102-109
Chapter 102: Deception Before Emperor
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Hearing His Majesty raise his voice made the officials nervous; they had rarely seen him get this angry, and it was even rarer for His Majesty to be so harsh towards Director Chen. Chen Pingping, however, wasn't fazed in the slightest, explaining, "On the way back to the capital, someone in the Imperial court tried to take Si Lili away; the spy from Northern Qi who has connections with the assassination attempt on Fan Xian. Because of that, I was forced to take a detour, which took more time."
"Oh, I see. Then it's fine," the emperor said lightly. He had brought the topic to such attention, and he had now put it back to rest just as simply..
The other officials initially feared that Director Chen had fallen out of favor of the emperor. But after later developments, they understood the reason for Chen Pingping's lateness and the fact His Majesty was trying to clear the department. However, at the mention of Si Lili, the officials were shocked; it was their first time hearing about an abduction attempt on an escorted prisoner. Perhaps there really was someone in the Imperial court collaborating with Northern Qi to inflict chaos onto the political system.
"Put Si Lili aside for now and focus on solving the case of the prime minister's son first." the emperor stared at Chen Pingping coldly.
Cheng Pingping stretched his body. He took a look at Lin Ruofu, before smiling in reply, "Those two cases… are actually one and the same."
"How so?" Not only the emperor, but all the other officials became intrigued by what Director Chen just said. Only Lin Ruofu thought of something and appeared uneasy.
"The prime minister had just lost his son, and so there is something that would be inappropriate to say now. But I also wouldn't dare hide anything from Your Majesty, so please pardon my insolence."
The emperor frowned. "Speak."
Clenching his dried-out hand into a fist, Chen Pingping raised it to his mouth and coughed, as if to get rid of all the phlegm from his lungs. Finishing, he said, "When the second son was killed, he was with Wu Bo'an."
"And who is this Wu Boan? Be clear."
Wu Bo'an was quite well-known among the political circles in the capital. The officials present all heard of him. However, they always thought he only hung around the crown prince and the second prince; for him to be with the son of the prime minister had been unexpected. They started to get worried. After all, everyone here were civil officials; if that rabid dog Cheng Pingping exposed something, it would be a blow to all of their dignity.
Lin Ruofu still sat on the round stool. His eyes were still red, but otherwise he didn't look worried.
"During the current investigation, Si Lili confessed that the one conspiring with Northern Qi was none other than Wu Bo'an. The one who let the archers into the capital was the leader of the city patrol, Fang Daren. The raiders we encountered outside Cangzhou City were led by a subordinate of Fang Daren's distant cousin Fang Xiu… from the look of this, Wu Bo'an was the planner, while Fang Xiu and Fang Daren carried out the plan. As for why the bodies of the archers were cremated with such haste, that remains a mystery.
"What are you trying to say."
"Nothing else other than curiosity as to why the prime minister's second son would meet up with the main culprit of the Fan Xian assassination case at the manor beneath the mountains."
The other officials gasped upon hearing this. Guo Youzhi, the director of the Board of Rites, was the first to speak on the prime minister's behalf, "More like that Si Lili couldn't handle torture and threw out a name as a scapegoat, even if Wo Bo'an was connected with the previous case." Turning to the emperor, he said, "Please forgive my act of impulse. I genuinely do not believe it was suspicious in the slightest for the second son to be with Wu Bo'an. After all, Wu Bo'an was a high-achieving scholar from twenty years ago with many connections in the capital. For Director Chen to make such baseless accusations despite the prime minister's pain is too… unbearable! Unbearable!"
Lin Ruofu stood up and bowed to His Majesty. He spoke in a pained voice, "My son was not the most-disciplined and unpredictable. But to accuse him of anything traitorous, I refuse to believe it no matter what." He then added, "I have met that Wu Bo'an. He was indeed a man of talents. I traveled with him before to visit the various sights of the capital. Should he have a mortal enemy, wouldn't I too be likely targeted?"
"Indeed." Another official shook his head. "I too have met him. The man appeared proper and formal. If he really turns out to be an absolute scoundrel, why would it concern the second son? Director Chen should be more mindful about his words."
Lin Ruofu was suddenly moved. "Should I have any connections with this incident, may I be damned! Damned!" Seeing the prime minister make such a serious statement, the officials knelt together. Seeing them, the emperor gave Chen Pingping a look, his eyes showing his amusement. Suddenly, His Majesty's expression turned icy. He gave the officials the permission to rise and said, "Chen Pingping had already asked for pardon. Furthermore, he's not yet finished. Please allow him to continue."
Chen Pingping had always dominated the Imperial court alone, while the other officials huddled together. Chen Pingping glanced at Lin Ruofu and said, "I beg your pardon, prime minister. I merely don't understand. The Overwatch Council could not find Wu Bo'an after days of searching, but your son was able to chat with him over alcohol. It's natural to want to know what's going on."
"Regardless, we don't know if Wu Bo'an is the main culprit at the moment. Perhaps he made plans to go to the mountains to sightsee with the second son. Chen Pingping, put the matter aside for now." The emperor suddenly stopped Chen Pingping's explanation.
Seeing His Majesty taking their side, the other officials breathed a sigh of relief. But Lin Ruofu was hit by the last sentence and felt a chill. He knew His Majesty was warning him not to exaggerate the matter.
This was a trade which both sides were aware of. Lin Ruofu believed in Yuan Hongdao's judgement. Gong'er's death should be unrelated to the Fan household. He fell silent as he accepted the facts. If the Overwatch Council really do investigate along the current trail, his position as the prime minister would be at grave risk.
"You said the two cases are actually one; what did you mean?"
Chen Pingping looked at his colleagues mercilessly. In response to his venomous gaze, the officials uncomfortably cleared their throats. Director Chen said quietly, "During the autopsy for both cases, the victims' wounds all suggest that the killer was a practitioner of Sigu sword style. That was the reason why I suspect the two cases are connected."
Hearing those three words, even the officials without any knowledge of martial arts shuddered. That would explain how a single killer was able to kill over ten highly-skilled bodyguards without causing a commotion, not to mention killing every one of them with a single strike. Only Lin Ruofu's expression remained unchanged, as if he knew from the beginning.
"Eh?" the emperor frowned. While the Four Great Grandmasters still weren't something worth his concern, they were still the strongest martial artists. To the prestige of the Imperial court, they were intolerable existences.
"Among the assassins sent to kill Fan Xian, the two females, according to Council records, should be disciples of the Sigu sword school in Dongyi City. Months ago, it was reported that Sigu sword style is not in Dongyi City. I suspect that sword freak has come to Qing."
The emperor slowly closed his eyes. "Why didn't he go after the Fan child, but Wu… Boan instead?"
"Everyone knew that Sigu Sword was obsessed. His disciples were killed in a counterattack, and he would most likely admire the opponent instead of holding a grudge. But someone like him would also despise underhanded tactics and forbid his disciples from taking part in political struggles. Maybe Wu Bo'an managed to bribe those two female assassins. I'm afraid that Sigu only sees Wu Bo'an as the one responsible for the deaths of his disciples."
There wasn't even the slightest change in Chen Pingping's expression as he lied.
A long time later, the dignified voice of the emperor could be heard reverberating throughout the room. "It will be done as thus: demote Yi Mei for a year; have the Overwatch Council go investigate the patrol division and relieve Jiao Ziheng's of duty. The ministry of justice will continue to work on the two cases. Afterwards, have Dongyi City hand over the culprit."
After declaring so, the emperor offered some words of consolation to Lin Ruofu and left the room.
After the other officials withdrew, Chen Pingping had a palace girl push him in his wheelchair to the deeper parts of the palace. The palace people were used to seeing this; they never even imagined receiving the same privilege. That was also the reason why they grouped together to oppose the authority of the Overwatch Council, which also meant they were opposing the authority of the emperor himself. This seemed to be deeply imprinted in the minds of various officials since the day Qing was founded.
Some of the officials even wondered if it was because that rabid dog Chen Pingping received His Majesty's trust due to being paralyzed and without an heir.
Deep inside the palace complex, there were no servants around, only the emperor and Chen Pingping sitting across from each other.
The emperor raised his teacup and took a sip. As if unhappy with the temperature, he smashed the teacup to pieces before Chen Pingping's wheelchair. The tea splashed onto Chen Pingping's pants; after all, the man cannot move his legs. Unlike previously, the emperor's voice was exceptionally icy and crushing. "Sigu sword style? Don't you think you are being a bit too absurd?"
Chen Pingping pretended not to notice what just happened, still smiling. He answered respectfully, "I dare not fool Your Majesty. The wounds point to Sigu sword style. The entire Council and the ministry agree."
The emperor gave a slight smile. Suddenly, his eyes flashed. "Is Old Wu in the capital?"
Chen Pingping slowly raised his head. He opened his mouth but didn't speak until moments later. "Correct, Sir Wu is currently in the capital."
As if tired, the emperor massaged his eyebrows. "How much more are you hiding from me?" His Majesty then sighed, "Forget it. But, if you dare to hide things from me, then you must be able to hide it from the world. Let none of them discover Old Wu's existence."
Chapter 103: Breakthrough in the Puzzle
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
"As you wish." Chen Pingping respectfully complied.
"Were those two female assassins really disciples of Sigu sword style?"
"Yes."
"And that Sigu Sword really won't go after the Fan heir out of revenge?"
Chen Pingping replied with respect, "As one of the grandmasters, he still has his dignity, and is still currently training in Dongyi. Things will be fine as long as Fan Xian does not go there. In addition, I am currently dealing with the situation."
"Very well. We haven't finished discussing the other thing from two nights ago. Let's continue today." The emperor half-closed his eyes to take a rest. He then asked, "After dragging on for so long, you've finally returned to the capital. Even if you aren't afraid of complaints in the court, I still have to respond to them. I know you don't want to meet his demands."
Chen Pingping lightly tapped a finger with his right hand, it was unknown whether he was nervous or excited. But his face, full of wrinkles, was still calm as ever. "After this incident, the prime minister would be sure to seek revenge. While he would believe Sigu Sword was responsible, in the end, he is going to think his son died because of Fan Xian. So, about this marriage…better call it off."
The emperor said quietly, "That wouldn't be an issue. King Jing already came to the capital. For some reason, he really took a liking to that kid. While King Jing normally doesn't do much, if he decided he wanted to protect someone, no one in the Imperial court would do anything about it. As for Lin Ruofu, he's smart. Now that Lin Gong is dead, he'd rationally figure out who to trust after twenty years or so."
"King Jing?" Chen Pingping sounded surprised.
"Of course, he didn't recognize him, which is also the reason no one knows why he took a liking to the kid," the emperor sighed. "Perhaps everything about this has been fate."
That last sentence seemed to have brought up painful memories in both of them; they became silent.
Suddenly, Chen Pingping said, "I was opposed to it four years ago. Today, I still am."
The emperor opened his eyes. "You are younger than I am, yet years of toil have aged you so much. I advise you to keep away from so many things. You don't have the right to interfere with the kid's business anyway."
Chen Pingping smiled. "After this is over with, I'm going to retire."
"After what's over with?"
"The business with that child, Your Majesty."
The emperor's tone suddenly became light. "I went through so many loopholes trying to get his mother's belongings back to him. I pretended to spoil Chen'er and made her a ruler. I made the property the marriage gift and then asked the empress to appoint it. Only then did I manage to get him to openly have what's his. After all I've done, are you still not satisfied?"
"I dare not say that." Chen Pingping knew His Majesty had spent considerable effort to ensure the Ye household would return to Fan Xian. He said seriously, "I'm only worried that, after I'm gone one day, what would happen to the Council? If an outsider were to take charge, it would be very dangerous."
Unlike the sovereignty of an emperor, the Overwatch Council was an unusual existence which relied entirely on the emperor's absolute trust of Chen Pingping. Once Chen Pingping died, it would cause unimaginable disturbance in Qing's political circles, regardless of who took over. Appointing some other official would endanger the royal family; appointing one of the princes would lead to an unbalance of power and make passing on the throne difficult.
The emperor closed his eyes again, this time to think. "You think I should give the Council to him?"
"Correct. That child is no outsider and naturally would not threaten the Imperial court. Also, his status ensures that he wouldn't be able to interfere with the struggle for the throne. He is the most neutral choice," Chen Pingping explained slowly
The emperor seemed to be a bit convinced. "Let me think about it. You take care of your body; you should easily have ten or twenty years left. No need to hurry."
"Yes." Seeing his goal for today had been achieved, Chen Pingping saluted the emperor and took his leave. One of the palace girls was already here to push him out.
The emperor stood up, his eyes remaining closed for a long time. He opened them suddenly and watched the wheelchair make its way out of the palace. He never suspected Chen Pingping's loyalty, but he did question why that woman always on the mind of that old dog. To obtain all possible authority for the sake of that child—thinking of whom, a flash of gentleness suddenly appeared on His Majesty's face for an instant. The two had never met, so His Majesty wanted to see him sometimes.
After the palace girl pushed his wheelchair out of the palace, another servant took over and pushed him to the gates, where the men from the Council helped him to get on the carriage. The carriage proceeded along Zhuque Avenue, its wheels rolling over the stone pavement and making a rhythmic noise. However, after a while it still hadn't left the inner city.
The road towards the east was very quiet and the day was getting dark now. The carriage found a secluded spot and stopped. There, another carriage was waiting. The attendants of the two carriages seemed not to know each other, but they silently left their carriages in sync and formed a somewhat secretive circle of defense.
The two carriages were close to each other. At the same time, the occupants lifted up their curtains and Chen Pingping and Fan Xian's father looked at each other. Chen Pingping became angry at the sight of that proper face. "You took the moment when I'm not here to ask His Majesty to set up a nice marriage for your son!"
Seeing him getting angry, Fan Jian was neither afraid nor tense. With a smile, he said, "Four years ago, you ruined my thing. Now I'm merely trying to get even."
Chen Pingping said coldly, "That pile of stinking money, what's so joy-worthy about it?"
Fan Jian shook his head. "Money is most important. Don't forget, when the Council first came to be, had it not been for Xian'er's mother, you would all probably be begging on the streets today."
"The current palace treasure is no longer the Ye household. If you Fans want to take over, you would only make matters worse. His Majesty forced the Ye family to acknowledge the illegitimate daughter in order for you to coexist peacefully with the prime minister. And, it's done out of foresight to not let people know the princess married the prince," Chen Pingping laughed in mockery, "Listen to me and call off this marriage. It would be a good thing for you and him both."
"You think I don't know what you're planning?" Fan Jian frowned. "You always believed the eldest princess has something to do with what happened all those years ago. It's been this long, you still have no evidence."
"That's not the only reason. Even if His Majesty feels he owes him something, think about it: If His Majesty really hands the Ye household back to him, what's going to happen to the Council? His Majesty had sworn to never allow anyone to possess two national weapons at the same time, not even him."
Fan Jian only frowned even more. "If you know that, then why make my son get involved in these things. Wouldn't it be better to have him become a rich man?"
"And a rich man is easy to become?"
"With you and me in the capital, and the eldest princess having learned her lesson, the future years should be very peaceful."
Chen Pingping took on a chilling tone, "Don't forget, your own… son, was almost killed a month ago."
Fan Jian looked at him in the eye. "That was my carelessness, not your problem. Had you not throw a tantrum and not returned to the capital when you should have, the capital would not have been shaken as much as it had been."
Chen Pingping asked calmly, "If your son really died like that, would you and I still have to spend so much effort?"
After some silence, Fan Jian said, "With this incident, I have a much bigger price to pay than you do. So, whenever there isn't a choice, I hope you can respect my decision." Chen Pingping thought about it for a moment and agreed. Without saying another word, Fan Jian let down his curtain and gave the order. The two carriages parted and went on their separate ways.
Darkness enveloped the capital. In this night, black as ink, some people came together for mutual benefit, while others came together for the same ideals. Often times, they would separate because of the same reasons, only to wait for fate to reunite them again someday. Outside the palace complex, under the red walls, a sedan chair was proceeding slowly. At a distance behind it followed some entourage. The royal guards saw the sedan chair walking along the palace walls, but didn't question it.
The sedan chair belonged to the prime minister. Every time Qing became plagued by issues, he would let people carry him on his sedan chair and circle around the palace walls. Some say he was using the dignified and quiet environment to think. Those who didn't see him in a positive light thought his obsession with authority drove him to the point of perversion. The second year after Qing was founded, the southern region suffered from major floods. The prime ministers circled around the palace walls on his sedan chair and came up with a detailed plan for disaster relief the next day. His plan was clear enough. However, the treasury could not fulfill the financial demands. At such crucial times, some large sums of money entered the treasury from outside and provided backing for the prime minister's disaster relief. The emperor too, of course, was glad.
This world's people always say "The prime minister is akin to wickedness", as shown by his household. But when looking at the big picture, the prime minister had been very capable. Whether wicked or capable, under certain circumstances, the prime minister would revert back to his most basic roles, such as being a father. Today, he was circling around the palace walls without being interrupted because people knew his mood was at a low point due to his second son's death.
It was gradually getting late. The red candles and lanterns were lit in the palace. The faint yellow light shone through the window and casted over the tall walls, but the area under the walls was still cloaked in total darkness. The sedan chair slowly made it to a secluded spot. Walking towards it from the opposite direction came a single lantern. After it had gotten close, another sedan chair could be seen.
Chapter 104: That Woman
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The two palanquins stopped at the same time. The porters lay down the rods, and just like the meeting between Fan Jian and Chen Pingping, they quietly withdrew to a spot in the distance. The palanquin passengers faced forward, and the people inside should have felt uncomfortable, but strangely, neither the Prime Minister nor the other person in the palanquin got out to see each other.
So the palanquin passengers bowed to each other, like two friends clasping their hands in greeting, and like a bride and groom coming forth from the bridal room to kneel before Heaven in ceremony.
"Ruofu, do not grieve too deeply." A gentle voice finally came from the opposite palanquin. It was the Eldest Princess, come out of the palace to see her lover of many years.
Hearing that familiar voice, the Prime Minister frowned slightly. It seemed that he was thinking back to all those years ago. He spoke quietly. "I am deeply grateful that you would concern yourself with my family's affairs, Your Grace."
Hearing such a distant tone of voice, the Eldest Princess's voice became soft and mournful. "This distance between us... how can we speak of it? Why do you speak so formally?"
A cold laugh came from the Prime Minister's palanquin. "Your Grace, I could not allow myself to become putty in your hands."
The other palanquin was silent, seemingly taken by surprise by such wounding words. After a long time came a pitiful reply. "Ruofu, what are you really thinking? Though Gong was not my child, I would still have people send him gifts during the New Year, and I still loved him just as you did... how can I, a princess, have become your punching bag? To hell with it all... you are sad. Otherwise you would not be speaking with me."
Lin Ruofu suddenly gave a snort. "Today I am visiting Your Grace because I wanted to say that I have given my consent to Chen'er's wedding in October."
Darkness hung outside the palace walls, with only the lantern beside the Eldest Princess's palanquin scattering a few scarce beams of light. The long period of silence was enough to confirm that the woman inside the palanquin was weak and delicate. At that moment she was astonished, and on hearing those words she became angry. After some time had passed, the Eldest Princess spoke with a voice as clear and cold as the winter winds. "She is my daughter! You cannot allow her to marry that Fan bastard!" Whether she was inside the palace or outside, the Eldest Princess had always presented an image of utter frailty. Who could have known that she would speak so forcefully?
"Can you... disobey His Majesty?" Lin Ruofu's voice had somehow taken on a tone of self-reproach. "Besides... His Majesty has informed the kingdom that Chen'er is my daughter. That means that she is doomed to be considered a less-than-brilliant character."
The Eldest Princess spoke in a sad and poignant voice. "You really are going to do this..."
Hearing this, Lin Ruofu felt nauseated. "Your Grace is worried about the royal purse," he said with disgust. "That is not within the scope of my consideration."
The Eldest Princess's voice trembled. "If you won't consider it, then who will? I am a mere woman, and I live alone in the palace; do you think that the past few years have been easy for me?"
Sitting in his palanquin, Lin Ruofu was filled with loathing. "I have a daughter, but all year round, we cannot see each other, and can only glance at each other from a distance at royal banquets. Do you think being a father in this way has been easy for me!?"
The Eldest Princess tried to mount a miserable defense. "There's nothing to be done about that. I gave birth to her in secret, and I didn't have the heart to ruin your future. She was raised alone. Over these few years, I have arranged things for you in the palace, transferring money from the royal purse in secret for you to use. Do you think nothing good of me at all?"
There was a coldness in the Prime Minister's voice. He spoke in a low snarl. "My future? Ever since then, when have I ever wanted this kind of future? Back then, I was a poor scholar-minister, and now I have become Prime Minister. It may seem impressive, but I have a daughter I can never meet. I had a son, but..." His voice began to tremble. "But he is dead. How could this be the future that I wanted? This is just the power that you wanted. You weren't willing to marry someone who could never stick his head out, settling down for the rest of your days didn't interest you, and you think I'm supposed to be thankful for that?"
Hearing this, the Eldest Princess was angry, her voice filled with tears and curses. "Lin Ruofu, this is the way that things are, and yet you come to me to say such awful things. If you really weren't willing, why didn't you say anything when you entered the Overwatch Council? Why didn't you feel sad when you entered the Hanlin Academy? When you were found a post at the Ministry of Appointments, why didn't you blame yourself? You climbed up step by step, and you never thought of me once. Now nothing stands in your way, and yet you take all your anger out on me!"
"Very well, Rui'er." Hearing the Eldest Princess's voice get louder and louder, Lin Ruofu's voice was calmed, but his words were incomparably bitter. "I would rather you were the shrew that you are, rather than being in the sorry state that you are in. It makes me sick, did you know that?"
The Eldest Princess said nothing.
"As for Chen'er's wedding, I have made my decision. I have investigated Fan Xian. It doesn't matter what kind of person he is; at the very least, he is not an easy person to kill." Lin Ruofu spoke coldly. "I do not wish for my daughter to become a widow."
The Eldest Princess spoke harshly. "Have you lost the plot? Gong has been murdered, and you urgently rope in the Fan family. Don't tell me you really believe what that old bastard Chen Pingping says? Who is Sigu Sword, and how could they come to the capital and kill people? We can't know for sure that Fan Jian isn't the mastermind behind the scenes."
"My son has died," said Lin Ruofu coldly. "Do you not realize that I wasn't able to see him one final time? I can't cover up those scars. Sigu Sword is swift and fierce and moves as he pleases. I may have made a mistake, but I can never admit it."
Seeing that she could not convince him, the Eldest Princess's tone softened. "Let me look into it," she pleaded. "Even if you don't feel any tenderness towards me, you cannot let Chen'er marry into the Fan family."
After a moment of silence, Lin Ruofu finally spoke. "Wu Bo'an came to me with a plan to assassinate Fan Xian. I disagreed. I didn't realize he would have convinced my stupid son Gong."
The Eldest Princess was quiet. She knew it was already very difficult to get him to believe that she had nothing to do with this matter.
"Wu Bo'an is your man." Lin Ruofu's voice was so cold that it seemed it could freeze still the flapping curtains of the palanquin in the night breeze. "I always knew he was your man. You used him to keep an eye on me, but I never realized that my son died because of you. So I think we should end it here."
The night winds slowly wound their way through the Imperial City, and the green palanquins were raised up and carried into the darkness, a decrepit lantern hung alone on the side of one of the sedan chairs. From the palanquin came the faint sound of a woman's sobs.
Filled with fear, a palace eunuch stepped forward. To the side, a palace maid carried a lantern, and the party of people slowly entered the corner gate of the palace.
The palanquin along moved some way before finally reaching the building where the Eldest Princess was temporarily residing. The curtain on the palanquin lifted, and the Eldest Princess stepped out, tears streaming down her face. The eunuchs and maids quickly lowered their heads, and did not dare to look up. The Eldest Princess stepped weakly up onto the stone steps, finally wiping the tears from her face. Suddenly, she smiled sweetly, revealing her beauty like the blossoming of a willow tree. She spoke timidly. "Kill them."
Suddenly, countless points of light appeared! The eunuchs had no time to beg forgiveness before the palace maids withdrew knives from their sleeves and slit their throats. Within the palace hall that night, there was only the sound of their bodies hitting the ground.
The Prime Minister's mansion was not the biggest in the capital, but it was the most magnificent. Whether it was King Jing, or the oldest and richest families, they could not match the Minister's mansion. The entrance and the decorations of the Prime Minister's mansion did not look particularly expensive, but anyone who was truly in the know would be impressed by the items on display. Just the items inside, a few chairs placed at random, were worth about as much as King Jing's plant nursery.
Of course, the comparison made exclude Emperor's palace. No one could dare compare themselves to the Imperial Palace.
Lin Ruofu had collected much wealth over the past twenty or so years. Everyone knew of his greed and wickedness. How the Emperor had never seen it despite having his eyes constantly on him was truly a puzzling matter.
Walking past the lobby, he greeted the officials who had come to convey their sympathies. Looking rather disappointed, he entered the inner chamber. The officials knew that the Prime Minister was in a gloomy state of mind, and that it was inappropriate to disturb him, so they took their leave, with only a handful of officials with urgent business left behind, bewildered. Lin Ruofu seemed to have thought of them, and he returned and asked them what had happened. Forcing himself to deal with the matters, he finally waved them away. When the officials left his residence, they both blamed themselves and were filled with indescribable gratitude. The Prime Minister put public affairs first in the midst of such a tragedy; truly he was a pillar of the nation.
Coming into the inner chamber, Lin Ruofu entered his study and sat at a desk. He said nothing for a long time.
"Sir, it is not very fitting to be hostile to the prince at this moment." The Prime Minister's closest friend and most secret advisor, Yuan Hongdao, handed him a cup of tea. Yuan Hongdao was dressed in mourning clothes. As he watched Lin Ruofu forcing himself to go about his business, he could not help but feel sullen. "We don't need to talk right away. You should rest, sir."
Lin Ruofu shook his head, the creases of his brow thick with worry. "This is the way things are. For my descendants, and for the Lin clan, I must prepare my approach."
Chapter 105: The Arrival of Summer
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Yuan Hongdao furrowed his brows as he listened to the prime minister speak softly: "I've been working in the government for so long that I don't have a clue as to how many people I've offended. Out of my two sons and one daughter, I had expected Gong'er to make something of himself, but after such an unprecedented tragedy, I only have Dabao and Chen'er left… I have to at least arrange something for them."
Yuan Hongdao frowned, "It's just that the sudden turn of events is quite radical."
Lin Ruofu's gaze softened all of a sudden. "As a father, we need not overly exert ourselves. Right now, the emperor is in his prime, so by the time the fight to be crown prince occurs, we will have been long dead. There's nothing to be worried about."
He continued with a question. "Has it been confirmed that it was the doing of somebody using the Sigu sword style?"
Yuan Hongdao nodded. "Yes."
Lin Ruofu inhaled the cold air. "I have found that the authority and power I hold cannot be used in exchange for anything… However, if I bring in the old master, together with the fact that the Fan family and The Overwatch Council have been in close contact all these years, they are unlikely to refuse."
Yuan Hongdao smiled and said, "Vice minister Fan used his relationship with the emperor to make the marriage happen. It looks like he has high hopes for master."
Lin Ruofu laughed in reply, "One of these days, I will see the boy named Fan Xian and whether or not he deserves my daughter for myself."
Yuan Hongdao spoke hesitantly, "Then the Eldest Princess…"
He knew that the death of the prime minister's second son was no accident, and that it no doubt had something to do with the Eldest Princess' plan. He had to be careful when mentioning her name.
"Li Yunrui asked Wu Bo'an to come up with an assassination plan which could kill three birds with one stone. Murdering Fan Xian meant that she could regain her control over the Palace Treasury. If Hong'er was persuaded, she would have had the Prime Minister's Mansion under her thumb. Except she had no idea that Fan Xian could not be easily killed. Yet that bastard Wu Bo'an and my son… died." Lin Ruofu's eyes shone with ferocity. "But she caught onto an important point by predicting the emperor's thoughts. She knew that if Cheng Jushu managed to escape the capital, she could still send out a false command under my name and have him killed in Cangzhou by Fan Xiu; an example of murder by just sitting."
Yuan Hongdao frowned as he spoke. "So the princess predicted that the emperor wanted to use his army."
Lin Ruofu shook his head in response, "In the battle with the north, the emperor regretted that he did not fight with all of his effort. The eldest princess had presented him with a perfect opportunity; one which he had to acknowledge, even though he disliked her making decisions behind his back. However, as the contract from the year of the battle was complicated, the most he could do was overtake some small cities in order to posture up with Northern Qi Kingdom."
Yuan Hongdao replied with a sigh, "It's hard to go against the Eldest Princess' plans."
Lin Ruofu closed his eyes slowly and said, "I've never thought of going against her… Let's leave that to the future generation."
"Yes sir."
At that moment, a ruckus could be heard from outside the study. The expressions of Yuan Hongdao and the prime minister revealed that they knew exactly who it was that dared to make such a commotion. The door was pushed open and a chubby 12-year-old boy entered. The old ladies and maids standing behind him made no attempt to stop him; instead, they begged the prime minister for forgiveness. The rules of the prime minister's mansion were strict; without the permission of the prime minister, anyone who entered the study would be heavily punished. Lin Ruofu waved his hand in acknowledgment before he turned to look warmly at the chubby child and spoke lightly, "Dabao, are you misbehaving again?"
The eyebrows of the chubby boy called Dabao were wide apart and his he looked confused. He appeared to have some sort of developmental problem. He immediately calmed down upon hearing Lin Ruofu speak and he replied shyly, "I'm being good, but my little brother hasn't returned."
This was Lin Ruofu's eldest son. A childhood illness had left him with the intelligence of a three- or four-year-old boy. As a result, he rarely left the mansion. The people of the capital were sympathetic and seldom brought him up in conversation. As Dabao was close to Lin Gong, he grew stressed when he had not seen his little brother for two days.
Lin Ruofu's heart clenched painfully and he rubbed his chest for a while before he answered lightly, "Your brother has gone on a trip. He should be back in a couple of days. Go to sleep now, Dabao."
Dabao was finally quiet and he smiled dumbly as he was taken away by the maids for bedtime.
After a heavy silence, Lin Ruofu spoke coldly, "I have only one son and daughter. What am I supposed to do when Dabao is like this?"
Yuan Hongdao replied with a frown and said, "If it was for the sake of your eldest son, then it can be concluded that Miss Chen and Fan Xian's marriage is a bad idea. This is because Mr. Fan cannot keep out of political conflicts. That will ultimately lead to a troubled life. We would not be able to ask Miss Chen to look after your son under such circumstances."
Lin Ruofu shook his head, and spoke with a chill, "If one has the surname 'Fan', then one is destined to never escape these webs. I'd rather that he was cruel and merciless, as then he would be able to provide security to Chen'er and her brother…"
With this, he returned to his calm self, made his way to a directory on the wall, and unveiled the cloth which covered it. He regarded a map silently with a frown. His gaze was focused mostly on the area north of Qing Kingdom where there was a complicated system of cities, though he averted his gaze occasionally in the direction of Dongyi city.
After a while, Lin Ruofu spoke with furrowed brows, "We have to come up with a tactic as soon as possible. Although it may not be a big battle, and the opposition may not make direct contact with us, we still have to ensure that the transport horses are ready beforehand."
Yuan Hongdao agreed with him, then he listened to the prime minister have a coughing fit. It was so intense that his eyes began to tear up. The prime minister stood in front of the map with his hands behind his back, frowning as he tried to come up with a plan. It was as if he had not lost his own son on the same day. Yuan Hongdao observed from the back and sighed on the inside. He felt a touch of pity for him as he thought about how, despite being so wealthy, Ruofu did not have an easy life. His whole life had been ruined the moment he met the princess.
——————
Everything happened in a day's time and nobody knew what the hidden deals and fights would lead to. The number of people in the government who knew about Count Sinan Fan Jian and Chen Pingping's encounter and the prime minister and eldest princess' meet-up was less than the fingers on Fan Xian's hands.
Fan Xian had no idea of the golden path he had been arranged to walk on.
His first couple of months in the capital could be described as dark as a moonless night, as if thick and sticky ink was smudged over his face. He felt so much pressure that he couldn't relax. In comparison, his recent life was so refreshing. It was like god himself had cleansed his face. He had never felt more present.
In recent days, Fan Xian tried to convince himself that his second-brother-in-law's death had absolutely nothing to do with him, as it was the only way he could face Lin Wan'er, who was going through a difficult time. Even though Lin Wan'er had only met her brother a couple of times, she was still upset when she heard of his death as, after all, they were related by blood. Fan Xian was aware of this and he felt bad, even though his brother-in-law was behind his assassination attempt. He thought about how he sometimes could be cold-blooded. If he had heard that Fan Sizhe had died whilst he was still living in Danzhou, he would most likely have not felt any sort of grief.
Naturally, the situation was different now and Lady Liu seems to have accepted the current circumstances. The Liu family of the capital was surrounded by strange rumors and Lady Liu was unusually restrained in response. She made no attempt to stop Fan Sizhe and Fan Xian wandering the streets of the capital together.
What made Fan Xian feel more at ease was the fact that nobody, including the prime minister, suspected that the death of the prime minister's second son had anything to do with him. This was a matter which Fan Xian and Prince Jing were much concerned about. Wu Bo'an and Lin Gong were so well hidden that day that even the Overwatch Council could not find them. Besides the Four Great Grandmasters, who else could possibly find them? As long as no one knew of Fan Xian's relationship with Wu Zhu, it was safe to say that no connection could be made between Fan Xian and Lin Gong's death.
The most unexpected thing was that after some exchange of messages from the prime minister's mansion, Fan Xian could vaguely tell that the prime minister was somewhat on board with the marriage. He could only guess that the reason behind this was because the old man was crestfallen over his son's death. However, the crafty old scoundrel Count Sinan Fan Jian saw right through him before anyone else had. He knew that the prime minister was in dispute with either the Eastern Palace or the elder princess and was looking for someone new to invest in. Perhaps it was a hint that the prime minister was changing allegiance to the second prince.
The two assassination attempts struck the capital like spring thunder, and their impact eventually died away. The prime minister was desolate and disheartened. He used sickness as an excuse and rarely turned up at court. The cripple, Director Chen, also hardly turned up at court. Instead he stayed in his garden and sent out occasional commands. Fan Xian grew more suspicious the more he thought about it. He wondered why Chen Pingping had not requested to see him upon his return to the capital. However, Fan Xian was completely unaware that the old man had already spied on him whilst he was in prison. What was even more curious was the fact that Fie Jie had disappeared when Chen Pingping came back to the capital.
Anyhow, a weak and new balance of powers was established at the cost of human lives after a short yet destructive conflict occurred between different sides of the government. Some people had no choice but to accept changes such as the handover of the Palace treasury. Others began to look for a way to protect themselves and their family, such as the prime minister. These changes were no doubt beneficial towards Fan Xian as he no longer needed to worry too much about his own safety. It was only then that he wrote a letter to his grandmother informing her that everything was going well for him in the capital and that she need not worry about him too much.
Needless to say, summer came after spring. After a long road of hardships, Fan Xian could finally stand tall in the capital. There were less rainy days and more sunny days in his life and the promise of happiness seemed to wave softly at him.
Now that summer had arrived, how much longer would it be until the marriage in autumn?
Chapter 106: The Country Estate
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The imperial edict had already been sent to the city of Dongyi, but Dongyi had simply sent back a humble and flattering reply, offering a large sum of gold and silver, refusing to admit any involvement with the incident at the country estate beneath the Cang Mountains. It was an obvious response that even a fool could understand, and it allowed the grandmaster and sole defender of the Dongyi sword to keep his pride. They also didn't want the people of Dongyi to be set upon by military forces, and so they kept silent.
The situation was tense in the north. It was far beyond any justification the Northern Qi kingdom could come up with about secretly meddling in the politics of the Qing Kingdom. Both sides had amassed troops at the border, and with small skirmishes breaking out in the various vassal states, it seemed as though they were on the brink of war.
Dark clouds floated over the northern Qing Kingdom, but it was midsummer in the capital, and the people wandered around, at ease, peaceful and content, enjoying the safety and prosperity of a golden age. Fan Xian was one of those people. Even though the aftermath of the incident on Niulan Street had still not been resolved, there had at last been an explanation for concerning himself and those who died . And in the process of resolving this matter, he had learned a great number of things. Although every step he had taken had depended on the strength of the Overwatch Council, he had come to understand a lot about the workings of the Council, and when it came to the things that Fei Jie had said before, he had direct knowledge of a number of other things.
Summer was hard, and the lawsuit between the Fan family and the Guo family had finally been settled. Many people saw it as a trifling matter. Since Fan Xian had been appointed Functionary of Taichang Temple, it was clear that he was going to marry a princess of the palace, and the insignificant Guo family didn't dare disturb the palace with their affairs, so they had quickly withdrawn their accusation - and with that, Fan Xian had finally been allowed to leave the capital.
Daring to leave the capital so soon after that horrible business had occurred took gall But now he had plenty of guards following him around. There were the old hands of Fan Manor, as well as guards from the Overwatch Council. Now Fan Xian had a secret identity - a commissioner of the Overwatch Council. Like Wang Qinian, a number of other new recruits in various areas had been placed under his control.
Early that morning, before the blazing sun had risen, the three children of the Fan family squeezed into a carriage. Protected by bodyguards and by Wang Qinian, they sped out of the capital, arriving at a country estate owned by the Fan family, not far from the city. This was not a summer vacation. It was an act of worship.
The guards had already arranged fruits, incense, and other offerings within the graveyard. Fan Xian looked over the still-new gravestones in silence. He was filled with many feelings. The notions he held since his rebirth, notions that he had thought of as stable, had unexpectedly become quite muddled.
The bundles of ritual paper money that they had lit as an offering to the dead gave off thick smoke. Unable to handle the fumes, Fan Sizhe quickly retreated to the carriage, and Fan Ruoruo was trying her best to bear it, her eyes squinting and half-closed. She pulled her brother to the tomb by his sleeve. She knew that the three bodies in the tomb, now resting eternally, were the three guards who had died protected her brother, and so her heart was filled with gratitude. As she had learnt from the letters her brother had sent her in her childhood, it was not unbecoming to offer tribute to those of lower status than oneself.
In the smoke, a group of new guards stood silently behind Fan Xian. They didn't know whether it was the smoke or the fire that had made their eyes red, but as they looked at the young master's back, they felt something different about him. After some time, a guard spoke kindly. "Young Master, you have shown true kindness in paying tribute to these brothers of ours but there is a lot of smoke; perhaps we should return to the estate."
The fumes were really stinging Fan Xian's eyes. He smiled as he rubbed at them, and returned to the carriage. In the carriage, Fan Sizhe was looking over the last month's accounts from the Danbo Bookstore. When he saw his brother and sister approaching, he shifted over, and suddenly spoke in a low voice. "Brother, isn't this just a way to bribe the people and win their hearts?"
Fan Xian's was in a somewhat gloomy mood, but he smiled slightly and paid his brother no attention, simply raising a hand to tousle his hair. "Why you! Always having to believe that there are some true things in this world," he said. "Heartless people are not necessarily true heroes..." Fan Ruoruo softly continued his sentence. "A true man is one who loves his children."
Fan Xian looked at his sister with some surprise. "You..." Fan Ruoruo lowered her head. "You said it a little while ago," she explained. "I remembered it." Fan Xian felt rather glad that his sister was so intelligent. "The phrase you've remembered was a quote from a person surnamed Zhou."
Fan Sizhe looked at them and grumbled. "Oh, dropping author names again? When are you going to come up with the last dozen chapters of Story of the Stone?"
Fan Xian wasn't exactly in the right frame of mind, but the word 'authors' had left him feeling inexplicably distressed. Explaining who was behind his writing was really rather unnecessary.
He felt slightly angry and ashamed, and so he continued to lecture Fan Sizhe. "You might be able to win over the people's hearts, but feelings come naturally. What sort of monster would not have feelings? Living in this world without caring about anything, neither for one's family, not for life or death; even if you were an immortal, what would be the point?" Fan Sizhe shook his head, saying in rebuttal, "You're not an immortal, so how do you know how immortals feel?" Fan Xian shot back quickly. "I'm not an immortal; I'm just a person, so I know that people can't live forever. It's a pity."
After saying that, Fan Xian suddenly thought of Wu Zhu, and was filled with an intense uneasiness and blame for himself. He was worried that when Wu Zhu grew old, he'd become a silent and lonely old man - but as long as Wu Zhu continued to escape away into the night, Fan Xian had no way to find him.
The carriage left the clan graveyard, following the widest path through the fields of crops, arriving at the country estate after some difficulty. The carriage arrived at the foot of a slope that surrounded the estate, and the people within the estate came out to greet them. It was not just tenant farmers who lived there, but also some of the more estranged families of the Fan clan who could not stay in any of the many expensive properties in the capital, moving instead to farms on the outskirts. They did not own the fields, and were not willing to suffer the indignity of working the land alongside the other sharecroppers. Although Count Sinan was not willing to part with his money for sake of his poor relatives' comfort, he could not watch them starve either, and so these clansmen looked after matters on the farm in exchange for a small stipend.
Curiously, Fan Jian made no mention of Fan Xian being made a legitimate son; Fan Xian assumed that he had forgotten it, but he still had some doubts that he was unable to resolve. In the capital, and in that moment, no one looked at Fan Xian with the contempt usually reserved for illegitimate children. It was also known within the Fan clan that the clan's future riches also depended on this handsome young man, and so he was treated with the utmost respect.
Taking the tea that an older person handed to him, he drained the cup in one gulp and nodded in all directions. Then, led by the house guards, Fan Xian strolled to a small courtyard in the woods on the western side of the estate. This was Teng Zijing's courtyard. After he entered, he found that Teng Zijing had already risen and was waiting courteously for him from within. "Young Master," said Teng Zijing uneasily, "I would have gone out to greet you, but Hou San'er would not allow me to."
Fan Xian did not follow through with the formalities, taking him by the arm as he assisted him into the main hall. "Don't blame Hou San'er, I'm telling you." Hou San'er was a bodyguard who had recently come under Fan Xian's command and who had entered the estate before him. Fan Xian looked at Teng Zijing's stout-looking face. "How's your leg been recently?" he asked.
Teng Zijing chuckled. "Fine. I can move it now. I'll probably be able to return to the capital in a few days."
"If you're not finding it easy to recuperate here, you might as well go back and recuperate in the capital." As he spoke, Teng Zijing's wife and daughter entered to greet their master. Standing to the side, Fan Ruoruo handed them some money, and pulled Teng Zijing's five-year-old daughter aside to ask her some questions, then carried her outside, leaving the men in the room.
Fan Sizhe was still looking over the accounts, and when Teng Zijing greeted him he merely grunted. Fan Xian had no choice but to look his brother in the eye as he listened to Teng Zijing's explanation. "I was staying here since my wife and child are here. Once I've recovered properly, I will return to the capital to serve the young master."
The two of them had been through the same life-or-death experience, and so their speech appeared rather direct. Fan Xian nodded. "You live a fine life - wife, kids, and a heated kang bed," said Fan Xian in admiration. "Why don't you stay and enjoy it?" Teng Zijing laughed. "When it's as hot as it is today, the kang is even hotter."
The weather in Danzhou was exceptional, with warm winters and cool summers, so no one used a kang bed. But after coming to the capital, he had only lived through a spring and a summer, so Fan Xian hadn't had the chance to sleep on a kang. As he listened, he sat down on the kang, and found it to be thoroughly cool and comfortable. He shifted his gaze, thinking about spending the days in the Cang Mountains after his marriage. It seemed like they had to find a way to set up a kang.
Teng Zijing had not realized that his young master's thoughts had turned to the snowy mountains he would be living in after October. "Master, stay a while and eat some fruit, then you can return to the manor. There's not much good to eat around here, and if you dawdle too long and return to the capital too late, I fear you might not be able to enter the city gates."
Fan Xian laughed and waved his hand. "I told Father to send word before I came here. Today the three of us will be staying the night in the estate, and we'll return tomorrow. The past few days in the capital have been quite stressful, and it's hard to find an opportunity for peace and quiet. Though we won't stay around for long, I'm sure it's okay for us to be around for an evening." Teng Zijing realized that he was planning to stay overnight, and quickly called his wife in, asking her to prepare the guest room and hot water, among other things. Although life on the estate was not grand and glamorous, there were a lot of people living there. Once they heard that the young master of the Fan family was planning to stay the night, a dozen or so middle-aged women all sprang up to attend to him, and before long, everything was in order. Fan Xian looked around, and whispered in Teng Zijing's ear. "Make sure the people following me are staying in the places closest to me."
Chapter 107: Moonlight in the Mountains
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Teng Zijing glanced at Wang Qinian, who always stood quietly behind Fan Xian. He felt that the air with which he carried himself was not the same as the bodyguards in the manor, he said in a low voice. Fan Xian looked him in the eye and explained quietly. "This is Wang Qinian. I now hold a position within the Overwatch Council - don't tell anyone." Teng Zijing was taken aback. He looked at Fan Xian again with a changed expression. After all, he never could have imagined that the young master he had decided to follow would, after only a few months in the capital, get himself mixed up with that den of vipers.
Fan Xian called over Wang Qinian and introduced him. "This is the second time we have met. I mentioned Teng Zijing to you before. You should get to know each other. He saved my life." Hearing this, patches of red appeared on Teng Zijing's dark face, and he waved his hand dismissively. "Young Master, you speak too kindly. You were the one to actually save my life that day."
Wang Qinian cupped his hands in salute and smiled, saying nothing. Much like Teng Zijing, he was very satisfied with the situation. Not only had he successfully returned to the Overwatch Council, but even more crucially, his salary had risen considerably. He had been granted a personal audience with the Director. He had never received this sort of treatment in all the years since he had taken up his position. Although Master Fan was an eighth-level Functionary of Taichang Temple, he carried the token of a commissioner - apart from the team he was in command of, only Mu Tie and the jailer knew of this; no one else was aware. Having this secret authority in his hands made him feel comfortable.
They ate game meat for dinner. Teng Zijing had said that there was little good food around the estate, but as the grease swirled in the boiling pot, the meat, accompanied by some tender green vegetables for soup, was utterly delicious. Even Fan Sizhe's appetite was satisfied, and he wolfed it down as if no one was watching. Fan Xian looked at him with amusement as he popped a chunk of meat into his mouth. The meat was extraordinarily tender, but there was a clear layer between the skin and the tendons that was extremely chewy. Full of praise, he couldn't help but ask, "is this muntjac deer or what?"
Teng Zijing's wife called over from one side. Hearing Fan Xian's question, she quickly responded: "It's moose meat."
Hearing this, Fan Xian was surprised. He placed his chopsticks in front of him, seemingly having forgotten about them, and within a moment, he recalled a memory from many years ago, before he even arrived in Danzhou. He was lying on his sick bed, thinking constantly about how he had wanted to eat moose, and the good-looking nurse had poked fun at his odd desires - in his old life, Fan Shen had never eaten moose, he only knew that it was a game meat that country people loved to eat. The memory had seemingly returned afresh. Fan Xian had not thought about his old life for a long while. But unexpectedly, today's moose meat had dredged up long-hidden feelings.
Fan Ruoruo ate small bites as she sat by his side. When she saw the strange look on her brother's face, she was worried. "What is it?" she asked.
Fan Xian immediately snapped out of it. He smiled. "It's nothing." He turned to ask Teng Zijing whether they made dried meat from the game they caught in the mountains. After Teng Zijing confirmed it, he happily asked if he could help him get hold of a few pounds of the stuff to bring back to the capital. Teng Zijing never thought that the food prepared that day would be so in line with the young master's tastes. He was also very happy.
Fan Xian took up his wine goblet and drank a round along with the others at the table. He smiled. "Master Teng, your wound is still yet to heal fully; you shouldn't drink too much." Sitting to his side, Fan Ruoruo looked at her brother and smiled. It seemed like she was ashamed of him. Fan Xian knew that his sister was trying to guess at what he was thinking. Apart from wanting to eat it himself, he was bringing dried meat back to the capital mainly because he wanted to give some to the ravenous Wan'er. Having eaten his dinner, Fan Sizhe - rather oddly - retired to his room to continue looking at the accounts. Fan Xian truly did not know what was so enjoyable about accounting, and how this little tyrant, at 12 or 13 years of age, had suddenly wrested control of temper and developed an infatuation with dry and boring numbers. "To each his own," he sighed, and let him go.
Refusing Teng Zijing's request to accompany him on his crutches, he led Fan Ruoruo out of the courtyard and into a furrow of the fields, looking at the round moon which seemed to float unmoving above a gap in the distant hills. Above their heads, the trees rustled, though he did not know what sort of trees they were. It was a beautiful scene.
"I dream of past lives and doubt whether it is a dream; some work themselves to the bone while some grow rich." Fan Xian was thinking about the memory of his past life that had arisen. Finding himself sighing with regret, he unthinkingly recited two sentences. "Man's time is finite, and he is but a passing guest through one hundred generations. Heaven and earth and all things are as a guest-house, and life is but a long dream. Sometimes I wonder whether I am still lying in that bed, dreaming a dream from which I cannot awaken."
He sighed, knowing that his sister probably could not understand what he was talking about. However, he had forgotten the transcendent sentiments hidden within the poet Li Bai's words, and the power that they could have on a young woman. Sure enough, Fan Ruoruo's eyes sparkled.
Fan Xian immediately realized he had made a mistake. He looked distressed, and prepared to explain that what he had said was all the work of the official Li Bai, but he suddenly remembered how Sizhe had mocked him in broad daylight. He sighed quietly and did away with what other people might have seen as an affectation, but what he saw as a natural movement. He also knew that his little sister would not believe what he was saying. After all, the Overwatch Council had arrested a number of poets like Xin Qiji, but there was no salt-peddler among them who could write verse, so he might as well hug Ruoruo tight and look at the moon with her.
Although Fan Xian had lived in this world for over a decade and a half, he still retained a unique disposition. This disposition was not in harmony with this world, but it was of great benefit to him in matters between men and women and bodily contact. As he hugged his little sister, of course, he had not a trace of the thoughts that pass between men and women; his was simply a feeling of pure fraternal love. But as Fan Ruoruo was held in his embrace, she felt a warmth and a slight bashfulness, and she naturally forgot what she was going to ask him about.
In the distance, two members of the Overwatch Council stood as straight as rock drills underneath a tree as they kept their charges safe.
"We must be up early tomorrow, I have matters to take care of in the capital." Fan Xian sniffed his little sister's hair and discovered the faint scent of orchids. "What did you use?" he asked curiously.
Fan Ruoruo was embarrassed. She didn't know whether to respond to her brother. "I washed it with pear blossoms. Does it bother you?"
Girls rarely washed their hair in this world, which didn't leave a pleasant smell - and that had been the case when he had slept together with Si Lili underneath that quilt, when it had been covered up by strong perfume. Since Fan Xian had come to the capital, he had brazenly demanded that Fan Ruoruo and Lin Wan'er wash their hair frequently, and had presented them with the plans for a showerhead he had come up with in Danzhou. Ruoruo and Wan'er were unable to say no to him, and so they did so. They never thought the effect would be so distinct; unexpectedly, it spread widely to other households outside Fan Manor and the imperial palace. Now, even Lady Liu washed her hair frequently.
"Father should be very pleased," he said, hinting at something, before going on to respond to Ruoruo's words. "It should be quiet in the capital in the early morning. There's somewhere I want to go and I want you to come with me, without anybody else following us."
Knowing that her brother trusted her, Fan Ruoruo was quite moved.
"Tomorrow we must visit Qingyu Hall," continued Fan Xian. "Shopkeeper Ye told me that it has been quiet in the capital as of late, so it is a good time to take a look." The shopkeeper at Qingyu Hall enjoyed a well-deserved reputation. Fan Sizhe had prepared the business accounts, and with Shopkeeper Ye's special business maneuvering, business at Danbo Bookstore had been getting stronger and stronger. Relying on the family's own capital, and official backing, it had put all of the nearby bookstores out of business within two months, and was slowly beginning to make inroads in the neighboring county.
Fan Ruoruo suddenly recalled a certain matter. "Is that tofu stand open?" she asked. "The Crown Prince was very happy with the soy milk you sent him every day. If he runs out one day, won't he urge you to open it?"
Fan Xian smiled. "I will soon become someone who makes 100,000 pieces of silver a day, so why should I bother with tofu?" Of course, this was a joke. "I will deal with it when I have time," he continued. "Anyway, you've nothing keeping you right now, you should take care of it yourself." As he saw it, there was no reason why the daughter of a great house should not show her face in public, and it was no use bringing up the idea of running a tofu stand, but he felt that for Ruoruo to simply read books and write poetry every day might leave her with little else but book smarts.
Fan Ruoruo felt a little awkward, but she agreed.
Fan Xian recalled an important matter, and frowned. His hands grasped his little sister's shoulders as he spoke sincerely. "Ruoruo, in my eyes you are only a girl of fifteen and it is too early for you to marry. But the common practice in the capital is not good. Even a young man like me has been forced to take a wife. You must take care not to attract too many wandering eyes, like He Zongwei's, the guy who comes to the manor every day. I can chase them off with a broom, but if you are married off to someone not worthy of you, then what can we do?"
"Since you want to marry," he said sincerely, "you must take care of yourself, and marry someone good, someone who you like, and set to it sooner rather than later, before you are betrothed. There is a lot of danger in betrothals, and not everyone in this world has the good luck that Wan'er and I have had. I have faith that you'll be able to stand up to whatever Father and your mother demand of you, but if... if it's a decree from the palace, then what? We have no choice but to protect our family's position."
Listening to her brother's words, Fan Ruoruo first felt bashful, and then laughed at his decision to blow his own trumpet. But when he mentioned the palace, she felt worried. It wasn't that she was not aware that at her age; a girl from the family of an official was likely to be married off... but after spending every day with her brother, she felt that all the men of this world would always be rather boring. How could she ever find a sweetheart of her own?
Chapter 108: Paying Respect Across the River
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It was still early the next morning, the sky was not yet lit and the hills were still bathed in mist. The moon had already moved across to the other side. The carriages of Fan manor rode towards the capital without disturbing anyone in the country estate. In the backdoor of the yard, Teng Zijing, who was on crutches, stood with his wife to see them off. Beside them was the couple's young daughter who was rubbing her eyes as if still asleep.
He had arrived at the capital gates once again. However, this time was different from the last, for Fan Xian's carriage was now unmistakably marked. The guards quickly let the carriages through after a brief inspection. Looking at the Fan emblem on the carriages, the soldiers on guard duty dared cause any unnecessary trouble. After all, Jiao Ziheng, their former boss, lost his job due to the assassination attempt on Fan Xian.
The carriages had arrived at Fan manor. Yawning, Fan Sizhe got out and ordered the servants who came to greet him, saying, "There are some salt-cured foods; unload them and put them away in the back—and don't you even think about sneaking a bite or two. Big Brother had it prepared as a gift!" He then opened his eyes wide and roared, "If, when my big sister from the Lin household comes over tomorrow to eat the muntjac but finds it with only three legs, I'll personally break one of yours as payback!" The servants had long been used to this young master's temper and didn't make a sound. They obediently began to unload the goods.
The bodyguards also came over. Wang Qiannian walked to Fan Xian's carriage, waiting for him to get out. But the carriage was all quiet. To his dismay, Wang Qiannian discovered that the carriage was empty; Fan Xian and Fan Ruoruo were nowhere to be seen. He immediately ran to Fan Sizhe and asked, "Little Master, may I ask where Sir Fan is?" Fan Sizhe gave him a look and scolded him, "Look at you, all tense. My brother and sister got off in the middle of the trip. They don't want you to always follow."
At this point Wang Qiannian was half-scared to death. This Sir Fan was the sole reason he could return to the Overwatch Council. When Director Chen Pingping personally greeted him, he was ordered specifically to ensure Sir Fan's safety; he was supposed to never let Sir Fan leave his sight. Wang Qiannian never expected Sir Fan to secretly ditch him. Looking at his strained expression, Fan Sizhe said, "He said he'd be back this afternoon; don't be so worried." Fan Sizhe didn't know who Wang Qiannian was; in the beginning, he thought this Wang Qiannian was just someone skilled who got assigned to Fan Xian by their father. Later, though, he sensed something wasn't quite right, but was too lazy to dig any deeper.
Wang Qiannian didn't interact further with this second young master. He signaled a servant with his eyes, got on a carriage, and headed out.
...
...
The cicadas called lazily in the sweltering summer heat. Fan Xian led Ruoruo on a stroll on the bank of Liujing River (with Liujing meaning "flowing crystal"). It was good that they got here early, and there were plenty of shade around to make the heat somewhat tolerable. Fan Xian had already unbuttoned his shirt down to his chest, showing a large patch of skin. Ruoruo couldn't do the same and had to rely on fanning herself with her handkerchief. With a smile, Fan Xian took the handkerchief and dipped it in the river before handing it back to her.
"Do you know why this river was called 'Flowing Crystal'?"
"According to capital records, this name predates the current dynasty. Supposedly, as the river flowed around the capital towards the Cang Mountains in the west, the terrain caused the waters to flow extremely fast. But in some areas, the water is tranquil like the surface of a mirror, like crystals suspended in time. That is how this river got its name."
Fan Xian nodded as he thought of this tranquil part of the river. Occasionally flower boats floated past, reminding him of Si Lili, who was behind bars; he didn't know what would ultimately happen to that woman. Walking a bit further, they could see a house hiding among the trees on the other side of the river. The house had a simple yet very elegant courtyard. A few bamboo branches poked past the walls towards the sky. In this summer heat, they managed to express a sense of coolness.
"So that's Taiping Courtyard?" Fan Xian squinted. Fan Ruoruo answered him, "Yes, I heard back in the day, the owner of Ye household lived there. The courtyard later became Imperial property once the Ye household was dissolved. I just never heard Ruojia mention a lady having lived there before."
Fan Xian thought about it for a bit and suddenly smiled. So that's where his mom once worked, fought, and lived. Seeing her brother's smile made Ruoruo happy too. She asked, "You seem happy, what's on your mind?" Fan Xian rubbed his slightly damp fingers and shook his head without saying anything. It was already bold of him to bring his sister here, even though Ye Household didn't appear to be that much of a taboo. But remembering his father and Wu Zhu's seriousness made him decide to be careful about it.
He had planned to go there to pay his respects. Now that he knew it was Imperial property, he gave up on the idea. The fact he still didn't know where his mother's grave was made him very uncomfortable.
Since coming to this world, he had never seen the woman who gave him his body, but he still acknowledged her as his mother. Perhaps it was due to him losing his parents early on in his previous life. No matter when, be it his exile after being reincarnated, or his time in Danzhou, or his days in the capital, everything seemed to point to the power, authority, power, and determination that woman once held. Everything seemed to remind him his mother was that woman, that woman named Ye Qingmei.
Ye Qingmei, whose eyes saw through this world.
Fan Xian once even wondered if his mother was not dead, but hiding in some desolate place, observing his life with a caring yet cold smile.
Count Sinan mercilessly terminated this delusion and told him his mother's grave was in a very secluded place in the capital. Once the time was right, Fan Xian would naturally go pay his respects.
Letting out a sigh, Fan Xian knelt down and kowtowed towards the courtyard across the river. Fan Ruoruo was stunned for a moment, not knowing what her brother meant. But the smart Ruoruo quickly guessed something and turned pale with fright. Nevertheless, she braced herself and knelt down besides Fan Xian.
Because of the trees, there was bound to be people on the other side, hidden from view. To them, seeing the two kneeling on the ground must have been an amusing sight.
Fan Xian was a bit surprised and pulled her up. He asked gently, "Why kneel with me?" Ruoruo forced a smile, "What should I call her? 'Auntie'?" Fan Xian chuckled, "Ah, I knew you'd guess it. I didn't plan on hiding anything from you, but there are things I cannot say to anyone. It's extremely frustrating keeping them to myself." Letting out another sigh, he said, "No wonder I spent my early years in Danzhou."
"I only know my mother was from that Ye household. Did you, by any chance, hear father or Aunt Liu mention anything?" Fan Ruoruo tried to remember, but shook her head. Fan Xian guessed it was probably due to some inner working of the Royal Family who disliked any remnants of the Ye household, resulting in his father always hiding the truth. However… with the power of the Imperial court, if Count Sinan had a relationship with the owner of the Ye household, how did he escape attention? Unless the Overwatch Council hid everything. But regardless of how much Chen Pingping respected Fan Xian's mother, not even he could keep everything a perfect secret.
As various questions formed in his head, Fan Xian became very agitated. Being motherless aside, he started to question the "other parts".
The siblings dared not to get too close to that courtyard. Going through the woods, they went back to an open road and began walking towards the capital. They were planning on walking a bit further and hiring two small carriages. But they quickly discovered a small path to their left. There were some moss-covered rocks hidden among the grass, quite cryptic. The path seemed to be rarely used.
Fan Xian, with his excellent eyesight, saw a small wooden bridge that the end of this path which he believed to lead to Taiping Courtyard. Sighing to himself on the inside, he forcefully removed his gaze and said to Fan Ruoruo with a smile, "Your handkerchief has dried. Do you feel hot?"
An air of coldness seemed to be always hanging between Fan Ruoruo's brows, but she did not feel it in front of Fan Xian. Sweat rolled down the side of her temples before spreading out on her slightly flushed cheeks, adding even more color to them. Fan Xian stared slightly. She told him in a soft voice that she was okay and continued walking with her elder brother.
A short while later, they came upon a teahouse. The entire structure was made of bamboo, which let the breeze through while blocking out sunlight, making it extremely cool on the inside. Fan Xian was overjoyed by the sight of it. Taking his sister's hand, they talked inside. He shouted, "Two cups of tea."
A dense silence answered back. There were only a few people in the teahouse. A middle-aged man stood furthest back. He slowly made eye contact with Fan Xian after hearing Fan Xian's voice. That man had a pair of deep-set eyes and a nose hooked like a raptor's beak. While a dark aura surrounded him, he seemed to be forcibly containing it. The middle-aged man looked towards Fan Xian with malice like a hawk locking its sight on a rabbit.
Fan Xian was greatly shocked as he recognized the man. That man was none other than Sir Gongdian, the leader of the guards, the one with whom he had traded a palm strike with, resulting in Fan Xian throwing up blood. Wang Qiannian was kicked out of the Council because he was trying to capture Fan Xian!
Chapter 109: An Encounter Between Unacquainted Enemies
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Gong Dian was the deputy commander of the royal guards. Because of his duty, he had to work in close proximity to His Majesty at all times. He was also a disciple of Ye Zhong, the disciple of the Ye household which was famed for being the number one martial household in Qing. While being a rare eighth-ranked master, his combat ability far surpassed that of Chen Jushu, whom Fan Xian had managed to kill. Fan Xian only managed the feat because Chen Jushu had underestimated him. Had both of them fought their best, Fan Xian would be most likely have been vanquished.
Facing Gong Dian, Fan Xian could not come up with any ideas. Win or lose aside, even if he were to win… would he dare to become the enemy of the entire Imperial court? A drop of sweat rolled down Fan Xian's forehead as he shouted on the inside, "Wu Zhu screwed me over, Wu Zhu screwed me over." Had Wu Zhu been the one to knock out the guards, Fan Xian wouldn't have been able to enter the temple, and therefore the events which followed could not have happened. But for Fan Xian, his current danger also originated from that. Of course, he wouldn't really blame Wu Zhu, he was just releasing tension and trying to calm down.
Gong Dian took a step forward with a smile on this face. His deep, rich voice resonated, "Young one, 'tis such a coincidence."
Fan Xian pulled his still clueless sister behind him and answered with a smile of his own. "I didn't think I would encounter Your Highness once again." As he said this, his brain was working overdrive. Wan'er had told him that the esteemed one he met at the temple was His Majesty the emperor, and Gong Dian, as His Majesty's guard, was equal to the emperor's left and right hands. Since Gong Dian had appeared in this teahouse, the emperor should also be here.
As he thought about it, Fan Xian stared past Gong Dian's thin but raised shoulders. Over by the table sat the middle-aged esteemed one, who was drinking tea. Deep down, Fan Xian was dumbfounded, but did not show it on his face. Smiling apologetically, he said, "Your Highness, why act as if you've been searching for this encounter far and wide, only to find it effortlessly by chance? I did offend Your Highness the other day outside the temple, but I ended up coughing up blood for several days, which should have atoned for my crimes."
Fan Xian deliberately used a novel phrase. But, unexpectedly, Gong Dian did not react.
"Capture him." Gong Dian did not want to alarm his master, so he issued the order in a quiet voice. Three other guards came forward. Seeing what he was up against, and realizing he was with a young lady, Fan Xian knew escape would be impossible. With a frown, he rushed forward and struck first!
Gong Dian, unexpectedly, was happy about this. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the other guards to stand down. He then spread out his hands like a hawk cornering a rabbit with its wings. With his burly and powerful fingers, Gong Dian locked down onto Fan Xian's maimen. While Fan Xian didn't have any extraordinary skill, he did have the reflexes beaten into him by Wu Zhu. With a peculiar turn of his wrist, he drew a line over Gong Dian's maimen with the tip of his finger. With an eerie aura, Fan Xian locked Gong Dian's wrists in place.
At the same time, Gong Dian's iron claws also locked tightly around Fan Xian's wrists.
The two were greatly shocked. They had locked together at the first contact in both encounters. Quite a phenomenon indeed. Gong Dian then said with extreme self-confidence, "Stand down and submit." Fan Xian had never intended to face the leader of the royal guards head-on, but he did have other intentions. He answered with utmost resiliency, "Perhaps." With a muffled grunt, Fan Xian's xueshan began to heat up and then erupted. The waves of heat traveled through Fan Xian's arms to attack his opponent.
Gong Dian frowned as if detecting the young man's overpowering zhenqi. But with his master behind him, he naturally wouldn't back down even half a step. With a flash of his eyes, he let out a light shout. The vigorous zhenqi he had been accumulating for several decades flowed into his palms.
Their arms had already unlocked; now they touched palms.
There was a dull noise as powerful qi spread through the teahouse. The esteemed one who was drinking tea gave a frown; he didn't seem to have close bodyguards. Fan Ruoruo, who was standing behind Fan Xian, felt her legs give out and almost collapsed to the ground.
Many rays of white light burst forth. The other guards all drew their blades and put them against Fan Xian's neck. At that moment, Fan Xian's arms were sore and weak, completely powerless—not that he was hoping to counterattack anyway. Gong Dian coughed twice and put his hands behind his back. He looked at Fan Xian with a strange expression and said in a light voice, "Young man, it's been several months. You've improved."
A drop of blood flowed down the corner of Fan Xian's lips, which reminded Gong Dian of that person in the secluded room across from the temple. Gong Dian could feel a chill in his heart; he did not know if his actions today were appropriate.
This clash was obviously Fan Xian's loss, but it didn't look to have been easy for Gong Dian. Other than the esteemed one, nobody else saw his hands shaking uncontrollably behind his back. The strange and overpowering zhenqi which Fan Xian had forced into Gong Dian's body had remained in his meridians and was slicing away like tiny knives. It was only some moments later that Gong Dian regained stillness in his hands.
"Capable in both civil and martial virtues, such youths seem to be all over the place these days." With a faint smile of admiration, the esteemed one watched Fan Xian, whose expression remain unchanged despite being surrounded by several blades. Gong Dian knew his master valued such talents and was afraid the captive would be released, just like last time. He walked over and quietly explained why Fan Xian needed to be captured.
The brows of the esteemed one knotted together but quickly released. His deep pupils seemed to gradually lighten. Looking at Fan Xian, the esteemed one squinted, "So this is the young man from the other day." He then said quietly, "Gong Dian, you said the master you ran into could hunt you down with ease. Did you tell this to anyone else?" Gong Dian replied in embarrassment, "I only investigated in secret, but with no results. As to not reporting it, please… I beg your pardon."
The esteemed one said coldly, "Granted. But you must never speak of it ever again, or you and your family will all be executed." Gong Dian accepted the pardon with a shudder in his heart. The two had conversed so quietly that even Fan Xian, with his superhuman hearing, could only pick out a few words; not enough to get a sense of what was going on.
"Leave us; I have a few things to say to this young man." The esteemed one coldly ordered.
Gong Dian was shaken. While his master had all the power in the world, he was still powerless in combat. Gong Dian dared not let his master be alone with the youth. As if guessing what his bodyguard was thinking, the esteemed one reconsidered his order. "Gong Dian stays. The rest of you leave."
"Yes sir!" Although they didn't understand, the other guards dared not question their master's orders and quickly left the teahouse. With his neck liberated, Fan Xian comfortably adjusted his head a few times. At this time Ruoruo came running over, holding onto his hand. Thinking back on the clash, she was on the verge of tears.
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...
"Officer Fan Xian, what do you have to say about your misconduct?"
"This civil servant knows not his crimes."
Those two lines which Fan Xian had imagined were not spoken. The esteemed one only sat by the table and looked at him with curiosity. The esteemed one's gaze seemed to be gentler than before, casually yet carefully scanning Fan Xian's face, making him slightly uncomfortable.
The esteemed one spoke in a soft voice, "Which family do you belong to, young one?"
"Your Highness, we are from the Fan household. Yesterday we went to our country estate to rest, and today we were simply enjoying the sights and came here. I don't know why your esteemed servant has to give us a hard time." Fan Xian had thought about it and decided "Your Highness" was an appropriate title. Hearing Fan Xian's answer, Gong Dian was bewildered as he realized the person he was trying to capture was Fan Xian, who had killed an eighth-ranked master. He then thought of Fan Xian's father, Count Sinan, who was one of his master's most trusted aides, who possessed authority that not even Gong Dian fully understood. For that reason, Gong Dian thought he knew why his master ordered him not to disclose the existence of that master. He also gave an awkward gaze towards Fan Xian in apology.
The esteemed one smiled, "You are the son of Fan Jian?"
Hearing his father's name being addressed directly allowed Fan Xian to confirm the identity of the esteemed one. His answer became noticeably more respectful, "Precisely."
Fan Xian didn't expect the esteemed one to be so easy to converse with. He blanked out for a moment before coming back to his senses. He apologized profusely.
The esteemed one then said, "You've been in the capital for some months already. How have things been?"
While he didn't know why the esteemed one was asking about his well-being, Fan Xian would not let this chance slip by. Remembering the mess of these past few months, he said in a somewhat complaining tone, "Living in the capital has been difficult. It pales in comparison to home."
"You mean Danzhou."
"Precisely."
"You like living in Danzhou?"
"While secluded, Danzhou's people are simple folk. As long as you don't harm others, nobody will harm you, unlike in the capital where things tend to come to you regardless of whether or not you want them."
The esteemed one wasn't expecting the youth to be so direct. He was just so slightly taken aback. He then said with a smile, "The capital is prosperous without compare. Its hardships are naturally also peerless. But under Sir Fan's protection, as well as taking into consideration your current achievements in civil and martial matters, I'd imagine you will have a secure life later on."
If it weren't for the purpose of disguise, Fan Xian really wanted to kneel down and thank the esteemed one for his Imperial compliments. As wild as Fan Xian had been in the capital, His Majesty was said to have a mouth of gold and words of jade… However, Fan Xian's expression remained unchanged. He answered softly, "I hope so."
It was getting late, and the esteemed one had many matters to attend to. Before he left, he squinted again at Fan Xian before giving him a satisfied smile, "Let us meet again, if fate will allow it." He then turned towards Fan Ruoruo and said lightly, "Young girl, I once held you when you were just a baby. To think you've grown up so much in the blink of an eye… There is a fine marriage waiting for you in the future."
Fan Ruoruo was slightly startled and didn't know what to say. Upon saying this, the esteemed one let out a hearty laugh, as if very glad, before boarding a carriage and leaving the teahouse. After traveling some distance, the esteemed one sighed lightly, "Him climbing the walls every night reminds me ever so vaguely of myself back in the day."
Back in the teahouse, Fan Ruoruo asked, "Who was that man? He seemed to be familiar with father."
Fan Xian finally relaxed and sat down on a stool. Breaking out in sweat, he said, "That was His Majesty… Dammit, why do they all like coming out incognito? Don't they know how scary it is?" With this, Fan Ruoruo covered her mouth in shock.
At that moment, a clap of thunder echoed through the blue, cloudless sky, as if wanting to pierce through the bamboo of the teahouse and blast a certain someone to death for speaking without a filter.