Chapter Twenty-Four: The First Humming

  Fan Jian sighed, knowing that the young man in front of him was just like his mother, a stubborn and unyielding person. A gentle look appeared in his eyes as he spoke softly: "This time, the marriage between our two families is not actually initiated by my family or the Prime Minister's residence. Since it involves many things, the situation is quite complicated. If you really want to see that young lady, then think of a way yourself. I'm not suitable for this task."

  Fan Xian bowed and replied, "As long as Father agrees, I'll think of a way to meet her." He thought of the words he had heard earlier and felt a slight doubt in his heart. He asked, "What if Prime Minister refuses to agree to this marriage?"

  Si Nan Bo sneered, "I've said it before, there's a huge power behind this matter, he can't help but agree... Don't forget, that Miss Lin actually hasn't returned to the Lin family, her current identity is still the emperor's adopted daughter, the princess of the palace."

  In the fourth or fifth month, Fan Xian was like being drenched from head to toe with a large bucket of ice water. It was so cold that he only now understood that his marriage involved His Majesty's decision on who would manage the huge estate in the future, and it wasn't as simple as it seemed on the surface. The real decision-maker behind the scenes turned out to be a certain big shot hidden deep within the palace.

  It's just unclear whether it's the empress or the emperor.

  "Why should the prime minister oppose?" he asked with a frown.

  Xiananbo took a sip of tea, furrowed his brow, seemingly finding today's tea to be somewhat bitter. He touched the tip of his tongue to the rough gaps between his teeth and said indistinctly, "Didn't we discuss this last time?"

  Fan Xian smiled slightly and directly pointed out his father's mistake: "Last time you said that the prime minister was afraid that Your Majesty suspected him of hiding something behind the marriage with the Fan family, but in fact, since this marriage was approved by the palace, what is he still afraid of?"

  Fan Jian was momentarily speechless, and it took him half a day to regain his composure. He smiled and put the teacup on the table, saying: "Alright, I'll tell you the truth. Actually, Princess Chang doesn't want her daughter to marry you."

  Fan Xian was taken aback, thinking what's the point of this? All the fuss and commotion, but in the end, neither the parents nor the children are willing to get married. Why bother joining in on the excitement? It would be better to just wash his hands clean and go seek out that noble family's white-clothed young lady himself. He thought this way, but knew he couldn't say it out loud. Just looking at how both the Empress Dowager and the Prime Minister opposed it, yet Father was still able to persuade some big shot in the palace to force an engagement, one could imagine how much hidden power the Fan family had used in this process.

  "Why is the princess unwilling again?" he asked curiously, thinking to himself: "That Miss Lin is from a similar background as me, we're both illegitimate children of Confucius' descendants, what's with her haughty attitude?"

  "This is a rare case, Your Majesty cares about that county princess so much, even more than the imperial princess. Once after drinking, it was casually mentioned that if the county princess gets married, she would have to hand over the power in her hands to the future husband of the county princess, lest the royal bloodline be affected in the future."

  Fan Xian sighed and said, "So that's how it is. It seems this Princess also has a fondness for power. I wonder why she didn't marry the Prime Minister back then, raise children and grandchildren, wouldn't that be more joyful?"

  Sī Nán Bó said with a cold smile: "This is ultimately the harm of emotions. In those days, if Princess Yòu had married Lín Ruò Fǔ, Lín Ruò Fǔ would have been noble, but he couldn't have displayed his talents and become the leader of all officials like he is today, with boundless glory."

  Fan Xian furrowed his brow, only then remembering that imperial sons-in-law were not allowed to enter the court or hold official positions, and merely held empty titles.

  "If you were to marry that Miss Lin, although she is only a nominal princess in the palace and not on the imperial register, your career might also be affected." Duke Nan looked at him with furrowed brows, thinking he was worried about this, so he spoke bluntly.

  Fan Xian stood up and smiled: "Go on."

  "It's also true that next year is a big exam, and after some days you will have to start reviewing your books."

  Fan Xian thought to himself, "Could it be that I really have to participate in the imperial examination and compete with those Fan Jins for food?" He smiled bitterly and didn't respond.

  Then, Si Nan Bo told him that the second day of the month, the Jingjun Wangfu's monthly poetry meeting would be held again, and let Fan Xian make some preparations. This sentence fell into Fan Xian's ears, not as terrible as going to Ba Gu, but thinking about being forced to come up with a few more old Sins, old Sus, old Lis, and old Dus who sell private salt, Fan Xian also had a headache.

  Fan Jian looked at him with a smile and said, "I know you have poetic talent. In certain situations, there's no need to hide your sharpness too much. Although there are people in the palace who support this marriage, if you can gain some good reputation in the literary circles of Kyoto, it may also make the Empress Dowager more willing to marry off her daughter."

  Fan Xian smiled wryly and responded, knowing that the letter he had written to his sister in the past must have been secretly read by this old man. It was clear that his writing of "Dream of Red Mansions" had also not escaped his notice. He couldn't help but secretly admire the other's tolerant and cunning nature for enduring until now before making a subtle hint.

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  In this era, there is no Sunday; even if you work, God won't come to chop you with a knife. By the same token, there is also no Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday in this era. In short, there is no clear distinction between working days and rest days.

  Shops must be open every day, government offices must be in operation every day, and it is said that even the emperor's approval of memorials has never been suspended for a single day. But for the young masters of the aristocratic families who can be seen everywhere in Kyoto, the only thing they can do every day is to have fun.

  Sixteen years after the great war, the Northern Wei Dynasty split and was too weak to rise again. The Western Barbarians retreated far away, and only a thousand Hu horses grazed in the Yin Mountains. With just one order from Your Majesty, the Crown Prince led an army of 100,000 to run to the western borders to expand territory, which is also a game.

  Actually, the imperial family was quite fond of martial arts, but after the emperor's displeasure, they suddenly became fond of reciting poetry and composing couplets. When those above have a preference, those below must follow suit. Other young men from noble families mostly had nothing to do and were not qualified to lead troops, fortunately, they all had to prepare for the imperial examination to advance their careers, so they could indulge in refined pursuits, distinguishing themselves from commoners, having to read books, understand books, recite poetry, and compose poetry.

  So currently in Kyoto, what's most popular isn't duels between skilled martial artists, but rather something called poetry parties.