Chu Bin had not spoken to Fang Zilan much since the day he came back, as if he was deliberately avoiding her.
Fang Zilan knew in her heart but had no choice. The poison was like a thorn between them. Once touched, blood would drip. But how long could it last without mentioning it as before, deceiving herself and others?
Maybe the timing of her suggestion was wrong, or maybe Chu Bin hadn't figured out how to give her the answer yet... She comforted herself like this, her thoughts a little wandering.
"Master Fang?" The subordinate of the government office who knocked on the door saw the absent-minded Fang Zilan, and his voice couldn't help but rise a little higher, "Mr. Fang, I have already sorted out the farm records you ordered me to sort out."
After saying this, he respectfully placed the document on the desk in front of Fang Zilan, "Please take a look at it, Mr. Fang."
Fang Zilan took the document and read it ten lines at a time, then handed it back to his subordinate, "No problem, just take it to Mr. Song."
"Yes." The subordinate took the document but had no intention of leaving.
Seeing this, Fang Zilan coughed lightly and asked, "Is there anything else?"
The subordinate hesitated for a moment and finally said: "Master Fang, Master Gu Yuan has gone."
This was not the first time that Fang Zilan heard the news, but she was still stunned and blurted out "When?"
"A month ago." The subordinate lowered his eyes and said, "I heard that he was depressed and was not well before he arrived in Shanzhou."
Fang Zilan calmed her expression, "I understand."
"Master Fang, there are high mountains and long roads from Shanzhou to the capital..." The subordinate wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Fang Zilan, "Do you have any friendship with Master Gu Yuan?"
"I..." The subordinate turned away and said, "No."
"Is the fox sad when the rabbit dies?" Fang Zilan had no expression on her face and her voice was a little lower.
The subordinate did not answer, but asked instead: "Isn't it Master Fang? I see that Master Fang has been restless recently. Could it be that he already knew about Master Gu Yuan's death?"
"It's easy to get tired in the cold weather. I'm just a little out of spirits. It's not really a restless mood." Fang Zilan passed by lightly, but his subordinates kept asking, "Master Fang, are you even the slightest bit..."
"What?" Fang Zilan stopped him and said in a deep voice: "As an official in the court, who is not promoted and demoted? If you feel resentful because of a moment of weakness, how can you accomplish anything?"
She paused for a moment, "What's more, Mr. Gu Yuan was demoted to Shanzhou because of his poor performance. You are working in the government office properly, why do you have to be so sad about the spring and autumn?"
"Am I sad for spring and autumn?" The subordinate seemed to be suddenly stimulated and raised his voice: "Master Fang, who doesn't know that the people who revised the law in the Ministry of Punishments changed again and again, all to pave the way for your cousin? In the past, it was Gu Lord Yuan, now Lord Pei Pening, all those who stood in the way have been eliminated one by one. You are in the spotlight and can do anything, how can you understand the mood of a small official like us who works hard and walks on thin ice? "
Fang Zilan stared at the person in front of him quietly, making him feel scared. However, the words were so wet that he couldn't hold them back, so he could only bite the bullet and meet her gaze.
"Whether it's Gu Yuan or Pei Pening, it's all your Majesty's wish." Fang Zilan was silent for a long time, and then said quietly: "If you feel it's unfair, feel free to write to Your Majesty. There is no need for me to argue with you about these things in the government office. .”
The subordinate opened his mouth, but no sound came out. So Fang Zilan turned around and said, "If you still have some energy left, you might as well go and help Master Song. He still lacks manpower."
"Yes." The subordinate resigned in a muffled voice. Cao Hong, who had been standing outside the door for a while, came in, looked at Fang Zilan and said: "Boss, that gentleman just now was really rude..."
"It doesn't matter." Fang Zilan said softly: "I think there are many people who think like him. Even if Mo Han has no official position and only the status of guest minister, in their eyes, he relies on my relationship. Otherwise, how can he be qualified to join the Ministry of Justice? "
"It's just for others, but in the government office..." Cao Hong did not continue, and Fang Zilan said almost abruptly: "This Master Qian came here at the beginning of the year, and he followed the path of a disciple of the prime minister's office."
Cao Hong reacted and stared slightly, "A student from a poor family?"
Fang Zilan nodded slightly, "It's normal to be cautious when you first enter an official career. If there is no one to guide you, you may be stuck in a dilemma, or you may be deliberately flattered and attracted, in the end, your passion will turn to bone-chilling, or you may become a leader who is inflamed and swayed by the wind. It is possible that he is a senior, and even more cynical. I don’t know who brought him to what he is now, so let’s leave it to Mr. Song to train him for the time being. "
"That's fine." Cao Hong was thoughtful. Fang Zilan looked at him and asked curiously: "Old Cao, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Cao Hong rubbed the back of his head, "I just suddenly remembered the conversation I accidentally heard between the two adults in the government office two days ago. Their words were quite dissatisfied with the adults from poor families."
"Oh?" Fang Zilan raised her eyebrows, "Tell me and listen."
"This..." Cao Hong obviously didn't want to be the one who gossiped behind his back. Fang Zilan relaxed, raised the corners of his lips and said, "Let me guess, do they dislike the fact that adults from poor families are too short-sighted to be useful?"
Cao Hong was stunned for a moment, and then nodded heavily. The smile on Fang Zilan's face became even brighter, "As expected."
"Boss, do you think so?" Cao Hong looked confused, and the smile on Fang Zilan's face dissipated a little, "Everyone in the world yearns for the bright stars, but if you don't stand on the ground below, how can you look up at the boundless starry sky?"
Cao Hong seemed to understand. Fang Zilan explained: "Children from aristocratic families have a broad vision, and children from poor families are indeed incomparable. But relatively speaking, children from poor families will know better what the people want."
"Boss, although I don't understand it very well, they seem to be indispensable." Cao Hong frowned and said, "If that's the case, why are we still fighting?"
"Yeah, why..." Fang Zilan had a hint of sadness in her eyes. She looked out the window. The sky was gloomy and it seemed like it was going to snow. She looked away, and after finishing the official business at hand, she and Cao Hong left the government office.
When the two of them walked to the door of the Duke of Yue's Mansion, scattered snow fell from the sky. The children on the street were playing and reaching out to grab it, but their hands were empty but extremely excited.
Fang Zilan stopped, raised her hands to gather the cloak on her shoulders, raised her head and whispered softly: "It's snowing."
"Lan Lan." Chu Bin's voice came from behind the two of them. Hearing Cao Hong leave first, Fang Zilan looked back but did not speak.
Chu Bin walked to Fang Zilan and whispered: "Dong Guo Guo has been recovering from his illness for some time. Recently, he often goes to the Ministry of Household Affairs..."
"I'm tired." Fang Zilan blocked Chu Bin's last words. He pursed his lips and watched her slowly walking back to the house, her figure gradually getting away.
In the next few days, Chu Bin did not talk to Fang Zilan about the Pei family's affairs. Instead, he asked Xiao Xuan'er to tell him that Pei Jueqing had sorted out several adults from poor families in the household department and removed them one by one from the household department.
After Fang Zilan found out, she wanted to wait and see what would happen. However, before the situation became clear, a shocking case came to her - Pei Juqing died.
