Chapter 307: King and Minister
After Fan Xian left, the girls chatted and finished the skewers that had just been served, and then they all said they were almost done.
Mei Cheng'an had no choice but to finish the batch that Fan Xian was roasting on the stove by himself. He felt that he was almost done after eating it.
Looking at the large number of unroasted vegetable skewers left in the bamboo basket, Mei Cheng'an sighed. He really couldn't fill his stomach with all that.
These were all processed ingredients, and it would be a waste if they were not eaten. After thinking about it, he called Wang Qinian in and asked him to share the food with the maids after he finished grilling it.
He stood behind his wife with his hands behind his back, listening to the girls chatting about all sorts of things with a smile for a while, and then the party ended.
On the way to send my wife back to Prince Jing’s Mansion.
"I heard from my father that Brother Cheng'an, as the Minister of the Honglu Temple, might lead an envoy to Northern Qi, is that right?"
The two of them were squeezing their heads against the car window to admire the street view. Li Roujia suddenly turned her head to look at Mei Chengan and asked with her big eyes blinking.
Upon hearing this, Mei Cheng'an turned his head to look at the big watery eyes on his wife's delicate face so close to him, and hummed softly.
Although the specific list of the diplomatic corps has not yet been finalized, Mei Cheng'an knows that he must be on the list, so it would be a good idea to inform his wife in advance so that she can be mentally prepared.
Li Roujia opened her eyes wide when she heard that and shrank back.
"Really? Has it been confirmed? Brother Cheng'an is really going to be an envoy to Northern Qi?"
Mei Cheng'an also retreated into the carriage, sat up straight, grabbed his wife's hand, looked at her, and smiled.
“It’s not certain yet, but it’s likely.”
Blinking, Li Roujia followed up with another question.
"How long will it take?"
Mei Cheng'an thought about it and replied.
"It could be as short as two or three months, or as long as... I don't know."
Li Roujia opened her mouth wide.
"Huh? Why is it taking so long?!"
Mei Chengan smiled.
"The distance is quite far, and with so many people and bags, we can't travel fast. That's why it takes so long."
Li Roujia's face turned bitter and she pouted and complained softly.
"What about our marriage?"
Upon hearing this, Mei Cheng'an looked her up and down, gently rubbed her face with both hands, and chuckled and joked.
"Are you in such a hurry to marry me and become Mrs. May?"
Li Roujia was stunned for a moment, then her face quickly turned red, visibly. She used her chin to resist Mei Chengan's hands, and the shyness in her big eyes was so intense that it almost overflowed from her eye sockets, and she dodged frantically.
"It's not that I didn't do it, Brother Chengan, you are talking nonsense!"
Mei Cheng'an held her cheeks with both hands and squeezed them together with a little force, making his wife's small mouth look like a puffer fish. He raised his eyebrows and chuckled, with a long tail sound.
"Really…"
Li Roujia blushed and pulled his hand.
"Just plain!"
Mei Chengan laughed and let go of his hand.
"Okay, I won't tease you anymore. It doesn't matter if the wedding is earlier or later. Just remember that you will be my daughter-in-law in the Mei family sooner or later."
Li Roujia rubbed her little face, feeling sweet and shy when she heard the words, but she muttered softly.
"I don't want it."
Mei Chengan's eyes widened.
"What did you say?"
Li Roujia covered her mouth with her hands and shook her head repeatedly.
"Woooooo~"
Mei Chengan sneered.
"Well done to you, I didn't expect that such a pretty girl like you would go back on your word and be fickle. Do you want to be a heartless woman?"
Li Roujia widened her eyes, put down her hands and exposed her mouth and said anxiously.
"I am not I don't have..."
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Mei Chengan.
"I won't listen, I don't care, just wait and see how I deal with you!"
As he said that, he pounced on his wife and started tickling her.
"No, haha, I was wrong..."
"You're wrong? No."
"Hahaha, I'm wrong, I'm really wrong, stop it, hahaha."
……
Lin Xiangfu.
The servants in the mansion, who had received instructions in advance, led Fan Xian into the study, bowed, and then quietly left.
At this time, Lin Ruofu was concentrating on playing chess with Yuan Hongdao, and it seemed that he did not notice Fan Xian's arrival.
Fan Xian bowed to the two of them at the door and greeted them in turn.
"Uncle! Mr. Yuan!"
Yuan Hongdao, who was facing him, looked up at him, smiled and nodded at him, while Lin Ruofu, who had his back to him, tilted his head.
"Sit first."
Fan Xian straightened up when he heard this, and seeing how enthusiastically the two were playing chess, he couldn't help but walk over out of curiosity.
Standing next to Lin Ruofu, he took a look at the situation on the chessboard. After making a rough judgment, he walked towards Yuan Hongdao, leaned over, covered his mouth with his hand, and whispered something in his ear.
"Mr. Yuan, this chess game is not going well."
Yuan Hongdao listened carefully, showing a helpless expression, and raised his hand to point the white piece on his fingertips onto the chessboard.
Fan Xian took a close look and saw that this seemingly ordinary move had instantly reversed the situation that was originally unfavorable to the white chess piece.
With a hiss, Fan Xian gave Yuan Hongdao a thumbs up.
Yuan Hongdao looked up at Lin Ruofu and smiled as well.
Fan Xian moved back to stand next to Lin Ruofu, intending to see how he would deal with this.
Unexpectedly, Lin Ruofu looked at the chessboard and suddenly exclaimed.
"No, no, no, this is a bad move."
As he said this, he actually reached out and picked up the black piece that was placed on the chessboard in the previous round, and then clearly changed its position.
Fan Xian was stunned and couldn't help but point and exclaimed.
"Can you still regret this move?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Hongdao looked up at him and smiled.
"In today's game, the Prime Minister has regretted more than ten steps."
Fan Xian was amused when he heard this. "How can we play this?"
Lin Ruofu spoke confidently without blushing or beating his heart.
"The way of chess is like a battle, with clever strategies and deceit. This is also the way of being a human. You are still young and need to understand the deep meaning of it."
Fan Xian curled his lips, regretting his move in a roundabout way.
"Then may I ask, uncle, can Mr. Yuan regret his move?"
Lin Ruofu immediately shook his head and said in a deep voice.
"Of course not!"
"..."
Fan Xian pursed his lips and nodded, sighing.
"Prime Minister Lin is a man of great talent. His conduct is truly admirable!"
Lin Ruofu was holding the black piece and looking at the chessboard. Hearing what he said, he turned his head and glanced at him. After thinking for a while, he finally said something to make up for himself.
"Me too. I want to use the chess game to give you a tip. Life is not fair. Sometimes, you have to use all kinds of tricks to get a good start and a good end!"
Yuan Hongdao on the opposite side couldn't stand it anymore and couldn't help but sneered.
"Oh~ So the reason why the Prime Minister played this game today was to give Master Xiao Fan some advice."
As he said this, he looked at Fan Xian. When the two looked at each other, Fan Xian almost couldn't hold back his laughter, but he quickly pursed his lips.
"Ha ha ha ha."
Yuan Hongdao laughed dryly a few times and then put on a confused expression.
"Then I don't understand. Today you are here to give me some advice, but why did you regret your moves in the past? Huh? Haha..."
Lin Ruofu had a gloomy face and a black line in his head.
Fan Xian almost burst out laughing again, and it was very difficult to hold it back.
Lin Ruofu noticed his movement and finally felt a little embarrassed. He lowered his head and coughed lightly to signal the two of them to stop.
Upon hearing the voice, the two men quickly stopped smiling. Yuan Hongdao lowered his head to study the chess game, while Fan Xian adjusted his expression and looked at his father-in-law.
Lin Ruofu tilted his head and looked at him.
"I called you here because I have something to tell you."
Fan Xian nodded.
"You say."
Lin Ruofu glanced at the chessboard and spoke.
"Li Yunrui has failed and left the capital. Logically, it's time to prepare for your and Wan'er's marriage."
Fan Xian's expression changed when he heard this.
"Any changes to the marriage?"
"It has nothing to do with the marriage."
Lin Ruofu tilted his head towards him.
"In the past few days, many officials from the six ministries have submitted a memorial together, mentioning that you leaked the information, which led to Yan Bingyun's capture. They all said that you must be investigated and held accountable!"
Fan Xian knew about this, but he still felt uncomfortable hearing it again.
"But the news was leaked by the Princess."
Lin Ruofu shook his head.
"Li Yunrui only admitted to colluding with Guo Youzhi and Zhu Ge and forming a clique for personal gain, but he did not admit to betraying Yan Bingyun."
Fan Xian was helpless. The other party refused to admit it and he had no choice. Besides, everyone had left now. After thinking for a while, he asked.
"What did your Majesty say?"
Lin Ruofu raised his eyebrows, his tone containing a hint of sarcasm.
"He said nothing and just watched coldly as the crowd became enraged."
Fan Xian sighed, squatted down in front of him, and said with his face raised in grievance.
"Uncle, I didn't do anything. I was wronged."
Lin Ruofu glanced at him and reached out to pick up a black piece.
"The truth doesn't matter!"
Fan Xian was stunned when he heard this.
"Then what's important?"
Lin Ruofu observed the chess game and clicked on the black piece.
“Your attitude matters!”
Fan Xian thought about it, but couldn't figure it out, so he spoke frankly.
"I don't know."
Lin Ruofu turned his head to look at him, sighed and was about to get up. Fan Xian quickly stood up and lent a hand.
Taking Fan Xian a few steps to the side, Lin Ruofu spoke.
"I know a little bit about the current emperor. If I'm not mistaken, he will come to you soon."
Fan Xian was somewhat confused upon hearing this.
"Looking for me? What are you doing?"
Lin Ruofu turned to look at him and lowered his voice.
"Whatever he asks you to do, don't agree."
Fan Xian thought about it and gave a bitter smile.
"He is the emperor. How can I refuse him?"
Lin Ruofu smiled.
"Since he is not in the court to make the final decision, he will naturally make it in private. Fan Xian, your marriage with Wan'er is already being prepared.
Once we get married, I will transfer you to the Ministry of Personnel immediately, so, at this time, nothing unnecessary happens!
Remember, if there is no clear order, don't agree to anything! If there is any trouble, throw it on me."
Fan Xian understood the principle and the way to deal with it, but he was a little unsure whether it was possible to put it into practice.
"Is this possible?"
Lin Ruofu watched him and before he could open his mouth, Yuan Hongdao on the other side happened to tap a piece on the chessboard, making a crisp "click" sound, which attracted his attention.
Turning his head to take a look, Lin Ruofu immediately walked back and answered Fan Xian's question at the same time.
"The relationship between the ruler and the subject is not the same thing as the relationship between the master and the slave."
He returned to his seat, looked at the chessboard, and slowly knelt down.
"It's like... two chess players fighting each other."
As he said this, he suddenly reached out and picked up the white piece that Yuan Hongdao had just placed on the chessboard and moved it to another position.
(End of this chapter)
