Chapter 002 Meeting

Palace, Yanyuge.
The young emperor sat cross-legged, with a pot of top-quality tea on a small case in front of him, ready to serve guests.
A young eunuch walked slowly from a distance, head lowered, footsteps light.
The eunuch standing below the steps approached and glanced at the emperor inside the pavilion, then looked at the young eunuch rushing from a distance. Taking the initiative, he went up to greet him and asked in a low voice, "What's the matter?"
The eunuch whispered a few words to indicate the reason for the matter.
The old eunuch, upon hearing this, waved his hand to dismiss the young eunuch.
He carefully lifted the curtain and knelt beside the emperor, lowering his voice, "Your Majesty..."
"What's the matter?" the Emperor turned his head.
The old eunuch said, "The Governor of Yangzhou has returned and is currently waiting outside the palace for Your Majesty's audience."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor was overjoyed and quickly said, "Hurry, quickly summon him."
The eunuch was taken aback by the emperor's strong reaction, but quickly got up and went out to issue the decree. However, before he could go far, the emperor called him out loudly, saying, "Wang Banban, use the sedan chair, the sedan chair..."
The eunuch turned back and frowned in surprise, but hurriedly went to handle it.
He arrived at the Meridian Gate with the imperial sedan chair, and there was a middle-aged man in plain clothes standing at the main entrance of the Meridian Gate.
The man had gray hair on both temples, showing great vicissitudes of life.
One of his legs was limping, and half of his ear was missing. He was Wang Changyang, the governor of Yangzhou, who was going to the palace to meet the emperor.
"Announcement! Governor Wang Changyang of Yangzhou is here to pay respects to the emperor!" the old eunuch shouted loudly.
The sound of a male duck's voice spread throughout the Meridian Gate.
Wang Changyang looked up at the tall red city wall, exhaled deeply, and with a cane in hand, he was about to enter the palace to pay respects to the emperor.
The old eunuch quickly held him back, waving his hand and signaling the young eunuch behind him to bring the sedan chair and welcoming him with a smile, "Sir Governor, granted by the Emperor, please get on the sedan chair."
Wang Changyang couldn't help but take a step back, his face filled with disbelief.
Palanquin?
The emperor's palanquin?
For me to ride?
Absolutely not!
Wang Changyang waved his hand to decline, refusing to get on the palanquin no matter what.

From ancient times, no minister has ever ridden in a royal sedan inside the Forbidden City.
This is a great disrespect.
There has never been such a precedent, the emperor thinks too highly of himself.
In the palace, only His Majesty and the concubines of the harem are allowed.

Outsiders don't have this opportunity, nor do they dare.
"Excuse me, Sir."
"I dare not, I dare not." Wang Changyang was like a bewildered child, repeatedly waving his hands and stepping back.
The old eunuch had no choice but to signal to the young and strong eunuch behind him. The young eunuch, following orders, stepped forward and surrounded Wang Changyang. Under the watchful eyes of dozens of forbidden soldiers in front of the Meridian Gate, they forcefully lifted Wang Changyang, who had trouble walking, onto the imperial sedan.
Then, the little eunuch spread his legs and carried Wang Changyang into the palace without giving him a chance to get off the sedan chair.
This feels a bit like a human trafficker's deja vu!
On the way, Wang Changyang on the sedan chair looked terrified and looked at the old eunuch next to him, saying, "Sir, you'd better put me down, I...".
Wang Changyang cannot speak fluently.
The old eunuch didn't care about this, he rushed all the way and carried Wang Changyang to the Yanyu Tower.
Under the tower, the emperor was already waiting here.
"Stop the sedan!"
The sedan chair was put down, and Wang Changyang saw a person wearing a bright yellow robe, so he knelt down and bowed to pay his respects. Although he had never seen the young emperor's face and didn't know what the emperor looked like specifically, anyone who dared to dress like this in the palace must be the emperor, without a doubt.
The emperor saw Wang Changyang in a hurry and quickly walked a few steps forward to help him.
Wang Changyang became even more panicked, rolling and crawling from the sedan chair, and kneeling on the ground: "I, kowtow to see Your Majesty..."
“爱卿辛苦了。”皇帝没等王长阳说完一句完整的话，便扶起他。
从小太监手里接过拐杖，递给王长阳：“上去再说，上去再说。”
With the emperor's support, Wang Changyang limped onto the platform.
Inside the Misty Rain Pavilion, the sovereign and his minister sat facing each other.
The emperor personally poured tea: "You've worked hard, this cup is to honor you."
Wang Changyang took it anxiously and tears welled up in his eyes: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Both of them knew that this meeting was of vital importance.
Wang Changyang tidied up his appearance, knelt down, took out a prepared document from his bosom, and said loudly: "I, Wang Changyang, the governor of Yangzhou, hereby submit a memorial accusing the National Advisor, Fan Wenqian, of using disaster relief grain as a blackmail, coercing Jiangnan to sign a alliance treaty to assist in suppression. Those who refuse to sign will be mercilessly slaughtered."
"I, the military and civilian population of Yangzhou of two hundred thousand, have been massacred by Fan Wenqian!"
"Please, Your Majesty, restore the clear sky of Yangzhou, restore the clear sky of Jiangnan, and punish Fan Wenqian for his crimes!"
The young emperor took the memorial from Wang Changyang, his face heavy and suppressed.
……
Beijing, Fan Mansion.
The mansion of the Fan family was newly bestowed by the emperor, and it is quite large, like a maze inside.
At this moment, it is lunchtime, and the entire Fan family is having their meal.
At this moment, a servant hurriedly walked in through the door.
Mr. Fan Wenming, the elder brother of the head of the Fan family, Marquis Fan Wenqian, glanced at the servant, wiped his mouth with a silk cloth, got up, and left the midday meal.
Under the beckoning of an old woman, the whole family, who were clueless, finally started eating again. However, murmurs and discussions filled the air.
Fan Wenming quickly walked to the side hall in the backyard, where Tian Yong, who seemed to be a member of the Fan family, was waiting.
"How?" Fan Wenming asked anxiously before sitting down.
Tian Yong stood up, clasping his fists, and his expression turned gloomy: "He has already entered the palace."
The undercover spies from Fan House saw it at the noon gate of the imperial palace. Wang Changyang was carried into the palace by a group of eunuchs and met the emperor.
Hearing this, Fan Wenming closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
After a while, he opened his eyes again and looked at Tian Yong, saying, "Go and prepare for the next step."
Tian Yong nodded and said, "Yes."
Just before leaving, he asked again, "How are Fan Ming and the child in the cellar?"
Fan Wenming said, "I have a clever plan."
……