CHAPTER 615: CHAPTER 615: MOCKING THE FAN FAMILY

The Fan Family, totaling over a hundred members, traveled slowly.

They only arrived at the Capital City three days after Xia Tingfeng had returned with the troops.

They were settled in the Fan Residence within the Capital City.

As soon as they entered the mansion gates, the soldiers who had escorted them back immediately surrounded the Fan Residence. Layers upon layers of soldiers encircled it, forming an impenetrable barrier, as secure as a fortress of bronze and iron.

With such a major upheaval in the family, Lady Fan was still in a state of shock. Old Master Fan’s concubines, on the other hand, wept and wailed all day long.

Frustrated and irritated beyond endurance, Lady Fan finally made a decisive move: she sold off several of the less favored concubines.

Those women, terrified, desperately tried to get messages out, begging Old Master Fan to save them.

But alas... Old Master Fan simply didn’t care. He heard about it but didn’t even inquire, feigning ignorance. After all, he himself was struggling to stay afloat.

With their hopes dashed, the women gradually quieted down.

On the night they returned to the Capital City, Old Master Fan hardly slept a wink.

Early the next morning, he sent word, wishing to enter the palace and personally apologize to the Emperor.

However, an imperial edict forestalled him.

The one delivering the edict was the Emperor’s Chief Eunuch, Li Shengan.

Old Master Fan dared not be disrespectful. Leading several dozen household members, he knelt to respectfully receive the edict.

Li Shengan offered a faint smile and read the edict aloud in a clear voice.

The content of the edict was quite interesting. It began with the Emperor’s apology: "The loss of Yanguan City was entirely due to My insufficient consideration. I failed to take into account that General Fan has aged and is no longer able to lead troops."

Then, the Emperor lavished praise upon General Fan, using florid and erudite language, enough to make even the most thick-skinned person blush.

Thereafter, the Emperor continued, "General Fan has dedicated his life to the Great Chu Dynasty. Now that he is advanced in years, how could I bear to send him back to that bitter, cold land? Therefore, I have brought you, My dear minister, back to the Capital City, hoping you will live out your remaining years in comfort and peace."

Ultimately, the Emperor matter-of-factly stripped him of all military authority, bestowing upon him the empty title of "Protectorate Duke of the First Rank." This came with no real power, only an annual stipend of several thousand taels of silver.

The edict concluded with an additional line: "All this I do for your well-being, General Fan. I hope you will not disappoint My kind intentions."

This edict was lengthy. Zhao Junyao had specially commissioned a Grand Scholar from the Hanlin Academy to draft it. The entire text was eloquent, its composition balanced, its language earnest, and its sentiment sincere; every word was a polished gem.

Li Shengan delivered it with utmost skill, his recitation perfectly modulated and flowing smoothly in one breath.

When he finally rolled up the edict and respectfully handed it to Old Master Fan, the dozens of Fan household members still looked completely bewildered.

In the end, it was Lady Fan who gently tugged at Old Master Fan’s sleeve. Only then did Old Master Fan snap back to reality.

"This servant... accepts the edict! Thank His Majesty for his profound grace!"

In truth, he hadn’t understood much of it, but an imperial edict had to be accepted, didn’t it?!

Seeing his respectful demeanor, Li Shengan finally smiled. "Lord Fan, you are now the Protectorate Duke of the First Rank! This old servant congratulates Your Lordship!"

Old Master Fan hastily forced a smile. "Thank you for your auspicious words, Eunuch. Please, come in for a cup of tea!"

Li Shengan declined with a smile. "Thank you for your kind offer, Lord Fan, but this old servant must return to the palace to report. We can catch up another day!"

Old Master Fan didn’t insist. He had someone bring a hefty pouch of silver and press it into Eunuch Li’s hands, then personally escorted him out with great courtesy.

The next day, the Emperor personally inscribed a plaque reading "Protectorate Duke’s Mansion" and had it delivered. Furthermore, he proclaimed to the realm that General Fan, in recognition of his lifelong contributions, was specially granted the noble rank of "Protectorate Duke of the First Rank."

A personally bestowed plaque from the Emperor, along with the title of a first-rank duke—this was indeed the utmost glory. After all, for a minister, receiving even a word of appreciation from the Emperor was an immense honor, let alone an entire plaque. How many officials, diligent and earnest their entire lives, could never hope to attain such heights.

Thus, the Capital City was soon abuzz with discussion.

All officials and common people alike praised the emperor’s wisdom and his profound sense of loyalty and righteousness.

"It is, after all, the Empress’s maternal family. Even after suffering a military defeat, they were not ignored. Such deep conjugal affection between His Majesty and the Empress!"

"It’s not just conjugal affection; it’s his profound sense of loyalty and righteousness!"

"The Emperor treats these civil and military officials so generously. Only then will they be motivated to serve our Great Chu Dynasty. This is a blessing for the nation!"

"The Emperor is wise!"

「There are no walls in the world that do not leak.」

With news spreading like wildfire outside the palace, how could it not reach ears within? The Empress soon received the information covertly.

It arrived on a slip of paper, passed through the hands of many palace attendants before being smuggled in from outside. Fragmented pieces of information were written on it:

"Northwest Yanguan City has fallen, General Fan defeated!"

"The Emperor sent reinforcements and replaced General Fan."

"The Emperor brought General Fan back to the Capital City, conferred upon him the title of a first-rank duke, and bestowed a plaque!"

Piecing together the information, the Empress roughly understood the sequence of events.

She gave a cold sneer, her hand crushing the slip of paper into a crumpled ball. She trembled with suppressed fury.

His Majesty! she seethed internally. His Majesty truly has his methods. To use such a tactic to render my father powerless! He not only achieved his goal but also garnered praise from everyone, earning a fine reputation! His Majesty!

The Empress clenched her fists tightly.

The news traveled swiftly, and by the next morning, it had reached Qingya Residence.

It was Xiao Xizi who had found out. Lately, Xiao Xizi had become remarkably adept, always managing to unearth information from some hidden corner of the palace that others were unaware of.

Xia Ruqing was shocked when she heard the news. "His Majesty... he’s truly devious!" she exclaimed. "His methods are indeed seasoned and ruthless, consistent with his usual style. It’s always like this with the Emperor; he either doesn’t make a move, or when he does, it’s overwhelming, leaving no room for maneuver!"

"In truth, the Emperor must have known what the Fan Family has been up to in the Northwest all these years!"

"So, His Majesty must have been tolerating it for a very long time!"

Xiao Xizi was still somewhat puzzled. "If he’s tolerated it for so long, why didn’t he seize this chance, with the defeat at Yanguan City, to..."

The justification was so clear, Xiao Xizi thought. With just a word from the Emperor, their dismissal and punishment would be a matter of moments!

Xia Ruqing sipped her tea and smiled. "You all are thinking too simply! As long as the Empress remains the Empress, the Emperor will not overtly deal with the Fan Family. He definitely won’t do anything that would damage the imperial family’s prestige!"

In this current situation, the Fan Family must be suffering even more, Xia Ruqing mused.

Imagine a tiger that has commanded awe for most of its life, suddenly finding itself in old age, declawed and defanged by a junior, trapped in a cage no bigger than one’s palm. No dignity, no freedom, only a hollow title gleaming meaninglessly overhead.

How agonizing, truly agonizing!

Xia Ruqing shivered inwardly at the thought.

Zi Yue and the others still didn’t understand.

"But it’s still a first-rank dukedom," one of them said. "He’s been promoted and ennobled, showered with honor. That’s something many officials strive for their entire lives and never achieve!"