Chapter 244

Chapter 244

When Fan Zhao arrived at the imperial study, Emperor Xianqing had just taken his seat behind the imperial desk.

Although the late emperor had already been deceased for half a month, the items on the desk were still those that had belonged to him.

Emperor Xianqing ran his fingers over the wooden grain of the desk.

While he still mourned his father, he was also growing accustomed to the reverence and adulation of those around him. No one dared to scold him anymore, nor did anyone dare to flaunt their status in front of his father. Those who once considered themselves equals to his father, and the tutors who once thought he hadn't learned enough, now had to kneel before him.

"Is the emperor inside? I need to see him!"

A familiar, rude voice suddenly shattered the silence of the imperial study. Emperor Xianqing's expression darkened, but after a moment of patience, he said to the young eunuch who had entered to announce visitors, "Summon him."

The eunuch went to fetch Fan Zhao, but Fan Zhao needed no guidance. He bypassed the eunuch and entered directly through the moon gate. Seeing Emperor Xianqing seated behind the desk, Fan Zhao halted five steps away from the desk, as he had done when paying respects to the late emperor, and said, "Your servant requests an audience with the emperor."

When the previous emperor had first ascended the throne, Fan Zhao had been straightforward, but after a reminder from Wei Qi, he had learned the proper etiquette.

Emperor Xianqing's expression softened slightly as he asked, "What brings you here?"

Without the presence of other civil and military officials, Fan Zhao was no longer as anxious as when he had first heard about the change in command. He spoke in a heartfelt tone to Emperor Xianqing, "Your Majesty, although Pan Yong is my father-in-law, he is like a blade of grass in my eyes compared to you and the late emperor. Even Feng Shu, Lu Shu, and Prime Minister Wei hold more importance in my eyes. How could I possibly favor my father-in-law when it comes to matters of national defense?"

Emperor Xianqing replied, "In the end, you still oppose my decree."

Fan Zhao took two steps forward, growing anxious again. "Your Majesty, think about it. What kind of people are the Wang family? They are willing to serve even treacherous ministers like Imperial Uncle Dou and have embezzled a great deal themselves. If the late emperor hadn't needed to stabilize the old clans of Luoyang when he ascended the throne, how could a daughter of the Wang family have been chosen to be your Crown Princess?"

Emperor Xianqing said sternly, "How dare you! Even if my marriage to the empress was for the stability of the court, we have been married for three years now and share a deep marital bond. The Wang family genuinely supports me, so how can you speak so disrespectfully?"

Fan Zhao replied, "If the Wang family truly supported you and the late emperor, they would have handed over their ill-gotten gains long ago. You must not be deceived by their sweet words."

Emperor Xianqing sneered, "If not for the fact that the decision to promote Wang Dingxian was entirely my own, I might have believed you. Rest assured, I guarantee that neither the empress's father nor the empress has ever pleaded for Wang Dingxian in front of me."

Fan Zhao said, "Then it is Your Majesty who is being confused..."

"Bang!" Emperor Xianqing slammed his hand on the desk and stood up!

The nearby eunuchs, Liu and Chang, were so startled that they trembled and immediately knelt down, but Fan Zhao remained standing straight, slightly bowing his head as he looked down at Emperor Xianqing with a hint of confusion in his eyes, not understanding why the emperor was so furious.

Emperor Xianqing's palm felt like it was on fire from the pain, but he couldn't show it. Seeing that Fan Zhao showed no fear, his anger flared even more, and he scolded, "How dare you defy your superior! Kneel down!"

Fan Zhao frowned, realizing that Emperor Xianqing was truly angry, so he took two steps back, pressed his lips together, and knelt, lifting the hem of his robe.

Emperor Xianqing pointed at Fan Zhao's forehead and said, "Fan Zhao, I am aware that you have served the late emperor since your youth, but don't forget your place! I am the emperor, and you are merely my subject. The late emperor might have indulged you, but I will not. If there is another incident like today, I will surely punish you!"

Fan Zhao heard every word clearly but felt as if he were in a dream.

In Jizhou, he only knelt before the late emperor when he had committed a serious offense. In the capital city, he only needed to kneel along with other court officials during formal ceremonies. Usually, when the emperor and his ministers met, the late emperor had never put on the airs of an emperor in front of him.

"Leave," Emperor Xianqing said coldly, sitting back down in his chair and picking up a memorial to read.

Fan Zhao stood up, cast one last glance at the still-angry emperor, and then departed.

As dusk fell, Wei Qi and Song Lan walked side by side out of the Council of State.

The long palace road was wide and straight, with a few officials walking in small groups along the way.

Wei Qi looked to the side and saw Song Lan dressed in purple chancellor robes. Although he was over fifty, he still appeared elegant and composed. Wei Qi smiled and remarked, "After the late emperor's passing, Prime Minister Song's approach hasn't changed at all."

Song Lan said, "As a subject, one must fulfill their duties. How can there be a distinction between the late emperor and the new emperor?"

Wei Qi replied, "But knowing that Wang Dingxian is unfit to be the Hezhou garrison commander, why didn't you join me in advising the emperor? If something goes wrong in Hezhou, how could you face the late emperor's trust and charge?"

Song Lan responded, "Prime Minister Wei, you wrong me. Didn't I advise? The emperor's mind was already set. No matter how much you tried to persuade him, it was useless. What more could I do?"

Wei Qi said, "If you and I had firmly opposed it, how could the emperor have insisted on his own?"

Song Lan smiled and replied, "This time I could firmly oppose it, but next time, there might be a Chancellor Wang by your side. Or would you prefer to work with Chancellor Wang?"

The imperial father-in-law, Wang Bangxian, currently held the position of Minister of Personnel and was just one step away from becoming chancellor.

Today, Emperor Xianqing could promote the imperial father-in-law's younger brother to be the Hezhou garrison commander. Tomorrow, what would be strange about promoting the imperial father-in-law to be chancellor?

Song Lan added, "Brother Wei should know that I am not one who covets power and position. Otherwise, I could have curried favor with Imperial Uncle Dou to secure a high-ranking position and wealth."

At most, I would turn a blind eye to one or two matters with the newly enthroned Emperor Xianqing. If it were Wang Bangxian, he would become a second Imperial Uncle Dou.

Wei Qi was rendered speechless.

Song Lan looked up and sighed to the heavens, "Late emperor, oh late emperor."

Wei Qi looked down, a heavy weight seemingly added to his heart.

The two chancellors, lost in their thoughts, had walked a few steps out of the palace gate when they finally noticed Fan Zhao standing to the side. The fierce commander of the imperial guards, his sword at his side, his gaze following them like a predator's.

Wei Qi and Song Lan stopped simultaneously.

Fan Zhao stepped over and asked them, "The late emperor trusted you the most. Why are you standing by while the emperor makes mistakes?"

Song Lan smiled bitterly and left the explanation to Wei Qi, boarding his carriage first.

Wei Qi had to look up slightly to meet Fan Zhao's eyes. Toward this well-known commander of Jizhou, Wei Qi felt both admiration and frustration. He admired Fan Zhao's loyalty and bravery, like a divine weapon guarding the emperor, but resented his recklessness, often offending others without realizing it.

"First, we did advise. It's just that the emperor wouldn't listen."

"Second, the emperor is different from the late emperor. Fan Zhao, you must respect and fear him. You must not directly confront the emperor again, nor be disrespectful in front of others."

"Third, I know your loyalty to the emperor is sincere, but remember: the emperor is the emperor, and the minister is the minister. You must always adhere to the duties of a subject."

Finally, Wei Qi patted Fan Zhao's arm and said, "Watch your words carefully. Take care!"

Only after Wei Qi's carriage had left did Fan Zhao clench his fists and ride back to his residence.

At the Fan residence, Pan Yuerou was still unaware of the latest imperial decree, accompanying Lady Fan and her child.

Due to the late emperor's funeral, Lady Fan had shed few tears but had grown thinner. While the wet nurse soothed the young grandchild, Lady Fan, worried, said to Pan Yuerou, "The Marquis's temperament easily offends others. In the past, the late emperor protected him, but things are different now. You must advise him more. He no longer listens to me."

Her son had stopped listening to her since he was a teenager, and fortunately, with the emperor's care, Lady Fan had fewer worries.

Initially, Lady Fan had been somewhat dissatisfied with Pan Yuerou's background, but Pan Yuerou was beautiful yet not prone to fussing. She neither vied for favor with her son's other concubines nor failed to manage the household affairs neatly. Moreover, she had given Lady Fan a beloved grandson, who was gentle and considerate toward his grandmother. What more could Lady Fan ask for?

Pan Yuerou smiled and said, "Mother, do not worry. Your daughter-in-law is mindful of this as well."

The doorkeeper suddenly reported that the Marquis had returned.

Neither the mother-in-law nor daughter-in-law seemed surprised.

Fan Zhao loved to party. After work, he’d often invite friends to the North Market for drinks until he was tipsy. However, during this period of national mourning, Fan Zhao had been strictly observing the rules like a devoted son, returning home on time for half a month, neither eating meat nor drinking alcohol.

Yet tonight, Fan Zhao had no intention of having dinner with his family, nor did he come to greet his mother. Upon entering the main courtyard of the Marquis’s residence, he went into his own room and did not come out.

The daughter-in-law and mother-in-law went to check on him together, but Fan Zhao shooed them off, clearly annoyed.

After seeing off her mother-in-law, Pan Yuerou rushed to inquire with Fan Zhao’s long-serving attendant.

The attendant, also looking troubled, said, “This morning, the emperor issued an edict to transfer your father to Hanzhou as a military commander and Wang Dingxian to Hezhou.”

Pan Yuerou was speechless.

In the four southern prefectures, Jingzhou and Hezhou each have 80,000 troops, while Hanzhou and Jiangzhou only have 20,000. Just by looking at the troop numbers, you can tell which posts are more important.

A transfer from Hezhou to Hanzhou would be a demotion for any military commander!

Pan Yuerou couldn’t understand. “But what wrong has my father committed?”

The attendant glanced around and said in a low voice, “Your father hasn’t done anything wrong, but who can help it? General Wang is the brother of the Empress’s father.”

Pan Yuerou then remembered that the current Empress was surnamed Wang. One of the Wang family’s gentlemen was the Minister of Personnel, and the other was a military commander!

But why him? There were so many other frontier commanders—why did the emperor pick her father to make room for the Wangs?

Pan Yuerou left the attendant and rushed to Fan Zhao’s door, sobbing uncontrollably.

Fan Zhao, hearing her sobs, asked in annoyance, “What’s going on now?”

Pan Yuerou, crying, said, “My father was doing well in Hezhou. Why did the emperor transfer him? Why didn’t you, Marquis, advise against it?”

Fan Zhao sat up angrily, glaring at the door and said, “Do you think I didn’t try to talk him out of it? What am I supposed to do if he doesn’t listen?”

Pan Yuerou continued to cry.

Fan Zhao opened the door, and Pan Yuerou immediately threw herself into his arms.

Fan Zhao did care for Pan Yuerou; otherwise, he wouldn’t have married her. Besides, it was indeed unfair to Pan Yong. So, Fan Zhao carried Pan Yuerou to the bed and patiently comforted her.

The more Pan Yuerou thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. “What kind of relationship did you have with the late emperor? If the emperor wants to promote Wang Dingxian, why not send him to Jingzhou instead of squeezing out your father? Could it be that you’ve offended the emperor, and he’s deliberately targeting you?”

Fan Zhao said, “Impossible. The emperor and I are as close as brothers. It must be that the Wang family has beguiled the emperor. Other frontier commanders have always been prestigious, but your father’s reputation isn’t prominent enough to make the emperor feel at ease.”

If the emperor really wanted to replace General Xie Jian, that would be the height of stupidity.

Pan Yuerou said, “Who says all frontier commanders are better than my father? Qiao Changshun, the Liaozhou general, is barely thirty, isn’t he? When my father dealt with Qin Sizhu, Qiao Changshun was still working under the Chen family. If the emperor really had no personal motives, he should replace Qiao Changshun instead.”

Fan Zhao frowned. In his view, Qiao Changshun, that pretty boy, indeed couldn’t compare to Pan Yong and had been promoted thanks to the Xiao elder’s support.

But he still didn’t believe that the Xianqing Emperor was deliberately targeting him. “Maybe Wang Dingxian is a naval general, and the Liaozhou troops are cavalry, so he’s better suited for Hezhou.”

Seeing that Fan Zhao had resigned himself to the situation, Pan Yuerou paused, then sobbed and wiped her tears. “In the end, it’s because the emperor values his in-laws more. You’re just deluding yourself with this ‘close as brothers’ nonsense.”

Fan Zhao was furious and pushed Pan Yuerou onto the bed. “What does a woman know? It’s your father, a blacksmith by origin, who isn’t strong enough himself and dares to speculate about me and the emperor here!”

Pan Yuerou fell onto the brocade quilt, her head didn’t hit anything, but her arm was hurt by the force of the man’s push.

The pain made her tears flow even more, but Fan Zhao had already stormed out.