stonecrandall Chapter 11: Things Are Getting More and More Unusual
Chapter 11: Things Are Getting More and More Unusual
After leaving Fan Ruoruo's boudoir, Fan Xian went straight to his father's study.
He couldn't solve this problem, and Fan Xian was afraid that Emperor Qing might have a moment of madness and actually betroth his sister to Ye Chengfeng.
As a "time traveler", Fan Xian does not object to Fan Ruoruo's "free love".
But at least we need to understand what kind of person Ye Chengfeng is before we can judge whether he is a good match for her.
Inside the study, Fan Jian leisurely held the book, pretending to read it, and occasionally picked up his teacup to take a sip.
Fan Xian's "deification" ceremony at the banquet the other day naturally made his father proud.
These past few days, during court sessions, my colleagues have all praised the Fan family for producing such a remarkable son.
This made Fan Jian somewhat complacent.
"Father, something terrible has happened!"
Fan Xian rushed in, forgetting even the rules of the Fan family, and barged in without knocking.
"So careless and sloppy, what kind of behavior is this?"
He was scolding her, but he couldn't hide his satisfaction.
"Father, you still have time to read? Didn't you hear about the banquet the other day?"
"Oh? What, do you want your father to praise you a few more times?"
Fan Jian thought Fan Xian was trying to brag to him about being called the "Poet Immortal".
Little did he know that Fan Xian didn't take this matter too seriously, and even felt a little embarrassed.
Although Fan Xian is a top student in the humanities at a prestigious university and does have some literary talent.
But it would be a bit much to ask him to write a timeless masterpiece.
"It's not about that, it's about Ruoruo, how could you not know?"
"Hmm? You've written over a hundred timeless masterpieces, how are they still related to Ruoruo?"
"What are you talking about? I was referring to the little swordsman from Dongyi City who asked His Majesty for a marriage decree."
Upon hearing that Fan Xian was referring to this matter, Fan Jian simply smiled slightly.
Fan Jian knew that Emperor Qing would never agree to this.
Should he arrange a marriage between the Fan family and the heir of Dongyi City?
Emperor Qing is not that senile yet.
"No need to worry, His Majesty won't agree. Have you considered what the outcome would be if our Fan family were to form a marriage alliance with Dongyi City?"
Seeing his father so calm and composed, Fan Xian was somewhat angry.
Can't he see that?
Obviously not. Fan Xian figured out the key point when he learned that Ye Chengfeng had come to see Fan Ruoruo for the first time.
Fan Xian's anger stemmed from the fact that these high-ranking officials always used his marriage as a bargaining chip.
Fan Xian can't control what others do, but his sister must marry the man she loves.
"Father, what if Ruoruo falls in love with that little sword immortal?"
Fan Jian could tell that his son's words carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
"If Ruoruo truly likes someone, then of course I will support her. But the two of them have never even met, so how can they say they like each other?"
The meaning behind his words was quite simple: he knew his own daughter well, and Fan Ruoruo had always been a person with her own opinions.
"Father, you really don't pay attention to Ruoruo. You don't know that Ye Chengfeng has already visited the Fan residence twice, and especially today, he spent more than half a day with Ruoruo."
"What did you say?"
Upon hearing Fan Xian's words, Fan Jianli immediately sat up in shock!
"You really didn't know? The two of them even exchanged tokens of their love."
"Are you serious? No, no, I'll give the order right now: if that 'Little Sword Immortal' comes again, turn him away immediately."
Fan Jian was clearly flustered.
Meanwhile, news of Ye Chengfeng's confession of his feelings to Fan Ruoruo at the banquet also reached Si Gu Jian in Dongyi City.
He looked at the secret letter sent from Nanqing.
"Hehe, my arrangement this time was indeed correct. This little rascal actually hooked up with a famous talented woman from Qing Kingdom, Fan Ruoruo, right? They are indeed a good match."
"Teacher, please don't worry. I think Chengfeng has other plans."
Seeing Yun Zhilan's words, Si Gu Jian snorted coldly and said, "Hmph, what scheme is more important than his life's most important matter?"
Without paying attention to anything else, he took out paper and pen and quickly wrote a letter.
"You personally deliver this letter to Emperor Qing; I believe he will know how to choose."
Often, the people who care least about worldly opinions are the ones who care the most about worldly etiquette and customs.
Si Gu Jian is this kind of person; at heart, he is a very traditional person.
Driven by revenge, he slaughtered his entire family, yet deep down he valued his loved ones the most.
Yun Zhilan sighed. His teacher had given the order; what could he do?
The only option was to send the letter to the Qing Kingdom as quickly as possible.
Three days later, in the imperial study, Emperor Qing held that letter in his hand.
"This Si Gu Jian really knows how to give me a difficult problem!"
He had already read the contents of the letter.
It's simply a matter of giving up some benefits and letting him grant the marriage.
This did not conflict with Emperor Qing's original plan; on the contrary, it could create a rift between Northern Qi and Dongyi City.
For him, it was not a bad thing at all, but a good thing.
"That sword maniac, he really dares to say anything! Since you want it, then I will grant your wish."
"Eunuch Hou drafts the imperial edict."
This was not a simple arranged marriage, but a diplomatic policy.
Once this imperial edict is issued, it signifies the establishment of diplomatic cooperation between Nanqing and Dongyi City.
Emperor Qing not only wanted to grant the marriage, but also to publicize the matter so that everyone in the world would know about it.
The Northern Qi will be the ones in a hurry then.
The two imperial edicts were sent to the Fan residence and the post station, respectively.
Inside the study of the Fan family mansion, Fan Jian and his son Fan Xian stared at each other, wide-eyed at the imperial edict.
Both of them couldn't understand why Emperor Qing had so readily granted them the marriage!
"No, this will put my Fan family in the eye of the storm. I must go to the palace to ask His Majesty to cancel this marriage."
Fan Jian, Emperor Qing's childhood friend and a Vice Minister of Revenue who had been in officialdom for many years, couldn't quite understand Emperor Qing's actions this time.
The reason is simple: Yun Zhilan came to the capital of Nanqing to deliver a letter, but did not show up.
Those who knew about this were probably only Emperor Qing and Chen Pingping of the Censorate.
Fan Jian could not possibly go to the Supervisory Commission to question Chen Pingping, at least not now.
"Alas, Father, it's probably too late now. His Majesty has already issued the decree. If we disagree, it will be considered defying the decree."
"Father, I'm going out to see what happened."
Three days is neither a long nor a short time.
So much has happened in these three days: Li Yunrui was expelled from Kyoto, and the mole within the Censorate was purged.
Fan Xian should have been full of vigor and high spirits, but he was overwhelmed by his sister's marriage.
Although Fan Jian was unwilling for Fan Xian to get too involved in the affairs of the Supervisory Council, the only option for now was to have Fan Xian go to Chen Pingping to find out what had happened!
What are the two parties doing at this moment?
They actually went on a trip together to the outskirts of the city!
Ye Chengfeng and Fan Ruoruo stood side by side, one dashing and spirited, the other delicate and beautiful, truly a perfect couple.
Behind them followed a pouting maidservant with a reluctant expression.
"Brother Ye, it seems like Sister Xiaolan doesn't like me very much?"
Fan Ruoruo said with a sly smile.
What can Ye Chengfeng do?
He could only manage a helpless, bitter smile.
Xiao Lan stared wide-eyed at Fan Ruoruo in disbelief!
"How could you utter such vile words!"
"Alright, Ruoruo, stop teasing her."
Ye Chengfeng could easily see that Fan Ruoruo was just toying with Xiaolan.
Seeing that her young master was still on her side, Xiao Lan raised her head and snorted coldly.