps the Niulan Street incidence allowed your young Emperor to confirm that the Eldest Princess wanted to kill me and determined from various intelligence reports that I would control the Qing Kingdom palace treasury. As for the matters afterwards, perhaps it is all his deduction. Since it was impossible for the Eldest Princess and me to cooperate, then I would have to cut off the Eldest Princess' arms. The Cui family? The Ming family? No wonder we were able to defeat the Cui family so smoothly together."
Fan Xian furrowed his brows. "But your Emperor…how could he guess I would use this method to defeat the Ming family? If he could calculate to this extent, then I can only gift him one sentence."
Haitang had not yet shaken off her surprise. She had not expected for the young Emperor, who had grown up with her and often called her master aunt, to be able to plan so well. He had to have begun laying out a plan to deal with Fan Xian or any other possible changes two years ago.
Hearing Fan Xian speak, she instinctively asked, "What sentence?"
"The Emperor is so clever. He is almost no different from a devil."
Fan Xian said in a soft voice, "He began to plan two years ago, and the world has developed in much the same way he had guessed. Even if my Emperor had not used me to tidy up the palace treasury…not the me that is trusted by Northern Qi…he probably still had a way for this silver to change their appearance and participate in this opening bid of the palace treasury."
It was not until now that Fan Xian finally gloomily admitted that he had indeed underestimated the young Emperor in the North. As the Qing Kingdom had always tightly guarded the brilliant, eye-catching golden chicken that was the palace treasury, the other countries had never succeeded despite the decades of trying to steal their crafts and other such things. Who would have thought that the Emperor of Northern Qi would come up with such a creative plan and used this method.
For the Northern Qi Emperor, being a thief he wouldn't be able to steal the jewels, and being a bandit he couldn't win against the guards. He would instead change into a no-name capitalistic merchant and participate in the process of the jewels being sold. Although he wouldn't be able to get the first bite, at least it would be the leftovers. However, Fan Xian, a variable who surprised the Northern Qi people, later appeared in this world encompassing arrangement, so the Northern Qi Emperor became all the more generous and steady.
Fan Xian sighed. There were many intelligent, astute, and circumspect people. In comparison, as an internationalist, he carried too much idealism.
"Are you angry?" Haitang watched his expression and asked probingly.
Fan Xian smiled slightly and shook his head, "If your Emperor had hid this from me the entire time, I would of course be angry. Since he must work with me, there is nothing for me to be angry about. It's as if he is using all of the money as a hostage and handed it to me. This is enough to exchange for my trust in him."
Haitang sighed and said, "You're not one to trust others easily."
Fan Xian lowered his head and said slowly, "The trust is mutual. I am just curious as to why your Emperor trusts me so much? You know, if our two countries become hostile, or if I develop other intentions, then I could take all of his silver at any time and cut off his source of wealth. He would not have a single chance to turn the tables."
He lifted his head and looked at Haitang''s bright and clear eyes. He said in a quiet voice, "I am a little bit suspicious of such a sudden and large amount of trust."
Haitang thought for a while and then suddenly smile brightly. "When I mentioned this silver to you in the letter, I think it was right as rumors of your past had just emerged."
"Hm?" Fan Xian looked at her in confusion. "How is that connected?"
Haitang smiled slightly. "Perhaps from the Emperor's perspective, since you are a descendant of the Ye family, then you will certainly not be content with being a powerful official of the Qing Kingdom. Your ambitions would not be limited by the borders of countries. What the Qing Kingdom can give you, so can Northern Qi. I'm afraid that the Emperor might also have other intentions…"
She didn't finish speaking, but Fan Xian already understood what she meant. He shook his head. "Thank your Emperor for his kind intentions, but I don't want face a thousand pointing fingers with a cold scowl."
Haitang smiled. "It's rare you are in the mood to make poetry."
"I am not willing to bend my head to serve others selflessly," Fan Xian said lightly, "Furthermore, your Emperor must have known later that I am an authentic, if not recognized, Qing Kingdom prince."
"There are many princes in this world, but for the descendant of the Ye family, there is only you," Haitang spoke lightly and softly, but clearly demonstrated Northern Qi's meaning.
Fan Xian smiled and did not continue this subject. He was at the height of his popularity in the Qing Kingdom. Although there were a few women in the Royal Palace and two princes in Jingdou difficult for him to defeat, the kind fatherly role the Emperor was playing right now was pretty good. He couldn't find anything persuasive enough to consider Northern Qi's invite.
…
…
"Let's go back to the start," Fan Xian said. "Why can you not like me? Why can I not like you?"
Haitang was a little dumbfounded and angry. Why is he always going on about this matter? In a cold voice she said, "I have never cared about the romance between men and women. My emotions are all in one realm and not differentiated by size, although there are highs and lows. I do wish to be heartless, but I will also not consider this question."
Fan Xian understood that she was expressing the meaning of putting the tens of thousands of common people first. He gently mocked, "To put the worries of the world first? Wouldn't that make life too boring? At least your Emperor has a hat to play with."
He didn't say what color that hat was. He suddenly broke out into a broad grin and said, "Duoduo."
"Hm?" Haitang stopped her steps and turned to look at him, but was blinded by warm smile on Fan Xian's delicate face. Unable to resist, she sighed and asked, "What is it?"
"It is possible for the Hu to not kill people," Fan Xian seriously.
Haitang knew he was talking about what she said earlier to block Sisi's words. She couldn't help feeling angry but replied quietly, "Is that so? I suspect neither people of Northern Qi or the South Kingdom would believe it."
Fan Xian said softly, "Of course the Hu would not be able to kill others if we turned them into dead people."
Haitang was surprised and laughed involuntarily.
Fan Xian said quietly, "By the same logic, it is possible for me to like you, and it is also possible for you to like me."
Haitang mocked, "When we are both dead?"
"No," Fan Xian explained seriously. "When everyone else in this world is dead."
Haitang was helpless. "Everyone is dead, and there is just us left in the wind by the river?"
Fan Xian raised his head and thought for a while before nodding. "Indeed it does not seem very interesting."
He took his hands out of his pockets and held Haitang's hands. Under the shocked gaze of the girl, he rubbed them gently and smiled warmly. "Since it is not an interesting matter, then don't think about it anymore. The weather is still cold, and you are wearing a serving girl's clothes. You're hands are going to freeze."
Their four hands were clasped together, determination and gentleness blended harmoniously in the warmth. Behind the two of them came the rolling of the carriage wheels.
There was a trace of an amused smile in Haitang's eyes. She did not pull her hand away. On the contrary, she tilted her head slightly and looked at Fan Xian. "Are you letting other people see on purpose?"
Fan Xian half lowered his head and blinked. He replied in a quiet voice, "To convince my Emperor to trust that I have brought you to Jiangnan for a reason, and for your Emperor and me to have a more solid foundation of mutual trust, we must be a bit closer."
Haitang looked at him with a not-quite-there smile.
Fan Xian finally said, "Of course, your hand is very comfortable to hold. You often do farm work, but you have no calluses."
Chapter 356: The Pebble In The Eye Of The Ming Family
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Suzhou was a prosperous scene. The tender green colors all around were not much different from any other place in the Qing Kingdom. However, the stalls like forests, busy docks, endless crowds, large patch of government buildings in the south, manors of the rich, imposing salt merchants to the west, courtesan girls and teasing playboys in the east, and the brave, sinister and cunning gang brothers in the east all wove together to form a flavor different from any other in the world. It was danger, excitement, wealth, and desire.
There was less hiding behind pedantic erudition and pressure from the millennium old court. Although the might of the government remained and no one dared to challenge it, the flow of people was too large. There were massive amounts of goods and silver leaving and entering the docks, so the people had money in their pockets and were more confident in all that they did. Putting aside the merchants who had deep connections with the government, the gang brothers, who made their living from the river, had begun to copy the scholars of Jingdou and wore green robes. They were no longer so violent.
The large piece of land downstream of the Suzhou docks were property of the Ming family. Long-robed men were quietly listening to the lecturing of a young master. The men were clearly practitioners of martial arts, but they did not show a trace of arrogance in front of this gentle and honest looking young master was because he was the son of the old master, Ming Lanshi. The people on the docks depended on the Ming family to survive and were like a family servant.
After young master Ming had left, the men pulled on their long robes to wipe away the sweat on their forehead and discussed secretly among themselves. They found it strange that the young master had come personally to remind them that they should be better behaved these days in Suzhou. With the power of the Ming family, were they to be afraid that someone would come and pull their pigtails? The governor did have this power, but had old master Ming not fed the other party well these years?
The long robes were indeed convenient for wiping away sweat. These gang brothers were, after all, not true Jingdou scholars. However, there were a few clever people among them who had vaguely guessed that it had something to do with the spring opening of the palace treasury. Haven't you heard? The Cui family, the one that was named along with the Ming family as the two wealthy families had been completely wiped out by the court during the New Year! Rumors say that this matter was single-handedly controlled by the young commissioner of the Overwatch Council, and this commissioner was right now the imperial envoy in Jiangnan!
No wonder young master Ming was so careful and scared that the government might find some pretext. It turns out that he was scared of the selfish and stubborn Sir Fan junior.
…
…
"It's not that I am afraid of him." At the moment, Ming Lanshi was sitting in the carriage and no longer able to maintain the cool and composed façade he showed outsiders and his subordinates. His face was heavy. "It is just that Sir Fan junior is unlike any other official in the court."
If Fan Xian were to see the person conversing with young master Ming, he would certainly be surprised. The person sitting opposite in the carriage was the host of the Martial Conference on the side of the West Lake in Hangzhou. It was that official of Jiangnan Road.
At that time, Fan Xian had quietly approved of the official's speech and actions, but he probably could not have guessed the relationship he had with the Ming family was so deep. Ming Lanshi spoke without any hesitation in front of him. It was very clear that this official was someone the Ming family trusted. If Fan Xian had been more suspicious, he could have discovered his relationship to the Ming family and would have been more alert to the so-called Martial Conference.
That official, Zou Lei, was the Imperial Censorate of Jiangnan Road. He asked with confusion, "Cousin, how is the imperial envoy different from other officials in court?"
Ming Lanshi smiled coldly. "Sir Fan is so young yet holds such power in his hands. Can other officials compare? The Overwatch Council is different to your Imperial Censorate. And now he has the identity of an imperial envoy.There is even less obstacles when he handles matters. Even the governor has to leave him some face. You should have received the news. When Sir Fan junior arrived at the palace treasury, he beheaded five of the trouble causing treasurers; there were even two masters of the workshops among them! And now he has even pulled out all of the Eldest Princess' transport company officials! Which official in the court has the confidence to use such ruthless methods?"
Zou Lei sighed and shook his head. "Without insiders, it will be difficult if the family wants to interfere."
Ming Lanshi looked at him and sneered. He said with contempt, "I think being an official has made you muddled. What time is this? You still want to interfere? I just hope that the imperial envoy doesn't interfere with us. That would be enough."
When they were in Loushang Tower beside West Lake, Zou Lei was respectful of Ming, yet he did not leave him any face. He seemed to be used to this kind of tone, which showed how deep the Ming family power went in court.
Zou Lei furrowed his brows in worry. "But the imperial envoy's trip down to Jiangnan is a clear sword pointed toward the family. Does the old master have any arrangements?"
Ming Lanshi smiled bitterly and shook his head. "This is what I was saying earlier. Sir Fan is different from other officials. Normal methods will never work. If it was any other high-ranking official who came to Jiangnan, the Ming family would have plenty of methods to deal with them. But it just happens it is Sir Fan junior, so the methods we usually use would have no effect at all."
Zou Lei asked, "There is no such thing as a not-corrupt official."
Ming Lanshi's eyes narrowed as if he had thought of something that brought a chill to his heart. After a moment of silence, he said faintly, "This is the most vulgar method and usually the most effective method. Father is very good at reading the situation. He knows that we must use the golden axe to split the mountain…we have also tried this before." He shook his head and sighed. "In the end, the other party did not accept it at all and returned it back straight away. They didn't say anything crude. They were like a block of ice."
"How much did you give?" Zou Lei did not believe there was such a thing as an official who was not corrupt. Even if he was the illegitimate child of the Emperor, he still needed silver.
Ming Lanshi showed four fingers.
Zou Lei asked with confusion, "Only 40,000 liang?"
Ming Lanshi's brows tightened as he lowered his voice to curse. "40,000 liang? Did you not see the 130,000 liang of silver that young master brought in his chest? This time father had collected all his bargaining chips and even pushed down the tribute money for the capital and pulled together a total of 400,000 liang!"
"400,000 liang!" Zou Lei's heart stuttered and his lips trembled. This was a huge amount, enough to buy a small kingdom. Did that not move the imperial envoy's heart?
Ming Lanshi gritted his teeth and said, "And 20 percent shares."
Zou Lei could not believe his own ears. This 20 percent shares was even more terrifying than the 400,000 liang. How could the family bear to use such a large amount to bribe Fan Xian? Usually when they paid tribute to the Eldest Princess, they were never so generous. This couldn't even be called generous. It was cutting off flesh to preserve the peace.
Ming Lanshi slowly closed his eyes. His eyelids trembled, and his expression twisted. He was probably very unhappy. Zou Lei did not dare to say anything more. The carriage sank into silence.
After a long time, Ming Lanshi, who was already gradually controlling much of the Ming family property for his father, opened his eyes and slowly said, "We all underestimated Sir Fan's appetite. Don't forget, his father is the Minister of Revenue. 400,000 liang is absolutely enough to bribe a prince, but it is not enough to bribe him. It is what I said earlier, this method will not work."
"What about the Eldest Princess?" Zou Lei said with some hatred. "The Ming family has done so much for her. She can't just stand and watch, right?"
Ming Lanshi thought for a while and then said quietly, "To defeat an official when bribery does not work is an injury. The center needs to move the limbs, so we need to work in Jingdou. To calculate the various officials in the court, unfortunately this method will also not work."
"Why?" Zou Lei was surprised.
Ming Lanshi smiled self-deprecatingly. "What kind of person is Sir Fan? Behind him stands the Director of the Overwatch Council and Minister Fan. Although Prime Minister Lin has retired long ago, his might still remains. As long as the Emperor does not show any bias, which official will dare follow our wishes and accuse him in a memorial? Your Imperial Censorate has done it twice, unfortunately the floggings the Emperor ordered has chilled their hearts."
Zou Lei thought about it and then shook his head. "Now is not like the past. Sir Fan is far away in Jiangnan and cannot defend himself. He is also distant from the Overwatch Council, and his reaction will not be as quick as before. Even if his relationship to the Emperor is not normal, even if he was a proper prince, he can't cause any big trouble in Jiangnan without being summoned back the Jingdou. If we cause some trouble, perhaps the Emperor will summon Sir Fan back."
Ming Lanshi ridiculed his companion. "This is where you officials go wrong when you look at problems. You always look at the person's official position and identity. You're right. Even if was a proper prince who came to Jiangnan, the Ming family would have ways for him to leave with his tail between his legs. Fan Xian is only the Emperor's illegitimate child, and it seems like we should not be afraid. However, the family does not look at problems the same way officials do. In our eyes, Sir Fan has power, soldiers, money, an excellent reputation, and strikes with ruthlessness. Even if he has some flaws, they have been completely wiped away by the Overwatch Council that is responsible for magnifying flaws. It is impossible for others to capture him. Who can swallow such a smooth pebble? He is much more difficult to defeat than any prince."
"If we really did as you wanted and incited the commoners of Jiangnan to cause trouble…" Ming Lanshi smiled coldly, "Do you not think that Fan Xian would dare to call the Black Knights straight into Suzhou and directly exterminate our family?"
Zou Lei sucked in a cold breath and said with hesitation, "No way, right? Does he not care at all about the face of the court? Qing law is not a toy."
"He is a madman," Ming Lanshi ground his teeth and cursed in a low voice. "A madman who looks cultured and refined. If we can avoid angering him we should, unless you are certain you can make him disappear completely from this world."
Zou Lei suddenly became silent. A moment later he quietly said, "The Martial Conference?"
This was a secret way the Ming family controlled the martial artists in Jiangnan, only they wore the cloak of the court, so the Ming family did not control many of the martial aces on the jianghu. However, they did have on hand some fugitives that Zou Lei controlled. Finding out that that the Ming family had no way to strike against the pebble that was the imperial envoy, hatred flashed through his heart and he suggested this solution.
Ming Lanshi looked at Zou Lei like he was an idiot. "Did you not know that Sir Fan himself is already a ninth-level ace? Did you not know that the Emperor has assigned him an elite group of Tiger Guards? Did you not know that the swordsman of the Sixth Bureau, responsible for assassinations in the Overwatch Council, never leave his side? Did you not know that Haitang from Northern Qi has lived with him in Hangzhou for a time?"
Ming Lanshi's voice grew louder and louder as he spoke. He felt that this younger cousin official, who usually seemed so clever, was like an idiot today. He cursed at him. "Just with that Martial Conference? Master Yun that father had invited from Dongyi showed himself briefly on West Lake and someone stabbed him! The aces of Dongyi were chased and killed by those strange people like dogs without a home…that was Yun Zhilan! Dongyi! A descendant of the Sigu Sword did not even have time to strike when facing Fan Xian. Do you think the martial artists of Jiangnan could kill him?"
Zou Lei's face was green one moment and white the next. Only now did he think about the fact that Fan Xian was nothing as simple as just a powerful official.
In today's world, Fan Xian was among those who had the most money. And those in the world who had more money than him definitely did not have his power. Those who had more power than him did not have his skill in martial arts. Those who were better at martial arts were not as shameless as him. Those who were more shameless than him did not have as strong a support. Those who had stronger support had not yet been born.
Give him money, he did not consider it valuable. To want to whittle away his power in the capital, he was not worried. To want to assassinate him, he was not afraid. To want to stain his reputation, he did not care. He would only use a knife to saw off your head to relieve the anger in his heart.
It took decades of hate to form this abnormal existence. He was an invisible prince, yet he had the Overwatch Council and Ministry Revenue that a prince would never have. Even the Eldest Princess, who had been influencing the situation at court from the shadows for over a decade, could not find a way to strike at him.
What method could the Ming family have?
Zou Lei comforted Ming Lanshi and said, "Sir Guo is in Suzhou at the moment. Let's see what he thinks. The Eldest Princess will do her best in Jingdou. What you said earlier makes sense, but if Fan Xian is so arrogant, I'm afraid the Crown Prince and the Second Prince will be uncomfortable. Even if we can't have him summoned back to Jingdou, if the people in the Palace talk, it will suppress his threatening manner a bit."
Ming Lanshi nodded. He knew they could only just manage to maintain the current situation. Hearing the word "Guo," he couldn't stop the nerve appearing on his forehead. In a cold voice he said, "Tell your superior not to get involved! Back in the day, when he was in the Ministry of Justice, he hit Fan Xian, which resulted in him being chased to Jiangnan. Does he want revenge? Don't forget, the imperial envoy is the youth who is best at holding a grudge. I don't want to be dragged down by that old Guo Zheng!"