"You won't believe me, but I really do want to be a rich young master, but my strength doesn't allow it! There's one more thing I have to tell you. You've said so much, but have you ever thought about why the Yan clan didn't cause me any trouble?"
Fu Xiaoguan picked up the teacup, Yuan Su's gaze fixed, and Mrs. Yuan also frowned.
As the Right Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, Yuan Su's official position was not high, but he was involved in almost all the major events in various parts of the Yu Dynasty.
As the highest administrative body of the Yu Dynasty, memorials from all provinces were reviewed by the Zhongshu Menxia before being submitted to the Prime Minister. Unless it was a secret report from His Majesty, there was nothing that the emperor did not know about. Yuan Su had served as the Right Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel for five years. Although he had never spoken to Prime Minister Yan Beixi, he understood what kind of person Yan Beixi was.
Being able to hold the position of prime minister of a country, Yan Beixi is certainly not a good person.
However, Yuan Suo did not realize that a small part of the affairs of the court were not passed from bottom to top, but were secrets passed from top to bottom. These secrets would not be passed to Yuan Suo's level, so he knew almost no secrets.
For example, the Princess Royal went to meet Dong Kangping.
For example, why was Dong Xiujing sent out to serve as a prefect?
For example, Her Royal Highness the Princess and Prime Minister Yan Beixi once had a deep discussion and reached some consensus.
This is not Yuan Sui's fault, the fault is that his status is too low.
So when Fu Xiaoguan asked this question, he was confused. Yes, how come the Yan family, which was so powerful, had never caused trouble for Fu Xiaoguan?
Moreover, the current situation shows that Dong Kangping agrees with the relationship between the two. For a smart man like Dong Kangping, would he let Shulan marry him just because of Fu Xiaoguan's literary talent?
Yuan Su took a deep breath and was very confused, but he still insisted on his opinion.
"As for why the Yan Clan didn't cause you any trouble, that's beyond my control. But I'm Shulan's third uncle, so I can still have a say in Shulan's marriage. Yan Xiwen and Shulan grew up together in Jinling and studied at the same academy, so they can be considered childhood sweethearts. Yan Xiwen is the eldest son and grandson of the Yan Clan, and will inherit the position of head of the Yan Clan in the future. But what about you? Young man, it's important to know your own limitations..."
Before Yuan Sui finished speaking, a doorman led Yan Xiwen in.
Today was the first day of the Lunar New Year, and Yan Xiwen didn't understand why the Yuan Mansion had sent him a note so early in the morning, saying that there was something extremely important that required him to come to the Yuan Mansion to meet them.
Yan Xiwen thought about it and realized that he had nothing to do with the Yuan Mansion. Well, he was just curious about what important matter was, so he came.
Then he froze.
What the hell!
This old bastard Yuan Su is so bad!
Dong Shulan is here, and Fu Xiaoguan is here too. This is the biggest pain in Yan Xiwen's heart. He has already learned the ins and outs of all this from his father, and he also knows that there is no possibility between him and Dong Shulan. He has been avoiding this mess, but today, Yuan Su actually put this matter on the table.
Yan Xiwen didn't show it. He had a warm expression on his face and bowed deeply to Fu Xiaoguan, which was the etiquette of a disciple.
Yuan Su and his wife opened their mouths in astonishment, staring in amazement. Yan Xiwen walked towards Fu Xiaoguan, sat down beside him, and said with a smile, "Brother Fu, you treated me so well in Xishan. Knowing you were coming to Shangjing, I was thinking of inviting you to Sifang Tower for a gathering on the third day of the first lunar month. Since it's almost noon, how about I treat you to lunch?"
What is going on here?
Yuan Chong and his wife originally thought that Yan Xiwen would crush Fu Xiaoguan into pieces as soon as he arrived, and he would definitely express his feelings to Shulan. As long as Yan Xiwen's attitude came out and was publicized, Yan Shidao would definitely go to the Dong Mansion to propose marriage for the sake of the Yan family's reputation.
As soon as the marriage was mentioned, Dong Kangping had no choice but to agree because the Yan family could not afford to be rejected.
But now, not only did Yan Xiwen not mention it, he even just looked at Dong Shulan apologetically, and then sat down and chatted casually with Fu Xiaoguan, and even invited Fu Xiaoguan to have lunch at noon!
There's no hatred between the two of them like someone having their wife stolen from them!
The two of them actually looked like old friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time!
Fu Xiaoguan thought about it and felt that it was not appropriate for Dong Shulan to go with him. They were not engaged yet, and Dong Shulan could not be allowed to come into contact with this guy.
So he smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother Xiwen, for your kindness. I really can't do it today. Shulan and I are visiting relatives, and we have to go back to the Dong Mansion to hand in this errand. When are you going to Yao County? How about I book a table at Sifanglou tomorrow and invite Fang Wenxing and the others to get together?"
"I have to leave on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. I shouldn't have come back, but something on my mind requires me to come back. Let's set it for tomorrow. I'll go to Sifanglou and reserve a table. You have to listen to me on this matter. After all, I'm a native of Jinling. Fang Wenxing and the others have also filled vacancies and will probably leave Beijing on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year to take up their posts in various places. It will be a bit difficult for us to get together again after this, ah..."
Yan Xiwen sighed and took a sip of tea. "Those happy times are gone forever. In fact, I really hope to leave after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month."
"Want to stay in Shangjing for a few more days?" Fu Xiaoguan was not surprised, because it was really not easy to come back, and this trip would probably take another year.
Yan Xiwen shook her head. "It's not that I miss home, but because of the Lanting Poetry Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. I want to beat you. I'm convinced I lost at the Mid-Autumn Festival, but I'm not sure I'll lose at the Lantern Festival, right? It's a shame, I'm afraid it's hard to win this one. If you write any good poems at the Lantern Festival, remember to write me a letter and tell me about it."
Yuan Chong and his wife were even more confused. I invited you here because of you and Dong Shulan, and you actually used my place to reminisce about the past!
Did we go in the wrong direction?
And looking at the conversation between the two, it seems that there is still friendship between them!
What the hell is going on?
Yuan Su didn't dare to ask, even though Yan Xiwen was just a small county magistrate, he still didn't dare to ask, and at this moment he could only listen.
Dong Shulan felt that Yan Xiwen seemed to have changed a lot. He was indeed a good person. She hoped that he could find someone he loved in the future.
Fu Xiaoguan hadn't expected Yan Xiwen to want to stay in Shangjing for this reason. He touched his nose and smiled, "Brother Xiwen, when it comes to governing a place, I guess I'm not as good as you, but when it comes to poetry and prose... I'm not bragging, you really can't catch up even if you flatter me."
Yan Xiwen glared at Fu Xiaoguan angrily, then deflated and sighed again, "You know what? I could have gone straight to become the governor of a prefecture, but Grandfather wouldn't allow it..." Then he looked at Fu Xiaoguan mysteriously, "You might not believe this, but Grandfather told me exactly this: When it comes to poetry and prose, you're not as good as Fu Xiaoguan, and when it comes to governing the country, you're not as good as Fu Xiaoguan either. So, just like your father, you should start with a county."
"Listen, I'm even doubting whether that's my grandpa or yours! How can your own grandpa praise others and disparage his own grandson?"
Fu Xiaoguan was amused. This kid had been the county magistrate for two months and had become more of a ruffian.
However, these words sounded like thunder in the ears of Yuan Su and his wife. What? This young official Fu actually received such high praise from Yan Beixi?
Why does he do that?
That disaster relief policy paper?
"Brother Xiwen, you have to believe what your grandfather said. After all, old ginger is still spicy, right?"
"roll!"
“Hahahahahaha…!”
The sun was shining outside, and the two young men were chatting and laughing.
There is no hatred, no jealousy, and no nonsense.
Yan Xiwen was born into a political family and understood politics. It was true that he liked Dong Shulan, but once he learned a small part of the truth behind it, he knew there was no chance for him and Dong Shulan to be together.
He didn't know why Her Royal Highness the Princess favored Fu Xiaoguan, nor did he understand why Fu Xiaoguan was favored by Concubine Shang. He didn't need to know the reason. As long as he had this result, he could judge a lot of things.
The Yan family also suffered losses during this investigation into corruption, but compared to the other five clans, the Yan clan's losses were the smallest because Yan Beixi acted decisively and reached some agreements with Concubine Shang behind the scenes.
As the instigator of this incident, Fu Xiaoguan, Yan Xiwen has begun to pay enough attention to him.
He was very clear that Fu Xiaoguan was a chess piece. He had previously thought that after the investigation into corruption, Fu Xiaoguan would be abandoned. However, subsequent events showed that not only was he not abandoned, but it was very likely that he had crossed the river and become a pawn that could move sideways.
Because of the disaster relief strategy, and because he would later go on a diplomatic mission to the Wu Dynasty, and it was even very likely that he would accompany the Third Princess to the Huang Kingdom at the end of the year to serve as the envoy for marriage.
These may seem unimportant, but an old fox like Yan Beixi can smell something different.
"The Yu Dynasty's court is a tangled web of internecine intrigue and corruption. It seems His Majesty is unwilling to tolerate this any longer. This kid has responded to the situation and appeared at the most opportune time. I'm afraid... when the storm comes, this kid will transform into a dragon!"
Yan Beixi said this to Yan Shidao last night. Yan Xiwen naturally heard it as well. He understood what his grandfather meant, but he still couldn't figure out how this kid could transform into a dragon.
"How long will you stay in Shangjing?" Yan Xiwen asked.
"I'm afraid it will take a long time."
"What about the Yao County investment? We agreed on that, don't forget it!"
"Don't worry about that. I remember the money-making thing best. I've already written a letter to my father, saying he and Butler Zhang will visit your land at the beginning of the new year. But let's be frank. I won't pay you a penny less in taxes, but you must not interfere with my business practices."
Yan Xiwen laughed, "Do you think I'm bored? Okay, see you at Sifang Building tomorrow at noon."
He stood up and said to Yuan Sui, "You, I see you're just bored!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
