373-375

Chapter 373: The Incomparably Harmonious Piece of Paper

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

The Ming family would not lose their footing just because of a midwife who had appeared from nowhere. Chen Bochang was also good at arguing. Looking at how old the birthmark was, and the advanced age of the midwife, the evidence was not enough to support these aggressive attacks. In any case, they couldn't just admit defeat like this.

If Xia Qifei's past only had such deficient evidence, it would not work. After all, the Suzhou Zhizhou, as well as the Jiangnan Road officials, were all leaning toward the Ming family.

Song Shiren was very angry. He thought the Jiangnan people were indeed wicked. He had worked extremely hard to "design" this midwife, yet the other party would not admit to it. They only watched the expression and words of the Suzhou Zhizhou on the bench. Song Shiren knew that their evidence regarding the Ming family property was slightly weak and not sufficiently convincing.

However, he was very confident. Discovering the Suzhou government's secret bias and unwillingness to believe his words, he couldn't help using his sharp tongue that irritated people. He wantonly belittled the Ming family and secretly jabbed the Suzhou government a few times. His words were filled with mockery and sarcasm. Besides, he was a famous person of Jingdou. He didn't care about the methods of the Jiangnan families. Relying on Sir Fan junior's backing, he was much more daring.

Ming Lanshi, Chen Bochang, and even the Suzhou Zhizhou on the bench were not in a rush. The smiled with narrowed eyes at this performance by the world-famous litigation master, hearing his saliva fly in the court. Although they hated this bastard in their hearts, they had to forcefully suppress it.

"Sir Song, if you want to prove that Xia Qifei was the old Ming master's seventh son, do you have any other evidence?" The Suzhou Zhizhou clenched his fist in his sleeve and furrowed his brows.

"Sir, the midwife earlier clearly remembers well, why can' it be evidence?" Song Shiren stood firmly, like an ace in the hall.

"Ah, brother Song, these words are not appropriate." Chen Bochang stood at the side and raised his clasped hands. "That old woman's movements are already difficult, her cheeks lacked strength, and is someone about to die. How could the words of someone so old and muddled be accurate? Furthermore, she does indeed know the layout of the Ming family back then very well, but how do know someone with an agenda didn't tell her these things…and then have her remember and come forward to frame others?"

Song Shiren's eyes narrowed and he said, "What a shameless false charge."

Chen Bochang was slightly angry. You dare to do such a shameless thing, can I not even talk about it?

Song Shiren couldn't be bothered to acknowledge him and said directly to the bench, "Sir, do you also believe this explanation?"

The commoners outside of the court had mostly believed Xia Qifei's past. After all, that midwife's acting ability was exquisite. The crowd watching realized that the Suzhou Zhizhou and Ming family would probably deny it to the end. Some who liked to watch a lively show began to make some noise.

Most of the people remained silent since they were still biased toward the Ming family. Particularly since it seemed that the power behind Xia Qifei came from Jingdou, the Jiangnan commoners liked to avoid this kind of situation.

The Suzhou Zhizhou's old face flushed slightly. He knew that it indeed was inappropriate to deny and not admit the midwife's statement of confession. Looking at Ming Lanshi's gaze, he knew that he could only push through with it. He cleared his throat and said, "That midwife is indeed old and muddled. This right of belief lies in my hands. If it was a normal civil case, it would be fine to do as Sir Song argued. Only, Sir mentioned earlier, the Ministry of Justice divides cases into three levels. This matter of the Ming family property belongs, without question, to the first level. If there are no other more detailed and reliable evidence, I cannot judge this case."

Song Shiren was waiting for these words. He furrowed his brow and pretended to be disappointed. In a high voice he aside, "Sir! This cannot be! The matter happened long ago. Where could other circumstantial evidence be found? I have found a witness, but you have said it is not acceptable. What kind of evidence will be acceptable?"

The Suzhou Zhizhou felt a spark of joy. He thought: No matter how arrogant and famous you Song Shiren are, when you are in court, you are still dough to be rolled around by us old officials. No matter what other witness and evidence you bring, I will always find a way to dismiss their trustworthiness. Hearing Song Shiren's sudden question, he instinctively said, "With both witnesses and evidence, I can judge the case."

Song Shiren did not wait for him to continue. He opened his lips and in quick-fire succession and threw out his words, "Sir? Who judges the case?"

"Naturally, it is me…"

"Since it is you judging the case, dare I ask what is considered evidence?" Song Shiren pushed aggressively, not giving the Suzhou Zhizhou anymore more time to react.

The Suzhou Zhizhou paused slightly. He began to speak but stopped.

Song Shiren raised his hands and met his eyes. He forcefully asked, "What exactly is evidence?"

The Suzhou Zhizhou was frightened by his imposing manner. It was like he had returned to many years ago to the scene when he had taken the law exam. Instinctively he said, "Marks, the murder weapon, written evidence…"

"Written evidence? Good!" Song Shiren shouted his approval. His eyes narrowed into crescents. "Sir is wise."

The Suzhou Zhizhou paused, not knowing why he was wise. He hesitantly opened his mouth and said, "Sir Song…"

Song Shiren still did not give him an opportunity to finish his sentence and asked urgently, "Sir, if there is written evidence, could it be used as evidence?"

"Naturally, yes…"

Song Shiren once again cut across him. "If there is written evidence, Sir must admit it!"

The Suzhou Zhizhou angrily nodded his head and said, "What are you saying? I am also familiar with Qing law. How could I not know the power of written evidence? You are speaking much too rudely. If you can bring out written evidence, naturally it will be more trustworthy than the midwife earlier."

After these words were out, the Suzhou Zhizhou suddenly felt he had said something wrong. Why did he become so talkative all of a sudden?

He unconsciously gazed down the court only to see Ming Lanshi and Chen Bochang's shock and a trace of disappointment, while Song Shiren's face was filled with an extremely pleased smile.

…

…

Song Shiren had repeatedly cut across the Suzhou Zhizhou's words and disrupted his thought-out responses. At the end, he suddenly left an opening. After provoking him repeatedly, he had this Zhizhou following his intentions. Before he showed his evidence, he confirmed the importance of written evidence in front of everyone to prevent another shameless scene of denying the evidence.

This was actually a shallow, psychological method and skill in speaking used in debates. It was like waving a sausage continuously in front of a dog but not letting him have the satisfaction of taking a bite. At the end, you could stuff a banana there and the dog would still eat all of it happily and forget that he had originally wanted to eat the sausage and not the banana.

Chen Bochang discovered that the Zhizhou had fallen for Song Shiren's trick and sighed secretly in his heart. He didn't have an opportunity to cut in because that bastard, Song Shiren, talked much too fast. His arrogant and cheeky tone of voice indeed angered people easily.

He met Ming Lanshi's eyes and shook his head somewhat helplessly. He felt a thread of confusion. Exactly what written evidence did the other party hold in their hands that could actually prove Xia Qifei's past?

The Suzhou Zhizhou knew he had been played by Song Shiren. Looking at his vile smiling face, he wished he could order him to be beaten. But, he could not do that now. He could only ask in a deep voice, "Since you have written evidence, why didn't you bring it forward earlier?"

Song Shiren respectfully bowed and said, "I will bring it forward now."

The Zhizhou smiled coldly and said, "If your written evidence is not effective, don't blame me for ending the case thus."

Song Shiren smiled sinisterly and said, "Sir, rest assured, although this written evidence is old, it is a dead object. It cannot grow old and muddled…please be assured.

The Suzhou Zhizhou was unkindly silenced.

…

…

Song Shiren moved closer to Xia Qifei's ear and said a few words. Xia Qifei furrowed his brow slightly. It seemed that he hadn't expected that thing to be brought out so quickly. It looked like it was indeed a difficult matter to prove his past.

He took out a little box from within his clothing and carefully handed it to the advisor. His eyes were fixed on the box the advisor held as if he was terrified that someone would steal it in broad daylight.

Looking at Xia Qifei's cautious expression, Chen Bochang furrowed his forward. He moved closer to Ming Lanshi's ear and asked, "Young master, can you guess what it is?"

Ming Lanshi's expression was somewhat confused. Suzhou was not like Jingdou; they did not have such things as birth certificates. What exactly was the written evidence?

The Suzhou Zhizhou on the bench opened the box. He and the advisor scanned it together, and their expressions immediately changed. The Suzhou Zhizhou glanced at Ming Lanshi with a complicated gaze.

Song Shiren's smiled slightly. He was incomparably calm. He raised his voice another octave and said in a clear voice, "This written evidence is a will written by the personal hand of the previous Ming master. The will clearly states that all of the Ming family property is left to the seventh son, Ming Qincheng…this will has always been held in Sir Xia's hands. It is enough to prove that Sir Xia is the seventh son of the Ming family!"

Not waiting for the public to wake from their shock, Song Shiren changed the topic and got in first to add an extra layer of protection. He gazed at the Suzhou Zhizhou with a cold smile and said, "Of course, there will be some ignorant people who will say that Sir Xia had coincidentally picked up this will and so has come forward pretending to be a descendant of the Ming family. Only, earlier there was the midwife and now there is the written evidence. If there are people who dare to bring false charges forward so brazenly…hmph, the people of this world are not blind, and they are not stupid. The officials up and down Qing court, the people of Jiangnan, who would believe it?"

The will of the old Ming master!

The direction of the wind in the court changed. The commoners outside let out a roar, while Ming Lanshi and Chen Bochang in the court seemed like they had been struck by lightning and stood there in a daze. Ming Lanshi's face was full of shock as he muttered to himself, "No way! When did grandfather write a will? This has to be fake!"

Song Shiren stood at the side and watched the young master of the Ming family. He smiled superficially and said, "As expected, without even having a look, someone has already begun to say it is fake…perhaps the Ming young master is an immortal?"

Ming Lanshi was still deep in shock. Hearing Song Shiren's words, he angrily shook his arms and said, "This will has to be fake!"

Hearing these words, Song Shiren felt pleased and knew that the situation he had most feared had not happened. His extra protection had come at the right time. If the other party did not argue the authenticity of the will, but rather had done as he said earlier and bit down on the fact that Xia Qifei had found this will and was here today to pretend to be the seventh son of the Ming family to steal family property, that would have been the most difficult to deal with. If the other party continued with such shamelessness until the end, he actually had very little he could do.

But now, in his shock, the young master of the Ming family was only concerned with the authenticity of the will and had not accused Xia Qifei of using the will to pretend to be…now, as long as he could prove the will was real, then… the reality of Xia Qifei as the seventh son of the Ming family would be confirmed.

Song Shiren gently let out a breath. It looked like he had been making a scene in the court, but every word he said, and the order in which they were said, had been planned and carefully chosen. It was only in this way that he could direct this difficult situation they way he wanted.

The best litigation master in the Qing Kingdom indeed deserved his reputation.

The Suzhou Zhizhou's face was ashen. He waved his hand to gesture for the litigation masters of both sides to approach the desk. "The written evidence is present, only we don't know if it is real or not…"

Song Shiren was set on not letting the Zhizhou be happy today and said, "Sir, whether it is real or not, a verification will suffice. Where is the dilemma?"

Chen Bochang was, after all, a famous litigation master in Jiangnan. At this moment, he had long already shaken off the previous surprise. He knew that Song Shiren used the trick of surprising the opponent. He smiled slightly and said, "Sir, since the other party says this is the will of the old Ming master, then, of course, it will be verified. At this moment, the young master of the Ming family is present, why not let him have a look?"

He turned to Song Shiren and warmly said, "You have no objections, right?"

"As long as the young master Ming won't go crazy and swallow the will, what is the harm in looking?" Song Shiren narrowed his eyes with a sinister smile. "Brother Chen's ability to be unperturbed is indeed incredible."

"You too, you too," Chen Bochang smiled slightly and replied.

The Suzhou Zhizhou could not understand what the two great litigation masters were praising. Only Song Shiren and Chen Bochang understood that since they were fighting a family property suit, proving Xia Qifei's identity was only the beginning. The important question was to whom exactly the enormous family fortune belonged. Even if the will Xia Qifei had brought out was real, following Qing law, the Ming family still seemed to stand on a certain victory.

Thus, Chen Bochang was not really panicked, and Song Shiren was not really happy. They both knew that there was still a long road ahead of them.

Ming Lanshi walked over and looked at the will on the table with a face full of unease.

In the Ming Garden, there were still many letters left by the old Ming master. The descendants of the Ming family saw them regularly and had long remembered them. Thus, when Ming Lanshi saw the thin and dry handwriting on the will, he knew it was indeed his grandfather's personally written letter. And the paper that was used for that will was indeed the Qingzhou paper the old Ming master favored.

Ming Lanshi's expression was slightly afraid. He bowed to the Zhizhou and retreated.

Chen Bochang moved closer to his ear and asked gently, "Is it real or fake?"

Ming Lanshi furrowed his brows and said, "I'm afraid…it might be real…" But this young master of the Ming family had, after all, already helped the clan manage their businesses. His will had been sharpened to be firm and persistent. In a flash, he felt a thread of oddness and remembered some of the old secrets his father had once revealed to him about those years. His expression became strange and he lowered his voice. "No…this is fake!"

Chen Bochang asked, "Oh? How did you determine that?"

Ming Lanshi gritted his teeth and said in a dark voice, "Given the methods of that ancestor in my family…if she wanted to act back then, how could she leave behind something like a will?"

Chen Bochang was startled. He knew that Ming Lashi was talking about the Ming family matriarch. After a moment of thought, he agreed it would be so. If the Ming matriarch wanted to steal the family fortune, and kill and chase them out back then, the first matter of business would have been to determine the matter of the will. Logically speaking, this will could not possibly have been left in this world.

"Then this will…" He furrowed his brows.

Ming Lanshi said in a quiet voice, "It is the same as that midwife. They're probably both fakes made by the Overwatch Council."

It was only now that the Ming family suddenly discovered how much time and effort the Overwatch Council supporting Xia Qifei had put into this matter. That perfectly crafted will would have taken months of time, otherwise, it would certainly not be so meticulous. Just the antique finishing on that paper and choice of materials were both extremely complicated matters.

It must be noted that this kind of Qingzhou paper had stopped being produced a decade ago. Who would have thought the Overwatch Council would be able to find some.

While the tricks used by the Overwatch Council were powerful, the method of using a lawsuit was extremely shameless. To falsify evidence from beginning to end…was there still justice in this world?

Ming Lanshi thought sorrowfully, but a person floated unbidden into his mind's eye. It was the young and delicate imperial envoy. He seemed to be standing somewhere and looking at him with a warm smile on his face. His lips were slightly parted like he was about to eat a big meal.

Sir Fan junior was the main instigator behind this matter.

…

…

Since the will was out, it had to be verified for authenticity. The Suzhou government had already sent someone to the Ming Garden to retrieve the old Ming master's letters. At the same time, following Song Shiren's apparently fair suggestion, they had sent for the bidding signatures in the palace treasury transport company archives. They also invited the official of the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council stationed in Suzhou to come and verify the age and paper of this will.

Everyone knew that the Overwatch Council was an expert in doing such work. Since they were experts in forging fakes, naturally they were experts in determining fakes. However, this was forged by the Overwatch Council, and they were being asked to verify it. It was like asking a wolf to solve a case of missing sheep.

The Suzhou Zhizhou cursed loudly in his heart, but he did not dare fault the Overwatch Council directly. He could only allow this suggestion, however, he had other thoughts. He sent others to invite the Imperial Censorate as well as the powerful criminal law master from the Jiangnan governor's manor to come determine the authenticity of the will.

The Suzhou government's trial of the case came temporarily to a close because of the appearance of the will. It would take some time to verify the will, so the watching commoners quickly went to the tea houses to buy some tea and cakes. After satisfying their thirst and hunger, they rushed back to watch the show. By the time they returned, the best spots had already been taken by those who had endured their hunger. They could only curse silently as they would not be able to get them back.

The Ming family had long ago sent over a lunch box, and Ming Lanshi ate without tasting. Chen Bochang said something in his ear and only then did his mood improve slightly.

Hua Garden didn't try to avoid suspicion at all and sent a lunch box to Xia Qifei. There were few people on his side, only he and Song Shiren were eating lunch. Song Shiren glanced at the Ming family's side and said quietly to Xia Qifei, "With the reveal of the will, you're past can come into the light."

The excitement in Xia Qifei's eyes appeared and was immediately hidden. He gratefully said, "Thank you for your hard work."

"However…" Song Shiren said seriously, "confirming your identity as a descendant of the Ming family does not mean you can take back what belongs to you."

Xia Qifei understood what he was saying.

Song Shiren sighed. "Qing law is very strict and follows the scriptures. It is explained in the marriage laws, and the rules for the inheritance of family property are too rigid. The other party is the eldest son of the wife, so they have a definite advantage. Even if you have the will of the old Ming master in your hands, you will not be able to make the officials give the Ming family property to you. Furthermore, these Jiangnan Road officials…it looked like, they all listen to the Ming family."

Xia Qifei nodded and said, his face full of determination, "If I can establish my name today, it will be a happy surprise. As for the matter of the family property, everything is as you say. Sir has also said that this matter cannot be rushed. As long as the will is confirmed, it doesn't matter even if we don't fight the case."

Song Shiren smiled slightly and shook his head. "We will definitely fight it out. Even if we know for sure we cannot win, we still have to keep fighting. We have to continue until the Ming family is beaten black and blue, without any strength to respond. I do have the power to drag it out until the Ming family is humiliated.

This litigation master said it easily and casually, but actually, he secretly had a bellyful of discontent toward Fan Xian.

He had been summoned from far away to Jiangnan. Who knew it was to fight…a case they were certain to lose. Fan Xian had ordered him to drag out the process of this case for as long as possible. Song Shiren had only lost once in his career in court, and now he had to lose for the second time because of Fan Xian. When he thought of this, he became full of resentment, but there was nothing to be done. Who made him lean toward Sir Fan junior, and who made Sir Fan junior so generous?

By afternoon, the verification group formed—including the Overwatch Council official, Suzhou government official, Imperial Censorate official, and master of criminal law from the Jiangnan governor's manor—had studied this yellowing paper for a long time.

First they compared the handwriting and signature. The old Ming master's thin and dry characters were extremely hard to imitate, and each person had their writing habits. For example, all the bottom of the walking radical were dragged down. All of these were sufficiently demonstrated on this will.

Second, the paper used was indeed that of the Qingzhou paper that had stopped being produced a long time ago. The master of criminal law determined, based on the yellowing and extent to which it had been affected by damp, that the time this will was written was close to when Xia Qifei claimed it had been.

The tone and diction of the will were also completely in line with what the old Ming master used during his life.

Most important, the seal, after being compared to the old Ming master's one brought over from the Ming Garden, was exactly the same.

…

…

It was this perfection that made the experienced old official from the Jiangnan governor's manor feel slightly strange. For a will that had been stored for a dozen years, the color of the seal had indeed become old and faded, but the fine details were still visible in the seal and exactly the same…this was too strange.

However, this old official understood that this matter was very complicated. This point could not be considered a point of suspicion, so he did not pay too much attention to it. As for the officials of the Suzhou government and Imperial Censorate, they only wanted to prove the will was fake. In the end, they even used the magnifying glass that was a specialty of the palace treasury. Yet, they still could not find any flaws.

After the officials had a discussion and came to a consensus, the Suzhou Zhizhou unwillingly and without any other choice announced in the court: The will was real. Xia Qifei was the seventh young master of the Ming family that should have died long ago—Ming Qingcheng.

Chapter 374: Xinfeng Restaurant's Buns, Prince, And The Lawyer In Court

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

"I always feel that there is something missing in my life."

It was the last day of March in Jiangnan, the spring rains fell soundlessly to the ground and landed softly on the pavilion in Hua Garden like the gaze of lovers on each other. In the pavilion, a man and woman lay on two comfortable chairs talking to each other.

Haitang glanced at Fan Xian and shook her head. "Your life can be considered perfect. What is there to regret?"

Fan Xian thought carefully about all that has happened in his life. It indeed could be said he was high-spirited and lived unscrupulously. If he wanted money, he had money. If he wanted power, he had power. If he wanted people, he had people. The luxuries enjoyed by those around him, he also enjoyed. The luxuries that those beside him could not enjoy, he could enjoy them. For some reason, he always felt unsatisfied. He knew clearly how one's life should be lived, but to truly live it that way was an unknown desire that only grew stronger and stronger.

Not concerned with ideals, culture, and those intangible things, he gave a pained smile and said, "Before, there was an Emperor. When he became old and muddled, he thought about his past and said that since he had 10 martial skills, he could be considered a perfect elder[JW1] …of course, this king was also muddled headed when he was young. But he was an Emperor, he was much more arrogant than me. But I don't want to be muddled, and I also don't think there is such a thing as perfect in this world."

"Do you want to be an Emperor?" Haitang almost smile as she asked the question everyone around Fan Xian, even Wang Qinian, his most trusted aide, dared not ask.

Haitang thought that Fan Xian truly was an incredible person. Hearing a Northern Qi person like herself asking such a traitorous question, he didn't try to hide anything at all. Rather, he directly sank into a deep thought. If this kind of action was seen by outsiders, they would definitely think that Fan Xian already had a disloyal heart.

"Being Emperor is too tiring," Fan Xian said with a headache. "Your Emperor…my Emperor…although they look like they are living comfortably, it is tiring in both body and mind. It is really no fun."

Haitang smiled slightly and said honestly, "I think you, as the imperial envoy, are not much more relaxed than an Emperor."

Fan Xian smiled bitterly and said, "To be an Emperor you have to be able to watch tens of thousands of people die in front of you and not have your heart tremble. I actually cannot do this."

Haitang asked, "In front of you? Haven't you always said you had ruthless intentions?"

"I can kill a dozen, a hundred people," Fan Xian said seriously. "But to truly swim in a sea of blood, I don't know if I would have the ruthlessness if that time comes."

"The so-called quantitative change that leads to a qualitative change. I've told you this before."

He waved his hand. He did not want to continue this topic. He lay on his chair and carefully listened to the quiet sound of the spring rain bringing moisture to the earth.

The pavilion gradually sank into silence.

…

…

An Overwatch Council official wearing a robe silently appeared at the back entrance to Hua Garden. The rainwater had soaked his official robes, and his body emanated a dark chill. It was Deng Zi Yue, who had recently come from Jingdou.

Haitang smiled and said, "It looks like you are going to continue being busy planning to kill fewer people." Finishing this sentence, the girl didn't wait for Fan Xian to reply before placing her hands into her big pockets. Dragging her steps and swaying her hips, she walked with the step of a village girl and left the little pavilion.

Fan Xian smiled slightly as he watched Haitang's retreating figure. He saw her swaying gently away from the thin rain. The rain wet her hair at the temples, so it looked like she had not used the zhenqi from Tianyi Dao—the so-called being close to nature was naturally like so. However, the feet in her cloth slippers were not stained by the water collected on the ground, so it seemed she had used a trick.

Deng Zi Yue watched Haitang leave and then silently entered the pavilion. "Same as yesterday. Today in court they were still unraveling the articles of the Qing law. Although Song Shiren is eloquent and has not caught any disadvantages, in reality, there has not been any progress. As long as the Suzhou government hangs on to Qing law and won't let go, Xia Qifei won't win this case, even with the will in his hand."

Fan Xian nodded to show that he understood and then sank into thought.

Today was the last day of March. The Ming family property case that had caused a sensation in Jiangnan was already on its fourth day. After getting through the storm on the first day, the case had sunk into a stalemate. Although this was within Fan Xian's expectations, he was becoming impatient listening to his subordinates' reports every day.

In the first day, Song Shiren had used a very cleverly faked will to confirm Xia Qifei was indeed a descendant of the Ming family. This news had immediately spread from Suzhou throughout Jiangnan. Now, everyone knew that the Seventh young master of the Ming family was alive again and, what's more, was fighting the eldest son of the Ming family for property.

However, Qing law was set following the spirit of the scriptures. The natural inheritance right of the eldest heir was rooted deeply into people's hearts, and it was also written clearly in the law. That will seemed to have exhausted its historical use. It would be difficult for it to be of much help for Xia Qifei's wish.

If Xia Qifei wanted to take back the Ming family property, that would be the same as pushing over the rules the people had followed for hundreds and thousands of years. This rule was so powerful that one person could not overturn it, not even Fan Xian or the Qing Emperor. If this case broke the natural inheritance right of the eldest heir, the effect would be too large.

Fan Xian furrowed his head. He suddenly thought of a strange matter. If the effect of the Ming family property case continued to spread, to the point of bringing around a great debate on the liberation of thought, then what about the natural position of the Crown Prince in the Palace?

He sucked in a cold breath. This plan was made by Yan Bingyun and had been approved by Chen Pingping. That old far-planning cripple could not have not thought about the follow-up effects of this matter, unless…the old crippled had received the Emperor's secret sign and had begun to shake the atmosphere of public opinion around the Crown Prince's natural right of inheritance?

The matter of the Jiangnan Ming family was big. If it's effects reached Jingdou, then the matter would become even bigger—to the point that Fan Xian did not even want to see that kind of situation. Because of his mother's connection, Fan Xian would not watch as the Crown Prince inherited the throne and the empress who wanted the kill him become empress dowager. Currently, directly provoking the Crown Prince might urge him to give up his previous enmity with the Eldest Princess and Second Prince to join as one body—a result Fan Xian did not want to see it.

Fan Xian sank deep into his thoughts. His original orders to Song Shiren was to do his best to drag out the case, and make the case as large-scale as possible; the wider the effects, the better. Only now did he realize that behind this matter hid various thoughts of that old cripple.

He trusted Chen Pingping, only Chen Pingping seemed, on account of trying to protect him, to not tell him all the details of many matters. Fan Xian was a person who wanted to learn, understand and control the situation.

"It looks like I will have to make a trip to Wuzhou once the matter of the Ming family has temporarily halted." He sighed and found more and more that his father's arrangement for him to go to Wuzhou to see his father-in-law was a wise decision. It seemed his father knew long ago that he would have doubts about some of the state of affairs in court. Being so far from Jingdou, the only person who could meet him face to face and help him solve his problems was the old Prime Minister.

Deng Yi Yue could not guess Fan Xian's true worries, but he could see that the commissioner had new thoughts about the case against the Ming family property. He furrowed his brows and asked, "Should we have Song Shiren close the case? In any case, Xia Qifei has now been confirmed as the seventh son of the Ming family. In a few days, the Overwatch Council will go forward and have him worship and return to his ancestors. Following Qing law, the Ming family has to give him a share. Although that share won't be much, it accomplishes the original goal to have him successfully enter the internal unit of the Ming family."

Fan Xian listened to Deng Zi Yue's analysis and felt comforted. It felt good to have a trusted aide beside him. However, he did not answer his question, instead he asked carefully, "Having the Fourth Bureau arrange for Xia Qifei…oh, now we should call him Ming Qingcheng…the matter of having Ming Qingchen meet with the Fourth of the Ming family, how is that going?"

Since Xia Qifei was to be like a thorn in the throat of the Ming family, then, of course, they had to collude with the dissidents within the Ming family. Fan Xian's understanding of the shady dealings within a wealthy and large family was not very detailed. In his previous life, who knew how many times he had watched the dramas on the Hong Kong TVB channel.

Deng Zi Yue reported, "We've already made contact. Xia Qifei will meet with the Fourth of the Ming family at the beginning of next month."

Fan Xian nodded. Only now did he begin to talk about the earlier question. He gently bit his itchy inner lip and said calmly, "Have Song Shiren continue fighting. We're going to fight this case until the end! The bigger the momentum the better…even if we can't win, we also cannot lose! Put pressure on the Suzhou government, and don't let them force the case closed. We will fight until all the scholars and people under heaven begin thinking about this question!"

Deng Zi Yue raised his head and asked in surprise, "Sir, what question?"

Fan Xian now realized he had let it slip. He smiled. After some thought, he decided not it keep it from this confidante in front of him. "To have everyone under heaven begin to consider whether or not the eldest heir should have the natural right of inheritance."

As Deng Zi Yue was the leading official of the Qinian Unit, he knew everything about Fan Xian. Hearing these words of the commissioner, he quickly understood the meaning within. He started and paled, then wrapped a hand around his fist and advised against it. "Sir, we cannot…if the court and Palace begin to have…suspicion, that would not be easy to clean up."

Fan Xian lowered his eyelids slightly and said, "Zi Yue, you seemed to have forgotten my identity. My surname is Fan. Don't worry too much. As for having suspicions against me…I'm afraid that the nobles in the Palace will suspect that I am overreaching my duties."

He had already thought it through. Since he was going to have to go against the East Palace eventually, he would first act on Chen Pingping's intentions and prick the opponent. After all, given his current power and position, as long as he didn't rebel, no one could do anything to him. Furthermore, even if there were people who thought he was creating these kinds of public opinions for his future, more people would think that Fan Xian was making arrangements for the Third Prince.

"Don't report on this matter to the Director," Fan Xian ordered. "It is only a small matter."

Deng Zi Yue was unable to hide his shock. He gave a pained smile. He thought the marketing campaign for stealing the position of heir had officially begun. Was it a small matter?

Fan Xian thought of something and suddenly smiled. "Song Shiren is only a litigation master. Was he going to be the lever that opened the earth? Or, perhaps I have made this too complicated. A debate in court on Qing law has little to do with the old rules under heaven."

Deng Zi Yue did not understand the wording "earth," but he still guessed the general meaning. He gave a pained smile and said, "For Song Shiren to meet Chen Bochang is like a craftsman meeting a sound piece of timber. The two sides fight, and sparks fly off everywhere. They don't just go around in circles on Qing law…if the contents of their debate in court actually spread out, I'm afraid it will cause people to think of that question."

Fan Xian felt his interest awaken. "Oh? Then I'll have to go see. Go call the Third Prince and Dabao. In a moment, the whole family will go to the Suzhou government to watch the show."

Deng Zi Yue gave a pained smile and accepted the order.

…

…

Under the decoration of the thin rain, three completely black carriages left Hua Garden and slowly drove toward the street closest to the Suzhou yamen. The people riding had left after having lunch. No one was in a hurry though, since the Suzhou government was taking a temporary break.

Although it was the food street closest to the Suzhou yamen, it was still some distance away. Sitting on the third floor of the Suzhou branch of Xinfeng Restaurant, Fan Xian stood leaning against the railing and looked toward the direction of the Suzhou yamen through layers of rain. In an angry voice, he said, "I am not a clairvoyant. How can I see the fun?

Deng Zi Yue had sent someone ahead to book the restaurant and currently was setting out the security. Hearing the commissioner's scolding, he couldn't help giving a pained smile. "Commissioner, this is already the closest…although it is the whole family coming out to see the fun, we can't drive three large carriages to the Suzhou government and alarm the officials or have the people stare. That just won't do.

Fan Xian sighed. "If I had known earlier, it would have been better to stay home to have Yang Jimei's cooking. Why bother braving the rain?"

As he spoke, a person behind him tugged on a corner of his clothing. He turned his head to look and saw the charmingly naïve Dabao. He couldn't help asking with surprise, "Dabao, what's the matter?"

Dabao opened his mouth in a grin and said, "Xiao Fan…this…restaurant…also has jietang buns."

Dabao used a thick finger to point at the individual steaming trays on the table, each with a single large white bun. They were steaming warm. The delicious scent gradually seeped out from the inside.

Fan Xian sighed. He sat beside Dabao and used his chopsticks to split open the hot bun while grabbing a spoon to move the soup from the bun into Dabao's bowl. He smiled and said, "This is also Xinfeng Restaurant, it is just the Suzhou branch."

The Xinfeng Restaurant shopkeeper, who had been carefully serving from the side, quickly and solicitously said, "Yes. Young master Lin, although Jiangnan is far away, the taste is not very different from Jingdou. Have a try."

Dabao muttered something distinctly then turned toward the bun in front of him and began his attack. He completely left the shopkeeper in the cold.

It was Fan Xian who asked, "Shopkeeper, how did you know to call him young master Lin?"

The shopkeeper laughed dryly and said fawningly, "Commissioner, what are you saying? At the old branch in Jingdou, you often brought young maser Lin to Xinfeng Restaurant to eat. This is giving the little store a lot of face. The old shopkeeper always brings this up and is very proud and grateful. Although I am often in Suzhou, I also know of your relationship to Xinfeng Restaurant. How could I not serve with heart?"

In Jingdou, Fan Xian personally controlled the First Bureau. The restaurant closest to the First Bureau yamen was Xinfeng Restaurant, so he often took Dabao to eat their jietang buns.

In the current trend, as long as it was noble eating—no matter the time—it would always be an ostentatious show and a big feast. There were few people of Fan Xian's rank so interested in jietang buns and fried noodles in soybean sauce. Although the taste of Xinfeng Restaurant was delicious because of its homestyle cooking, it had three branches in the Qing Kingdom and was well-known, its business had always been average.

Because of Fan Xian and Lin Dabao's regular visits, the Xinfeng Restaurant in Jingdou gradually raised its class. It attracted countless scholars who wanted to have a seat where the immortal poet once sat and try the buns that Sir Fan junior could not forget. This made the old shopkeeper of the Xinfeng Restaurant unable to contain his joy.

The Suzhou branch shopkeeper knew what kind of honored guest Fan Xian was and, of course, flattered him to no end. He was particularly careful in laying down seasoning that removed odors[JW2]. His attentions made Fan Xian extremely comfortable. For a moment, he was much less gloomy about not being able to see the show outside the Suzhou government.

…

…

Fan Xian ate noodles while Dabao munched on buns. The Third Prince, very much not in keeping with the steadiness of his age, was properly eating a bowl of soup balls. Sisi led the girls in drinking two bowls of porridge. She then stood beneath the eaves and watched the rain falling from the sky. She stretched out a hand to catch them, laughing with joy.

Fan Xian never controlled his servants much, so these girls were very lively. Hearing the laughter behind him, his mood improved. He waved his hand to summon Deng Zi Yue and said, "It should have started in Suzhou government. Send someone over to listen and write it down."

Deng Zi Yue nodded and went to arrange it.

Fan Xian waved his hands again to have Gao Da and the Tiger Guards to eat. He then turned around and continued working on the bowl of noodles. He could not resist once again stealing a piece of meat from Dabao's dish to eat. Dabao, as always, did not make a fuss. His large size represented a small grudge.

Haitang had disappeared to somewhere. At this moment in Xinfeng Restaurant were all Fan Xian's subordinates, servants, and family. He happily appreciated the rain with a light heart. He picked at the white noodles and threw aside all thoughts in his head.

Seeing that Dabao had finished eating, Fan Xian asked warmly if he wanted more. Dabao shook his head. Fan Xian removed a handkerchief from his clothes and carefully helped Dabao wipe away the grease beside his mouth.

The Third Prince watched this scene and felt astonished. A strange expression flashed through his eyes.

The Tiger Guards at the next table also paused.

Everyone knew of Fan Xian's kindness and care toward Dabao. Even seeing this kind of scene, it was still impossible for many people to reconcile this Fan Xian with that ruthless and severe powerful official of the Overwatch Council. When they often ate at Xinfeng Restaurant, this scene had once moved Deng Zi Yue and Mu Tie. Today, perhaps the Tiger Guards and the Third Prince would see Fan Xian in a new way.

His attentiveness to a mentally impaired uncle could not be as simply explained as "loving all under the same roof." Although Fan Xian did indeed very much love and respect his wife, if all these details were used as a pretense by him to buy people's hearts, no one would believe it. To be able to do so sincerely for so many years…if that person was not a great evil, then they were a saint.

Which one was Fan Xian?

…

…

During the monsoon season on the Jiangnan waterways, there was never the saying of spring rain being as precious as oil, so the thin rain gradually became larger. The heavens generously irrigated the earth with moisture.

Fan Xian narrowed his eyes at the rain outside of the eaves, but his thoughts had already turned to another place. The Council's report was clear. This year there had not been much rain and snow upstream on Yangtze River. Although this would affect the disaster areas' replanting, at least they wouldn't have to worry, for now, about the spring floods—a terrifying creature. Thus, the matter of the river repairs could proceed smoothly. Yang Wanli should have just arrived to report in at Jingdou. He would probably need some time before reaching the River Transport Governor's yamen.

As for the silver required for river repairs…this time, the palace treasury bidding was 80 percent higher than previous years. On the surface, the amount had already been given to the palace treasury and had, after a lot of complicated paperwork, began to be shipped to Jingdou. First, it would enter the palace treasury. Then, the Emperor would openly order it be moved into the national treasury and sent toward the River Transport Governor's yamen.

In secret, under the combined efforts of the Overwatch Council and Ministry of Revenue, and after the old officials that Fan Xian's father had sent had finished making up the accounts, a large amount of silver had already begun to travel through a different route, directly toward where the River Transport needed. The purpose of it had been prepared. In this large amount of silver, a portion of it was the palace treasury's bidding silver, which the transport company had painfully squeezed out from their reserves. Another portion was the silver that Fan Xian had temporarily borrowed from the young Northern Qi Emperor through Haitang.

All that silver was put in Taiping money house that Fan Xian first took it to use. As for returning…that would have to wait until Xia Qifei had made contact with Fan Xizhe in the North to use the smuggled goods of the palace treasury to slowly repay it.

In these matters, Fan Xian had put sufficient effort into hiding them. Since it concerned the Northern Qi Emperor, the matter was hidden even more securely. He did not let the Qing court in Jingdou hear of a single whisper. Fan Xian had long mentioned to the Emperor in a secret memorial about the matter of the silver being shipped to the River Transport. In this matter, he had no selfish motives. He didn't take a single liang, and the entire thing was run secretly. It was impossible for Fan Xian to obtain from this any reputation as one who loves the people…all of the benefits completely belonged to the people of the Qing Kingdom. Ultimately, it benefited that old Emperor, so he silently allowed it.

The only problem Fan Xian had to explain to the Emperor was how exactly did he manage to get his hands on such a large amount of silver.

Since he could not mention the Northern Qi Emperor, the major bankroller, he needed a good reason. Fan Xian had, when he first began this plan, already made the arrangements for this matter. One part was from the bribery money he had obtained the past two years in the officialdom. Another was from the benefits of toppling the Cui family last year. Yet another part was from the layer of earth that he had scraped off from the palace treasury transport company after going to Jiangnan.

In the future, if it could still not match the Emperor's accounts, Fan Xian still had one last trick. He would say the silver had been left to him by Uncle Wu Zhu.

He guessed that the Emperor would not go find and confront Wu Zhu about it. If the River Transport really did well, perhaps the dragon would be happy and the Emperor would use the ample palace treasury bidding silver to return a portion to Fan Xian.

Concerning the Ming family, Fan Xian already had arrangements. The investigation work was still progressing slowly, only it was hidden at the moment by the eye-catching trial. For Fan Xian, defeating the Ming family was indeed a long-term project. He could only nibble away at it bit by bit. If his methods were too aggressive and bullied the Ming family too severely, it would affect the stability of Jiangnan. The Jiangnan governor would probably be the first to stand out and oppose him.

For the governance of a country, stability was the demand that crushed all others.

The survival of the Ming family did not lie with the Jiangnan trial, rather it was in the fight in Jingdou Palace. If the master of the Ming family, the Eldest Princess and the princes fell in the battle for power, then it would naturally be difficult for the Ming family to protect their basket of eggs. If Fan Xian lost, the Ming family would be elated, and Xia Qifei would have to, again, flee from calamity in all directions like a dog without a family.

If Fan Xian and the Eldest Princess maintained their current status quo, then the Ming family would be like how it was, struggling at the doors of death that Fan Xian pressed on them. They would never suddenly collapse but would stubbornly and basely live on, struggling and waiting.

"Sir."

A soft call pulled Fan Xian from the depths of his thoughts. He shook his head in a daze. Only then did he find that the light outside was much dimmer. Not only because the rain had thickened, but also because it was no longer early. Only now did he know this thought of his had taken so much time. Thinking of this, he couldn't help letting out a sigh. It seemed like Haitang was right, his days were not much more relaxing than the Emperors.

Glancing at Sisi, who was tired from playing and leaning on the rail resting, Fan Xian gestured with his eyes for one of the girls to cover her with some clothes. He then glanced at Dabao, who was uneasily and embarrassedly saying something to the Third Prince. Only then did he become more awake. He took out his interest in watching drama and said to Deng Zi Yue, "How is it over there?"

Deng Zi Yue smiled and handed over the paper in his hand. He moved closer to his ear and said, "This is a record of the debate on the court floor…Sir, do you think the Eighth Bureau should organize these debates into a collection and spread it everywhere under heaven?"

This was an extremely ruthless and daring idea. It looked like Deng Zi Yue had finally approved of Fan Xian's thinking and knew that the Overwatch Council could no longer maintain its neutral position of previous years in the battle for the heir position.

Fan Xian jokingly scolded, "It's fine if they are just rumors. If this is printed as a book, won't the Palace hate me to death?"

Hearing the word "palace," the Third Prince on the other table glanced over. Fan Xian pretended not to see and sighed. "Speaking of the Eighth Bureau…we have too few people in Jiangnan today. That matter still hasn't had any effect."

He was talking about the movement to spread Xia Qifei's story in Jiangnan. Fan Xian had thought that with the people of the Eighth Bureau, the rumors battling around Jingdou could slap the Second Prince until he had no strength to reply. Now, with Xia Qifei's loss of his mother as the script of the miserable story and the verdict of the Suzhou government as evidence, he thought he could stir up some noise in the Jiangnan region and completely destroy the kindly image the Ming family had cultivated. However, they did not expect that the power of the Ming family was indeed so strong in Jiangnan. The Eighth Bureau did not have enough people in Jiangnan, and the Ming family had sent many storytellers to yell about it. They were still linking the family property case and Xia Qifei's underground background to a plot created by an important person in Jingdou.

When the two were compared, it was Fan Xian's whose reputation was much worse. Although the people of Jiangnan believed that Xia Qifei was the seventh son of the Ming family, they all thought that Xia Qifei jumped out so suddenly this year because the Jingdou official that Fan Xian represented wanted to oppress the good people of Jiangnan.

When Fan Xian thought of this he laughed heartily. It looked like that still sick and in bed master of the Ming family, Ming Qingda, was indeed very familiar with his style of doing things. His methods and speed of responses were also incomparably accurate and quick. Ming Qingda was indeed not that simple.

The big power was not in Jiangnan, so Fan Xian could easily consider this fight against the Ming family as a game. He did not have much animosity toward Ming Qingda. On the contrary, it was faint approval. After he had read through the paper Deng Zi Yue had brought him, he couldn't resist laughing out loud.

Jiangnan had many clever people, and Song Shiren from Jingdou was also not bad. This case in the Suzhou government had gradually left the realm of Qing law and begun to develop in the direction that Chen Pingping had hoped for. Both sides had begun to bring in classical literature. They always brought up things that had happened in early Wei and also raised their hands in respect to Master Zhuang. It looked nothing like a trial. For this concept of the right of the eldest heir to the inheritance that had rooted itself deeply in the hearts of the people, both sides had opened a pre-show for a place where the Emperor listened to lectures.

Fan Xian smiled and shook his head. The tense but slightly absurd scene of the trial seemed to appear before his eyes.

In the public court, the debate was still ongoing. This was the fourth day. The main generals on both sides were exhausted after repeatedly using their brains, so the intervals between the opening of the court was much longer than the first day. Without much being said, someone would come forward first and ask for a rest.

The Suzhou Zhizhou knew that Xia Qifei's side wanted to drag it out, but there was nothing he could do. He had received the imperial envoy's concern verbally earlier that wanted him to publicly judge the case and not carelessly close the case. Since he couldn't carelessly close it, he could only have the two below argue it out.

But, with one Song Shiren and one Chen Bochang, they were both famous and able speakers. If he left to debate, they could probably talk for a whole year.

The Suzhou Zhizhou understood it and accepted it. Whenever the pair requested a rest, he would always smile and allow it. He also ordered the bailiffs to bring benches for the two to sit on. As for the matter of tea, it would not be lacking.

Ming Lanshi sat on the bench with an ashen expression. These days the trial had been dragged out had not been good for the young master of the Ming family. He couldn't help with the family business, and those uncles of his were completely useless trash that knew only how to eat and not work. It was after the palace treasury bidding that the matter of the goods being shipped to North Min needed important figures from the family. And so, his father, who had claimed illness, had to stand up once again and manage these affairs.

The Ming family knew the imperial envoy wanted to use this trial to trip them up, forcing the Ming family to not have the ability to focus on multiple fronts in the palace treasury market. Only the Ming family did not have any good way to retaliate to this. They could only keep them company and keep dragging things out. Looking at this situation, the trial might drag on for a year. As long as they didn't lose, it was fine.

It was now the Ming family's turn to speak. The face of Jiangnan's famous litigation master was a little bit grey, like he had been taxed in body and mind. He took the hot towel from the hands of a student beside him and vigorously rubbed his face to renew his spirit, and then walked into the court. In a serious voice he said:

"In ancient times, the sages spoke of five relationships—affection between fathers and sons, righteousness between rulers and subjects, difference between husbands and wives, order between seniors and juniors, and trust between friends. Sir, Sir Xia has been confirmed as the Seventh young master of the Ming family, but the affection between fathers and sons and the heir of the Ming family are not two extremes…"

He had not finished speaking when Song Shiren, in the side hall, cut in eccentrically and said, "It is not Sir Xia, it is Sir Ming. Don't get it wrong again. Otherwise, after this case, Ming Qingchen, the Seventh young master of the Ming family, can continue to sue you."

Song Shiren's face did not have a good color, and his eyes were slightly sunken. He had come alone to Jiangnan. He didn't have time to bring any servants or students. Although, he had the help of the scribes of the Overwatch Council. They were looking through piles of old paper for evidence and scripture useful to him, which was not an easy task. His opponent was a local litigation master with countless people helping him behind the scenes. So, even the spirit of the greatest litigation master in the world could not hold out against four consecutive days of batter.

Hearing Song Shiren's words, Chen Bochang was not anxious. He chuckled and bowed in apology toward Xia Qifei, and then continued to speak, "But, we cannot afford to be inattentive to the words 'order between seniors and juniors.' Since Ming Qingda, the master of the Ming family, is the eldest of the heirs, then logically he should have the power to control the Ming family property."

He continued in a high voice, "In the mourning garments of the Classic of Rites there are four regulations: the sky cannot have two suns, the earth could not have two masters, the country cannot have two rulers, and the family could not have two leaders."

Chen Bochang became more and more energetic as he spoke, and his voice became more and more excited, "It has been so since ancient times, how can it change? Qing law has been set long ago, Xia...Sir Ming, why get so tangled in it? I hope Sir will determine the case as early as possible."

Song Shiren rose with some difficulty and smiled at Xia Qifei's concerned expression. He walked to the front of the court and proudly said, "The so-called family property is only an inherited position and a division of property. I have no objections to what Sir Chen said earlier, except in case of inherited titles and that of dividing the property. The old Ming master had the position of a count, back before, and now it has been inherited by Ming Qingda. Sir Ming Qingchen does not doubt this matter. While inheriting positions only take into account the seniority of heirs, there are other rules for dividing property."

Chen Bochang said angrily, "The inherited title is guaranteed by the division of property. It is written clearly. The right of the division of property is naturally ready to come at the call."

Inheriting a title and division of property were the two most important parts of an inheritance. Song Shiren smiled coldly and said, "The division of property is the foundation of inheriting a title. You talked of Qing law earlier. I will also talk about Qing law.

He slapped the golden fan into his hand and said in a high voice, "Article 34 of Qing law: housekeeping is united under the respected elder, family finances were public property! My client has no objections to the housekeeping, but these family finances are public property, so naturally need to be finely divided. As for how to divide it, since we have the will of the old Ming master, of course, we must follow the wishes of the deceased honored sir!"

Chen Bochang was angry. What kind of logic forcefully pulled apart the inheritance of titles and the division of property to be discussed like this?

" Qing law says: if living together and the elder does not evenly share out the family finances, this crime is decided by a combination of status, age, and private use of family finances. Every 20th string of cash is 20 strikes!" Song Shiren looked coldly at Ming Lanshi and said each word clearly. "My client was chased out of the house in his youth. Does this count as purposely uneven distribution? If it is 20 strikes for every 20 strings of cash…is the Ming family limited to 200,000 strings of cash? I want to see just how many buttocks the Ming family has to be beaten!"

Ming Lanshi rose in great anger.

Song Shiren turned in another direction. He smiled and bowed to the Zhizhou on the bench and said, "These are the laws of the Qing. The Ministry of Justice has records of using status, age, and private use of family finances to judge cases. Sir has also studied the law once and should know that I speak the truth."

Without waiting for the Ming family to reply, Song Shiren said proudly again, "Speaking of the law, I have another one. In Qing marriage laws, it clearly says if living together and the property is not evenly divided, it should be counted as three levels below corruption! What crime is this? This the heavy crime of theft."

Chen Bochang narrowed his eyes and felt great admiration for this litigation master from Jingdou. It was clearly a family property case, yet he had forcefully cut it into the two sides of inheriting a title and dividing property, and then he jumped around this crevasse like a monkey, coming closer with each step. Although he stood firmly with the Qing law and scriptures, he didn't expect him to be so familiar with the tiny details from laws long ago.

The laws that Song Shiren mentioned earlier were all things the court had forgotten when fixing the law. It had probably long disappeared into a shadowy corner of the book depository that even mice disdained to visit. Yet, at this moment, it had been carefully found by the other party and used grandly in court—this litigation master was indeed incredible!

Song Shiren's expression was calm, but his eyes were growing bloodshot. Fighting the case to this degree was already at the limits of his ability. The inheritance of the title and division of property was indeed very complicated. He began to have a gradually growing feeling of confidence. Even if that will had no effect, in the end, he could still try to reach the effect of "all receiving an equal share."

One-seventh of the Ming family was not a small sum.

Although he could not satisfy Fan Xian's wild dreams, since the imperial envoy had honored him so, he had to fight this case as beautifully as possible and add the most beautiful stroke to the profession of litigation master.

Participation in a fight at a level such as the Ming family property was, for a litigation master, already the highest level. Matters that were bigger, such as the inheritance in the Palace, what authority did a mere litigation master have to speak on it? Furthermore, if the court had not split into two sides and accidentally met in a trial of strength, the Ming family property case would never have gone to court. It would have been impossible to file the case. Song Shiren would never have had the opportunity to participate.

So, although he was very tired, his spirit was abnormally excited. Opportunities like this were too rare; he had to make the most of it.

If Song Shiren knew that this case he was fighting in Jiangnan would stimulate someone's sensitive nerves and facilitate cooperation with someone else, and thus cause the situation in which Fan Xian's and those people's confliction views were confronted earlier…even if he were given the stimulation of leaving his name in history multiple times, he would still only be so scared as to conceal his identity and escape.

Song Shiren did not pay attention to that problem: the so-called family property, everyone wanted to fight for it. Not only the Ming family but also the Emperor's.

[JW1]"十大武功"– 10 martial skills

"十全老人"– perfect elder

十全– perfect.

This part is a play on the word 十, which means 10.

[JW2] To flatter, mentioned in the previous sentence, is also "to slap the horse's hindquarters." This is a joke about tasteful flattering that didn't "smell."

Chapter 375: The Night Of The Building Opening And Murder

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

Just as Fan Xian often said, no matter what happens, life will always continue.

When time slowly crept into the fourth month of the sixth year of the Qing calendar, there was not much change in Jiangnan compared to previous years. The Ming family property case, which had caused such a momentary sensation, was still ongoing. After the palace treasury opening, the various royal merchants began the work of collecting the goods and selling. The officials were still secretly collecting silver, and the people of Suzhou were still discussing matters of country, home, and love.

There were some small changes. Since the Ming family property case had gone on for too long, both sides had repeated this for too long, and it gradually lost its original feeling of freshness and excitement. Every day, the crowds that stood outside the Suzhou government to watch became fewer and fewer. The Suzhou Zhizhou and two litigation masters could not hold out much longer in this marathon-like torment. The daily opening of the court became once every three days and now, the court had not opened for six days.

Song Shiren and Chen Bochang, with the help of their respective powers, were still buried in piles of ancient paper and moldy Qing laws in search of evidence beneficial to themselves. However, the focus of the Ming family and Xia Qifei had already moved on from the case.

The Ming family knew they couldn't allow the imperial envoy to put all their attention on the family property trial anymore. They forcefully strengthened their spirits and began to manage the palace treasury business that was certain to be a cost this year. They only hoped they could limit the loss.

Xia Qifei also needed to start learning how to run a business. With his swift change, he had become the biggest royal merchant in Jiangnan, besides the Ming family. The route to the North that had been used by the Cui family had already mostly been taken by him. He had to create a new path through the various provincial security measures to connect with the merchants in the North. Although he had Fan Xian behind him to help, it was still a complex job.

The day before he left Suzhou, Xia Qifei, with the identity as the Seventh young master of the Ming family, invited the giant Jiangnan merchants still in Suzhou for a meal. That night, it was a gathering of powerful figures, and there was an endless stream of carriages. The merchants coming and going were imposing in their wealth and noble air. They frankly stole 70 percent of the noble air in Suzhou.

All of this noble air gathered at the place Xia Qifei invited his guests—the Suzhou branch of the Baoyue Brothel.

Although delayed by many days, the Suzhou branch of the Baoyue Brothel finally opened for business. The building had originally been the Ming family's Zhuyuan Restaurant, which was in the liveliest area in Suzhou. Shi Chanli had taken the 50,000 liang silver and cleaned up everywhere. All levels of the government had given Fan Xian plenty of face and waved their hands to allow them to go ahead. Once the renovations were done, it was supposed to open for business at once. However, because some issues arose, it was delayed.

An issue had been that the Baoyue Brothel did not have a presentable girl to headline. In this world, everything needed the effect of a brand. Although Shi Chanli had bought some prostitutes from the bosses in the romance industry, he had not found someone whose name rang through Jiangnan as the lead role.

Without a lead role to support the endeavour, Baoyue Brothel, which wanted to make a bang in Jiangnan, definitely did not dare to open like this. So they had delayed until Sang Wen reached Jiangnan. Using her jianghu position in the profession, they managed to attract a few jianghu master musicians. Shi Qing'er of Jingdou's Baoyue Brothel taxed herself in body and mind to invite a recently emerged performing prostitute from the Liujing River as well as a West Lake beauty that the Great Prince had taken from the West Lake. She sent these two girls to Suzhou two match with those famous musicians. Only then did Shi Chanli have the confidence to officially open for business.

Tonight, Xia Qifei laid out a feast for the giant merchants of Jiangnan on the second floor. The red lanterns were strung higher, and the music was gentle. Coincidentally, it gave the opening of the Baoyue Brothel a beautiful start.

They didn't widely invite guests for the first day of the opening, since they only invited the richest people in Jiangnan to come. Once this reputation got out, those young masters who thought of themselves as romantics would soon all come leaping to them like dogs with their tongues out.

The newest performing prostitute to emerge in the Liujing River in Jingdou was Liang Diandian, who was no more than 16 years old. She had a natural romantic air. Between her still childlike brows floated soul-stealing charm, but there was also a hidden thread of coldness. The moment she began her career, she stole the attention of tens and thousands in the field of love. She was said to be—after Yuan Men and Si Lili, who had become a legend of the brothels—the one with the most potential and steadiest of girls in a lead role.

However, Liang Diandian hadn't even had time to show herself off in Jingdou when she was bought. Unwillingly on her side, the Baoyue Brothel forcefully sent her to Suzhou. She couldn't help but feel unhappy in her heart, but knowing the background of the Baoyue Brothel, she couldn't really fight it. After she arrived in Suzhou, the first thing she did was sign a contract, a novel idea for her, with Sang Wen. What surprised her was that the contract seemed to benefit her…how could there be such a brothel owner in the world?

The other beauty from West Lake was different to the women born in the middle plains. Her eyes were slightly sunken without any sense of it bulging. Rather, it was the intense outline that deepened the allure of her face. Her slightly dark skin did not appear to be rough, rather, it had the mysterious beauty of a black pearl. Furthermore, this West Lake beauty's figure was very full, rounded in the front and perky at the back. It made the mouths of the Qing Kingdom peoples, who were used to the light flavor of the local women, go dry.

However, this West Lake beauty's origins were even more…strange than that of Liang Diandian. This West Lake beauty, Ma Suosuo, was a princess of one of the West Lake tribes.

When the Great Prince led the army on an expedition to the West and completely defeated West Lake, no one knew how many tribes he conquered. The chief of the second biggest tribe, to show his sincerity in surrendering, presented his precious daughter to the Great Prince, with some intention of marriage. Unexpectedly, the Great Prince was a rough bloke and considered his enemy's daughter like a female slave. After marrying the Great Princess of Northern Qi, it became even more inconvenient to have the West Lake beauty stay in his manor. Once he heard that Fan Xian was missing a lead role in his opening of a Jiangnan brothel, he urgently sent her to Baoyue Tower and then Suzhou.

As these two girls were traveling from Jingdou to Suzhou, before the opening of Baoyue Brothel, the Eight Bureau had helped Fan Xian advertise sufficiently. Although the Eighth Bureau did not have many ways to use this against the Jiangnan Ming family, making these two ladies into peerless beauties that could only be found in heaven and certainly not on earth was an easy task. Shi Chanli coordinated with the rumors and guesses that circulated around the marketplace. He cleverly had the two girls make a trip to Suzhou in a carriage.

The trip was for nothing but reputation and to let those lascivious people of Jiangnan catch a glimpse of their beauty from afar. Along the way, there were countless lechers following the carriage. All around the carriage, the green plans were flattened by countless pairs of male feet and horseshoes. The so-called trip was more like flattening the land.

Thus, everyone in Jiangnan knew what kind of girls the Baoyu Brothel now had, and their appetites had been whetted.

…

…

At the opening, the two headlining girls did not come out to greet the guests. Even guests with identities such as the masters of the Quanzhou Sun family and Lingnan Xiong family did not have the privilege to have them come out and sit with them for a while.

The two were sitting obediently and quietly in a room, at the sides of a young man. They gently raised bowls and cups, feeding the young man food and alcohol. In front of him, no matter how much resentment was in these two girls' hearts, they would not dare show it at all. They didn't even dare to use the tricks they were most proficient at to bewitch men.

Their existence in this world depended solely on their appearances and their ability to meticulously guess other's thoughts. Fight now, the young man sitting peacefully and quietly between them had a delicate appearance. As for his thoughts…everyone knew that Sir Fan junior had a crystal heart. There was nothing in this world that he did not know, and there was not one person he couldn't see through.

Fan Xian shook his head, indicating to the two girls beside him they didn't need to serve him anymore. To say that the two beautiful girls beside him, whose charms were gradually becoming known in Jiangnan, did not cause him, a normal man, to have any thoughts or think about being the first to experience them, was definitely a lie. However, his mind was indeed not on matters of this kind.

He looked at Liang Diandian and sighed, wondering how could this 16-year-old girl be so alluring? Her watery eyes seemed to be able to talk. This made him think of another question that had plagued him for a long time—how old exactly was Duoduo?

Seeing the action in Liang Diandian's eyes, Fan Xian knew the girl was just being a professional and currying favor from him as a means of support. However, turning his head back to see that West Lake beauty, Fan Xian's heart began to cry out bitterly.

The slave was once a West Lake princess, and now she was helplessly stuck on this road. Ma Suosuo had probably already accepted her fate. In this world, women were nothing more than goods in the hands of men to be casually sold and bought. She had been sent by the Great Prince to Jiangnan, so Baoyue Brothel did not seem that scary. Shopkeeper Sang and owner Shi were also not cruel. Sir Fan in front of her was also very pretty. It seemed much better than being left in the manor doing hard labor and being watched coldly by the prince's wife.

Fan Xian sighed sorrowfully at Sang Wen sitting opposite him."What is this? Isn't this the Great Prince being a bully?"

Sang Wen was startled, then opened her slightly wide mouth and chuckled. "Suosuo is naturally very beautiful. Only, you haven't met many of the Hu people, so you are not used to it right now. The Great Prince is not purposely deceiving you."

Fan Xian huffed. In his previous life, he had seen countless western beauties and was once an avid fan of Adjani. Of course, he was able to see what was attractive about this West Lake beauty…however, the Great Prince was someone who feared neither the heavens nor mother earth, yet he was scared enough to send this girl to Suzhou. It was clear that months after the Great Princess of Northern Qi married into the distant South Kingdom that she had finally changed herself into a lioness of Hedong. The Great Prince had sent Ma Suosuo to Suzhou because he wanted to protect Ma Sousou's life. Since it was so, it meant that although the Great Prince had no romantic interests in this West Lake beauty, he did have a thread of pity.

Under these circumstances, did Fan Xian really dare to let Ma Sousou go and greet guests? He probably had to look after her carefully in case the Great Prince suddenly became interested. What if thinking of the girl in his drunkenness and waking up to the sound of horns in an army camp, he then came to ask him for her. What would he do then?

"You're really not going to let them go out to see guests?" Shi Chanli walked in. He had probably had something to drink with the merchants. His face was slightly red, and his words were slightly unsteady. Se stared directly at Fan Xian.

Fan Xian furrowed his brows and thought for a bit. He turned to glance at Liang Diandian's thoughtful expression and knew that if he really did look after Ma Sousou, he would have to compensate Liang Diandian a bit. After steadying himself he said, "At the moment we are just making our name. There is no rush to have them go out and see guests."

He smiled slightly and said, "Just occasionally, you two should go out and play a piece and dance a little or something."

Liang Diandian was slightly startled and bowed down at the same time as Ma Sousou. Ma Sousou was not yet familiar with the way the officials spoke, but gratefulness for Fan Xian still shone out from her eyes.

"Wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as stolen, stolen is not as good as not able to be stolen, not able to be stolen is not as good as have people able to see it every day and feel their hearts itch but not be able to touch[JW1] …have the Jiangnan men endure for a few days and learn what it is like to distantly see but not closely touch."

He finally said to Sang Wen and Shi Chanli, "Men are a very base kind of animal. If you can understand this point, this business will be easy to run."

Hearing these words, Shi Chanli was a bit embarrassed and not happy. Sang Wen, on the other hand, covered her mouth and smiled.

"Take the two of them out to meet Xiong Bailing and his old friends. With these merchants bragging, our reputation will be even better."

Fan Xian closed his eyes and waved his hand.

Liang Diandian took Ma Sousou's hand and rose to bow sincerely to Fan Xian, and then was led out by Sang Wen.

Fan Xian had Shi Chanli come closer. He then said in a low voice, "Keep an eye on Ma Suosuo and casually put the word out to let them all know that she is the Great Prince's…woman."

Shi Chanli was surprised. "What if it gets back to Jingdou?"

"I want to let others know that my relationship with the Great Prince is good." Fan Xian licked his dry lips and took a drink from a light alcohol. He smiled and said, "At this moment, everyone is showing their hands…most importantly, why should we wipe the butt of their family business?"

He huffed through his nose and said, "I came with the Great Princess all the way south, of course I know she isn't a kind one. The Great Prince is certainly very relaxed and also knew that in this world only I…the Great Princess would give some face too. Since I have to put in the effort, of course, sacrifices had to be made."

Fan Xian's anger was pure as he thought, I am worked to death in Jiangnan while you brother princes are in Jingdou taking care of family matters. He felt the injustice in his heart.

…

…

The Suzhou branch of the Baoyue Brothel was not only used for simple matters like laundering money and earning money. It was purely Fan Xian's own business, and it shouldered the heavy responsibility of becoming his second intelligence system. Deep in his heart, he could never fully trust the Overwatch Council. Whether or not he could have the Overwatch Council was, in the current situation, still dependent on the word of the Emperor.

When it was being renovated, the brass pipes had already been laid down like in the old building in Jingdou. The people his father had sent to be responsible for collecting the intelligence reports were hidden from the related officials and already stationed in the building before the girls came in.

The people in the building had become drunk, and their voices grew gradually louder, yet the room Fan Xian was in was strangely silent.

He rose and went to the toilet behind the bed to empty himself, then he adjusted his internal breath. He took off the common clothing he wore and took out what he had long ago labeled as "work clothes" from the cabinet. After trying it on, he found it still fit well. It looked like this half a year of noble living had not caused his figure to rapidly go out of shape.

He strangely sat down again. After confirming that he was beginning to get used to the feeling he had taken half a year hiatus from, Fan Xian finally pushed open the window in the room. His fingers dug strongly into the outside wall in the dark of night, and he slid like a gecko into the darkness below.

After the zhenyi in his body had exploded and caused massive damage, he began to be careful about this use of zhenqi. Without being in the necessary circumstances, he stopped trying to push the zhenqi to his palms and pulling it back. This kind of trick took up too much attention and zhenqi.

Both his feet landed on the ground, and he made a few turns in the complicated corridors before finding the back door of the Baoyue Brothel. He pushed opened the door and walked out. He saw the carriage that had long been waiting for him in the alley.

Deng Zi Yue sat in the driver's position with a straw hat on his head hiding much of his face.

Gao Da sat in the carriage. He lifted a corner of the curtain and peered out alertly.

Fan Xian flashed into the carriage and gently said one word, "Go."

…

…

"Sir, how is your injury?" Gao Da did not fear Fan Xian's cold gaze. His highest command was to protect Fan Xian's safety. Before he received confirmed information, he did not dare let Fan Xian go into danger.

Concerning Fan Xian's strange injury, the people under heaven could not agree on one explanation, but most believed he had recovered long ago. There were only a few people who knew the truth. Eunuch Hong was one of them, except the Emperor had Fan Xian very coldly maintained his silence. And those like Gao Da, although he had originally been fooled by Fan Xian, he had been constantly beside Fan Xian these few months and realized that the commissioner's zhenqi situation was completely different than when they were in Northern Qi.

Even with Haitang giving him the Heart of Tianyi Dao, only Fan Xian knew to what degree his injury had recovered. No else knew, including Haitang.

He lowered his head and said in a quiet voice, "I'm fine." Then he quickly added, "Have you confirmed her location?"

Outside of the carriage, Deng Zi Yue nodded. "After she escaped from Jingdou, she had stayed in Suzhou the entire time. The Council had not expected for her to be so daring. We had also not expected the Jiangnan officials to offer her protection in secret…so it was not until a few days ago that we confirmed it."

A sliver of a cold smile rose to the corner of Fan Xian's lips. "With the Ming family hiding her, of course, the Jiangnan officials had to give some face…it looks like the Jiangnan officials still do not attach much importance to me."

After all, Gao Da was the Emperor's Tiger Guard. Hearing these words, he furrowed his brow slightly and said, "Young master, shouldn't we inform the local government to apprehend her…after all, the Ministry of Justice's cases are never managed by the Council."

Since Fan Xian dare to bring him tonight, he was not afraid of him reporting anything to the Palace. He shook his head and said, "If we inform the local government we might let her get away again. After all, she is one of the Second Prince's and Hong Cheng's person. The Ministry of Justice's wanted posters have no affect on her. It is not easy to catch her openly."

"Should have brought more people," Gao Da furrowed his brows and said. "Since she is running away under orders, she must have aces with her. It will not be easy to catch her alive."

"We are not catching her alive, we are just killing her." Fan Xian leaned against the back of the chair and closed his eyes to restl. "I don't need her to defeat the Ming family, I only need to use her to pressure the Ming family. Today is the opening of the Baoyue Brothel. No one should be expecting us to make a move against her, and they will be expecting even less that…I will personally act."

Gao Da began to speak and then stopped. He began to understand Fan Xian's thoughts, but he had no way of stopping him. The purpose of Fan Xian's actions were actually very simple. Since on the path to defeating the Ming family, the Jiangnan Road officials were secretly standing against him and dared to act to protect the Ming family, then he would use tonight's incident to shock those Jiangnan Road officials.

For those officials, there was no more apparent show of the Overwatch Council's power than fresh blood and death.

The carriage sank into a deathly silence. The only sound to be heard was the wheels below rolling over the stones.

…

…

The carriage drove to the outside of one of Suzhou's quiet alleys and stopped. It was still a long way away from that manor.

Fan Xian touched the dagger in his boot and then gently pressed the soft sword at his waist. He had borrowed the sword from Haitang. After he had carefully checked his equipment, he opened his mouth and said in a low voice, "Gao Da, you are responsible for the outside perimeter. Don't leave anyone alive. Don't let anyone slip away."

Gao Da made a noise of acknowledgment.

"Zi Yue is the person that was sent to the governor's manor?" Fan Xian asked.

Deng Zi Yue nodded.

"Wait here for us. Be careful."

Fan Xian flashed out of the carriage like a black mudfish and quickly disappeared into the darkness below the high wall.

Tonight, there came three people. Given Fan Xian's identity, he shouldn't go alone into danger, however, today's matter had to be done secretly. A more important reason was that Fan Xian had, in the depths of his heart, always had the impulse to brave such dangers. Furthermore, he had to go through a mission to recover his confidence in his martial abilities. He needed to test what level he was at with the sword he had been practicing with in secret for the past few days.

Gao Da counted and estimated it was about time. He rewrapped the hemp rope on the hilt of the long knife and walked out of the carriage. Like a demon, he walked steadily toward the back of that manor.

Who knew how many aces were hiding in the manor in the darkness, yet they were only two people. Probably only Fan Xian and Gao Da would have this kind of confidence.

Gao Da stood silently below the back wall of the manor. His entire body seemed to have become one with the stone wall; there was little difference between them. The zhenqi in his body gradually began to circulate, and he could hear every sound inside the wall clearly.

From inside the garden came the occasional gentle noise. It was like the sound of the commissioner's favorite sharp-tipped goose feather brush slicing through paper. Without paying close attention, no would be able to notice this sound.

Gao Da knew one person had already died by Fan Xian's hands.

There was another muffled sound. It was like the sound of a sesame cake that had just been taken out of the oven and suddenly lost its air.

Gao Da's brows furrowed slightly. Had the commissioner used his palm to split open someone's head?

…

…

Fan Xian was like a specter in the dark night, moving steadily and silently through the garden. A number of bodies lay behind him. The wounds on the bodies were not obvious, and there was not a lot of blood, but they were certainly dead.

In the rooms beside him, the doors were wide open. Before the soundly slumbering people had risen, they had already been killed by him in their beds.

The servants and serving girls were also lying motionless in a room, but there were no wounds on their body. It looked like only a sleeping gas was used. Until now, no one in the garden had discovered that a killer was close to them.

Just like what Chen Pingping had once taught him, no one was able to forever defend against an assassin at the level of great grandmaster. Someone like Fan Xian, whose power was above the ninth-level and had studied the dark skills of an assassin from his youth, there were few places in the world that could defend against him.

As Fan Xian silently walked toward the back garden, he also kept an alert gaze on the high walls on either side. The Overwatch Council's intelligence report had been sufficiently detailed and had investigated the strength of this garden's defenses clearly, so there was no one hiding in the dark that could escape his cold and eagle-sharp eyes.

He walked passed a tree.

A person flashed behind the tree, and a knife chopped down silently.

Fan Xian's eyes faced the front, and his expression didn't move. His right hand was already on his waist. He drew out the sword with a soft hiss. His wrist shook out, his left foot took one step back, and the heel of his right foot turned slightly. His entire body leaned a clever angle to the left, and the sword in his hand followed his arm like an arrow from a bowstring and craftily pierced out.

With a snap, the throat of the attacker silently began to spray blood as he fell.

Fan Xian withdrew the sword. Even at this moment, he didn't pay attention to his front or back.

A door to a side room on the stone stairs opened. A person discovered Fan Xian's existence and rushed forward in a panic.

Fan Xian held his arm out evenly with his sword across his chest. It was as strange as committing suicide, yet it blocked all the openings in front of his body.

In the next moment, his feet had taken three rapid steps. The sword that looked like an invincible defense was filled, in a flash, with a ruthless intention to kill.

This strike went out, and all of Fan Xian's attention seemed to before him. All of his mind was focused on this one strike. With such power, who could block it?

Fresh blood sprayed out, and a head landed on the ground.

Fan Xian's expression remained calm as he took two light steps toward the right. His zhenqi flowed out through his lower back and back in from his shoulder blade. Like a spring, he flicked out with this right arm. It flicked back like the hard willow branches in Suzhou during the spring when they were pulled down heavily.

It was a flick filled with such poetic grace. His right hand was holding the sword like the last stroke of a great artist's paintbrush, and it gently dipped down.

Coincidentally, it landed on another person's throat. He had killed another person.

Fan Xian struck out three times and killed three people, what…kind of sword technique was this?

…

…

If Gao Da was in the garden at this moment, he would have gasped out loud. If Haitang saw this scene, she would understand why Fan Xian was always hiding from her these days when practicing. If Yun Zhilan, who was playing hide-and-kill with the Shadow in Jiangnan right now, saw these three strikes, he would be stunned and wonder, when did teacher accept such a young disciple?

Sigu sword.

Sigu Jian's Sigu sword.

Focusing on the front and not the back. Focusing on the left and not the right. That Sigu sword.

Having killed all of the attackers who had woken up, Fan Xian shook the edge of his sword with satisfaction and was pleased with the results of tonight's test. The Shadow assassin pierced him once and almost killed him. The compensation he finally sought from him seemed to have sufficiently made up for the injury.

Not everyone was as lucky as Fan Xian to be able to learn the true essence of the Sigu sword. The key to it was not in the strength of the sword and not in the tricks, rather it was in the footwork. Only with footwork could it concentrate one person's power into the metal sword.

Fan Xian faintly felt that footwork was not actually the most important part.

What was important was a focus on the front and not the back, a focus on the left and not the right ruthlessness. Each strike had to use all of your strength with the intention to kill at the front. It could not be stopped by spirits or blocked by the heaven. The so-called Sigu actually had no cares[JW2].

Thinking of this, Fan Xian silently shook his head. The strike the white-clothed Shadow had sent out at the Hanging Temple almost hid the brilliance of the sun. If the person in front of the sword at the time had not been him, perhaps the Shadow would have mercilessly pierced him beneath the sword.

…

…

A cold sword graced the courtyard. Everyone who could die died under this sword. Only two people escaped through the back wall, but Fan Xian did not acknowledge them. He only carried his long sword and quietly walked toward the silent bedroom.

The sound of two slashes came from outside the back wall. Gao Da drew back his knife and looked at the flesh beside him that had been chopped into four pieces. He shook his head.

The bedroom door was pushed open by Fan Xian. He saw the girl who had just awoken. She only had time to light the candle and did not have time to put on her clothes. He smiled slightly and said, "Master Yuan, long time no see."

Yuan Meng, who had been listed as wanted by the Ministry of Justice everywhere under heaven and had hidden in Suzhou, tightly bit her lower lip. She looked at the handsome youth at the door who was like a god of death. She suddenly hoarsely cried out, "Sir Fan junior…why won't you let me go?"

"Such a childish question…but I am willing to answer you." Fan Xian walked toward her slowly and calmly. "Your hands have been stained with the blood of too many innocent girls. Father has given the order and, as a child, I must be filial."

A few strands of Yuan Meng's black hair floated listlessly near her forehead as she smiled wretchedly. "The Jingdou matter, I had only been acting under orders…as for the matter of the Ministry of Justice hunting me…you should know, that brother of yours and the Third Prince that you are currently teaching, neither are very clean. If you are going to kill me, then go ahead, but don't think to use these righteous words to sicken me."

Fan Xian evenly lifted his long sword and smiled slightly. "Accept your fate. You are a bad person. If I was a good person, perhaps you would still have some chance. Unfortunately, as you know, I am also…a bad person."

Yuan Meng nervously bit down on her lower lip and was enveloped by fear. Suddenly she opened her mouth in a shrill laugh. "Haha! You want to capture me to defeat His Highness? Let me tell you, there's no chance!"

Finishing these words, she shattered her teeth and took poison to commit suicide. Her whole body suddenly tensed and fell onto the red blanket in the middle of the bed with a thump.

Fan Xian shook his head thinking, I was here originally kill you. He swung his arm, and the tip of the sword pierced through her throat.

[JW1]"妻不如妾,妾不如偷,偷不如偷不着,偷不着不如让人天天看的心痒却依然摸不到"

This makes much less sense when translated because there is a lot of play on words going on here.

[JW2]"所谓四顾,其实便是不顾" Sigu sword – translated literally is "four cares sword" so there is wordplay going on here.