Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 233 Constellations (Part 2)

Although Fang Yanqian was talented, there were countless talented people in the world.

The real reason why Lü Shang took notice of him and even promoted him exceptionally was because he had a son who could be considered a great prime minister throughout history.

Fang Xuanling was one of the twenty-four meritorious officials of Lingyan Pavilion, known for his strategic planning and decisive action.

Most importantly, Fang Xuanling, like Prince Yang Lin, was a star descended from the heavens, born extraordinary.

"The Twenty-Eight Mansions, the Seven Mansions of the West, and the Water Ape of the Three Stars,"

A glint of light flashed in Lü Shang's eyes as he watched Fang Yanqian's retreating figure.

In a daze, one could see a star lord with an ape-headed body and a human body, holding the Jade Balance Sword, his eyes blazing with fire, silently hiding behind Fang Yanqian.

Lu Shang's gaze lingered for a moment, and the illusory figure gradually faded away as Fang Yanqian returned to his ranks.

This is a manifestation of the astrological fortune. As Fang Xuanling's father, Fang Yanqian also received some of the remaining fortune from the reincarnation of the Water Ape.

"Lord Lu?"

Seeing that Lü Shang's expression was unusual, Wei Ji called out softly,
Lu Shang snapped out of his reverie, the glint in his eyes fading, and said softly, "Military Advisor Fang's plan is excellent. Let's proceed accordingly. Tomorrow I will deploy infantry and cavalry, led by Qiang prisoners, to burn the Qiang bandits' grain reserves first."

"Prefect Wei has ordered the prefectures of Tao and Min to strictly guard their fortified villages and cut off their trade. As for how to divide the Qiang people, I will leave that to you all to ponder."

With the military council settled, Wei Ji rose first and addressed his officials in the hall, saying loudly, "Gentlemen, the proclamations to Tao and Min prefectures should be drafted tonight and sent out before dawn tomorrow."

"As for how to divide the Qiang people, this matter will be led by Chief Secretary Yang, with the officials of the prefecture and county jointly considering it,"

"promise!"

Yang Wang and his colleagues bowed and accepted the order.

After everyone left the main hall one by one, only Lü Shang and Wei Ji remained in the originally solemn government office.

Wei Ji waved away the servants standing in the hall and said quietly, "I was somewhat surprised that Duke Lu just promoted Fang Xiaochong."

"Although Fang Xiaochong is capable, his transfer from a registrar to a secretary and advisor on military affairs is ultimately an overreach of convention and will inevitably arouse resentment."

"A mediocre person is one who doesn't attract jealousy."

Lü Shang chuckled and said, "Although it's unconventional, didn't Prefect Wei still approve Fang Xiaochong's assignment?"

Wei Ji picked up the slightly cool teacup on the table, took a sip, and ran his fingertips along the rim of the celadon cup. A knowing smile flashed in his eyes as he slowly said, "After all, Lord Lu has spoken, so naturally I have no reason to refuse."

Just as Lü Shang valued Fang Yanqian because of Fang Xuanling, Wei Ji only agreed to Fang Yanqian's transfer because of Lü Shang's influence.

This is also why Lü Shang, having experienced the Northern Expedition, has gained a certain reputation among the civil and military officials of the present Sui Dynasty.

Even Wei Ji, who came from the Wei clan of Jingzhao, wanted to befriend Lü Shang.

If it were just an ordinary imperial relative, Wei Ji wouldn't even give it a second thought. The Wei family of Jingzhao behind him was the core of the Guanlong Group, second only to the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families in terms of social standing and prestige.

This was not the peak of the Jingzhao Wei clan. At this time, Wei Ji could not have imagined that decades later, with the change of the Mandate of Heaven and the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, the power of the Jingzhao Wei clan would even increase further.

During the Tang Dynasty, a total of twenty members of the Wei clan of Jingzhao served as prime ministers, making them the most powerful clan in the entire Tang Dynasty.

Even the empress of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, the fourth emperor of the Tang Dynasty, was a woman from the Wei clan of Jingzhao.

Lü Shang picked up his teacup and gave Wei Ji a perfunctory toast; the two exchanged knowing smiles.

The way for noble families to survive is to earn respect from you today and receive it in return.

While Lü Shang and Wei Ji were talking in the hall, Fang Yanqian, with a hint of inexplicable unease, slowly walked out of the prefectural government gate. Once outside, he didn't call for his attendants to lead his horse, but simply walked slowly along the bluestone path.

The evening breeze carried the aroma of ale from the taverns along the street, mixed with the faint sound of a foreign merchant's reed pipe in the distance, adding a touch of lively atmosphere to the alleyways.

"Xiao Chong?"

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a familiar voice called out from the alley entrance. Fang Yanqian looked up and saw his wife, Li, standing at the door with their young son.

Li was dressed in a plain-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with only a plain silver hairpin in her hair. Her young son looked up, and his delicate features could be seen between his eyebrows and eyes.

Fang Yanqian paused, looked at his wife and children, and then quickly stepped forward.

At the door, Li handed a coarse cloth handkerchief to Fang Yanqian, saying, "Look at you, covered in sweat."

The nine-year-old boy beside him looked up and said, "Father,"

"Um,"

After wiping his face with the handkerchief, Fang Yanqian let out a long, contented sigh.

Li stepped forward and said to Fang Yanqian, "Butcher Wang at the alley entrance just now gave me a piece of fresh mutton. I asked the cook to make soup, and it should be warm by now. Let's go home and have some soup to warm ourselves up."

Fang Yanqian held his young son's hand and said softly, "Let's go home."

The family chatted and laughed as they returned home. Stepping through the gate, they saw the old trees swaying in the breeze, and a few withered leaves falling in the evening wind.

The little one reached out to grab it, but missed, which made Li laugh out loud. She said, "Slow down, watch your step on the stone steps."

"My lord has returned,"

Upon hearing the sound, the Fang family's cook came out to greet them, carrying a bowl of mutton soup that was warming on the stove. The steam and the rich aroma of the meat wafted towards them.

After Fang Yanqian sat down, Li immediately took a clean cloth and carefully wiped the dust off his boots.

"Give Ajo Sheng first,"

After Fang Yanqian sat down, his gaze fell on his young son's upturned face, his bright eyes fixed on the ceramic bowl that the cook had brought out.

He smiled and took the rough porcelain ladle from Li's hand, ladling out some clear soup and tender mutton pieces, saying, "Slow down, it's hot."

Fang Yanqian had difficulty conceiving. He was thirty-three years old when he had a son, and he had no more children after that. He regarded this only heir as his life.

Seeing that Fang Yanqian was only scooping soup but not eating much, Madam Li gently pressed her finger against the corner of her young son's mouth, which was stained with meat soup. She folded a cloth and placed it on the table, and said softly, "Is there something difficult to resolve in the prefecture? I've noticed that your brow hasn't truly relaxed since you came back."

Fang Yanqian paused, his hand holding the soup spoon pausing. He glanced down at the oil floating in the bowl, then looked at his son blowing on the earthenware bowl, and sighed softly, "You know, since the fall of Qi, I have never wanted to pursue an official career again."

"But unable to resist Lord Wei's repeated recommendations, he had no choice but to serve the Sui Dynasty."

Li listened with her eyes lowered, and only looked up at Fang Yanqian after he finished speaking, and whispered, "Has something happened in the prefecture? Or does the governor have some arrangements for you?"

Fang Yanqian said in a muffled voice, "It's not the governor, it's Lu Shang, the Duke of Lu from Liangzhou. I don't know why, but he seems to appreciate me a lot, and he even transferred me from the governor's office to his command."

Although Fang Yanqian knew that this transfer would be of great benefit to him, he had no interest in an official career and did not want to be envied by others.

It should be noted that Fang Yanqian once served as the chief clerk of Gao Xiaoheng, the Prince of Guangning of Northern Qi, and was a trusted advisor to the Prince of Guangning. After the fall of Northern Qi, he even worked with his relatives and friends to restore Northern Qi.

After the failure, Fang Yanqian resolved not to serve the Northern Zhou. After Yang Jian replaced the Northern Zhou, Fang Yanqian still refused to serve the Sui. It was only because Wei Yi, the governor of Qizhou, appreciated Fang Yanqian and recommended him repeatedly that Fang Yanqian had no choice but to serve the Sui.

(End of this chapter)