71-79

Chapter 71: Si Lili

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"How did that saying go? When the master is put to shame…" Fan Xian looked at Teng Zijing.

Teng Zijing was quick to pick up: "… the servant dies."

"How impudent. If you die, I gain nothing out of it. So it's natural that someone else must die. Do you know how to do it?"

Teng Zijing responded without hesitation, even though he knew that beating Guo Baokun in the streets would be a serious crime, and that was without taking Guo Baokun's relationship with the prince into consideration. If Count Sinan wouldn't take responsibility, then he, as the main perpetrator, would most likely have to escape the capital and go into hiding for many years. Despite knowing that, he did not refuse, because he believed in the young man standing in front of him. Teng Zijing believed the young man would definitely escape his present ambiguous standard of living. Teng Zijing's trust came not only from Young Master Fan's knowledge in various methods, but also his own instincts.

Fan Xian nodded in acknowledgement, but said something odd. "You don't know how to do it."

Ten Zijing was startled. He didn't understand what the young master meant.

"The beating is a must, or else how can I relieve this foulness in my heart?" Fan Xian said, carrying the gentlest smile which contrasted with his words so much that it made Teng Zijing shudder. "The problem is how to beat him. Who should beat him? We must figure out how to beat him to our hearts' content without fear of corporal punishment!"

"I originally did mind dirtying my own hands, but if I asked you or some other guards back home to do it, it'll bring all sorts of trouble in the future when dealing with the officials. And I believe father would not alienate the Guo household for the sake of a few servants." Fan Xian continued to explain while smiling, "If I do it, however, the consequences would not be as severe, for my status is different. Besides, with the union between the Fan and Lin families, father and that esteemed one in the palace who want this marriage to follow through would rather not let anything happen to me."

Teng Zijing was worried. "Young Master, you mustn't do it yourself. Not to mention, scuffles between sons of powerful families really aren't that big of a deal in the capital. If you bring the Master and aid from the palace, that's a little too…"

Ten Zijing then shut his mouth, but Fan Xian finished his thought. "Lose a lot to save a little? Make too much of a scene?"

He then smiled and shook his head. "I was only speaking theoretically. Truthfully, I wasn't planning on giving him the chance to bite me back."

Startled by the revelation, Ten Zijing felt his heart go cold. Could the young master be planning on murder?

Fan Xian guessed what he was thinking and laughed. He asked without explaining himself, "Has Crown Prince Jing been invited?"

"Yes."

"What's the location?"

"The Drunken Immortal Tavern."

"Quite an extravagant name for a restaurant."

"…Young Master, it's a brothel."

Fan Xian did a double take and replied with an awkward smile. He then asked, "Is the bag ready?"

————————————————————————

To the east of the capital was a flowing river. Before it reached the mountains, it gradually slowed and formed a pond whose surface was as tranquil as a mirror. Every night, many decorated boats floated across with their beautiful lights, making the pond look like a crystal palace.

The people all knew what went on in those boats, but the knowledge was passed around so much that no one really objected.

The Drunken Immortal Tavern was not the biggest of these brothel boats, but it was of the highest class. The boat was intricate and beautiful, with two elegantly-built levels. The most important aspect was that Si Lili, the most popular girl in the capital, was there.

Si Lili's appearance spoke for itself. She was also quite talented, being able to play instruments and sing. While she didn't really have many actual achievements, the many scholars in different capital cities had praised her enough for her to receive a reputation as a talented entertainer.

But that wasn't the only reason for her sudden rise above other women of the same occupation. On a much grander level, there was a rumor that Lili's family name was not actually Si, but Li, denoting royal lineage. Supposedly, this young woman was the remnant of the royal family which first founded this kingdom, but due to her ancestors' committing a grave mistake, she ended up in her current state.

The ones who truly understood the royal family tree scoffed at such rumors, and the common people actually knew such rumors were false, but Si Lili never bothered to explain. If some people believed the rumor, then let them. It's not like the emperor would care about the family name of a prostitute. That was an understandable thing to do, since her various clients would probably be quite delighted if they believed her to be a "distant relative" of the emperor.

She was the reason why the Drunken Immortal Tavern was so popular despite its high prices. The boat was rowdy every night, and countless people had willingly thrown away all their valuables in order to become one of Si Lili's regulars. But today, something was different. The decorated boat was docked at shore, but the usual crowd of eager young nobles was not allowed to board. A few fierce-looking strongmen stood guard at the boarding plank. A fight would have erupted had the madam not come down to explain that the entire brothel had been rented out by someone for the day.

How much did it cost to rent out the whole place? As those young nobles left in a bad mood, they all secretly cursed the one who rented out the Drunken Immortal Tavern as a disgraceful and wasteful brat.

Fan Xian stared at the intricate pastries on the table as he drank high-class alcohol from a pair of delicate hands. He too felt he was being a disgrace to his family. The money had come from Count Sinan's treasury. Although Fan Xian's father was in charge of the Kingdom of Qing's finances, the Fan treasury was but a measly one. It pained Fan Xian to think about the amount of money he had spent on this. Fan Xian was also restless from not knowing how his father would react once he learned official funds were used in this way.

What really made him restless, however, was the young woman in his arms.

Si Lili's brows were sharp and shapely like willow leaves, while her dark pupils were lively and expressive. Her lips were colored red with lipstick and parted slightly, giving her a natural expression. Most enticing of all was her voluptuous figure. Sitting on Fan Xian's lap, the lightest touch would put him in a slight daze.

Feeling the heartbeat of this pretty rich boy gradually getting faster, Si Lili snickered to herself. Having confirmed this young master from Fan manor was still new to such matters, she stopped teasing him and got off his lap. She poured some more alcohol, raised the cup to his lips, and drizzled it in.

Chapter 72: Like an Orchid

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

As the boat slowly departed from the shore, so departed the young woman from Fan Xian.

Seeing the tender beauty leave his lap, Fan Xian gave a sigh of relief. After all, he was a thirty-some-year-old virgin in his previous life. Experiencing such stimulation at once was too much for him. Seeing his composure, Si Lili was a bit curious. Other young men like him with money and status all had messed around with maidservants back in their manors at his age.

She had no idea that Fan Xian grew up in Danzhou, where there were only a maidservants around. Dong'er, whom Fan Xian fantasized about when he was younger, was already married. And later on, when he was planning to mess around with Sisi, he got called to the capital in a hurry.

Si Lili got distracted watching Fan Xian's face for a moment. Embarrassed, she added some appetizers to his plate.

In his two lives, this was his first time going to a brothel, so naturally he was nervous; he didn't have any experience with this and was silent toward his lover. Seeing Si Lili being silent, he thought this was the way they served their customers and also didn't say anything. Only his left hand stayed half-heartedly around Si Lili's waist.

In an instant, the atmosphere had become rather ambiguous.

But things were getting lively in another cabin. Teng Zijing were drinking with a few of his trusted subordinates. The madam was waiting by their side and asked if they would want some girls to accompany them. The subordinates appeared to be tempted, but Teng Zijing shook his head coldly. After following the young master for several days, he never got the chance to demonstrate his abilities until today, therefore he mustn't let such distractions get in the way.

Seeing him being adamant, the madam didn't try to persuade any further; since she already got the money, she cheerfully poured alcohol and provided conversation. This madam's last name was also Si, but it was obviously a fake. Her first name was Ling, around thirty years old with an orderly demeanor. Some charm from her younger days still remained. After a few cups, she spoke softly to Teng Zijing: "From which house does such a dignified master come from, if I may ask?"

Teng Ziiing laughed at such an obvious question: "That was made obvious enough when we gave the order: Young Master is the eldest son of the Fan household."

Si Ling gave a charming smile: "Fan is one of the five great clans in the capital, with more than ten branch houses, even the most prosperous numbered three or four."

Teng Zijing only chuckled and did not respond.

Si Ling suddenly had an idea and attempted to confirm: "being so flashy with his money, could it be… Minister Fan's household?"

Since they specifically came here to visit this whorehouse, there was no reason for Teng Zijing to deny it. He nodded. With a look of shock, Si Ling exclaimed: "so he is Count Sinan's son." She was still troubled at the fact that the handsome young man at the back of the boat must be the illegitimate son everyone mentioned here and there. If that was the case, how could he have access to so much money?

Of course, she didn't openly pose her question. She remembered when she first started taking in customers; her seniors used to say that Count Sinan was a regular of the capital's brothels. Even after his marriage, he often visited the boats on the river, provoking the official censor to file many complaints condemning him. But due to his history with his highness, nothing could be done about him.

Who would have thought that, after twenty years, Count Sinan's son would once again repeat the cycle? From at the moment she caught glance of Young Master Fan, Si Ling realized that he was new at this, which was why she was very surprised when he requested the most popular girl here:

Like father, like son.

Some red lanterns suddenly appeared during the chatter, and shouting could be heard. The madam stood up with some uncertainty. With his sharp eyes, Teng Zijing saw that there were two guards of King Jing Manor and ordered the flower boat to get to shore.

After Crown Prince Jing got on, he went to the back like he always did. Madam Si Ling was very startled seeing another important guest. Apparently, that young master had very impressive connections.

Teng Zijing was well acquainted with the prince's guards and went to drink with them.

In the cabin in the back of the boat, the Prince saw Fan Xian's pitiful state, and said mockingly, "It's not like Miss Lili will eat you or anything, so why are you sitting so far away?"

Fan Xian thought: "If you had come any later, I might have started eating people." He then asked, "Why have you come so late?"

That caught the Crown Prince off guard. "What should I tell you? Father gave me an earful because you invited me here." Instead, he answered, with a smile, "Being from Danzhou, you are unfamiliar with the customs in the capital. Only after meals are you supposed to come out to enjoy the evening scene.

"Evening scene" was carefully chosen, and Fan Xian realized this custom might not necessarily exist. But he decided not to expose the prince and instead raised a toast. Strangely, despite meeting the prince only three times, both of them felt their personalities were somewhat compatible. Crown Prince Jing didn't have the lordly aura for a relative of the emperor, and Fan Xian was not like the other sons of wealthy families. Even more, Fan Xian was honest and behaved naturally, even in front of the prince, which incidentally worked well with Li Sicheng's temperament.

After a few cups of alcohol, the two began to get familiar with each other. The crown prince seemed to be very interested in Fan Xian's life in Danzhou. Fan Xian spoke carefully and discussed things that weren't too out of the ordinary, such as the mirage he saw that one time.

The only other person in the room besides them was Si Ling. She felt quite uneasy, as she wasn't sure which one to serve. Although the one who rented out the boat was Young Master Fan, Crown Prince Jing was still the crown prince. What if Young Master Fan wanted her to serve the prince?

Li Sicheng looked at the girl with a smile. Frequently visiting the brothels, he had seen Si Ling before, but for various reasons he never had any interactions with her. Seeing the troubled look on her face, and in spite of the fact that he was well aware of her struggle, he still gestured for the girl to sit next to Fan Xian.

The madam wouldn't let the prince sit alone and already called in a girl from another boat. This girl was named Yuan Meng, and also very popular on the river. Together with Si Lili, they were at least worthy of their guests' status.

The alcohol became thicker as the night grew darker. Fan Xian and the crown prince deepened their connection, both were satisfied with this meeting. Seeing the bright moon had changed position, the two looked at each other and smiled, each taking their girl to their cabins.

...

...

Red candles were lit. Li Sisi's gaze was soft and gentle like silk. She leaned lightly against Fan Xian, her fingers caressing his palm. Her breathing was as graceful as an orchid.

Undetected, Fan Xian took out a pill he had made from his sleeve and quietly crushed it. With a smile, Li Sisi fell into a peaceful slumber. The scent of the sleep drug made the cabin as fragrant as orchids.

Chapter 73: The Bag of Pain

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The decorated boat rested by the shore. The crown prince stood next to it. He looked at the figures disappear into the darkness while embracing Yuan Meng, who asked, "What is Master Fan up to?"

The prince poked at the tip of her nose. "You sure you want to play innocent in front of me?" Yuan Meng smiled sweetly. "Regardless of what he does, he has nothing to hide from you. Si Lili, on the other hand, doesn't know anything I'm afraid."

"Nothing to hide, that means he's a smart one." Li Hongcheng smiled. "He's merely using me as a shield. If I wanted, he couldn't hide anything from me no matter what he did." He suddenly asked, "What does Fan Xian think of Si Lili?"

Apparently, Yuan Meng was very familiar with the prince. After some thinking, she answered, "Master Fan seemed to be really fond of Miss Li, but I don't know if he can handle the spring night and go do other things." She hid her grin with her hand, giving her a different feel than that of an entertainer.

"Then you should interact with Lili more often. Perhaps Fan Xian will frequent Drunken Immortal Tavern in the future." Li Hongcheng knotted his brows.

"Yes," Yuan Meng replied like a servant, despite being slightly curious as to why the prince would be so interested in Fan Xian.

Li Hongcheng reached his hand down her top and gently squeezed her flesh. Yuan Meng moaned lightly as her body went limp. "Do you know who Fan Xian is?"

"An illegitimate son, the favorite son of Minister Fan Jian." Yuan Meng's voice was like that of a kitten, but her eyes were still bright. "I understand now. Master wants to get a hold of Qing's main source of revenue."

Li Hongcheng smiled while shaking his head. "I have no such ambition. I simply feel that Fan Xian is worthy of being a friend." While those were his true feelings, there were a few things he did not clarify. Li Hongcheng knew about Fan Lin's secret marriage, and therefore he knew that the young man named Fan Xian could very likely control the entire business of the royal family in the future.

If the second prince were to compete with the crown prince, money would be the most important weapon.

—————————————————————————

Guo Baokun was embarrassed at the poetry gathering that day and was in a foul mood. He only felt slightly better after indulging himself for the night. But when he thought of his strict father, his mood worsened once again. As he planned on what to bring to the palace tomorrow to entertain the prince, his sedan chair stopped abruptly.

He was already drowsy for some reason, and unprepared for the sudden halt. He bumped his forehead, which brought him great pain. He yelled, "What are you bastards doing?"

No one answered him; everything was silent. Guo Baokun crawled out of the tilting sedan chair and discovered the streets were quiet. He was on Nulan Street on the way back to the manor.

Surrounding the sedan chair were three masked men dressed in all black. The sedan carriers and the guards of the Guo household had all collapsed; it was unknown whether they were dead or alive. Guo Baokun thought he had run into robbers and was scared senseless. When did the security in the capital become so bad? "Who are you?" he stuttered. "What do you want?"

Nulan street had always been quiet, especially at night when there were almost no people. Guo Baokun felt despair; he doubted anyone would come to his rescue even if he yelled, which was why he kept his voice low.

A clear yet gentle voice answered him. "I'm Fan Xian, and I'm here to beat you up."

Just as Guo Baokun was about to express his shock, a cloth sack came down from above and engulfed him completely. He wasn't able to see Fan Xian's despicable face.

The sack was faintly fragrant, which made Guo Baokun's alert again. This was unfortunate, as he was now fully conscious to endure the merciless storm of kicks and punches that followed.

Seeing Teng Zijing and the other two servants at work, Fan Xian felt a small bit of satisfaction. Among other intentions, he also wanted to make it clear that he wouldn't be made a fool of so easily. Raised a scholar, Guo Baokun had never experienced such humiliation and pain in his life. However, he knew he was dealing with Fan Xian. Fights between rich sons had never turned lethal, so Guo Baokun said maliciously:

"You little mongrel, Fan! If you have the balls, I dare you beat me to death!"

Hearing this, Fan Xian became enraged. With a wave of the hand, Teng Zijing and the two servants stopped their silent beating and let Fan Xian through. Walking over, Fan Xian got down and started beating Guo Baokun himself. Afterwards, looking at the sack writhing on the ground, he said softly, "Guo, do you know why I wrote that poem this afternoon?"

Fan Xian was strong. In the sack, Guo Baokun could no longer speak due to the pain. He just cried out.

"The ape cries out in the windy skies. Birds circle round the islet of clear white sand. Trees shed leaves endlessly, rustling down. The great river surges on ceaselessly. Ten thousand miles in sorrowful autumn, always someone's guest. A hundred years of ailments, I climb the terrace alone. With much suffering, I regret my white temples. Frustratingly, I stop drinking my murky wine. You've taken advantage of me twice, so I will beat some sadness, grief, and ailments into you. That's the only way I can feel happy."

As soon as he finished speaking, his fist had already slammed into Guo Baokun's face. Somehow, in the dark of the night, separated by the cloth sack, Fan Xian's fist accurately found Guo Baokun's nose. Guo Baokun felt a wave of intense pain assaulting his mind as he bled profusely. Unable to take anymore, he finally cried out and begged for mercy.

Seeing the cloth sack writhing on the ground made Fan Xian discover his savage side; it was as if he was starting to come out of his sheltered lifestyle from all those years ago. He kicked the sack a few more times before giving the signal to stop and leave. They disappeared into the night; easy come, easy go. Guo was not looking forward to their next meeting.

After a long time, Guo Baokun crawled out of the sack. He was covered in bruises. His guards and porters were still on the ground. He couldn't help but hurl countless curses at them and kick them awake. As it turned out out, they had all been knocked out by a sleeping drug. The sack was dosed in another drug which neutralized drowsiness, so he could feel the entire ordeal.

The guards, rubbing their half-asleep heads, saw their own master beaten to a pulp and were all frightened tremendously. They immediately went forward to assist Guo Baokun. They didn't even think about the sedan chair. They carried their master home on their backs.

That night, Guo manor plunged into chaos. Early next morning, a servant was dispatched to the capital building with a written complaint delivered directly to the ministry detailing the beating from last night. They wanted the Fan family to be charged with a major crime, especially that illegitimate son who committed this act of violence in the capital streets and proved to be extremely audacious. If he couldn't be kept in check, how would the officials handle the loss of face?

Chapter 74: The Lawsuit

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Si Lili felt as if she were dreaming. In her dream she had met a husband, and they were consummating their marriage. After a few rounds of sex, she slowly awoke. The first thing she saw was an unfamiliar yet handsome cheek.

She realized what had happened the previous night. The young man who had held her was the charming young Master Fan. She felt somewhat odd. Perhaps she had drunk too much - how could she not remember the details? She thought about it, and couldn't help but feel slightly bitter . She knew that she was walking a difficult path, but when she recalled some memories of overwhelming ecstasy, she couldn't help but press her legs together, feeling limp and painful all over.

When she noticed the man by her side begin to move, Si Lili quickly pretended to be asleep.

After Fan Xian woke up, he looked at the girl's sleeping face, delicate as a flower. Finding it hard to bear, he held her tenderly for a while. Pleased by her faint scent, he washed his face, rinsed his mouth, and left.

After a little while, Si Lili opened her eyes and began to rearrange the room that had been messed up the night before. She didn't know what she had discovered, but she let out a shamed and doubtful cry.

...

...

Daylight had yet to break through fully as he left the flower boat. The Crown Prince was still sleeping with Yuan Meng in his room, so Fan Xian decided not to call after him. The reason he had left so quickly was because he had only just come to the capital. It was not proper to visit prostitutes, and furthermore, he presumed that the Guo family would soon come to raise a fuss, so he got ready to return to Fan Manor and watch the proceeding scene.

He had not really done anything with Lili the previous night. It was not because he was some kind of Daoist master, but simply because, psychologically and physically, he had developed an obsession with cleanliness that had ruined the mood. He found it difficult to be with a woman who had been touched by another man, and in his previous life, he had seen plenty of notices about preventing sexually transmitted diseases, so he was scared of catching one. There were no condoms in this world, so while there may have been no harm in visiting a brothel, actually doing something there would no doubt have its dangers.

But this didn't all happen without a consequence. Fan Xian looked at the unsightly bulge in his pants and sighed mournfully. He had some regrets from when he was in Danzhou, and one of them was that nothing had ever developed between him and Sisi. When the sedan chair reached the corner gate of Fan Manor, the three servants and their master quietly called for the gate to be opened, and slipped inside, telling the guard at the gate not to say anything. When the guard saw Master Teng and the young master from Danzhou, he did not dare intervene, and simply went back to sleep.

Fan Xian crawled into bed to catch up on sleep. When he woke up, morning had broken. Putting on his wooden clogs, he walked to the front courtyard. When he heard a loud racket, he guessed what might have happened, and feigned a puzzled expression.

It was said that that morning, the city magistrate Mei Zhili was napping in his study when he unexpectedly heard the sound of a drum. He was rather annoyed, and wondered what sort of hooligans would dare to interrupt his slumber. But there were court rules he dared not neglect, and so he made his way to the court where, after a bout of yelling, he was presented with an accusation.

When Mei Zhili read the paper the accusation was written on, his heart skipped a beat. Neither the plaintiff nor the defendant were ordinary people. The plaintiff was Guo Baokun, a man of some renown, the only son of Guo You, Director of the Board of Rites and now an editor at the palace. The defendant was Fan Xian, son of Fan Jian, assistant minister of the Treasury. Fan Xian was accused of stopping Guo Baokun in the street the previous night, starting a fight, and assaulting an official of the court.

When he saw their two surnames on the paper, Mei Zhili was rather worried. The royal court was divided into two factions. One faction supported the Crown Prince; the other faction was secretive, but was secretly headed by the Second Prince. Guo You, Director of the Board of Rites, had been the Crown Prince's teacher, so naturally he took the side of the Crown Prince. Although Treasury minister Fan Jian did not outwardly pick a side, he had always had good relations with King Jing, and Crown Prince Jing was the Second Prince that the other faction supported.

The case was simple, but it was not a good case. He feared that he might provoke the wrath of either the Crown Prince or the Second Prince. As he pondered, he secretly cursed Fan Xian, this young man who had no sense of what was important. Fan Xian had begun to make a name for himself in the capital; the bureaucrats all knew he was the illegitimate son of Count Sinan, raised in Danzhou. He spent all this time in Danzhou, thought Mei Zhili, but as soon as he gets to the capital, he gets into a fight in the street. How am I supposed to deal with this?

But the accusation was very clear, with human testimony and material evidence. There was no way he could put it off. He looked at the paper and frowned. He sent off a secretary to Count Sinan's estate to apprehend the defendant, and then secretly sent an attendant to the Treasury to let Minister Fan know as soon as possible..

Fan Xian saw that a city bailiff had been dispatched to apprehend him. He wanted to know, considering that the Fan family and the royal household such a close relationship, on what grounds he was being detained. So, taking up their clubs, the manor guards got ready to loyally defend their master, preparing to pounce like tigers on the put-upon bailiffs.

At the gate to Fan Manor, the bailiffs were also at their wits' end. They argued that it was their master's wish to apprehend the defendant, that the staff of Fan Manor were always so overbearing, and that they had to take the defendant before the court.

Fan Xian smiled and got ready to answer to their calls. Unexpectedly, he heard the yell of a youngster's voice. "Where did you thugs come from? Come on, take me on!" The person who dared to threaten government workers, of course, was not any of the servants, but the hot-headed young Fan Sizhe.

When the guards heard the young master's words, they bellowed and lifted up their clubs as they valiantly moved forward, but remembering that their adverseries were government workers, they did not actually beat them, instead simply pounding the ground to scare them. At this point, the bailiffs were feeling exasperated. . They knew it was best not to provoke their opponents, so they did not bring out iron chains for those crude young men, and instead fled in unexpected and miserable retreat.

"What's all this noise?" At that moment, Lady Liu walked elegantly out, looked at the bailiffs, and frowned. She ordered them to come in and have tea, and looked at Fan Xian uneasily.

Fan Xian shrugged his shoulders innocently.

In the reception pavilion, a handful of bailiffs sat, uneasily looking at the countess. Due to their status, they would not usually receive this sort of treatment. They also understood the stately Fan family were treating them so courteously for a particular reason, which is why they sipped their tea rather uneasily. They were small fry; if someone in the Fan family were to get angry with them, how would they ever survive in the capital?

Trying to get a clear picture of the situation, Lady Liu frowned as she asked questions. "This cannot be right. Our eldest returned from the poetry contest at Prince Jing's manor, then came straight home to study. Niulan Street is far away from Fan Manor. How could he have beaten up the son of the Guo family?"

The bailiff responded with some unease, "Master Guo identified him personally, and what's more... was Master Fan really here yesterday?" he said with some disbelief.

Lady Liu's gentle gaze turned to daggers, and she fixed the bailiff with a ruthless glare. "Are you calling the House of Fan liars?"

The bailiff's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stopped talking. But he couldn't retreat either; after all, the plaintiff was waiting in the court. Fan Xian sat quietly to one side, somewhat astonished. He did not know why Lady Liu was sticking up for him. In fact, he did not understand the noble families of the era. No matter how fierce the conflict within the family, if an enemy came from outside, then these clans would always put aside their differences and close ranks.

Lady Liu took a sip of her tea. She knew that these bailiffs had no choice, and it was no use pressing them on it. She smiled slightly. "Is what the Guo family calls 'assault' really assault? All things are governed by human emotions. Must we really respond to such an accusation? Even if we are not a rich house, we have our dignity within the capital. I am curious: who was it that brought this accusation to the court?"

"It was a butler of the Guo family," replied the bailiff hurriedly. If the Fan family aren't rich, he thought, then nobody in the capital is.

As soon as she heard that it was merely the butler who had brought the accusation, she raised her eyebrows sharply. She pounded the table. "They have the butler bring the accusation," she scolded, "and yet they want us to respond in person? What sort of logic is that? Was it not Master Guo who was beaten? How so? Since he wishes to levy such an accusation, he can levy it in person. Otherwise one of these days, I shall send my butler to lodge the accusation that Guo Baokun is a bully who terrorizes men and accosts women, and regardless of whether my accusation has merit, you shall get him to go to court and answer for it!"

And as she finished her tirade, she called in a loud voice: "Butler Xu!"

Butler Xu tactfully and knowingly stood to attention. "Yes, Mistress?"

"Tell Mr Zheng to write out a dozen lawsuits," she said coolly, "and starting tomorrow, we will take one to the city hall each day. If it doesn't scare the Guo family, it will at least tire them out." She almost seemed to smile as she turned to the bailiff. "Mr Zheng is our counsel, but I hear that some years ago he was also a legal adviser to your master's family. I'm sure it will be no problem for him to file the lawsuits."

Regardless of whether it scares or tires out the Guo family, thought the bailiff, it'll certainly scare or tire out the city hall. He had no choice but to beg for forgiveness. "Madam, I humbly beg of you, please forgive me... we have no choice in this matter."

After her long tirade, Lady Liu's mouth felt somewhat dry. She reached out her hand to grasp her teacup, but found that Fan Xian was already holding it out to her, smiling. They exchanged glances, and swiftly looked away.

The bailiff held out his hands, begging for mercy. "What is your decision, my lady?"

Lady Liu muttered to herself. She knew this matter had to come to an end, and they had spent too much time on it. "The matter of this assault has not been determined."

Fan Xian butted in. "There was no 'assault'."

"We at Fan Manor do not understand why the Guo family wishes to do us such an injustice," continued Lady Liu.

Fan Xian was deep in thought. "A few days ago, we got into an argument at a restaurant. Master Guo was somewhat humiliated, so perhaps this is all my fault."

"Is that so?" said Lady Liu. "Perhaps it is your fault, but... would Master Guo harbor such a grudge as to falsely accuse you?"

Fan Xian frowned. "It looks that way," he replied.

Chapter 75: Courthouse Farce

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The official broke off the comedy skit. With a bitter smile, he said, "It was written clearly on the Guo household's complaint. Master Fan held resentment over the incident at the restaurant and committed the act of violence in the streets during the dead of the night."

Liu Shi asked Fan Xian, "What ended up happening at the restaurant?"

"I broke the nose of one of their guards." Fan Xian blamed himself.

"Were you alright?"

"How could I not be alright? All the guests there saw that I'm the type of person who refuses to be put down by others."

Liu Shi signed. She turned to the official and said, "Hear that? Those that harbor vengeance always tend to get taken advantage of. Our Young Master was the one taking advantage; how could he still hold any malice?"

The official had come to court to listen to the attorney spew some nonsense. He wasn't expecting anyone to show up in court and defend themselves. The situation left the official helpless. Liu Shi emotionlessly signaled with one finger, and the official found himself with coins in his hand. His eyes shone at the sight of money.

Liu Shi then resumed the dignity of a countess and said, "We shall go to the court. Might as well go see what the Guo household is playing at. But not right now. Go back and tell Sir Mei that when that Master Guo decides to go to court, we will meet him there."

The official thought this went against the rules. He had come here to apprehend an offender; how could he receive money and go back instead? As he was about to speak, he was stopped by the little one, so he answered "Yes" and left Fan Manor.

Having finally attained peace and quiet, only Liu Shi and Fan Xian remained in the reception pavilion. Fan Xian watched Liu Shi and smiled, thinking how great it would be if she wasn't his enemy. Having seen the way she handled things, he couldn't help but be impressed. The Guo household attacked while father wasn't home, and yet Liu Shi managed to neatly take care of everything. Not losing face was one thing. More importantly, she had bought valuable time.

Taking a sip of her tea, Liu Shi asked, "Why did you decide to make such a scene?"

Fan Xian grinned. "Father hoped I would quickly make myself known in the capital. Stuff like writing poetry is boring. If I could settle a court case with the Guo household, my name is sure to spread much faster." Of course, he was joking.

"I don't care if you gave him a beating, but why did you fully expose yourself? As if there wasn't enough trouble in your life already." There was a hint of anger in Liu Shi's words.

Fan Xian replied respectfully, "I only wanted to get even. How could I have done that if I didn't reveal my identity?"

Looking at him, Liu Shi felt this handsome young man was much more capable than her own son. Even though he would still occasionally do some uncivilized things like this, both his demeanor and the way he carried himself showed that he knew what he was doing. Liu Shi couldn't help but feel a sense of loss and sighed.

Fan Xian didn't know what she was thinking, and asked with a curious smile, "Why did you help me?"

Liu Shi slowly raised her head; the areas around her eyes were slightly wrinkled. As if surprised by the youth's direct question, she only spoke after giving it some thought. "Although my family name is Liu, I'm still a member of the Fan family."

Fan Xian stared into her eyes, knowing he must believe this woman. He didn't believe her entirely, but he also didn't know how to properly respond.

It was so quiet in the reception pavilion, one could hear the drop of a needle.

…

…

"Sir Mei is my father's head disciple. I've already dispatched someone to get the letter. Your father should have gotten notice already. I don't think anything will happen; in the worst-case scenario, compensate them with some silver." Liu Shi closed her eyes, seemingly fatigued. "This afternoon, go to the capital building with the housekeeper. Teng Zijing was with you last night. He doesn't need to come along today. That way we can avoid putting up too much of a front."

Intrigued, Fan Xian looked at Liu Shi's still-beautiful face; he didn't understand why such a capable woman with such a background would agree to be his father's second wife.

At noon, everything was ready at the Fan manor. The location had been set, and the path was already determined. After making sure Guo Baokun had already been carried to the courthouse, Liu Shi half-heartedly prepared a carriage and some servants. Fan Xian marched out like a victorious general.

In the carriage, Fan Xian didn't care too much about this trip. He really did beat Guo Baokun out of vengeance; he had wanted to do it the first time Guo Baokun looked at him wrong. Being humiliated at the poetry gathering further fueled his hatred. However, this was his first time in the capital, and while he kept a few tricks up his sleeve, he still wasn't sure if he could handle all this.

Even so, he had still wanted to do it. Beating up Guo Baokun was merely the means; more importantly, he wanted to see what the consequences would be. Fan Xian had beaten Guo Baokun for three reasons. First, he wanted to see exactly how much power his father held over the government circles—his father had always hidden such details from him, and asking directly would certainly not get him the answer he wanted. Now his greatest question could finally be answered. Secondly, he wanted to dirty his reputation just a little bit. No matter what, he would play out the role of a ruthless son to the fullest. Fan Xian did hope that would happen, for he had been carefully controlling the palace's opinion of him,just as his father requested—to show his learned side while being notorious at the same time, making the palace consider voiding the marriage. It was all for Miss Drumstick.

The third reason was simple enough: Guo Baokun really deserved a beating.

————————————————————————

Once he arrived at the courthouse gates, Fan Xian was in for a shock. Outside the red wooden fence was an excited crowd. Only with a few servants clearing the way did Fan Xian manage to squeeze by. Standing on the stone floor, he stared at the wall behind the official's desk, which was painted with a mural of a red sunrise over the east sea. On both sides stood wooden staves used for punishment. Deep down Fan Xian thought, "Nice!" It reminded him of Beijing Municipal High People's Court. Apparently, this trip was worth it.

Turning around, Fan Xian discovered the crowd outside was even more excited, for the spectators all tried to find the best spot by squeezing forward. A few "professionals" almost sat on the red fence.

Fan Xian asked Liu Shi about his attorney, Zheng Ta. This Mister Zheng was once a very famous secretary of jurisprudence around the southern regions. Even today, in the capital, he still had very friendly connections. Liu Shi was correct in choosing him.

"People in the capital tend to be bold," Zheng Ta explained with a smile. "They may appear to be some poor peasant, but they could turn out to be some distant relative of the royalty, so no one is afraid of each other. Today's case… a lawsuit between a high official and a minister is truly rare. No one wants to miss out on such a spectacle."

Fan Xian thought, "Did you guys come here to watch a blockbuster?" The thought gave him a slight headache, so he shook his head. Zheng Ta said quietly, "Young Master, while we've talked back in the manor, I am going to ask one last time: were you responsible for this incident? Of course you wouldn't admit it in front of the magistrate, but you should be honest with me here so I know what to say later."

"Mister Zhang, I didn't lie to you," Fan Xian said with a face full of sincerity. "I truly did not attack Guo Baokun." Seeing the youth's handsome face full of honesty, Zhang Ta chuckled and patted him on the shoulder in appreciation.

After a while, the call to begin the case could finally be heard. Magistrate Mei Zheli came out from the back hall and sat down, full of swagger. A while later, a "mummy" rolled out on a wheelchair, followed by an attorney who gently fanned him. Seeing the mummy, Fan Xian couldn't help but laugh. He hadn't hit Guo Baokun that hard; apparently a proper household would also play such tricks to receive pity.

Of course, this mummy was none other than Guo Baokun, who was beaten to a pulp. He was currently in great pain, especially his nose. Treatments from the doctors didn't help much. Unbeknownst to him, Fan Xian had put some neigong into that punch; Fan Xian's zhenqi was already unusual in this world. Being so overpowering, the injury it caused couldn't be healed in such short period of time.

Seeing Fan Xian standing so nonchalantly, rage seeped out of Guo Baokun's eyes from behind his bandages, as if wanting to eat Fan Xian alive. Fan Xian pretended not to notice and looked instead at the attorney holding the fan. He asked Zhang Ta and learned the other attorney was the great barrister Song Shiren. He was very famous in the capital; his conduct had always been questionable. He only worked for officials, which earned him the nickname "rich mouth".

Seated high up, Magistrate Mei Zheli slammed down the wooden block on his desk with a crisp smack. The noisy scene outside the courthouse became quiet for the moment; the spectators on the red fence didn't make a single sound. After all, no one wanted to miss out on this.

"Who has come to court?" Mei Zheli asked slowly. He already knew about the two parties beforehand, but he still needed to carry out the necessary formalities. With great authority, he scanned the people before him.

Regardless of who you are, here in the capital's courthouse, you have to listen to me.

Chapter 76: Dispute

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The defendants of the courtroom agreed after hearing the judge talk. Song Shiren passed the document of complaint to Mei Zhili, who pretended to scan through it before handing it to Zheng Tu, who in turn gave it to Fan Xian to read. Fan Xian read through it meticulously and found that it was pretty much as he expected it to be. He nodded and returned the piece of paper.

Song Shiren spoke coldly with balled fists. "As a student, I can't understand why Mr. Fan Xian remains aloof in the courtroom. He has not performed a formal greeting or knelt down in respect. With this kind of attitude, it's no wonder he committed those violent crimes last night."

Fan Xian glanced at the lawyer who complained before questioning curiously, "You have to kneel in court?" He was, of course, well-educated on the laws of this country and was familiar with the formality, having done a lot of reading in Danzhou. His question was an intentional one.

"Naturally, or would you disrespect the greatness of the imperial government?"

Song Shiren eyed his opponent with a frown. He had not wanted to be involved in this case, as after all, the opposition was the inconspicuous Fan family, whose power was feared by many. He did not have much of a choice though as he had been a high official for so long that he could no longer turn back, so there was no room for rejection.

Fan Xian chuckled and said, "Why is it that Mr. Song has not knelt down then?"

Song Shiren squinted at the boy; he was unsure if the boy was truly an idiot or just acting. He retorted immediately, "According to government regulations, one with achievements need not kneel in front of the magistrate."

Fan Xian bowed at Mei Zhili and said, "When a student sees a teacher, are they required to kneel?"

Hearing this, Song Shiren was certain that his opponent was one with achievements. His previous research on Fan Xian revealed that he had never sat an imperial exam before, so how did he turn out to be a scholar? He stroked the fan in his hands and questioned, "Might I dare ask what year Mr. Fan took part in his imperial examination?"

Fan Xian replied politely, "Last year in Danzhou." This was pre-arranged by Fan Jian before Fan Xian came to the capital. Only till the day of the court case did he realize that he had somehow attained the title of scholar.

The subject of kneeling was dismissed and the court case officially began. Both sides discussed the main topics, each expressing their own opinion. Guo Baokun had no doubt that he was attacked by Fan Xian and his guards, while Zheng Tu was certain Fan Xian was in Fan Mansion the entire night and that there were plenty of servants who could attest to that. Conflict arose and sounds of discussion from the civilians watching from outside got louder. It seemed that the majority believed Fan Xian was innocent. They couldn't imagine the pretty and gentle boy as a cruel person. On the other hand, the beaten up Mr. Guo in the wheelchair looked like a suspicious man.

Mei Zhili grew weary of the noisy dispute. He waved his hands in the air and the civilians went silent.

"Judge, May I ask why you haven't made an arrest when the culprit is standing in the court?" Song Shiren's voice was loud and intimidating. He thought that the documents could not have been even clearer, but the magistrate judge was yet to make a call. He began to suspect that he was biased towards the Fan family and so decided to press the matter.

Zheng Tu smirked, "Let's not jump to conclusions, Mr. Song. The document states that the assault on Mr. Guo happened after his head was covered by a bag. So tell me, how could he possibly determine that the culprit was Fan Xian when he could not see?"

"Naturally by having heard Mr. Fan's voice. What's more, Mr. Fan admitted that it was him at the time. Have you changed your mind and decided to deny the charges instead?" Song Shiren looked at Fan Xian with a sneer and continued with a taunt, "What kind of man are you if you can't even take responsibility for what you did?"

Fan Xian was aware that his opponent was trying to provoke him. Despite this, his expression remained calm with a mixture of astonishment. It was as if he was confused as to why the man in front was accusing him falsely. Zheng Tu's voice cut in and he spoke mockingly, "Voice? I've never heard of any case being determined by a voice- and I know the laws inside out."

Song Shiren did not back down, instead he spoke deliberately, "If voice is not enough to prove Mr. Fan's identity, then allow me to show everyone a poem." With this, he retrieved a piece of paper from within his sleeve and recited slowly.

...

...

The absent-minded Mei Zhili behind the bench was suddenly awakened from his daze by the poem and he spoke energetically, "What a wonderful poem. Who is the poet?" Only then did he realize that he was not in his study, or in a poem festival but in court working on a case. He cleared throat and requested the piece of paper from Song Shiren.

He inspected the piece of paper in detail and saw not only the brilliance of the poet, but also how rarely elegant the calligraphy was. Curious, he asked Song Shiren, "Who is the poet and what does this have to do with the case?"

Song Shiren replied respectfully, "This poem was written by Fan Xian during the poem festival at Jing palace yesterday. When Mr. Fan assaulted Mr. Guo on the street, he recited these lines. It's quite obvious he was belittling Mr. Guo."

Mei Zhili was amazed. He observed the bright-faced and innocent-looking young man in court, bewildered at the fact that he could have written such a poem. He felt a sense of regret for him- why would he recite his poem if he was beating someone up? Not to mention the fact that the elegance of the poem did not even fit the violent environment of a fight. Furthermore, he had essentially provided his opponent evidence against himself.

Mei Zhili was a well experienced man, however the key to how he managed to secure his position as the capital's magistrate could be found in his skill in blurring the lines between right and wrong. There are many rich, powerful and formidable figures gathered in the capital. If he had been fair in all of his cases, he would not have lasted long. He remembered back to when he first worked for the palace and of how Guo Gonggong had given him the advice of making concessions to avoid trouble. Mei Zhili had since then lived many peaceful years because of that advice.

Today's case was no different, as he planned to maintain the attitude he'd always had and refrain from making any decisions. He would leave them to sort out their differences themselves, and if that didn't work out, he would delay the case for a couple days and send them to the Ministry of Punishments. If he planned to stay out of trouble, then he had to avoid closing this case his court. He glanced worriedly at Fan Xian and Zheng Tu.

Zheng Tu had once worked for Mei Zhili for a while as his clerk, and knew what was on his old boss's mind. He chuckled, "This is ridiculously funny. Many scholars were gathered on the day of the poem festival, and Mr. Fan's poetry stood out from the rest. It can only be assumed that people had taken note of it, so it's not unusual that others know the poem. More importantly…"

He glanced at Song Shiren coldly with a sneer and continued, "…do you think Mr. Fan is out of his mind? Reciting a poem he had written while beating up a man during the night?! Only an idiot would be stupid enough to reveal his identity, not to mention how ridiculously amusing the whole situation already is. It's quite obvious that someone who has a feud with Mr. Guo knew of Mr. Fan and Mr. Guo's disagreement in the restaurant a few days ago. The real culprit had obviously planned to mislead Mr. Guo into thinking that Fan Xian was the culprit."

It seemed that his hypothesis was quite logical. Fan Xian who smiled while standing silently to the side.- What was it he said…?" Only an idiot would be stupid enough?? He coughed awkwardly. Mr. Guo Baokun on the wheelchair could no longer suppress his anger and he yelled, "Quit trying to twist the truth! This illegitimate bastard is just using the Fan family's authority. He's so reckless because he doesn't think the law applies to him!"

Zheng Tu's face darkened when he heard the words illegitimate bastard. He deeply agreed with the young master's wise decision of beating up the man in the wheelchair. He spoke coldly, "As the compiler of the imperial palace, you should watch what you say. I know that you are angry, but you shouldn't throw tantrums. After all, you work closely with the crown prince, and it would be a shame to hurt the reputation of the palace."

While those words directly offended Guo Baokun, they were also filled with shade. In terms of authority, The Fan could not be compared to the Guo family, who worked closely with the crown prince, and what Guo Baokun had said before was naturally inappropriate. This caused another wave of discussion by the civilians outside. There were many more who believed Fan Xian to be innocent.

Although Fan Xian was expressionless, on the inside he was thoroughly impressed by Zheng Tu, who utilized all of his plans flawlessly. It seemed weird that the lawyer Song Shiren was not as desperate as Guo Baokun. Song Shiren smiled and said, "Magistrate, my master is in pain. Would you allow us to rest?"

Mei Zhili nodded, and Guo Baokun went to the backroom with the help of his servants. At this moment, Song Shiren turned and bowed to Fan Xian and Zheng Tu, saying, "So it looks like Mr. Fan will not be admitting to beating people up." For some unknown reason, Guo Baokun's face was full of life as he left. It was as if the real battle was about to begin.

Zheng Tu and Fan Xian smiled in unison and said nothing. Who were they kidding? Niulan Street was pitch black, there were no witnesses, and no evidence. What did they plan on using as proof? What's more, it was stated clearly on the document of complaint that the servants from Guo mansion were drugged, so nobody would believe their witness statement that "Fan Xian beat him up." Mei Zhili frowned and called Song Shiren to the front and spoke in a low voice, "Let's wrap it up for today."

Song Shiren bowed as he spoke, "Mr. Guo is the compiler of the imperial palace and he was beaten up. How could you close this important case so carelessly?"

Mei Zhili was agitated, "When did I say I was closing the case? I'm just simply delaying it. If you wish to claim that he had been beaten up, then get some evidence to prove who did it." It was said that the court was not allowed to carry out punishments on officials in public, and even if Fan Xian was not a scholar, he doubted that they would punish him. It was basically impossible to get him to admit what he had done.

Surprisingly Song Shiren turned round to ask, "Mr. Fan was at home all night yesterday?"

"That's right. The servants of our mansion are witnesses." Zheng Tu replied.

Song Shiren laughed coldly, "Call in the witnesses." Mei Zhili realized that there may be a change to his initial judgement and he nodded. Servants from Guo mansion brought in a bunch of people, all dressed differently and with different jobs. There was a dumpling seller, a night watcher, bearers for businesses in streets and even a prostitute; the list just went on and on.

Zheng Tu frowned uneasily and the people watching from the sidelines questioned curiously, "What's with all this?"

Chapter 77: In the Palace

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The crowd understood the situation after Song Shiren spoke. Gathered here were people from the capital who worked night shifts. After being questioned by Song Shiren, all of them admitted to having seen the Fan family carriage head west yesterday after leaving Jing Palace, without returning to the Mansion, only discreetly returning to Fan Mansion in the middle of the night.

Fan Xian observed the situation before him with slightly narrowed eyes. He was quite impressed by how capable the Guo family was at finding so many witnesses in merely half a day. Seeing Fan Xian's lack of concern, Zheng Tu began to panic. He whispered in a low voice, "Whatever you do, don't admit anything. Just say that the Guo family bribed them with money."

Fan Xian replied with a sigh, "It's true that Guo Baokun has been assaulted and hurt terribly. Why would he go through all the trouble and money just to frame me? It's doesn't make sense." Zheng Tu stalled, as he had not expected young master to think in the perspective of their opponent.

Just then, Song Shiren's lips curled into a sneer as he looked at Fan Xian, "Wasn't Mr. Fan at home last night? Why is it that there are many witnesses who say otherwise? Dare I ask Mr. Fan what he was doing in the middle of the night that required so much discretion?"

The capital's magistrate, Mei Zhili, glanced at Fan Xian, and wondered how he would respond.

A heavy silence permeated the court.

Fan Xian exhaled. His face was tinged with embarrassment, as if his secret had been revealed. He answered quietly, "Last night… I was at Drunken Immortal Tavern."

Everyone knew what kind of place Drunken Immortal Tavern was. It was perfectly understandable to have wanted to be discreet about spending the night at a brothel. The crowd responded with "oohs" and laughed and as some people made fun of Fan Xian. On the other hand, Mei Zhili seemed relieved by this explanation. However, a smile remained on Song Shiren's face as he questioned in a direct manner, "Drunken Immortal Tavern? Does Mr. Fan have someone who can back this up?"

"Si Lili can vouch for me." Fan Xian replied awkwardly.

Song Shiren paused before he spoke mockingly, "Is that so? But… Miss Si Lili has left the capital this morning to travel to Suzhou. What a perfect coincidence, one might think that someone was afraid she might say something she shouldn't."

Fan Xian lifted his head and stared at Song Shiren. Only then did he realize that Guo family has somehow forced Miss Si Lili out of the capital. It looked like they came prepared. After seeing Fan Xian's speechless state, Song Shiren knew exactly what he had to do. He bowed at Mei Zhili, "Everything is quite obvious now. Mr. Fan had beaten someone and admitted to it after. Please arrest this criminal and decided on his punishment."

Zheng Tu, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly spoke up, "What a magnificent conclusion. Just because my master was out late at night, he is being charged with such a serious crime?"

Song Shiren pressed further, "Then why did you say beforehand that he was in the mansion for the duration of the whole night when he was out?"

Zheng Tu responded in an instant, "Visiting prostitutes is not exactly a reputable thing to say so we had no choice before but to…" Song Shiren's laughter cut him off. "Visiting prostitutes? So tell me, where is the prostitute?"

He waved his arms in the air and bellowed, "Mr. Guo and Mr. Fan had an argument just the other day and Mr. Guo was attacked yesterday. The attacker was arrogant and claimed to be Fan Xian. Mr. Fan did not return to Fan mansion at the time of the attack and he can't account to where he was. The obvious truth lies right in front of your eyes. Who do you say the culprit is?"

Mei Zhili regarded the lawyer coldly. Did he really think that he could end the case even if he actually cracked it? Did he not realize that this was not a normal court case? It looked like he overestimated the famous lawyer.

Mei Zhili turned and questioned Fan Xian, "Do you have evidence to prove where you were last night?"

Fan Xian thought about it and laughed. "Actually… Prince Jing came as well. Does he count as a witness?"

If Prince Jing was getting dragged into the case then there was no way Mei Zhili was going to continue to judge the case. His face darkened as he called in the people at his side and whispered something to them. He then announced that he was wrapping up the case for today.

Fan Xian was to remain in the capital at all times. Naturally, the Guo family was not happy, but they couldn't do anything, as their opponent's witness was an important figure. They could only further discuss their tactics in the meantime. Realizing the boring ending to the dull argument, the crowd left after a collection of disappointed sighs.

As Fan Xian and Zheng Tu exited the courthouse, they were surprised to see Song Shiren awaiting them.

"Mr. Fan." Song Shiren bowed with a smile.

Fan Xian returned the bow even though he has no idea what Song Shiren was up to.

Song Shiren spoke softly, "I am indebted to the Guo family. It was not by my choice to cause any offence. My apologies." Fan Xian suddenly remembered something, "Is Miss Si Lili really leaving the capital?"

"Yes." Having left the courtroom, Song Shiren treated Fan Xian with utmost respect. Fan Xian stared into his eyes and asked, "Was it your doing, or was it the Guo family?" Song Shiren was surprised as he replied, "I thought it was Mr. Fan who forced her to leave the capital… so you were really at the Drunken Immortal Tavern last night?"

Fan Xian spoke bitterly, "Do you really think I attacked Guo Baokun?" Despite the fact that the case had wrapped up for the day, there was no end to the debate. After some more discussion, Song Shiren turned and left on his ride.

Fan Xian watched as he left and said curiously, "What's the use of treating me nicely after offending me?"

"Song Shiren is a clever man." Zheng Tu laughed and shook his head as he spoke quietly, "Young Master, you never told me that you went drinking with Prince Jing. Song Shiren's tactics nearly gave me the fright of my life."

Fan Xian laughed, "Everyone knows that the courtroom is merely a stage. Why are you getting nervous over nothing?"

Zheng Tu shook his head and sighed, "It doesn't matter how this situation plays; we've already greatly offended Guo family."

"Whatever we do we'll offend someone. We might as well practice on someone who deserves to be offended."

"Young Master, your... fake name and the prostitute's name... It'll only take a day for them to spread around the capital."

"That was my intention. I can only hope for the best."

"I'm quite impressed."

"You're too modest."

Deep within the palace grounds, the sun shone on yellow glass tiles which emitted a golden glow. The intimidating bright red high walls created a feeling of imprisonment. In the garden, a kind-looking old lady listened to the female officials talk, her eyes half-closed. Waiting next to her were two noble ladies, and they were by a stone table covered with exotic fruits and vegetables. One of the women looked quite proper, eyes like a phoenix and bright red lips, and she seemed to have complete control of her expression. She peeled a fruit and carefully fed it to the old lady.

"It's you, dear queen?" The old lady opened her eyes as the fruits were delivered to her. She smiled and continued, "You should leave these things to the younger ones. You rule the palace, the mother of the nation. Why are you doing this?"

The lady laughed warmly and said, "I'm only carrying out my filial duties."

It turned out that this lady was the queen of the country and the old lady she was serving was the emperor's mother, who used to be Queen Cheng and was now the empress dowager. So, who was other lady who's able to sit next to the queen?

"Alright, you need not stay." The empress dowager then spoke to the maids, "You may leave now."

The maids left with the exception of two older housemaids. Empress dowager closed her eye to rest as she asked, "What do you think of the poem we heard, the one written by the young boy Fan Xian?"

The queen smiled and said, "I don't understand the art of literature, but I did think that the poem sounded good."

The empress dowager chuckled, "'Good' doesn't even describe it. Let's not even mention how happy the poem made the audience, let's talk about the poem as heard from the visitor from afar… How could it have been the work of a regular scholar…? It's just…" Seeing empress dowager at a loss for words, the queen asked, "It's just what?"

Empress dowager exhaled and continued, "It's just that every line overflows with sorrow. How could someone so young express bitter sorrow with such maturity? It feels like he is an unfortunate child."

Upon hearing this, the lady who had remained silent the whole time suddenly burst into tears. The queen was quick to comfort her, "The empress dowager isn't serious. Anyways, if the young boy Fan Xian was truly unfortunate, that could easily be fixed with a wave of the empress dowager's finger."

Empress dowager disliked the crying and she spoke with a displeased expression, "I have given birth to three children. I don't need to bring up the emperor. Li Zhi mucks around all the time, but at least he knows to live life freely. And you, you've been crying constantly for the last 10 years yet you still don't understand... It's such a..." She couldn't continue with the harsh words, as after all, her daughter had led a bitter life and had no one to rely on.

The lady continued to sob as she spoke, "My child is already unfortunate, yet the emperor, my own brother, has arranged for her to marry someone from the Fan family, who is even more unfortunate. How are we supposed to live our lives? What will happen to Chen'er if her illness does not improve?" The fragile, sobbing lady was Fan Xian's potential mother-in-law - the unmarried elder princess!

The empress dowager could no longer hold her anger back, and she scolded her. "The cause of her illness had to do with you, her mother, not doing what was necessary to help her. How could you have to audacity to complain! What's wrong with the Fan family's child? He travelled all the way from Danzhou without a complaint just to boost her blessings. Even if he was a poor child with no reputation, you should not disregard the Fan family's efforts for our emperor."

The maids were long gone and only two old housemaids stood by the sides, their faces serious and oblivious to the conversation.

The empress dowager was so angry that her breaths became heavy and frequent. The queen lifted he hand to comfort her, but empress dowager pushed it away. She calmed down a little before speaking again, "Anyways, Chen'er has got to get married someday. It's not as if she would have had a good life for sure if she married a government official. That Fan... Fan what?"

The queen quickly reminded her, "Fan Xian."

"That's right, Fan Xian. You've heard already that he's a talented child and fit for Chen'er. We're not doing any wrong towards her." The dowager sighed a couple times before continuing, "What's more, the emperor has already approved of this marriage, so what use is it crying to me?"

Chapter 78: The Slap

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The eldest princess was the former emperor's only daughter. When the current emperor had ascended the throne, she was renamed Yong Tao the Eldest Princess. She was well loved and spoiled at both the Cheng Wang mansion and the palace. However, this did not result in a domineering demeanor; instead, she delved deeper and deeper into bleak green waters, her depression triggered by pretty much anything. She would cry for a wilting flower and weep for a river headed east. Of course, this particular trait was known only to her close family members.

She looked at empress dowager and spoke with bitterness hidden in her tone. "How can the emperor, my own brother, choose the Fan family, out of all the possibilities? He knows darn well about the relationship between the Fan family and the prime minister…"

"You may leave." The empress dowager's eyes flashed open as she spoke in a low, authoritative voice. The housemaids left quietly with no expressions.

"SLAP!" The sound reverberated, and a painful red handprint appeared on the eldest princess's cheeks. She looked at her mother in fear. The empress dowager spoke icily through gritted teeth, "How many times have I told you not to mention that man's name in front of me? The royal family wishes to remain reputable, even if you don't. If you hadn't protected him with your own life, I would have made sure he was dead long ago!"

"Not once did I allow him to visit Chen'er all these years, but I never gave him a hard time either." Empress dowager's kindness had vanished and her expression was as cold as ice. "I knew that he wanted to marry you, but you were afraid of ruining his career. That's fine by me… Don't get married. You wanted him to have a career, I gave him a career, and now he is head of hundreds of officials. You probably want to go forward with your wish but… I will not allow you to have anything to do with him. He will have absolutely no say Chen'er's marriage. Do you understand me?"

The eldest princess wiped her tears and smiled forcefully, though her voice trembled as she answered.

"I understand."

The empress dowager then continued as she looked at the queen queen and spoke lightly, "Since the emperor is busy with government affairs, you should be handling the kind of things like the marrying off the girls in our family. However, as the emperor has already decided upon Chen'er and Fan Xian's marriage, you do not have to worry about them."

"Yes." The queen bowed her head quickly. She was still in shock from the scene she had just witnessed.

"You shouldn't be by my side all the time serving me. You should keep the emperor company when you're free and help him de-stress." The empress dowager spoke much more softly than before, and it was clear that she was encouraging her.

The queen smiled wryly and promised her, though frowned suddenly as a thought came to her mind.

Of course, no thought went unnoticed by empress dowager, who asked, "What's on your mind?"

The queen glanced at the princess, who was still wiping her tears, and spoke in a low voice, "Hong Gonggong sent word about a case in the capital's office today"

"Huh? What sort of case could that old dog possibly have taken interest in?"

The queen laughed awkwardly, "Actually mother, everyone is interested in this case. This is because the court case had started this morning and has gone on all day. Only just there was there any sort of conclusion… I heard that it's the only son of Guo You the high official from the Board of Rites that took someone from Fan mansion to court.

Apparently, the culprit recited a poem as he beat up Guo Baokun. The poem he recited… is the one you read before, Mother."

"Huh?" Empress dowager exclaimed in surprise, "The sorrowful visitor from afar assaulted someone?"

Hearing this, the queen could not hide her laughter, and even the eldest princess sniffled, saying, "My mum is quite quirky."

The empress dowager laughed and said, "It's me that's quirky- it's Fan Xian. How could he beat up the high official's son right after arriving in the capital a couple of days ago? Tell me, what was the situation in court like?" She frowned as something came to her, "Surely the capital's court did nothing to punish Fan Xian. How will he get married in October if he's sullied?"

The queen burst out laughing, "What are you talking about mother? Even if Fan Xian did not have a legitimate identity at birth, he's still Count Sinan's well-educated son and a scholar. He can't be punished."

"That's fine then." Empress dowager continued, "Does Guo Baokun not hang around with the crown prince?"

For some unknown reason, the queen's expression turned uneasy and she agreed in a low voice. Empress dowager then tutted, "Those rascals; they know only how to strut around and have nothing but bad intentions. It goes without saying that Fan Xian must have been in the right."

The eldest princess' face was frozen, but her mind was full of thoughts. She had never expected her mother to not question the story behind the case and assumed straightaway that Fan family's illegitimate son was in the right.

However, she kept quiet due to the painful slap she had received earlier. Fortunately, the queen added as an afterthought, "Guo Baokun does have a bit of reputation. It's not logical to have him beat up in the middle of the streets."

The empress dowager did not react to their differing opinions. She continued to speak, "How did the case end?"

"Fan Xian called out Prince Jing as a witness, so the capital's court could do nothing but delay the case for another retrial."

"Hong Chen agreed to be his witness? Looks like this Fan Xian is quite the popular boy."

The queen was secretly pleased. Although the empress dowager had not revealed her thoughts, the queen knew that she detested government officials with close relationships to members of royalty. The queen then turned the conversation around, being careful so as not to cross a line. "I heard that on the day Guo Baokun was assaulted, he was playing… On Liuhe River with Prince Jing, so the assault probably had nothing to do with him."

The palace garden became silent and the atmosphere heavy. Just then, the empress dowager sat up and said, "I'm a little tired." The housemaid waiting outside helped her up and accompanied her back to the palace.

The queen and the princess stood up and watched as the empress dowager slowly retreated to the palace. They looked at each other and the corners of the queen's lips curled into a wry smile, "Looks like the empress dowager is not pleased about Fan Xian's visits to the whorehouse, but she's kept her mouth shut about it, so it looks like Chen'er will be getting married in half a year's time."

The eldest princess exhaled and said, "I'm only worried about Fan Xian's personality, however…" She looked at the queen, her eyes emitting a strong sense of fragility. "The Fan family and Prince Jing are quite close to each other. You would do well to be careful."

The queen's heart clenched. She knew the princess was reminding her that if Fan Xian really married Chen'er and the emperor handed him the responsibility of the national treasury, it would mean that the Fan family had both the Ministry of Revenue and the national treasury under their control. This was the equivalent of handling the entire wealth of the Qing Kingdom. If the emperor became biased towards the second prince because of a Fan family relationship with Prince Jing, she was afraid that the crown prince… She frowned at her son's lack of potential. Did the emperor have hidden intentions behind this decision?

"Don't think about it too much." The eldest princess comforted her. "Even you know that for the past two years, I haven't done much in the managing of the nation's treasury. There's always someone from The Overwatch Council who does it. Besides, the Fan family does not have a strong enough reputation, so even if Chen'er married him, he still wouldn't be able to control the nation's treasury himself.

The queen frowned, "I'm just wondering what kind of drug that old man had fed the emperor to change his mind."

The eldest princess smiled, "Has it been awhile since you invited Lady Liu to visit?"

The queen's face was icy as she spoke," That women married Fan Jian to become his wife. She may seem like a fool, but in reality, she's as sly as a fox. When you came up with the idea to assassinate the illegitimate son in Danzhou four years ago, we let Lady Liu take the blame. She must hate us. It would be very hard to entice her to be our cover again."

"So what?" The eldest princess smiled openly, her skin was well maintained for someone in their thirties. "What would she dare say? I've known her since I was little, and I know she likes to make a fuss over nothing.

The queen suddenly frowned, "It's actually kind of weird. Why did the emperor decide four years ago to let Fan Xian be responsible for the nation's treasury? If it hadn't been such a dire situation, we wouldn't have had to take such risks."

The eldest princess spoke feebly, "The emperor dislikes us being too close, so he had already planned to take the responsibility of the nation's treasury off my hands. That's why he had the director stationed with me right from the beginning."

She continued with a sigh, "All of the government officials can be controlled one way or another, regardless of their intelligence. The only exception is Director Chen, who is loyal to the emperor. He has managed his council so that there are no weaknesses. It's impossible for to plant a spy in their premises."

Hearing this, the queen frowned unconsciously, "It's normal to be faithful to the emperor. The sole reason for planting spies is purely to look out for the emperor by finding corrupt government officials. It goes without saying that Director Chen is loyal to the emperor."

The eldest princess knew that she had said the wrong thing, saying softly, "That's right. However, The Overwatch Council has been investigating the assassination attempt in Danzhou ever since, and they are under strict instructions from the emperor to do so."

"Well that's only natural. The emperor was drunk when he first saw your daughter. He liked her so much that he took her in as his adopted daughter and appointed her marriage to the Fan family. This is something that very few people in the palace knew about."

The queen remembered back to the scene four years ago and continued coldly, "Within a month, there was a hitman in Danzhou. Although the assassination attempt was never broadcasted, the Overwatch Council was well aware of it, so of course the emperor knew about it. It's obvious that he does not care about the survival of the illegitimate son, but does care about someone in the palace who dare leak his commands."

Chapter 79: The Wise Empress Dowager

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The Elder Princess' eyes flashed with fear as she spoke anxiously, "It's been four years, and The Overwatch Council hasn't let up on the case at all; I fear that the truth may be revealed… I heard that Chen Pingping has returned to his hometown on a visit and doesn't want to come back to the capital. If… he decides to retire now, then it would be for the best."

"I'm not so sure about that." The queen laughed coldly, "Don't forget that one night four years ago, it was Chen Pingping who convinced the emperor to call off the arranged wedding. Fan Jian took Sir Chen Pingping's hometown visit as an opportunity to convince the emperor to once again give Chen'er to Fan Xian in marriage. This means that you won't be in charge of the national treasury in the future… If Chen Pingping was still in the capital, then this marriage would not be set in stone, and it might have gone the way you wanted… or, the way the prime minister wanted."

The Elder Princess laughed through pursed lips, saying, "What a way to put it, dear Queen. Surely you would be pleased if the wedding was called off, since it would mean the second prince would lose this opportunity to make some profit from it."

The queen smiled and replied, "What have I to be pleased about? Whether or not this marriage between the youngsters takes places does not concern me. The empress dowager has asked me to organize the marriages of our family, but told me that not to worry the Fan family."

The elder princess's expression changed, but a smile remained as she spoke, "What you said was quite logical. There's nothing for me to be worried about as a mother. Although Fan Xian was not born of a dazzling identity, I have seen from these past couple days that he's well educated. Anyways, Chen'er has been in a good mood recently, perhaps it is thanks to the good news."

The two most powerful women of Qing Kingdom sat quietly across from each other, drinking tea and making small talk. It was as if nothing had happened. Neither wanted to show their vulnerable side or be the one to execute the crucial move. With the murder of Fan Xian, the wedding would fall to shambles, and the Fan family would lose an heir. The second prince would lose his support and the prime minister could sleep soundly. The elder princess could continue to control the palace treasury and provide an endless source of money to those who needed it. With the death of just one person, it seems as if the power around distributing power would be easily resolved.

Unfortunately, no one was willing to make that move. After all, it was not like four years ago and the capital was not like Danzhou. Here, the wall had eyes on everyone. Assassination was no longer a valid method in dealing with a reputable government official's son, especially at such a sensitive time. Furthermore… Lady Liu would not fall for the same dirty trick a second time.

In the empress dowager's palace, an old and virtuous lady let down her snowy white hair and felt a steady pair of hands brush through it. She spoke in a low voice, "Why did I give birth to such a foolish daughter?"

The person behind her smiled and replied, "But you love her just as much anyway, otherwise you would not have requested the emperor make all those arrangements, or secretly help the prime minister with so many things."

The empress dowager exhaled and said, "I really don't know if Lin Ruofu owes me or if my own son sabotaged him…. You do indeed have quite a sharp eye so tell me, why did the emperor choose Chen'er to marry the boy from Fan family?"

The person's voice was filled with hesitation as they answered: "The princess is at the age to get married, and it's unlikely that her health will get better. Getting married to Fan family is quite fitting. However, the marriage is just a cover, and main attention is paid to the emperor's ambiguous oral command to let an outsider take control of a grand business. Perhaps… the emperor feels that the queen and elder princess are getting too close to each other, and he is unsatisfied with the crown prince so he has taken away elder princess' authority and plans to let second…"

She silenced herself.

Having served the empress dowager for over ten years, she knew that she was out of line to have overshared her opinions.

Empress dowager paused, the wrinkles on her face spread out like chrysanthemum petals. "The emperor takes care of government affairs and I take care of family affairs. I will not be taking care of this particular affair."

The person flattered her, "You are truly wise, Empress Dowager."

"This was a stupid thing to do." Count Sinan Fan Jian was staring coldly at his son in the study.

Fan Xian smiled wryly. He knew that this round of scolding could not be avoided, so he made no move to explain and admitted to his wrongs instead.

"You're not a fool. Guo Baokun is not surrounded by powerful people. If you really found it necessary to beat him up, why leave behind all those clues?" Count Sinan continued coldly without waiting for his explanation, "Don't say anything. Beating someone up and not owning up to it is absolutely ridiculous!"

Fan Xian realized that Lady Liu had repeated his words from earlier to his father, and he laughed awkwardly. Fan Jian found it impossible to be mad at him when he had such an innocent and radiant smile on his face. He sighed and asked, "Tell me; why did you stir up so much trouble?"

Fan Xian thought for a bit before he answered, "After drinking with Prince Jing, I decided that I wanted to be his friend. I used this fight as an opportunity to tie us together. If I have Prince Jing supporting me then in the future, some things could be done in a more convenient manner." Fan Xian sneaked a peek at his father and continued after he found no abnormal changes to his expressions, "Secondly, Guo Baokun was a bully and I wanted to make sure that he knew I wasn't someone to be messed with."

Fan Jian laughed coldly and said, "The second reason is what it is, but as for the most important reason... that was because you disagree with the marriage so you are trying to ruin your own reputation so you can be kicked out of the arrangement."

Fan Xian did not expect his father to see through him like that. He stalled and began to think of an explanation.

Fan Jian continued coldly, "When I said that you were stupid it was because of the fact that you dragged Prince Jing into the matter. You must be aware of the fact that Guo family is on the crown prince's side while Prince Jing is on the second prince's side. Attacking Guo Baokun and involving Prince Jing can only mean that the Fan family stands with the second prince's side in the eyes of outsiders.

Fan Xian pretended to be surprised, "Everyone knows that father and Prince Jing are close friends while sister and Princess Ruojia had been friends since childhood. The two families have a close relationship with each other that's rarely seen between government officials. Could it be... You...?"

"Don't forget that your grandmother was his wet nurse and that she brought him up. Since the emperor was busy at that time, I was the one who played with him, so naturally we are close to each other." Fan Jian tutted and continued, "Personal relations, work and government affairs are separate matters. Who are we to discuss what happens in the palace? The crown prince is still the crown prince and heir to the throne. When the emperor dies, we will serve the crown prince loyally."

Fan Xian found a loophole in his words and decided to exploit it, "What if the crown prince wasn't the crown prince? What happens then?"

Count Sinan Fan Jian was strangely unbothered by his son's outrageous and disrespectful words. Rather than scolding him, he simply said, "That's something that only the emperor can decide on; choosing sides before the decision is a foolish tactic."

"I understand now," Fan Xian finally understood the consequences of his attack on Guo Baokun.

"The Fan family stands with neither the crown prince nor the second prince. We stand with the emperor.."

"That's right." Fan Jian replied. "If you don't want to be on the wrong side then don't rush to choose. You can't go wrong by sticking with the most powerful and the emperor is the most powerful man under the sky."

"What if the emperor was to die all of a sudden?" Fan Xian asked intentionally as he knew that his father was loyal to the emperor.

"The emperor is in his prime and he is younger than me."' Fan Jian smiled, "This is a matter for own generation to deal with."

...

...

You have no idea what was done for you to be able to walk out that courtroom so easily. Do you know how much conflict was in the shadows between us and Guo family today? Our shadows were everywhere - at the Supreme Court, at the Ministry of Justice and at the Ministry of Personnel Affairs. The Guo family even went to the Overwatch Council. If it was not for Chen Pingping's absence, you may not have been able to return tonight,"

"Chen Pingping?"

Fan Xian's brows furrowed. This name was familiar to him. He knew that he was the hidden power leader of Qing Kingdom, but was also aware of the close relationship between the Fan family and the Overwatch Council, so he was confused. "Why wouldn't I have come back if Chen Pingping was present?"

"Because he opposes your marriage with the elder princess' daughter. Bringing you to the capital in such a rush was because Chen Pingping's visit to his hometown presented an opportunity.. We were able to confirm the marriage because he was not here to convince the emperor not to. It had nothing to do with the girl's illness."

Fan Xian looked at his father and said, "Fie Jie is my teacher, and you and Director Chen have a close relationship. Why would he oppose?"

"No, to outsiders, my relationship with The Overwatch Council is normal." Fan Jian continued light, "The reason he opposes is simply because we had different views that led us to different judgements."

"What views?" Fan Xian stared into his father's life, unwavering.

Fan Jian furrowed his brows before deciding to tell him part of the truth. "The emperor does not like the crown prince, but the queen and elder princess are becoming close to each other. The princess controls the palace treasury and can easily access the money, and this worries the emperor greatly." Fan Xian was truly surprised as he said, "It looks like there might be some changes to the Eastern Palace. [1]

[1] Eastern Palace: where the crown prince lives