70: The prince helped Fan Xian restore his reputation, and Guo Baokun helped Fan

Chapter 70: The Crown Prince Helps Fan Xian Restore His Reputation; Guo Baokun Helps Fan Xian? (55)

Fan Manor.

On his first day in Kyoto, Fan Xian's carriage was ambushed.

He was then inexplicably thrown into jail for a night, and he had absolutely no good impression of Kyoto.

However, Fan Jian then analyzed the court situation for him, as well as the series of events involved in marrying Lin Wan'er and taking over the financial power of the Imperial Treasury.

Fan Xian finally began to understand his predicament; it turned out he had stepped into such a grand scheme.

"Father, in that case, it's not hard to guess who wants to ruin my reputation. It should be the faction of the Crown Prince and The Eldest Princess, right?"

"Yesterday, in the Kyoto Prefecture hall, the Crown Prince was eager to convict me."

"Also, the Supervisory Council assassins who tried to kill me in Danzhou, they might even be arranged by the same group of people!"

Hearing Fan Xian's words, Fan Jian offered a pertinent suggestion.

"You should try not to go out recently, to prevent anyone from tripping you up again."

"At the same time, let this overwhelming discussion calm down a bit."

Following Fan Jian's advice, Fan Xian had been holed up in Fan Manor practicing martial arts recently.

The only one in the manor who paid him any mind was Fan Ruoruo. The girl was smart and had her own ideas, and Fan Xian also enjoyed talking to her.

A few days later, Fan Jian brought a message from the palace, saying that His Majesty had ordered the Crown Prince to help Fan Xian restore his reputation.

The matter of the Crown Prince and The Eldest Princess ruining Fan Xian's reputation was naturally a top secret and could never be spoken of outside.

Emperor Qing's reason to Fan Jian was that the Crown Prince had attempted to interfere with the Kyoto Prefecture's trial, rashly intervening without understanding the situation.

Helping Fan Xian restore his reputation was considered a punishment for the Crown Prince.

Upon learning this, Fan Xian was somewhat speechless; the very person he suspected was now supposed to help him restore his reputation. How absurd could things get?

Prince Yong's Residence.

Xing Yusen rode swiftly into the city, bringing back the three barrett bullets.

Earlier, on the way back to Kyoto, Li Chang'an had sent Xing Yusen to Cangshan Villa.

Li Chang'an remembered that the three bullets for the barrett sniper rifle were hidden in the wall of the Cangshan Villa's storeroom, and Xing Yusen, being a constable by trade and skilled in searching, was the most suitable person to find them.

Xing Yusen excitedly took out three golden-yellow bullets. "My goodness! Your subordinate has never seen such ingeniously crafted and exquisitely polished hidden weapons!"

The barrett sniper rifle in Fan Xian's hand needed to be repaired at the Imperial Treasury's Three Great Workshops, and after repair, it would still need these three bullets.

A sniper rifle without bullets was scrap metal; it wouldn't pose any threat.

"Lao Xing, these are the most powerful hidden weapons in the world."

No sooner had they finished speaking than someone outside announced that Eunuch Hou from the palace had come to deliver an imperial decree.

Eunuch Hou walked into the Prince's residence hall with a solemn expression. "By His Majesty's oral decree, Prince Yong, hear the decree! Others need not withdraw; listen together."

When Li Chang'an was enfeoffed as a prince, he already had the privilege of not bowing before the emperor. Now, he merely bowed to receive the decree.

Eunuch Hou cleared his throat and began to relay Emperor Qing's oral decree.

"Li Chang'an, my blood brother, are you at ease?"

Li Chang'an listened to a couple of sentences and immediately found himself somewhat speechless; Emperor Qing, that Old Silver Coin, was stirring up trouble again.

Eunuch Hou continued to relay the oral decree, "The border standoff has lasted for half a year, and assassins are rampant in the capital."

"Among the assassins captured by the Supervisory Council, half are masters from Jianghu killer organizations and Schools. Have you forgotten your duty?"

"You spend all day playing with your concubines in the Prince's Residence, and the Shadow Guard are bored to death. I exhaust myself daily for national affairs; are you at ease?"

"You've traveled for many years, have you only learned how to fight and kill? Have those Schools you subdued left any spies?"

"You are already eighteen; it's time you learned to share my burdens! You spend your days fooling around; are you worthy of the late emperor, are you worthy of me?"

"Think about it carefully, how you can contribute to the country!"

This was the emperor. Qingwen and Xiren, two beauties, were honey traps he set for Li Chang'an.

Now Li Chang'an had fallen for the trap, yet he was still being reprimanded.

After Eunuch Hou finished delivering the decree, Xing Yusen immediately slipped him a banknote, and Eunuch Hou's face instantly brightened.

Having taken the money, he had to do the job; Eunuch Hou was a sensible man. "Your Highness Prince Yong, I have seen your apprehension and will report it truthfully to His Majesty."

Regarding the emperor's reprimanding oral decree, Li Chang'an was too lazy to feign panic, letting Eunuch Hou handle it.

Anyway, Emperor Qing also knew that Li Chang'an wasn't one to easily panic.

After Eunuch Hou left, Xing Yusen immediately analyzed, "Your Highness, His Majesty is building momentum for war."

Xing Yusen was right; although there was a border standoff, Northern Qi would not initiate a war.

Southern Qing had ambitions to unify the world, and Emperor Qing would definitely find an excuse to start a war.

Northern Qi assassins lurking in the capital, attempting to assassinate the emperor—this was the excuse.

Although this excuse was indeed crude, the pretexts strong nations have historically used to start wars have never been subtle.

Emperor Qing's decree for Li Chang'an to plant spies within Jianghu Schools to monitor anti-court forces in Jianghu was highly suspicious.

The Fourth Bureau of the Supervisory Council was tasked with monitoring officials outside Kyoto, but in reality, its authority had long since expanded.

The current Fourth Bureau can almost arbitrarily monitor any official or civilian; after all, if even officials can be monitored, what about commoners?

Emperor Qing's decree was both a supplement to the duties of the Supervisory Council's Fourth Bureau and a form of checks and balances.

The current Emperor Qing and Chen Pingping were like a couple married for decades; outwardly harmonious, but inwardly each harbored their own calculations and defenses.

Chen Pingping suspected Emperor Qing orchestrated Ye Qingmei's assassination, and Emperor Qing worried about Chen Pingping's absolute loyalty.

This matter was simple: take a small number of people from the various Net organizations, place them in the open, catch a few assassins entering Kyoto from other regions, and the task would be completed.

What Emperor Qing needed was not for Kyoto to have no assassins, but for assassins to be rampant in Kyoto, yet all of them captured by the Dragon Guard Manor and the Supervisory Council!

See? Northern Qi is too aggressive. Let's raise an army!

Prime Minister's Residence.

Lin Ruofu was playing chess with his retainer Yuan Hongdao, having just retracted his fifteenth move.

"Hongdao, is Count Sinan's illegitimate son, in terms of literary and military skills, capable of anything noteworthy?"

Yuan Hongdao said, "Fan Xian, courtesy name Anzhi. I haven't heard about his literary talent, but it seems his martial arts are good, with a chance to advance to the eighth rank within the year."

Lin Ruofu nodded, saying, "Advancing to the eighth rank at sixteen is indeed very rare."

Yuan Hongdao continued, "Fan Xian is also skilled in chess, with no rivals in Danzhou City. Several peers living leisurely in Danzhou have written to mention this matter."

Lin Ruofu, who was about to retract a chess piece, suddenly stopped that hand, and his facial muscles twitched unnaturally.

Of all things to be good at, he just had to be good at chess!

"So, he's good at chess... Wan'er has been crying a lot lately, and she's also unwilling to marry Fan Xian."

Lin Ruofu spoke as he completed his retracted move, and Yuan Hongdao could only pretend not to see it.

"Fan Xian's bad reputation is widespread in Kyoto; everyone avoids him. If he really wants to marry the Princess Yichen, even His Majesty might hesitate."

"The Crown Prince proactively took on this matter, and His Majesty ordered him to help Fan Xian salvage his reputation."

The Prime Minister was the head of all officials; if he truly vehemently opposed his daughter marrying Fan Xian, Emperor Qing would have to consider his opinion.

Lin Ruofu said with some mockery, "The Crown Prince is also obsessed; such matters only make things worse when you try to explain them. Let rumors dissipate on their own; the common people's memory is very short."

"Think about how Prince Yong's reputation for occupying courtesans was turned around."

"To reverse a negative reputation, one still needs to establish a positive image."

"This Fan Xian, upon arriving in Kyoto, was unfairly schemed against. I don't want Wan'er to marry an incompetent person."

...A few days later, Li Chang'an submitted a memorial to Emperor Qing.

He explained his idea of planting secret agents within the Gangs of border towns and also proposed the idea of having the Shadow Guard cooperate with the Supervisory Council and the Kyoto Prefecture in apprehending assassins in the capital, expressing his determination to contribute to the country.

Emperor Qing wrote a vermilion imperial rescript, "Consider you still have a conscience. Let it be so."

Fan Xian's reputation in Kyoto City was completely ruined, but Li Chang'an knew that Li Yunrui's move could only be a temporary measure.

The most crucial point was to make Lin Ruofu firmly oppose this marriage; the catalyst for this matter lay in the Niulan Street assassination attempt.

Since he wanted to prevent Lin Wan'er from marrying Fan Xian, he had to make the Prime Minister's Residence and Fan Xian completely antagonistic.

Li Chang'an was aware of all of Fan Xian's actions in Kyoto.

However, the one who provided the most intelligence about Fan Manor was Fan Ruoruo, this overt spy.

Every few days, Fan Ruoruo would come to seek guidance on poetry and literature, bringing Fan Sizhe along to freeload on food and drink.

After dinner that day, Li Chang'an coaxed Fan Sizhe out and taught Fan Ruoruo poetry and prose privately.

The two talked about almost everything, and as Fan Ruoruo spoke, she brought up Fan Xian.

"Your Highness, do you know, Fan Xian actually didn't want to come to Kyoto at first."

"My father sent two guards with a portrait of Sister Wan'er and told him that coming to the capital was to marry the Prime Minister's daughter."

Li Chang'an knew that this matter was definitely Emperor Qing's doing; in his and Chen Pingping's scheme against Xiao En, Fan Xian had to enter the capital now.

"Fan Xian knew this news, so he followed the Red Armor Army to Kyoto. He didn't expect to be ambushed as soon as he arrived in Kyoto, and he was actually very flustered himself."

"Two days ago, Prince Jing's heir sent an invitation, saying that on the fifteenth of this month, a poetry gathering would be held at the Prince's Residence, inviting Fan Xian and me to attend."

Given Fan Xian's current strengths in chess and martial arts, he probably wouldn't bother with Prince Jing Manor's poetry gathering, would he?

"Ruo Ruo, Fan Xian's reputation is in tatters right now. He probably wouldn't go to such a gathering of talented scholars and beautiful women, would he?"

Fan Ruoruo blinked her beautiful big eyes and patted Li Chang'an's thigh, saying, "Yes! That's what I thought too."

"However, the Crown Prince's Residence specifically sent someone to find Fan Xian, saying they would definitely help Fan Xian gain fame at the poetry gathering, so Fan Xian agreed to participate."

At this moment, Fan Ruoruo moved a few inches closer to Li Chang'an, her tone becoming extremely mysterious.

"Actually, Fan Xian is participating in the poetry gathering because he also wants to see Sister Wan'er!"

Lin Wan'er had recovered from her consumption and no longer resided solely deep within the palace; she now participated in quite a few social events and poetry gatherings.

Li Chang'an knew that Fan Xian's obsession with the Imperial Treasury was not deep; the fact that he hadn't insisted on breaking off the engagement like in the original story was because he was smitten with her beauty!

Emperor Qing, that Old Silver Coin, was best at honey traps, and somehow, these honey traps always worked!

Li Chang'an frowned and deliberately said, "Ruo Ruo, how do you know so much about Fan Xian?"

Fan Ruoruo smiled sweetly and began to take credit, "Of course, it's for Your Highness!"

"As soon as Fan Xian arrived in Kyoto, he caused such a big sensation. This matter must not be simple."

"Father said that Your Highness is skilled in both literary and martial arts, and His Majesty will definitely reuse you. Helping Your Highness collect information is what Ruo Ruo should do!"

Li Chang'an stroked Fan Ruoruo's head, pulled her close to him, their foreheads touching.

Fan Ruoruo's delicate red lips were right by Li Chang'an's mouth; their eyes met, their breaths audible.

"Ruo Ruo, this prince must reward you handsomely."

The obedient and sensible Fan Ruoruo hadn't even had time to get nervous before she was successfully silenced, growing a little more mature.

Li Chang'an couldn't help but sigh, he had been too busy lately.

Silencing Jing Ni, and now having to shut Fan Ruoruo's mouth, truly a myriad of tasks!

At Prince Jing Manor's poetry gathering, Prince Jing and the Second Prince jointly invited Li Chang'an to attend.

This meant he could meet Fan Xian.

The fourth year of Qingli, summer.

Fan Xian left early in the morning, accompanied by his two guards, Lao Zhao and Lao Zhang, intending to go to Prince Jing Manor.

The two guards had accompanied Fan Xian all the way to Kyoto and had stayed with him, not believing any of the rumors.

Although Fan Ruoruo also said she believed Fan Xian was framed.

But today, she used the excuse of finding a female companion and did not go to Prince Jing Manor with Fan Xian.

After a few days of turmoil, Fan Xian had calmed down.

His reputation was completely ruined, and with his abilities, it was already beyond salvation.

He heard that the Empress Dowager, the Empress, The Eldest Princess, all the female members of the imperial harem opposed his imperial marriage to Lin Wan'er.

However, even in such a state, the emperor still wanted Princess Yichen to marry him.

Not only did the emperor not change his intention of the imperial marriage, but he also ordered the Crown Prince to help Fan Xian restore his reputation, which rekindled Fan Xian's hope.

His Majesty the Emperor was not so easily deceived; truly discerning and wise!

Fan Xian's two main motivations for coming to Kyoto were to investigate who wanted to assassinate him and for his imperial marriage to Lin Wan'er.

Since His Majesty the Emperor's desire for the imperial marriage was so firm, and Lin Wan'er was a great beauty, he naturally had to try harder.

Prince Jing Manor was an old family friend of Fan Manor, and the Crown Prince had said he would definitely help Fan Xian gain fame, so Fan Xian set out.

The Crown Prince's retainers had even sent him pre-written poems, just waiting for him to gain renown at the poetry gathering.

The current Crown Prince, though he wished he could kill Fan Xian, had no choice but to help him restore his reputation, making him incredibly conflicted.

Fan Xian was also very much looking forward to seeing Lin Wan'er's true appearance at today's poetry gathering.

As the three walked to the street corner near the entrance of Prince Jing Manor, they encountered two young scholars coming their way.

One of them, with a complex expression, cupped his hands and said, "Young Master Fan, greetings. I am Guo Baokun, son of the Minister of Rites and a palace compiler."

The other, slightly older scholar, also saluted Fan Xian, "I am the humble scholar He Zongwei. Greetings, Young Master Fan."

The Crown Prince's retainer who had come to find Fan Xian a few days ago had mentioned that Guo Baokun was a retainer of the Crown Prince and quite famous in Kyoto's literary circles.

Fan Xian could almost confirm that this person might not be particularly capable, but his father was powerful!

Young Master Guo's purpose in coming to the poetry gathering was naturally to obey the Crown Prince's order to help Fan Xian restore his reputation, and He Zongwei was the helper he brought along.

"Young Master Guo, Young Master He, Fan offers his greetings."

Participating in Kyoto's literati interactions for the first time, Fan Xian was inevitably a little reserved.

Guo Baokun, with an air of superiority, put an arm around Fan Xian's shoulder.

"Brother Fan, leave today's matters to me!"

"Guo has been well-read since childhood, and also studied military strategy and battle formations. I have been planning for today's poetry gathering for a long time!"

"I have visited most of the talented scholars attending, and they are all willing to speak well of you!"

"With so many people helping you, the advantage is with me; victory is certain!"

"At today's poetry gathering, Brother Fan will surely win first place and become famous in one battle!"