445-449

Chapter 445: Old Wheelchair, New Wheelchair

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

Old fox, young fox. Old Wheelchair, new wheelchair.

Chen Garden had concubines, but they didn't dare come near. Laughter gradually rose and then fell again.

With great tacit understanding, the young and old stopped their laughter at the same time and resumed the silence. Fan Xian nudged his wheelchair forward, placing his knee near the old man's knee. This position appeared to be very intimate.

Chen Pingping pointed at him and then gently patted the handle of his own wheelchair, making a hollow echoing sound. He asked, "Have you gotten used to sitting in a wheelchair?"

"There's nothing to get used to. I'm covered with injuries everywhere. I can hardly ride a horse over to see you," Fan Xian said self-mockingly. After a pause he said, "Besides, it's not my first time in a wheelchair. A year or so ago, I was stabbed by someone in the Hanging Temple. Afterward, was I not in a wheelchair for a month? The getting-used-to has already become natural."

Although his words were gentle, there was a sharpness within. Chen Pingping gentled coughed. He knew that the young man in front of him was telling him that he already understood some things.

The Hanging Temple was truly an impossible situation. However, Chen Pingping was a person who stood both inside and outside the situation. He had sent the Shadow to the Temple, however, the wound Fan Xian sustained was an accident, but it truly almost cost him his life.

As for the killing in the valley a few days ago, Fan Xian almost didn't come back again.

The so-called getting-used-to becoming natural was clearly Fan Xian very forcefully telling Chen Pingping that he shouldn't make a habit out of such things and to not always use his life as a joke, for it absolutely not to become a natural matter.

Chen Pingping slightly tilted his head as if he didn't know how to explain. He furrowed his brows, raised his hand, and pointed at Fan Xian's back.

Fan Xian shook his head. "I won't die…however, you know why I am here today, so please let us be more direct."

"You speak first, I'll listen," Chen Pingping said with a smile and smoothed the slight wrinkles on the lamb wool blanket on his knee. He made all the ripple-like wrinkles on the surface gradually disappear.

Looking at the old cripple's slightly lowered head, his deep wrinkles, and slightly yellowing complexion, Fan Xian was silent for a while and then said, "I've been in a wheelchair twice. The first time was because of the assassination at the Hanging Temple, however, I obtained the Emperor's absolute trust so there was some benefit and I can accept it. Why am I in a wheelchair this time? I very much like this feeling of everything being controlled by you. Furthermore, you know me well. I am terrified of death, so I want you to know, in the future, please do not try to do these things. I really will go crazy. I almost went crazy this time."

Fan Xian extended two fingers and stared into Chen Pingping's eyes. Enunciating each word, he said, "It's happened twice already. I hope there will not be a third time."

The cold winter air beneath the stone steps in Chen Garden was quiet for a long time.

"The incident at the Hanging Temple was an accident, you know this," Chen Pingping said faintly. "As for the killing this time in the valley, it really has nothing to do with me…I'm not an idiot. Only a plan that can be controlled is called a plan. At that time, in the valley, even the city-guarding crossbows had been moved out. You could have died at any moment. If you had truly died, even if this incident did bring benefits…you wouldn't be able to enjoy it. That isn't called a plan, that's called being stupid."

Chen Pingping's voice carried a glimmer of ridicule. "Do you think I am a stupid person?"

Fan Xian gazed back into his eyes and said with the same ridiculing tone, "Of course, you aren't stupid. I am just afraid that sometimes you are overly clever and have too much confidence in me."

Chen Pingping's old and dry hands on the lamb wool blanket moved slightly. He immediately smiled slightly and said, "Isn't it good that I have confidence in you? I must be one of the few people in the world who knows your capabilities the best. You've always been good at acting. You've only fought in front of others a number of times after entering the ninth-level. You've only fought once face to face with the Shadow. Everyone knows that you are an ace, but they don't know just how good you are. They particularly don't know the secrets you are hiding…however, I am not the same. I know everything."

"You slipped up, right?" Fan Xian asked darkly. "Old man…that was an ambush! That was in a valley on the outskirts of Jingdou. The other party had over 200 crossbows! That is enough to go to Dongyi to kill Sigu Jian. Were you not afraid at all that I would die?"

"If Sigu Jian was so easy to kill, then matters would be much simpler," Chen Pingping muttered. "I've already said, this incident has nothing to do with me."

"Don't you forget, I am also the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council," Fan Xian said in great anger. "You're not stupid, so then am I stupid? Do you think because I was lying in bed the past two days that I didn't investigate the matters in my own department? If no one in the Council helped to hide the information, how could those city-guarding crossbows be overtly moved to the top of the little mountain in the outskirts of Jingdou? If there was no one in the Council cooperating with those bastards, could they have so easily attacked with such precision?"

Chen Pingping coughed. "Perhaps it is the Jingdou garrison that's had a problem."

Fan Xian stared at him and said, "Could the Jingdou garrison know about the information flow in the Overwatch Council? Even if the military could find out the exact time of my return to Jingdou, then what about the all clear the scouts reported back in the valley? The Black Knights had not left for long. Could the other party have precisely calculated for this?"

Chen Pingping mockingly smiled. "Since the other party wants to kill you…naturally, they are well prepared. If they wanted to kill you without even knowing these details, that is a bit too muddled."

Fan Xian smiled coldly. "Act, keep on acting. Even if you hadn't sent a two-faced crow to help with the ambush in the valley, throughout the process of the incident and even after the end, you can't waylay the suspicion of being permissive…who are you? As the most powerful figure in the Qing court, could you not have caught any wind of such a big plan in Jingdou? Why didn't you think of letting me know by sending me a letter or something? Is it to say…you also feel that every day in the Council, I am stealing power and being an eye-sore in your eye? So you decided to conveniently have me removed to stop feeling irritated…however, don't you forget, you begged me to enter this Council. It has nothing to do with me."

Hearing these words, Chen Pingping finally couldn't resist it anymore. He raised his head and rolled his eyes at him. He furrowed his brows and scolded, "Child, you clearly don't think this way and know that I do not think this way, yet you are determined to speak like this. What are you trying to accomplish?"

"Nothing." Fan Xian directly cut him off. "You tricked me twice and almost made me lose my life twice. You have to give me some justice."

"I said, it has nothing to do with me," Chen Pingping said sinisterly. Not bothering to acknowledge him, Chen Pingping pushed his wheelchair along the bottom of the stone steps, heading toward the garden on the left-hand side.

A dark fire was burning in Fan Xian's heart. How could he let the old cripple just get away? He pushed hard on either side and caught up.

Knowing that the two most powerful people in the Overwatch Council would be carrying out a secretive conversation, Chen Garden had long been suitably prepared. The beauties who were not even afraid of cold that were usually chattering in the garden had been shut in their own rooms and not allowed to come out while all of the servants were hiding from the area. The old servant had only pushed Fan Xian to this area before silently leaving.

Thus, there was only Chen Pingping and Fan Xian, these two poor people sitting in their wheelchairs. Chen Pingping was in front and Fan Xian was behind. The old man was pushing his wheelchair quickly in front, and Fan Xian was furiously chasing from behind. In just a moment, they had made a large circle around the stone steps of the manor. Only, this scene looked very funny.

…

…

To speak honestly, Chen Pingping did not want to face Fan Xian, who was filled with dark anger, so he decided not to talk. Pushing his wheelchair in front, this major figure of Qing Kingdom, who had been sitting in a wheelchair all these years, was much more used to it than Fan Xian. Adding to that fact that Fan Xian had been heavily injured and not yet recovered, after one round around the manor, Fan Xian had long been left many wheelchairs behind.

Fortunately, Chen Pingping couldn't play "evade the wheelchair" in his own home. He stopped beside a pond to the right of the manor. Panting heavily, Fan Xian rolled his wheelchair and caught up, stopping beside him. Turning his head back, he saw that the two of them had circled anti-clockwise around the manor and had almost returned to their starting point. It was rather pointless.

"I am injured," Fan Xian resentfully said. "Even if my questions are difficult to answer, there is no need to be like this."

"They're not difficult to answer," Chen Pingping suddenly sighed and said. "Only, you want justice from me, and I truly don't know how to give it to you."

Fan Xian lowered his head and looked at the ice shards in the pond and the black lotus branches that had frozen to death. He couldn't help but furrow his brows. Blowing hot air into his hands, he rubbed them gently and listened to the elder beside him speak.

"There is no need to investigate matters in the Council; here are no spies," Chen Pingping slowly said. "I admit, I did know a little of the killing this time in the valley and there is indeed someone in the Council helping that side, otherwise, they wouldn't have roughed you up so badly."

"Since you won't let me investigate, I guess that spy was a trick you purposely left open," Fan Xian said heavily. "You know I was very wretched this time, so I don't understand…I was rescuing the Emperor at the Hanging Temple. This time, the Emperor was not in my carriage. Why did I have to pay such a price."

"Do you trust me?" Chen Pingping asked.

Fan Xian thought for a long time then slowly nodded his head.

"Don't ask me right now," Chen Pingping faintly said. "You will understand later."

"I don't understand," Fan Xian calmly said. "However, I don't need to understand. I do need to know who attacked me and who that spy in the Council is."

Chen Pingping gazed quietly at him and said, a moment later, "You have no evidence at hand. You can't defeat the other party."

"But you have the evidence in your hand."

"I also don't have it," Chen Pingping silently said. "Even if I did, I couldn't hand it to the Emperor…first, I don't want the Emperor to disband this department in his anger. Second, it is a bit early to hand in the evidence right now."

These words had too much hidden inside them, enough for Fan Xian to digest for a long time. However, Fan Xian did not pay attention to it. He directly asked about the heart of the matter. "I still want to know who wanted to kill me."

"In Jingdou, other than the people you trust, everyone wants to kill you," Chen Pingping calmly said. "As for who the main culprit was this time, I guess I cannot hide it from you. I only hope you will endure for a while and not ruin the big picture."

Fan Xian was silent.

"It was the Qin family," Chen Pingping faintly said. "However, even if you go hug the Emperor's leg and cry, it will do nothing. You have no evidence. I will not drag out that pawn to be evidence for you. Even if the Emperor suspects the Qin family because of your incidence, for the sake of the military, he would not kill the old Qin Master to vent your anger based on a few things you said."

Fan Xian couldn't help but shake his head.

Chen Pingping glanced at him with curiosity. "You're not surprised at all."

Fan Xian carefully stretched, terrified he might pull on the injury on his back. He smiled slightly and said, "It's still that line. I am also a clever man. Since this time it wasn't you plotting meritorious service for me, then for sure it was to drag someone under. At this moment in the court, the only major power that had not been dragged under was the Qin family. This matter was not difficult to guess."

The Eldest Princess had easily deduced the Qin family's involvement from a different direction. Although Fan Xian direction of approach was different from that of the Eldest Princess, the answers they arrived at were both simple and clear.

Chen Pingping nodded his head approvingly and said, "Now you understand that without evidence, the Emperor would not lightly act against this kind of leading military family. Otherwise, if the military is not stable, how can the court be at peace?"

"It's very likely that even with evidence, the Emperor would not make a move if the timing wasn't right," Fan Xian mocked. "However, I don't understand. Dragging the old Qin family down…I trust you will naturally let the Emperor know of this matter when the time comes…for the whole year last year, with you in Jingdou and myself in Jiangnan, we were both forcefully driving the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Eldest Princess to take desperate actions. Now, before they had done so, you're giving the other party the Qin family, this pawn. You truly have so much confidence in the Emperor?"

Chen Pingping smiled slightly and nodded. "I have always had a great deal of confidence in the Emperor, just like I have in you."

The moment the words left his mouth, the two people in the wheelchairs became silent, just like the many times they had talked before. Both of them were clever people, so there were many things they did not have to say clearly. Each other's attitude was confirmed in those phrases and tones. Just like how Fan Xian guessed his past, just like how each time both sides carefully move closer—it was their true frame of mind becoming closer.

"I am very curious, why are you not curious that I am pulling the Qin family under? Even if I have confidence in the Emperor...however, if there is one less person driven to desperate action, it will always be easier to deal with." Chen Pingping smiled warmly and looked into Fan Xian's eyes.

Fan Xian lowered his head slightly and said, "I suspect it's not some major reason…you just want to use this opportunity to clean out all of my future enemies. The Qin family and I have always had a good relationship, and they haven't participated in the fight for the dragon chair. Thinking about it, the Qin family is connected to the story from many years ago."

"I indeed did not misjudge you," Chen Pingping said approvingly. "To be able to deduce this much, it is enough."

Fan Xian was silent as a faint sorrow welled up in his heart. He had another deduction he had not spoken out loud. The old man in the wheelchair in front of him was very ill and did not have many years left. Of course, the old man knew this, so he must complete everything before his death. That was why he would arrange things like this.

Without just one thought, the impatience in Fan Xian's heart faded a great deal, but he still couldn't resist asking, "If…I had actually died in the valley, then what would you do?"

"How could you die?" Chen Pingping looked at him sternly. "You have to keep living on."

Fan Xian smiled. These words were very like what his father had said the other day.

He smilingly tilted his head and asked, "Why won't I die? You don't know what it was like in the valley…the Qin family's disciples are all very powerful. If they don't act, then it's fine, but once they act, it's like a lightning strike. No matter how good my luck is, it still might not be enough to ensure my survival in that killing."

Chen Pingping was silent for a moment and then said heavily in a sharp voice, "I know the risks of the Qin family's arrangement, but it was indeed very dangerous this time. It was because there were three things I didn't account for."

"I had not thought that Lao Wu's injuries would still not be recovered," Chen Pingping said coldly. "That old muddle-head in the Qin family does not know that you have such a death god beside you. If Lao Wu was beside you, who in this world could harm you?"

Fan Xian nodded. This was the first reason, but it was not enough to explain why Chen Pingping was so unconcerned about his safety.

"The second thing I had not accounted for was," with a glimmer of a strange smile, Chen Pingping looked at Fan Xian, "when truly faced with death, you could still resist not bringing out that chest."

Fan Xian forced a smile and said, "Although I don't know what exactly the chest is you always keep in mind, I don't have it, so where can I steal it from?"

Although he was shocked, his expression and tone still did not give anything away.

…

…

The chest, that black, narrow, and long-shaped chest. Back then, it had come into Jingdou with a woman and a blind servant. In the history of Qing Kingdom, it had only been used once, and that one time transformed heaven and earth.

Other than the mother and son, Ye Qingmei and Fan Xian, and Wu Zhu, no one else had ever seen the true appearance of that chest and no one knew how to use it. However, those old men who knew of the truth of the deaths of the two Qing Kings knew why the chest was so scary. Since they didn't know the specific situation, they developed a strange sense of mystery and fear toward that chest.

It exceeded the existence of this world and always made one's imagination run wild and cause endless fear.

Even Chen Pingping and the Emperor were not exceptions. During Fan Xian's childhood in Danzhou, Fei Jie had once asked Wu Zhu. When Fan Xian entered the capital, he had faced this question more than once.

Thus, Chen Pingping still did not understand. When the attack in the valley had already reached such a dangerous moment, why was Fan Xian…still unwilling to use the chest?

As for Fan Xian saying the chest was not with him, naturally, someone as shrewd as Chen Pingping would certainly not believe such nonsense.

Chapter 446: Three People, Three Thoughts

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

Of course, Chen Pingping did not believe it. As a man from that time, he knew about the chest in the hands of Lady Ye. When she was attacked, she did not use this chest. This meant, at the time, the chest was not in the Taiping Courtyard. After the incident, in Chen Pingping's thorough search of the Courtyard, he still did not find any trace of it.

Naturally, this out-of-the ordinary object could not have casually been lost.

Then, only Wu Zhu knew the location of the chest. With Fan Xian gradually growing up and living in such a dangerous environment as Jingdou, Wu Zhu would certainly have given the chest to Fan Xian to carry around to avoid danger that could come at any time in case he was injured and couldn't be beside him.

This was Chen Pingping's deduction. His deduction was not very far away from the truth.

However, he was wrong on one point. Neither he nor the Emperor had ever personally seen that chest, so they had no idea of its volume and size.

Fan Xian did indeed have the chest. However, it was impossible to hide the chest from others and bring it alongside him. When Fan Xian was attacked in the valley because of his own carelessness, that chest was floating on some body of water.

…

…

Meeting the old cripple's ridiculing gaze, Fan Xian sincerely pushed out his hands and said, "I truly don't know about a chest."

This was a secret he had to keep. Even if this old man in front of him guessed something, he couldn't admit it. Otherwise, if the Emperor knew that the chest was in his hands, as the ruler of a nation, he would not allow a mysterious treasure that could kill aces to stay with his own son.

The Emperor would open his mouth and ask for it. From the very beginning, Fan Xian would not admit to it.

Chen Pingping shook his head and couldn't be bothered to keep asking. He knew the kid had to keep back some kind of treasure to protect himself.

Fan Xian smiled slightly and changed the topic. "Uncle Wu Zhu and that mysterious chest are two of the things you didn't account for. Then what is the third?"

Chen Pingping gazed at him mockingly. "The third matter is very simple. I didn't account for the Council's carriages that clearly could have protected you for a while. Given your and the Shadow's abilities, it would not be a difficult matter to escape into the snowy woods. Even if there were injuries, it wouldn't be like what you have now. You've been in the Council for a while. You know that an ace and an assassin are of two completely different worlds. It is very simple to kill an ace, but it is very difficult to kill an assassin…and other than the council, very few people know you are a ninth-level assassin."

"What I didn't account for was that I didn't think you would be so stupid." Chen Pingping's face was full of slight anger.

Fan Xian smiled coldly and said, "Are you talking about me killing my way into the snowy woods to get rid of those crossbows? Is this stupid? Even if I could escape…but what about my subordinates? Don't forget, in this valley incident, I lost almost 20 subordinates. I haven't called you out as being cold-hearted, yet you are calling me stupid."

"Cold-blooded?" Chen Pingping gazed a Fan Xian with almost a smile. "Did you forget that what the Overwatch Council needs the most is cold-bloodedness? Where did your usual coldness and emotionlessness go?"

Fan Xian clenched his fist slightly and said in a low voice, "Those were my people."

"They were only your subordinates, yet you were unwilling to sacrifice them. If, in the future, you need to sacrifice more important people, what will you do? Your action this time easily destroyed your appearance of coldness and revealed your weakness, that is what is stupid. A strong person is not just strong in body, but also strong in spirit. Emotions such as weakness would only cause you to have a tragic end." Cold light shone out from Chen Pingping's narrowed eyes.

"That isn't a weakness," Fan Xian refuted without hesitation. "That was something I had to do."

"You can't care too much," Chen Pingping yawned and said. "There can't be too many things that you must do. I think that your mother-in-law must be very happy now that she finally knows where your Achilles heel is."

Fan Xian's heart stuttered, and he felt a glimmer of ominousness. Immediately, he furrowed his brow and said, "I only care about the people I care about. No matter how many other people…die in front of me, I won't even bat an eyelash."

"Your mother cared about everyone under heaven," Chen Pingping closed his eyes and said. "In this area, you are cleverer than her, stronger than her, but it is not enough. At most, you will only live a few days longer than her."

Fan Xian clapped his hands and warmly said, "Then there is little point in talking about this matter. In any case, it would be best if all of us could live long lives."

He shook his wheelchair and turned in a flourish. Raising the front of it, he made a half circle around Chen Pingping.

Looking at this scene, Chen Pingping couldn't resist smiling and said, "Is this very fun?"

"It's very fun," Fan Xian said seriously. "You've been in a wheelchair for so many years, yet you don't think of making some games to get rid of the gloom. That means you are a very boring person. Morning to night you're submerged in a dark and blurry world. What meaning is there in living your whole life like this?"

In Fan Xian's opinion, it was best for Chen Pingping to not get involved. In the past years of his life, he should go to some relatively large mountain tops, taking with him his beautiful women and concubines, and have a honeymoon or something. It would be better than giving his entire life to the boring business of politics and plotting.

However, he knew that for Chen Pingping, calculating these things was perhaps not just a job, it was also an enjoyment and an art. So, he didn't say anything.

"After I die," Chen Pingping raised his withered hands and casually waved it around in the air of the garden, "this garden will be given to you. The women in here, you can keep them if you wish. If not, then let them go."

Fan Xian understood. This old man would not, because of the lives of these beauties, do much, however, after interacting for many years, there was probably always a glimmer of attachment. He very naturally nodded his head.

"How should the problem of the Qin family be dealt with?" Fan Xian suddenly opened his mouth and asked. Although Chen Pingping had asked him to look at the big picture and to not reveal his intentions right now, he had to give him something in return.

Chen Pingping shook his head and said, "Everyone wants you to die. The Qin family is not particularly good or particularly bad. If you act now, you will ruin my big picture. Endure, for now, and see how their family clan will entirely perish in the future. This is a very joyful matter in and of itself."

Fan Xian furrowed his brows slightly and a glimmer of impatience appeared on his pretty face. "Endure again?"

"In this area, you have to learn from your father," Chen Pingping said with a not-quite-there smile. "Everyone in this world has died, yet I see your father is still alive…don't say this isn't a skill. To be able to survive, that itself is already the greatest skill."

The tips of Fan Xian's brows suddenly drew together sharply, and he slowly said, "After all, I am a young man. I have to make my attitude clear on this matter. Otherwise, any random person will try to kill me, which would be inconvenient."

Chen Pingping looked at him.

Fan Xian seemed to not feel the old man's cold and severe gaze. He smiled slightly and said, "I'll give you face. I won't touch the Qin family. I'll help you hide it until the moment of the big explosion. However, the other people, I have to kill a few to accompany my subordinates in death."

The lines on Chen Pingping's face became deeper and he sighed. "What do other people have to do with the killing this time in the valley?"

"Didn't you say? Everyone wants me to die?" Fan Xian smiled. "Since it is so, no matter whether or not they had anything to do with this attack, I'll first kill a few to establish my power. I trust that the Emperor would not overly rebuke me."

Chen Pingping shook his head in disapproval. "Yan Xiaoyi was never involved in this matter to start with, why are you forming a deadly feud with him?"

Fan Xian smiled coldly. "What about Yan Xiaoyi's son? Half a year ago, you only said he had a very powerful son. You did not tell me that San Shi was killed by him. You also didn't tell me that this little archer was in the Jingdou garrison."

Chen Pingping was silent. He had not told Fan Xian everything about this to start with. He guessed that Fan Xian had used his own power to find out. There wasn't much for him to say, so he only slowly said, "You want revenge…but you also cannot touch the old Qin family, are you going to kill indiscriminately?"

"The old Qin family has already been pushed by you to the Eldest Princess' side." Fan Xian reminded him rudely. "I'm going to strike at my mother-in-law and have them shoulder some of my anger in the place of the old Qin family. Is there a problem?"

"There isn't a problem," Chen Pingping said in a dark voice, "however, your actions…are not reasonable."

Fan Xian spluttered in laughter and said, "Meeting someone like you who is too reasonable, I can't be bothered to waste my breath. Do you not know, us young people, we're used to being capricious and unreasonable?"

…

…

Jingdou's winter was very cold. Although it was not yet the coldest days of the year, the snow already swallowed up residences and cut off walls. The sky filled with snow that fell occasionally, and all of Jingdou was enveloped in cold air. The red walls of the expansive Royal Palace had become wet from the snow and water. In its wetness, it appeared black.

Just like the change in the red palace walls, the civil and martial officials in court knew the mood of the Qing Emperor was somewhat dark and black.

The news of Fan Xian being attacked by an assassin had long shocked Jingdou. Gradually, everyone knew the details of the incident and guessed that there had to be a capable figure from the military involved in this matter. Every time they thought about how problems had appeared even in the military that was strictly controlled by the Emperor, the civil and martial officials all became silently cautious and did not dare say anything extra.

In the small court conference in the following days, other than state affairs, the topic most discussed was the attack on Fan Xian. The investigation, led by the Overwatch Council and in cooperation with the Supreme Court and the Bureau of Military of Affairs, had long begun. However, the 200 human heads had been drawn and matched, but not a clue could be found. The survivor the Overwatch Council had caught was on his dying breath and was only just hanging onto life. For the moment, there was no way to question him.

Other than the five city-guarding crossbows and clues such as clothing, the investigation into the case of the attack on the imperial envoy did not have any progress.

Although the Emperor's expression was still calm, the officials fortunate enough to participate in the court conference could feel the anger hidden in the Emperor's eyes growing stronger and stronger. However, they didn't know when the fire would spray out and incinerate all of them into ash.

Everyone knew why Sir Fan junior had been appointed as the full authority imperial envoy to Jiangnan and had urgently left the capital.

It was because of the rumor from Northern Qi that had directly exposed that layer of hidden connection between the Emperor and Sir Fan junior. To prevent unrest in the situation in Jingdou and the dignity of the royal family, and more so to allow the Qing court to escape from this awkward secret news, the Emperor covertly banished Sir Fan junior to Jiangnan.

No one expected that once Fan Xian went to Jiangnan, he would do so many things. He governed the palace treasury, organized the bidding, and greatly supported the river works. In just half a year, in the turn of a hand, he had solved the problem of the emptiness of the national treasury that had troubled Qing Kingdom for many years. Taking the opportunity to go home and visit relatives, he also cleaned out the nest of old mice in the Jiaozhou Navy.

The Deputy General of the Jiaozhou Navy, Dang Xiaobo, had long been escorted back to Jingdou. His confession was taken down, and it had become a watertight case. He was set to be beheaded in autumn. The treasury silver in Jiangnan had long been moved back to Jingdou, and the court finally had the confidence to begin major repairs to the river banks as well as to provide disaster relief and reducing taxes. Each of these expenses was a meritorious deed from Fan Xian to the Qing court.

All of the officials were thinking that such a figure, of course, he couldn't stay forever in Jiangnan. He eventually had to come back to the capital. Furthermore, the Emperor was sure that after a year, the news had long faded and the powers in Jingdou would learn to accept this situation. The banished illegitimate child would finally openly take his place in court.

However, no one expected that on Sir Fan junior's journey back to the capital to report on his work, he would be attacked.

This was not just an attack on the imperial envoy or just an attack on a royal child, this matter had touched on the court's bottom line. If the matter this time could not be investigated properly, then it could only mean that the Emperor's control over Qing Kingdom was far from what it used to be.

In a time when the competition for inheritance was gradually rising to the surface, this kind of signal was like a giant whale in the sea bleeding out drops of red blood. It was enough to attract countless sharks to come forth to greedily fight for food.

However, the case continued to be like a ball of fog. It was impossible to see the truth within. If it dragged out for a few more days, the Emperor might, in his anger, disregard the consequences and demonstrate his thunderous anger.

This was the kind of situation the important officials in the court were most afraid of. They worried that because of his love for Fan Xian and his dignity, the Emperor would, without evidence, attack without limit and punish without boundaries and expand this matter to a point that could not be endured by the Qing Kingdom.

"Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"

An old official standing among the civil officials stood out and kneeled in front of the dragon chair, speaking in an anguished voice.

Chapter 447: Person In Picture, Sound Outside Picture

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

"Reconsider what?"

The Qing Emperor raised his somewhat heavy eyelids. Recently, the signs of a snowstorm in the south were gradually appearing. The memorials from each road and province were more in number than the snowflakes floating down. If they weren't stretching out their hands to the court for silver, then they wanted soldiers or repeatedly cried out their hardship and wanted reduced taxes and levies for the coming year.

If they wanted reductions, then they could have it. That person was right, if one depended on the earth for silver, one could dig a meter into the ground and barely scrape up any silver shavings. For things like silver, it was better to depend on selling things. An Zhi had earned so much silver for the court in Jiangnan, naturally, the court was not anxious for the grain money from each region.

Even Xue Qing in Hangzhou had sent an urgent message. Was the snow so heavy this year even in Jiangnan?

The Emperor furrowed his brows. The flood in the autumn of the year before last had drowned countless of his people and destroyed innumerable fields. Using a year of time, the court had, with great difficulty, recovered a little and stored up some strength. They had not expected for a heavy snowfall to suddenly arrive.

This god was truly not giving him, this Emperor, any face.

However, he heard that the Hangzhou Conference in Jiangnan seemed to have expected the disaster in the winter ahead of time and prepared a great deal. After all, a people's organization would provide disaster relief much quicker than the government. Every time this matter was brought up, his mother in the Palace also had an expression of joy between her brows. The old woman was a benevolent person. She hated to see the wretched sights in the public. No matter how it was said, the Hangzhou Conference was started using the money of the noblewomen in the Palace. The women in the Palace all felt that they had done something honorable.

The Emperor couldn't resist smiling. That Chen girl had really taken this to heart. Clearly she had been stifled in the Palace. She had probably been led astray by her husband. She was a proper princess, yet she was taxing herself in such matters.

He suddenly snapped back into attention. Only then did he realize his mind had wandered. However, even though his mind had wandered, the things he was thought about there still…related to that young man. After being slightly startled, he smiled again and asked once more.

"Reconsider what?"

…

…

The person kneeling in the palace was Shu the Scholar from the Hall of Governmental Affairs. This scholar's age was very advanced and had always been respected by the Emperor. Furthermore, he had always been an official in court who spoke frankly before the Emperor. When discussing the investigation of the attempted assassination of the imperial envoy earlier, only this scholar dared stand out and refute the Emperor's suggestion.

Only, the officials all thought that the Emperor must be very angry at this time, so they were all scared. Even Shu the Scholar did not bow as he usually did, rather, he directly knelt down.

He had not expected that the Emperor sitting in the dragon chair had not heard what he said clearly. His mind had wandered.

Earlier, while the Emperor's mind had wandered, there was a glimmer of a smile at the corners of his lips. This was seen by the officials, so they hesitated in their hearts. They wondered what the Emperor was thinking to make him so happy? Perhaps he wasn't as angry in his heart as the officials all thought. Impossible. The officials shook their heads in their hearts. Everyone knew that the Emperor loved his illegitimate child, Fan Xian, the best. So in the hearts of these officials who thought they were so astute, this smudge of a smile had an additional layer of mysteriousness. Everyone's hearts trembled.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider. Although the numbers of those city-guarding crossbows belong to Dingzhou, however…is this clue not too…" Shu Wu thought for a moment, not sure of what word to use, "…too clear? I keep thinking that this is the real culprit purposely framing someone else. Please, reconsider, Your Majesty, and call back your earlier edict."

The Emperor smiled. Only now did he understand what Shu Wu was fearful about. He waved his hand and said, "Rise and speak. At such an age, don't easily learn from others and kneel when remonstrating."

These words appeared to be very warm, however, in the Emperor's warmth, there was self-confidence and stability as if he had not even taken this matter to heart. Earlier, all the officials had been worried about the Emperor's control over the court, but seeing this scene, they couldn't help but be speechless and blame themselves. How could they be so silly? Who was this person sitting in the dragon chair? This was the Qing Kingdom's most valiant ruler since the inception of the country.

"I had Ye Zhong return to the capital. Of course, it is not as simple as reporting on his post." The Emperor smiled and gently stroked the short beard on his chin. "Since the incident of the attempted assassination on the imperial envoy implicates him, of course, he has to explain. The Ye family has guarded the boundaries of the country for generations, and their meritorious deeds are seen all under heaven. I don't have any suspicions, however, this matter will eventually need a resolution and a clear explanation."

Shu Wu wiped at the sweat on his forehead and climbed up from the ground with some difficulty. Assisted by Hu the Scholar, he returned to stand in the ranks. When he first heard the Emperor give out the edict to summon Ye Zhong back to the capital, he had thought that the Emperor, in his rage, was going to directly have Ye Zhong thrown in prison to obtain justice for his illegitimate child. Thus, in his fear, he had stepped out and remonstrated. Now, hearing that this was not the case, he finally felt at ease.

Although he was a civil official, he had been in court for a long time. He understood what an army meant to a country that had been established for less than 100 years, so he was very afraid that the Emperor would wantonly humiliate the military because of the attack in the valley, and thus rock the very foundations of the court.

Shu the Scholar was wholeheartedly thinking for the Qing Kingdom, so he relaxed. In the ears of the other officials, these words of the Emperor had a different meaning. It was enough for them to ponder upon them.

"Why was the Emperor suddenly so gentle toward the Ye family?"

In the past two years, the Emperor had not been kind to the Ye family. So now, at this moment, when the Emperor was suddenly kind, for a moment, a number of officials couldn't quite make that turn in their heads.

However, for the so-called might of the Emperor, in terms of thinking, the officials had to make that turn no matter what. They all laid on the ground and greatly praised the Emperor's wisdom and generosity.

…

…

In reality, the Emperor did not think about that much. He was also not as angry as his officials imagined. As the ruler, he had to maintain a sense of mystery and unshakeable calm to show that he was as steady as a mountain and that all the world was in his hands…besides, Fan Xian did not die.

If Fan Xian had been killed in the valley, for the Qing Emperor, this would be a criminal case. Since Fan Xian was not killed, the criminal case became a political matter.

Whether it was great or muddle-headed politicians, in the handling of political matters, they had a shared specialty: do not rush.

The former was not anxious because they planned in advance, while the latter was not anxious because they had no idea how to approach a thorny matter.

The Emperor was the former. However, he also had an extra identity, so he still couldn't help but feel anger at Fan Xian being attacked by an assassin. As a father, what he most wanted to do was bring Fan Xian into the Palace to see how his injuries were. This time it was not the assassination in the Hanging Temple, so he couldn't find any reason to bring Fan Xian into the Palace.

He later heard reports that Fan Xian only recovered for a while at home before he left the city to visit Chen Garden. Thus, the Emperor knew that Fan Xian's injuries were not overly serious, so he was able to relax.

Even the Emperor of Qing Kingdom, the coldest and most emotionless person under heaven, no matter how much of a bastard [JW1] he was, he was the bastard's father.

…

…

Just as Chen Pingping and Fan Xian had tried to guess and probe with all their might, the Emperor still had a self-confidence that was difficult for people to strive for as well as a great ambition hidden for the past decade beneath his calm appearance.

As for the military's attack this time, the Emperor was very shocked. Furthermore, up until now, he was still unable to fully investigate as to which family had made the move. He only had a faint guess, but he was not very worried.

On the contrary, he very much welcomed someone directly challenging his authority as well as cleverly drawing this situation toward the direction he needed.

Everything in his country had long failed to attract his interest. No matter how stable he made the land of Qing Kingdom through his governance, for the Emperor who wished to leave his name in the history books and whose name was already dripping wet with ink, there was not a trace of meaning.

He was waiting for that day. He waited for the arrival of that day with matchless longing and strongly suppressed excitement.

"Reporting to Your Majesty," eunuch knelt outside the threshold to the royal study and respectfully spoke to the son of heaven wrapped in a big jacket sitting on the low couch. "We've confirmed with the department, the days before Sir Fan junior returned to the capital, it was quiet in the various manors."

"Hmm." The Emperor nodded to indicate he knew now. "Has there been a reply from Cangzhou?"

The eunuch's bottom stuck up higher. He said, in a soft voice, "Governor Yan left camp to return to the capital. There were no strange situations on the way back."

The Emperor waved his hand and had the head eunuch leave. The head eunuch did not say anything more. However, his hands on the ground shook slightly. He thought to himself, There was still news from Dingzhou he had not reported. Why did the Emperor not ask? Was he already sure that it was…or perhaps he was going to blame it on the Ye family?

"What do you think?" The Emperor casually picked up a book from beside his couch and flipped through it.

The gradually aging Eunuch Hong slowly walked out and bowed beside the Emperor. He slowly said, "What opinions could I, an old servant, have?"

The Emperor smiled and said, "Everyone always has their own opinion."

Eunuch Hong coughed gently and was silent for a moment. "I think this attack on Sir Fan junior in the valley is truly very strange. It seems like it was arranged by someone…However, I just cannot understand. For someone who had the power to organize such a situation, why would they harm Sir Fan junior?"

The Emperor threw the book in his hand to the side and said, after a moment of silence, "Don't speak of this anymore."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch Hong bowed. A moment later, in a quiet voice, he said, "The empress dowager invites Your Majesty to have a sit in Hanguang Palace in a bit."

The Emperor smiled warmly. "Is there a need for you to say this?'

Eunuch Hong hesitated for a moment and then said, "News from outside the Palace has entered the empress dowager's ears. She seems to be gloomy."

The Emperor furrowed his brows and asked, "What news?"

"A litigation master called Song Shiren has not shut up since returning to the capital. He is still discussing that Jiangnan Ming family case." Eunuch Hong looked carefully at the Emperor's expression. "The empress dowager does not like it."

The Emperor's expression was slightly icy. His fingers tapped unconsciously against the wooden table. Song Shiren was the person who had helped Fan Xian file a lawsuit in Jiangnan and had debated in the Suzhou government for three months. He had been talking about the issue concerning the natural right of inheritance for the heir. This litigation master had some fame in the capital and was probably a clever man, so how could he still be proclaiming this matter without restraint after returning to the capital?

After some thought, the Emperor immediately understood. It would have been arranged by someone, and the empress dowager must know this in her heart, which was why she was slightly unhappy. After all, she still loved the Crown Prince, that grandson of hers.

"Have that litigation master shut up." Pausing for a bit, the Emperor said coldly, "But…don't have the person disappear. He is Fan Xian's man, so I have to give the kid some face."

Eunuch Hong was silent and quietly made a sound of acknowledgement, but he did not immediately leave.

"What other matter is there?"

Eunuch Hong's dry appearance did not change. In a quiet voice, he said, "The Palace has heard…Sir Fan junior received a nice sword while in Jiangnan. It was sent by that Overwatch Council member stationed in Northern Qi, Wang Qinian."

The Emperor couldn't stop the soft flesh below his left eye from twitching. He forcefully suppressed the glimmer of loathing in his heart and evenly said, "I know now."

…

…

Walking along the Palace walls that had turned black from moisture and passing through the cold resistant golden line willows, the lake in the Palace had already frozen over and the autumn grass did not have the honor to continue on after the snow. It had long been cleaned out by the eunuchs who did odd jobs.

All along the way was unchecked growth hidden beneath to neatness.

In the lead, the Emperor walked around the expansive Palace with his hands behind his back. Around him, no one dared come near. To the rear, Eunuch Yao led a group of younger eunuchs holding coats, flasks, and hand warmers. They walked with small, quick steps.

They hadn't walked for long before they came to the front of a quiet little courtyard. In the courtyard, there was a building, a small building.

It was the little building that the Emperor and Fan Xian first had a heart to heart.

The Emperor pushed open the door and entered. Casually, he wiped away the snow falling down from the top of the door and headed straight for the second floor.

Eunuch Yao took the items from the hands of the younger eunuchs. After warning them repeatedly, he also entered the little courtyard. However, he didn't go upstairs. He could only wait quietly below and begin boiling water and preparing the tea.

The Emperor stood in the side room on the second floor. His eyes gazed at the painting on the wall. He looked at the yellow-clothed woman in the picture who was looking at the river bank. He didn't speak for a long time.

Although his eyes were watching her, his heart was thinking about something else.

Sword? Naturally, it was that sword that Wang Qinian had spent vast amounts of gold to buy in Northern Qi to give to An Zhi to honor him, the sword of Emperor of the Wei Kingdom. Litigation master? The Emperor smiled coldly. Although An Zhi was now suffering heavy injuries from the attack, those people would still not quiet down. His mother's attitude toward An Zhi was still peaceful. There was no need to ask to know that. These events were incited by his good sister and the empress.

Half a year ago, when Li Yunrui arranged for people to come into the Palace to read "A Dream of Red Mansions"[JW2] to the empress dowager, the Emperor already knew what his younger sister was preparing for.

The litigation master and the sword…naturally, it was to make his mother angry. There were many rules among the royal family. For an official to secretly have the sword of the Emperor of the Wei Kingdom, it was indeed unacceptable.

However, An Zhi was still injured yet people still couldn't resist doing something. This, on the contrary, made the Emperor faintly angry.

After a long time, a sigh broke the silence in the little building. The Emperor slowly turned and sat down in front of that painting. His left hand gently stroked an item on the table.

Below the long and steady hand was a sword. It was the sword that Wang Qinian had paid a great sum for and had delivered to Jiangnan, the sword of the Emperor of the Wei Kingdom.

…

…

A slight smile rose at the corners of the Emperor's lips. It could be assumed that those people didn't know that the second day after Fan Xian woke, he had someone deliver this sword into the Palace and into his hands. Furthermore, it also had a secret letter.

There was nothing special in the letter, and there were no complaints about the attack. It was only sincere and respectful with only an occasionally revealed viciousness.

This glimmer of viciousness was well revealed—it was very honest.

Just as Chen Pingping thought that day when they talked, as a ruler, the thing that the Emperor most valued was the heart of those beside him, and honesty was one part of it. Before and after the event, Fan Xian appeared very frank, while his other sons and officials were too dishonest.

Just like this, he sat beneath the painting feeling somewhat tired and worried. The yellow-clothed woman in the picture was also somewhat tired and worried. The two of them rested at the same time. One inside of the painting, one outside of the painting.

After a long time, the usual determined and calm expression once again rose on the Emperor's face. Rising, he turned his hand to grasp the Emperor's sword Fan Xian had delivered and walked down the stairs.

Eunuch Yao carefully handed over a cup of tea.

The Emperor took a sip and handed the sword over. Calmly, he said, "Pass on my order, the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, Fan Xian, is loyal and devoted to his country and has deeply comforted my heart. I especially grant him this sword."

Eunuch Yao hurriedly received the sword.

The Emperor finally faintly said, "Summon Yan Bingyun, He Zongwei, Qin Heng…into the Palace."

He named a dozen officials. The people all had one special thing in common and that was youth. Eunuch Yao took his orders and left the building, ordering various young eunuchs to send for people. He, himself, left the Palace and, under escort of the guards, he came to Fan manor. Without incense and cannons, he entered the back garden and gave the sword wrapped in yellow cloth to the young man.

Everything was as usual, however, this matter would be recorded. Presumably, many people in Jingdou tomorrow would know of this matter.

Fan Xian held the sword and was stunned, thinking, Why was the Emperor being so polite?

While those young officials, who hurried into the Palace, each was afraid and secretly guessed at the Emperor's thoughts.

[JW1] Here, they used two different words for "bastard"

王八 and 王八蛋– the second has an extra character which means "egg"/offspring, hence the "father of the bastard."

[JW2] I'm not sure this novel exists in this timeline – I thought the "Story of the Stone" was Fan Xian's rewrite/copy of "Red Chambers." It could be an author error.

Chapter 448: Big Brother, Don't Scold Second Brother

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

Fan Xian held the sword and smiled bitterly.

After his father entered the room, he put on the most sincere smile and said, "Father, you're home so early?"

Fan Jian nodded and sat down in front of the bed. "There isn't much going on at the Ministry of Revenue at the moment, so I don't need to be there all the time."

After saying this, he handed over an oil paper bag and said, "Steamed buns from Xinfeng Restaurant…these few days, the Third Prince has been studying. Since he's been out for a year, she is keeping a close eye on him. Although he knows the news of your injury, he can't come out at the moment. He only remembers that you like to eat the steamed buns from Xinfeng Restaurant, so he had someone buy them and deliver them to you."

Fan Xian accepted the still warm paper bag. Taking a steamed bun out, he took a careful bite and found that the soup inside was no longer very hot. Fan Jian looked at his son's appearance and couldn't help but furrow his brows and shake his head.

Fan Xian had a bite and placed the paper bag on the table. Unconsciously, he twisted his head to glance at the accumulated snow on the windowsill. A glimmer of envy appeared in his eyes.

"Don't think about going out again," Fan Jian could see what his son was thinking and said sternly. "The day before yesterday, I let you slip out to go to the Chen Garden. Be content with that. Right now, there is snow everywhere in Jingdou and the roads are slippery. You're also still injured. You should be calmer."

Fan Xian smiled self-mockingly. "Am I so popular? Surely, not everyone wants to stab me. Furthermore, in Jingdou, are there actually people who would dare to move against me?"

Fan Jian smiled coldly and said, "Inside and outside of Jingdou is only the separated by a distance of a dozen li. How different do you think it is?"

After he was silent for a moment, he quietly said, "For this matter, it's best if you're calm for now. The Emperor will, naturally, find justice for you."

Fan Xian agreed respectfully with his mouth. In his heart, he thought completely differently. Chen Pingping and Fan Jian both seemed to be watching the Emperor's attitude, but the two elders both had secret plans. However, they were both keeping them from Fan Xian, not wanting him to be involved too deeply. Fan Xian knew that the person injured was himself, so he should also bear the brunt of it. Always secretly enduring, it really did not accord with his principles of living.

As for what the Emperor would do next, through his conversation with Chen Pingping, Fan Xian could faintly guess some of it. However, the changing of people in court seemed to have little to do with him.

…

…

After his father left the room, Fan Xian's mind spun and he stretched, testing. He found that the wound on his back had mostly recovered. His own medical skills and strange physique was indeed very suitable for a life dancing on the point of a knife.

He got off the bed and dressed as quietly as possible to avoid alerting the serving girls outside his room. Sitting on a round stool beside the table he furrowed his brows for a bit and felt that leaving the chest as it was should be safe. There were many clever people under heaven, but for everyone who was overly clever, they would never think he would act in such a way.

His thoughts settled, and he gently pushed open the innermost curtain. A gust of hot air washed over him from the furnace outside. He shattered a medicinal pill between his fingers and a light fragrance gradually filled the space.

A drowsy-eyed serving girl was standing by the furnace feeling sleeping. Seeing the young master come out, she was first startled. After inhaling the fragrance, she immediately re-entered the land of dreams. Fan Xian tilted his head slightly, looked at the charmingly naïve serving girl, and couldn't resist smiling. It looked like the fate of Si Qi, this serving girl, was to be put to sleep by him. Wan'er thought the trip to Hangzhou was too long, so she didn't bring this serving girl. Unexpectedly, after he returned to the capital, he still had to send her to sleep.

Wrapping a thick overcoat around him, Fan Xian carefully stole along the corridor toward the back door. In the manor, were the Teng couple, and their management of servants were always a bit lax. In such heavy snow, if the masters had no orders, the servants liked to hide in their rooms to be lazy. Coincidentally, no one along the way discovered Fan Xian's escape from home.

When he neared the big metal door, there were always guards standing duty. However, Fan Xian glared, and the guards could only pretend to be mute. Young master, old master, they were both masters. It was not good to offend either of them.

He easily left the manor and climbed into the normal looking carriage. Mu Feng'er carefully helped him into the carriage and then sealed the curtains around the window. Fan Xian shook his head and said, "I want to see the scenery. How can I do that if you've sealed all the windows?"

Mu Feng'er smiled and didn't say anything. Swinging on a straw raincoat, he covered the Overwatch Council robe inside. Shaking his wrist, the horse whip spun a few times in the air and brought down a few snowflakes. Slowly, the carriage began to move.

Swordsmen from the Sixth Bureau followed along in secret, and an Overwatch Council secret agent was disguised as a pedestrian, blending in with the sparse travelers in Jingdou.

…

…

The carriage drove through a lively area in Jingdou and carefully avoided the pedestrians.

Fan Xian lifted a corner of the curtain and gazed out. He saw that the stalls on either side of the street were open as usual. Those stall-keepers selling snacks held large umbrellas and used the heat from their pots to battle the severe cold. There was not a sliver of difference from what he saw a year ago.

He couldn't help but smile. For the court, the imperial envoy being attacked by an assassin was indeed an incredibly major event. For these commoners, presumably it was the most enthusiastically discussed topic around meals these days, however, the impact of the event was not very big. Those who had to do small business still had to do their small businesses. Those who had headaches about having enough food still had their headaches. Him being attacked by an assassin more upset the court. For the normal lives that lived through the same each day, there was not a lot of change.

Suddenly, his heart jumped. He stared at the people in the neighboring street and didn't move his gaze for a while. The people, who clearly looked like aces, were warily guarding a young man. It was clear that the young man had disguised himself, but how could he fool Fan Xian's eyes. He felt a great shock.

"Catch up to them," Fan Xian ordered in an urgent voice. He watched as the group bought something and climbed into their own carriage.

Mu Feng'er made a sound of acknowledgement. Gently raising the reins, they moved toward them.

The two carriages, one in front and one behind, circled around the prosperous street and turned into a relatively quiet but also relatively luxurious area. At this moment, it was still early in the day, so none of the winter entertainments had begun. Thus, the buildings on this street were all rather quiet. Only in the middle of the street, in the best location, the brothel's red lights were already hovering up high. Its curtains provided shelter from the wind and their colors within attracted the male lifeforms outside in the wretched wind and bitter snow.

It was Jingdou's most famous Baoyue Brothel.

Fan Xian watched as the group of people disembarked from the carriage and walked into the building. He furrowed his brows, thinking to himself that perhaps his eyes had really gone bad after the injury. With his head full of thoughts, he didn't even think before having Mu Feng'er drive the carriage into the Baoyue Brothel's inner courtyard from a side street. They stopped outside a door beside the lake in the back of the building.

He was Baoyue Brothel's true owner. The housemaid waiting by the back door saw him come down from the carriage and jumped in shock, thinking, Wasn't the master injured? How could he have the leisure to come visit? However, she didn't dare say much. As she quickly sent someone to inform the second shopkeeper, Shi Qing'er, she carefully led Fan Xian to the prettiest stand-alone courtyard by the lake.

Fan Xian shook his head, thinking about the person he saw earlier. He went directly through the snow beside the lake and slowly walked toward Baoyue Brothel. Going up to the third floor, he came to the room belonging only to the owner. Fan Xian took a moment to compose himself. Hearing the soft words coming from inside, he couldn't stop the corners of his lips tilting up slightly and smiling.

The housemaid behind him didn't say anything, she didn't even dare cough. Earlier, she had sent someone to inform the second shopkeeper, but it was no good. She could only hope with all her heart that the person in the room would speak carefully.

After listening quietly for a while, Fan Xian pushed open the door and entered.

…

…

"Who is it?"

With a rasp, the sound of a curved knife being unsheathed rang out. A heart-chilling knife strike surged forward. However, Fan Xian did not dodge or escape, he walked forward with an ugly expression on his face.

The person who had struck out with the knife wore normal clothing and adornments, however, there was wariness and calm between his brows. Having struck out with his knife, there was no return. Seeing that this young and noble figure in front of him did not even dodge, he knew something was wrong and forcefully pulled back his knife. Zhenqi clashed and his entire face flushed red.

Mu Feng'er, who was behind Fan Xian, followed him into the room and turned to close the room door properly. He smiled warmly at the person with the knife, thinking to himself that it looked like they would be colleagues in the future.

At the same time, the group of people who had entered the room first had all suddenly stood up and surrounded Fan Xian, who was in the lead, in the middle.

Following this, there were two crisp crashing sounds. The tea bowls in the hands of a woman and a young man fell to the floor at the same time. These two people stared with dumbstruck expressions at Fan Xian and couldn't speak for a moment.

"Everyone put your knives down!" The young man came to his senses first and roared angrily at his followers. "Are you looking to die?"

His followers looked at each other, thinking, Just who was the newcomer? Why did it make their big boss so agitated?

Fan Xian was not agitated. He approached the young man. Curving two of his fingers slightly, he ruthlessly brought them down. With a thud, a red mark immediately appeared on the young man's slightly chubby cheeks.

"Are you looking to die?" Fan Xian scolded in a rage. "Who told you to come back?"

The young man pulled his mouth down and said with matchless grievance, "Brother, I miss home…"

…

…

Everyone was chased out of the room. Even Shi Qing'er, who wanted to help the young man explain a bit, was chased out by Fan Xian. Only then did he arrogantly sit down in a chair in the center and looked at the respectful young man in front of him without saying anything for a while.

After a long silence, Fan Xian smiled coldly and opened his mouth to speak. "The big boss is quite impressive now with Northern Qi aces beside you as bodyguards. Looks like I don't have much of a presence anymore."

The young man in front of him wasn't just anyone. He was the second son of the Fan manor that had been sent to Northern Qi a year ago by Fan Xian, who now completely controlled the Cui family's previous production route and the economic genius who managed the smuggling business between Fan Xian in Jiangnan and the royal family in Northern Qi. The person whose face still had irritating pockmarks was Fan Sizhe.

Fan Sizhe moved to stand in front of his brother and carefully helped him massage his arm. He laughed a little and said, "With money…what kind of ace can't one get?"

Fan Xian was angry about more than one thing and scolded, "How come you just snuck back like this? Do you not know the posters everywhere are still up?"

Fan Sizhe smiled and said, "Those are just pieces of scrap paper. I glanced at one outside the Cangzhou city gates. It had long been soaked into mush by the rain. It was impossible to be my appearance."

Fan Xian couldn't resist scolding, "Don't smile so ingratiatingly! Tell me, what is all this about? Why did you sneak back? Why didn't you tell me first?"

Fan Sizhe was stuck for words for a moment. After scratching his head for a while, he said, "In a few more days, it will be father's birthday…"

Only now did Fan Xian remember. Looking at his brother's clearly thinner face, he couldn't hold back a sigh. Thinking of him being by himself in Northern Qi for over a year and having to handle such complicated matters at such a young age, he was rather pitiful. Fan Xian's heart softened. He didn't have the heart to keep scolding him. He shook his head and said, "If you want to come back, so be it, but you have to at least let me know ahead of time."

Feeling wronged, Fan Sizhe said, "If I had said earlier…you, for sure, wouldn't have agreed."

Fan Xian suddenly thought of a problem and furrowed his brows. "Where is Lao Wang? He was in Shangjing watching you…if you left, why didn't he tell me?"

He huffed coldly and looked at his unspeaking brother.

Fan Sizhe's mind spun. Rather anxiously he said, "Is Sir Wang also back? I came with him all the way…brother, don't blame him for this."

Fan Xian slapped the table and roared, "This old bastard also arrived early? Why didn't he tell me either? You've all rebelled! Daring to hide everything from me."

Fan Sizhe trembled and didn't say anything. He knew very well that when his brother became truly angry, he hit people…and he was truly willing to use his feet to kick.

"Since you're back, why didn't you go home?" Fan Xian frowned.

Fan Sizhe was slightly surprised. Immediately, a glimmer of fierceness rose on his face. "Brother, the moment I entered the capital yesterday, I heard about that matter. I was afraid that if I go home at this time, it would bring more trouble for you…also, hasn't the court not found anything? I thought I would see whether or not Baoyue Brothel had any news, so I first stayed here to see if I could help you."

Fan Xian had already overheard these words outside the room. Hearing his brother say this personally, he felt very moved. He gently patted his head and sighed. "What trouble are you worried about? It's not like the Emperor doesn't know about your matter. Who would dare to do anything? Come home with me in a moment. As for Baoyue Brothel's news, if I need it, I will have someone come ask. You are a proper merchant. Don't get involved in these matters."

He couldn't help but glare at his brother again and said, "Don't think I don't know what's going on in that melon head of yours…you're afraid that if you go home directly, I would scold you, so you wanted to do something to make me happy. Don't you use these tricks on me. Put these thoughts to use on father and mother. After more than a year without seeing you, did you think about how much Aunt Liu missed you? If this matter gets to her, see how your mom is going to deal with you. I certainly won't ask mercy for you."

Fan Sizhe nodded his head with chagrin, thinking, Is it not because of your might that I felt timid as I approached the manor and didn't dare to knock on the door?

"You grew a bit taller." Fan Xian looked at him with a smile and patted his shoulder. A year without seeing him, he also felt excited and happy. "Also, a bit sturdier…looks like you lived well in Northern Qi."

Fan Sizhe was just about to complain a bit and rat on his future sister-in-law when he heard knocking from outside the door. The knocking was soft and careful, mournful and sorrowful.

Fan Xian laughed coldly. "Roll on in. You played a supporting role, so don't act all plaintive now."

Chapter 449: My People, Their People

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

Wang Qinian pushed the door open a gap and flashed into the room. He was a 40-year-old man as agile as a 14-year-old kid, and his attitude was humble. Only the occasional wandering gaze flashing through his eyes revealed the fear in his heart.

Originally, Fan Xian felt incomparably happy in his heart to see him. Once he remembered that this bastard had actually brought Sizhe back to the South Kingdom without letting him know, without even reporting to him secretly, he also felt a glimmer of anger.

He couldn't be bothered to acknowledge him. Instead, he turned his head and continued to speak to Fan Sizhe with a frown. "Presumably, the news of you being in Shangjing couldn't actually be hidden from anyone. While you were there, you had Wei Hua and the Brocade Guard to protect you. On the contrary, now that you are back, you have to be more careful about your safety. You have to be cautious. Like today, taking your followers onto the street. Although you were disguised, there are many in the capital who are familiar with you, and there are your followers. I know you hired a group of Northern Qi aces, but…"

He was a bit angry at his brother's carelessness. "They're still wearing those curved knives at their waist. Even a blind man could see they are Northern Qi people…I say, as an economic genius, one that even those shopkeepers of the Qingyu Hall approve of, why are you so careless with these details?"

Listening to the side, Wang Qinian wanted to interrupt but didn't dare talk. Fan Sizhe glanced at the old fellow with sympathy and carefully explained, "I'm using the identity of a Northern Qi merchant group…"

Fan Xian didn't pay attention to his explanation and coldly said, "In any case, you acted of your own initiative. That is your problem."

Fan Sizhe looked at his brother's back. His mind spun and an idea came to him. He chuckled and said, "To speak of…acting of your own initiative, brother, I heard you sustained heavy injuries while in the valley. Presumably, father has certainly not allowed you to go out and wander about…how did you see me on the street?"

Fan Xian stopped and didn't know what to say. He huffed coldly twice and dropped the subject, immediately saying in an even voice, "Never mind that. It's good that you're back. Having not seen you for over a year, I actually kind of missed you."

Fan Sizhe sighed and sat beside Fan Xian. Hugging his arm, he complained, "For the last half of the year, I've been managing the business. Although it's annoying to have to fight verbally with the Northern Qi people when dividing profits, at least I'm doing what I like…brother, you don't know about those first few months…"

Before the young man's eyes seemed to appear snowy nights, stone mills, donkey, beans…wretched images. In a trembling voice, he said, "Those are not days fit for people…"

Fan Xian's mind suddenly turned. Bending his fingers, he calculated that by this time, Haitang had long returned to Shangjing. He couldn't help smiling and said, "Could it be because she had returned to Shangjing so you anxiously ran away? How are you so cowardly?"

Full of grievance, Fan Sizhe said, "Brother, not every man in this world is as powerful as you to be able to trick any kind of girl…for a mother tiger like Haitang, I don't want to see her again."

Fan Xian laughed loudly and asked a few more questions about his brother's life in the North. As for business affairs, they had already talked about it countless times in their letters going back and forth, so he couldn't be bothered asking again. Listening to his brother talking about his days in Shangjing and hearing about how he walked in and out of the royal manors in Shangjing at such a young age, he felt somewhat amused.

After hearing that Fan Sizhe was now a regular guest at Marquis Ning's manor and often competed in drinking with Wei Hua's father, Fan Xian couldn't resist laughing again. He thought, The body of that dirty old man probably couldn't bear the repeated killing of the alcohol by the two of them.

Thinking of that dirty old man, his gaze moved to the strangely quiet dirty old man next to him.

Fan Xian's mood was now much better. With a face full of warmth and smiles, he looked at Wang Qinian. Parting his thin lips slightly, he quietly said, "Sir Wang, I trust you've been well since we last met…"

…

…

Everyone who had interacted with Fan Xian knew that when Sir Fan junior's smile was at its warmest, it was when the anger in his heart was at its height. In these moments, no one wanted to anger this good-looking young man.

As Fan Xian's trusted aid, Wang Qinian knew his temper very well. So, seeing the smile on Fan Xian's lips, his heart stuttered. He replied with a pained expression, "Sir, have mercy…"

"When did you arrive?" Fan Xian picked up the teacup beside him to have a sip and soothe his throat, however, he found that this cup had the scent of makeup. Only then did he realize that Shi Qing'er had drunk from it. He furrowed his brows slightly and swapped it for his brother's cup. He then thought of another matter. He tilted his head and asked, "Where is your woman?"

The two questions were directed at two people.

Fan Sizhe chuckled and said, "I left her in Shangjing. It's a bit too much to be with her all day."

Wang Qinian replied honestly, "I really did arrive yesterday. I've already gone to the Council to report to Sir Yan. However, the Council said that after you were injured and not well, and told me not to rush to your manor."

Fan Xian shot a glare toward his young brother, thinking, This kid was only 16 this year. Why did he talk like a middle-aged married man? However, thinking of the fact that Sizhe had started running a brothel from when he was very young and hated how he was by both man and god before he was deflowered. It was certain that it would be difficult for him to understand what it meant to treasure women in this life.

Following this, he furrowed his brows and asked Wang Qinian, "You should know about the plans for the return this time."

Wang Qinian bowed his body and chuckled, "I heard that I am to take your place in leading the First Bureau…I am definitely not willing."

Fan Xian started and scolded, "Even the Director guessed you would say this. That is the most powerful of the eight Bureaus and such a good position. If you don't take it, how can I feel at ease? You've been in Northern Qi for one and a half years. You have both seniority and experience. If you don't step up, I'm afraid others in the Council will begin to have thoughts."

Wang Qinian considered this for a while then said seriously, "Sir Mu is good in the First Bureau, as for me…" He shook his head and sighed. "I'm an old man with a wife and daughter at home. I had thought I would spend my entire life working in the Council's yamen until I died of old age. I had not thought I would be pulled out by Sir. These few years have been very tense and exciting, but I still feel that it is more comfortable to work beside you."

"Always beside me…" Fan Xian muttered to himself irresolutely. He also liked having Lao Wang manage the Qinian Unit beside him. For almost the two years, the Qinian Unit had first been handed to Deng Zi Yue and then to Su Wenmao. For the past half a year, Hong Changqing had essentially been responsible for it. These three were all attentive and keen people, and their loyalty to him was without question, but…Fan Xian always felt he wasn't as happy as when he first entered the capital.

He gazed at Wang Qinian and smiled slightly. "It won't always be calm and peaceful. A lot of people died in the valley."

The room immediately fell silent. After a long time, Wang Qinian said, "It's exactly because of this that I feel that it would be better for me to manage the matters beside you. At least my nose is sharper, and I can run faster. Although the swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau are very skilled, when it comes to preventing trouble before it happens, I have more confidence in myself."

Fan Xian lowered his head. His spun the little teacup between his fingers as he calculated future plans in this heart. He couldn't help but furrow his brows.

Wang Qinian seemed to be funny, but he did things very carefully. This year he spent in Northern Qi, he didn't make Fan Xian worry and successfully built a good relationship between the Northern Qi royal family and the Brocade Guards' yamen. Furthermore, he also brought back to life the Sixth Bureau's spy network in Northern Qi that had become a stagnant pool after Yan Bingyun accidentally exposed it.

All of the smuggling between the Jiangnan palace treasury and Northern Qi, as well as Fan Xian's thorough knowledge of the going-ons in Northern Qi, were all because of this skinny old man in front of him.

These things proved Wang Qinian's abilities. This quiet, but very capable, Overwatch Council official was a treasure that Fan Xian had picked up after entering the capital. Fan Xian wanted him to take over the First Bureau because he hoped he would be able to secretly spy on the officials in Jingdou for him and so that when a perilous situation arrived in Jingdou, there would be a trusted aide who could control the entire situation.

If he had Wang Qinian stay by his side and take on the role of the leader of the Qinian Unit, in Fan Xian's opinion, it would truly be a waste. However, Wang Qinian was very determined. Fan Xian was caught in a difficult position.

He furrowed his brows and said, "We'll discuss this again…however, in these last days of the year, hand over the Northern affairs to Zi Yue. Be detailed. He doesn't have experience doing things outside the borders, so teach him carefully."

Wang Qinian knew that the Commissioner had essentially agreed tacitly to his request, so he couldn't resist smiling.

Fan Sizhe saw that his brother was beginning to manage Overwatch Council affairs. He felt that it was not appropriate for him to continue sitting there, so he rose and prepared to leave.

However, Fan Xian stopped him and smiled slightly. "What you did in the North is not just business. Baoyue Brothel now has six branches all over the world, and the branch in Shangjing, Northern Qi, is also about to open for business. You have to be careful with the collection of intelligence reports. I've handed the South to Sang Wen, so I'll hand the North to you. Essentially, you are now an outside member of the Council. It'll be fine for you to listen to the matters today. In a moment, when Deng Zi Yue gets here, you should get to know him better as well. Although he is my subordinate, in the coming year, you two will have to work together. There must not be any self-inflation of position and so on."

This was Fan Xian's most urgent thought after being attacked in the valley. He had to build up his information network. This network did not have to be too big or draw on the resources of the large tree that was the Overwatch Council. Otherwise, once the Overwatch Council became mute and was sealed to him, Fan Xian worried that he would become blind again like he was in the valley.

Deng Zi Yue in full black robes pushed open the door and entered. He went down on one knee in greeting to Fan Xian. After rising, he saw Wang Qinian sitting beside Fan Xian and excitedly said, "Sir Wang, you're back in the capital?"

When Fan Xian had formed the Qinian Unit, he had only picked Wang Qinian. The rest of the subordinates had been personally chosen by Wang Qinian. Deng Zi Yue was the first person Wang Qinian had picked to enter the group, thus, he always viewed Wang Qinian as a teacher and a superior. Suddenly seeing him, he couldn't help but feel happy.

"Okay." Fan Xian smiled. "Let's not always talk about feelings of separation today in this building. What we planned has to be settled before talking." He paused, and then opened his mouth to ask, "How many days before Wan'er and the others arrive?"

"Three days," Deng Zi Yue replied steadily. "All along the way they are followed by Tiger Guard swordsmen. Furthermore, after hearing you were attacked by an assassin, each of the provinces became fearful and increased the strength of their defenses. There shouldn't be a problem."

Fan Xian nodded. He was actually not very worried. For things like assassination, there needed to be a benefit. Killing him was an irresistible lure for people, but there wasn't a shred of benefit to assassinating someone of the royal family.

The room was silent. Fan Xian was the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, and the other two people were high ranking officials, equivalent to the leader of the eight bureaus. This was Fan Sizhe's first time participating in a Council meeting of this level. He felt the atmosphere was very different to when he gathered merchants together in the North to woo girls and count money. He couldn't help but feel nervous and unconsciously played with his thick fingers.

It was at this moment when Fan Xian became silent.

After a long silence, Wang Qinian opened his mouth and asked, "Sir, are there more people coming?"

Fan Xian nodded and slightly furrowed his brows. "He should almost be here."

Wang Qinian scratched his head and said, "I had made an appointment with the second young master to meet here. Deng Zi Yue was informed by you…who else is there?"

Fan Xian smiled, "Nowadays, all the power in Jingdou knows that Baoyue Brothel is my territory. Who knows how many eyes are staring at this place, I'm afraid that the matter of us talking here will travel through the various manors in a moment. That kid would certainly not relax his surveillance over this area."

He slowly lowered his head and said, "Since he knows I am here, why would he not come."

Wang Qinian sensed a different flavor in these words.

…

…

After a long time, steady knocks rang out for the third time on that silent wooden door.

A young man pushed open the door and entered. His clothes were whiter than snow, and the space between his brows was colder than frost. His entire body emanated a chill, surpassing the flurries of snow outside the Baoyue Brothel.

Fan Xian sighed in his heart, and the gloominess between his eyes was wiped away. He smiled and said, "You're here pretty quick."

However, the white-clothed man did not want to humor him and coldly said, "As the full Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, you should know that your life is not just your business."

All the seated people quickly rose, bowed, and paid their respects, "Greetings to Sir Yan."

The person who had come was indeed Fan Xian's brain, the always icy cold Yan Bingyun. The five people in the room were all powerful people of the new generation of the Overwatch Council. Remarkably, these five people were also, coincidentally, the key figures in the clash last year against the Second Prince because of the Baoyue Brothel. The night that Fan Xian had exiled Fan Sizhe out of Jingdou, these five people had been in the same location.

Other than the Black Knight Jing Ge far away in a camp outside of the capital and Su Wenman who had been left in Jiangnan to handle palace treasury matters, including the uncle and niece of the Mu family outside the door as well as Hong Changqing who made records in the Council, the people in the room were all of Fan Xian's direct subordinates in the Overwatch Council.

Each took a seat. Fan Xian gazed at Yan Bingyun with an almost smile and used his index finger to rub between his eyes. "There are three things."

Everyone listened quietly. Even Yan Bingyun brought his hands together slightly.

"One, the Emperor summoned 14 young officials into the Palace," Fan Xian said calmly. "The court is going to go through some changes in personnel, but it is uncertain how much ruckus it's going to make. By tomorrow, have the files and information of these 14 people sent to me. Those we can control, immediately take action to control. Those that can't be controlled, find something wrong they did while they were still in swaddling clothes and find a way to control them."

Swaddling clothes…naturally, they had to dig into the deepest parts of the officials' souls.

It was quiet in the room. Everyone's hearts were slightly uneasy. When the court promoted officials, sometimes it needed the Overwatch Council to first thoroughly investigate the person's past connections to imperial officials. However, these orders of the Commissioner were clearly not for the court, rather…

Fan Xian knew his trusted aides all understood and didn't explain further. Because of the attempted assassination of his person, the Emperor took this opportunity to do some things. For him, this was also a rare opportunity. Of these young officials, other than a few people, most of them did not belong to any clear factions. As they were clean and without a powerful force as a support, it gave Fan Xian an opportunity to secretly stick his hands into court politics.

Yan Bingyun suddenly shook his head and said, "Do I have to give mine as well?"

Of the 14 young officials, there was also Yan Bingyun's name. This was something that had only happened a few hours ago. After Yan Bingyun left the Palace, he learned that Fan Xian had come to Baoyue Brothel, so he had hurried over. However, he knew there were not many things in Jingdou that could pass unnoticed by Fan Xian's eyes and ears.

"Pretend to write one," Fan Xian said without good humor. "There is no need for one for Qin Heng. The file in the Council is clear. The focus is on He Zongwei. It looks like the Emperor likes him a great deal."

Immediately after, he smiled coldly. "But…I really dislike him."

"The second matter," Fan Xian said in a quiet voice, "there is a spy in the council. After Zhu Ge died, internal investigation seems to have weakened. Find him. I don't want problems in the future."

Yan Bingyun smiled and didn't say anything. However, Fan Xian refused to smile and glared at him.

"The third matter," he gazed at Yan Bingyun as he spoke, "get some paper ready and get ready to clean up the Council's mess…I am going to kill some people."

"Who are you killing?" Yan Bingyun met Fan Xian's imposing gaze and calmly asked. "If it is high-level officials, I object. After this assassination incident, the Emperor will not put up with more. If you act rashly, it will be of no help to this matter."

Fan Xian lowered his head. His palm unconsciously rubbed the head of his brother beside him. He raised his head and said, "The killing is not the purpose or a way to obtain some kind of benefit. It is only a warning and provocation…presumably you know something of the Director's thoughts. You should know that if we follow the flow and add another handful of fire, it would be beneficial for the big picture."

The other people did not understand and didn't know what the big picture the Director was talking about meant. However, Yan Bingyun smiled bitterly. "If you want to make trouble, then do so. However, it is a very childish revenge and venting of anger. Don't connect it to some big picture."

"I just want revenge," Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and said. "You are all my people, the people who died in the valley were also my people. Since my people have died, their people also have to die."

Finally, he gave orders to his most trusted subordinates. "A day before Wan'er returns to the capital, I will host a feast in Baoyue Brothel. I will invite the Crown Prince, the Great Prince, the Second Prince, Qin Heng, and the two deputies of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Make some preparations."

"Governor Yan?" Wang Qinian found that Fan Xian had forgotten an important figure in the Eldest Princess' faction and reminded him.