The black carriage passed the Dongchuan intersection. Fan Xian had just withdrawn his gaze from his own bookstore and clinic. Turning his head, he saw the ancient and elegant gate of the Imperial College (Tai Xue).

The Imperial College was a rather loosely arranged group of buildings. There were no government offices or grand halls facing the street, nor were there high walls. Even the gate itself was never closed. Green trees peeked out from within, and the sounds of reading permeated the air, filled with Confucian calm and contemplation.

Just as the Privy Council was once called the Military Academy, the Old Military Department, and was still mixed up with the Ministry of War among the Six Ministries, the several rounds of reform that the Qing Kingdom had played in recent decades had also changed the name of the Imperial College time and again. It was renamed the Tongwen Hall, the Education Institute, and whatever else was difficult to pronounce, that's how His Majesty randomly changed it.

However, the scholars of the world were still accustomed to calling this area the Imperial College, and later the court documents naturally acknowledged this point. The outstanding talents selected from various states and counties, as well as the excellent children recommended by the powerful families in the capital, were all concentrated in this group of buildings to study the classics of history and the way of governing the world.

This was the highest institution of learning in the Qing Kingdom, and the teachers invited were naturally the top echelon of people. For example, Mr. Pan Ling, who had become a calligrapher used for palace imperial reports, Mr. Zeng Wenxiang, the teacher of Grand Secretary He Zongwei of the Ministry of Secretariat, and in previous years, Grand Secretary Shu had also served as a professor at the Imperial College. Even now, Hu, the leading civil official in the court, still often came to the Imperial College to teach these scholars.

With so many impressive teachers, coupled with the special status of the Imperial College, the students within naturally had excellent prospects. Therefore, the students of the Imperial College inevitably became somewhat arrogant. Ordinary government offices were reluctant to deal with the Imperial College, and the slightly enlightened academic atmosphere of the Qing Kingdom made it so that ordinary ministers would rather die than enter it casually—they were very afraid of being questioned by these students and finally fleeing in embarrassment.

However, Fan Xian never had this worry. His relationship with the students of the Imperial College had always been good. Especially after the fourth year of Qingli, he had served in the Imperial College, acting as the deputy to the nominal Academic Director. In addition, later Fan Xian astonished the world with his talent and dragged a cart of books from Master Zhuang from Northern Qi back to the Imperial College. His position in the Imperial College became even more lofty, deeply admired by the students.

The carriage stopped quietly in front of the gate of the Imperial College, and an official of the academy came up to meet him. Fan Xian got out of the carriage, looked up at the gate that he hadn't seen for half a year, and smiled. This simple-style gate was actually newly built, forcibly incorporating some ancient flavor. So much money was spent, but it was actually just that Southern Qing had some deep-seated inferiority in terms of learning, especially in some corners related to historical flavor.

It suddenly started to rain. Although it wasn't heavy, the scattered raindrops hit the dark wooden gate of the Imperial College, becoming particularly conspicuous, gradually blurring from mottled, and the stone slabs on the ground were about to accumulate water.

An official from the Qinian Group silently took out a lotus-patterned raincoat from the carriage, wanting to put it on him. Fan Xian shook his head. Although he liked wearing a black lotus-patterned raincoat, leading his closest subordinates, lined up in a pyramid formation, silently traveling through the quiet autumn nights of the capital like ghosts, today he was at the Imperial College. He didn't want to appear too special and startle those passionate and pure students.

Mu Feng'er held up an umbrella and escorted him into the gate of the Imperial College.

It was already afternoon. The sun had originally shifted to the west, but now it was blocked by clouds and swept by the overcast rain, and the light became even dimmer. The entire vast courtyard was filled with a sense of tranquility. Walking forward under the green trees, he didn't see a single person. It was extremely empty and quiet.

Thousands of students were still in class at this time. As a professor at the Imperial College, Fan Xian was of course clear about this. However, he frowned, thinking, why did the sound of reading stop so neatly?

Just like bees suddenly acting collectively, or like mountain wind pouring into a narrow natural stone pot, a buzzing sound suddenly rang out in the quiet courtyard of the Imperial College. The sound became closer and louder, and it turned out to be the sound of countless people discussing and talking mixed together.

Class was over. Hundreds of young scholars walked out of the courtyards of the Imperial College at the same time, and walked to the wide sidewalk in the middle, densely packed and squeezed together. A fresh vitality suddenly filled the entire space.

Some young people forgot to bring umbrellas, shouting loudly, jumping on the wet bluestone pavement, crashing through layers of raindrops, and running towards their dormitories. And more scholars were leisurely, with calm smiles, opening the umbrellas beside them. For a time, countless umbrellas of different colors bloomed in the entire courtyard, but there were not many bright colors, mostly in shades of blue-gray and plain.

Therefore, Fan Xian, who originally didn't want to be conspicuous, became a strange plant in the sea of plain umbrellas because of the big black cloth umbrella above his head, and immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"Lord Fan!"

"Teacher!"

"Professor!"

The students surrounded him in surprise, and saluted Fan Xian one after another. Most of the students had only seen his appearance from afar, while some were fortunate enough to follow him in proofreading Master Zhuang's classics of history, so they shouted especially loudly.

Fortunately, there was no congestion. Perhaps these students also knew that Fan Xian was busy with official duties in the court, and had also been busy with the affairs of Dongyi City recently, so they restrained the joy in their hearts, and after saluting and greeting him, they made way in the middle of the road.

Fan Xian nodded and responded with a smile to each one, and exchanged a few words of small talk with familiar students and teachers. He looked up at the sky, and did not dare to delay any longer, so he said a polite farewell and went to the Sijing Courtyard in the depths.

Behind him and the officials of the Supervisory Council, the students of the Imperial College were still unable to suppress their excitement, and whispered curiously, guessing why Lord Fan came to the Imperial College today, whether it was because of the affairs of Dongyi City, and whether His Majesty would return Lord Fan to the Imperial College? Let him continue to lecture?

……

……

He collected the black umbrella and placed it by the door. A stream of cool rainwater flowed down the tip of the umbrella, writing a big "one" character, wetting the high wooden threshold. Fan Xian took the towel handed over by the teacher, casually wiped the slightly wet hair, and then entered the inner room, bowed to the Grand Secretary behind the desk, and said with a smile: "I came to see you."

Grand Secretary Hu took off the glasses on his nose, looked at him suspiciously for a while, then recognized him, and said with a smile: "It's rare that I don't have to stay in the corner room today, and I just want to hide and find some peace, can't you let me take a break?"

The Ministry of Secretariat is now headed by Grand Secretary Hu. His Majesty's age is gradually increasing after all, and his energy is not as good as in his prime. Moreover, this monarch seems to have figured out many things and has thrown many political affairs to the Ministry of Secretariat, no longer personally handling everything. As a result, the power of the Ministry of Secretariat has increased a bit, but the affairs are extremely busy. In the words of some keen-eyed officials in private, the current Ministry of Secretariat is gradually becoming the Prime Minister's Office of the past, and the authority in the hands of the leading Grand Secretary Hu seems to be approaching Lin Ruofu of the past day by day.

Fan Xian didn't believe this. Since the emperor had worked so hard to bring down his old father-in-law, he would naturally not allow another Lin Ruofu to appear. However, he also knew that Grand Secretary Hu was indeed working hard all day long in handling political affairs. He smiled and stepped forward and bowed again, saying: "If it weren't for official business, I wouldn't dare to bother you."

Grand Secretary Hu had an excellent relationship with him, partly because the two had a similar stance in the debate between ancient and modern writing, and both appreciated each other's temperament, so they achieved a good private friendship. On the other hand, it was because Grand Secretary Hu had helped Fan Xian a lot in the rebellion in the capital, and Fan Xian was the first to save his life in the end.

"Speak." Grand Secretary Hu put his glasses on the table, making a soft "ka" sound. After a slight pause, he sighed and said: "It must not be a good thing that you had to come personally."

Fan Xian smiled, looked at the glasses on the table, but did not immediately say his intention, but said: "Are these crystal glasses still easy to use?"

Grand Secretary Hu, as in previous years, had a youthful appearance that was completely incompatible with his age, but Fan Xian knew that the eyes of this leading civil official had some small problems. Two years ago, when they chatted about it once, Fan Xian kept it in mind, and asked the Internal Treasury to study it for a long time. In the end, he found a foreign crystal from Dongyi City and equipped him with a unique pair of glasses.

Grand Secretary Hu had always been very grateful for this matter, because working day and night on political affairs and reviewing memorials with bad eyes would cause big problems.

However, because they were hand-ground and there was no machine for optometrists, Fan Xian only knew that Grand Secretary Hu was presbyopic, but he didn't know how much it could help.

"Very good, very good." Grand Secretary Hu said with a smile, "Well, just for the sake of these glasses, I will do anything you want me to do, anyway, the Young Duke will not let me do anything foolish that violates the law and defies the imperial edict."

As soon as these words came out, Fan Xian was dumbfounded and almost laughed. He thought that this Grand Secretary seemed righteous, but he didn't expect that he was still so cautious and cunning. The two knew very well that the problem that Fan Xian's ability could not handle must be a problem within the court. Grand Secretary Hu's words were extremely cunning.

Fan Xian shook his head with a smile. Just as Grand Secretary Hu thought he would not be able to speak and stroked his beard to comfort himself, he suddenly squinted his eyes and said: "Sun Jingxiu, the Governor of Kyoto, is a good official..."

Grand Secretary Hu's fingers tightened, almost pulling off his beard. He coughed twice in a row. He really did not expect Fan Xian to speak so directly. As the leader of the civil officials, he certainly knew the current situation regarding the position of Governor of Kyoto and how it was caused, but His Majesty was helping He Zongwei to take the position, and he, the Grand Secretary, had to remain silent.

He tentatively glanced at Fan Xian and said: "That Lord Sun... wasn't the rumor suppressed by the Young Duke himself back then?"

Fan Xian was too lazy to beat around the bush with him, so he directly sat next to him, leaned close to his ear and said: "I have nothing to do with his daughter, but I really want to protect this Lord Sun."

"But this is His Majesty's intention." Grand Secretary Hu did not avoid anything in front of him and directly brought out the emperor.

Fan Xian sneered: "It's just that He Zongwei is dancing so youthfully there, what does it have to do with His Majesty."

Grand Secretary Hu laughed, knowing that this kid would not admit in front of anyone that the problem in Kyoto was His Majesty's intention, otherwise he would be openly challenging His Majesty.

Fan Xian continued: "I only ask one question, how are Sun Jingxiu's performance appraisals for the past three years?"

"This..." Grand Secretary Hu gently stroked his short beard, remained silent for a moment, and then said: "Two years in the middle and upper, one year in the middle, but it's just average."

Kyoto is indeed an important location, so Grand Secretary Hu kept the performance appraisals for the past three years firmly in his heart, and blurted them out. Fan Xian sneered and said: "Don't say these distracting words, Grand Secretary knows very well that the position of Governor of Kyoto is not something anyone can do, either offending this government or that department. The performance appraisals every year are never in the middle."

"Mei Zhili back then was at most average." Fan Xian rubbed his wrist and said: "Sun Jingxiu has had two years in the middle and upper, which is already an incredible able official. In addition, this person is not good at forming cliques and engaging in corruption, so to have this evaluation is really rare."

Grand Secretary Hu remained silent for a moment, and in the end, he could not resist his own principles of conscience, and nodded gently. He also knew that the position of Governor of Kyoto was difficult to handle, and Sun Jingxiu was really a rare subordinate. If he was still responsible for Kyoto, it would be much easier for him, the Grand Secretary, to handle affairs.

"If you really take him away, who will replace him?" Fan Xian said sternly: "I am here today, not for personal feelings, not for fighting spirit, but just to ask a question, could it be that Grand Secretary wants to see Kyoto change five governors again in the next three years, and in the end, no one dares to come, and even play the trick of swallowing charcoal and getting sick?"

Grand Secretary Hu sighed and said with embarrassment: "I am also unwilling to dismiss Lord Sun, but I have never understood why this rumor came out of the palace."

He stared at Fan Xian's eyes and asked softly: "Did you and that person quarrel again?"

In this world, Fan Xian was the only one who dared to quarrel with His Majesty the Emperor. Fan Xian smiled self-deprecatingly and said: "It has nothing to do with quarreling. In fact, you should also see clearly that His Majesty is using this matter to establish He Zongwei's prestige. Let's just say that Sun Jingxiu is an idiot, I will still protect him."

"You said earlier that you wouldn't consider personal feelings, but now he has become your person." Grand Secretary Hu shook his head with a wry smile and said: "What do you want me to do? If I come forward, His Majesty will definitely guess that I am doing it at your request... Lord He is also a talented person, why do you have to make such a fuss with him."

Fan Xian was silent for a long time, then said softly: "This fuss must be made. In this world, it is either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. I will not give He Zongwei a glimmer of hope, a glimmer of possibility, a glimmer of luck, a successful history."

"Why?" Grand Secretary Hu was slightly startled to see him speaking so seriously, and asked suspiciously.

Fan Xian did not answer this question because it involved him trying his best to drag out the time to protect the power at hand under the emperor's oppression, and make a declaration. He slowly stood up and said: "Tonight, I am going to the palace to quarrel and force His Majesty not to issue a clear edict. In this way, the Kyoto issue will be the pressure of the Ministry of Secretariat. I need the Grand Secretary to help me resist it from the middle."

Grand Secretary Hu did not answer, as if waiting for his next explanation.

Fan Xian smiled and said: "Sun Jingxiu is a good official and should not disappear in the midst of a boring power struggle. The reason is actually that simple."

Before Grand Secretary Hu could speak, he said quietly: "This Imperial College is a good place, full of youthful energy. These students will all enter the court as officials in the future. As teachers, we must not only teach them something, but also use the real situation in the court to help them build some confidence."

"An official, as long as he is willing to do things, can be safe and sound." Fan Xian stared into Grand Secretary Hu's eyes, "If Sun Jingxiu collapses like this, what will you teach these students? What is the use of the principles you wrote in the books?"

Forced into a corner by Fan Xian, Grand Secretary Hu remained silent for a long time, knowing that this Young Duke was a man of his word. If he did not agree, he might really use his prestige in the Imperial College to incite the students to do something. He could not help but sigh and said: "Well, as long as His Majesty does not issue an edict, I will protect Lord Sun for the sake of Lord Fan, and it should be okay."

Hearing this, Fan Xian finally smiled happily, cupped his hands, and without saying anything more, he wanted to bid farewell and leave.

Grand Secretary Hu picked up the crystal glasses on the table and said with a smile: "Even if it's to repay you for these glasses... However, don't you think I'm repaying you too much?"

Fan Xian was in a very good mood and said: "I might as well have the Internal Treasury make a few more pairs and reserve one for each of your eldest and young sons."

Grand Secretary Hu was mocked by him in secret and said with a smile and curse: "What I mean is that Lord Academic Director said a few days ago, when will you finish the affairs of Dongyi City and hurry back to the Imperial College to give lectures to the students."

Fan Xian responded with a smile: "I was going to do this even if you didn't say it." This was the truth. Entering the Imperial College today, watching so many young students, Fan Xian was in a good mood and seemed to think of the situation when he was in school in his previous life. Moreover, he knew that these students would inevitably be the pillars of the Qing Kingdom in the future. If he could influence them in advance, perhaps this would be his life-saving treasure at certain times.

……

……

Fan Xian bid farewell and left, and Grand Secretary Hu continued with his own business alone, accompanied by the dim light. He didn't know how long it had passed, but before the sky had completely darkened, an official gently walked in and said a few words in his ear.

Grand Secretary Hu was silent for a long time, and a wry smile could not help but appear on the corner of his lips. He said softly: "It turns out that such a thing happened at Lord Sun's grand banquet today. I really don't know what this Young Duke is thinking, making it so exaggerated, which is completely inconsistent with his usual low-key nature."

That official was naturally Grand Secretary Hu's confidant, and there was also a lot of incomprehensible expression on his face. He said with doubt: "Moreover, this matter is full of strangeness. Knowing full well that it is the palace's intention, Lord Fan still has to resist it forcefully, and even does not hesitate to ask for your help, teacher, for the sake of a mere Sun Jingxiu, is it worth it?"

"It's not just Sun Jingxiu." Grand Secretary Hu sighed again, waved his hand to let the official go down, and instructed: "Don't mention this matter again. As long as His Majesty does not issue an edict, I will protect someone for Lord Fan, and it should be fine."

The official responded in a deep voice, bid farewell and left.

Grand Secretary Hu's still young face changed its expression under the dim light. He was thinking about what Fan Xian had said earlier and guessing Fan Xian's true intentions. East wind and west wind? He rubbed his tight eyebrows and couldn't help but smile wryly. Lord He is probably not qualified to be the east wind. Lord Fan is challenging His Majesty!

But why challenge? Could it be because he harbored resentment against His Majesty's actions to weaken his power, so he vented it here? Grand Secretary Hu fell into deep thought, feeling that it was not the case. It has been three years, and His Majesty's actions to weaken the power of the Supervisory Council have been going on, and Fan Xian always takes a step back in advance before His Majesty goes further, following closely and retreating, without looking unhappy in the slightest.

Why did Fan Xian not retreat? Is it because he is worried that he will retreat too much and will not have anything in his hands in the future to compete with others? But who do you need to compete with other than His Majesty?

Grand Secretary Hu's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, but he could not figure out this matter no matter what. Suddenly, his fingers touched his wrinkles, and he was slightly startled. He quickly and slowly spread out the wrinkles with his fingers, and quietly took out a small porcelain bottle from under the table, picked a little milky oil-like substance from the bottle, carefully smeared it on his face, and after patting it gently, his cheeks became smoother, and a few wrinkles became inconspicuous.

Grand Secretary Hu put the porcelain bottle in the table and hid it, smiling self-deprecatingly. Why should he think so much about the affairs between His Majesty and his son? It was impossible for them to really fall out--but his face, Grand Secretary Hu's self-deprecating meaning became stronger and stronger, and there was even a faint sadness.

He was not young anymore, so he paid special attention to facial maintenance, because he knew that his historical mission was to become the central hub in the court after His Majesty's passing, so he must not look old. If His Majesty thought he was old, he would definitely have some other ideas and leave a younger assistant minister for his son.

Everyone has their own secrets, their own helplessness, and their own sorrow.

……

……

(Many people liked yesterday's chapter, which was a pleasant surprise to me. Today's chapter is one that I have liked very much recently, and I wrote it without any sense of anxiety, I am very satisfied. It's the beginning of the month, I'm calling on everyone to support me with monthly tickets, thank you for your hard work last month, this month I will continue to bother you, come on, vote for me...)

ps: I would like to recommend a new book to everyone, *Shun Ming* written by Tebai. This is his long-awaited New Shun pattern, and I have already understood the subsequent plot, and I deeply believe that it is a sugar cane that gets sweeter the more you chew it. Please go and have a look, and I hope you will support it, thank you very much.)