Chapter 250 Why are you laughing?
Fan Mansion.
After Fan Xian was sent home by Teng Zijing, he was allowed to go home. Not long after he returned to his own courtyard, people sent by Fan Jian arrived.
The servant brought Fan Xian to a pavilion in the backyard, then bowed and left.
The candlelight flickered in the pavilion, and Fan Jian was sitting upright reading a book.
Fan Xian walked into the pavilion.
"Dad, I'm back."
Fan Jian looked up at him, and seeing that his eyes were clear, he nodded with satisfaction and put down the book in his hand.
"sit."
Fan Xian sat down in front of him casually, smiled at him, and poured himself some tea.
Fan Jian looked at him and spoke.
"The negotiations at the Honglu Temple have come to an end. We need to be more cautious when we go to the palace tomorrow."
Fan Xian thought for a moment after hearing this.
"Are you talking about the banquet tomorrow night?"
Fan Jian hummed.
Fan Xian picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. He was thirsty after all the travels on the road. He put down the teacup and continued to ask.
"Is there anything wrong with that meal?"
Fan Jiandao.
"Everyone knows that the great masters of the literary world are all from Northern Qi. In the early years, scholars were even proud of passing the imperial examinations in Northern Qi. Although things have been better in recent years, when it comes to literati, my Qing country is always a little inferior.
It was not until seven or eight years ago that the poem "Feelings on Kwun Tong" by the ten-year-old Mei Cheng'an came out of nowhere, which ignited a little glory in the literary world of my country.
Although he has produced few works over the years, each one is excellent, so he is regarded as the number one writer in Qing country."
Fan Xian nodded.
"He deserves it."
Fan Jian smiled.
“It is precisely because of this that the literary world of Qing has gradually begun to compete with Northern Qi in recent years, but we are still a step away from surpassing Northern Qi.
So now the literary world of Qing Kingdom has placed all its hopes on you, only..."
Before he could finish his words, Fan Xian, who was drinking tea, spat out a mouthful of tea, which sprayed all over his head and face.
Fan Xian forced himself to swallow the remaining tea in his mouth. He did not have time to apologize to his father. He opened his mouth wide and said in surprise.
"I?"
Fan Jian closed his eyes, calmly wiped his face with his hand, opened his eyes, looked at him and hummed.
"Literary world?"
Fan Jian calmly picked up the handkerchief and wiped his face and hands, then threw it on the table and spoke.
"That's right. The poem "A Thousand Miles of Sad Autumn" you wrote a few days ago has been rated as the best seven-character poem of the time by the literati of our dynasty. The previous best was "Ask the Canal How It Can Be So Clear" by Mei Cheng'an, hehe."
Fan Jian stroked his beard with a smile on his face.
"Oh, many people are saying privately that you have achieved so much at your age, and you may not lose to Zhuang Mohan in the future!"
Fan Xian stood up in a panic and paced back and forth anxiously.
“No, I, I, I just wrote this one song and pinned my hopes on me. This is too hasty.
Besides, Mei Chengan wrote so many good poems but he couldn't surpass the Northern Qi Dynasty. Why can I do that?"
Fan Jian smiled.
"You are far inferior to Mei Cheng'an. Placing our hopes on you does not mean that we expect you to carry the Qing Kingdom literary world on your own.
Mei Chengan is already fighting the epidemic, you just need to help him.
Although you only wrote one poem, it was enough to surpass Mei Cheng'an and win the title of the first in seven-character poetry, which shows your poetic talent and spirituality.
Our dynasty longs for literary prosperity, like praying for a gentle rain. With you two here, all literary prosperity will belong to our dynasty in the future, hahahaha."
Fan Xian breathed a sigh of relief. It was difficult to do it alone, but with his fellow villagers accompanying him, it wouldn't be a big problem. After thinking about it, Fan Xian sat down again.
"So, tomorrow night, everyone will be there watching us meet the literary master Zhuang Mohan?"
Fan Jian knew what he was worried about and smiled when he heard it.
"Oh, don't panic. I don't want you to say anything shocking. You just need to behave calmly!"
Fan Xian let out a long sigh. If that was the only request, then it was fine. He reached out for a piece of dessert, took a bite, and asked casually.
"Will you go tomorrow night?"
Fan Xian shook his head.
"Tomorrow's banquet is prepared for the Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites. What am I, a minister of the Ministry of Revenue, going to do?
Aren't you good friends with Mei Cheng'an? If you don't know what to do tomorrow, just follow him and learn.
He has been in officialdom for many years, and he is perfect in dealing with people. You can just follow his example.
Besides, Zhuang Mohan is a person of high status. He will not make things difficult for you youngsters given his status and cultivation."
After hearing this, Fan Xian felt more relieved. He stuffed the remaining snack into his mouth and hummed heavily.
……
Mei Mansion.
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave, Lao Wang. Sit down and chat for a while."
In the small courtyard, Mei Cheng'an said as he looked at Wang Qinian who was saying goodbye.
Wang Qinian was stunned when he heard this and pointed in the direction of his home.
"Well, Master, it's getting late, and my wife and daughter are waiting for me."
Mei Chengan waved his hand.
"Hey, haven't we just sent the food back? It won't affect their eating whether you're here or not. Besides, aren't you full?"
"Forehead…"
Wang Qinian could actually have masturbated a little longer, as he hadn't even drunk the wine yet, but after thinking it over he sat down obediently.
"Okay! What do you want to talk about, Master?"
The reason for keeping Wang Qinian was not to intentionally prevent him from going home to drink and eat meat.
It's not that I have a strong desire to chat, but I have to drag him away at this critical moment and chat with him.
The main reason was that on the way home, Mei Chengan suddenly thought that after the banquet tomorrow night, Fan Xian should go into the palace to steal the key.
Now that Wang Qinian is gone, he is not sure whether Fan Xian has any alternative plans for making fake keys as replacements.
If not, he would definitely come to find me. I don't want to make trouble so late at night, so I might as well take the initiative and find a reason to keep Wang Qinian.
It’s okay if you don’t come, just treat it as a casual chat, it won’t delay anything.
Mei Chengan's fingers tapped the table rhythmically. "Little Pork Belly should have his birthday next month, right? How old is it?"
Wang Qinian smiled when he heard this.
"Five years old."
Mei Chengan nodded and asked casually.
"Are you still having a birthday party?"
Wang Qinian opened his eyes wide.
"Of course we have to! Since we have already celebrated the little birthday, we have to celebrate the whole birthday even more. This year, in addition to the young master and the dean, I am also planning to invite more colleagues.
Oh yes, there is also Lord Xiao Fan. He is a rich man and can give a lot of gifts.
There is also Teng Zijing's family. He also earns a lot of money, but I can't expect any gift money. After all, he just borrowed money to pay me back for the yard.
The main reason is that Baba and Xiaoniu get along very well and have a good relationship, so I invited his family to come, and also…"
……
The residence prepared by the Honglu Temple for Zhuang Mohan.
Suddenly, a note was stuffed through the crack in the door.
A pair of feet walked to the door and picked up the note.
I came to the candlelight and opened it, and saw a few lines of words written on it.
"There will be a banquet tomorrow night. Fan Xian will also be there. Please ask Mr. Zhuang to discredit this boy."
Holding the note above the candle and lighting it, the flame reflected in a pair of slightly cloudy eyes, Zhuang Mohan sighed softly.
……
Fan Mansion.
Fan Xian was studying the map of the palace, holding a quill pen and making some marks on the map while thinking.
Hearing footsteps suddenly, Fan Xian became alert, stopped writing, covered the map, and looked forward.
Fan Xian didn't breathe a sigh of relief until he saw Wu Zhu appear before him after the curtain was opened.
“You hung up red lanterns.”
Fan Xian hissed, put down the map and pen completely, sat up straight, looked Wu Zhu up and down, and asked puzzledly.
"Uncle, for so many years, I have always been very curious, whether you can see or not, how come you know what color it is when I hang a lantern?"
Wu Zhu was silent for a moment and tilted his head.
"It's hard for me to explain how I know all this, but it's not by looking!"
Fan Xian thought about it.
"Mind's eye?"
Wuzhu is very honest.
"I do not know how to put it."
Fan Xian was somewhat disappointed and speechless upon hearing this, but he quickly adjusted himself.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. Sit down, uncle. Let's talk business."
Wu Zhu responded and sat down in front of him.
Fan Xian spread out the map and pointed to a certain place on it.
"Uncle, the royal family will hold a banquet in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests tomorrow night."
"The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests?"
Fan Xian hummed and was about to continue speaking, but unexpectedly Wu Zhu asked another question right afterward.
"What does it have to do with Wang Qinian?"
"..."
Fan Xian was completely speechless by Wu Zhu's imagination. After a long silence, Fan Xian said sullenly.
"The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests... should have nothing to do with Wang Qinian."
"Ok."
"..."
After taking a deep breath, Fan Xian continued speaking along the same lines as before.
"Let's talk business, uncle. Tomorrow's banquet is to celebrate the official conclusion of the battle against Northern Qi. It can be considered a grand occasion.
After a prosperous era, it is time to relax!
So I plan to set our plan for tomorrow, and after the banquet is over, we will break into the palace at night."
Wuzhu was very cooperative.
"Okay! That's still the original plan. I'll lure Hong Sixiang away, and you go into the Queen Mother's bedroom and find the key!"
Fan Xian nodded.
"But there is still a problem. I don't know where the Queen Mother will put the key, so it will take some time to search for it. Uncle, you have to help me delay for a while."
This time Wuzhu didn't agree, he knew where the key was hidden.
"There is a secret compartment under her pillow on the bed board, and all the important things are inside."
"..."
"Hiss~ How do you know about this place?"
Fan Xian asked in surprise.
Wu Zhu said lightly.
"Miss turned over it in those days."
Hearing this, Fan Xian's eyes lit up and he became interested.
"Mother? Why would she go to the secret compartment where the Queen Mother hides things?"
Wu Zhu tilted his head.
"The old lady is a widow and looks very serious. I wonder if she has some love letters hidden in private."
After saying that, Wuzhu turned back.
"These are the young lady's original words."
Fan Xian was originally surprised how such words could come out of Uncle Wu Zhu's mouth, but after hearing the last sentence he understood and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"She went to look into the family background of the current empress dowager just to read some gossip? This is too... hahahaha."
Wuzhu tilted his head.
"What are you laughing at? I don't know what you mean by gossip, but you're right. That's why."
……
(End of this chapter)
