Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2: Story Time
Chapter 3: The Nameless Yellow Book
Chapter 4: Practice And Study
Chapter 5: The Nocturnal Visitor
Chapter 6: The Pillow
Chapter 7: The Guest
Chapter 8: The Cemetery
Chapter 9: Age Is Just A Number
Chapter 10: No Shame In Asking
Chapter 11: The Fifth Grandmaster?
Chapter 12: Overpowering Qi
Chapter 13: The Crude, Simple Explanation
Chapter 14: The Sea Salt Merchant
Chapter 15: Farewell For Now, Fei Jie
Chapter 16: A Letter From The Capital
Chapter 17: I Offer This Kitchen Knife To You
Chapter 18: Blood And Tears
Chapter 19: A Matter Of Dignity
Chapter 20: Standing At The Top
Chapter 21: Pain
Chapter 22: “The Poets”
Chapter 23: Maokouzi
Chapter 24: Assassin
Chapter 25: Tofu Like Jade
Chapter 26: The Old Man In The Blanket
Chapter 27: The Overwatch Council
Chapter 28: Nighttime Reading With A Beautiful Girl
Chapter 29: The Book Thief
Chapter 30: The Past
Chapter 31: The Singing Visitor
Chapter 32: Tipping The Boat
Chapter 33: Idle Years
Chapter 34: Zhu The Cool
Chapter 35: Memories Of A Rainy Night
Chapter 36: The Spring Of The 4Th Year
Chapter 37: To The Capital?
Chapter 38: Last Night
Chapter 39: Leaving Danzhou Harbor
Chapter 40: Approaching The Capital
Chapter 41: Entering Fan Manor
Chapter 42: Lady Liu
Chapter 43: Ruoruo’S Lessons
Chapter 44: Father And Son
Chapter 45: Palace Intrigues
Chapter 46: Old Friends In A Distant City
Chapter 47: The Treasured Red Book
Chapter 48: Street Literature
Chapter 49: In The Restaurant
Chapter 50: What Is Strength?
Chapter 51: Crown Prince Jing
Chapter 52: In The Carriage
Chapter 53: Alone
Chapter 54: Inside The Overwatch Council
Chapter 55: Candied Berries And The Temple Of Qing
Chapter 56: The Nobleman
Chapter 57: The Fluttering Heart
Chapter 58: It Was Her
Chapter 59: The Young Accountant
Chapter 60: A Brother-Sister Chat
Chapter 61: The Proposal
Chapter 62: Early Summer
Chapter 63: Simple Reasons
Chapter 64: Poetry
Chapter 65: The Prince’S Mansion
Chapter 66: Meeting Guo Baokun Again
Chapter 67: By The Lakeside
Chapter 68: The First Blow
Chapter 69: The Poetry Battle
Chapter 70: King Jing’S Declaration
Chapter 71: Si Lili
Chapter 72: Like An Orchid
Chapter 73: The Bag Of Pain
Chapter 74: The Lawsuit
Chapter 75: Courthouse Farce
Chapter 76: Dispute
Chapter 77: In The Palace
Chapter 78: The Slap
Chapter 79: The Wise Empress Dowager
Chapter 80: Searching For His Fiancée
Chapter 81: Entering The Hall
Chapter 82: Enter The Chamber
Chapter 83: Through The Window
Chapter 84: Time-Crossed Lovers
Chapter 85: Clan School
Chapter 86: Shopkeeper Ye Of Qingyu Hall
Chapter 87: Pillow Talk
Chapter 88: Can The Ant Climb The Tree?
Chapter 89: The Case Of The Young Killer On Niulan Street
Chapter 90: Investigation
Chapter 91: Fan Xian On The Move
Chapter 92: Wang Qinian’S Life
Chapter 93: Talking About The Capital Outside Cangzhou City
Chapter 94: The Functionary Wins The Queen Of Flowers
Chapter 95: Not Letting Flirting Interfere With Selling Books
Chapter 96: Danbo Bookstore
Chapter 97: The Official’S Suicide
Chapter 98: Torturing A Frail Woman In The Celestial Prison
Chapter 99: Sweet Words
Chapter 100: The Vineyard Collapses
Chapter 101: No Title
Chapter 102: Deception Before Emperor
Chapter 103: Breakthrough In The Puzzle
Chapter 104: That Woman
Chapter 105: The Arrival Of Summer
Chapter 106: The Country Estate
Chapter 107: Moonlight In The Mountains
Chapter 108: Paying Respect Across The River
Chapter 109: An Encounter Between Unacquainted Enemies
Chapter 110: Talking About The Future In Qingyu Hall
Chapter 111: Morning Roll Call At Taichang Temple
Chapter 112: Reaping The Whirlwind
Chapter 113: The Glorious Tradition Of Cheap Shots
Chapter 114: Coffin-Breaker Technique And Little Tricks
Chapter 115: Give Mountains, Give Rivers, Give Snuff Bottles
Chapter 116: Summer Vacation
Chapter 117: A Waft Of Cumin By The Lakeside
Chapter 118: A Tale Of Quarreling Fairies
Chapter 119: Finding A Plum Branch In Summer [1]
Chapter 120: The Crown Prince Rides
Chapter 121: Unlucky Despite The Promotion
Chapter 122: The Box, The Poison Needle, And The Killer
Chapter 123: The Emissaries From Northern Qi
Chapter 124: Unartistic Negotiation
Chapter 125: Old And Vicious Shaoqing Xin
Chapter 126: Sincerity In The East Palace
Chapter 127: There Isn’T A Single Trustworthy Person In The World
Chapter 128: That Chilly Royal Palace
Chapter 129: The Imperial Concubines
Chapter 130: My Hand Running Through Your Black Hair
Chapter 131: The Rush Back To The Manor
Chapter 132: Startling News Of Lord Yan In The North
Chapter 133: Agreement Beneath The Sewage
Chapter 134: Evening Feast
Chapter 135: Luminaries Of The Ages
Chapter 136: Intentions Of Entering The Palace While Drunk
Chapter 137: Eunuch Hong
Chapter 138: There Is A Key In Everyone’S Heart
Chapter 139: Guangxin Palace
Chapter 140: Who Is The Assassin?
Chapter 141: Secrets Of The Box (Part 1)
Chapter 142: Secrets Of The Box (2)
Chapter 143: Clarity After Autumn Rain
Chapter 144: Leaflets Like Snow
Chapter 145: Doing The Math
Chapter 146: Poetry Anthologies And Speeches
Chapter 147: The Grand Wedding (I)
Chapter 148: The Grand Wedding (Ii)
Chapter 149: Gifts (Part 1)
Chapter 150: Gifts (Part 2)
Chapter 151: Chapter 45
Chapter 152: Chapter 46
Chapter 153: Chapter 47
Chapter 154: Chapter 48-49
Chapter 155: Court Discussions (Part 1)
Chapter 156: Court Discussions (Part 2)
Chapter 157: Chapter 3
Chapter 158: Back To The Capital
Chapter 159: The Second Prince
Chapter 160: The Riverside Makes One Weary
Chapter 161: Examination
Chapter 162: Being An Examiner Is Really An Interesting Job
Chapter 163: Spring Wind And Rain Enters The Imperial Exams [1]
Chapter 164: You’Re Confused, I’M Confused… Everybody’S Confused [1]
Chapter 165: A Clap Of Thunder
Chapter 166: Cheating At The Exam Hall
Chapter 167: A Visitor In The Rain (Part 1)
Chapter 168: A Visitor In The Rain (Part 2)
Chapter 169: A Brilliant Day
Chapter 170: A Royal Proclamation
Chapter 171: The Powerful Minister Takes To The Road
Chapter 172: The Counterattack Of The Capital Officials
Chapter 173: Debate
Chapter 174: Chaos In The Ministry Of Justice
Chapter 175: Commissioner! Commissioner!
Chapter 176: The First Visit To The Manor
Chapter 177: The Real Overwatch Council
Chapter 178: A Shadow In The Mortal World
Chapter 179: Small Flower
Chapter 180: Chilling Equipment
Chapter 181: Blasphemy
Chapter 182: Night
Chapter 183: Xiao En Leaves Prison
Chapter 184: Outside The Capital
Chapter 185: An Artless Poisoning
Chapter 186: Romance In The Carriage
Chapter 187: Operation White Sleeve
Chapter 188: Learning From Xiao En
Chapter 189: Silent Killings In The Capital
Chapter 190: A Blade In An Oil-Paper Umbrella
Chapter 191: White Birds On The Lake, People On His Mind
Chapter 192: Si Lili’S Secret
Chapter 193: Eldest Princess’S Vision
Chapter 194: Uncaged
Chapter 195: Open The Door; Release The Dogs
Chapter 196: You Die, I Live
Chapter 197: Startling Developments In The Meadow
Chapter 198: Haitang Duoduo
Chapter 199: Shamelessness Against Virtue
Chapter 200: Untitled
Chapter 201: Haitang’S Lust
Chapter 202: Prelude To Psychological Warfare
Chapter 203: In A Word, Heart
Chapter 204: Wuduhe
Chapter 205: By The Roadside
Chapter 206: Arriving In Shangjing
Chapter 207: Thick Night On Mottled City Walls
Chapter 208: The Envoy Enters The Palace
Chapter 209: Chatting With The Emperor
Chapter 210: There Are A Lot Of Talented People Named Fan
Chapter 211: A Country Girl Indeed!
Chapter 212: To And Fro
Chapter 213: The Fighting Envoy
Chapter 214: Tan Wu Is Not A Literary Man
Chapter 215: The Old Shop On Xiushui Street
Chapter 216: Developments In The Imperial Business
Chapter 217: Chang Ninghou’S Mansion
Chapter 218: Do You Want To Get Rich?
Chapter 219: What’S It Got To Do With Minister Fan?
Chapter 220: Seeing Yan Bingyun For The First Time
Chapter 221: Ripping The White Robe
Chapter 222: The Idealists
Chapter 223: Meeting Shen Zhong In The Rain
Chapter 224: Young Yan Is Freed
Chapter 225: Things Aren’T As You Imagined
Chapter 226: The Plot
Chapter 227: A Real Man Loves His Children
Chapter 228: Killing In The Alley
Chapter 229: Shangjing’S Secret Agents
Chapter 230: Happy News
Chapter 231: Ruoruo Is Getting Married!
Chapter 232: The More The Merrier
Chapter 233: Overlooking The Prison Break
Chapter 234: Ambush
Chapter 235: Failure
Chapter 236: Fan Xian Follows
Chapter 237: Damp Firewood And Cheap Shots
Chapter 238: Fan Xian Jumps Off The Cliff
Chapter 239: Traveler Of This World
Chapter 240: The Temple Of Eternal Night
Chapter 241: The Little Girl Escapes The Temple
Chapter 242: Today’S Chapter Is Untitled
Chapter 243: Close Your Eyes And Be At Peace
Chapter 244: Why Have You Gone So Pale Once Again?
Chapter 245: Why Are You Coming, Xianxian?
Chapter 246: Get Thee To A Nunnery
Chapter 247: Farming, Drinking, Chatting, And Deciding The Future
Chapter 248: This World, This Woman!
Chapter 249: Fighting And Play-Fighting In The Palace Contest
Chapter 250: Look Up, Look Down And Then Laugh
Chapter 251: Even The Emperor Gossips
Chapter 252: Carry On The Torch
Chapter 253: The Long Pavilion, The Ancient Road, Tossing The Handkerchief
Chapter 254: Autumn Harvest
Chapter 255: Fighting For Passage
Chapter 256: Family Business
Chapter 257: In A Hurry
Chapter 258: Absurdities In The Rear House
Chapter 259: The Ninth Month
Chapter 260: Sky Above The Carriage, Bean Sprouts In The Palace
Chapter 261: Leaving The Palace To Be Lords
Chapter 262: The Lone Bureau
Chapter 263: A Youngster In The Bureau
Chapter 264: Rectification!
Chapter 265: Xinfeng Restaurant
Chapter 266: She Showed Self-Respect, You Became A Pervert
Chapter 267: Eunuch Dai’S Wise Decision
Chapter 268: Interlude Of Black And White
Chapter 269: A Saint?
Chapter 270: The Memorial In The Palace Storm
Chapter 271: An Zhi
Chapter 272: Confrontation In Front Of The Palace
Chapter 273: Courtroom Debate
Chapter 274: The Lashings
Chapter 275: The Bright Fist In The Dark
Chapter 276: The Youths Inside And Outside The Palace
Chapter 277: King Jing’S Birthday Feast
Chapter 278: Is It Worth Studying Abroad?
Chapter 279: Do You Want A Newly Embroidered Handkerchief?
Chapter 280: Bao Yue House
Chapter 281: Sang Wen
Chapter 282: Fan Strikes
Chapter 283: Ruthless Fighting
Chapter 284: Blocking The Street
Chapter 285: The Mantis Blocks The Road
Chapter 286: There Is Concern
Chapter 287: Heroes Start Young
Chapter 288: Follow Me Home
Chapter 289: Shutting Down
Chapter 290: Brother
Chapter 291: Family Discipline
Chapter 292: The Old Fan And The Young Fan
Chapter 293: Exile
Chapter 294: Drawn Together
Chapter 295: The Night Outside The Capital
Chapter 296: Repossession
Chapter 297: Prostitutes, Pedestrians And A Downpour Assassination
Chapter 298: The Greetings Outside The Capital Government Office
Chapter 299: There Is Nothing Wrong With Watching Leaves Fall
Chapter 300: Medicine
Chapter 301: There Is A Swing On This Side Of The Wall, And There Is A Street On The Other
Chapter 302: Chen'S Garden Has Guests
Chapter 303: Autumn Woods, Secrets, And Consequences
Chapter 304: Chrysanthemum, Ancient Swords And Alcohol
Chapter 305: Chrysanthemum, Ancient Swords And Alcohol (2)
Chapter 306: Dagger, Seeing The Dagger Again
Chapter 307: The Injured In The Palace
Chapter 308: The Candlelight Surgery
Chapter 309: The Patient In The Plum Garden
Chapter 310: A Bolt From The Blue
Chapter 311: The Eldest Prince Has Come To Visit
Chapter 312: Reward And Conversation
Chapter 313: Love Letter
Chapter 314: A Garden Tour With Unease (1)
Chapter 315: A Garden Tour With Unease(2)
Chapter 316: A Garden Tour With Unease (3)
Chapter 317: The Snow Of Shangjing City
Chapter 318: Great Grandmasters, Black Market, Riddles
Chapter 319: Who Could Kill Commissioner Fan?
Chapter 320: Mountain Living Notes
Chapter 321: The Best Time
Chapter 322: Knowing The Mother Is Better Than Knowing The Father
Chapter 323: The Qing People’S Collective Memory Of The Ye Family
Chapter 324: Even If You Guess The Flower, That Is That
Chapter 325: The Cloth-Clothed Grandmaster Battle
Chapter 326: The Fan Manor’S Changes
Chapter 327: Secret Movements In A Little Tower In The Palace
Chapter 328: All Exists
Chapter 329: Wishing You Meteoric Success
Chapter 330: Disturbance Before Leaving (Part 1)
Chapter 331: Disturbance Before Leaving (2)
Chapter 332: Bandits Came When Anchored At Yingzhou
Chapter 333: The Qing Kingdom’S Largest Bandit Ship
Chapter 334: A Situation
Chapter 335: You’Ve Been Surrounded
Chapter 336: What Should I Use To Worship You?
Chapter 337: Pledging Loyalty And Fan Xian’S Facade And Shadow
Chapter 338: A River Of Silver And Busy Receiving Gifts
Chapter 339: Loushang Tower, People Beyond People
Chapter 340: The Girl Selling Flowers And The Shameless Official
Chapter 341: Coincidental Classmates In Youth
Chapter 342: An Auspicious Sign From The Heavens
Chapter 343: Pick Up The Bowl To Drink Congee, Put Down Chopsticks To Curse
Chapter 344: Dragon Rise[Jw1]
Chapter 345: The Money House And The Brothel
Chapter 346: The Way A Gentleman Obtains Wealth
Chapter 347: Arriving At Shunde
Chapter 348: Very Tyrannical, Unable To Tolerate Trouble
Chapter 349: Palace Treasury Strike
Chapter 350: Why Was The Imperial Envoy Angry?
Chapter 351: Old Shopkeeper
Chapter 352: A Whetstone With An Independent Consciousness
Chapter 353: Some Things Can Be Done But Not Said
Chapter 354: Road Of Spring
Chapter 355: Borrowing Your Hand To Hold The Northern Qi Emperor’S Hand
Chapter 356: The Pebble In The Eye Of The Ming Family
Chapter 357: Choking The Throat Of Life
Chapter 358: Washing The Island
Chapter 359: Mother And Son Of The Ming Family
Chapter 360: A Good Man With His Body In Suzhou And His Heart On All Under Heaven
Chapter 361: The Door Of The Palace Treasury
Chapter 362: The Bandits Of Room B4
Chapter 363: Big Brother, Long Time No See
Chapter 364: A Slight Change
Chapter 365: Raising A Finger
Chapter 366: Heavenly Woman Scattering Flowers
Chapter 367: Heaven Knows Not Because Of The Chime Of Drums
Chapter 368: Pride Was Not As Heavy As Gold
Chapter 369: The Bright Moon Is Not For Those Who Walk The Night
Chapter 370: Xia Mingji
Chapter 371: Torture Chamber And Will
Chapter 372: The Family Property Lawsuit
Chapter 373: The Incomparably Harmonious Piece Of Paper
Chapter 374: Xinfeng Restaurant’S Buns, Prince, And The Lawyer In Court
Chapter 375: The Night Of The Building Opening And Murder
Chapter 376: Killing Yuan Jingmeng To Swap Blood
Chapter 377: Fishing
Chapter 378: Behind The Ming Family’S Tragedy
Chapter 379: Whose Navy?
Chapter 380: Unwilling To Let Go
Chapter 381: The Palace And The Court
Chapter 382: Poaching Talent In Court
Chapter 383: The Matter Of The Ministry Of Revenue (1)
Chapter 384: The Matter Of The Ministry Of Revenue (2)
Chapter 385: The Investigation And The Artist’S Work (1)
Chapter 386: Fan Jian’S Sword
Chapter 387: Picking Up A Giant Snowball
Chapter 388: With Reason And Heavenly Might
Chapter 389: The Capital Deep In Spring
Chapter 390: Spring Union
Chapter 391: Bright And Cheerful Scenery
Chapter 392: Rising Climax
Chapter 393: Who Was Not Surprised?
Chapter 394: Black Mud Beneath The White Frost In The City
Chapter 395: I Watch The People’S Hearts From Above
Chapter 396: You Make Trouble Outside The Garden, I Laugh Inside The Garden
Chapter 397: A Strange Guest To Suzhou
Chapter 398: You Dare To Kill Me?
Chapter 399: One Strike To Topple The Building
Chapter 400: Hua Garden’S Brainstorm
Chapter 401: These Months
Chapter 402: Blankets Protected The Common People Under Heaven
Chapter 403: The Gathering Of Abandoned Children
Chapter 404: The Sword And The Edict
Chapter 405: This Matter Does Not Concern Romance
Chapter 406: Childishness
Chapter 407: The Same Sky
Chapter 408: Wuzhou Uncle
Chapter 409: Negotiations With Wife’S Family
Chapter 410: Father-In-Law Laughing Talks About The Junshang Conference
Chapter 411: Leaving The Mountain
Chapter 412: Entering The City
Chapter 413: Someone Is Having A Feast In Jiaozhou
Chapter 414: Someone Is Doing An Assassination In The Bathroom
Chapter 415: Charging Into The Manor Again
Chapter 416: A Play Inside The Admiral’S Manor
Chapter 417: Announcing Verbal Orders In The Study
Chapter 418: A Night Of Drugging People But Not Killing Them
Chapter 419: Who Is Whose Man?
Chapter 420: I Came From Faraway To Make Our Appointment
Chapter 421: Entering The Sheep Herd
Chapter 422: The Sea Breeze That Brought A Stench Of Blood
Chapter 423: Great Things To Be Done
Chapter 424: Officials Have Heart
Chapter 425: The Son Of Heaven Has A Sickness
Chapter 426: A Letter On The Sea Breeze
Chapter 427: Return Home With Honor (1)
Chapter 428: Return Home With Honor (2)
Chapter 429: Grandson, Sister-In-Law, Husband And Wife, Ah…
Chapter 430: Mercy And Deep Running Still Waters[Jw1] Are A Pair
Chapter 431: There Is No Tofu In Danzhou Today
Chapter 432: Only Talking About Relatives
Chapter 433: The Few Days Before Leaving Danzhou
Chapter 434: Snowy Night Meets Green Banner
Chapter 435: Thirteenth Wang
Chapter 436: There Is Snow In The Valley
Chapter 437: White Snow, Red Woods, Black Hair
Chapter 438: Jingdou, I Trust You Have Been Well Since We Last Met?
Chapter 439: In Front Of The Bureau Of Military Affairs, A Great Head
Chapter 440: From Where Is The Report From?
Chapter 441: The Old Grandfather Who Planted Pak Choi
Chapter 442: Who Can Resist?
Chapter 443: There Are Dogs Under Heaven, Who Will Chase Them Away?
Chapter 444: When One Is In A Temple, One Has No Choice
Chapter 445: Old Wheelchair, New Wheelchair
Chapter 446: Three People, Three Thoughts
Chapter 447: Person In Picture, Sound Outside Picture
Chapter 448: Big Brother, Don’T Scold Second Brother
Chapter 449: My People, Their People
Chapter 450: There Is Snow Outside The Building And Thoughts To The North
Chapter 451: Washing Your Hands To Make Soup
Chapter 452: Intentions As Before
Chapter 453: Remembering The Past In The Royal Study
Chapter 454: Brothers Smile In Front Of Baoyue Brothel
Chapter 455: Discussing History At The Feast At Hongmen [Jw1] (1)
Chapter 456: Discussing History At The Feast At Hongmen (2)
Chapter 457: Discussing History At The Feast At Hongmen (3)
Chapter 458: Discussing History At The Feast At Hongmen (4)
Chapter 459: Fog
Chapter 460: The Snowflakes And Bean Curds Before The Dawn
Chapter 461: The Great Court Conference
Chapter 462: Duke Of Danbo
Chapter 463: There Are Enemies Under Heaven
Chapter 464: Not Your Goddamn Business
Chapter 465: Returning To The Ancestors
Chapter 466: No Ambiguity Between Ruler And Official
Chapter 467: Remember The Past, When You Were Young
Chapter 468: The Small One Is In The Shoe
Chapter 469: Those Stupid Matters…In The Palace
Chapter 470: Seeing The Eldest Princess Again
Chapter 471: Loneliness In The Palace At Night
Chapter 472: Oh, Tears
Chapter 473: Where Are The Roots Of The Straw?
Chapter 474: Everything Has Order
Chapter 475: Unexpected But Attained
Chapter 476: Breaking The Ice Like Jade
Chapter 477: The Unconventional In The Royal Family
Chapter 478: The Fragrance Could Not Endure
Chapter 479: I Know What You Did Last Summer
Chapter 480: Eunuchs Can Also Change The World
Chapter 481: The Origins Of Fan San Bao
Chapter 482: As Parents
Chapter 483: The Third Generation
Chapter 484: Attitude Determines Everything
Chapter 485: Zhaoshang Money House
Chapter 486: The Death Of A Palace Serving Girl
Chapter 487: Who Could Obstruct A Large Escorted Stone-Carrying Carriage?
Chapter 488: This Is A Conspiracy
Chapter 489: The Major Figures
Chapter 490: Laughter In The Ming Garden
Chapter 491: Mountain Wolf Amongst The Descendants (1)
Chapter 492: Mountain Wolf Amongst Descendants (2)
Chapter 493 - The Three Nights In The Palace
Chapter 494 - Half An Hour
Chapter 495 - Blood And Yellow Earth In The Royal Palace
Chapter 496 - Thunderstorm (1)
Chapter 497 - Thunderstorm (2)
Chapter 498 - I [Jw1]
Chapter 499 - Imprison
Chapter 500 - Flow
Chapter 501 - Sigh
Chapter 502 - Pit
Chapter 503 - A New Generation Of Strange Little Creatures
Chapter 504: The Young Lady Of The Fan Manor In The Forest And Letters
Chapter 505 - If You Support Me
Chapter 506 - When All Was Done
Chapter 507 - The More Silence, The More Joy
Chapter 508 - Tea, Liquor, Paper, Big Picture
Chapter 509 - Absurd Words
Chapter 510 - Miserable Tears
Chapter 511 - A Lowly Monarch (1)
Chapter 512 - A Lowly Monarch (2)
Chapter 513 - The Monarch Arrives In The East Sea
Chapter 514 - Waves Growing From The Precipice
Chapter 515 - White Clouds Rise From Tall Mountains
Chapter 516 - People In The Temple
Chapter 517 - Words From The Heart
Chapter 518
Chapter 519 - Longbows Seal The Mountain At Night
Chapter 520 - Covering The Moon
Chapter 521 - Seeking Shelter In The Raging Sea
Chapter 522 - The Heart On The Ship
Chapter 523 - Chase (1)
Chapter 524 - Chase (2)
Chapter 525 - Chase (3)
Chapter 526 - A Breathtaking Shot
Chapter 527 - The Sad Little Arrow
Chapter 528 - The Great Grandmaster
Chapter 529 - The Mortal World
Chapter 530 - Meeting At Dong Mountain
Chapter 531 - A Great Journey
Chapter 532 - The Song Of Jingdou’S Cicadas
Chapter 533
Chapter 534 - The Beginnings Of Autumn
Chapter 535 - Please Lend Sir Your Moral Character
Chapter 536 - The Sound Of Sorrow
Chapter 537 - He Has Actually Always Been Here
Chapter 538 - Secret Meeting In Yangcong Alley
Chapter 539 - Who Could Live A Simple Life?
Chapter 540 - A Child Jumped Over The Wall
Chapter 541 - Whose Manor Is It?
Chapter 542 - The Sword Is Never Shown When Killing
Chapter 543 - Drawing The Dagger In His Shoe For The First Time
Chapter 544 - That Night
Chapter 545
Chapter 546 - Courage Because Of Determination
Chapter 547 - Sounds Of Killing Inside And Outside The Royal Palace
Chapter 548 - Counting Arrows
Chapter 549 - Affectionate Eunuch, Merciless Arrow
Chapter 550 - Vicious (1)
Chapter 551 - Vicious (2)
Chapter 552
Chapter 553 - Giving Him A Taste Of His Own Medicine
Chapter 554 - The Attack In Front Of Zhengyang Gate
Chapter 555 - Glory
Chapter 556 - Stealing The Banner, Stealing Power, Stealing Heart
Chapter 557 - Placing Three Idols On The Palace Walls
Chapter 558 - No Peace While Sitting In The City
Chapter 559 - Who Formed The Monarch’S Heart In A Sea Of Fire?
Chapter 560 - Using The Black Knights As A Prologue
Chapter 561 - Jing Ge Assassinates Qin
Chapter 562 - Killing Qin
Chapter 563 - The Spy Of An Instant
Chapter 564 - Dingzhou Army’S Order
Chapter 565 - Taiping Courtyard
Chapter 566
Chapter 567
Chapter 568 - The Way Of The Emperor
Chapter 569
Chapter 570 - The Consequences Of Dong Mountain
Chapter 571
Chapter 572 - Blue And White Words
Chapter 573 - A Dignified Life And Death
Chapter 574 - An Old Ginger Gradually Fading
Chapter 575 - An Angry Grape
Chapter 576 - The Watcher In The Maize
Chapter 577 - The Second Half Of The Scroll Of The Father And Son
Chapter 578 - Hearing The Bell Clearly
Chapter 579 - A Hundred Years Of Solitude
Chapter 580 - You Are The Apple Of My Eye
Chapter 581 - In And Out, Gradually Gentling
Chapter 582 - The Emperor’S Intentions
Chapter 583 - Sending Off A Comrade
Chapter 584 - Can’T Be Covered By Qing Mountain
Chapter 585 - Our Unsatisfactory Winter
Chapter 586 - Court Case In Passing Time
Chapter 587 - Hu Ge In Dingzhou
Chapter 588 - The General’S Manor
Chapter 589 - Strong Liquor And Warm Intestines
Chapter 590 - Broken Knife
Chapter 591 - An Old Friend In The Frontier City
Chapter 592 - The Young Man From The King’S Camp
Chapter 593 - Chief
Chapter 594 - Two Years
Chapter 595 - The Haitang Flower By The Lakeside
Chapter 596 - Three Days
Chapter 597 - After The Battle Of The Hearts
Chapter 598 - Autumn Grasslands, Rising Sun, Black Knights
Chapter 599 - Return
Chapter 600 - Outside The Window
Chapter 601 - See Through All The Scenery
Chapter 602 - The Gazes On The City Gate Watch The Return To The Capital
Chapter 603 - Old Events By The City Gate But Not The People Of Old
Chapter 604 - Young Lady Of The Wang Family
Chapter 605 - To Accept Or Not Accept, This Is Not A Question
Chapter 606 - Schemes
Chapter 607 - The Thunder Of Heaven And Fan Xian’S Lost Tablet
Chapter 608 - The Same Moonligh
Chapter 609 - What Are The Intentions Of The Doctor?
Chapter 610 - Singing At Night
Chapter 611 - The Ditch Between Two Departments
Chapter 612 - The East Wind Blows
Chapter 613 - The Show Until Winter
Chapter 614 - I’Ll Go When The Spring Comes
Chapter 615 - The Same Road
Chapter 616 - Cutting Plums At Leisure
Chapter 617 - Shadows Follow By My Side
Chapter 618 - Reunions Can Happen Anywhere In Life
Chapter 619
Chapter 620 - Breaking The Willow, Entering The Hut
Chapter 621 - Guests In The Hut
Chapter 622 - The Secret In The Dusk
Chapter 623 - True Joy In Front Of A Palace
Chapter 624 - Each Emperor Has His Own Officials
Chapter 625 - Brushing Hair
Chapter 626 - The Pit In The Sword Hut
Chapter 627 - Old Man
Chapter 628 - A Large Tree
Chapter 629 - In A Flash
Chapter 630 - If Three Walk Together
Chapter 631 - Drawing Four Swords, Considering A Vacant Heart
Chapter 632 - Only Saints Should Use Them
Chapter 633 - Poisoned
Chapter 634 - We Are All Seas Of Different Colors
Chapter 635 - The Waves Retreating
Chapter 636 - The Waves Retreating
Chapter 637 - Returning To The Capital To Beg For A Position
Chapter 638 - Discussing Marriage, Discussing Merit
Chapter 639 - Taking The Courtyard, Seizing Power
Chapter 640 - Growing Up Overnight
Chapter 641 - Thinking Bitterly By The Courtyard
Chapter 642 - Graves
Chapter 643 - Separate Challenges
Chapter 644 - To Know The Situation From A Cup Of Light Tea
Chapter 645 - Fake Impetuousness During The Banquet
Chapter 646 - The Black Umbrella In The Imperial Academy And The Light On The Nose Bridge明
Chapter 647 - Chaos In Spring Garden
Chapter 648 - An Opening
Chapter 649 - Making A Mistake
Chapter 650 - Fish Guts
Chapter 651 - Farmer, Country Estate, Some Fields
Chapter 652 - Ten Family Village
Chapter 653 - The Way Of Heaven
Chapter 654 - The Starlight Spilling Into The World
Chapter 655 - Willpower Was The Way Of The Emperor
Chapter 656 - Temple, Ant, Notebook
Chapter 657 - Covered In Rain, I Came From The Sea (1)
Chapter 658 - Covered In Rain, I Came From The Sea (2)
Chapter 659 - Covered In Rain, I Came From The Sea (3)
Chapter 660 - One Object In The Air, The Swords In One Hand
Chapter 661 - The Money Markets Of The World Must Be Killed!
Chapter 662 - Opening The Hut
Chapter 663 - One Should Do As One Thinks
Chapter 664 - A Simple Conquering
Chapter 665 - Desire To Quell A Rebellion
Chapter 666 - The Return Road Is Bloody
Chapter 667 - Rising Wind
Chapter 668 - Wife
Chapter 669 - Everyone Came From Jingdou
Chapter 670 - Risking It All
Chapter 671 - A Match Made In Heaven
Chapter 672 - I Want That Old Dog To Live
Chapter 673 - Gentlemen, Friend, Escape
Chapter 674 - The Wheelchair In The Night Wind
Chapter 675 - The Beginning Of A Battle Between Two People
Chapter 676 - A Carriage Enters The City Alone
Chapter 677 - : Decades Of Past Events And Anger
Chapter 678 - So What?
Chapter 679 - Investigating Heaven And Earth Without Retreat
Chapter 680 - Chen Pingping’S Revenge
Chapter 681 - Bamboo Flowering Inside The Royal Study
Chapter 682 - A Finger Pointed To The Overwatch Council’S Subjugation
Chapter 683 - Chaos In Jingdou, Swaying Red Candle
Chapter 684 - Looking And Laughing At Heroes Was Not Common (1)
Chapter 685 - Looking And Laughing At Heroes Was Not Common (2)
Chapter 686 - Looking And Laughing At Heroes Was Not Common (3)
Chapter 687 - Sending Off Chen Pingping In The Rain
Chapter 688 - Untitled Again
Chapter 689 - Unwilling To Wake From A Long Sleep In Fan Manor
Chapter 690 - Snowy Mountain In Dreams, Bloody Water In Basin
Chapter 691 - Washing One’S Hands Of An Official
Chapter 692 - Seven Days
Chapter 693 - The Members Of The Qinian Unit Embark On Their Own Paths
Chapter 694 - Rain At The Qing Temple
Chapter 695 - Name Of The Temple, Shadow Of The Person
Chapter 696 - Prepared
Chapter 697 - The Young Lady Of The Fan Family In The Palace
Chapter 698 - Could There Be Peace When Ruler And Official Meet?
Chapter 699 - Yes, Your Majesty
Chapter 700 - A Small Gift
Chapter 701 - Look, It’S Beautiful Up There
Chapter 702 - Jingdou’S Man Of Leisure
Chapter 703 - Variables In The North
Chapter 704 - Winter Arrives Again
Chapter 705 - A Sorrowful Song Of Defeat In Western Hu
Chapter 706 - Pacifying Xiliang
Chapter 707 - Chaos In Jiangnan
Chapter 708 - Blood In The Capital And Jiangnan
Chapter 709 - Who Is Killing In Jingdou
Chapter 710 - Heartbreak In Front Of The Hall
Chapter 711 - A Commoner Facing The Emperor Alone (1)
Chapter 712 - A Commoner Facing The Emperor Alone (2)
Chapter 713 - A Commoner Facing The Emperor Alone (3)
Chapter 714 - A Commoner Facing The Emperor Alone (4)
Chapter 715 - A Commoner Facing The Emperor Alone (5)
Chapter 716 - There Are Snowy Swords And Frost At Cang Mountain (1)
Chapter 717 - There Are Snowy Swords And Frost At Cang Mountain (2) In The Space Of A Flick Of The Fingers [Jw1]
Chapter 718 - There Are Snowy Swords And Frost At Cang Mountain (3)
Chapter 719 - There Are Snowy Swords And Frost At Cang Mountain (4)
Chapter 720 - Rock Garden
Chapter 721 - One’S Heart Faces The North
Chapter 722 - On A Journey
Chapter 723 - Sudden Chaos In The Snow
Chapter 724 - A Night Of Northern Wind
Chapter 725 - There Once Was A Mountain
Chapter 726 - There Is A Temple In The Mountain
Chapter 727 - Someone In The Temple (1)
Chapter 728: Someone In The Temple (2)
Chapter 729: Someone In The Temple (3)
Chapter 730: That Person Told A Story
Chapter 731: Scene Of Radiation And Legend
Chapter 732: The Loneliness Of One Person
Chapter 733: The Name Of The Most Powerful Person
Chapter 734: No Lake That A Garden Shall Not Reclaim (1)
Chapter 735: No Lake That A Garden Shall Not Reclaim (2)
Chapter 736: Dusk
Chapter 737: Wither
Chapter 738: Noon (1)
Chapter 739: Noon (2)
Chapter 740: Glass Flower
Chapter 741: A Rainy Day In Front Of The Royal Palace
Chapter 742: Walking In Front Of The Palace, Who Will Die?
Chapter 743: The Rainbow In The 12Th Year Of The Qing Calendar (1)
Chapter 744: The Rainbow In The 12Th Year Of The Qing Calendar (2)
Chapter 745: The Rainbow In The 12Th Year Of The Qing Calendar (3)
Chapter 746: Afterward
Categories Genre: Action, Adventure, All, Completed, Fantasy, Harem, Martial Arts, Romance, Xianxia Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 746
Estimated words: 2481802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 12409(@200wpm)___ 9927(@250wpm)___ 8273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 2481802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 12409(@200wpm)___ 9927(@250wpm)___ 8273(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 746 Page No. 745 Page No. 744 Page No. 743 Page No. 742 Page No. 741 Page No. 740 Page No. 739 Page No. 738 Page No. 737 Page No. 736 Chapter 382: Poaching Talent In Court
Chapter 382: Poaching Talent In Court
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The Qing court began at the scheduled time. The day was barely bright, and the Palace was still cool. The Emperor still sat high in his dragon chair while the officials humbly and straightforwardly discussed the government affairs of various counties and Roads. After all urgent matters were discussed and concluded, the Emperor, with faint exhaustion floating on his face, asked, "Is there anything else?"
An official from the Ministry of Justice stepped out and carefully reported, "Your Majesty, the matter of the head of the palace treasury transport company Sir Fan junior…how should it be handled?"
Many of the Jingdou officials were surprised that although the investigation of the deficit of the Ministry of Revenue, which had been accumulating power for days, had not yet started, the criticisms toward Fan Xian, who was far away in Jiangnan, had arrived aggressively.
Within three days, memorials from the Jiangnan Imperial Censorate and other officials began to fly into Jingdou like pieces of snow. Each word and sentence accused the head of the palace treasury transport company of being arrogant and using his status as an imperial envoy to suppress his colleagues. He disregarded the laws of the country and regulations of the court. He willfully killed four of the treasurers of the palace treasury, angered the people, and incited the strike of the three large workshops.
The three large workshops of the palace treasury were an important column in the financial affairs of the Qing Kingdom and such a large event like a strike had not happened for many years. When the news traveled to Jingdou, it shocked many people. Jingdou and Jiangnan were far away from each other. The people did not know of the true situation at the North Min transport company yamen. They knew even less about the fact that it was the Imperial Censorate Guo Zheng and the officials of the Eldest Princess who turned the facts on their head. Clearly, it was the strike that came first followed by Fan Xian suppressing the situation by killing people. After being accused by these excitable officials, it became so that Fan Xian first unreasonably killed, which then incited the commoner's anger.
In the hearts of the court officials, Sir Fan junior was indeed someone who could committed such crimes.
Lao Fan had not even been investigated when the officials began to have strong objections to Xiao Fan. The matter was debated in the court for days, but no one had any ideas, and the Emperor did not say anything.
Among the civil officials, there were a few who were not corrupt. They did not fear the fact that Fan Xian was the Emperor's illegitimate child. On the contrary, because of this, they looked at Fan Xian with even more distrust in their eyes. They worried that this powerful official would harm the very foundations of Qing Kingdom and the interests of the people.
Hu the Scholar who had already entered the Hall of Governmental Affairs and had begun to make his way around the cabinet, had never met Fan Xian and his knowledge of him was limited to the rumors in the officialdom and the public. Although he had the introduction of Shu the Scholar, and he gradually admired Fan Xian's literary talent, he still believed the words in the memorials.
Hu the Scholar had spent many years as a local official in various counties. He deeply understood the unreasonableness of the Jingdou officials. He was worried that Fan Xian would rely on his family's power and his past to run amok in Jiangnan since there would be none to contend with his power.
He decided to speak on behalf of the Jiangnan officials. It would prevent the location from being too deeply damaged, and he was afraid that Sir Fan junior, whom he quite admired, would slide toward the crooked path.
Hu the Scholar stepped out and calmly said, "Your Majesty, this matter should be thoroughly investigated."
The Emperor rubbed his temple and asked, "Investigated? Fan Xian had long written me a report telling me of this. The Overwatch Council also has their reports, and the Hall of Governmental Affairs also as a copy for the archive. Scholar, you should know, this time the palace treasury's trouble was because Fan Xian was investigating the long-established corrupt practices and caused it by getting justice for the workers."
Hu the Scholar said in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, those are only Sir Fan junior's side of the story. Since there have been so many officials accusing him, someone has to be sent to Jiangnan to ask. If the memorials are true, then there should be a strict investigation and compensation made. We must not hurt the hearts of the tens of thousands of workers. If the memorials are lying, then the Jiangnan Road officials should be severely rebuked to soothe Sir Fan junior and return some justice to Sir Fan junior."
The Emperor almost smiled as he gazed at him. After all this Scholar had said, he was determined to send someone to Jiangnan. Only, Jingdou is far from Jiangnan. Even if the capital sent someone, would Fan Xian actually be scared of them? However, the Emperor had called the long-exiled Hu the Scholar back to the capital because he wanted to use the scholar's stubbornness and honesty.
It was like how many years ago he used Lin Ruofu and Chen Pingping to compete against each other. The Emperor of the Qing Kingdom was preparing to use Hu the Scholar and Fan Xian to eventually compete against each other. Since that was so, he could not, at this time, make the Scholar lose face. He smiled slightly and said, "You're words make sense. Offer a candidate to go to Jiangnan to have a look. Whatever the matter is, it needs to be seen personally to know for sure."
Hu the Scholar wanted this seemingly fair suggestion of handling the matter. Since he had achieved his goal, he backed away.
Shu Wu, Shu the Scholar, couldn't stop himself saying worriedly, "Of course we must investigate clearly who is telling the truth and who is lying. But I am worried that after the palace treasury has gone through this storm, the income this year might run into problems. After all, this is Sir Fan junior's first year managing the palace treasury. I hope that Your Majesty will give him plenty of advice."
This was a mild suggestion, but it represented the worries of many officials. They were concerned that Fan Xian was overly irritating and ruthless, and would cause major problems for the production of the entire palace treasury. Although Su Wu was gentle, that did not mean that the others were gentle. On the contrary, there were a few officials who used his words as an opening and began to extol their own deep concerns and loyalty to the court. They spoke of Sir Fan junior's youth and how the matter of the palace treasury was of great importance. If, within this year, there was too big a difference to previous years, should the court consider a different candidate, and so on?
This was a brazen lack of trust in Fan Xian. The meaning was very clear. If Fan Xian could not raise the level of the palace treasury's profit, or if it was not as high as previous years, then what right did he have to control the palace treasury?
Because it was so brazen, each word and sentence seemed to be for the consideration of the court. Although the officials wanted to move deity from the palace treasury, they could not refute anything.
The Emperor smiled slightly and said, "This year's results for the palace treasury would only be known next year. I think, my dear officials, you are being too hasty. After all, some time will be needed to find out whether or not Fan Xian will disappoint me."
The Emperor seemed to suddenly think of something and said, "However, the palace treasury bidding ended a few days ago, and the bidding books should have already been escorted to Jingdou. If my dear officials wish to see Fan Xian's ability, have a look at the results of this year's palace treasury bidding. It should tell you a thing or two."
Qing Kingdom was vast, so there was a great distance between Jiangnan and Jingdou. The bidding had started March 22nd in Suzhou, but the news had just reached Jingdou. If it had traveled by the secret mail road and council report, it should have been a few days faster. Either Fan Xian had forgotten or there was a problem of secrecy with the bidding books, but he didn't reveal anything earlier to the Emperor or the court. After dealing with the strike of the three large workshops in North Min, the Overwatch Council had begun blocking the road for messages between the two places. So, although Jingdou vaguely knew about the bidding matter that had set Suzhou abuzz, they did not know of the specific situation.
The message that should have traveled the fastest, under Fan Xian's suppression, traveled even slower than Great Master San Shi.
The Emperor gazed at the group of people below and said, "Has the Taichang Temple received any documents?"
All of the income of the palace treasury's three large workshops were audited and managed by the Taishang Temple and imperial court, so the Emperor asked the head minister of the Taichang Temple.
"It just arrived early in the morning," the head minister of the Taichang Temple coughed a few times and said with an anxious expression. "I was in a rush to enter the Palace, so I have not yet seen it."
The Emperor huffed coldly, "Then why aren't you rushing to get it!"
The head minister of Taichang Temple bowed and burst into a trotting run out of the Palace to retrieve it.
"We will all wait a bit." The Emperor announced that the court conference would be extended. He accepted a bowl of tea from Eunuch Yao beside him and sipped it slowly.
Time ticked by in seconds and minutes. Palace officials began to feel a bit anxious but did not reveal any kind of expression. Besides, they were truly curious how exactly things had gone? The 40 percent deposit from the palace treasury's spring opening bid was the Qing Kingdom's first major piece of income each year, so these officials couldn't help but anticipate eagerly and wait nervously.
The Emperor looked at the officials with cold eyes and was slightly unhappy in his heart. He understood why that when it came to Fan Xian, all of the civil officials all had to stand up and express their opinion. Even those who had good relations with him, such as Shu Wu, were not an exception. Fan Xian was his illegitimate child. The officials long had complaints about the court's placement of Fan Xian in important positions. They felt it was not according to the regulations and only because the Emperor felt sorry for his own flesh and blood, so he used official positions to console him.
But this palace treasury was mine, this world was mine, this son was also mine…the Emperor thought coldly. When did it become time for these old men to run their mouths off about this? The Emperor knew in his heart that if Fan Xian failed to live up to expectations and turned Jiangnan into a mess, and the palace treasury went into decline…if calamity befell one of the important areas in the country and realized the officials' worries, then no matter how he protected him, he could only transfer Fan Xian back.
The Emperor had confidence in Fan Xian. It was a kind of confidence that had been gradually nurtured. After Fan Xian came to the capital from Danzhou, the Emperor had kept a wary and detailed eye on Fan Xian's every move. He wanted to see just what kind of ability the child had.
In all things, Fan Xian's performance had not disappointed him. In the literary arts, he had the 300 poems in front of the palace. In martial arts, he had the title of a ninth-level. He had Zhuang Mohan gifting him books. His ability to seize gold was not vulgar, and he had no inclination to corruption. Even his romanticism was not done the same way as the other young and elegant men. As for his handle on the court situation, it was even less like that of a mere 18-year-old. His loyalty to his ruler and filial piety toward his father were both to be praised.
When all was said and done, the Emperor was still a normal middle-aged man. it was difficult for him not to feel some inklings of pride toward Fan Xian, an illegitimate child. After all, it was his seed.
When the officials began to express their doubts about Fan Xian, he had the Taichang Temple immediately announce the details of the palace treasury opening bid. Although he did not know the specific amounts, the Emperor never doubted Fan Xian's ability to scrape up every last silver coin—the most basic skill required to be an official.
The sound of urgent footsteps rang out from outside of the palace. The head minister of Taichang Temple ran in at a trot. His face and ears were red as he endlessly wiped the sweat from his forehead. Behind him followed the vice-minister of Taichang Temple, Ren Shao'an, who was also puffing endlessly. To run all the way from the Taichang Temple to the Taiji Palace was indeed quite tiring.
The Emperor allowed the two to rise after a simple salute. His body leaned forward and a trace of interest showed in his expression as he asked, "How is it?"
The various elderly officials in the palace also looked nervously at the two officials of the Taichang Temple.
The head minister of the Taichang Temple swallowed. Before he could even speak, his expression was already one of joy. He replied in a loud voice, "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
Once these words were out, everyone knew the situation of the palace treasury spring opening bid in the sixth year of the Qing calendar was good, and it was very good, not just a little good.
The officials who had some faint intentions to protect Fan Xian all let out a breath and smiles appeared on their faces. Shu the Scholar was nodding his head in approval. The majority of the officials were startled. It seemed no one had expected that after the strike and being impeded by the Eldest Princess' powers, Fan Xian, who was managing the palace treasury for the first time, would actually be able to obtain decent results.
Only the expression of that Hu the Scholar was calm, without anything strange.
After the Qing Emperor on the dragon chair heard these words, he felt his chest relax. His expression stayed calm, but now he sat his entire butt back into his chair, incredibly firmly. Although he had confidence in Fan Xian before he received confirmed reports, he had still been a bit nervous.
The Emperor smiled slightly and asked, "What is the exact amount?"
Everyone needed money, and the Emperor was no exception. He had all of the money in the world but still wished that the amount of money under heaven would grow and grow. He was the greatest landlord in the world but still like all the other wealthy landlords. Joy flashed faintly through his eyes.
The Ren Shao'an coughed and took a file. He read in a clear voice, "On the 22nd day of the third month of the sixth year of the Qing calendar, the total of the palace treasury transport company opening bid of the 36 lots for the north, sound, and east roads is…"
He spoke to here and seemed to be startled again by that enormous number. He steadied his state of mind and said, "Twenty-four million two hundred and twenty-two thousand liang…in total…"
Once this floaty "in total" came out, the entire Taiji Palace became absolutely silent for a long time.
Twenty-four million two hundred and twenty-two thousand liang? This much? This was a whole 80 percent more than last year. Fan Xian…how did he do it? Did he have the magical ability to bewitch other's hearts and made the Jiangnan royal merchants into idiots?
The officials were all wide-eyed and tongue-tied. They looked at each other a bit breathlessly from the pressure of the enormous amount. Everyone's minds dank into a kind of daze.
Bang!
Shu the Scholar, his face bright red, fell to the ground. It caused chaos among the officials, so it took a while to help him up.
The scholar's expression was unbelievably excited. He sputtered incoherently toward the Emperor on the dragon chair, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
The officials finally reacted. After a loud startled sigh, they turned around and began to salute and praise the Emperor. The fawning surged like the ocean. The Emperor's grace was like a mountain…heaven protects the Qing Kingdom…the Emperor is wise…and so on.
Twenty four millions liang of silver. Even if right now they could only take 40 percent into their accounts, that was still close to 10 million liang of silver. Such a large income could be used to do too many things, such as making river repairs, strengthening the army, improving the life of the people, and…raising official salaries? No matter which faction these officials belonged to, after all, they were still officials of the greatest country in the world. When they thought of the fact that the court had such a large amount of silver to remedy the emptiness of the national treasury and solve the current urgency, they all began to dance with joy.
This kind of dancing for joy was not an act, rather it was true joy. No matter whether or the officials were corrupt or not, talented or not, they always hoped the court would be better.
At the same time, they were desperately fawning over the Emperor. They couldn't help thinking of the person they had doubted and been opposed to: Sir Fan junior.
Credit for successful palace treasury opening and bringing in so much benefit for the court all belonged to Fan Xian, who was far away directing the fight in Jiangnan. Only, how could they make this turn? Their eyes rolled around in their heads and refused to bring up the Jiangnan matter.
It just had to be Hu the Scholar who stepped out first. Once he stepped out, the noise in the court immediately quieted down. They all wanted to hear what Hu the Scholar wanted to say.
Hu the Scholar said calmly, "This amount is so large as to be difficult to believe. I hope that Sir Fan has not used some other method to drain the pond for the fish. If he has deceived the Jiangnan royal merchants, and the palace treasury production cannot keep up, then what will we do next year?"
Among the harmony, the sudden inharmonious note truly made some people uncomfortable. The officials burst into a clamor. Even those who found Fan Xian objectionable could not stand for it. They all spoke on behalf of the palace treasury transport company and felt that Hu the Scholar's words were not appropriate.
The Emperor had also left behind the previous excitement and looked coldly at Hu the Scholar. "In your opinion, Fan Xian has sought out this much silver for the court, but he shouldn't be awarded, rather he should be punished?"
Hu the Scholar shook his head and said resolutely, "I meant, that I have some suspicions, that is all. After all, I was not in Jiangnan. I don't know the specific circumstances. I am just doing my duty and reminding Your Majesty. As for Sir Fan junior, as long as there is no problem with the opening bid, of course, he should not receive any punishment and should be greatly rewarded."
The Emperor calmed his emotions and quietly asked, "In your opinion, how should be he rewarded?"
"Although it is a matter of silver, it is the foundation of the country," Hu the Scholar said calmly. "Sir Fan junior has provided a great service to the foundations of the country and should certainly receive a magnificent reward."
The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "What is a magnificent reward?"
"After the North Min and Suzhou bidding matter has been completely investigated," Hu the Scholar lifted his head and said gently. "I am willing to act as the guarantor and ask that the Emperor summons Sir Fan junior to enter the Hall of Governmental Affairs and work in the cabinet."
After he spoke, the court was shocked and the officials startled. What kind of role in Hall of Governmental Affairs? That was the backbone of the court. After Prime Minister Lin left his role, the Qing Kingdom no longer had the Prime Minister position. Its responsibilities had been taken over by the scholars of the Hall of Governmental affairs. Especially after Qin Heng entered the Jingdou garrison, Yan Hangshu, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, left, and Hu the Scholar returned to the capital, the position of the cabinet of the Hall of Governmental Affairs became even more set. If one was able to enter the Hall of Governmental Affairs, that was the same as entering the court's highest organization for policy making. Hu the Scholar wanted to recommend Fan Xian enter the cabinet?
The officials wondered which side Hu the Scholar was actually on. Why was he saying inauspicious things one moment and the next he wanted to give Fan Xian such an important and elevated position? Yan Hangshu, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, glared at Hu the Scholar with hatred and confusion.
Unexpectedly, after the Emperor heard this suggestion, without even stopping to think, he replied directly, "No, Fan Xian is too young."
The officials were slightly reassured. They thought the Emperor was being fair about this suggestion. Otherwise, it would have been too absurd to allow a not-yet 20, green behind the ears child enter the Hall of Governmental Affairs to work.
Hu the Scholar said calmly, "In ancient times, talented individuals became Prime Minister at 16, besides, the Hall of Governmental Affairs is Your Majesty's organization for documents, it is not truly the Prime Minister position. Furthermore, Sir Fan junior is talented and brilliant, and suited to many tasks. Such a talent should be in court and helping to lighten Your Majesty's burdens."
The Emperor gave him a not-quite-there smile and simply shook his head. "He is the commissioner of the Overwatch Council. According to the Qing Law, an official of the Overwatch Council cannot also be a court official. Even after he has quit that position, he can only be a sinecure third-level government office.
Hu the Scholar continued quickly, " Qing law cannot stand against Your Majesty's edict. His youth is not a problem, and his position as commissioner of the Overwatch Council also isn't a problem. If this was not so, how could I dare say this is a magnificent reward?"
The Emperor tilted up the corners of his mouth in a smile and waved his hand. "There is no need to discuss this further, I…will not allow it."
An Emperor's words were difficult to retract, so Hu the Scholar could only retreat. However, there were no other expressions on his face.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes as he gazed down and saw Hu the Scholar and Shu Wu met each other's gaze. He then knew that Shu Wu, this old man, received the news earlier, and the Emperor immediately guessed the reason why Hu the Scholar took the opportunity today to raise such an absurd suggestion.
"What a talent…An Zhi is indeed a talent."
The ability Fan Xian had demonstrated was overly shocking, so the civil officials would always be cautious with Fan Xian in the Overwatch Council. They would be happier with Fan Xian leaving the Overwatch Council and once more falling into the warm embrace of the civil officials. After all, Fan Xian more the hat of an immortal poet and vaguely the leader on the hearts of all the young scholars. For Hu and Shu, it should not be a difficult matter to admit Fan Xian to their ranks.
Both scholars were people who cherished talent and could read the situation. They could see the Emperor's future plans and felt a bit dissatisfied for Fan Xian, this bright pearl, to be thrown like this into the darkness of the Overwatch Council. Regardless of whether it was from the perspective of self-preservation of the civil system or for Fan Xian, they wanted to dig Fan Xian out.
Although it was a bit early to bring this up, Hu the Scholar had taken this rare opportunity and revealed the sincerity of the civil system. By mentioning this, years in advance, he had begun laying down the foundations for the debate.
As for these little plans of his officials, the Emperor had always been indulgent and did not bother about them much. On the contrary, through this matter, he more and more felt the honor that this illegitimate child of his brought to the royal family.
The Emperor's heart was proud. His expression was calm, and his eyes complicated. He glanced at the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who had been standing silently in the line, the father in name of his own son—Fan Jian.
Total Chapters in book: 746
Estimated words: 2481802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 12409(@200wpm)___ 9927(@250wpm)___ 8273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 2481802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 12409(@200wpm)___ 9927(@250wpm)___ 8273(@300wpm)
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