Chapter 469
Chapter 469: Those Stupid Matters…In The Palace
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In Shufang Palace, Yi Guipin smiled happily as she watched the two people by the desk . Fan Xian was watching Li Chengping copying out a book . No one in the Palace cared about the contents of the book . What was important was the watching and the student-teacher relationship between Fan Xian and Li Chengping .
Yi Guipin was not a manipulative and calculating noble . On the contrary, in this sinister Royal Palace, she had maintained the openness of her maiden days . Since she was pure and true, she received the favor of the Emperor and had the Third Prince .
Given the Qing Emperor's complete disinterest in the matters between men and women, after the empress had the Crown Prince, it seemed that he had not planned to have further children . Thus, it was clear how much Yi Guipin's personality appealed to the Emperor .
The other people in the Palace were the same . They always felt that Guipin, born of the Liu family, was very spirited, charming, and lively from morning to night . Seeing her made people feel comfortable . Like Lady Ning in the other garden, they were both unconventional in the Royal Palace . Only, her type of unconventional was more likable .
Thus, even though the empress dowager was not very close to the Third Prince because of the power of the Fan family and the Liu family, she didn't have anything bad to say about Yi Guipin . Everyone knew that Yi Guipin was lenient in front of the Emperor and treated everyone very generously . She never had any thought of harming others . This was the result of staying silent for a dozen years in the Palace .
However, just because she was unwilling to be calculating and had no intentions to hurt people did not mean that Yi Guipin did not have her own agenda and plans . Otherwise, back then, she wouldn't have used the opportunity of Fan Xian saving the Third Prince to have the Third Prince saluting him as his teacher . Furthermore, she would not have opened up all the resources in Shufang Palace to Fan Xian .
She understood the importance of Fan Xian to Shufang Palace . When there was no one around, she would purposely try to bring him closer . The royal family had always kept a close eye on the royal relatives . However, Fan Xian's complicated identity spanned across the three areas of a royal relative, official, and the royal family . Thus, the people in the Palace couldn't comment much on the interaction between Shufang Palace and Fan Xian .
The more secure Fan Xian was in the court, the more secure Shufang Palace's position was in the Emperor's heart .
However, when she occasionally thought about Fan Xian's power and royal favor, Yi Guipin would also feel astonishment in her heart . The Emperor showed a bit too much favor toward this illegitimate child .
Because Fan Xian was greatly favored, Yi Guipin had been cautious of various dangers, but these feelings of cautious could not be spoken aloud . She remained silent and maintained her candid charm . It was not until Fan Xian returned to his ancestors that she truly confirmed Fan Xian's intentions and felt a boundless gratitude surge up from the depths of her heart .
Thus, seeing the sight of Fan Xian and her son sitting side by side at the table made her incomparably happy .
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"I heard you ran into someone earlier in the long corridor behind the palace . "
Yi Guipin's personal serving girl, Xing'er, had heard a rumor within the Palace and had hurried to come tell her mistress . Yi Guipin's heart jumped slightly . She quietly called Fan Xian into a side room and asked him very seriously with wide eyes .
Fan Xian rubbed his slightly sore finger and smiled . "That servant, Hong Zhu, is becoming more and more impetuous . He saw me and didn't even bow . When he walks, his head is up so high he uses his nostrils to watch the path . I disciplined him for the Emperor . "
Using his nostrils to watch the path was a very mischievous adjective . Yi Guipin couldn't resist laughing out loud . However, she immediately restrained her laugh and quietly said, "Eunuch Hong junior is very popular in the Palace right now and the head eunuch of the Eastern Palace . Furthermore, the Emperor seems to favor him and is preparing to allow him back into the royal study . "
She glanced at Fan Xian . Everyone in the Palace had, through their own ways, found out everything about Hong Zhu's career advancement . They all knew that Hong Zhu was serving in the royal study and, just as he was about to climb higher, a secret memorial from Fan Xian made him lose his position . So, he was moved to the Eastern Palace .
Yi Guipin knew that Fan Xian and Hong Zhu did not get along . Now that Hong Zhu had climbed up again in the Eastern Palace and the Emperor seemed to have feelings of regret for his past decision, she had to remind Fan Xian a little . For a powerful eunuch like him, although Fan Xian didn't fear him, as an outside official, he had to take guard against the eunuchs in the Palace stirring up malicious winds .
Fan Xian shook his head and smiled coldly . "It will not be easy for a servant like this who connived with his elder brother to forcefully take over the common people's fields to return to the royal study . "
She considered this for a while and quietly said, "Why bother about a servant? If he really does go back to the royal study and there is deep hatred between the two of you, it may be inconvenient . Besides, rumors are going around in the Palace that this Eunuch Hong junior is somehow related to Eunuch Hong . After all, your identity is that of a court official . "
The eunuchs in Qing Kingdom had never had any status . Ever since the inception of the country, there had been strict prohibitions against eunuchs interfering in politics . Petty offenders were exiled from the Palace, while severe offenders were beaten to death on the spot . However, in the dozens of years since the inception of the country, there were always one or two exceptions . Eunuch Hong who was always resting outside Hanguang Palace, was one of those special figures .
No one knew how long this old eunuch had been in the Palace . He was deeply trusted by the empress dowager and the Emperor . Furthermore, he was a very mysterious and powerful figure . If Hong Zhu really was connected to old Eunuch Hong somehow, then even Fan Xian might need to fear him a little . However, Fan Xian knew of the reason for his and couldn't resist smiling . Yet, he could not tell Yi Guipin . He could only smile and say, "Aunt, you don't need to worry . I know my limits . "
Seeing that he didn't care, Yi Guipin couldn't resist persuading him a bit more . When that had no effect, she angrily entered her bedroom, too lazy to further talk reason with this stubborn child .
Fan Xian moved closer to the Third Prince's table again and said a few words . He then left Shufang Palace under the Third Prince's reluctant gaze .
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Wan'er was staying the night in the empress dowager's Hanguang Palace . No one knew how many days she would be staying . The Fan couple entered the Palace together, but only one was leaving . He walked alone under the long and heavy shadow of Shenwu Gate and looked at his blurry shadow behind him, feeling very unhappy in his heart . On one hand, he felt that Wan'er was indeed very loved in the royal family . But, on the other hand, he was silently cursing that the old woman only thought about the relationship between grandparent and grandchild and did not think of the fact that the couple had also not seen each other in a long time .
He walked out of the Palace in a bad mood and saw that the Great Prince was waiting for him with a not-quite-there smile . He couldn't help but say, without good humor, "Ever since the inception of the country, the Commander of the Imperial Army also protects the officials . Not many of them wait outside the gates to the Royal Palace like you every day . This isn't a time of war, and this is a time of peace . Who are you waiting to laugh at waiting like this outside the Palace gate?"
The Great Prince restrained his smile and huffed coldly, "What is there to laugh at about you? Do you think it's shameful that Chen'er isn't back home with you? Don't forget, that sister of mine has grown up in the Palace since she was a child . You seem to have forgotten this long ago . "
After Fan Xian returned to the capital, he had seen the Great Prince two or three times . However, they were always outsiders present, so they could not speak privately . Furthermore, under Chen Pingping and Lady Ning's amiable attentions, these two brothers had already formed an alliance that did not need to be spoken of . However, the Great Prince was, after all, in a different position . He was the eldest brother of all the princes and did not want to see the Crown Prince and the Second Prince be in low spirits because of Fan Xian's machinations, so there was still some distance between the two of them .
"I can't speak much with you today . I'm in a rush to go home to get things done . " Fan Xian looked at the Great Prince's expression and knew that this brave general of the army and a virgin in politics was preparing to say something to him so he repeatedly waved his hand .
The Great Prince reprimanded in a heavy voice, "I hadn't planned on disciplining you because of Chen'er's matter . However, just how are you going to deal with your woman in the North?"
Only now did Fan Xian know that his family business had come forward again . He couldn't help laughing bitterly . "I say, Your Highness, this is my family matter . Since Chen'er has married me, there is no need for you to concern yourself with this . "
At the beginning, he was slightly jealous of the Great Prince and Wan'er's intimacy . Now, he took the opportunity and coldly struck back .
The Great Prince was enraged but forced down his anger and said, "Who can be bothered to manage you? It is just that wangfei said that after the New Year, you still haven't come to visit my manor and asked me to come ask you whether or not you were still planning on coming . "
Wangfei was the Great Princess from Northern Qi that Fan Xian had personally escorted South . Fan Xian rubbed his head and said, "Naturally, I'll be visiting your manor, probably the day after tomorrow . "
Seeing that he had agreed, the Great Prince nodded and didn't bother him anymore . Fan Xian suddenly thought of a matter and said, "I'll also bring Hongcheng . "
The Great Prince was slightly surprised and glanced at him, thinking, Wasn't Hongcheng, that kid, under house arrest because of you?
Fan Xian didn't explain . He only furrowed his brow and said, "That said, do you want the manor in Yangcong Alley or not? She is a proper princess of the Hu tribe, so she can't just be left in that yard to grow mold, right?"
The Great Prince started and couldn't speak for a moment .
After seeing this scene, Fan Xian confirmed it . Back then, when the soldiers of the Western expedition were heading back to the capital, this Great Prince must have spent countless nights with Ma Suosuo, the princess of the Hu tribe . However, he couldn't prod the other party anymore, so he raised his hands in farewell and climbed into the black carriage .
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After returning to Fan manor, he entered the most secretive study in the three corners area . After confirming there were no eyes or ears around, that even the Tiger Guards and servants the Emperor had hidden in the manor were, at this time, far away from the study, only then did Fan Xian spread his legs and lay very comfortably on the low couch . He placed his feet, wearing a pair of lamb wool socks from the palace treasury, toward the main door of the study and allowed the hot air to steam, making his sore feet happy .
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