Joy of Life

The First Baron, second-rank.

Fan Xian had been calculating the importance and presence that the position of baron would grant him. As he mulled it over, the alarming thought that others may criticize his all-too-sudden rise amongst the ranks of the city broached his mind. Perhaps needlessly, this made Fan Xian cautious and wary of the prospect. His time as ambassador to the northern Qi Kingdom was nothing entirely perilous, but it still accounted for tiresome work. In the early spring, there had been an assemblage with the Emperor. With little regard for the reputation of the sufferers of his transgression, the Emperor had Prime Minister Lin and Assistant-Minister Fan forcibly removed from their positions and exiled from the capital. The aftermath of these events resulted in Fan Jian becoming Minister of Revenue. Perhaps, then, if Fan Xian was to become a baron, others would presume it was reimbursement for Fan Manor.

Moreover, ever since Fan Xian and the envoy had returned to the capital, everybody seemed to be aware that the Emperor in the palace greatly admired Fan Xian. In part, this was due to Fan Xian’s literary talent and profound wisdom, but this admiration increased with his return of the carriage that possessed the ancient and legendary books from the northern Qi Kingdom. The Emperor had long desired to rule his kingdom with gentle virtue and thoughtful deliberations; he was not one for iron enforcement and violence. For Fan Xian’s acquisition of such a bounty, the Emperor now sought to reward him.

The position that Fan Xian currently possessed was nothing compared to that of being a baron. If he were to be knighted, it would have been an elevation of class and for the added influence it would also impart, such a boon would be beneficial for the matters Fan Xian wished to personally pursue in the future. He looked upon his father before him, and asked, “When is the decree coming?”

As it was, Fan Jian and his son, Fan Xian, were in the study of Fan Manor, and they had been in deep discussion for a long time. Fan Xian had relayed to his father the many events that transpired during his time in the northern Qi Kingdom, but only what he was permitted to divulge. There were certain things he could not mention, for obvious reasons. Whenever their dialogue approached the concerns of the Overwatch Council, Minister Fan insisted on skipping over it, lest there be awkward stalling between them.

Fan Xian grew up in Danzhou, but he rarely spoke to his father following his arrival in the capital. Whenever they did speak, it was always in the study, where it was quiet and there were no interruptions. It could be surmised that their relationship wasn’t particularly deep, but as he looked upon his father’s graying hair, his thoughts drifted to the northern Qi Kingdom’s fading memory of its heroes of legend, and Fan Xian couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

Chen Pingping was correct; Count Sinan did not owe Fan Xian anything, but Fan Xian owed him a lot.

“If you go to the palace tomorrow, there may be a decree.” Minister Fan closed his eyes and took a sip of the juice that Lady Liu made each night. It was a drink he enjoyed a lot. “You did well in the north. Director Chen notified his superiors to how well you performed there, and the Emperor was much pleased.”

Fan Xian’s mind continued to wander over his trip to the northern Qi Kingdom. Aside from tending to sensitive matters of his own, he did not actually do anything for the government. Securing and returning Yan Bingyun home was accomplished entirely by coincidence, also; there was no hard work involved. With the presence of a wry smile, he said, “Actually, on the return trip home, I did not do anything.”

“Sometimes, to do nothing is the best that can be done.” Saying this, Minister Fan opened his eyes.

To hear this, Fan Xian was surprised. He had thought that his father would tell him off, especially considering his confrontation with the Great Prince outside the capital. He didn’t make mention of it at all, actually; he skirted it entirely and shifted the conversation to another subject. “I told you many times; do not get too close and involved with the Overwatch Council. I can’t believe you did not listen to me in the first place, and that you were tricked into that treacherous organization by that old dog Chen Pingping.”

Minister Fan was visibly upset when talking about this. “Just peacefully, and without trouble, work in the palace treasury. Such an opportunity would not come easily for other people.”

With another wry smile, Fan Xian said, “I would have liked to. But you know the problem. That woman in Xinyang would not let that go so easily. She is the one who started this. If I did not commit to the Overwatch Council, how could I have possibly hoped to contend with her?”

Minister Fan sighed, thinking that perhaps he did indeed misjudge the matter. He never thought that the Eldest Princess would possess such a strong reaction. He waved his hand and told him, “She is the Empress’ sister; the Dowager’s most favored daughter, and Wan Er’s mother. But all that is in the past; you should let it go.”

Fan Xian earnestly believed in what his father told him, but he did not believe his father was one to accept such an affront and bear it without retribution. Fan Xian knew full well of his father’s loyalty to the kingdom, so much so that it prevented him from attending to all of his familial duties. But this was not without want; he would still do what he could for his family if he was able. The reason Minister Fan had been so vehemently against Fan Xian’s integration with the Overwatch Council was because he could not stand for his son to be thrust into political struggles, espionage and other such ugly business that was done in the shadows.

If he were to work for the palace treasury, money would be at the forefront of all his deeds there. Working for the council, in any of its many capacities, political intrigue could not be avoided. While they both had their connections, this was not something his father was aware of in the beginning. But whatever the case may be, Fan Xian was forever appreciative to Count Sinan, and so he said, “Do not worry about it, father. I will be careful.”

Minister Fan was satisfied with his response and so he replied, “Only those who are truly strong can afford to display weakness. The losers are already weak, and they cannot feign weakness, for that is what they inherently are. Think about this, my son.”

Fan Xian understood the meaning behind his father’s words and smiled. Then another matter of discussion popped up in his mind, and so he asked, “Father, after I return to the palace, will I be allowed to have Gao Da and the other seven Tiger Guards follow me around?”

Minister Fan looked upon his son and his stern eyes dissolved into a soft and caring appearance. He said, “You know I am only training the Tiger Guards on behalf of the palace. They still dictate where the Tiger Guards may go and whom they may accompany. If you seek to maintain those Tiger Guards in your company, I can go speak to the palace officials on your behalf. I do not expect the Emperor to permit it, however.”

With yet another wry smile, Fan Xian acknowledged his yearning for the company of Gao Da and the others. Having a few elite guards around him, he felt that his safety was guaranteed. Upon the plains of Wuduhe, even Haitang had not been able to anything. The strength and dexterity that they possessed, in comparison to the swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council, was of a whole other league. Even though he had direct command of Qinian’s unit, the group of Overwatch Council soldiers trained by Wang Qinian, they only excelled in spying and other such espionage tactics. They were in no way comparable in their skills with the blade.

Fan Xian understood that the Tiger Guards were traditionally reserved for the protection of the monarchy. Like the western army, they were few, and they were for ensuring the Great Prince’s protection. Rarely did the Emperor send them alongside to guard others, but in most such cases, the persons they were sent to protect were people on special missions of some importance to the palace. For example, when Fan Xian’s father-in-law, Prime Minister Lin, was relieved of his duties, the Emperor sent alongside him four of the Tiger Guards to ensure his safe return home. This was a public display, in adoration of his services to the kingdom. After their task was done, they would return to the capital and take refuge in houses that looked inconspicuous.

The reason why Fan Xian knew so much was because his father was previously in command of such duties for the Emperor. The envoy had already returned to the capital and if the Tiger Guards had still followed Fan Xian, to the acknowledgement of the monarchy, there would have been much distress.

Minister Fan noticed that his son’s facial expression was one of much pity, and so he laughed. He thought to himself that Fan Xian was exactly like his mother; a person who was truly special, more so than anyone else. He was still quite a young man, however, and so he could not help but remind him, saying, “Whilst you were away on your travels, there was a man named Shi Chanli who frequently visited the manor. He was a scholar and I managed to see him a few times. He looked to be a person of profound wisdom, but the way he carried himself was to suggest otherwise. He hid it well.”

Fan Xian was surprised and immediately understood. His father knew that Fan Xian had decided not to leave the Overwatch Council and start a new career within politics, and so he resolved to impart advice and help him as best as he may. Fan Xian, after all, was held in high regard by many, and even his father-in-law, Prime Minister Lin, had made efforts to ensure that others in the government would look out for Fan Xian. As good as this was, he still wanted to secure positions for the people he had already come to know and trust, to whom he could talk freely.

He acknowledged what his father was thinking, and he was touched. But because he was a man, he was unable to express his emotions and so instead Fan Xian took a deep bow before his father.

Minister Fan waved his hand and departed, making for his bedroom. Fan Xian remained and thought about his sister’s marriage. There was no need to tell anyone so soon, for it was something they could slowly arrange by themselves. Softly, Fan Xian then also left the study and went to his bedroom.

Seeing Fan Xian exit the study, walking straight, Minister Fan was filled with an overwhelming sense of relief. He thought to himself, “To have a son such as this; what more could a man ask for?” Without haste, he drank his last sip of juice from the bowl, comfortable in the knowledge that his child had found his way and purpose, and knew full well what he wanted to do in this life. But in regards to his son’s personality, as long as he did not say anything, everything would be fine. The future of the Fan family and lineage was entirely upon Fan Xian.

Minister Fan now held great admiration for Prime Minister Lin, who had already withdrawn from the absolute center of power within the Qing Kingdom’s government. He thought to himself that the old fox had gotten quite lucky. Minister Fan was made to give up so many things in his life, as he toiled and worked to his absolute limit for the kingdom. All the Prime Minister had to do was conceive a daughter.

The ninth month was generally quite plain and boring; it was a month where trouble never typically stirred.

Fan Xian was sitting in a carriage, leaning against the window frame, humming the melody of a song nobody else was sure to have ever heard before. Entering the palace was a matter of grand importance to most who came this way, but Fan Xian thought otherwise – he was bored. When he returned to the capital, he conceived an idea alongside his father-in-law, believing that inside the government or outside the capital, nothing could wrought trouble. He wanted to enter the palace and accept the position of baron so he could then resolve the issues regarding the Overwatch Council. He also thought to then revisit the Cang Mountains and practice his cliff-jumping ability once more.

The melody-coinciding rhythm of the fingers he repeatedly tapped against the window frame came to a stop. His mind drifted to the thought of his sister’s marriage. He then thought of Li Hongcheng’s request of hosting a feast upon the Liujing River, for the welcoming of his return, and his face quickly donned a most terrible scowl. I never thought my life could be this wretched.

Today was Sunday, and in the morning, many chancellors had gathered right outside the palace. Earlier this year, certain rumors had circulated that spoke of chancellors expressing their gratitude to the Emperor. They began changing their uniform in the middle of the night, attempting to arrive at the palace before dawn, so that they could hear the palace’s doors open. This was due to the fact that when the chancellors were to retire, they could no longer hear this noise and they would miss it dearly.

Nowadays, the Emperor was here at this time and the most forlorn suck-ups were there, also. Therefore, the chancellors made sure to not arrive too early, but not too late, either. Whose idea it was, nobody knew, but someone had booked a few tables in the restaurant nearby the palace so that the chancellors could gather there, bide their time, and depart at the most opportune moment.

The Commissioner of the Overwatch Council had no manners, except for the mystique person who had already been forgotten. Fan Xian was the only Commissioner to have existed since the formation of the kingdom, so he was still considered a fourth-ranked member of the Imperial College. If it was not at the Emperor’s behest, he would not have been allowed to visit the palace. As such, he did not have to adhere to the strict dress code and dress up in a fashion that would have undoubtedly taken a very long time to equip. Therefore, Fan Xian set off for the palace in the early morning, with little concern for what was to occur during his visit. By the time he arrived at the gate, however, he was much later than the others.

The more fame one was to receive, the more jealousy would be directed their way. This had been especially true for a young man who had only entered the capital a year and a half ago, and had ascended the ranks in the way which Fan Xian had. This young man had also been prone to humiliating the other officers, and in some cases, had gone and brought complete ruin and devastation to their reputations. He had gotten one minister exiled, and he had even killed another. But now, with a boorish yawn, all could see that young, handsome Commissioner for the Overwatch Council disembark his carriage.

Fan Xian took a look around and felt that the atmosphere had been tinged with a feeling of unease. All the chancellors were ministers hailing from various departments and commanders of different temples about the kingdom, each being of at least the second-rank. Even their wives were well-known, and their houses had each assuredly been showered with gifts given by the emperor. In comparison, Fan Xian was just a young man showing up to work late. If he had not received the support of his father and Chen Pingping, it would not have been long before the people in front of him began yelling at his presence.

They all knew they weren’t allowed to openly complain, but that didn’t mean they were going to make things easy for him. They all looked upon him coldly, before turning away in disgust. Amidst the chancellors present, there were a few who had been trained by Lin Ruofu himself and now they were mulling the idea of approaching Fan Xian. But seeing the fervent antipathy of their peers, they ultimately decided not to. All they did was impart upon Fan Xian a friendly look from afar.

From the amount of hateful stares he was receiving, Fan Xian began to feel uncomfortable, but he still kept his calm. With remarkable grace, he approached each and every chancellor he could see, and greeted them politely. As he did this, someone coughed behind him to notify him of his father’s arrival. The reasons for Minister Fan being late on this day were unknown, as were the reasons he did not travel to the palace alongside his son. Fan Xian quickened his pace to the carriage and carefully aided his father get out.

Minister Fan looked at him and shook his head before saying, “I’m not that old yet.”

Fan Xian laughed and understood that his overt politeness was a little too much, particularly from the quick frown his father gave him. On this day, however, the chancellors could immediately recognize that Minister Fan was in a delightful mood, for he did not let go of Fan Xian’s hand as he led his son forward.

As Minister Fan walked with his son toward the other chancellors, they had to quickly mask their feelings of discontent, especially when it came to the direct greeting of each other. After a while, Minister Fan took a polite hold of Fan Xian’s arm and guided him around the entire area to ensure he could put the names to the faces and properly recognize each and every chancellor that was present. As Fan Xian greeted them each amiably, the chancellors began to feel a little more at ease, seeing the young clown before them laugh as he did so. The chancellors that personally followed Mister Lin made sure to passionately greet Fan Xian, also. They made particular note of how well Fan Xian was performing, as well, given his relatively young age.

Still, there were a few chancellors lurking upon the fringes of their encounter that continued to display no motivation for putting aside their pre-conceived ill sentiments regarding Fan Xian and of getting to know him properly. They persisted with their cold and emotionless greetings. After all, who within the Qing Kingdom’s government was not aware of Fan Xian’s near-constant projected deception? The manner in which he would always appear to be polite and generous with others, with a self-wrought facade that sought only to advance his own selfish ambitions was rather well known by now.

The eldest minister, and the one who possessed the highest reputation, hailed from the Ministry of Appointments. He approached both Fan Xian and his father and groaned, saying “Ever since this country began, back when the Kingdom of Wei was in power, the inclusion of both a father and son in court at the same time – like you and your son – was a rare occurrence, indeed. Your self-assuredness comes as no surprise.”

Fan Jian started laughing. “Thank you for the compliment. I thank the Emperor also, for allowing such a thing.” As he said this, it was as if he did not acknowledge that the eldest minister was in fact taunting them. Fan Xian understood what was happening, but he thought that it was been he remained silent.

As this occurred, three eunuchs now approached them from the palace. The fellow in the middle could clearly be seen as a person of a higher-rank, and as they drew closer, he greeted them with a gentle wave of his staff and bid them, “Please, do come in.”

All the chancellors hushed their chatter and quickly tidied their garments before advancing to the palace. Perhaps it was because they were familiar with the proceedings in the palace and had seen them many times before, but they did not care to look at the sentries of pike-wielding royal guardsmen outside the palace building, nor the sword-wielding bodyguards that resided within. As they passed by the eunuchs, they puffed their chests in a prideful display.

This was the first time Fan Xian had ever visited the Royal Court, but it was not considered appropriate for him to walk alongside his father and it was because of this that he walked at the back of the collective alongside the eunuchs. Eunuch Hou was leading the group. At a time like this, of course, Fan Xian didn’t dare to say a word toward him. Instead, he simply smiled to display his genuine appreciation.

A while later, Hou San’er mulled something over in his mind. He questioned to himself as to how he could believe that Fan Xian was a true ally in which he could place his trust. The resolution that brought an end to his worries was when he caught sight of Fan Xian’s smile, which looked as real and as earnest as could be. The other chancellors, who were only polite and graceful to the eunuchs when they provided a service that aided them dearly, often feigned their smiles to the eunuchs, and Hou San’er knew this.

As it was Fan Xian’s first time in the Royal Court, he was quite nervous. He now found himself standing at the back of the line, quite a distance from the throne. Thankfully, his zhenqi allowed him to hear all that was said, and it was particularly important that he heard every word the Emperor spoke. He knew it was only a matter of time before the Emperor drew attention to Fan Xian specifically, but that did not prevent his idle observations of the hall he was now in.

Even though he had entered the palace grounds a few times before, it was mostly out of everybody’s way, chatting up the girls and going for long walks with Chen’er. Taiji Palace was the primary building of the Royal Palace, but he had only ever been able to view it from afar. He had never once been granted the opportunity to stand beneath its roof before today and now, as he stood there, he thought it far grander than he could have possibly imagined. The pillars were each adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and a pleasant fragrance permeated the air. There was even a copper-plated carving of a crane on both sides of the hall. But as his minded drifted to the thoughts of the northern Qi Kingdom palace’s nature-themed decor, he thought it was slightly underwhelming by comparison.

As he stood there in the hall, another feeling encroached upon him – and that was of power. The throne’s position at the forefront of the hall was slightly elevated above all else, and every time the chancellors looked upon it, their hearts were filled with awe.

But their feelings weren’t explicitly regarding the throne, as they were more about the middle-aged man who was sat upon it. Even though his palace was not as pretty as the northern Qi Kingdom’s, and the food was not as good as the food provided at Dongyi City, everyone knew that this man was most likely the most powerful man on earth.

The topic of discussion for the Royal Court today was in regards to the envoy and the Great Prince, but not of their dispute over who was to enter the capital first. Even though the Censor of the Imperial Censorate wished to write of those events, it was impossible for them to do so on a day such as this. It was not that they would be unable to chronicle the proceedings of that day in one night. It would merely look hasty and unkempt before the Emperor; something which would displease him greatly.

The subject of discussion was regarding the western army, and where its displaced soldiers were to reside following their deployment and return from the war. The need to present rewards and create medals and titles to showcase their bravery was also a concern that would need to be deliberated. Even though the Great Prince had been already been announced as the Emperor-to-be, there were a hundred-thousand more soldiers in need of a place to settle down. The suggestion for a debate about these issues came from the Bureau of Military Affairs, and no chancellor could even dream of objecting a matter that came from such an organization. The Emperor sought to rule the kingdom with compassion and great love for the people, but against this, the history of the Qing Kingdom dictates that it was a kingdom founded through war and force, and this was why their military presence was so large. Nobody would want to displease the army with these sensitive issues.

In regards to the envoy, following the report that surmised their journey, Honglu Temple, on behalf of the Qi Kingdom, had delivered an updated codex that detailed the nation’s size, and the borders that defined what was known as the northern Qi Kingdom. As the Emperor looked at the revised map of their kingdom, he took notice of the Qing Kingdom’s borders widening in the wake of these changes. And from a calm and still expression, came a fount of relief and delight at the revelation.

As was customary for them, the chancellors each and all expressed their “heartfelt congratulations” to the Emperor upon hearing the news. Even the high-ranking officers of the Bureau of Military Affairs stroked their beards and projected their happiness. This expanse of the Qing Kingdom’s borders was a result of the western army’s sacrifices across their years of battle.

As this was happening, a few of the chancellors took notice that during the discussion, the officers from Honglu Temple, Xin Qiwu, Fan Xian, and the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council played an influential role in these changes. The three in question knew full well of their deeds, but with humble modesty, they did not speak a word of them.

Fan Xian looked at the chancellors who were now truly happy, in full earnestness, and brought to himself a smile of his own. After all, he did indeed play a part. He was thinking also that if it wasn’t for the Eldest Princess selling out Yan Bingyun, the Qing Kingdom would have received even more of a benefit. But the Eldest Princess did also want Xiao En to return to the northern Qi Kingdom and incite a civil war. It was quite the play. Between those two moves, it was the difference between a short-term benefit and a long-term benefit.

The most powerful middle-aged man – the Emperor – had joy in his heart, and it was of such a profound amount that even he had trouble holding it in. With his absolute strength, he managed to maintain his composure and upon doing so, placed his elbow upon the throne’s arm and nestled his face within the palm of his hand. As he listened to the chatter of the chancellors’ repeated congratulations, he looked upon his audience and noticed the presence of a particular young man bearing the most heart-warming of smiles. Upon seeing this, it elevated the happiness within his heart even further.

The Emperor gestured to his eunuch transcriber and his fellow assistant who held the edict open for him, and with his sharp voice, the eunuch began reading aloud what had been written upon the parchment. The resolving of the issue of the rewards being gifted to the soldiers would have to be delayed a few days, due to the copious amount of men there were. Furthermore, they would have to consult the Great Prince and General of the army. The edict being read out now, instead, spoke of the rewards that were to be gifted to the members of the envoy.

All who were now in the hall were silent. Everybody knew that when the envoy returned, the giving of gifts was to be a routine affair and as such, the chancellors had little interest in such a doing. They only perked their ears at the hearing of Fan Xian’s name.

“...First Baron, second-rank.”

All the chancellors were relieved, for they thought the Emperor made the right call. No matter their relationship with the Fan family, not a single chancellor would have liked to have seen Fan Xian manage to become a baron at such a young age. Certain chancellors viewed the issue from separate angles and such, but this general sentiment was shared between them all.

Xin Qiwu and Fan Xian were already upon their knees in the hall, graciously thanking the Emperor. As the chancellors’ listened to the usual sentence of, “If there is further business that need be brought to light, speak now. Else, you may all depart,” the Emperor gently added, “A few of you will remain.”

The Emperor looked about the hall and then gazed at the few high-ranked officers who were near the throne. After Lin Ruofu left his position as Prime Minister, the court was unable to find a suitable replacement at such a short notice. Therefore, for all of the government’s business, it was headed by leading scholars and ministers. After the convergence, it was customary for the Emperor to remain a while and talk. Today, however, the Crown Prince and the Great Prince were in the hall, and they were of the few who were asked to remain. The chancellors didn’t believe anything to be amiss and so they all exited the hall in an orderly fashion.

As they were leaving, the chancellors heard a sentence that filled them each with spiteful envy.

“Fan Xian, you remain, as well.”