Chapter 475: Protection
Editor: Atlas Studios
Fan Zijin pursed his lips nonchalantly and said, “I fell out with him. It’s not a big deal for you, so there’s no need for him to specially remind me. On the other hand, you’ve been an official for so long, but you’re still not thinking before you speak and act. You didn’t even notice what was written on your memorial. Can you do things in this manner when you work for Eldest Cousin?”
Qi Haoran leaned against Fan Zijin curiously. “You and Uncle quarrel every other day, but you’d never actually fallen out for real. What happened this time?”
Fan Zijin threw down the book in his hand and lay down on the couch. Smiling, he and said, “In the past, I fought with him, but this time, I fought with Fan Zixiao directly. He flew into a rage out of humiliation and naturally fell out with me.”
“Did Fan Zixiao offend you?” A vicious look flashed across Qi Haoran’s face. “We already don’t lower ourselves to his level, and he still dares to find trouble with you?”
Seeing that Qi Haoran pushed the blame to Fan Zixiao without thinking, Fan Zijin sighed. “This is what a good brother should be like. Other than you, no one in the residence believes me. Even Mother suspects me.”
Fan Zijin snorted coldly and said, “Speaking of which, my brother hasn’t improved much in the past few years. He only has some backstage methods.”
“What did he do?” Qi Haoran frowned.
“It’s nothing much. A few years ago, he stabbed someone in my courtyard. This time, when I mentioned hereditary privilege after becoming a scholar, he couldn’t help but panic, so he got a young lass to seduce me to the West Wing. I beat him at his own game and hooked him up with a new concubine that Father had taken in. When Father barged in and saw it, he pushed all the blame to me and accused me of framing him.” Fan Zijin glanced at him from the corner of his eyes and smiled. “Actually, he’s not wrong. I was indeed the one who framed him, but whether I acknowledge it or not depends on my mood.”
Qi Haoran was so angry that his nose was crooked. “Why did you go along with his plan? Wasn’t this a great opportunity to let Uncle see his true colors?”
Fan Zijin pursed his lips. “It’s not the time yet. I still have some use for this matter. Don’t worry about it. Speaking of which, I’ve really got to thank you. If I hadn’t followed you to look for Eldest Cousin back then, I might only be slightly better than Fan Zixiao now. Every day, I’ll think about how to fight with them. How tiring would that be? My life would have been wasted.”
Although Fan Zijin said that, Qi Haoran didn’t think that he wasn’t hurt at all. After all, those were his biological parents. How sad would he be at their total lack of trust in him? Anyway, Qi Haoran would definitely be very sad at the thought that his Big Brother didn’t believe him anymore.
Hence, after leaving Fan Zijin’s study, Qi Haoran did not leave. Instead, he went to the front to look for Fan Siwen.
As it was noon, Fan Siwen had just come back from the government office for lunch. When he saw Qi Haoran, a rare smile appeared on his serious face. He waved and said, “Haoran, you’re here. Come and have lunch with me.”
Qi Haoran sat at the table and looked around. “Uncle, where’s Cousin Zixiao?”
Fan Siwen looked up at him and said calmly, “It’s rare for you to call Jialue1 ‘Cousin’. I remember that when you were young, you refused to call Zijin your older cousin, even often getting into a fight with him over who’s older. When you saw Jialue, you even called him by his full name.”
“I have grown up now.” Qi Haoran thought for a moment and said, “Uncle, Cousin Zixiao already had a courtesy name when he turned 14. Everyone knows that you value him, but Cousin Zijin is the legitimate son. He’s already 18 years old. It’s not that no teacher has hinted at giving him a courtesy name, but he pretended not to hear it. Uncle, when do you want to give him a courtesy name?”
Fan Siwen’s body stiffened and he said, “Since you guys aren’t even 20 yet, there’s no hurry. Zijin will be participating in the General Examination next year. If he passes, there will still be the Palace Examinations and the Hanlin Bachelor Examinations. You’re about to become a father now. When you guys turn 20, your father and I will discuss it. The two families will hold a coming-of-age ceremony together. I still remember that when you were young, you often shouted that you wanted to celebrate your birthday together. Coincidentally, you two were born less than two months apart, so your coming-of-age ceremonies can be held together…”
However, Qi Haoran did not want the topic to be diverted. Upon hearing this, he said, “Uncle, I know you think that Cousin Zijin is impressive and has the advantage of being the legitimate son, so he should give in to Cousin Zixiao. You think you’re being fair to the two of them by doing this. However, you have to know that to the legitimate son, it’s unfair for you to be fair. Besides, you’ve never been fair.”
Qi Haoran waved his hand to stop Fan Siwen from speaking. With a dark expression, he said, “I know your intentions. It’s nothing more than that Cousin Zijin has the ability to become an official himself, so you want to give the hereditary privilege spot to Cousin Zixiao.” The corners of Qi Haoran’s mouth twitched as he said, “It’s not that Cousin Zijin has to get that spot for the hereditary privilege. Since you’ve already made up your mind, let’s implement it as soon as possible. The sooner the spot is reported, everyone can calm down. Since he will be participating in the Spring Quarter Examinations next spring, it’s best not to disturb him with these trivial matters.”
Fan Siwen’s face darkened. He looked at Qi Haoran and asked, “Are you planning to interfere in my family’s matters?”
“Uncle, you’ve been planning for Cousin Zixiao, but don’t forget that he’s not your only son. Cousin Zijin is also your bloodline. Next year will be the most important year in his life. He could easily pass the previous village examination because he had been working on it for five years and used another year to revise. Now, there’s only four months left until next year’s Spring Quarter Examinations.” Qi Haoran looked into his eyes steadily and said word by word, “Since you don’t feel any heartache for him at all, I don’t mind intervening. Since he protected me for 18 years, I can very well protect him for four months.”
Fan Siwen’s face darkened, but he didn’t say anything.
Qi Haoran put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and left. When he reached the door, he stopped and asked curiously, “Uncle, Cousin Zixiao isn’t your only son born from a concubine. Since you want to be fair, what about the other concubines’ sons?”
Qi Haoran turned around and left, leaving behind an even paler Fan Siwen.
He walked around the streets and finally rode his horse to the Chen residence of the Minister of Rites. Then, he sat in the gatehouse and waited for Chen Qian.
Stunned at the sight of Qi Haoran, Chen Qian looked up at the sun and said, “That’s right. The sun sets from the west. What brings a busy person like you here today?”
Qi Haoran rolled his eyes and pulled him to Fortune Restaurant. The moment they entered the private room, he went straight to the point. “Are we brothers?”
Chen Qian replied in bewilderment, “I won’t do anything evil.”
“It’s a private matter. Nothing evil.”
Chen Qian said carefully, “If it’s within my capabilities…”
Qi Haoran smiled widely and patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry about that. It’s within your ability.”
Qi Haoran whispered a few words in his ear. Chen Qian nodded slightly and said, “It’s not difficult to get my grandfather to write a recommendation letter for Zijin, but it’s not so easy to become Chen Guangdi’s disciple.”
“I don’t want Zi Jin to acknowledge him as his teacher. I just want him to study by Old Chen’s side for four months.”
Chen Qian glanced at him and said, “Since the Spring Quarter Examinations is held four months from now, this is as good as acknowledging him as a teacher. My granduncle isn’t that easy to talk to.”
“Therefore, I have to ask you for another favor.” Qi Haoran smiled obsequiously.
After a while, a loud shout came from the private room. “Don’t even think about it!”
An hour later, Qi Haoran sent the cold-faced Chen Qian out with a smile. Steward Qian brought over a huge food box obsequiously and said, “Young Master Chen, Young Master Zijin instructed this early in the morning. He said that you didn’t eat much and prepared it for you. You just have to heat it up when you go back.”
Chen Qian’s manservant went to look at his master. Chen Qian’s expression turned even colder. He glared fiercely at Qi Haoran and gritted his teeth. “Take it.”
Now, he would accept whatever Qi Haoran gave him. With a snort, he climbed into the carriage. Then, he lifted the curtain with a whoosh and said, “Everyone says that Zijin treats you so well and always protects you. But today, it seems that you’re also very protective of him. Haoran, remember what you said today. Don’t forget about it the moment you turn around.”