353 Some Things Can Be Done But Not Said (2/2)

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.”