315 A Garden Tour with Unease 2 (1/2)

Although the light snow had ceased, the cold continued to be trapped within the palace. It was indeed difficult to withstand the might of heaven. However, Fan Xian was very warm sitting in his wheelchair. He wore a high-collared cloak that protected him from the wind and snow so well that he was feeling a little hot. As to the Emperor's questioning, he had prepared himself for it a long time ago. He had never expected to hide the fact that his family smuggled Fan Sizhe out of the capital from many people.

”I received a letter the day before yesterday. He has already settled in Shangjing.”

Fan Xian casually glanced at the eunuch behind him. The Emperor was walking energetically in front them and so did not notice the exchange of glances between the two people.

The eunuch was Hong Zhu. As he watched Commissioner Fan's laughing gaze he, for some reason, suddenly felt a chill in his heart and began to feel a thread of fear—Hong Zhu understood. The Commissioner was warning him that some words must not be heard by the Emperor. Having been serving near the Emperor recently, he deeply understood the need for silence. He quickly lowered his head and did not dare to meet Fan Xian's gaze again.

Hong Zhu wanted to be able to be taken under the wing of Fan Xian. He dared not say anything that was unfavorable to the Fan clan.

”I am surprised that you said it aloud,” said the Emperor lightly as he strolled beside the lake. ”Although you and I both know the truth of these things, there is still a need for us to play politics.”

Fan Xian lowered his head and allowed the soft fur on the collar to rub against his cheeks. ”Since Your Majesty asked, I dare not speak a lie.”

The Emperor suddenly came to a halt and the eunuch quickly drew back the wheelchair so as to not be level with the Emperor. Fan Xian rocked in his seat and he furrowed his brows.

”You dare not lie to me… but you dare to lie brazenly to the world?” The Emperor turned around and looked at Fan Xian with a smile that was not quite a smile. The lines at the corner of his eyes were not smile lines and carried more of a question.

Fan Xian raised his head and, somewhat rudely, met the Emperor's gaze. ”There are many foolish people in the world… I am only loyal to the Emperor, not to those people.”

”But someone once said…” The Emperor's gaze was suddenly very strange. ”The people are most important, and the state follows. The ruler is the least important of all.”

”Nonsense, who dares to say such things?” Fan Xian's brows drew together lightly. Of course he know who dared: the original author was Mencius. His mother had plagiarized that.

”The Ministry of Justice is still searching for your brother,” the Emperor laughed. He turned around and continued walking forward, saying, ”Are you not worried I will punish you?”

Hong Zhu pushed the wheelchair forward to keep pace. The squeaking of the wheels was giving Fan Xian a headache. He shook his head and said, ”I trust Your Majesty understands my difficulties.”

”Difficulties?” the Emperor laughed coldly. ”I suspect that only now does the Second Prince feel like he has difficulties and no one to share them with.”

”Ah…I am guilty.”

Fan Xian knew that, right now, he should act as if he were slightly frightened, just like the ministers in those Qing dramas that tried to get close to the Emperor. But he knew that the Emperor had fully intended for the Second Prince to be brought down. He was nothing more than a tool. Furthermore, in the eyes of the Emperor, he was not just a simple minister. That factor remained in play, after all.

And so he did not feel even a thread of fear or nervousness. No matter how well he acted, it remained superficial and exaggerated. The three words ”I am guilty” dragged out a little too long; it seemed overdramatic.

The Emperor lowered his voice and berated, ”Even if this is an act, be more serious!”

Fan Xian made a forlorn face and said, ”I am guilty.”

Over and over again were the three boring words ”I am guilty, I am guilty”. Fortunately, the three of them had reached the wooden bridge in the middle of the lake by this time and their conversation was paused. Although Jingdou was already slightly cold, the light snow had not been cold enough to freeze the lake. It lay green and cold beneath the bridge. Even though the bridge was well-constructed and flat, the wheelchair still felt unsteady as it pressed down against the wooden boards. Fan Xian gripped the armrests of his wheelchair tightly and he stared intently at the gaps in the wooden bridge. He thought to himself that if the eunuch suddenly turned into an assassin, he was doomed.

The eunuchs and serving girls who were cleaning the pavilion ahead paid their respects and disappeared. They dared not to hang around.

The Emperor took a seat on a cushioned stone bench and indicated with his gaze for Fan Xian to help himself to a cup of hot tea. The Emperor himself instead used two fingers to pick up some pine nuts and began to peel them slowly. Eunuch Hong Zhu took his cue and stood to the side of the pavilion. Half of his attention was on the scenery and the other half was on his masters, ready to serve if they gave an order.

”How is it?” asked the Emperor.

Fan Xian seemed to have been scalded by his tea. He drew his brows together tightly and immediately asked, ”Is Your Majesty referring to my injury or…”

”The latter.”

Fan Xian replied in a very straightforward manner, ”We are ready to move. The orders have been sent out. As this matter did not go through the official channels, it shouldn't arouse the attentions of too many people.”

The Emperor nodded.

Fan Xian continued with the details, ”At the moment, we can retrieve all the stock in our territory, however… if Northern Qi hears about it, they will also be able to make a fortune from it. After all, the Cui clan stored a great deal of stock in the north…” He hid very important information within these words, information he wouldn't reveal to the Emperor even in the throes of death. It was information about the plan for him and the Northern Qi Emperor to divide the spoils.

”There are three roads that lead north and we have them under control. As the people in the palace treasury spend a lot of time with them, they're not completely safe, so we haven't used them yet.”

He furrowed his brow and carefully detailed the plan Yan Bingyun had devised. He hadn't yet finished when the Emperor waved his hands and said, ”I… don't want the details. I only want the results.”

Fan Xian hesitated then said, ”Rest assured, Your Majesty. In, at most, a year, the treasury will recover much of its revenue.”

The Emperor shook his head indifferently. ”It is impossible for the treasury to return to its previous glorious state… I think you understand why.”

Fan Xian lowered his head.

”Let me ask you,” The Emperor said, ”how you were sure that I would support you acting against the Second Prince and the eldest princess?”

”Because… the court needed money.”

After half a beat of silence, the Emperor huffed through his nose and said, ”What the court needs to do is to expand… and so it needs money. Yunrui has dug too deep into the treasury over the years—even I could not allow it anymore, and so I wanted you to handle the mess. You didn't disappoint me. First, you had the daring to accept, and second, you did what you needed to do. You didn't let the other person's status scare you… this is why I used you.”

”Thank you, Your Majesty, for your appreciation.” Fan Xian could only give thanks. He couldn't say much about the eldest princess. After all, she was his mother-in-law. Of course, he could not make improper comments.

The Emperor picked up a pine nut and brought it to his lips and slowly savored its flavor. Outside the pavilion, the wind had ceased blowing and the snow had stopped falling, it was a cold peacefulness.

”Ye Zhong has returned to Canzhou. I heard there is much discussion in the city because I allowed Prince He to take the position of Commander of the Imperial Army. What have you heard?” The Emperor seemed to ask very casually.

Fan Xian gave him a pained smile and replied, ”It is difficult to avoid having people talk. After all, it does not seem to fit precedence.”

”What do you think?”

Fan Xian was surprised. He wondered how it came to him to give an opinion on such a matter as this. He quickly replied, ”Your Majesty has given it much deliberation. I dare not be so arrogant as to judge it.”

”Speak, I absolve you of all offense.” The Emperor did not look at Fan Xian's delicate face at all. He focused his gaze on the frozen trees in the palace gardens.

Fan Xian relaxed. He knew talking to the Emperor was a difficult task. That year, Wei Xiaobao had barely spoken any truths yet Kangxi had caught him. The things he, himself, had done in secret: sneaking in to the Royal Palace, his pact with Northern Qi, his conversation with Xiao En… all these things he hid from the Emperor in front of him. If things went awry, who knew what would befall him?

Only, this Emperor before him was rather unfathomable. If Fan Xian did not have his natural advantage he would definitely not dare to play such a game with the Emperor. His so-called advantage was that he knew the true nature of the relationship between himself and the Emperor, and the Emperor was not aware that he knew. And thus, Fan Xian was able to pretend to be the loyal minister. The guiltier the Emperor felt toward

himself, the larger his advantage.

”His Eldest Highness is unwilling to remain in the capital,” Fan Xian replied in a very straightforward manner. ”Furthermore, reducing a Prince to be used in such a way is very irregular. Most importantly, the Royal Palace is the heart of the Qing Kingdom, and so caution is absolutely necessary.”

This comment was very straightforward, almost crossing the line. However, the Emperor did not have much of a reaction to it. He only said, coldly, ”Unwilling? Much of life is not to one's liking. He doesn't want to stay in the capital. Then is he willing to watch me, his father, guard the capital alone? Fan Xian, you are not very skilled in persuasion.”

Fan Xian flushed in embarrassment. He knew that he had not managed to keep the matter the Great Prince entrusted to him during his visit to Fan Manor away from the Emperor.

”If he settles down, leave second brother alone.” The Emperor closed his eyes and concluded the matters that had been happening in the capital recently.

”Yes, Your Majesty.” Fan Xian nodded. He had already achieved everything he wanted, why would he continue stirring the pot?