socalfunplaces Page 178
Page 178
"You have successfully brought Yan Bingyun back this time. At tonight's family banquet, in front of Prince Yong and the other princes, I will bestow a title upon you."
"Once Wan'er has finished investigating the deficit, I will find a way to have you deal with it and the Ming family!"
"If you handle it properly, I will naturally transfer the Imperial Treasury from Wan'er to you."
"In this world, only you are worthy to manage the Imperial Treasury, because you are her flesh and blood!"
Despite all that, Emperor Qing was still putting on a show of favor towards Fan Xian.
"I've left you in Danzhou all these years, don't blame me."
"In the strategy against Sean, you were indeed used as a pawn, but you are a pawn that is rising in status!"
"I want you to be a powerful and isolated minister in Daqing. You must go through these trials, and these are just the beginning!"
At this point, Emperor Qing had practically admitted that he was Fan Xian's biological father.
Fan Xian tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, I no longer know... who my father is?"
Emperor Qing crossed his arms, a warm smile on his face. "Is there even a need to ask?"
Fan Xian was a little flustered because Emperor Qing was being too kind, which was not normal!
However, Fan Xian didn't know why he was flustered; he just felt uneasy.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I still don't know when I was born?"
Emperor Qing said with a smile, "The eighteenth day of the first month!"
Fan Xian forced a smile. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I finally have a birthday."
Emperor Qing patted Fan Xian on the shoulder and then began to encourage him.
"You did a good job in Northern Qi. Next, you will take over the First Division of the Surveillance Bureau."
"Using our position as the organizer, we can investigate a group of corrupt officials and accomplish some good things."
"Then you can go down to the south of the Yangtze River and see what your mother left behind!"
"Let's go, come with me to the family banquet!"
Fan Xian followed closely behind Emperor Qing, trying to conceal his nervousness with his hurried footsteps.
Before long, the two arrived at the luxurious balcony where they had a family banquet before leaving Northern Qi.
Fan Xian saw from afar a figure with broad shoulders, a slender waist, and a handsome appearance standing next to Emperor Qing's throne.
The man placed his hand on the throne, staring at it with great interest.
Needless to say, apart from Li Chang'an, whose behavior has become increasingly outrageous lately, there is no other one to think of!
Emperor Qing saw it from afar, but only chuckled softly.
Only when he got closer did he call out, "Li Chang'an, why are you touching my throne?"
"What's wrong? You've become addicted to sitting on the emperor's throne in Northern Qi!"
Upon hearing Emperor Qing's voice, the eunuch hurriedly called out, "His Majesty has arrived!"
The prince, who had been standing ramrod straight, suddenly bowed and bent over, instantly changing his posture.
The fluid movements made Li Chengze grimace; this guy's acting skills were getting better and better!
"See Your Majesty!"
The group greeted Emperor Qing, who was still staring intently at Li Chang'an.
"Do you want to sit side by side with the emperor, just like you did in Northern Qi?"
Li Chang'an nodded and said, "At today's family banquet, Your Majesty and I are elders, so it's perfectly acceptable for us to sit side by side!"
Seeing Li Chang'an stroke the throne and speak to Emperor Qing in such a manner, Li Chengqian instantly felt at peace.
What's wrong with not paying respects to the Crown Prince at the city gate? After Yongwang Uncle went to Northern Qi, his audacity became terrifying!
Li Chang'an has already broken through to the Grandmaster level. Although he cannot kill Emperor Qing, he can definitely make Emperor Qing flee in a sorry state.
Therefore, his idea was to first participate in the court struggles according to his own plan.
The Second Prince, the Crown Prince, Li Yunrui, Chen Pingping, and others will all fall at his feet.
In this process, Li Chang'an, who has already become a Grandmaster, will not give anyone face.
If Emperor Qing uses his power to suppress people and hinder Li Chang'an's rise, then Li Chang'an will directly reveal his identity as a Grandmaster and take his close associates to Western Qin to start anew.
If Emperor Qing is magnanimous enough to understand Li Chang'an's role in the Great Qing Dynasty and tacitly approves of or supports Li Chang'an's rise, then Li Chang'an would not mind defeating his rivals step by step and eventually sidelining Emperor Qing.
Emperor Qing snorted coldly and said to Eunuch Hou, "Arrange Prince Yong's seat next to mine, and let's see what tricks he can pull!"
Upon hearing Emperor Qing's indulgence, both the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were stunned!
When did this usually aloof emperor become so tolerant?
Fan Xian's emotional contrast was smaller, because he had just experienced Emperor Qing's gentle side.
Emperor Qing sat on his throne and casually said, "Please sit down!"
"Don't you all think that I'm being so lenient with Prince Yong?"
"Then let me ask you, which of you can compose three hundred poems in one night? Who can bring down two powerful ministers of Northern Qi in one night?"
"Who can strike at the heart of the enemy and burn down the Northern Qi's military headquarters? And who can sit on the throne of the Northern Qi emperor with impunity!"
"If any of you can do that, you too can sit next to me!"
Li Chang'an sat next to Emperor Qing with a clear conscience, without any restraint or fear.
The princes were even more puzzled as to how Li Chang'an managed to remain calm.
No matter how great your achievements, shouldn't you feel subconsciously nervous and apprehensive when sitting with a high and mighty emperor?
Fan Xian secretly picked up a bite of food, knowing full well that for a time traveler, there was no such thing as reverence for imperial power.
"Your Majesty flatters me. These are nothing more than a small favor. Northern Qi is in utter chaos internally and is outwardly strong but inwardly weak."
"If it weren't for that old monster Ku He, I might have wiped out Northern Qi on my way here."
Upon hearing Li Chang'an's words, Emperor Qing suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"Li Chang'an, you seem to have gotten too arrogant! You think you can take advantage of me just because I've given you a little taste?"
"I praised you a couple of times, and you become so unhumbly. This kind of behavior will set a bad example for your nephews!"
Li Chang'an pointed at his nephews and said, "No matter what, the eldest son can't be taught to be bad, and the crown prince can't be taught to be good."
"The second son has been forced to turn bad, and the third son is still young. He only knows how to eat and doesn't understand what we say at all. No matter how Fan Xian tries to teach him, he won't listen."
Emperor Qing and his princes are gradually getting used to Li Chang'an's frankness and directness.
Emperor Qing sneered repeatedly, glancing at his sons one by one, and suddenly realized that Li Chang'an was right.
“Prince Yong was just saying it casually, so don’t try to explain. Anyone who does will look guilty.”
Then he said to the eldest prince, "Li Chengru, you look very energetic!"
Li Chengru said respectfully, "It's been many years since we last met. Father Emperor, you are in good health!"
Emperor Qing nodded and said, "He won't die!"
The princes took their seats, and the family banquet officially began.
After Fan Xian finished recounting the process of bringing Yan Bingyun back, Emperor Qing shifted the topic to Li Chang'an's remarkable achievements in Northern Qi.
"Prince Yong, you burned down the Northern Qi Garrison Command. Did you manage to salvage any of the confidential information inside?"
Li Chang'an said, "There are indeed some. I am thinking of reporting to Your Majesty separately about the Junshan Society matter later."
Emperor Qing took a bite of food and said, "Everyone here is one of us. If there is any major progress, it is fine to talk about it here."
Li Chang'an put down his chopsticks. He really hadn't expected that Emperor Qing would be so cooperative with him.
He originally planned to ignore Emperor Qing's attitude and launch an attack directly, but now Emperor Qing has given him the opportunity.
"Your Majesty, your brother has discovered a shocking secret in the confidential documents he obtained from the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"
"The Daqing economic pillar, the Inner Warehouse, is involved in major smuggling activities!"
"Someone is illegally reselling goods from the internal warehouse without going through the accounts, making huge profits!"
Upon hearing Li Chang'an's words, Li Chengze's legs suddenly went weak, and he almost couldn't kneel down.
Uncle Yong, we're on good terms, why are you coming at me?
Chapter 129 A Close-Up with Li Chengze! A Brothel Teaches a Brat! (23)
Upon hearing Li Chang'an's words, Emperor Qing's expression immediately turned serious.
"Oh? Is this happening?"
In fact, Emperor Qing knew about this matter, and in the original drama, he even hindered Fan Xian's investigation.
However, Emperor Qing at the moment clearly had other ideas and appeared very calm.
Li Chang'an then said, "That is indeed true!"
"The records of the Embroidered Uniform Guard contain detailed accounts of the channels and routes through which the Cui family smuggled large sums of money to Northern Qi over the years, passing through Shijia Town in Cangzhou."