Hongzhu did not expect that even the Director of the Supervisory Office knew his name. His face immediately glowed with a sense of honor, and he chuckled, "Indeed, it's kind of you, Director, to know my name."

"The Emperor's close attendant is a crucial position," Fan Xian said. "As the Director of the Supervisory Office, of course I must be cautious...especially after the recent incident in the Taiji Hall where a eunuch was an assassin..."

Hongzhu was startled and dared not reply. Fan Xian said gently, "Since His Majesty trusts you, naturally I trust you too...By the way, I heard Old Dai is doing hard labor these days?"

Hongzhu glanced at him and cautiously said, "Yes, it's quite miserable."

"Hmm," Fan Xian nodded. "I'm not afraid of any taboos. I've dealt with Old Dai before, and he's a good man. Little eunuch, please help take care of him in the palace."

Hongzhu was overjoyed. He had hoped to connect with this young official through Eunuch Dai a month ago. Since the other party said this, it meant there was a chance. He quickly responded respectfully, "As you command, how dare I disobey?"

Fan Xian smiled and said, "Thank you, little eunuch. If there are any difficulties at home in the future, let me know." He didn't need to be too explicit; the other party should know to contact him through Consort Yi.

...

...

Returning to Shufang Palace, Consort Yi's residence, it was a great coincidence. The Great Princess of Northern Qi, whom he hadn't had the chance to meet since September, had also returned from the Empress Dowager's palace. The Great Princess had been arranged to reside in this palace before her marriage. She looked at Fan Xian in his wheelchair and was slightly surprised, but it wasn't convenient for them to say anything. After a slight bow, she retreated to the back.

Consort Yi glanced at Fan Xian a couple of times: "You've just returned from the north. Why do you seem so unfamiliar?"

Fan Xian never forgot to gather allies and plant spies, so he wouldn't let go of an important figure like the Great Princess. However, he had to pretend to be unfamiliar in front of everyone, and replied, "Our identities are different. Besides...there's a distinction between men and women."

Consort Yi teased, "You child, you're even more handsome than a great beauty...I'm not afraid you'll harm others, but I'm afraid others will come and provoke you."

Fan Xian was startled and said, "Aunt, please don't talk nonsense." Turning his head, he saw the Third Prince still there, calmly and quietly copying books, pretending to be well-behaved. For some reason, he felt annoyed and shook his head, asking, "Did the Empress Dowager really agree to this matter?"

His tone did contain a hint of disbelief. Consort Yi looked at him and nodded, smiling as she said, "I only heard His Majesty explicitly agree today. However...this is a good thing. How could the Old Ancestor object?"

Fan Xian smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking that things weren't that simple. After thinking for a while, he said seriously, "I'm going to Jiangnan, and Little San is coming with me...Are you willing to let him go?"

"Jiangnan has good water, good people, and good scenery. What's there to be unwilling about?"

Consort Yi suddenly beckoned him to come closer. Fan Xian did as she said, getting within a foot of her, as if wanting to smell the orchid fragrance emanating from this noblewoman. He then heard her lower her voice and say through clenched teeth, "The further you take him from the palace, the better. It's best if you can delay it for a few years."

Fan Xian paused slightly, realizing that Consort Yi was making such a passive plan. He shook his head and said, "A constant retreat is not a solution...Besides, the Jiangnan treasury doesn't require much effort. I'm just going to take a look. I can't keep dragging it out."

Consort Yi thought for a moment and realized that this was indeed the case. She sighed with some disappointment, "That's true. His Majesty wouldn't allow you to be away from the capital all the time either."

Fan Xian thought for a moment and comforted her, "After all, Little San is still young. There's no need to worry so early...Besides, with the Empress Dowager watching over these grandsons in the palace, those people wouldn't dare to do anything too outrageous..." He paused and then added, "After all, we're different from those other palaces. The Shangshu Lane still has some influence, and Father won't retire for a while...At the very least, there's still me, isn't there?"

Hearing these words, Consort Yi finally felt relieved. With the current development trend, Fan Xian's influence in the court would only continue to grow. The court and the palace were often two independent circles that influenced each other. As long as there was someone in the court, she and Li Chengping, her son, would have an easier time in the palace.

Now that the conversation had reached this point, everyone was being extremely clear – in Consort Yi’s view, who still retained some endearing naivete, thinking of her child, the tighter she bound herself to the Fan family, the better it would naturally be.

"Letting Little San go to Jiangnan with me... there's one thing you must allow me." Fan Xian glanced at the Third Prince, who was eavesdropping but couldn't hear anything.

"What is it?" Seeing his serious expression, Consort Yi became nervous.

"I'm not very good at being a teacher. As for those former students who are assigned to prefectures and counties, you also know that it's their own fortune from ten years of hard study." Fan Xian said seriously, "I can only teach the Prince as if he were my younger brother... There will inevitably be some disrespectful moments."

Hearing the words "teach him as if he were my younger brother," Consort Yi's face broke into a smile. She had no idea of Fan Sizhe's current miserable state in the north and nodded repeatedly.

Fan Xian looked at her as if she were a goddess, wondering why she seemed so happy, as if she had won the lottery. He tentatively said, "... Maybe... sometimes... I might... hit him."

"You can even kick him!" Consort Yi said directly, smiling, "As long as you don't beat him half to death, you can do whatever you want with him."

She then sighed and said, "You don't know this, but that brothel incident the other day scared me a lot. Usually, I only know that he has a good relationship with the Second Prince, but who knew that Second... that damned Second, actually instigated Ping'er to do that. Ping'er is so young, what does he know? He's just being used as a knife... Luckily, you suppressed this matter quickly, otherwise, I don't know how angry His Majesty would have been."

Fan Xian laughed inwardly, thinking that her son was not an easy person. Although he was only eight years old, the things in his head were incredibly complex. He then heard Consort Yi say in a low voice, "Teach him to be honest... Even if he becomes a useless Jing Prince in the future... at least he'll have a lifetime of peace and security."

Listening to these words, Fan Xian couldn't help but feel some emotion. The song "The World Only Has Mothers Who Are Good" was indeed correct. Children without mothers are like grass, and his own life experience proved the correctness of this song.

...

...

It was still early before dinner, and there was no news from the Empress Dowager's palace, so Fan Xian was happy to have some peace and quiet. He stayed in Shufang Palace, chatting idly with Consort Yi. They were relatives, so there were fewer things to avoid. Moreover, in the entire cold imperial palace, it seemed that only Consort Yi's palace had some... human warmth.

"This servant greets Chen, the Princess of the County."

Following the crisp greetings of the palace maids outside, Lin Wan'er walked in, rubbing her small hands together. Today, she was wearing a jade-green layered skirt, and a crimson silk jacket, with two neatly stitched fox fur trimmings on the cuffs, which were fluffy and very cute.

Fan Xian, sitting in his wheelchair, stretched out his hands.

Wan'er stepped forward and placed her hands into his warm palms, the movement was so natural.

Fan Xian gently rubbed the girl's slightly cool hands and asked curiously, "You just came like this?" The colors she wore were somewhat like red and green, but the red was deep and vibrant, and the jade green was clear and noble. Wearing them on Wan'er made her look pleasing to the eye. But going to the palace for dinner, she should be dressed more elaborately.

Lin Wan'er pouted and said, "I waited for you at home for a long time, but no one came... Later, Su Wenmao sent someone to say that you had been summoned to the palace. I took Dabao back to the mansion, but as soon as I reached the gate, I was stopped by the eunuchs... and dragged into the palace. I first went to see the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Fortunately, all the consorts were serving in the Empress Dowager's palace, so I didn't have to visit each palace. After saying a few words, I came to see you. I was in such a hurry all the way, I didn't have time to change my clothes."

"By the way, where's Dabao?" Fan Xian was most concerned about his silly brother-in-law.

"Don't worry, Ruoruo is at home." Lin Wan'er took the hot towel handed over by the palace maid and wiped her face haphazardly. She plopped down next to Consort Yi, turned her head, and said with a smile, "What are you chatting about?"

Consort Yi didn't rush to answer. First, she scolded the palace maids. Using a hot towel for the princess to wipe her face on such a cold day, weren't they afraid of her getting a chill when she went outside later? Only then did she turn her head and smilingly explain His Majesty's arrangements.

Lin Wan'er looked at Fan Xian in surprise, "It's decided already?"

Fan Xian nodded, shrugged, helpless. Taking the whole family with him, it seemed that the future trip to Jiangnan would be extremely exciting.

A eunuch came over to announce that the five noble individuals from Shufang Palace should go to Hanguang Palace for dinner. Consort Yi quickly took the Third Prince's hand and went to the back room to wash up, also wanting to dress herself up nicely.

Taking advantage of this moment, Fan Xian lowered his voice and asked, "That matter I asked you to speak with the Empress Dowager about... how did it go?"

Lin Wan'er looked around, shook her head, and said softly, "You want to cancel the engagement, and you didn't discuss it with me earlier... Suddenly making such a move, how could the Empress Dowager allow it? Besides, I'm a junior after all, so it's not appropriate to talk about this matter."

Fan Xian sighed, "Ruoruo doesn't like it, so what can I do as her brother? But I did tell you about this matter a little late. I was thinking of taking advantage of the Baoyue Tower incident, when Hongcheng was making the palace unhappy, to take the opportunity to get this matter done, but who would have thought it would be so troublesome."

"His Majesty made the decree for the marriage. How can it be canceled so easily?" Wan'er frowned. "You're too doting on Ruoruo."

Fan Xian laughed, "I only have this one younger sister. If I don't dote on her, who will?"

"I think the Duke will have to enter the palace." Wan'er stared at the back room, confirming that no one was listening, before saying softly, "Have Father speak directly with His Majesty. The two of us don't have enough influence."

Fan Xian said in distress, "Although there's been this incident between the two families, Father really likes Hongcheng. Even though Hongcheng goes to brothels every day, he doesn't think it's a big deal. He always says that he's watched him grow up since he was a child, and the two families have a close relationship. We can't let the two families break apart because of the Second Prince."

Lin Wan'er chuckled, "The Duke was the most famous person in the Liujing River back then, of course he doesn't think this is a big deal." As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized that it was a little inappropriate for a daughter-in-law to make fun of her father-in-law. She covered it up with a smile.

Fan Xian was worried about his sister's matter, so he didn't dwell on these words. There was a look of helplessness between his brows. Ruoruo had gained some fame in the Imperial Hospital these days. He hoped that Haitang could handle things well, and at least delay the marriage for some time.

"Why did the Emperor summon you to the palace?" Lin Wan'er asked the question she was really concerned about. "I think it's probably not just about the Third Prince."

Fan Xian looked quietly at his wife, suddenly reached out and gently stroked her smooth chin, smiled, and didn't say anything. Was he supposed to tell her—your dearest uncle has asked your dearest husband to use all his skills, just to make your biological mother... become destitute?

Fortunately, Consort Yi and the others had already finished dressing up and came out. As the cotton curtain was lifted, the hall immediately felt brighter. Fan Xian turned around and saw Consort Yi and the Great Princess of Northern Qi walking out arm in arm. The two women, with the clever application of ornaments, clothing, and makeup, radiated brilliance, their eyes and eyebrows as beautiful as a painting, dignified and noble. In his heart, he couldn't help but praise them, thinking that the so-called "bejeweled and radiant" was nothing more than this.

The Great Princess smiled slightly at him and went forward to stand side-by-side with Wan'er, whom she already knew, walking out of the hall.

————————————————————————

The Winter Solstice is as important as the New Year. On this day, the entire Qing Kingdom was resting. The imperial court was closed, the army was resting, the border was closed, and merchants were resting. Not only Kyoto, but also the Northern Qi in the far north, were spending a happy little day in peace and quiet.

According to the Qing Kingdom's customs, people had to eat mutton on the day of the Winter Solstice. In the Kyoto's houses and streets, countless wisps of hot mist rose from the kitchens, whether spacious or cramped. The mist circled around the tops of various urn pots three times, then sought the only path to life, drilling out through the narrow gaps between the windows and buildings. These hot mists were permeated with the pungent smell of dried chili peppers, the muttony smell of fresh mutton, the unique smell of medicinal herbs, and the sweet smell of turnips. The four flavors mixed together, incomparably wonderful, spreading throughout the streets and alleys outside countless courtyards, causing everyone who smelled it to be moved and salivate.

Inside the Hanguang Palace, behind the last table, Fan Xian stared with bewildered eyes, looking at the mutton cut into ear shapes on the tip of his chopsticks, and at the mushroom flowers and precious vegetables floating in the white soup in his bowl. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart—the mutton in this palace was indeed different from the mutton of the common people. The craftsmanship was much more exquisite, but it was also lacking that scent of incense, warmth, and intent.

There was no tofu or turnips. How was he supposed to eat the mutton? The biggest problem was—the mutton was already lukewarm. It couldn't be hot enough to make his lips tingle. What was the point of drinking it?

So he only reluctantly finished the soup in his bowl, then picked up some chopsticks of rice mixed with sauce, chewing very slowly and meticulously, delaying the time of this boring "family banquet." He focused his eyes on his nose, nose on his lips, lips on the tip of his chopsticks, extremely focused, but his peripheral vision didn't leave the room, quietly listening to the conversations of these members of the royal family in the hall, without interrupting with a single word, as lonely as the lonely wheelchair not far behind him.

Hanguang Palace was the palace of the Empress Dowager, the most magnificent building in the harem. Although it seemed much simpler compared to the prodigal palace of Northern Qi's Shangjing, it was still magnificent, with candlelight shining like the sun, illuminating the furnishings and objects in the hall to a dazzling glow.

The royal descendants in the hall silently ate their food, not daring to look directly at the old woman at the very top, or at the Emperor and Empress beside the old woman. Today was the Winter Solstice, and everyone was present, including the Jing Prince's family of three, and even the Second Prince, who was under house arrest, had entered the palace. However, when the Second Prince and Hongcheng saw Fan Xian enter, they were only slightly surprised and didn't rush up like shrewish women, demanding life and death.

Fan Xian glanced with his peripheral vision at the old woman above the main seat. This was the first time he had seen the Empress Dowager. From the other party's eyebrows, eyes, and wrinkles, he seemed to still be able to smell the old woman's methods and hard heart from back then. Even though the tiger was old and sick, its power was still there. She sat at the very top, and even the always unrestrained Jing Prince seemed much more obedient.

He wasn't familiar with the people, but he was familiar with the palace. Back when he was playing the role of the Thief Handsome at Night, he had walked through this palace twice, and found the key in the hidden compartment under the old woman's bed. Thinking of this, he quietly retracted his gaze and silently ate the rice mixed with sauce.

Several weak coughs came from above. Fan Xian lowered his head and said nothing. The expression on the Empress Dowager's face that he had seen in the previous glance revealed that the corners of her lips had begun to droop, and he knew that this old woman wouldn't live for more than a few years.

"Chen girl, come and sit next to me." The Empress Dowager looked at her granddaughter on the very last seat in the distance, then glanced at Fan Xian, whose face was hidden in the shadows, and called out, "Give me a massage."

Wan'er got up from her seat in an incredibly gentle manner, walked to that place with a smile, leaned close to the Empress Dowager's ear, and said a few words, then glanced at Fan Xian, who was eating sauce rice with a bitter face, presumably to make the old woman happy, telling jokes. Sure enough, the Empress Dowager laughed, scolding with a smile, "It seems that you've fed him well at the Fan mansion, to the point where he can't even eat the food in the palace."

Although her voice was low, it was clearly heard by everyone, and they all knew she was talking about Fan Xian.

Fan Xian's heart stirred, and a smile bloomed on his lips. He thought that Wan'er was the most favored in the palace, and it seemed that it wasn't a lie. As long as the Empress Dowager and the Emperor liked her, her status in the palace would naturally stand out.

But he was still a little nervous in his heart. Today was the first time he had seen the Empress Dowager. The way the old woman occasionally glanced at him actually made him feel a little chilled. Logically speaking, a grandmother looking at an illegitimate grandson... shouldn't have that kind of look—that look was very complicated, with a hint of gratification, two parts pride, three parts doubt, and the remaining four parts were vigilance and coldness!

When the Empress Dowager spoke, everyone had stopped eating, listening to what the old woman was saying at the Winter Solstice family banquet.

"Today, everyone is here... Last year, my body wasn't well, so we didn't gather. Today, seeing the驸马's appearance, I'm happy in my heart." The Empress Dowager spoke of happiness, but there was no expression on her face. She turned to the Emperor and said, "It's just that your sister is staying alone in Xinyang, which is not good. With her daughter and son-in-law both in Kyoto, I don't like her, as a woman, always living far away from the palace."

Fan Xian sneered in his heart, knowing that the main topic had finally been brought up. The meaning was very clear. Even he, this駙馬, could participate in the imperial family banquet, so why couldn't the Eldest Princess?

The Emperor's deep eyes flashed, and he replied, "The weather is cold, and the roads are not easy to travel. When spring comes, I'll let Yunrui return."

Hearing these words, the Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction. Fan Xian noticed that the Second Prince's left sleeve was shaking unnaturally. Presumably, this brother, who had been made extremely miserable by him, knew that great support was about to arrive in the capital and couldn't contain his excitement.

But... why did the Crown Prince's expression look a little strange?

...

...

Fan Xian didn't pay much attention to what was said later. Imperial family banquets were really boring. But listening to the Empress Dowager occasionally mentioning him, deliberately revealing that hint of indifference, made him involuntarily reveal a self-deprecating smile.

He had once heard that when he was injured, the Empress Dowager had prayed for him, and he had also received the pearl bestowed by the Empress Dowager. He had thought that the old woman's heart had softened, and his own hard heart had also loosened a little. Unexpectedly, it was just his wild guess. Oh well, let's just compare who has the harder heart. You people from imperial families are born with cold hearts. The monster of a second life in our family won't have a soft heart either, at least it'll be three points harder than the mutton in this cold soup.

Since the Emperor is not like an Emperor, and the subjects are not like subjects, and the father is not like a father, and the sons are not like sons, and the ancestors are not like ancestors, and the grandchildren are not like grandchildren, why should he be wary of that non-existent blood relationship?

Although he was a "poet" who plagiarized articles, Fan Xian was ultimately a good person of letters, unable to shake off those few strands of sourness and pride in his bones. In this desolate Hanguang Palace, he actually straightened his body, straightened his back, and although his face was smiling, his replies were not deliberately flattering the Empress Dowager, nor would he shamelessly pretend to be a junior, letting the old woman enjoy the joy of having grandchildren. For a time, the dialogue in Hanguang Palace seemed a little awkward and cold.

Apart from the Empress Dowager, the consorts and princes in the hall were very familiar with Fan Xian, knowing that this驸馬 was not a simple character. When it came to making people happy, it was his most skilled trick. So, some didn't understand why Fan Xian didn't take advantage of the opportunity of today's family banquet to curry favor with the Empress Dowager.

The Emperor didn't take it seriously, thinking that Fan Xian was annoyed by the fact that his mother-in-law was returning to the capital and had lost his composure. The Empress Dowager, however, thought that this young man was born to be so arrogant and unruly, and was even more displeased in her heart.

Seeing this scene, the Empress didn't understand what Fan Xian wanted to do, and a trace of doubt appeared in the corner of her eye. Imperial Concubine Ning was drinking wine with extreme boldness under the Empress Dowager's slightly angry gaze. Noble Consort Shu was sipping it in small sips. Consort Yi was chuckling stupidly, trying to make the Empress Dowager happy, diverting some of the attention away from Fan Xian.

Among the rest of the people, the First Prince was confused, the Second Prince was secretly amused, and the Third Prince was admiring. Crown Prince was lost in thought. Only the Jing Prince guessed closer to the truth, shaking his head secretly, thinking that scholars would often blurt out some pedantic remarks.

Wan'er, who was leaning against the Empress Dowager, looked at Fan Xian with some worry.

———————————————————————

In the cold night, snow fell again, scattered everywhere. At the corner gate of the imperial palace, Fan Xian sat in his wheelchair, lowering his head slightly, his face serene as if lost in thought. Lin Wan'er said with some concern, "Husband, are you alright?"

"I'm alright." Fan Xian still lowered his head firmly. "I'm just pretending to be Di Feijing."

The Tiger Guards and the Qinian Group arrived. The couple got into the carriage, and the carriage drove towards the Fan mansion. In the carriage, Lin Wan'er asked curiously, "Who is Di Feijing?"

"A person who keeps his head down his whole life." Fan Xian laughed, "Let's not talk about him. Let's hurry home and eat mutton. Father and the others should still be waiting."