450-453

Chapter 450: There Is Snow Outside The Building And Thoughts To The North

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

"No need." Fan Xian shook his head and sighed. "He lost a child in his old age. I'm afraid that this super ace would go crazy upon entering the building and wipe out all of the royal family in this building. At that time, how will I explain it to the Emperor?"

In the room, everyone' heart thumped hearing the meaning between Fan Xian's words. As Fan Xian's trusted aides, they knew what a tenacious and dark heart lay below his warm exterior. Naturally, they did not think he was being witty. Finally, Yan Bingyun couldn't suppress the shock in his heart and raised his head to ask, "It has to be like this?"

Fan Xian nodded calmly. His index finger was still rubbing between his brows as if he wanted to rub away all the gloom of these few days. "Danzhou is good, but Jingdou is difficult. Since, in the end, both sides will be in a struggle to the death, I am used to making the first move."

Among the people present, Fan Sizhe had the closest relationship with Fan Xian, but he was too young. Hearing people who were like older brothers to him discussing so openly about someone's life and death, he couldn't quite keep up. The other people didn't dare raise questions about Fan Xian's order. Only Yan Bingyun persisted in saying, "Blowing up early isn't a good thing."

Fan Xian shook his head and explained, "I won't blow up early. The Emperor is certain to change the assassination attempt on my life into something that is beneficial for the court, but…the Council probably won't get any benefits."

After saying a few more things about future matters concerning Jingdou and the Overwatch Council, this secret meeting in the brothel came to an end. Since Chen Pingping essentially did not monitor matters now, the leaders of the eight bureaus of the Overwatch council all coldly made way. Fan Xian's discussions with Yan Bingyun could basically determine most matters.

Wang Qinian and Deng Zi Yue left first and began to make preparations for the matters the Commissioner had delegated down. When Yan Bingyun left, he couldn't help turning his head and said, "Killing Yan Xiaoyi's son…this is certainly a very serious warning, but it would drive an aggressive tiger to madness. Presumably, Sir still has other plans in mind that you have not shared."

Fan Xian was silent for a moment then said, "Correct, I won't hide this from you. As a super ace about the ninth-level, Yan Xiaoyi's is the most powerful martial and military force the other party can depend on. Even if I have to pay with my official career, I have to dry and remove him early."

He didn't completely expose his thoughts.

Yan Xiaoyi was not like the Ye and Qin families. His relationship to the Eldest Princess was not one of cooperation, but a vow of loyalty. He would eventually become an obstacle in Fan Xian's way, and Fan Xian did not have the strange self-confidence of the Qing Emperor. He had a strange feeling about Yan Xiaoyi's arrow and always felt slightly fearful.

In the days before the big explosion, if he could destroy the godlike bow the North of Qing Kingdom, Fan Xian felt that his life would certainly be much happier.

Killing Yan Xiaoyi's son would only make this extraordinary talent go crazy. If they killed him, it would, presumably, make the Eldest Princess crazy.

Fan Xian very much liked trying these strange and dangerous things. Even though this could bring many variables and could change the Emperor's heart in an instant, he still wanted to try it like he was crazy. He wanted to wipe away the shadow of that arrow from his heart.

Yan Bingyun looked at Fan Xian like he was a crazy man. A moment later, he sighed and said, "Governor Yan's cultivation is startling. He is not so easy to kill. In the entire Council, it is impossible to find someone to defeat him…even if you weren't injured, it would be impossible for you to kill him with your sword. What's more, you are injured right now…also, presumably the Director does not have such crazy plans."

"No." Fan Xian shook his head. "The old cripple is probably crazier than me. I don't want to be driven to death by his craziness in order to protect my life, so I also have to be a bit crazy."

"Other than you two, I don't want anyone else to know of my thoughts." Fan Xian patted Sizhe's shoulder and stared at Yan Bingyun. "What we previously talked about at the small hill outside Jingdou still counts. If you want to create a big plan with me, I hope you will be able to be more attentive to me and not only to the Overwatch Council and the court."

Yan Bingyun knew that he was talking about the topic of the way of officials and happiness of the world. He sighed. With an ever-present sign of worry between his eyes, he went downstairs.

…

…

Pushing open the third-floor window facing the street in Baoyue Brothel, Fan Xian and his brother looked at the snowy street scene from behind a railing and didn't speak for a long time.

Snowflakes slowly floated down from the sky and gently landed on people's hats, shoulders, umbrellas, and the tops of carriages. Jingdou appeared very severe with dark colors at the forefront, particularly the street in front of the Baoyue Brothel. It was filled with black Overwatch Council carriages. Inside and outside the carriages were Overwatch Council members wearing deep black rain and snow coats. They made it appear even darker.

Fortunately, there was endless snow to cancel out the darkness. Pure white snowflakes decorated the completely black world, creating a clearly beautiful picture.

Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and looked down. Wang Qinian's group had left. Deng Zi Yue had left. Yan Bingyun, who had left the building last, had also left. The Overwatch Council secret agents on the street disappeared without a trace in an instant.

He couldn't hold back a smile. These trusted aides beside him all brought at least a dozen capable people with them. On the court and in officialdom, who dared to not show respect to these trusted aides of Sir Fan junior? And, these capably trusted aides had also helped Fan Xian weave a larger web of power, solidifying and raising Fan Xian's position in Qing Kingdom.

A so-called system was created like this layer by layer. Only, his grandness today was not something the young man entering Jingdou for the first time and muddled-headedly creating the Qinian Unit could have imagined.

"What we spoke of today, don't tell father." Fan Xian turned his head and glanced at his younger brother. Gently, he said, "I don't want him to worry about us, the younger generation."

Fan Sizhe agreed and chuckled. "Brother, there's no point in saying anything. Father is great at managing the national treasury, but speaking of killing people, he wouldn't be able to help you. He's nowhere near as powerful as your Overwatch Council.

Fan Xian smiled.

The 80 Tiger Guards the royal family usually used could be said to be the greatest martial force outside of the Imperial Army soldiers. Even if it was impossible that everyone reached Gao Da's skill with a knife, seven Tiger Guards had defeated Haitang Duoduo…how terrifying would these 80 be?

The stern and honest father of these two brothers had secretly helped the royal family train so many aces. Given Fan Xian's understanding of his father's personality, it was completely impossible that he didn't leave some powerful figures for the Fan manor.

Such a Minister of Revenue had long left the power of a minister. Killing people? Fan Xian looked at his brother and shook his head without speaking. He thought about the civil war back then. The empress dowager's own brother had been killed by a single stroke by their father…who dared to say he didn't understand how to kill people?

However, their father had become used to enduring silently and peacefully staying out of things to watch them happen, so not many people knew of his ruthlessness. Only old foxes like Chen Pingping and Prime Minister Lin knew about the true ruthlessness of this Minister of Revenue.

Fan Xian didn't want this matter to make his father suddenly change his way of doing things.

"Did you see Ruoruo in Shangjing?" Fan Xian gently changed the subject, allowing their father to maintain a respectful and unchanged image in his brother's heart. However, ever since Ruoruo became Ku He's disciple to learn his heart, only a few letters arrived from Jiangnan and later there was no more news.

Although with Haitang and the Northern Qi's Emperor's connection, Fan Xian knew that nothing had happened to his sister. But, the bond between sister and brother was deep, and he always worried a bit.

"I met with elder sister a few times." Fan Sizhe laughed. "She's learning medicine from Imperial Advisor Ku He and has some fame in Shangjing. However, I heard that she was going to West Mountain to collect medicinal herbs later this year and to cultivate in the mountains. She hasn't come back yet."

Fan Xian laughed coldly and scolded, "Ku He. That old bald donkey is shameless to the extreme. According to our original agreement, I've sent them every shipment as promised, yet he is still only teaching Ruoruo medicine? Does she need to follow him to learn medicine? Learning from me or Sir Fei, either would be better than him…he doesn't want to impart the Heart of Tianyi Dao to her, and so he's found these excuses."

He spoke angrily, but Fan Sizhe listened with some shock. Although this kid was also a scourge who feared nothing but his brother's foot, having lived in Northern Qi for a long time, he had long been influenced by the Northern Qi's people's god-like worship of Imperial Advisor Ku He. Hearing his brother calling him a bald donkey—although he didn't know what it alluded to, presumably, it was not complimentary—he couldn't help feeling shocked. He thought that his brother was indeed the person with the most daring and confidence in the world.

Although Ku He was being secretive, this plan to exchange students was originally a by-product of her escaping marriage. Fan Xian had not counted on Ku He being able to train his sister into a second Haitang Duoduo. Besides, the Heart of Tianyi Dao had already been given to Fan Xian secretly by Duoduo, who was showing favor to an outsider. He didn't continue to humiliate with words the untrustworthy upper echelons of Northern Qi. He turned and furrowed his brows. "I've checked the files of those aces you hired from Northern Qi. Although they all have clean backgrounds and have always hidden in the wilderness…you have to be careful. I think it's certain that the Northern Qi royal family has placed a few spies beside you."

The so-called clean backgrounds meant that the Northern Qi aces with the curved swords around Fan Sizhe did not have any connections to the state or the Brocade Guard.

Fan Sizhe nodded. Although he continued to smile, a dark and cold light flashed through his eyes. "Brother, don't worry. I've already found out who it is. If the Northern Qi court doesn't have someone by my side, they'll certainly feel uneasy, so I'll have to use this person. I'll just see it as a free bodyguard. I won't clean them out in the near future. However, I will avoid them for important matters."

Fan Xian e had not expected that his brother would have already noticed this detail. He couldn't resist patting his back approvingly. "Your body is sturdier, and you're more meticulous in your thinking. Looks like the exile to the North indeed had benefits." He immediately smiled and said, "There's also no need to be too worried. Right now, the Northern Qi are still depending on you to organize the buying of palace treasury goods. They won't offend you lightly."

The street below Baoyue Brothel was already empty. Even the ruffians loitering at the corners in the middle and ends of the streets had pulled on their hats and disappeared without a trace. Fan Xian stood at the railing and looked at this sight. The glimmer of a thoughtful and strange smile rose to the corner of his lips. Various powers in Jingdou were all looking at the Baoyue Brothel, but he was too lazy to avoid them. Everyone knew he was going to get his revenge. They were all guessing how he would achieve his revenge without true evidence.

He would let them guess.

"There is a matter you need to tell me the details about." Without turning his head back, he spoke quietly. Fan Xian's eyes were staring at the snowflakes outside the window.

Fan Sizhe asked, "What matter?"

"The story of that sword." Fan Xian lowered his head slightly. His tone was calm and did not reveal the thoughts in his heart. "Where did Wang Qinian get that sword from?"

Fan Sizhe's heart stuttered. He didn't understand why his brother was suddenly questioning his most trusted man, but he didn't dare say anything. He only retold the part of the story he learned in Shangjing. The sword coming out, the buying of the sword, and the delivery of the sword were all organized by Wang Qinian single-handedly. There was nothing strange.

However, Fan Xian found a glimmer of strangeness in this story. He smiled bitterly and glanced beside his waist, which was completely empty. The Emperor's sword that the Emperor had granted him was very inconvenient to carry around.

"Listening to what you said, there is one detail that is very interesting." He shook his head and sighed. "The rumors had been out for a number of days. Even if Wang Qinian had your silver to help, they would not have let him, a South Kingdom man, buy this sword…although tens of thousands liang of silver was a lot, it could not compare to the hot blood of the Northern Qi people. This is the sword of the Emperor of the Wei Kingdom. How could the Northern Qi royal family let him buy it? Lao Wang is always steady, however, he likes to flatter me too much…how could he not thought of this detail?"

Fan Sizhe's mind spun. "What you mean is…word of this sword was purposely leaked by the Northern Qi royal family, and they gave it to you through Sir Wang's hands?"

Fan Xian nodded.

Fan Sizhe was confused. "Why would they do this?"

Fan Xian turned and patted his brother's shoulder. The two brothers returned to their seats and drank some tea before he explained, "The sword is the central force. Although right now it can't do much and, furthermore, Northern Qi does not wish me to lose my position in the South Kingdom right now, this is an attitude and foreshadowing. Accumulating over days and months, it will eventually reach some boundary one day…"

He smiled mockingly. "The little Emperor of Northern Qi has done well. Over these two years, he has step by step silently taken the major power from his mother's hands and not caused any major shocks in the court. This level of monarchial scheming is not far off from that of our Emperor's. In order to defeat someone like me, of course, he needs to have a long-term plan in his mind. This sword is just the start."

Provocation and driving a wedge between allies have always been unworthy actions in history, but they're also tricks that have stood the test of time because people's hearts are always overly suspicious. On an Emperor's veins in this black-surfaced heart were even more densely inscribed question marks and exclamation marks. The Wei Emperor's sword from Northern Qi was a great taboo next to Fan Xian. If he had not handled it properly and reacted quickly by sending it into the Palace, who knows how the Emperor would feel.

Fan Sizhe sighed. "Political matters are indeed complicated enough…oh right, although my leaving Shangjing was a secret, before I left, the Emperor of Northern Qi summoned me into the Palace and asked that I bring you some words. Presumably, he knew I would make a trip home."

Fan Xian started and asked with furrowed brows, "What words?"

"Looks like it's a normal color, but the shade will depend on his icy snow," Fan Sizhe looked at his brother's handsome appearance and admiringly said. "It is these two lines of poetry. It looks like it's true that the Emperor greatly loves the 'Story of the Stone'. Every time I enter the Palace, he always turns the topic onto you with unspeakable liking and respect."

Fan Xian lost his smile. These two lines of poetry came from a passage of "A Dream of Red Mansions" with Yong Hongmei. It was not particularly outstanding, however, the little Northern Qi Emperor had gifted him this poem from far away, so the hidden meaning within needed much thought.

He turned and looked at the wind and snow outside. He shook his head and smiled. "The North has ice and snow, but South Kingdom also has them. I think it's best to pass on this invitation."

The conversation having reached here stopped. However, a faint worry welled in Fan Xian's heart. For some reason, that Northern Qi Emperor treated him with such respect, even though he clearly knew Fan Xian was the illegitimate child of the Qing Emperor. Yet, he still did not forget to instigate rebellions. Why did this seemingly impossible task make the little Emperor so enthusiastic? Perhaps, the other party could truly guessed what he was thinking, the story back then, and the current situation, so he took the opportunity to first stand by the city door to welcome him with a laugh.

…

…

After Fan Xian returned to the manor, he couldn't avoid being severely scolded by his father while Sizhe's safe return made Lady Liu overjoyed with tears streaming down her face. Although Minister Fan was angry over his two sons daring actions, sternly ordering Fan Sizhe to not leave the manor while also telling the people in the manor to keep silent, the comfort between his brows did not escape Fan Xian's eyes.

After the meeting in Baoyue Brothel, the Fan manor sunk into warmth while the Overwatch Council began to act. At the Council conference, Yan Bingyun icily reported on the investigation into the attack in the valley. Although he had no specific suspects, he pointed, unwaveringly, toward the military and asked for the full support of the Council to begin combing through the people and events from Dingzhou and Cangzhou from the past two months.

This proposal was rather strange. Under circumstances without the Emperor's clear edict, the Overwatch Council had absolutely no power over the upper echelons of the military. Yan Bingyun's suggestion seemed to purely want to make the superficially peaceful living in Jingdou livelier. However, Sir Yan had Chen Pingping and Fan Xian's strong support, the help of a few elders, as well as the hatred in the hearts of every secret agent in the Council towards the valley attack, so naturally, he did not object.

Strangely, the Palace also didn't say anything.

Wang Qinian returned to the Qinian Unit but did not immediately take over Deng Zi Yue's position. His people and those subordinates vanished into Jingdou for some unknown reason.

Only the First Bureau that Fan Xian was still temporarily personally in charge of was relatively lively. After an entire one and a half years acting in the open, the position of the First Bureau's yamen in Jingdou became less awkward. The people of Jingdou also gradually became used to going to the wall outside the First Bureau's yamen to look at notices.

One day they had caught a corrupt official who was taking bribes, and another they had found vermin in some department. After Fan Xian rectified the First Bureau, these dark secrets of the inner faction of the court were posted publicly and openly. The Jingdou people often read them like legendary detective novels.

The old notices on the wall were suddenly ripped off. After washing it down with snow water, the man whose complexion was like black iron, the temporary head of the First Bureau, Mu Tie, personally brushed on the glue and stuck a new piece of paper on the wall.

The commoners gathered curiously only to see that it was not a case, only a few cheeky words.

"Thirteenth Wang, are you hungry? If you're hungry, tell the girls. The girls will help you make noodle soup."

The people looked at each other wondering, What was the Overwatch Council, or the recently attacked Sir Fan junior, playing at now?

Chapter 451: Washing Your Hands To Make Soup

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

Many years later, when the thirteenth disciple of the Sword Hut Wang Xi stood in front of the cavalry, he would certainly remember that clear afternoon Sang Wen had taken him to pick out girls. The same impatience and headache.

At that time, Baoyue Brothel had become the foremost money spending establishment. A number of courtyards that looked like they were side courtyards to kingly manors were scattered on the two banks of the thin lake. On the lake there was a thin layer of ice, and on the ice there was snow. In the snow were countless red petals blown from the plum blossoms beside the lake.

It looked like blood on snow. Icy cold but also incomparably fiery, just like the thoughts of the young noble figure who wrote the notice. However, this was more like a bowl of noodle soup. White and tender noodles swayed in the beautiful soup. The dozen of hot peppers that had been cracked open with the point of a knife were bright red and stimulated the diner's eyes, heart, mouth, and nose.

Wang Xi took a deep breath, rubbed his nose, and shook his head with slight discomfort. He tapped the point of this chopstick on the table twice and brought them through the soup to pick up a chopstick-full of noodles. Carefully and elegantly, he began to eat them. He ate them with great refinement but very quickly. In just a moment, all that was left in the bowl was a white noodle soup.

He didn't hesitate. Picking up the bowl, he drained it in one gulp.

Sang Wen, who had come with Deng Zi Yue from Suzhou back to the capital to debrief, looked at this fortune-teller with gentleness on her face. Although she didn't understand why Sir had made such arrangements, she was certain this fortune-teller was a normal person.

He was indeed unusual, and very good-looking with thin lips and brows like swords. His eyes were kind and spirited, and he also had an air of peace. Even as he was drinking the noodle soup, he appeared attractive.

Sang Wen had long watched Jingdou's romance scene with cold eyes. She knew that such an act as eating soup noodles could show one's inelegant side. She didn't think the rough and crude mean who slurped their noodles deserved to be looked down upon, however, seeing this fortune-teller change noodle eating into something as elegant as reciting poetry, she felt a strange emotion in her heart.

Wang Xi placed the noodle bowl on the table. He furrowed his brows and sighed. Between his breaths, his brows carried a self-ridicule and impatience. He turned toward Sang Wen, looking at her with a slightly wide chin but exceptional gentleness. He evenly said, "Where is the girl you picked for me?"

"Between the girl and noodle soup, you can only pick one." For some reason, Sang Wen felt that this young man in front of her was very cute. She laughed and said, "Since you picked the noodles in the soup, we'll forget about the girl."

Wang Xi put on a pained expression and said, "Even if I'm just working temporarily, there has to be pay."

Sang Wen peaceably said, "You're not here to work temporarily for Sir."

Wang Xi suddenly became quiet. A moment later, he quietly said, "I've already drunk this noodle soup, however, I don't understand. Given your status, why would you personally make me a bowl of noodle soup?"

Sang Wen was slightly startled. Immediately, she smiled slightly and said, "Even Director Chen likes my noodle soup."

Hearing his name, Wang Xi couldn't help but be startled. His expression changed. "That is my good fortune then."

Sang Wen gently bowed and finally said, "However, please note one thing. Although the noodle soup is too hot and cannot be drunk in a rush…if you wait until the soup is cold, it will not taste good."

The girl did not know what these words meant. She was only following Fan Xian's orders and lightly said them. However, Wang Xi understood clearly the meaning of them. In their original agreement, it stated that before Fan Xian entered the capital, he had to bring the little archer's head to Fan Xian. However, at this time, Fan Xian had already been recovering in Jingdou for a while, yet there was still no news from him. Furthermore, there was also that attack in the valley.

The young and handsome fortune-teller sighed with unspeakable discomfort and sadness. He turned his hand and raised the green banner beside the table, muttering, "But I…really don't like killing people."

Sang Wen didn't say anything more. She did not know anything about the specifics of this matter. Her meeting with this self-titled iron masked fortune-teller was purely because Fan Xian wanted to borrow her eyes, which had long gazed on human affairs, to see just what the other party's personality and character were like.

Real and pure. This was all Sang Wen saw in his eyes.

Wang Xi shook his head and sighed. He walked like a little old man with his body bent toward the outside of the courtyard. When he reached the door, he suddenly tilted his head to ask, "Calling me here, are you not worried people will suspect you after the event?"

"You are clever, so you came to find me," Sang Wen peacefully said. "Because you are clever, naturally, you know how to avoid the eyes and ears of others."

Wang Xi once again shook his head and left the Baoyue Brothel.

Sang Wen returned to her room. After sitting quietly for a long time, the courtyard door was pushed open and a young man came in with furrowed brows. "You just came back yesterday, so how come you are here at this broken-down building again?"

This man wasn't someone random, he was the guard that Fan Xian had sent flying with a punch back when Fan Xian had investigated Baoyue Brothel at night. This jianghu person was infatuated with Sang Wen and always had a loathing for the Baoyue Brothel.

Sang Wen raised her eyes to look at him and smiled slightly. Although she was moved in her heart by this man's infatuation, he could not know of any details concerning the Commissioner. She smiled and said, "I am now the shopkeeper of Baoyue Brothel. If I don't come here, where would I go?"

The man looked at the big bowl on the table. Smelling the light fragrance that came from it, his brows couldn't help but relax. He chuckled and said, "Make a bowl for me too. I haven't had it in a long time."

Sang Wen glared at him and said, "I don't have that kind of leisure time right now."

The man said, unhappily, "You made it for someone else."

Sang Wen replied without good humor, "Do you really think this bowl of noodles is so good? If you really ate it, you would probably die of discomfort."

…

…

Wang Xi wanted to die. He sat at the stall in front of the city gate and looked in a gaze at the bowl of noodles in front of him. His soft eyes were wide and round. No matter how good noodles were, if they were eaten for three meals a day, they would eventually make one want to throw up.

Thus, he had not touched the bowl of noodles at all. He only drank the tea beside it, one cup after another, as if he was extremely thirsty.

To the side, the tea seller looked down with cold eyes on this fortune-teller, thinking, This guy could do whatever he wanted, yet he chose to pretend to be spiritual. Look at how poor he is. He can only use tea to eat with his noodles.

With a belly full of tea, dusk finally fell in Jingdou, where the wind and snow had already stopped. Wang Xi lifted the green banner, coughing a little, he went through the city gates before they closed and became the last person to leave the city.

Seven li to the north of the city, he stopped at the top of a hill and sat down on a large stone. Raising his head, he looked at the snow covered branches in the woods. Lowering his head, he raised a large fistful of snow and brought it to his mouth to chew. He then placed the green banner in the snow and gazed without focus at the army camp on the other side of the hill.

The Jingdou garrison's Yuantai Camp.

Wang Xi suddenly turned his head to the side. Opening his mouth and with a choking sound, he threw up. Once he started, there was no end. He threw up the noodles and noodle soup he ate as well as all the tea he had chugged into his stomach.

A puddle of mixed and disgusting things was vomited by him onto the clean snowy ground. It looked disgusting, particularly the faint fishy smell hidden in it. It was even more of a surprise to the nose.

Wang Xi did not throw up again. He only ate another handful of snow and then stared at the mess on the ground closely. A moment later, he sighed. "What a powerful medicine to be able to raise the zhenqi in one's body to such an aggressive realm in just one day."

He shook his head and sighed in admiration. Fan Xian had used Sang Wen's hand to put this medicine in the noodle soup. Presumably, Fan Xian wanted to him to act but also hoped nothing would go wrong.

This medicine was the little yellow pills that Fan Xian had taken the year when he was in Northern Qi and faced off against Liang Tiao and Friar He. Other than feeling slightly weak afterward, there were not any major side effects.

Wang Xi had noticed this, yet he still laughed bitterly and said, "The gentleman is honey while I am arsenic. This medicine is poison to me. It almost killed me."

Fan Xian certainly would be so kind-hearted as to help Wang Xi better his chances of success. As for what he had planned, Wang Xi was also not sure.

…

…

The night gradually became dark. Wang Xi rose, he didn't glance at the green banner beside him. Taking advantage of the cover of darkness, he moved toward the Jingdou garrison's Yuantai Camp. The target he needed to kill had long been hiding in this camp, using on the identity of a military officer. The defenses around him were not very tight.

However, Wang Xi truly did not like to kill people. After leaving home, his hands had never touched blood. He took pity on people and respected all life. Under Fan Xian's powerful pressure, he had tried countless to times but could not truly assassinate a person that he had no grudge against.

This was why he had delayed his show of loyalty until now.

The condiment Fan Xian added to the noodle soup was actually a stimulant. He wanted Thirteenth Wang to be a bit braver and a bit more aggressive. He had not expected that this condiment would not have any effect on Thirteenth Wang and, on the contrary, do him harm.

Thus, Thirteenth Wang remained coldly calm and benevolent. However, he had not become crazy. He knew that the most powerful thing about the archer was his eyesight. In the darkness, it was the easiest time for archery to be useful. Why did he still chose this time to make a move?

…

…

In the barracks of an isolated corner of Yuantai Camp, Yan Xiaoyi's son, Yan Shendu was carefully using feather scissors to fix arrows. His hands were incomparably steady as he made the long feathers on the tail of the arrow strangely smooth. Good tools were a prerequisite for a successful job. He had a pair of hands that a god-like archer should have. He was able to repair his arrows so they flew faster and more accurately.

Governor Yan had always believed in one philosophy. Only children that were far from their parents could truly make something of themselves, just like how he had lost both his parents at a young age and had to hunt in the mountains to live. Only then could he have cultivated such ruthless and vicious will. Only then was he chosen by the young Eldest Princess, who had traveled into the mountains, and was then brought out of the mountains and placed into the troops. With his martial skills, he accomplished countless acts of military merit and earned a high position.

When Yan Shendu was only 12 years old, Yan Xiaoyi chased him out of his home and sent him to the Eldest Princess. She understood the thoughts of her leading general. Although she was gentle to Yan Shendu, she did not go easy on him. After he was trained, she secretly sent him into the Jingdou garrison, which was controlled by the Qin family.

Other than a few high-ranking generals and the Eldest Princess' trusted aides, no one knew that the Northern Governor's son, Yan Shendu, was currently being an unremarkable military officer in the Jingdou garrison.

Yan Shendu was like his name. He didn't like to communicate with others. He only liked to communicate with his arrows, so he didn't have any friends in the military except a group of subordinates he had personally trained that were loyal to the Eldest Princess.

The day that the Second Priests of the Temple, Great Master San Shi, was killed outside Jingdou, was Yan Shendu's first mission. He thought the mission was very successful because he didn't know what happened later. The self-confidence that had long been suppressed deep in his heart rose. He believed that other than his father, no one could stand against his long-distance attack, even a ninth-level ace couldn't escape. The effective range of a weapon decided life and death on the battlefield. This was a paramount truth that Yan Xiaoyi never forgot to teach his son.

Because of his self-confidence, he became arrogant and egotistical. When he heard that his father and the Jiangnan Road imperial envoy Fan Xian had been summoned back to Jingdou at the same time and that the two sides might need to duel in the martial conference that had not been hosted for many years, Yan Shendu could no longer sit still.

He worshipped his father, but for that dazzling Sir Fan junior, he actually also had a glimmer of worship and envy hidden deep in his heart.

All the young people under heaven were like this, Yan Shendu could not avoid it. He wanted to test just how powerful Sir Fan junior was. For one, he wanted to test his depths for this father. For two, it was difficult to resist the temptation of having the world-shaking Fan Xian under his arrow. Regardless of whether it was for his father or the Eldest Princess, Fan Xian's death was, without question, a difficult to suppress honey.

But, he would not act on his own initiative. Since he was a soldier, he would not do anything of his own accord to ruin the larger picture. He had to wait for his seniors' orders.

The seniors' gave their orders, but what was strange was…the person who gave him the order was the elder in the military whom he deeply respected and feared and knew the truth about him.

Yan Shendu was hesitant and confused, yet he had no time to inform the Eldest Princess. He could only head out on his own. However, the arrow he sent through the snowy night was blocked by that green banner.

In the night, after the incident, only then did he helplessly realize that Fan Xian's defenses were flawless. He secretly watched from within the snowy woods and could not find any possible change. In particular those damn Black Knights were always near the Overwatch Council carriages. At any moment, they could turn this mountaintop upside down.

Only now did he know he had underestimated Fan Xian and the Overwatch Council. He didn't dare act on his own initiative, so he continued to retreat. After firing only one useless shot, he retreated constantly from the valley to Jingdo, back to the Qin manor to debrief. Yet, he was not criticized.

After returning to the camp, he sunk into deep thought. The elders in the army all looked after each other. His entry into the Jingdou garrison had been approved by the old Qin Master, and not too many people knew about it. Why would the old Qin Master have him do something that seemed like trouble?

Then, the news of the attack in the valley came.

He was a soldier. His political sense was not very acute, but he knew that his father seemed to have been dragged down by the old Qin Master. In other words, the old Qin Master had also been dragged down by the Eldest Princess.

The seniors finally drew together while he was like a hostage that the elders did not speak of to each other but who shone brightly.

Yan Shendu shook his head and did not feel irritation at the role he was playing. He was only thinking that under such great pressure, Sir Fan junior shouldn't be able to live much longer.

He placed the small scissors in his right hand on the table and stoked the arrow shaft with steady hands. He narrowed his eyes to measure it and nodded with satisfaction. Taking out the longbow beside him, he placed the beautiful feather arrow on the string and gently pulled the bow, aiming at the empty ground of the room.

His arm moved slightly to the right. The tip of his arrow now pointed at the thick curtain that was the main door of the room.

Yan Shendu's face was calm as he said, "Come out."

…

…

The curtain was slowly lifted. Wang Xi walked out with an apologetic expression. Under the threat of that longbow, he didn't come any closer. He only stood at the door and sighed, "Sorry."

Yan Shendu's pupils constricted as he looked at the person in front of him who was about the same age as him. His gaze was startling. He had already recognized that this person was the man with the green banner who had blocked Fan Xian from his soul-stealing arrow that snowy night in front of the school.

He knew that although his identity in the garrison was a secret, and he did not have many guards protecting him, to get through Yuantai Camp's many layers of defenses in such a dark night and come near his room without a sound was an extraordinary skill.

According to Yan Shendu's past personality, at this moment, the arrow on the bow would have already shot out. When it came to people who wanted to attack him sneakily, Yan Shendu would always make them lose their lives.

However, it was very strange. Faced with this strange figure, Yan Shendu did not release the arrow. He only coldly said, "Who are you?"

Wang Xi slowly lowered his head and said apologetically, "I am Thirteenth Wang. I am here on orders to kill you. It is not my wish. I am true unwilling."

Yan Shendu used the point of his arrow to aim between the man's eyes. His hands were steady. The bowstring did not shake at all, as if he could pull on it for 10,000 years and not show a glimmer of tiredness.

The murderous intent carried in the point of the arrow was still reflected in the other person's heart. He did not think there was anyone under heaven who could escape this shot. When heard the other person say he was here to kill him, not only did Yan Shendu not panic, on the contrary, he showed an extra layer of sternness. "Fan Xian?"

Wang Xi bowed and said helplessly, "Other than him, who else in this world could force me to kill?"

Outside the room, the snow had long stopped. As the night grew darker, the wind rose. The whistling of the wind sounded like the tragic cries of wild beasts in the mountain. It passed through the thick curtain and drilled into their ears. Yan Shendu looked at the person in front of him whose face was filled with regret, and a chill rose in his heart. Why was there not a glimmer of nervousness or murder to be seen on this Thirteenth Wang's face? Rather, there was only boundless sorrow and guilt.

What did an assassin have to feel guilty about? Guilt about killing him?

Yan Shendu did not panic, rather, he calmed down. If the other party was not pretending to be mysterious, then they must have the ability to kill him.

It was like hunting in the woods and facing a child with an arrow. A thick-skinned bear would continue to calmly scratch on the tree bark with incomparable comfort because the bear knew the arrow could not kill him.

Could his arrow kill this Thirteenth Wang in front of him?

For the first time in his life, Yan Shendu developed doubts about the arrow in his hand because in that snowy night, the green banner had moved.

"Can we talk?" Wang Xi sighed and licked his strangely dry lips. "I don't have to kill you. If you're willing to coming with me and no longer participate in the affairs of the world, destroy your martial powers, cut all of contact with the world, and make everyone think you're dead…this way, Fan Xian will have vented his anger. His goal would have been reached, and I won't need to kill you."

Yan Shendu didn't smile. He only felt it was very absurd, so he released his hand.

The arrow was like a black line abruptly flying out. The previous moment, it seemed to still be on Yan Shendu's bowstring. In the next, it had already reached Wang Xi.

Yan Shendu suddenly saw a sight that shocked him greatly. He saw Wang Xi's feet move slightly and take three continuous steps. After the three steps, his entire person had returned to where he stood earlier.

Where did the arrow go?

That arrow that moved like the wind brushed Wang Xi's face as it passed. It went through the thick curtain and shot into the endless darkness with a whoosh. It melded with the whistling wind outside and could no longer be heard.

The three steps looked simple, but Yan Shendu's pupils still constricted. He could see the profoundness in them. To be able to dodge his very fast arrow at such a short distance needed not only terrifying reaction speed but also had to be matched with an extremely high level of zhenqi control.

Who exactly was this person? Where did such an ace appear from? Why would he throw his life in for Fan Xian?

These three questions surged into Yan Shendu's mind, however, his hands did not slow at all. He had already fired out three arrows. They dissolved into three shadows and flew in three paths toward Wang Xi's head, middle, and legs. Meanwhile, he had picked up a small knife and flipped it up. Slicing through the back of the tent, he fled into the darkness. This series of actions and three arrows in rapid succession had drained most of his energy. He did not have anything left to call for help. Furthermore, he knew that even if the soldiers in the camp rushed over, they wouldn't be able to rescue him from this mysterious fortune-teller.

After the tent, Yan Shendu had his bow nocked but had not yet fired. He looked at Wang Xi in front of him like he was looking at a ghost. He didn't know how the other person had dodged those three arrows gotten ahead of him to block his escape.

Fortunately, Yan Shendu's eyes were sharp. He saw that Wang Xi's sleeve was dripping blood. The other person had been hurt. This reality made Yan Shendu's heart thump. It was impossible even for the seemingly mysterious steps to completely dodge the Yan family's god-like arrows.

It was not snowing. The wind whistled by and picked up the fallen snow. It was no different than falling snow.

Wang Xi lowered his head and looked at the sleeve soaked with fresh blood. He shook his head and said, "I truly don't want to kill people."

"Then why are you here?" Yan Shendu narrowed his eyes and asked coldly.

"Because…" Wang Xi gazed hesitantly at the sky above his head, "because I have to help Fan Xian for the peace of this world, for the balance of this land, for my home, and what else? I have to help him."

"The peace of the world rests on one person? Fan Xian isn't the Emperor…" Yan Shendu's left leg bet slightly backward. He lowered his quiver. As he talked, he secretly prepared.

"There is no one left in my family." Wang Xi sighed. "For there to be peace in the world, I have to help him, so I'll have to do wrong by you…whenever there is a major era, there needs to be the sacrifice of minor figures."

Minor figure? Yan Shendu had never thought of himself like this. He was the son of a governor and the inheritor of Yan family's archery skills. In the future, he would be an influential figure. At this moment, he had only killed the Second Priest of a temple. His glory had not completely been demonstrated yet, so how could he die?

Wang Xi once again raised his head to gaze at the sky. It was as if he was trying to see the starry sky through the thick clouds. Faintly, he said, "Hopefully, I am not helping the wrong person."

Gazing up at the sky, how could he pass up on such a good opportunity?

Yan Shendu suddenly straightened and fired. He fired seven arrows in succession and then felt for his quiver with one hand. He pulled out the final arrow, placed it on the string, nocked it, and fired.

Seven arrows were in front while the arrow filled with the most concentrated murderous intent hid in the back.

Yan Shendu had never been as pleased with his cultivation as he was today. To be able to fire seven and then one arrow, it was already the peak of what he could reach in this lifetime. He was even slightly better than his father back in the day. Such a terrifying attack, he believed that even if it was Fan Xian in front of him, he wouldn't be able to dodge it.

However, he forgot one point. Everyone's fighting style was not the same. If Fan Xian wanted to kill him personally, he would certainly sinisterly poison him again and again, and stab him again and again close to his body. He would not give him any chance to fire arrows.

If it was Fan Xian that had come to kill him, it would be impossible for Yan Shendu to have a complete body. He would die very stupidly and nastily.

While this Thirteenth Wang seemed gentle and kind, the battle style he picked was aggressive and terrifying, completely unlike his exterior appearance.

Wang Xi directly leapt forward like a huge bird in the night. He spread his wings and was injured by the strong wind. He ignored the seven arrows piercing into his body. His eyes gave off a sharp light. Stretching out with his right hand, he caught the most terrifying arrow at the end.

A number of whooshes sounded. Those arrows went through Wang Xi's body, only his body was moving in the air. Nothing major was injured. They only passed through above and below his shoulder.

With a screech, the last arrow in Wang Xi's right hand slid along like a carriage wheel bearing a large weight pressing down on a rough road. It carried a horrible sound of friction.

A faint burning smell seemed to rise into the night sky. Wang Xi's right hand was blurred by the arrow's lightning speed. What kind speed was indicated by this heat?

Right before the arrow was about to pierce into Wang Xi's eye, it stopped, only 2 centimeters away. Just like this, he used his flesh and blood hand to hold onto the arrow. He swept like a bird to a stop in front of Yan Shendu, only 30 centimeters apart.

Wang Xi gave a muffled grunt. Turning his wrist, he pushed the tip of the arrow into Yan Shendu's heart. His hand moved like lightning. It was impossible to dodge.

Yan Shendu staggered and fell. He looked at the blood and arrow on his chest and the assassin in front of him covered in blood. He opened his mouth but was unable to speak. Just like this, he sat in front of his tent. His body weakly twitched a few times.

He had forgotten what his father had once taught him. As an archer, the effective distance of a weapon determined life and death. He was still too close to the person in front of him.

Wang Xi stood panting in front of him. He looked at the archer, whose breaths were gradually weakening, and said, "Little archer, go peacefully."

It was not until the moment he died that Yan Shendu realized he truly was a minor figure in this major era. However, for a man specializing in archery to die by his own arrow, was that not a good end? However…he was not satisfied…he pointlessly pulled on all the power in his entire body and stretched forward. He wanted to grasp this assassin and kill him. He wanted to kill the imminently arriving death.

His finger touched Wang Xi's belt. Where he touched, it felt bloody and icy. Hooking onto one thing, the little archer Yan Shendu finally ran out of strength. A gurgling sound came from his throat. His head tilted, and he died.

Wang Xi straightened his body and loosened his right hand. He looked at the long and terrifying burn mark on his palm, and then lowered his head to look at the seven arrows sticking out of his body. Looking at the fresh blood all over his body, he resisted the pain. Muttering to himself in a trembling voice, he said, "Ah, it hurts so much…"

He resisted the pain. Using the night snow and wind, he escaped out of the Yuantai Camp. Returning to the mountaintop, he picked up the green banner and once more disappeared into the dark night.

Many months later, Fan Xian learned about what happened in this attack. After a moment of silence, he shook his head and sighed, "Thirteenth Wang, you are ferocious and stupid."

Chapter 452: Intentions As Before

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

The second day was one day from the third day. This was not nonsense because on the third day, Wan'er was returning to the capital. Fan Xian was used to keeping his wife and family far away from sordid businesses, so he had set the time to be the second day. On this day, the weather was fine and sunny. The accumulated snow was gradually melting, Tianhe Avenue was soaked, and the flowing stone ponds holding snow beside the street finally began to move, taking the snow and withered leaves toward the low-lying lands.

Inside and outside Jingdou, there were four gates in all four directions with 13 city guard soldiers responsible for safety and defenses. These 13 city gate guards were sent out by the Palace. Never mind the fact that it was impossible for the Jingdou garrison to stick their hands in, even the military elders in the Bureau of Military Affairs did not make any major moves openly. Every night, the Jingdou city gates would close. In the history of Qing Kingdom, other than a few bloody coup d'états as well as a few reports of massive natural disasters and unrest on the borders, there had never been another precedent of opening the gates at night.

Old Director Chen of the Overwatch Council was an exception. He lived in Chen Garden outside of the capital. The Emperor gave this Director special permission to enter the capitol at night.

There was only this one exception. Other than Chen Pingping, no one was allowed to enter Jingdou in the dark of night without an imperial edict. After Fan Xian controlled the Overwatch Council, there was one more person added to this exception.

Even if the Yuantai Camp of the Jingdou garrison found Yan Shendu's body and gradually reported this up until it finally reached a rank where the general knew of Yan Shendu's true identity, the shocked and terrified general in the camp still had no way of telling the people inside Jingdou.

The Commander of the Jingdou garrison, Qin Heng, only knew about the news the next morning.

Then, the Northern Governor, Yan Xiaoyi, returning to the capital to debrief, also learned of the news. His true born son had been assassinated by someone last night in the camp.

…

…

Yan Xiaoyi sat beside the bed. His feet were spread very far apart. This was a habit formed from many years of life travelling in the army and riding horses. His eyes gazed somewhat indifferently at the messenger kneeling before the door. He tilted his head, not daring to believe his own ears.

"Master." The two concubines on the bed forcefully suppressed the fear and unease in their hearts. They struggled out of bed and helped Governor Yan dress and fetched water for him to brush and wash.

As all this was happening, Yan Xiaoyi maintained a cold kind of calm. His hands, which were rubbing together in the hot water basin, did not shake at all.

Ever since he was young, his energy exceeded that of others. After joining the army, each night he wouldn't be happy without a woman. He had countless concubines in his home. Even though he didn't have a proper wife in his manor in Jingdou, he still left five concubines to serve him. Last night, under the wind and rain, these two concubines were almost unable to keep up.

Yan Xiaoyi tilted his head to glance at the concubine beside him. In the past, he was used to being secretly proud of his stamina and energy, however, his heart felt different today. He felt a glimmer of loathing toward these charming women.

Women, he had many. But son, he only had one.

He calmly rose, buckled a black gold jade belt around his waist, and threw on a large snow-blocking cape before walking out of the door. Outside the door, his personal soldiers and generals from the Jingdou garrison, with fear on their faces, had been waiting for a while.

Seeing his trusted aide holding a longbow and quiver of arrows, Yan Xiaoyi's mind wandered as he stood beside his horse. Even so, from hearing the news until now, his expression remained calm. There was nothing unusual in that slightly black and determined expression at all.

The sound of horses' hooves gradually left Yan manor. Inside the manor, two beautiful concubines tragically died in the bed. Their fresh blood stained an entire green curtain.

…

…

Under the protection of his soldiers, Governor Yan left the city gate and came to the main tent in the not very distant Yuantai Camp. His expression was indifferent. He did not even glance at the general of the camp who had come forward to comfort him. Even Qin Heng, who rushed over anxiously, was ignored by him.

He directly entered the middle military tent.

Yan Shendu's body was lying in the tent. No one dared move his body because everyone was waiting for Governor Yan to come see it personally.

Yan Xiaoyi stood in front of his son's body and didn't say anything for a long time. He only his brows furrowed slightly. After a long time, his gaze dropped slightly. He extended a hand and forced open his son's still rigidly extended palm.

The dead person's hands were closed extremely tight. Yan Xiaoyi pulled at them with great strength, forcefully breaking two of his son's fingers. He removed something from his son's palm and then raised it in front of his eyes to look at it closely.

Daylight shone in from outside the tent and gently bounced off that jade pendant. It shot into Yan Xiaoyi's eyes and made his pupils constrict slightly.

He recognized this jade pendant. On the pendant was a little sword on one side and some carved characters on the other. His heart chilled and then immediately began to burn again.

In the tent, the other generals did not know what this jade pendant symbolized. Qin Heng sighed and went forward to offer a few words of comfort. At the same time, he expressed the Qin family's heartfelt regret about this matter. For the son of a governor to be assassinated in the camp his family controlled, no matter what, the Qi family would have to take a great deal of the responsibility.

Yan Xiaoyi nodded his head slightly and finally opened his mouth. His voice was a bit raspy. He slowly said, "Marquis, there is no need to say more."

Qin Heng was silent. A moment later, he said, "Governor, overcome your grief."

However, there was no sign of grief on Yan Xiaoyi's face. He allowed the main general of the Yuantai Camp to lead him to the tent his son had once lived in. He went in alone and stayed in the at tent for a long time.

Everyone waited outside for him. No one dared disturb him.

Inside the tent, he carried out his last conversation with his son's aura. Yan Xiaoyi walked out from the hole in the back of the tent. His expression was wooden. Looking at the large puddles of bloodstains that had been somewhat scattered by the wind, he didn't speak at all.

He once again returned to the center tent. Yan Xiaoyi looked at his son's body and lowered his head. Suddenly, he stretched out his hand and grasped the arrow sticking out of his son's heart and pulled slightly.

With a splutter, the arrow left the body and landed in Yan Xiaoyi's hand. He personally placed this arrow into the quiver his soldier carried and then turned to Qin Heng to say, "Burn it."

The sound of horses' hooves rang out again, leaving Yuantai Camp and heading toward Jingdou. Even though his son had been assassinated as a major general in court, Yan Xiaoyi still had to stay in Jingdou. This was an inconvenience brought by power.

Cold wind blew over his face.

The soldiers of the Northern Expedition Army all wore sorrowful and angry expressions on their faces. They had fought against the Northern Qi people on the North border for many years. They thought they had performed meritorious service for their country. However, they had not expected that someone in Jingdou would dare assassinate a governor's son.

Yan Xiaoyi's expression still did not change. He only said to his personal attendant coldly, "It's not Sigu Jian. That killer bled, ninth-level."

The jade pendant indicated the killer's origin. Yan Shendu's power and the price that person paid indicated his level of skill. His personal attendant rode beside him and said, "After Ye Zhong left the capital, on the surface, there are only a few ninth-level aces in Jingdou. Now that you and Sir Fan junior have returned to the capital, there are two more. However, there could be some hidden in the dark, for example, the Overwatch Council."

Without question, after Yan Xiaoyi returned to the capital, he had borne the brunt of the Overwatch Council's power, particularly that day in front of the Bureau of Military Affairs when Fan Xian had waved the horse whip at him. This made the battle in the dark explode into an imminent clash.

With Yan Shendu's death, everyone would think of Fan Xian at the first instant.

"It's not Fan Xian," Yan Xiaoyi said coldly, "But it certainly has something to do with Fan Xian."

The city gates were right before them. The personal attendant carrying the arrow glanced at him with worry, thinking, If it does indeed have something to do with Sir Fan junior, what would the Governor do? Would he shoot and kill the Emperor's illegitimate child with an arrow here in Jingdou?

Yan Xiaoyi narrowed his eyes slightly and didn't say anything. He only coughed a few times and then covered his mouth. A trickle of fresh blood leaked out from between his fingers.

…

…

Last night's assassination did not spread. For one, not many people knew about Yan Xiaoyi's son being in the Jingdou garrison. Two, there hadn't been enough time. Even the head office of the Overwatch Council had not obtained related details. The civil and martial officials in Qing court had always been split into two systems, so not many of the officials in court knew of this matter.

This day, it was a small court conference. The officials outside the Palace doors were gathered in twos and threes, each with their own faction. However, the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace and the Second Prince had become much warmer, so the two factions of officials did not stand too far apart.

The Minister of Revenue, Fan Jian was standing with the two scholars from the Hall of Governmental Affairs and saying something in a lower voice. Around these three people, no one came near.

With the crack of a whip, the Palace doors slowly opened. The Commander of the Imperial Army, the Great Prince, walked out with a calm expression. He bowed to a few of the elders in front, and everyone hurriedly returned the greeting. Ever since a year ago, after the Emperor made the Great Prince responsible for the protection around the Palace, the defenses around the Palace had indeed become well-fortified. Furthermore, this Great Prince was a diligent person. Whenever it was time for a court conference, he would always be personally on duty. He did not make any excuses for his precious identity.

Because of this, all of the officials going into court felt a glimmer of fear and respect for the Great Prince.

The officials filed in in a line, going into the court to discuss the world's gossip with the Emperor. The Palace doors immediately quieted down again. The snow on the square in front of the Palace had long been swept clean, revealing the wet green stones beneath. The snow that had been swept away was piled half-a-person high beside the square, like a low city wall.

A carriage drove behind the long pile of snow toward the Palace. The carriage, the horse, and coachman were all uniformly black. The imperial guards guarding the Palace Gate, as well as the guards inside the door, knew the identity of the person inside the carriage. They couldn't help feeling curious and excited in their hearts.

With his hand resting on his sword, the Great Prince approached personally to welcome him. He helped the young man in the carriage, whose movements were still not wholly smooth, down from the carriage. The two of them spoke quietly along the way into the Palace.

The soldiers inside and outside the Palace gates did not even dare to breathe loudly. They only carefully glanced at this scene. It was not until the figures of the Great Prince and the young official had disappeared into the Palace did everyone let out a rattling breath and began to excitedly discuss it in small voices.

"Did you see? Everyone says that the Great Prince has a good relationship with him. Looks like it's the truth."

"What is strange about that? They're brothers, after all."

"Brothers?" Someone laughed coldly. "Do you not remember how Commissioner Fan dealt with the Second Prince a year ago?"

"Silence!"

Although the folkways of Qing Kingdom were liberated and there were rarely cases of punishment being given out because of speaking, this was the door to the Royal Palace, yet they were wantonly discussing gossip about the royal family. It had to be said, these soldiers who had once followed the Great Prince to fight the western Hu savages and later became part of the Imperial Army to stand guard on sentry duty were indeed bold.

Two little eunuchs looked at the imperial guards like immortals.

"Is that the legendary Sir Fan junior?" A guard that had clearly not been in the Palace for a long time wore an excited expression. "He is indeed, as the legends say, as handsome as a god. However, his coloring did not seem very good."

"Nonsense! An attack was made on his life only days ago, and he was injured heavily. How could he get better so quickly? Speaking of which, it's very strange. Sir Fan junior's injury has healed very quickly, and he's even able to walk around now. Why is he in such a rush to get to court?"

"Don't forget, Sir Fan junior is the youngest ninth-level ace of Qing Kingdom!"

"However, speaking of the attack…"

Everyone immediately fell silent. They knew this matter was too scary, so it was best to talk less about it.

Fan Xian and the Great Prince walked in the Palace and did not know what the people behind them were talking about. However, the Great Prince couldn't help being curious. Why was he rushing to enter the Palace when his injury hadn't healed yet?

"Why are you so rushed to enter the Palace? Recently, the Palace has been rather chaotic. Everyone is a bit nervous investigating the matter of you being attacked."

Fan Xian smiled and said, "Have you forgot? I've already sent the invitation to your manor. The Great Princess should have received it personally. I'm hosting tonight at the Baoyue Brothel. If I have the energy to host yet not rush into the Palace to debrief, I'm afraid the Emperor would spank me."

"You should call her the Great Imperial Concubine or sister-in-law is fine.

Why are you still calling her the Great Princess?"

"Never mind. The Great Imperial Concubine sounds odd. I always think of Ye Ling'er. Sister-in-law also doesn't work…I don't want to be scolded by someone of the Taichang Temple. My surname is Fan, but your surname is Li." These words of Fan Xian's were a bit wild. At least, as an official speaking to the Great Prince, it appeared to be a bit impolite.

The Great Prince knew what he was thinking and laughed helplessly. Suddenly serious, he said, "Do you know about that matter?"

"What matter?" Fan Xian furrowed his brows slightly.

"Yan Xiaoyi's son was assassinated last night." The Great Prince stared at Fan Xian's eyes as if he wanted to judge from his gaze whether or not this assassination had anything to do with him.

Fan Xian raised his eyebrow, not bothered to purposely put on a shocked expression. "If he's dead, then he's dead. In any case, he's not one of my people. Don't guess, this matter has nothing to do with me."

The Great Prince looked at him and shook his head. "Regardless of whether or not this matter has something to do you, I'm afraid you will still be blamed for this."

"So be it." Fan Xian smiled warmly. "I've made plenty of enemies in this life, a few more won't matter."

"But that person is…Yan Xiaoyi." The Great Prince reminded in a heavier tone.

Fan Xian didn't make any sound, he only thought to himself that this Great Prince did indeed have some power in the military. At this moment, the palace gates had probably just opened, yet he already knew the story of what happened in Yuantai Camp.

The Great Prince saw that he wasn't acknowledging him and furrowed his brows. "I'm afraid this matter won't end so easily. Think about it, in the Jingdou garrison camp to the left of Jingdou, an assassin actually managed to sneak in. Once this matter is exposed, there won't be good days for anything. This matter…was done too impudently."

Fan Xian heard the meaning hidden in his words and couldn't resist laughing coldly. "Yuantai Camp? A few days ago, someone dared to move the military's city-guarding crossbows into the valley to kill an imperial envoy…just who is more impudent?"

The Great Prince saw he was getting angry. He also knew that in that valley attack, he had lost a number of subordinates, so he could only change the subject. "When is Lady Chen coming back? Grandmother and my mother have missed her for a long time. I'm afraid they won't let her go to Jiangnan in the coming year."

Fan Xian said, "She's arriving tomorrow. Oh right, I also brought back that princess from the Hu tribe…also, I bought a manor in Yangcong Alley. The place is isolated and quiet, perfect for keeping a mistress."

The Great Prince started at hearing these words and mumbled, "What mistress?"

Fan Xian took out a house deed and threw it at him. The corners of his mouth tilted up, "To support your mistress."

The Great Prince didn't know what to say. He glared at him angrily and said, "Around people, you have the elegant and meaningful face of an immortal poet, who knew that it's actually a sharp, unkind, and sly mouth."

"These words are quite accurate," Fan Xian proudly said. "Things like reputation, I have enough. Now, I am going to shed all these pretenses of cordiality and play with everyone properly."

The Great Prince was slightly startled. Furrowing his brows, he said, "You've invited all these people tonight. What exactly do you want to do? Don't mess around."

"How could I? Everyone is of royal descent, so I don't even have time to curry favor." Fan Xian smiled coldly. "However, I understand what you're thinking. If you don't want brothers to fight amongst themselves, they must be quickly crushed."

The Great Prince said with disapproval, "These words are not nice to hear. We are all of the same father, so we should just quietly wait for the royal decision. You should have some control as well."

"Don't be like this," Fan Xian shook his head and said. "It's still that old saying, my surname is Fan…but don't worry, I don't have a liking for chopping off my own fingers. After tonight, as long as they are willing to behave better, naturally, I will not do anything."

The Great Prince began to smile. Fan Xian thought for a while and couldn't resist smiling self-mockingly. From ancient times until now, the history books show there were very few young officials like him bold enough to threaten a Crown Prince and princess to their faces, and doing so using a lecturing tone. This matter did indeed appear to be rather absurd.

…

…

Fan Xian persisted in saying his surname was Fan. He knew that if it was not, because he should have been surnamed Li, he would certainly not have the power to negotiate with the royal family and wouldn't even have this privilege. Given his style of doing things, he would probably have been dead as a doornail a long time ago.

When he waited for a long time in the royal study until he finally saw the Emperor surnamed Li lift the curtain and enter, his behavior was still relatively respectful. However, glimmers of coldness and stubbornness occasionally rose between his brows.

It was just as it was said, acting all the way, things were still as before.

Chapter 453: Remembering The Past In The Royal Study

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

The royal study was much warmer than outside. Silver bamboo charcoal from Langyazhou was being burned in three fire basins. The cleverly designed fire basins didn't have excessive ash, only excessive heat. They enveloped the entire room in a spring warmth that did not align with the weather.

There was only a faint burning smell. The scent was not bad, but Fan Xian's sensitive nose was not used to it. He couldn't but miss the warmth of a white room far away in a different world. He remembered two cheeky lines he once read in his previous life—Chairman Mao had never used a cellphone, and the Emperor had never used an air conditioner.

The Emperor sat down on the low couch. From his expression, it was clear that he was pleased with the warmth in the royal study. The fine silver hair at his temples and fine lines at the corners of his eyes were all smooth. On the couch, he took off his outer dragon robe and put on a common cotton robe that a eunuch brought over. The eunuch also brought over a bowl of warm swallow's nest.

Fan Xian stood quietly to the side, but he couldn't help but steal a curious gaze. The daily life of the Emperor was truly nothing extraordinary.

The Emperor was drinking when his gaze caught Fan Xian's sneaky appearance. He couldn't resist smiling and scolded, "Does Jiangnan not have good food to look so greedy?"

Fan Xian chuckled and said, "Mainly because I had to enter the Palace early today, so breakfast was rushed."

The Emperor waved, indicating for him to sit down. Eunuch Yao had long been waiting for this order on the side. He quickly went behind the curtain and brought out an embroidered stool. Fan Xian sat down and couldn't help but think of a year and a half ago of his first time entering the royal study to discuss matters. He was also curious as to why the Emperor didn't continue the royal study discussion after the court conference ended and called him in alone instead.

Having not seen the Emperor for more than a year and also thinking about such things as acting, for a moment, Fan Xian didn't know how to begin. Fortunately, when the Emperor and an official meet, it should be the Emperor who speaks first anyway. The inside of the royal study immediately sunk into silence.

The Emperor drank half the swallow's nest and placed it on the table. He raised his head to look at Fan Xian's face, looking at that delicate and pure face. For some reason, his long frozen heart moved for the first time in 20 years. He couldn't help but shake his head, trying to throw out that glimmer of emotion from his monarchical head.

"How are your injuries?" The Emperor asked as lightly as he could.

Fan Xian bowed slightly and respectfully replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. Your official is fine." He knew that the Emperor certainly already knew of the news of Yan Xiaoyi's son's strange death, but since he was not bringing it up and not connecting this matter to him, he was happy to play mute. He couldn't be bothered to explain more.

"Your Majesty…?" The Emperor repeated this once in his heart and sighed. He smiled and said, "There is no need to be so reserved. If you have something to say, then say it. Earlier in the year, I sent you to Jiangnan to…I wanted to train you through experience to promote you. However, it had to be hard work for you."

For the Emperor to be able to say such gentle things, it really wasn't easy. Although Fan Xian's heart was moved, he was not soft. In an even voice, he said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I was very willing to go to Jiangnan."

He continued to smile and said, "Jiangnan's scenery is good. I've always wanted to visit."

Instead of using "official" he used "I" now. Every time these two spoke, it developed like this. First, it was official and ruler, then senior and junior, and then it became a blurry father and son situation. They never spoke of it, but they both knew it well. It was ambiguous, sour, and shameless.

The Emperor smiled and said quietly a moment later, "You did very well in Jiangnan…I am very gratified."

Naturally, he was referring to the palace treasury matter, the Jiaozhou matter, and the Jiangnan Road matter. In everything, Fan Xian always demonstrated the elegance and spirit a young official ought to have. For this court and this Emperor, he had scraped too much goodness from the people and military.

Right now, Fan Xian was a knife in the Emperor's hand. He had essentially already offended every powerful level in the court, and the Emperor understood this. Thinking of the attack in the valley, he couldn't help but feel a faint pity for Fan Xian, but…not much.

They spoke some more of the Jiangnan matter before concluding the report on political matters. After all, the main part of returning to court to debrief was in court. In the court conference in a few days, Fan Xian would have to wear court robes and come into the court with a special edict to welcome the sighs of admiration or scolding from the civil and martial officials. Today, in the royal study, it was only an Emperor and a close official talking. Particularly concerning the Jiangnan and Jiaozhou matters, they had already been told to the Emperor through endless secret memorials, so their discussion today lay elsewhere.

Elsewhere lay in Danzhou. The Emperor seemed to be particularly interested in Fan Xian's trip to Danzhou to visit family and asked about it in great detail. Although Fan Xian felt it was somewhat strange, he restrained his temper and related it all. He didn't even leave out Dong'er's matter, who knew just how many spies the Emperor had put around him.

The Emperor also asked about how his wet nurse in Danzhou was doing. Fan Xian replied to each of his questions and described the scenery now in Danzhou: the white seagulls and precipices beside the city walls.

Then, Fan Xian fell into silence because he had an unexpected discovery, the Emperor's mind seemed to have wandered.

The Emperor's eyes were slightly shuttered, and the lines at the corners of his eyes demonstrated the charm unique to middle-aged people. He didn't look at Fan Xian and didn't speak. He only peacefully remembered everything about Danzhou following Fan Xian's descriptions.

Suddenly, he realized that the voice telling the story had stopped. The Emperor raised his head, startled, and found that Fan Xian was gazing at him closely. He couldn't help but smile and said, "It's nothing. I was just thinking that after coming back from the last Western expedition, I have not left Jingdou. I couldn't help but miss Danzhou's scenery."

During the last Western expedition, there was a rebellion in Jingdou. The Taiping Courtyard was washed with flood, and Fan Xian was taken by Wu Zhu into that black carriage and escaped to Danzhou. Fan Xian's expression didn't change. He only hesitantly asked, "Your Majesty, you've also been to Danzhou?"

"Of course I've been." The corners of the Emperor's mouth tilted upwards and he smiled slightly. "When I went to Danzhou, you weren't born yet. It was in Danzhou that I met your mother."

The official and ruler both fell into silence,. They both felt these words were a bit stupid. When the father first just met the mother, of course, the son hadn't been born yet.

A moment later, a slightly dazed Fan Xian said, "So it was in Danzhou."

"Has Director Chen and…Minister Fan not told you before?" The Emperor gave a not-quite-there smile. "I had thought you knew something of what happened back then."

Fan Xian knew that if he opened his mouth and asked, the Emperor in front of him, who was still sunk in beautiful memories, would certainly satisfy his curiosity. However, for some reason, Fan Xian didn't want to ask. Just like how behind that silk curtain was hidden beautiful scenery of Cang Mountain, but in the mountain there were strange, large beasts.

He just laughed peaceably. "How would the elders have the leisure time to tell me these things. Only, when I was little, I knew the court granted Danzhou a special favor. In the beginning, it was three years of no taxes. When I went back this time, I found that taxes have always been waived. The people of Danzhou are living well and endlessly thankful to Your Majesty."

"I am a ruler of the world. Loving my people is something I should do. What need is there for gratitude?" The Emperor smiled. He gazed at Fan Xian and sighed. "I've waived taxes in Danzhou for 20 years. One, because of my wet nurse. Two, it is also to express my gratitude for that port that year."

These words made it difficult for Fan Xian to comment. Was he going to talk with the Emperor about his first love? Furthermore, that first love was his mother. Coincidentally, at this moment, his stomach made a gurgling noise. His mind spun and he said, "Your Majesty…I'm truly hungry, please, grant me a bowl of swallow nest to eat."

The Emperor started and immediately roared with laughter. Pointing at Fan Xian's nose, he couldn't speak for a while. Ever since the Qing Emperor had taken the throne, he had established his might. He watched the world and all of his officials and people feel fear and respect. In over 10 years, there had not been an official who complained that he was hungry and asked for food during a conversation between the ruler and the official. Even when the Crown Prince and the Great Prince were young and held by concubines from the Palace, they didn't dare speak so cheekily.

After a long time, the Emperor finally stopped his laughter. His eyes were filled with tenderness and he scolded, "This shamelessness, not even half of your mother's…ahem, ahem."

The Emperor forcefully swallowed those words and slanted his eyes at the half a bowl of swallow's nest on the table. He casually pointed at it and said, "It's still warm, eat it quickly."

Fan Xian eagerly went forward to pick up the pure-white porcelain bowl. Without worrying about anything, he ate it all in a few mouthfuls. Although he didn't purposely show gratitude or an expression that said the Emperor's favor was vast and mighty, he still ate it very happily.

The Emperor saw this sight and felt pleased. He thought to himself that An Zhi was indeed not one to put on a pretense. However, the Emperor had no idea that Fan Xian was cursing in his heart. He wasn't cursing the Emperor for being petty, rather he loathed the fact that the swallow's nest had been eaten by the other person.

To the side, the silently waiting Eunuch Yao was shocked at seeing this scene. He had been in the Palace for many years and had only seen such a harmonious sight between the ruler and officials a few times. The last time was probably when Shu Wu the Scholar had returned from Northern Qi. In order to show his favor and that he held no grudges, he had granted him half a piece of dried meat.

However, last time, because Shu the Scholar was unbelievably moved by the dried meat, he had knelt in front of the Emperor with tears streaming down his face and repeatedly praised the Emperor. He was nothing like Sir Fan junior today, at ease and natural.

It seemed that the Emperor seemed to favor Sir Fan junior's response more.

Eunuch Yao lowered his head, but he was sighing with admiration in his heart. This kind of official and ruler, this kind of…father and son, it was very rare to see in the Palace. As he was thinking, he was jolted awake by the Emperor's call. He quickly took the bowl and retreated. As he walked along the eaves in the Palace, he was still thinking about the scene earlier with deep fear and admiration.

…

…

In the royal study, there was only the Emperor and Fan Xian. The Emperor suddenly opened his mouth and said, "Now you are someone with status, so you can't mess around like you did before in the Imperial College…Danzhou, ah, to kick an official's son so that he can't rise from bed for half a year for the sake of a family servant always results in a loss of dignity."

Hearing these words, Fan Xian straightened his neck. Although his tone was calm, it carried a hint of stubbornness. "Your Majesty is right, however, if there is a next time, I will still have to kick."

"OK, OK." The Emperor smiled. "If you want to kick, then kick. Only, there needs to be a limit to your messing around. Don't go too overboard."

Fan Xian sensed that the Emperor had other meanings in his words, so he didn't comment and only nodded his head. The Emperor looked at this young man's appearance and furrowed his brows. He thought to himself that if this kid made such a commotion over a serving girl that was chased out of his home then for the dozen subordinates he lost to the arrows in the valley, given this kid's grudge-holding personality, if he wanted him to swallow this anger, it seemed like it would be rather difficult.

Of course, the Emperor could directly open his mouth and have Fan Xian stop, but the Emperor didn't want to do this.

"I hear you are hosting a dinner tonight?"

Fan Xian started slightly and respectfully said, "Yes, I've been gone from the capital for more than a year. There are many officials and…that I haven't seen. I'm taking this opportunity so everyone can get together."

The Emperor's expression became calm. "It's still what I said before, you can mess around, but there needs to a limit."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"The court will investigate the valley incident and give you an explanation."

Yes, Your Majesty."

"For young people, you should put your sights further into the future. Don't limit yourself to what is in front of you."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"In the coming year, find some time. I want to go visit Jiangnan and see what you and Xue Qing have done with my grain storage and palace treasury."

"Yes…hmm?"

Fan Xian suddenly raised his head and looked at the Emperor with a glimmer of shock. The Emperor was going on an inspection tour? This was not something that had happened in the past dozen years, particularly since now the various powers in Jingdou were beginning to stir. Although it is said that no one dares be overly savage with the Emperor holding the fort in the Palace, the valley incident and Jiaozhou incident both showed that the volcano under the dragon chair had become live. At this time, the Emperor dared to go on an inspection tour?

Fan Xian didn't understand what the Emperor was thinking. After a moment of silence, he said, "The official thinks…"

He once again referred to himself as an official. This was to be a formal remonstration and attempt to dissuade, but the Emperor did not give him this opportunity. He waved his hand and said, "I have already decided. I hold the world in my hand. What need is there to be concerned over the random jumping around of a few bedbugs…I am going to visit Danzhou. In the New Year, you will return to Jiangnan. Remember to prepare, however, this matter needs to be done in secret."

Fan Xian had nothing to say, he could only nod and agree.

The Emperor looked at him and furrowed his brows. "You remember what I said earlier?"

Fan Xian guessed with a bit of a headache, "Are you talking about…the messing around?"

The Emperor nodded his head with gratification. "I…only have these few sons. If you all want to make trouble, then make trouble, as long as it can be cleaned up. As for your thoughts, I also understand a little. Very good, continue as you were."

Fan Xian was surprised. Son? You all? This could be considered making things clear, but he felt that the Emperor's gaze seemed to have already pierced through his body and saw through his thoughts. The Emperor knew about his thoughts? He immediately thought of the clash he had with the Second Prince the year before last in the Baoyue Brothel and his conversation with the Second Prince in the tea shop.

If the Emperor was using that conversation to guess at Fan Xian's heart, it had to be said, his guesses were mostly accurate.

"Has that Haitang girl returned to Northern Qi?" the Emperor suddenly asked.

Fan Xian was surprised again and a helpless expression appeared on his face. He nodded and said, "Lang Tiao brought people and took her back."

The Emperor closed his eyes slightly. "At first, I did not like it. After all, the Chen girl has not married you for long. However, afterward, I felt that this matter wasn't completely without its positives. Tianyi Dao has deep connections to the temples in various places. If you had the ability to control the Tianyi Dao in your hand, for the court, it would be a meritorious service above that of a military act."

Without waiting for Fan Xian to speak, the Emperor continued faintly, "After Ku He dies, it should be Haitang who will take his place. You have to think through the connections in between."

Fan Xian lowered his head and was silent.

The Emperor said, "There is no harm in getting closer to Northern Qi women, but with Northern Qi, you still need to maintain some distance. It's not that I suspect you, it's just that the aspirations of the Qing court lies with the world. During the year, you made various moves. It will always raise suspicions in the heart of some people in the military. They are all men used to horseback and direct action. They want to open up new territories. In your return to the capital this time, presumably you noticed that the attitude of the Bureau of Military Affairs is not very good toward you. This is one of the reasons."

Fan Xian remained silent. He knew this was the so-called clash between the dove faction and the hawk faction. However, in his bones, the Emperor was certainly of the carnivorous type. Although he said he had no suspicions, this was actually a severe reminder for him.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Fan Xian replied peacefully. "The official knows the limits."

Seeing his careful appearance, the Emperor smiled comfortingly. Waving his hand, he said, "It's rare for you to return to the capital, go wander around the Palace…"

He was silent for a moment then said, "Make the empress dowager happy."

Fan Xian accepted the order and left through the main door of the royal study.

…

…

Eunuch Yao was waiting outside the door. Seeing him come out, he led him around the Palace. Although Fan Xian had entered the Palace many times and was familiar with the paths inside it, he knew that for an outside official entering the Palace to have an audience with the Emperor and then to visit the various concubines in their Palaces was already outside of the rules. He had to be extra careful, so he needed a eunuch to lead the way.

When it was all said and done, it was his position as slight outside of the royal family in addition to his status as the prince consort to the princess that gave him the opportunity to wander freely in the Royal Palace gardens.

The first place he had to go to was Hanguang Palace, the palace of the empress dowager. The empress dowager had just woken from her midday nap. Her body was still tired, so she didn't say much to Fan Xian. However, Fan Xian sensed that although the empress dowager's attitude toward him was still cold, compared to when they had lamb soup, it was already much better.

After talking a little Fan Xian, saw that her state of mind was not very suitable for talking. He took the cue and said his farewells. Before he left, he said once Wan'er was back, they would come into the Palace together to pay their respects. This indeed made the old woman rather happy.

Before he left the palace, Fan Xian spoke to the serving girl quietly and gave her a prescription for the old woman to take. Although the serving girls in Hanguang Palace would not dare randomly use medicine on the empress dowager, they knew the medical reputation of this popular man in court. She giggled and accepted it. Only after it was checked over by the Imperial Academy of Medicine could it be used. She couldn't resist praising the prince consort's filial piety.

Fan Xian smiled and didn't say anything. He left Hanguang Palace and followed the road west in the expansive Royal Palace. When he passed Guangxin Palace, he couldn't resist having an extra look.

To the side, Eunuch Yao carefully said, "Sir Fan junior…this is Guangxin Palace."

Fan Xian paused and laughingly scolded, "Of course, I know. What are you thinking about now?"

Eunuch Yao chuckled and said, "No matter what, she is your mother-in-law. If you don't visit and it gets back to the empress dowager, I'm afraid she won't be happy."

Fan Xian paused and stopped not far from Guangxin Palace.