Fan Xian had vented all the emotions he needed to today. The feelings he should have been feeling – the sorrow, the reflection, the determination – had all turned into fresh cement in his mind. Plus, his sister had brought up the real reason she came to find him today, so naturally, he wasn't going to stay around these big graveyards. The group quickly got into the carriage and headed towards the inner city of Kyoto. In the carriage, he listened carefully as his sister described what had happened in the manor today. His originally furrowed brow gradually relaxed because things were much simpler than he had imagined, not really a big deal.

Actually, the matter involved the Kyoto Prefect, which should have been a big deal. However, these struggles and conflicts in the officialdom were really nothing in Fan Xian's eyes now, just some troublesome issues.

"She came this morning, only saying that she came to pay her respects to the Princess Consort, but according to Aunt Teng, looking at Miss Sun's eyes, she probably came to find you." Fan Ruoruo lowered her voice and said, "Sister-in-law has entered the palace, and there is no one in charge of the manor. Plus, knowing her identity is sensitive, she came to me."

"What's so sensitive?" Fan Xian raised his eyebrows sensitively and said unnaturally, "If I remember correctly, Sun Pin'er is not much older than Roujia. It's not too outrageous for her to come to the manor and chat with you."

"I didn't mean that." Fan Ruoruo saw through her brother's discomfort at a glance, and said with a smile, "It's just that Sun Jingxiu is holding a birthday banquet the day after tomorrow. If he wants to invite you, he should come and deliver the invitation himself. It's not his unmarried daughter's turn to come forward."

"Why would he send me an invitation?" Fan Xian laughed. "He's probably afraid I'm not quick enough. I've ruined his reputation for a lifetime. Besides, he's just a third-rank official. Even if he wants to make a big deal, it shouldn't bother me."

"He must be asking you for something." Fan Ruoruo thought for a moment and said, "I just don't know what the trouble is."

Fan Xian was slightly stunned. For the past few months, he had focused all his attention on the direction of Dongyi City and paid less attention to Kyoto. He didn't know what unusual movements there were. But now that the world was at peace and the Qing Kingdom's court was exceptionally stable, why would anyone take the initiative to cause trouble?

After thinking about it, he opened the curtain and winked at Mu Feng'er. Mu Feng'er understood, rode his horse closer to the carriage, and listened to Fan Xian's soft instructions, nodding constantly.

……

……

The convoy entered Kyoto, bypassed the side alleys of South City Street, and stopped quietly at the side gate. Fan Xian took his sister out of the car and looked around, sneaking in like a thief. After entering the garden, he didn't rush to the side hall to meet Miss Sun, but instead made a shushing gesture and hid in the quiet third study.

Fan Ruoruo looked at him in surprise, thinking that her brother was obviously very concerned about the affairs of Kyoto in the carriage along the way. It would be good to go and ask Miss Sun Pin'er directly in the side hall, why hide here?

Fan Xian looked at his sister's expression, smiled mockingly, and said, "After all, she is an unmarried girl. It's really inconvenient for me to meet her so openly."

Fan Ruoruo chuckled and said, "Are you still afraid of this? If you really knew the difference between men and women, you wouldn't have hid in Miss Sun's boudoir for several days three years ago." As soon as she said this, her face couldn't help but blush a little. She blinked her eyes and looked at her brother twice, and asked with a smile, "Not only me, but even sister-in-law Sisi was very curious later. Those nights, in Miss Sun's boudoir, how... did you sleep?"

Fan Xian didn't laugh or get angry, but sighed helplessly: "It's already my fault that such rumors have troubled such a pure and jade-like girl. Whenever I think about it, I feel a little guilty. It's really unkind of you to make fun of it."

Fan Ruoruo respected her brother the most. Hearing this, she quickly silenced herself, but the curiosity in her heart couldn't be dispelled. Three years ago, during the Kyoto Rebellion, Fan Xian hid in the boudoir of the Kyoto Prefecture and secretly arranged for the Black Knights to enter Kyoto through the procedures of the Kyoto Prefecture, preparing for the future comeback. At the same time, he also subdued the Kyoto Prefecture. This was the most talked about legendary story in Kyoto in the past few years.

Many people were guessing the relationship between Little Fan and the Kyoto Prefect Sun Jingxiu's daughter. Why was that young lady willing to take such a big risk and betray her father to help Fan Xian? Why did Little Fan strongly guarantee Sun Jingxiu afterwards, only remembering his merits and not his enmities, and helped him to secure the position of Kyoto Prefect without being implicated in the conspiracy?

Fan Xian himself didn't know how the story of those few nights was spread to everyone. He was very worried that it would affect Sun Pin'er's reputation and bring too much trouble to this daughter. When the rumors were at their worst, he was a little angry, so he asked the Overwatch Council to investigate, but who knew that he would end up finding the maids and servants in the Kyoto Prefecture.

Since it was the rumors accidentally leaked from the other party's garden, Fan Xian couldn't deal with it, but paid special attention to the relationship with the Kyoto Prefecture. There was no contact at all in these three years. Even the Kyoto Prefect Sun Jingxiu probably knew what Fan Xian was thinking, and was deeply grateful. Except for official business dealings, he didn't even send a name card to Fan's residence once.

After staying in the study for a while, Mu Feng'er led his cousin Mu Tie in. Fan Ruoruo had already retreated to the back room when she heard the knock on the door.

Fan Xian looked at Mu Tie, who was covered in sweat, and looked at his dark face, and couldn't help but said, "Although I am in Dongyi City, if there is any big movement in Kyoto, you must notify me as soon as possible."

Mu Tie already knew from his nephew's mouth that the lord wanted to ask about the Kyoto Prefect, and he had already prepared for it, but he heard the lord's hidden displeasure in his words, so his throat couldn't help but feel dry, and he didn't dare to defend himself. He directly put the files that had been sorted out on Fan Xian's desk.

Fan Xian picked up the files and looked at them one by one, his brows gradually furrowing. After a long while, he sighed.

In the past few months that he had been focused on Dongyi City, there had indeed been some movements in Kyoto. Not only Sun Jingxiu, but also several other officials were having a very miserable time. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel began to investigate these officials secretly, and the specific investigation items were varied.

Having stayed in the Overwatch Council for a long time, Fan Xian knew that it was impossible for any government office to be completely clean. As long as you tried hard to investigate, you could always find some problems, no matter what the reason was. The Kyoto Prefectural Government was being secretly investigated by several ministries and had already begun to bear unbearable pressure. As the saying goes, a storm was coming, and it was probably about to collapse. The officialdom was the most sensitive, and the civil and military officials smelled the wind. Even if they didn't kick someone when they were down, they began to watch coldly.

No wonder Sun Jingxiu would suddenly think of holding a birthday banquet. He probably hadn't figured out the palace's meaning yet, whether it was a routine inspection or preparing to use these things to make him resign. Holding a birthday banquet would clearly show the palace's attitude.

Fan Xian shook his head, thinking that this Prefect was serious and upright in his actions. Even if he stood on the wrong side in the Kyoto Rebellion, it was only a technical error. It was precisely this kind of character that allowed His Majesty to tolerate him for three years. But it was precisely this kind of character that made this person not see at this time what the palace wanted to do, and he still delusionally wanted to continue to sit in the important position of Kyoto Prefect.

Fan Xian saw the deep-seated reason for the last officialdom storm at a glance. Those officials, including Sun Jingxiu, were actually not very clean. Although Sun Jingxiu made great contributions in the end, he was, after all, on the opposite side of His Majesty's will at the beginning. The other officials didn't stand very firmly in the Kyoto Rebellion and were somewhat opportunistic - His Majesty was settling accounts after the autumn harvest, three years was not too late!

Now that the court was already stable, how could Emperor, with his gloomy temperament, let go of these hateful ministers who had wavered back then?

Mu Tie saw that he was in a daze, swallowed, moistened his throat, and reminded him carefully: "The storm started with the investigation by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel, but it must have been approved by the Department of State Affairs."

This was to remind Director Fan that to replace the Kyoto Prefect, it might be the meaning from the palace, reminding Fan Xian not to conflict with His Majesty's intentions just for a Miss Sun.

Fan Xian laughed. Of course, he had no interest in turning against the emperor at this time, and it was not worth turning against him just for the position of Kyoto Prefect. Even if His Majesty wanted to drive Sun Jingxiu off the stage, he wouldn't kill him. Since that was the case, let His Majesty vent the resentment that hadn't been completely vented.

Suddenly, his heart moved, and he thought that the emperor had promised to protect Sun Jingxiu without harm, and he shouldn't go back on his word so quickly. Even if he wanted to go back on his word, he would have to look at his face and couldn't let the Department of State Affairs come forward.

He frowned and asked, "Has Academician Hu said anything about this?"

The current Department of State Affairs is led by Academician Hu. If the emperor really wanted to make this arrangement through the Department of State Affairs, then the Department of State Affairs' tendency should be revealed from Academician Hu's lips.

"No." Mu Tie looked at him and said, "It's just that He Zongwei said a word after drinking once, and the pressure on the Kyoto Prefecture increased."

Everyone in the Overwatch Council, including the people in the Fan residence, knew that Fan Xian hated He Zongwei, the Department of State Affairs, very much, so no one dared to show any positive emotional evaluation of He Zongwei in front of Fan Xian, such as admiration or respect.

Fan Xian sneered and said, "He said a word after drinking, and it made the dignified Kyoto Prefect lose his appetite. This Lord He is really powerful."

Even so, he also understood that with the emperor's recent favor of He Zongwei, He Zongwei was just using his mouth to publicize His Majesty's intentions. If Sun Jingxiu was sensible, he would have already asked to resign, but this Kyoto Prefect was obviously not a clever person and didn't realize this.

After Fan Xian pondered for a long time, he said, "I know about this."

Mu Tie looked at him and didn't tidy up the files on the table, but said, "Even if the lord is going to the Sun residence, you only need to remind him. There's no need to do anything."

"I know, I know, you talk too much." Fan Xian waved his hand irritably and let the uncle and nephew retreat.

Before Fan Ruoruo came, a servant came to report that Yang Wanli had arrived. Fan Xian's spirits lifted. He thought that this guy was now doing very well in the Ministry of Works and was focused on government affairs. It had been a long time since he had come to pay his respects. He was happy in his heart that he was free today and quickly asked someone to invite him to the back house.

Unexpectedly, when Yang Wanli entered the study, his dark face was full of grievance!

Yang Wanli is now the Deputy Director of the River Affairs Department of the Ministry of Works, a genuine official. At this speed, becoming a Minister within ten years is a sure thing, but it is not entirely because Fan Xian is backing him up. This official has experienced the tempering of the scorching sun on the Jiangnan Dam and is no longer the sour scholar who only knew how to talk about saving the country, but a genuine practical official, so he has been promoted so quickly in the Ministry of Works. So Fan Xian was a little surprised when he saw his expression today.

The two of them said something in a low voice, and Fan Xian's face became more and more ugly. In the end, he just comforted him a few words in a low voice and let him leave. Yang Wanli rarely visited the mansion. Fan Xian secretly knew that this guy really spent every day in the yamen, so he didn't blame him too much, but instead deliberately saved him time.

After Yang Wanli went out, Fan Ruoruo came out of the back room, frowning slightly and said, "What happened again?"

Fan Xian's expression was a bit heavy. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "It happened almost at the same time as Sun Jingxiu's matter... That He Zongwei is becoming more and more arrogant. Wherever I want to protect someone, he reaches out his hand."

Fan Ruoruo listened quietly and realized that Yang Wanli had not been having a good time in the Ministry of Works recently. The Ministry of Revenue was also auditing the accounts in the Ministry of Works, focusing on the Water Affairs Department he was in charge of. Behind it, there were even shadows of the Court of Justice and the Ministry of Personnel.

Yang Wanli had Fan Xian's silver to support him every year, and his life was also very good. He himself was not a corrupt official. With the addition of internal and external factors, the accounts that passed through his hands were naturally clear. No matter how the Ministry of Revenue investigated, they could not find any problems. Even when the Ministry of Personnel privately asked him questions and questioned the number of his houses and servants, Yang Wanli blocked them with a sentence: "Gift from my teacher."

The officials of the Ministry of Personnel did not have the courage to go to Fan's residence to ask Fan Xian for confirmation in person.

However, Yang Wanli was eventually caught by some small flaws, and the reason was actually related to Fan Xian. This matter has to be said from a few years ago. Within two years after the Jiangnan dyke burst, Fan Xian was in charge of the Internal Treasury. With his own methods, his father's help, and Xia Mingji and Fan Sizhe's routes in the north, he made a lot of money from the Internal Treasury, and then turned a few corners and sent it to the then River Transport Governor's Office.

At that time, Yang Wanli was still working in the River Transport Governor's Office. This huge sum of money that frightened countless people was in his hands. There were some mistakes in the operation of the money, and some handles were caught. In particular, the officials of the Ministry of Personnel vaguely questioned where this money came from?

If this question is really investigated deeply, I'm afraid many people will die. But where did the problem come from? The corners of Fan Xian's lips curled up, and he sneered and scolded: "The money was squeezed out of me by saving and using less. His Majesty knows it well, but he still wants to investigate. It's really high grace and thick virtue."

He glanced at his sister and sighed: "Even the Ministry of Revenue is intervening. It seems that our Fan family can no longer control the Ministry of Revenue."

In a society with imperial power, Fan Xian, as a minister, was actually presumptuous enough to control the Ministry of Revenue. It was really a rebellious complaint. However, what he said was not wrong. Back then, whether his father Fan Jian was the Vice Minister or the Minister of Revenue, the entire Ministry of Revenue was managed into a solid block. Neither the Crown Prince nor the Second Prince could reach in at all. Even that year, on the day of spring and clear scenery, His Majesty wanted to use the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue to cause some storms, but Fan Jian blocked them in a non-yin-yang manner.

Was the Ministry of Revenue back then the legendary independent kingdom? If it was at that time, who in the Ministry of Revenue would dare to investigate the Kyoto Prefecture and investigate Yang Wanli, a student of the Fan family? Even if they couldn't resist the emperor's intention to investigate, I'm afraid they would have secretly informed Fan Xian long ago.

It's just that with Fan Jian's dim old age, the emperor slowly and leisurely placed officials and transferred officials to the Ministry of Revenue. The current Ministry of Revenue is no longer the Ministry of Revenue of the past.

Whenever Fan Xian thought of this, he felt a little angry for his father, although this anger was really unreasonable.

Since Fan Xian mentioned the three words He Zongwei, Fan Ruoruo became quiet, with a slight embarrassment and self-blame on her face. Fan Xian glanced at his sister and said after a long silence, "Don't get me wrong. He Zongwei alone wouldn't dare to attack my people. This must be the meaning of the palace."

"Of course." Fan Xian continued with his head down: "It seems that this popular Lord He has also given up the idea of ​​marrying our family and pleasing me, and decided to closely follow His Majesty's intentions and be a loyal dog."

He snorted coldly and said: "He Zongwei knows very well that His Majesty is supporting him to compete with me, and he will only end up with a bad death in the future, but he can't help himself. Since that is the case, he certainly hopes to truly find the big problem between me and His Majesty, constantly stimulating me, hoping that I can really capsize, so as to save his own life."

"Why does His Majesty want to do this?" This is the biggest unease and incomprehension in Fan Ruoruo's heart.

Fan Xian smiled slightly and said mockingly: "His Majesty has decided to let me take over as the Director of the Overwatch Council in a few days."

This is a natural thing, and Fan Ruoruo didn't congratulate him on anything. The doubts in his heart became more and more intense. Since the emperor's favor is as always, why did His Majesty choose to suppress his brother's power at this time?

"Give a carrot and then hit with a stick. His Majesty is always paying attention to the measure in between. This is to remind me and also to actually weaken me. He doesn't want to see a minister with too much power in his hands."

Fan Xian looked at his sister, and suddenly his brows furrowed, and he said with a slight mockery: "And the most important thing is that the current situation is the situation that His Majesty arranged for the future of Qing Kingdom. The Department of State Affairs is the hub, with Academician Hu leading and sitting in the court. The Overwatch Council and the Censorate restrain each other. Only in this way can the stability of the court be guaranteed... He is starting to test the effect to see what Qing Kingdom will look like after his death."

"But He Zongwei is also in the Department of State Affairs." Fan Ruoruo asked in confusion.

"This is because the power of the Overwatch Council is too strong. In the past, it was Chen Pingping. Who in the civil and military officials, including my old father-in-law, could suppress him? Later it was me. Just with He Zongwei's identity as the Chief Censor of the Censorate, plus His Majesty's favor, he wants to compete with me, but he can't do it." Fan Xian said: "So His Majesty had to let He Zongwei enter the Department of State Affairs and forcibly raised his rank. Now he is helping He Zongwei to weaken my shoulders first."

"Of course, if He Zongwei's power in the court really becomes stronger, His Majesty will definitely help me weaken him." Fan Xian said with a smile: "What bullshit imperial art, the way of balance, is just eating too much and having nothing to do."

……

……

After Fan Ruoruo was silent for a long time, she said: "But Miss Sun... is still in the side hall." Hearing this, she already understood that the situation on the Kyoto Prefect's side was indeed urgent, but after listening to her brother say that this was His Majesty's arrangement, she didn't think that Fan Xian could help the Sun family.

Who knew that Fan Xian was silent for a long time before saying: "Go tell Sun Pin'er that I will definitely go the day after tomorrow."

Fan Ruoruo was taken aback and said: "But didn't you say before that this is His Majesty's intention?"

Fan Xian lowered his head, his hands crossed and placed calmly in front of his abdomen, and said: "I have a tacit understanding with Emperor for these three years. If it was before, if His Majesty wanted to weaken my power, I would let him weaken it, and what if He Zongwei was arrogant for a while?"

"But it's not possible now." He raised his head and said with a smile: "I don't know what will happen in the future, so I have to ensure that I can still hold enough power now."

"Do you want to compete with His Majesty?" Fan Ruoruo's eyes widened, and she asked with a slightly uneasy surprise.

"I'm still young, and I'm always allowed to have some anger in my heart."

Fan Xian smiled slightly, his smile was extremely fresh and pleasant, and he couldn't see any anger at all. His idea was actually very simple. Now he must protect everyone he wants to protect and temporarily maintain the power in his hands with the excuse of being angry, so that he can learn to face that powerful Emperor Your Majesty head-on.

Fan Ruoruo was silent for a long time, knowing that her brother's mind was already made up, and she didn't say anything more, but couldn't help but ask with a smile: "Are you really not going to accompany that Miss Sun to talk?"

"I'm very afraid that she won't be able to marry in the future, so I won't see her." Fan Xian said very helplessly, "Just tell her that I'm looking forward to the birthday banquet the day after tomorrow."

……

……

(I didn't expect that I had so much fun yesterday, but I still caused some trouble, and I have a headache. It's just that I'm really exhausted, so I'm too lazy to reason. Being relaxed and happy is the right way, right? The chapter name of this chapter today is the name of a variety show. Who has watched it? Haha.

Let me talk about the last few words of this month.

Dear leaders, dear comrades: We have been following the lewd Old Wu for a whole month. Whether we speed up a few steps and catch up to intercept her, or continue to follow closely behind him and scare his little heart, it depends on today, it depends on today!

Speaking earnestly, cast your monthly votes, it's the last day.)