"Master Fang, please." The housekeeper of the Prime Minister's Mansion respectfully led Fang Zilan to the backyard, chatting about Fang Zitong's current situation along the way, "Second Miss can recognize people recently, and she doesn't cry as much as before. I'm getting better slowly, but..."
He didn't say anything further, and Fang Zilan said: "It's going to be difficult to get back to the original state, isn't it?"
The housekeeper coughed and changed his voice, "Fortunately, Mr. Fang visits you often. The second lady should be able to recognize you now, and it won't be like last time..."
Last time? Fang Zilan lowered her eyes and said nothing, that was before Chun Shou. At that time, Fang Zitong was still crazy, running around barefoot, and all the maids in the courtyard did not dare to come forward. Fang Lixing grabbed her wrist and tried to take her back to the boudoir, but he did not dare to use force for fear of hurting her. By accident, she broke free and was thrown away.
In the end, Fang Zilan tapped Fang Zitong's acupuncture points, making her unable to move, and then sent her back. Later, I heard Fang Lixing say that she had been like this since she came out of Jingzhao Yin Mansion, with good times and bad times.
Originally, someone from the Pei family went to the Prime Minister's Mansion to cause trouble when Fang Chongzheng was in court. However, after seeing Fang Zitong in person, they never came again.
As for Fang Zilan, she has not been to the Prime Minister's Mansion since Fang Chongzheng told her the truth after the Spring Hunt. She probably did not want to believe that she had been deceived for so long.
However, no matter how much you deceive yourself and others, the truth is there, and it will not cease to exist just because someone doesn’t want to believe it.
Walking in the Prime Minister's Mansion today, Fang Zilan suddenly felt like he was in another world, and couldn't help but ask: "How is the Prime Minister doing lately? I heard that the Prime Minister has asked for leave for a few days and has not been in court for a long time."
"Okay, everything is fine." The housekeeper was old and said he was out of breath as he walked. "You will know when the adults below see the master."
Fang Zilan nodded slightly and didn't ask any more questions until he followed the housekeeper through the corridor and entered the courtyard where Fang Zitong was. From a distance, he saw a straight figure standing next to the swing under the tree, pushing the swing again and again.
Although it was just a back view, Fang Zilan recognized Fang Chongzheng at a glance. On the swing he was pushing, Fang Zitong grasped the rope tightly with one hand, and carefully stretched the other hand into the air, feeling the wind blowing, with an expression of contentment and innocence, like a child generally.
Seeing this, Fang Zilan subconsciously slowed down her steps, as if she was afraid of disturbing the father and daughter, and even slowed down her breathing a little.
"Master Fang." The maid in the courtyard saw Fang Zilan and hurriedly bowed.
The sound alarmed Fang Zitong. She turned her head and looked at Fang Zilan curiously. She stared at Fang Zilan for a while and was still confused. Finally, she looked up at Fang Chongzheng as if asking for help, "Dad, who is Mr. Fang?"
"I'm dad's friend, and also your friend." Fang Chongzheng's voice was gentle, and he grabbed the rope and stopped the swing. "Dad has something to say to Mr. Fang. I'll come with you later, okay?"
Fang Zitong thought for a while, nodded and said, "Okay." After that, she jumped off the swing, turned to the maid and shouted to the side: "Dongxue, let's go release the kites!"
Winter snow? Fang Zilan was stunned when she heard the name. It wasn't until Fang Zitong and the maid named "Dong Xue" disappeared from sight that she heard Fang Chongzheng say: "Of all the maids, she only remembers Dong Xue."
Fang Zilan was silent. Fang Chongzheng looked at her and said, "I have heard about what happened in the court hall the day before yesterday. Is this why Mr. Fang came here?"
"Yes." Fang Zilan pursed her lips, "If the Prime Minister is not free, I will come to visit you another day."
"Lord Fang, if you keep cutting off, you will suffer the consequences." Fang Chongzheng's words stopped Fang Zilan from leaving, "Since you are already here, there is no harm in staying for a cup of tea before leaving."
"Sorry to bother you." Fang Zilan bowed her hands and then followed Fang Chongzheng into the hall. After sitting down, she picked up the tea cup, but made no move.
"Master Fang, you can't keep the White Jade Tiger Talisman, why bother..." Before Fang Chongzheng finished speaking, he heard a clang, and the tea cup in Fang Zilan's hand fell to the ground, smashing it to pieces.
Fang Zilan straightened her sleeves as if nothing had happened, seemingly blocking the red marks on her hands inadvertently, "What do you mean, Prime Minister?"
"The Di Rong envoy is about to arrive in Beijing. I think Mr. Fang already knows about it." Fang Chongzheng took a sip of tea and said quietly, "In addition, Di Rong's ministry has had a lot of friction with Persia and Miluo recently. Although it is not a major war, there are some There are many casualties, does Sir Fang know about this?"
"I know." Fang Zilan's voice became a little deeper, and Fang Chongzheng asked: "Does Master Fang know when the friction started?"
"After the spring hunting." Fang Zilan answered quickly, and Fang Chongzheng said meaningfully: "This timing is a coincidence."
Fang Zilan took a deep breath, "I guess they have already started the layout, I just don't understand, why is it the White Jade Tiger Talisman?"
Fang Chongzheng went on to add more tea, "Master Fang thinks that as long as the other half of the White Jade Tiger Talisman is in the southeast camp, it doesn't matter who is in the hands of the other half, right?"
Fang Zilan didn't speak as if he acquiesced. Fang Chongzheng continued: "I guess not only Master Fang, but also other courtiers also have this idea. Since this half of the Tiger Talisman was in the hands of General Xiahou before, there is nothing wrong with giving it to King Rongan now. That’s right, after all, they are all in the southeast, and as long as there is a check and balance from the southeast camp, there will be no losses.”
He paused as he spoke, "The difference between Mr. Fang and other courtiers is that he knows that King Rong'an is not a kind person, and is afraid that he will make trouble with the white jade tiger talisman. But if King Rong'an is a good man who loves the people, how can this half piece of white jade be used?" Can the Tiger Talisman be handed over to him?"
Fang Zilan reacted suddenly, "What do you mean, the prime minister, that this half of the white jade tiger talisman cannot be given to the royal family members who have fiefdoms?"
"This was originally a rule set by Emperor Tai'an, but it's a pity." Fang Chongzheng sighed, "At the end of the previous dynasty, when Emperor Tai'an raised his army, he got the tiger talisman from a relative of the Ji clan, so he started After the dynasty, a rule was established that clan members were not allowed to hold tiger talismans, especially clan clan members of the royal family with fiefdoms. However, within a few years, this rule was broken because of Concubine Yu."
"Master Prime Minister, are you talking about General Xiahou?" Fang Zilan was stunned and blurted out: "But she is not a clan relative..."
"Although we are not relatives, we are relatives." Fang Chongzheng said: "All relatives can have fiefdoms and hold military talismans, let alone relatives of the royal family?"
"The old land of Baiyue was originally the homeland of General Xiahou, how can it be regarded as a fiefdom?" Fang Zilan argued, but even she felt that she was not confident enough.
"The world won't care, let alone the court officials." Fang Chongzheng said quietly: "The rules have been abolished. Everyone else forgets after passing them, but Ji's will remember them forever."
