464-468

Chapter 464: Not Your Goddamn Business

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

In the Palace, the Emperor once said that he wanted to use Yan Xiaoyi, dared to use Yan Xiaoyi. At that moment, Fan Xian wished desperately that he could extend a microphone forward to ask him, just how are you feeling? Just how is he feeling? When looking at one's heart, be careful it doesn't send one into paroxysms.

Up to now, Fan Xian only had a glimmer of affection for the Emperor. Logically speaking, he didn't have worry so much about the existence of Qing Kingdom and the life and death of the Emperor. For his and his family's future, he had to bend to the task and spare no effort. He had no choice in this.

The carriage drove out of the south gate. The four wheels each bumped over the hard threshold, jolting awake Fan Xian who had been in a daze. Lifting the carriage's curtain, he walked out. As he yawned, he looked toward the official road going south.

It was now already the afternoon, and there were not many people entering the city. The gate guards responsible for the city gates and the Jingdou garrison soldiers responsible for the defense of the city were all lazily carrying out their daily duties. Suddenly seeing a black carriage under the protection of a dozen Overwatch Council members approaching the city gate, everyone's hearts jumped.

Then, seeing the young yawning official beside the carriage, everyone immediately guesses his identity. The leading general of the south city gate guards received the message and quickly ran out, bringing a long bench and offering hot tea to Fan Xian.

Without restraint, Fan Xian held the tea bowl and guzzled down a few big mouthfuls.

Before long, a group of carriages appeared at the end of the official road. It followed the copse of wild trees along the horizon and gradually came closer. In just a while, it had come to the city gate.

Fan Xian went forward in welcome.

The group of carriages stopped. Gao Da and six other Tiger guards stepped down from the carriage along with all the swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau. With a swish, they all half knelt on the ground and greeted him.

Fan Xian waved his hands and had them get up. Naturally, he also had to say a few warm and praising words. However, his steps didn't stop, and he directly climbed into the middle carriage.

Lifting the curtain, he saw Wan'er holding a blue cloth bag and dozing. Her long eyelashes were lying peacefully on her white skin. Her fringe hung serenely from her forehead, hiding her tired appearance.

Fan Xian didn't want to wake her, so he just sat beside her and took the blue cloth bag in her arms. At the same time, he glanced across with confusion.

Sisi, who was sitting across from him, blinked and said in a quiet voice, "Stayed up too late last night. She's wasn't very energetic today."

Fan Xian smiled and didn't say anything. He indicated for the group to enter the city. He only reminded Gao Da and them in a quiet voice to be careful when crossing the threshold into the city to no jolt awake the one in the carriage.

…

…

The carriage passed through almost half of the streets and alleys in Jingdou before coming to the quiet Chang Street in the south of the city and stopping outside the main door to the Fan manor.

The carriage stopped, and Wan'er woke in a daze. Unconsciously, she hugged the not-rugged but unusually strong arm and rubbed against it. She felt that a long lost warmth had returned to her side. She burrowed into that warm embrace.

She immediately woke up.

The girl jumped in fright and leapt up before realizing that beside her was the already asleep Fan Xian, then she relaxed. Looking at the familiar face she had not seen in a long time, she couldn't resist smiling innocently and sticking out her tongue.

Bang, bang, bang, bang…

A row of very enthusiastic firecrackers rang out and startled Fan Xian from his dreams. He grumbled angrily and stretched his arms only to embrace nothing but air. Opening his eyes in confusion, he found his wife was huddled in a corner watching him.

Earlier, Wan'er watched Fan Xian in a daze and only realized, a moment later, that Sisi was sitting across from him. She found that Fan Xian had been startled awake by the firecrackers. For a moment, she felt very awkward, and her face flushed red.

Fan Xian gazed at his wife and smiled. With the blue cloth bag in one hand, he led her down from the carriage. He didn't say anything specific, rather, he said resentfully, "Which manor is getting married? Why is there such a ruckus?"

Wan'er covered her mouth and smiled, pointing toward the Fan manor door. "I also thought it was strange. It's our home that is lighting the firecrackers. I wonder what joyful news there is."

Sisi also came down with her bag. Looking at the people coming and going outside the main door of Fan manor, the red lanterns high above, and the lively scene with the firecrackers, she also jumped in surprise. With a cry, she said in a high voice, "Young Master, Mistress, is this to welcome us back from Jiangnan?"

…

…

Fan Xian looked at this scene with curiosity and couldn't resist grabbing onto the freeloader Zheng Tuo, who had come out to welcome him, and asked, "Sir Zheng, what is this for?"

Zheng Tuo laughed and said, "Young Master, today you were granted the title of Duke of Danbo…this is a joyous matter. Countless officials have come from various departments to offer their congratulations. They are all waiting in the manor for your return. Such an honor, of course, it needs to be celebrated."

Fan Xian paused and only now remembered that he had already become a duke. He raised his head to look at the red cloth hanging on the sign outside the manor and couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

Lin Wan'er looked at him in surprise, "You've been granted a dukedom?"

Fan Xian nodded.

Hearing these words, Lin Wan'er's face was filled with joy. Even Sisi couldn't help but be overjoyed. After all, in this world, such things mattered a great deal. For an official to be granted a dukedom at Fan Xian's age, put anywhere else, it was still an unusually honorable matter.

As they walked in, all along the way were officials coming forward to offer their congratulations and bow. Fan Xian hurriedly returned these greetings. He had no choice but to have the Teng family's wife come out and first take Wan'er, Sisi, and the serving girls into the inner manor. The Fan manor servants were even more joyous and incessantly knelt to Fan Xian and kowtowing.

"Here, here."

All along the way, he gave out tips. Naturally, Fan Xian did not feel heartsore about this. However, he wondered whether it was necessary to be so happy? Even Wan'er and Sisi were so happy. If his sister was home, he wondered whether or not she would be unable to contain her joy.

Finally, everything was dealt with. The guests were sent off, and the Fan family finally gathered in the Flower Hall in the garden. Lady Liu sat beside Fan Jian and joy filled her face. Sisi had just returned to the Fan manor and was given a very glorious task. She began to make arrangements for the feast.

In the past, this task had always been the responsibility of the unofficial Lady Liu. This meant that the Fan manor had already acknowledged Sisi's position.

Fan Jian said a few words to his wife and daughter-in-law beside him, and said a few more things about Sisi's matter. In any case, the ceremony had already happened in Danzhou and the elder had already given her consent. As the head of the Fan manor, he would not say anything more.

After the meal was prepared and there weren't any random lay-abouts in the Flower Hall anymore, Fan Sizhe, who had been shut up in the home, ran out eagerly. He first greeted his sister-in-law and then sat beside Fan Xian, shamelessly trying to curry favor.

Wan'er was surprised, thinking, Wasn't brother-in-law in Northern Qi? How could he have come home in secret?

Fan Xian opened his mouth and scolded, "It's just a dukedom, is it really worth you being like this?"

Fan Sizhe pulled back his neck and said, "You don't value it much…but just how many of these titles are there in the world?"

Fan Xian smiled and said, "There is still no need to come to me for money. Are you lacking in money these days? I think, in another two years, father and I will be asking you for money."

Fan Sizhe chuckled and said, "Even silver cannot buy your reputation. In the future, you're going to be a prince. It would be good if you could get me a dukedom."

Fan Xian started and then remembered. After the Baoyue Brothel case last autumn, the Ministry of Justice put out wanted posters of Fan Sizhe. The dukedom he had received from the dragon chair as a child was removed.

However, Fan Xian still felt strange hearing the word "prince." He met his father's eyes. Both knew the judgement in the other's heart.

Given Fan Xian's past, becoming a first-rank duke was the end of the line. It was impossible for him to become a prince, unless certain things happened in the future.

The feast immediately became silent. Fan Sizhe also knew that there was a problem with what he said and didn't speak nonsensically again. Wan'er looked at this scene and smiled lovably. She said to her brother-in-law, "Since you're back, don't rush to leave again…after dinner, play a few rounds with mother and father."

Hearing about mahjong and particularly since it was his sister-in-law's suggestion, his attention was immediately perked. In the past year in Northern Qi, he had not met a match at the mahjong table. Tonight, he would be able to face off again with the second best player in the world, his sister-in-law.

…

…

Everything was peaceful for the next few days, and there were not many stories to tell. The Second Prince's faction was terrified, and the Eldest Princess was in her palace thinking about something. Fan Xian only occasionally thought about the Crown Prince's strange behavior in Baoyue Brothel and was very confused. The Crown Prince, the true inheritor of Qing Kingdom's dragon chair, chose the best kind of response…but looking at the how the situation was developing, where did his confidence come from?

There was one thing Fan Xian didn't understand, and Fan Jian also didn't understand. How could the Crown Prince dare to just watch coldly from the side? Fan Xian had already exposed the relationship between the Second Prince and the Eldest Princess. Unless he had a great supporting power in his hands, but who initially supported him. So, what made the Crown Prince think he could believe the Eldest Princess' words again?

His confusion would have to remain because he still had to return back to Jiangnan in the spring. After the New Year celebrations, he still had to visit Chen Garden. King Jing's manor, and the Great Prince's manor. In the first few days of the New Year, Fan Xian didn't go the Overwatch Council and also didn't enter the Palace. He only stayed put in the Fan manor, showing filial piety toward the father he hadn't seen in a year and disciplining his brother, who had long been in the North.

The atmosphere of family reunion was very good. They were only missing Ruoruo and the elder in Danzhou. At one point, Fan Xian privately spoke to his father about how grandmother had never seen Sizhe and should they find a time for Sizhe to go back to Danzhou?

Fan Jian thought about it, and it was indeed the case. He had Fan Xian arrange it.

Just as everything was developing in a peaceful way, on the 28th, an uninvited guest came to Fan manor.

This guest was a Northern Qi diplomatic envoy stationed in the South Kingdom. His identity was a bit sensitive. He had come especially to the Fan manor after reporting in at Honglu Temple.

The whole Fan manor found this strange, but they could only open the main doors in welcome. The diplomatic envoy was very respectful to Fan Xian and conveyed the Northern Qi court's greetings to Fan Xian. He spoke of the attack in the valley and how the people of Northern Qi had great sympathy for him and felt a deep injustice.

After putting down a mound of gifts, the diplomatic envoy left the manor leaving only Fan Jian and Fan Xian staring dumbly at each other.

…

…

That night, someone came from the South Kingdom's Honglu Temple and a eunuch came from the inner court to explain to Fan Xian why a Northern Qi diplomat would visit him at his home.

As it turns out…the news of Fan Xian being attacked had already traveled to Northern Qi. For some reason, the little Emperor in Northern Qi had personally written a secret letter and asked someone to convey it to the Qing Emperor. He expressed his concern about Fan Xian being attacked and, furthermore, expressed criticisms for the Qing court not being careful about Fan Xian's personal safety.

Hearing these words, he sucked in a breath of cold air as he faced the eunuch and the official from the Honglu Temple. He opened his mouth to curse, "Making such a ruckus, this has…nothing to do with him!"

The Honglu Temple official and eunuch looked at each other awkwardly and carefully comforted, "We all understand what intentions the Northern Qi people have. There is no need for you to be so angry. Such dirty tricks, what use could it be?"

The eunuch smiled wickedly and said, "If they want to give gifts, you can just accept them."

After seeing these two away from the manor, Fan Xian rushed to the study and asked his father, "What exactly to the Northern Qi people want to do? Is it their place to express their concern?"

Fan Jian forced a smile. "There is something I've forgotten to tell you, and the Emperor seemed to also have forgotten this matter. When you first a diplomat to the Northern Qi, didn't you once promise their Emperor in the Royal Palace in Shangjing that when you had time, you would go teach a class at their Imperial College?"

Fan Xian thought seriously. It seemed like there was had been said, but he hadn't agreed, right?

Fan Jian sighed again, "During the time you were in Jiangnan, Northern Qi had sent a message to the Honglu Temple saying they wanted to engage you as an honored guest lecturer at Shangjing's Imperial College. The Emperor had just thought the little Emperor was bored and did not think much of it. Who would have expected that Northern Qi had been waiting here. Since you are currently an honored guest lecturer in Shangjing's Imperial College and was met with an assassination attempt in the South Kingdom, it seems to make sense that they would express their concern and anger."

Fan Xian said, with bitter anger, "To trick me now, what benefit does it bring them?

Fan Jian raised his head and glanced at his son. He shook his head and said, "Although it is a very crude method and anyone with a brain would not believe this kind of provocation, your collusion in Jiangnan with Northern Qi could not be hidden forever. Under accumulated defamation, who knows whether or not the Emperor would doubt you in the future? They only have to send some gifts, bring a few messages, and lose some face, and they are able to put a thorn in your throat. This kind of deal is very worth it."

Fan Xian furrowed his brows and felt a great anger. "The attack in the valley…the little Emperor in Northern Qi has deliberately complicated the issue. It looks like the court will not continue to investigate."

Fan Jian glanced at him and smiled bitterly, "The Emperor never wanted to investigate, and now he has such a brilliant excuse. How could he let it go to waste?"

Fan Xian also smiled bitterly. A moment later, he said seriously to his father, "Father, on the 1st, I want to enter the ancestral temple."

Fan Jian was not surprised. Ever since the Emperor formally conferred the title of Duke of Danbo onto Fan Xian, he had understood what the Emperor was thinking. He only calmly said, "I have to enter the Palace to clarify this matter."

Chapter 465: Returning To The Ancestors

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

Just like the people in Baoyue Brothel once said, Jingdou had been peaceful for a year. The biggest reason was because Fan Xian had been exiled to Jiangnan for an entire year.

Following Fan Xian's return to the capital, the peaceful Jingdou was no longer able to maintain its appearance of calm. For one, he was caught at the clashing point of a number of different powers. For two, his way of doing things was completely at odds with his appearance as an immortal poet. In fact, his way of doing things was much more vicious than that of most of the nobility.

The attack in the valley, the nighttime assassinations in Jingdou, some people's quiet deaths, some official's humiliating incarceration…each of these incidences made the nobility in Jingdou deeply realize, once again, Fan Xian's power and determination. It made them understand that after spending a year in the warm spring sunshine and charm of Jiangnan, it did not soften his personality much at all.

After Fan Xian returned to the capital, shocking things happened one after another.

In the most recent incident, the Northern Qi court had shamelessly come forward and expressed their care toward Fan Xian as well as criticized the Qing court with strange disgust for not properly protecting Sir Fan junior's safety.

The entire capital found it absurd and was angry.

Putting it another way, this was the internal politics of Qing Kingdom. When was it time for corrupt Northern Qi scholars to comment? However, the Northern Qi people had commented and done so strangely loudly.

Immediately, Fan Xian was pushed into the center of the struggle. Although the clever people did not believe that he had any kind of shady collusion with Northern Qi because this trick of Northern Qi's was too childish, the nobility and commoners of Qing Kingdom were still discomfited, very discomfited. The gazes being tossed toward the Fan manor were somewhat complicated.

Before this matter had even been called down, two days later on New Year's day, another matter involving the Fan Manor made the entire Jingdou fearful.

…

…

There was not a glimmer of light in the sky.

Fan Xian sat on the carriage and rubbed his irritated eyes. He thought to himself, Did the ancestral worship have to be so secretive? Last night was New Year's Eve. The whole family had played mahjong through the night. After Fan Sizhe and Lin Wan'er had divided up the entire family's wealth, the game topped. However, the entire family had immediately got into the carriage and driven out of the manor.

All along the way, the carriages from the other branches of the Fan family gathered together. Although each branch was silent, the spread of such a long group of carriages did seem rather large.

Fan Xian faintly felt happy and nervous. It was his first time going to honor the ancestors, so he didn't know the worship began right before dawn. During the ancestral worship last year, he had stayed with Wan'er in the garden. He faintly remembered that it should be in the afternoon.

He glanced at the deeply asleep Sizhe beside him and couldn't help but smile and shake his head. Presumably, no yamen in Qing Kingdom dared to be so bold as to dare to search for Sizhe, a wanted criminal, in his own carriage.

Thinking of the fact he would finally enter the ancestral temple, the smile on Fan Xian's face could not be removed. He didn't know how his father negotiated with the Emperor. In the end, it was clear that the Emperor had no choice but to give his consent. The empress dowager also maintained her silence.

Speaking of which, since the royal family could not give him a name, did they want him to through his entire life without a reliable family name?

Fan Xian smiled coldly. He could actually guess the results of his father and the Emperor's negotiation. In his eyes, the Emperor granting him the title of Duke of Danbo was already enough of an explanation. Furthermore, looking at the situation at hand, the Emperor did indeed need Fan Xian to clarify his identity to prevent his sons fighting over the family property becoming even more complicated. The weakening of the Overwatch Council's power was not enough. If Fan Xian wanted to continue walking down the path as a powerful official, the first thing he had to do was remove himself from the group of princes.

The carriage traveled for an indeterminable amount of time and waited for a while by the city gate for it to open. It then drove out under the inattentive gazes of the soldiers, who were familiar to this sight.

Following the official road all the way west, they finally entered the country estate Fan Xian had been to once. The Fan family ancestral property.

Thirty-odd carriages stopped in order on the square outside the ancestral hall. There were already people from the estate who were coming forward to welcome them. It was like this every year, and things were done with a practiced ease now. The bamboo canopy provided for the women to temporarily sit under had already been erected. Lady Liu, Wan'er, Sisi, and the wives of a few other branches were all taken into the yard to rest.

The current head of the Fan clan, the Minister of Revenue Fan Jian, stood below the stone steps of the ancestral hall. He wore tri-colored formal clothing and looked at everything calmly. Yet, a feeling of warmth and joy surged in his heart.

He had raised a son for the Emperor and had finally made him his own son. Could this be considered the most successful day in his life?

The leaders of the other branches of the Fan clan had all already disembarked from the carriage and were standing in order of seniority outside the ancestral hall. They stole glances at the leader at the front. Each of them felt complicated emotions in their hearts. Thirty years ago, the Fan clan was already one of the largest in the capital. Fan Jian's branch had only been a side and weak branch. If it had not been for that elder who had raised the current Emperor and King Jing. How could it be possible for Fan Jian to currently be the head of the clan?

However, after Fan Jian became the clan head, he was very strict with the members of the clan, and his own position had become more and more powerful. No one dared to disobey. Furthermore, the Fan manor now had an extra person, Fan Xian.

They each put on the necessary clothing for worshipping ancestors and lit the incense. The sacrificial items had already been prepared. The monk who lived in the ancestral temple respectfully rolled out a mat and slowly pulled on the great doors of the ancestral hall.

With a creak, the black wooden doors were pulled open. A gust of cold air rushed out from inside as if the ancestors of the Fan family were gazing coldly at their descendants.

Hundreds of men from the Fan clan lowered their heads and stood in ranks.

A carriage behind the group opened its door. Fan Xian, wearing cloth clothing, silently walked out and slowly walked forward between two rows of males. He followed his father's hand gestures as he stood below the stone steps.

The atmosphere before the ancestral hall was solemn and respectful. The men of the Fan clan didn't even breathe loudly in fear that it would wake the spirits of their ancestors. However, when they saw the man who walked out from the carriage, they still couldn't help but stare in shocked surprise and utter countless shocked gasps through wide-open mouths.

The little teenage boys at the very back were greatly terrified after seeing Fan Xian. There were the poor little tyrannical boys that had their legs broken by Fan Xian outside Baoyue Brothel and had their bottoms beaten black and blue by Lady Liu in the Fan manor.

Fan Xian had also come to worship the ancestors. The legs of these little tyrannical lords of the Fan clan shook in fear.

…

…

Fan Xian calmly walked forward and gradually neared the stone steps of the ancestral hall. He saw that his father seemed to be arguing, in a low voice, with some of the elders about something below the stone steps. Fan Xian had seen those elders before and knew they were elders of virtue and prestige. It seemed that he had to call one of them great-uncle [JW1].

The great-uncle of the highest seniority in the Fan clan wore a worried expression and said quietly to Fan Jian, "By virtue…this is not appropriate."

Fan Jian smiled and said, "Second Uncle, what is not appropriate about it?"

The great uncle's eyes were full of fear as he lowered his voice, "This child…this child…" He suddenly closed his mouth and refused to speak. Was he going to say, to the head's face, that his son was not his true born? He was still fearful. The seniors of the Fan clan around him were also fearful. They had not thought that there would be such a battle at this year's ancestral worship. This was completely because the manor had quietly brought Fan Xian.

Everyone began to speak. Although they didn't speak openly in front of Minister Fan, they faintly expressed the worry in their hearts. However, they didn't dare to raise their voices too much in fear that they would wake their ancestors in the ancestral hall.

Everyone refused to accept it in their hearts, thinking, He wasn't a son of the Fan family, so why should he come to worship the ancestors? What they were more afraid of was that Fan Xian was the child of the Emperor. If he joined the Fan family today, would the empress dowager and Emperor be unhappy?

Fan Xian did not give these elders an opportunity to debate. He had already walked to his father's side. He first bowed respectfully toward the elders and then stood beside his father.

Fan Jian smiled and pointed to a spot in the middle of the rows, "Your place is there."

Seeing that the head was not listening, no one dared express their objection further. These elders in the Fan clan were actually more afraid of the aura around Fan Xian.

…

…

"Ancestors have merit. Ancestors have virtue."

"All things originate from heaven. All men originate from his ancestors."

The inside and outside of the ancestral hall were twined with white smoke. The objects had been brought forward, and the men kowtowed in order. In calls to rise and fall, the Fan clan's ancestral worship continued steadily. However, people couldn't resist stealing glances at Fan Xian.

Fan Xian had already knelt, worshipped, and kowtowed in the ancestral hall. At this moment, he was standing to the side and looking, in a daze, at the paper confetti filling the sky and the snow on a mountain to the distance. He knew that his name could finally be recorded in the Fan clan family tree. For a moment, an extra, bright color shone in the depths of his heart.

Fan Sizhe kowtowed in the direction of the ancestral hall from inside the carriage. It was not convenient for him to disembark.

Fan Xian stood beside the carriage and couldn't resist letting out a sigh. In his new life, he had confirmed his affiliation to this world in the mountain cave in Xi Mountain in front of a dying Xiao En. Now, in the Fan clan's ancestral hall, he had finally once again confirmed his affiliation to this world. An immovable seal had finally been placed on his life. He was now tightly bound to his world, never to part again.

The morning light had long arrived. The white fog in the country estate and the smoke from the ancestral hall mixed together, never to part again.

…

…

As Fan Xian stood by the carriage outside the Fan ancestral hall and sighed, at almost the same moment, across half of Qing Kingdom's territory, in one of the largest estates in the world outside Jiangnan's Suzhou outside an ancestral temple that was built even larger and more severe than the Fan Clan's, Xia Qifei was kneeling in front of his ancestors memorial tablets and sobbing soundlessly.

No, it should be the current Seventh Young Master of the Ming family. Ming Qingcheng was shaking in front of the ancestors' memorial tablets, letting his tears wash down his face.

The current head of the Ming family, Ming Qingda, used a complicated gaze to look at Ming Qingcheng crying behind him to the left. His seventh brother that had left the family in his youth.

Ming Lanshi stood below his fourth uncle and looked at this "seventh uncle," who never had the chance to enter the ancestral hall to worship before. He maintained a calm expression on his face, but the depths of his heart was filled with the feeling of defeat.

His fourth uncle had been realized half a year ago by the Suzhou government. From then on, he began to side with Xia Qifei and opposed the Ming family at every turn. Without question, the abortive assassination attempt made the Fourth Young Master lose heart with the head of the Ming family.

The Ming family was in a difficult situation. There was not enough cash flow, so they had to stretch their hands out. Although the Zhaoshang money house had provided a great deal of help, if the business along the eastern road and on the sea did not make a turn for the better and they continued to borrow money, this would be a big problem. Furthermore, now that there was another power inside the family, the sons of the other concubines stood on the side of the Fourth Young Master of the Ming family.

Thinking of this, Ming Lanshi hated the imperial envoy far away in Jingdou even more deeply. The current situation had been single-handedly created by him, including Xia Qifei entering the ancestral hall to worship today. Acknowledging the ancestors and returning home was one part of the agreement they had made that year.

Ming Lanshi didn't understand why his father would agree to this request of Fan Xian's.

…

…

Xia Qifei wiped away the tear tracks on his face. He knelt on the ground and faced the ancestors' memorial tablets. In a voice that only he could hear, he said, "Father, mother…that old witch has already died. Your son has finally come back."

He had been chased out of his home in his youth and narrowly escaped death countless times. Even after he became the leader of the Jiangnan water bandits, he only hoped to one day have his revenge through fire, blood, and martial power. However, he would only be able to become a lonely ghost. He had never dared to dream…that he would be able to publicly return to the Ming family.

Now, he was not just the leader of the Jiangnan water bandits or a secret official of the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council stationed in Jiangnan, he was now the owner of the Xia-Ming Ji. He was responsible for selling palace treasury goods going to Northern Qi. He had also obtained the identity of the Seventh Young Master of the Ming family. In the future, one part of the Ming family's giant fortune would belong to him.

Perhaps, it could all be his.

Of course, Xia Qifei understood that even if the Ming family became his, he was also Sir Fan junior's. Everything he had right now had all been granted to him by Sir Fan junior. Xia Qifei was a man who knew gratitude and boundaries. He was not a person with wild ambitions.

As long as he could have his revenge and return to the Ming family, everything was fine.

The Fourth Ming master, who had long lost the ruthlessness he had in the past, helped him up and said, comfortingly, "Seventh brother, as long as you're home, it's fine."

"Thank you, fourth brother." Xia Qifei stood and looked at the head of the Ming family in a daze. Immediately after, he smiled and said, "Brother, I'll leave first."

Ming Qingda smiled slightly and walked forward a few steps. Moving closer to his ear, he used a voice only the two of them could hear, he quietly said, "Seventh brother, there is still a lot of time. I won't keep you for a meal today."

This was something Fan Xian had forced Ming Qingda to agree to before leaving Jiangnan. Since he had done it today, he didn't have a favorable expression for Seventh.

Xia Qifei laughed coldly. He understood the meaning hidden in Ming Qingda's words. Jiangnan and the Ming family had now split into two parts. As for who would come out on top, that would depend on who won and who lost the battle in the Royal Palace in Jingdou.

Throughout this entire year, Ming Qingda had been enduring silently, using all his tricks to drag out Fan Xian's iron-fisted tricks. It was all just to fight for some more time, waiting for the counter-attack in Jingdou. He believed that he didn't have to endure much longer.

Xia Qifei's thoughts were exactly the opposite of Ming Qingda's. He was also waiting. He was waiting for the day Sir Fan junior won a complete victory. He never believed that Sir Fan junior would fail.

…

…

Walking out of the main doors of the Ming family ancestral hall, Xia Qifei looked around at the various members of the clan and a self-mocking smile appeared on his face. He thought that very few of these clan members truly saw him as the Seventh master.

The Fourth Ming master followed beside him and quietly said, "Although we already have three people on our side, he is the master of the family. After all, there are some things that can't be kept from him."

"We won't do anything to the business part." A broken tear track lingered at the corner of his eye. He calmly said, "Add as many people as you can into the defense around the garden. I will have someone watching. If he still struggles for life after the stage is set, then he can't blame us for coming down too strongly."

The Fourth Ming master was shocked and furrowed his brows. "Don't do anything rash. The entire Jiangnan is staring at Ming Garden, even Sir Fan junior wouldn't dare do such a thing."

Xia Qifei started but didn't say anymore as he walked toward Ming Garden.

Guan Wumei, with one broken arm, was waiting for him by the carriage outside the garden. She looked at the remaining tracks on Xia Qifei's face and knew that he had suffered a great deal of emotional stimulation today. She suppressed her excitement and said, "Congratulations, boss."

"Hmm?" Xia Qifei smiled.

"Congratulations, cousin." Guan Wumei smiled warmly and said, "Congratulations, Seventh master."

…

…

On the first day of the year, in the manor in Jingdou, the Second Prince was drinking tea and playing Go with Ye Ling'er. Suddenly, there came the sounds of hurried footsteps. He couldn't help but slightly furrow his brows. Although his power in Jingdou had mostly been wiped clean by Fan Xian, it was as he had said in Baoyue Brothel, he was not in a rush at all because this was only a minor problem. As long as Fan Xian couldn't touch his royal roots, there would always be a time in the future for it to be Fan Xian's turn to be anxious.

After the manager bowed and entered, he had no time to spare for the wangfei sitting there. He hurried to the Second Prince and related the shocking news he had just heard.

The Second Prince's expression immediately changed. The black piece he had between two fingers dropped into his teacup and made a muffled plonk sound.

After the manager left, Ye Ling'er smiled and asked, "What's happened now?"

In the opinion of this not-yet-20 royal concubine, the more tragic her master beat her husband, the better. It would be best if he was beaten until his ambition cooled and he no longer paid attention to matters concerning that dragon chair.

While Fan Xian shot at tigers in Jingdou, Ye Ling'er quietly laughed in the manor. Seeing her husband's expression becoming shocked, she thought that her master had done something else, so she was not worried. On the contrary, she had the impulse that she was watching a great show.

It took a long time for the Second Prince to calm the shock in his hear and he looked at his wife, stunned, "Fan Xian, he…went to worship the ancestors today."

[JW1] Great-uncle is a possible term for a grandfather's brother.

Chapter 466: No Ambiguity Between Ruler And Official

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

Ye Ling'er made a surprised sound and directly covered her mouth, surprised beyond words. Although she had spent days hanging around the Fan manor and playing mahjong in Cang Mountain in the days after he came to the capital and had some understanding of her young teacher's aspirations, she had never thought Fan Xian would dare to choose to return to the ancestors.

The Second Prince glanced at her and smiled bitterly. "I'm wondering whether or not Fan Xian has gone crazy."

"Why do you say so?" A glimmer of confusion flashed through Ye Ling'er's jade-like eyes. Since Fan Xian dared to go to worship the ancestors, the empress dowager and the Emperor must have given implicit consent. Why did her husband still think Fan Xian was crazy?

The Second Prince shook his head and said, "For Fan Xian right now, he originally had four paths he could choose from. Now that he has chosen to return to the ancestors, he had blocked off two of the paths."

Ye Ling'er didn't open her mouth to ask again. She listened quietly.

The Second Prince thought for a while and then quietly said, "Right now, he has too much power in his hands and has offended too many people. His position as an isolated official has already been set. For him, in the future Qing Kingdom, he can either fight for the throne with us or help the Third Prince take it while he stays behind the scenes and acts as a regent prince. Only these two paths can ensure the safety of his family and make sure they are not wiped out. However, now that he has entered the Fan family, it is impossible for him to inherit the throne. It is also impossible for him to act as a regent using his identity as a child of the royal family.

Ye Ling'er furrowed her brows and said, "Even if he didn't enter the Fan family, given his past and putting aside whether or not the Emperor would allow him to inherit, at least the entire royal family and court officials would not agree to it. This first option has never been possible."

"What is 'possible?'" The Second Prince asked. "As long as he doesn't enter the Fan family, there is a possibility he could be re-admitted by the Palace. In addition, with the power he has in his hands, who can say there is no possibility he wouldn't compete for this kingdom?"

"And the second option?"

"Perhaps a regent prince could make the nobility in the Palace and the royal army outside the Palace maintain their silence. As long as his family name is Li…but if a powerful official named Fan wanted to hold power over the Emperor and command the officials, this…is impossible."

The Second Prince calmly said, "Thus, by returning to the ancestors today, Fan Xian directly cut off the two paths above. I don't understand what he is thinking."

"What are the other two paths?" Ye Ling'er asked with concern as she looked at the strange expression on the prince's face. She suddenly felt a chill surge in her heart.

The Second Prince paused for a moment and said, "In the future, after father's death, no matter who takes the throne, they will probably carry out a huge purge against Fan Xian and the Fan clan. If this isn't done, no one has the confidence they can control the big picture."

This was what the Second Prince had said to Fan Xian in the Baoyue Brothel, but he had always thought that Fan Xian would gradually meld into the royal family and fight to have a public position. Regardless of whether Fan Xian fought for the throne himself or helped the Third Prince, they were both viable choices.

Given Fan Xian's current power and the influence of the elders around him, no newly enthroned Emperor would be at ease watching him live on.

"Thus, many years in the future, Fan Xian only has two paths to choose from." The Second Prince tightly furrowed his brows and was very confused. "Either he will have his hands tied and his entire family wiped out, like the Ye family in the past."

He paused and said, with some exhaustion, "Or…rebel with the power he holds and defects out of the country."

He laughed self-mockingly. "Of course, the power in his hands is like paper, unable to raise any big waves. Father is a cautious person. Fan Xian has no armies in his hands, so he will never truly succeed."

Ye Ling'er was startled and thought carefully about what he said. She found that if the situation did indeed develop in this way, then there would certainly not be a good end for that teacher of hers.

Her little face flushed red slightly and said, "You forgot a possibility. If it is really the Third Prince who inherits the throne, given his student-teacher relationship with Fan Xian, he may not allow matters to develop past the point of no return."

The Second Prince smiled. "I have also said this to Fan Xian. My third brother is still young, but I have watched him grow up. That kid is also not someone easy to deal with. Furthermore, one thinks about different things in different positions. Sometimes, we can't avoid doing something just because we don't want to do it."

He calmly said, "Furthermore, don't forget, the Crown Prince is the true heir. Many people seem to have unconsciously forgotten this matter because of his silence, but I believe that Fan Xian would not forget."

"Most importantly," the Second Prince slowly lowered his head, "no matter who inherits the throne, before our father leaves this world, do you think he could watch Fan Xian continue to gather the power of a large group of strange creatures and bring his heir endless trouble? This country is father's country. He will not allow this country to fall into too much turmoil, even when he is dead."

Whether as a son or an official, the Second Prince had already broken a huge taboo by talking about the life and death of the Emperor. Ye Ling'er bit her lip and did not continue this topic. Instead, she asked, "But this isn't the life Fan Xian wants to live, this is the plan of those elders in court. If you were Fan Xian, what would you have done?"

The Second Prince paused and said, self-mockingly a moment later, "I don't know what I would have done. I would probably be in a similar situation as him right now. However, in the battle for the world, to not move forward means death. Since he has personally given up the former two paths, then he should pull out more completely. If I was put in his position, at this time, I would go into the Palace and ask to quit. Regardless of whether it is the Overwatch Council or the palace treasury, he has to let go of one…and then…speaking purely based on logic, he should appear to relax a bit and then secretly lean by the side."

Ye Ling'er looked at him.

The Second Prince said, seriously, "This is the wisest choice. Presumably, he also knows this. I dare to accept him and aunt. After all, she is his mother-in-law. With Chen'er's layer of connection, it is not impossible that they can forget their former enmity."

Ye Ling'er shook her head and sighed. She knew that her family, those military troops far away in Dingzhou, had long become a piece in the fight for succession because of this marriage. If Fan Xian was added to this…but she didn't want to acknowledge these things. Suddenly, her head began to hurt. She furrowed her brows in discomfort.

The Second Prince stood up. Looking at the dim light outside the window, he said, in a daze, "If Fan Xian doesn't change, he can only walk into a hopeless situation in the future. If he has the courage to change, perhaps he will suffer a loss right now. In the future, he can strive for even more benefits and a more stable peace for himself and the Fan family. This all depends on what he is thinking."

In the end, he lowered his head helplessly. "However…as these two years have long proven, Fan Xian is a lunatic who never does things by the usual logic, so I don't have such outlandish hopes."

…

…

In the opinions of most of Qing Kingdom, a glimmer of lunacy and murder was gradually showing through Fan Xian's warm and amiable outer appearance. This was not referring to the night battle in Jingdou when people were killed and captured. Rather, it was the matter of returning to the ancestors that shocked Jingdou.

On the cold fifth stroke of the morning, the Fan family's ancestral worship began.

By noon, this news had already traveled to the various large manors. For a moment, countless people guessed at the developments and changes after the event. They guessed at the rise and fall of Fan Xian's opinion and desire of the power in court.

Just like the Second Prince, no one could understand why Fan Xian did this. Although he only had the identity of the Emperor's illegitimate child and there wasn't even a glimmer of a hope of entering the Palace, the identity of an illegitimate child was still an identity. As long as he wasn't dead, everything was a possibility. Furthermore, this identity would certainly be of great use in the future.

A long time ago, Chen Pingping had once thought that once the empress dowager was gone, it wasn't impossible for Fan Xian to re-enter the ranks of the princes.

However, Fan Xian's action today put the seal of the Fan family on his name and cut off all possibility of him having the family name Li. In the eyes of most people. This appeared to be very foolish or impetuous.

Even in the depths of the Palace, this news startled many noblemen's hearts.

Lady Shu was using small and graceful characters to copy the rare Tianyi Pavilion book that Fan Xian had sent over. Hearing a serving girl report this, she shook her head in confusion.

Lady Ning was going around a tree in her little yard practicing the sword. After hearing this news, her face lit up. She praised Fan Xian for having courage.

In Shufang Palace, Yi Guipin was watching the Third Prince practice his characters. Hearing Xing'er's quiet words, she smiled slightly and didn't say anything. However, her gaze on her son became complicated.

A moment later, she pulled her son behind the curtain and quietly told him the biggest news in Jingdou today. She spoke very seriously and sternly. The Third Prince was frightened and startled. Despite his young age, he immediately understood many things. His teacher returning to his ancestors was actually, to a great extent, for him.

In the end, Yi Guiping seriously said, "Ping'er, you have to remember well everything that Sir Fan has done for you. If, in the future, you dare to do those things, I won't forgive you."

The Third Prince lowered his head and didn't say anything.

In Guangxin Palace, the Eldest Princess, Li Yunrui, who had long lived in isolation and couldn't easily leave the Palace, was the first to know of this news. After this beautiful woman was slightly startled, she smiled. It was like a smile of a hundred charms. She completely overshadowed the white clear light in and out of the palace and the light filtering through the flowers and trees.

A serving girl asked, carefully, "Princess, why are you so happy?"

The Eldest Princess slowly restrained her smile and said very softly, "I suddenly feel that my son-in-law is a very capable person. He knows the boundaries, when to press forward, and when to retreat. Speaking of which, I've only seen him once. It's a pity. Arrange for him and Wan'er to enter the Palace tomorrow. I want to see how Fan Xian has grown so quickly in the two years I haven't seen him."

The serving girl was surprised, thinking, It's clear that Sir Fan junior's action was rash, and he had not fully considered the advantages and disadvantages. Was the Eldest Princess so happy because of this? But looking at the Eldest Princess' expression, it was clear that she greatly approved of Sir Fan junior's action.

In Hanguang Palace, the empress dowager was mumbling something over her prayer beads, and Eunuch Hong was slightly bent over and serving to the side. After a long time, the empress dowager sighed and said, "That child now knows to think about the bigger picture. That's not an easy task."

Eunuch Hong said, in a slightly raspy voice, "Sir Fan junior is not bad."

In the isolated little building to the rear of the Royal Palace, the Emperor of Qing Kingdom stood in his yellow robes with his hands behind his back. He stared at the yellow-clothed woman in the picture in a slight daze. A moment later, he quietly said, "Our son is indeed more like you, very proud. It's not that I don't want him to come back, it is he who doesn't want to come back…it's good that his family name is Fan. Back then, you and Yide referred to each other as brother and sister. It'll just be as if he went with his mother's family name."

A gust of cold winter wind blew through the building making the picture flutter slightly. The beautiful face of the yellow-clothed woman in the picture twisted a little. It seemed that a glimmer of a mocking smile rose to the corners of her lips as if she was ridiculing the Emperor for being able to say such a thing that he probably didn't even believe.

…

…

On the afternoon of New Year's Day, Fan Xian sat in a carriage heading toward King Jing's manor. This was a long-standing tradition between the Fan manor and King Jing's manor. After the New Year, they would also choose a day to get together and have some fun. Fan Xian had left Danzhou for three years and had long gotten used to the strangely close relationship between his family and King Jing's manor.

Although Hongcheng had wretchedly been put under house arrest for a year, all because of Fan Xian, Fan Xian knew that it was actually King Jing's ruthless decision to prevent his family being drawn into the fight for succession. The two manors did not allow the fight between their children to impact their relationship.

The carriage shook. Wan'er gazed at Fan Xian in a daze without saying anything for a while.

Fan Xian smiled, "If you have something you want to ask, then ask."

"I am thinking, today, all of Jingdou must be discussing you," Lin Wan'er smiled and said. "They're all cursing you for being a fool."

Fan Xian smiled even happier, and then suddenly became silent. A moment later, he looked at wife's eyes and said, seriously, "I can fool everyone under heaven, but I can't fool you."

Lin Wan'er smiled slightly and directly met her husband's eyes.

Fan Xian calmly said, "Actually, the reasons are very simple, and there are only two. One, I have always considered myself Fan Xian. I was brought up by grandmother, and I will not accept any other family name. I have always been willing to worship the ancestors, so I went and did it."

Lin Wan'er gently leaned against his arm. She felt that his breathing was very warm and pure.

"Two, regardless of whether I was openly supporting the Third Prince in Jiangnan or killing in all directions in Jingdou, or even acknowledging the ancestors today, I am always demonstrating my sincere convictions." Fan Xian lowered his head and glanced at Wan'er's round and smooth face. Warmly, he said, "A simple life brings sincerity, and tranquility brings transcendence. If one wants transcendence, one must be sincere."

"What sincerity? Who are you showing this sincerity to?"

Fan Xian fell silent, thinking of that conversation with the Emperor in the Palace. Duke of Danbo, ah, Duke of Danbo…

"I don't want to be Emperor," he calmly said. "Of course, it's to show the Emperor."

Lin Wan'er glanced at him with worry. Although she didn't say anything, Fan Xian knew that she had already seen the disaster he, or even the Fan manor, had to face in the future.

"Going upstream against the flow…not moving forward means moving back. When the boat flips people die. I understand this logic." Fan Xian tilted his head slightly. "It seems as if all of the circumstances are forcing me to compete. The Emperor has warned me, so I can only choose to not compete."

He smiled and said, "Going downstream with the flow is much more comfortable. There are not many people I am afraid of in his world, but your uncle, my cheap old man, is still a bit scary."

Lin Wan'er smiled, but there was still worry in her smile. "But what about in the future?"

"Future?" Fan Xian asked. "The Emperor can live for at least another 20 years. I used the danger of an unknown future and exchanged it for 20 something years of peace, or, in other words, 20 years of the Emperor's trust. This exchange is very worth it."

"Furthermore, I cannot be ambiguous. I must resolutely and decisively express my attitude and aspirations. Even standing behind the Third Prince is not enough to persuade many people."

Fan Xian rubbed the spot between his brows and said, somewhat tiredly, "There can be some ambiguity between men and women, but if there is ambiguity between a ruler and an official, then it is very easy for someone to die. I trust that the Emperor definitely liked my decisiveness."

There was still one thing he didn't say to his wife. The so-called ambiguity had to be from both sides, and the so-called decisiveness also had to work together. He had acknowledged the ancestors, which was him expressing his sincerity toward the Emperor. He had also realized that the Emperor did not want him to take over this world.

This reality made Fan Xian relax a little. However, after he relaxed, he felt an extra glimmer of faint worry. His worry was not in the present, but in the past. Just as Chen Pingping confirmed in that night, Fan Xian had also finally confirmed it. The Emperor had a sickness, a sickness of the heart.

The carriage stopped outside the door to King Jing's manor. There had long been various servants waiting outside the manor to welcome the noble guests from the Fan manor. Fan Xian led Wan'er and followed behind his father and Lady Liu, stepping into the manor.

Gazing out, the sight of the garden in the manor was as before. Only, the white silk beside the lake had not been raised. Thinking about it, it made sense. Right now, it was winter, so why would they need to hang silk to block the light? However, as he turned his head to look at the incomparably sweet-tempered Wan'er beside him, Fan Xian still remembered the light of first love.

An old and angry and happy and complicated voice rang out, pulling Fan Xian out of his rare and short memory of beautiful times.

"You little f*cker! You still know to come visit me, huh?"

King Jing angry glared at Fan Xian. For some reason, a glimmer of hurt and nostalgia shone out from his wide-open eyes.

Chapter 467: Remember The Past, When You Were Young

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

There were still pieces of snow left on the pavilion across the lake. The thin snow separated into countless white pieces. It was as if the dark-colored pavilion was given a number of patches. The snow had stopped in Jingdou on the 29th last month. Within three days, the servants in King Jing's manor had already swept away all the snow on the grass on this side of the lake.

However, the days were cold, so the ground was frozen. There wasn't any new and tender growth on the lawns. All that was left was white frozen grass that, for some reason, no one cleaned up. It looked rather desolate.

Fan Xian quietly followed behind King Jing deeper in the garden. His eyes glanced a few times at King Jing's slightly slouched back.

After entering the manor, Minister Fan came forward and blocked King Jing's attack of foul language. After some clamor, before even seeing Ruo Jia and Hongcheng, King Jing suddenly asked Fan Xian to walk with him. Although Fan Xian didn't understand what King Jing intended with this request, he saw his father secretly nod and followed him.

All along the way, there were not many sights in the garden. Even the small plots of land that King Jing worked on each day were just a few puddles of mud.

King Jing walked ahead and did not talk. Fan Xian could only follow silently as he took the measure of the King's figure. His thoughts had long floated to some other place.

This King was not ordinary. There had been such self-controlled and even self-defiling and preposterous King's in the history books, but he had done it so completely. For a powerful noble to not have an iota of desire for power was rare to see.

With his very old appearance, who knew what kind of psychological attacks he had experienced.

One old and one youth stopped their footsteps beside the vegetable patch. In a raspy voice, King Jing said, "The first time I saw you, it was in this vegetable garden."

Fan Xian remembered that poetry conference, remembered Wanli being a frequent sad guest, and remembered that, at the time, his mind was filled with fantasies of there being a laughing and beautiful white-clothed woman in the vegetable garden. However, he had seen a farmer. He couldn't resist smiling and replied, "You've always liked to tease the juniors."

"In the capital, it's not just me who plants vegetables," King Jing said.

Fan Xian started and thought to himself, it was not nonsense. Although Jingdou was prosperous, there were still many poor people. These commoners made a vegetable garden at the corner of their wall to supplement their daily food. It was something often seen. However, since King Jing had said this, he had something to follow it up with, so Fan Xian listened quietly.

"That old man in the Qi family also likes to plant vegetables, but only plants bok choy and turnips." There was a glimmer of cynicism at the corners of King Jing's mouth. "He's a soldier. He only knows how to fill his stomach. He has no idea that planting vegetables is also an art."

Fan Xian's heart jumped. He carefully considered the King's words. For a moment, he didn't know how to reply.

King Jing walked into the muddy vegetable patch, stuck his hands on his hips, and looked at the scene of desolation around him. A moment of silence later, he said, "Have you discovered who did the attack in the valley?"

Fan Xian closed his mouth tightly. He knew that the attack in the valley had been single-handedly organized by that old killing god master Qin in the army. The problem was that it was Qing Kingdom's greatest secret. Other than Chen Pingping and himself, presumably very few people knew. Yet, King Jing had first talked about the old master Qin planting vegetables and next was talking about the attack in the valley. Was he trying to secretly convey something?

But, King Jing has not been involved in politics for many years and didn't have any deep connections with the civil and martial officials in court. How could he dare to say that the Qin family did the attack in the valley?

King Jing did not make it clear, and Fan Xian did not know whether or not his guess was right. Furthermore, he couldn't tell of the Qin family's matter to the other party because it involved a deep secret. He could only force a laugh and said, "The court has been investigating, as well as the Overwatch Council. We only know it is certainly connected to the military. However, the witness has died, so there are no clues."

King Jing turned back and glanced at him as if surprised by his indifference. He thought Fan Xian didn't understand his meaning and huffed angrily, "Idiot!"

Fan Xian forced a smile, thinking, In these kinds of matter, what could he do but pretend to be stupid?

"The city-guarding crossbows belong to the Ye family." King Jing stared into Fan Xian's eyes. "But don't forget about the Qin family."

The King's words were too direct. Even if Fan Xian wanted to pretend, he couldn't. Other than the suspicion in his heart, he also felt unusually moved. This old man, wasn't he too good to him? He furrowed his brows and said, "I have no grudge with the Qin family."

The King huffed a few times and didn't continue speaking. He lifted his feet and walked out of the muddy vegetable patch and once again walked deeper into the garden.

Fan Xian looked at his rear figure and faintly guessed something. The King dared to deduce that the Qin family would strike must be because of what happened in the past. However, the connection between the Qin family and the bloody case in the Taiping Courtyard…that was a secret that even his father didn't know about. Even Chen Pingping had investigated for another dozen years after the event before he found it.

Why would the King know?

Thinking of this, hot blood surged up in Fan Xian's heart. Throwing caution to the wind, he quickly rushed forward and grabbed hold of King Jing's sleeve.

King Jing was startled and slowly turned his head.

Fan Xian gazed at him and said great sincerity, "What exactly happened that year? Why does no one know that the Qin family were involved? Why was this matter not discovered that night Jingdou ran red with blood?"

"You're asking too much," King Jing sighed and said. "Although I am a leisurely King who does not attend to my duties, you have to remember, after all, I am a member of the royal family. As for why I know something the two old men behind you don't, the reason is very simple. Because, at that time, I was still young and still followed beside my mother."

The corners of the King's brows twitched and revealed a mischievous smile. "I was young and often liked to play hide-and-seek everywhere. Sometimes, it was very easy to hear things. As for what I heard, no one knows after all these years."

Fan Xian forced a smile and hesitated to speak. For the King to be willing to point out the Qin family, it was already strangely protective of him. However, if this matter involved the empress dowager, who was the King's own mother, how could he continue speaking?

"At that time, Yunrui was still young, so this matter had nothing to do with her." King Jing was silent for a moment. "This point, I want to make clear to you. Ever since your youth, you have followed Fan Jian and the Overwatch Council. You have learned a lot, but many things have become laughable."

At this moment, the elder and the youth were standing on the cold ridge between the fields. Not far in the distance was the wall of King Jing's manor. Beyond the wall was the unchanging cold sky. However, as Fan Xian listened to the King beside him talk, his heart was incomparably warm.

"What matter?"

"Regardless of whether it is Chen Pingping, that old dog, or your father, they are both masters of plot and schemes, so they always like to make things more complicated. Furthermore, most importantly, they don't trust anyone, and the person they trust the least is each other." King Jing smiled coldly. "This is the most foolish thing. In the past, Chen Pingping even suspected Yunrui. Why does he not consider, at that time, just how old Yunrui was?

Fan Xian forced a smile. The suspicion and wariness between his father and Chen Pingping had been around ever since his mother passed away and had become deeper and deeper. It was not until he had entered the capital that it had become better.

"Today, I have told you the Qin family matter that I have kept secret for so long not because I want you to seek revenge," King Jing calmly said. "I just feel that you have offended the military enough, and Qing Kingdom was built on its military. If you don't know who your true enemy in the military is, I'm worried you will die without reason."

King Jing said the words "die without reason" particularly heavily. He didn't want anyone else to die needlessly.

Fan Xian bowed to the ground and then straightened up, asking the question he was most concerned with.

"Sir, why are you so good to me?"

Hearing these words, King Jing was startled. After a long time, he suddenly laughed. His laugh became louder and louder, sharper and sharper, shriller and shriller. He laughed until his stomach hurt, and he was crouched on the field holding his lower abdomen. For a moment, he couldn't raise his head.

Fan Xia's was slightly unsure of himself and stood woodenly to the side. He looked at this King beside him, looked at the white hair on the King's head that completely did not match his age float, and looked at the tears being squeezed out of the corners of his eyes because of his smile.

After a long time, King Jing straightened up. He furrowed his brows for a while and said, "I also don't know."

He then walked down from the field.

Fan Xian continued to follow silently behind him.

"The Emperor and I were both raised by our mother," King Jing spoke calmly. His face had long recovered his usual weathered expression and calm. "At that time, Cheng manor was nothing remarkable and had little status in Jingdou, so brother and I could run around freely. Back then, your father would follow us every day. In addition to a studying companion…the Palace invited Chen Pingping in. The four of us would play all day. I was the youngest so, of course, I was the most bullied."

"Later, brother, Fan Jian, and Chen Pingping went to mother's old home in Danzhou to play. When they came back, they happily said they had met a very interesting girl." King Jing began to smile. "Not long after, that girl came to Jingdou and made her way to Cheng manor."

Fan Xian also smiled. "That was my mother."

"Yes." King Jing leisurely thought about the past. "I remember, as I was young at that time I hung around your mother every day. Hmm, at that time, I called her Sister Yezi…your mother was very kind to me, so it was impossible for brother to let Chen Pingping bully me. That was very good."

The elder and youth talked as they walked. In a moment, they had come to a study. Although Fan Xian was listening attentively to the King talking about the past, he still placed his attention on the study because it was clear that it was rarely visited. Usually, the King liked to garden. He did not like to read books.

King Jing pushed open the door and entered. In a raspy voice, he said, "Sit."

Fan Xian did not brush away the dust on the seat and sat down calmly.

King Jing searched around on the bookshelf for a long time before finally finding a thick book. He then handed it to Fan Xian and said, "Look."

Fan Xian accepted the book with both hands. Looking at the cover page, it was instructions to agriculture. He couldn't help but glance at the King in confusion.

King Jing was silent for a moment and then said, "Concerning your mother, there is not much I can say. You ask why I am so good to you…actually, that is wrong, I haven't been good enough to you. At least, I was fooled by them for almost 20 years."

The King slowly walked out of the study and looked at Fan Xian with a slightly slouched figure. In a slightly listless voice, he said, "I always thought she didn't have descendants."

Fan Xian sat in the dusty chair and unconsciously flipped through that thick agricultural instructions book, but he was thinking about King Jing's previous words. He could faintly understand King Jing's thoughts, that glimmer of youth and bitterness, unable to be verbalized, yet forever etched deeply into his heart.

With a gentle, beautiful, capable, and understanding older sister beside the youth just as he began to grow, it was inevitable that such a story would happen.

When he was reborn into this world, he already had a very mature spirit. In his previous life, had he not also had these experiences? Have not all men had these experiences? However, normal people, after they grow up, will have truly sweet results to fill in the gap in the internal world.

However, King Jing's normal growing-up experience was clearly broken by the history of Qing Kingdom. The Ye family crumbled in one night, yet King Jing was unable to rage and had nowhere to rage. Thus, his hair whitened early and his body bent. He only venerated his vegetable garden and not the Palace.

Fan Xian's fingers flipped through the slightly yellowing pages when suddenly his finger froze.

He had seen a few pages of thin paper stuck in the thick book. His heart trembled. He quickly flipped backward and found a few more pieces of thin paper.

The handwriting on the paper was very unfamiliar, yet very familiar. It was clear that the person writing was not very good at using a brush. The strokes were straight and rigid, like matchsticks used as building blocks.

The contents of the papers were also not out of Fan Xian's expectations. On them was recorded who had suggested what to who, such as the Overwatch Council and matters relating to merchants. There were also a few informal notes that said what had been eaten that day and what plans there were for everyone tomorrow.

Fan Xian smiled and spoke to himself to those pieces of paper. "Everything else you've written has probably already been burned by others. Who would have thought the boy back then would have kept a few pieces."

He tilted his head and said, "However, your writing really isn't as nice as mine. There is not enough strength, and you release on the large strokes rather than the small ones. If you're not used to a brush, you could use a quill. Oh yes, I made a small workshop in the palace treasury that specifically makes pencils. In this matter, I am much cleverer than you…"

After a moment, Fan Xian thought about it and placed the papers in his clothes. Presumably, King Jing also needed this kind of closure. He stood with a peaceful smile on his face and walked out of the study.

…

…

King Jing was not outside the study. Fan Xian had been to this manor many times and didn't need a serving girl to show him the way. He placed his hands behind his back and wandered until he reached a row of houses. This row of houses gathered together into a separate garden, where a large lock was hanging on the garden door.

Fan Xian looked at the lock and couldn't resist smiling. He walked up the stairs and knocked forcefully on the door, calling, "If you don't open the door, I'm leaving."

"Don't go! Don't go!"

The sound of hurried footsteps came from inside the garden as someone quickly ran over. The big wooden door gave loud creak. Presumably, someone had banged into the door thus showing how rushed the person was.

The big door opened a sliver and Fan Xian looked in with narrowed eyes. He couldn't help jumping in shock. He found that there was another eye on the other side looking out, and that eye was all gummy and the hair very disheveled. The person looked very wan and sallow.

"What the hell!" Fan Xian cursed.

"You're hell!" King Jing's heir, Li Hongcheng, who was just in the room, cursed loudly, "Quickly let me out!"

Fan Xian saw that he was truly very pitiful and couldn't help but let out a sigh. However, he hadn't finished sighing when he began to smile again. He scolded, "The King has put you under house arrest, so how can I save you?"

"Go beg for mercy for me!" Li Hongcheng was about to go crazy from being shut up. He had finally seen someone who wasn't afraid of his father, so how could he pass up this opportunity? He scolded, "Kid, do you have a conscience? You can trick me and con me, spray me with foul words, I can accept it all…but I've been shut away for this long. Do you not feel any sympathy? Think about when she first entered Jingdou, did I treat you badly? I took you to the brothel and let you chat up all the girls you wanted…"

Fan Xian blocked his ears and listened to Li Hongcheng's endless tirade. He knew that he was overly wretched and smiled bitterly. "The King has shut you away for your own good. Otherwise, if you keep going out and messing around with those brothers, in the end, you might still not have a good end."

"Death is death!" Li Hongcheng smiled coldly. "It's still better than being stifled to death."

Fan Xian took a few steps back and looked at the situation of this garden. He couldn't help but stare and be tongue-tied. "My gold…it can't be that you've been shut in this garden…for a year?"

Li Hongcheng started and cursed, "I'll have long gone crazy then. Usually, I am just not allowed out of the manor. Although they are both prisons, the prison that is the manor is obviously much larger."

Fan Xian rubbed his nose and nodded his head. Sighing in approval, he said, "With the manor as the prison, the heart cannot be free. Your words are indeed philosophical."

Li Hongcheng sighed sorrowfully and said, "Don't you provoke me, kid…originally, I just listened to some opera in the manor. It was fine, but once you, kid, returned to the capital, you were attacked and then went out to kill people. Without another word, that old man of mine immediately shut me up again this little garden. Tell me, what fault was it of mine?"

Fan Xian looked at Hongcheng's pitiful appearance through a crack in the door and couldn't help but feel sympathy and regret. Of course, he understood why King Jing had done this. He didn't want his son to be involved in those matters. Once Fan Xian had returned to the capital, he had struck out heavily against the Second Prince. If Li Hongcheng was still tied up with the Second Prince, who knows how he would have dealt with him.

"Fine, fine." Fan Xian saw that there was no one around. In a quiet voice, he said, "I'll get you out and take you about. But you have to promise me, you won't go see that guy."

Li Hongcheng was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. However, he said, doubtfully, "Don't break this lock. If I wanted to escape prison, would I not think to break out?"

Fan Xian took out a key from a pocket by his waist and mockingly said, "Don't forget, I'm from the Overwatch Council."

The large lock opened with a click. King Jing's heir, Li Hongcheng, who had not seen the sky while shut up in the little garden, could finally see the sky again. He stepped out with large steps and looked around at the open surroundings around him. He took a deep break and heavily patted Fan Xian's shoulder. "At least you still remember your old friends."

Having made so much noise, how could the servants in the manor not know? However, since the main culprit was Sir Fan junior and the person he was rescuing was their young master, no one obstructed.

Suddenly, a bright, anxious, and somewhat terrified voice rang out.

"Brother! How are you out by yourself?" To the left of the stone steps, there was a noble young lady dressed in an apricot red coat. Her little cheeks were anxiously flushed with red. "Watch out, father's going to kill you."

Fan Xian turned his head in surprise and looked at this young lady, only to see that the young lady still had a gentle and kind expression. Although, there was an extra glimmer of beauty and grace between her brows as compared to before. He couldn't help his heart jumping in surprise, thinking, It had only been a year since he saw her. How could she have become such a pure and pleasant young woman?

The young lady also saw Fan Xian's face clearly and covered her mouth in surprise. After the shock and surprise in her eyes faded, she seemed to have suddenly thought of something and a glimmer of fog rose. She looked like she was about to cry.

Fan Xian was scared. If one were to speak of the people he was most afraid of in Jingdou, other than the Emperor and the elder in the Palace, it was this girl in front of him who had deep feelings for him. He remembered in the past when she was still young, she had hung around him all day. Fortunately, everything was settled now. He was her cousin and his heart had relaxed a great deal. However, suddenly seeing the girl's hurt expression, he still felt a bit uncomfortable.

The girl finally calmed her emotions and walked to Fan Xian to bow slightly to him. Using a mosquito-like voice, she said, "Greetings, Brother Xian."

Hearing the words "Brother Xian," Fan Xian sucked in a breath and thought to himself, It's coming again, it's coming again. However, there was nothing he could do. He could only use a calm and kindly elder-brother voice to say, "Greetings, Sister Ruojia."

Chapter 468: The Small One Is In The Shoe

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

Fan Xian saw the girl and wanted to run. Pulling on Hongcheng's sleeve, he prepared for the two of them to jump over the wall. Unexpectedly, a servant appeared out of nowhere and bowed to the two of them with a pained expression. "Young master, the King knows you've come out and asks that you go see him."

Hearing these words, the heir Li Hongcheng sucked in a cold breath. He was extremely distressed and regretful, but there was nothing he could do. So, he went first. Before he walked away, he glanced at Fan Xian and gave a bitter laugh. The emotions inside were unspeakably complicated.

Fan Xian understood that this young master still held a grudge against him for breaking his and Ruoruo's marriage. However, he could do nothing in this matter but shake his head.

By the stone steps outside the garden, there was just him and Rou Jia. Fan Xian knew that he could not run anymore and smiled warmly. He looked at Hongcheng's retreating figure and said, "Your brother was once such a refined and cultured young man. How could he be like this now?"

Rou Jia saw that he was opening his mouth to speak again and she couldn't stop the joy rising in her face. With a slight stutter, she said, "Shut up…too long…cursing every day…more and more like father."

Fan Xian started and thought that this was indeed the case. Looking at the heir through the crack in the door had not flattened his image. Instead, he had seen a tolerance and ability to let go that was unlike others in power. This kind of temperament was inherited from King Jing. In the so-called battle, to be able to win and to suffer losses was the correct principle.

He made a hand gesture to invite the princess to walk first.

Rou Jia pulled her skirt beneath her red coat and lowered her head shyly as she slowly walked in front.

Fan Xian followed behind her. As he walked, he evaluated this gradually blooming girl. He looked at the fine threads of her hair at her temples blowing in the wind and felt his heart move a little.

"Sister Rou Jia, has there been anything new in the field of women's studies?"

"Brother Xia, there hasn't."

"Sister Rou Jia…"

"Brother Xian…"

The two of them chatted back and forth casually. "Sister Rou Jia" came more and more naturally to his mouth, and the girl's "Brother Xian" also never stopped. They walked slowly toward the front of the manor like this. Along the way, they passed the cold garden, icy footpath, pavilion with residue snow, and depressions in the rock garden that had accumulated puddles of water.

Princess Rou Jia walked with her head lowered and replied in a quiet voice, but she couldn't resist glancing at Fan Xian occasionally and then immediately turning her head back in surprise.

Fan Xian sighed in his heart and quickened his steps, catching up to her and walking shoulder to shoulder with her.

Princess Rou Jia felt the existence of the young man beside her and was greatly surprised. Her entire walking posture became stiffer, and her fingers squeezed her dress with slight force.

Fan Xian smiled and said, "This world sure is strange. At the time, who would have thought that you were my cousin? This call of 'Brother Xian' is certainly very apt."

…

…

Once this was said, Princess Rou Jia's heart was in a panic. Her face blushed red. She didn't say anything more, only stayed silent.

This pair of cousins both understood what these words of Fan Xian's meant—Qing Law was written very clearly. Given their relationship, regardless of whether or not Fan Xian had the intention, it would still be impossible.

After Princess Rou Jia saw Fan Xian for the first time when she was 12, her heart had entirely been given over to him. Regardless of whether she was under the grapevines in the manor, in Fan manor's autumn garden, or the courtyard in Cang Mountain, she always liked to see Fan Xian.

The feelings of the girl did not abate after Fan Xian's marriage. Although she did not dare ask her father, she always hoped that there was a possibility of there being a special case of having two wives. However, who knew that such an explosive piece of news would appear in Jingdou—Brother Xian was actually her cousin.

From that day on, Rou Jia knew this matter was impossible. However, it was impossible for two years of emotion to fade in one night. After seeing her most beloved Brother Xian, she panicked. Hearing Fan Xian speak this at this moment, she knew that he was reminding her.

However, Princess Rou Jia was, after all, only a 14-year-old girl. After hearing Fan Xian's gentle and stern reminder, she did not, like other noble girls in Jingdou, turn her head and glare at him with a hidden bitterness or huff coldly. She only lowered her head even more and became even less willing to talk.

A sparkling and pure teardrop rolled down from her long lashes and splashed onto the mossy stones beside her feet.

Fan Xian was stupefied. Once he saw a girl cry, he didn't know what to do.

Rou Jia walked forward again, and Fan Xian quickly followed behind.

All along the way, Rou Jia cried with her head down, but she stubbornly bit her lip and absolutely refused to make any sound.

Fan Xian pitied her, loved her, and was angry with her. Just as he wasn't sure how to resolve this, he suddenly realized that Rou Jia had stopped walking and turned her head to look at him very seriously.

Fan Xian smiled and stretched out his finger to wipe away the tears on the girl's face.

Rou Jia was still as gentle and agreeable as before. She gazed steadily at Fan Xian and hesitantly said, "Brother Xian, I want to ask something of you."

"What is it? As long as it is within my power," Fan Xian said seriously.

"I know that…it was you who thought of a way to break off Sister Ruoruo and brother's wedding." Rou Jia lowered her head. Her finger twirled the material of her skirt, making countless irritating wrinkles in one corner of the pink skirt.

Fan Xian was surprised. He hadn't thought that the girl would have seen through this matter so clearly. "What about it?"

Rou Jia gave a leisurely bow. In a thin and still childish voice, she said, "In the future, the Palace will certainly arrange a marriage for me…if I'm not willing, I'll have to trouble you."

The marriages between the nobility in Jingdou involved too many political transactions. Fan Xian's marriage, and Ruoruo's unsuccessful marriage, were all like this. Given Princess Rou Jia's identity, her marriage would be arranged by the noble people in the Palace or even personally arranged by the empress dowager.

Fan Xian opened his mouth wide, but, a moment later, he nodded his head very dejectedly. He knew that he had been forced to shoulder another heavy burden. This world was truly very strange. Everyone else was being matchmakers, while he had somehow become an expert in breaking marriages.

After Rou Jia had said this and saw him nod his head, it was as if she had used up all the courage she had gathered on the walk earlier. Her entire person immediately became uncomfortable again. She looked at him deeply then turned her head, picked up her skirt, and walked faster toward the front of the manor, not paying any more attention to Fan Xian.

Behind her, Fan Xian rubbed the back of his head and looked at her retreating figure. He watched as she lowered her head and continued to cry without sound. He truly felt unhappy in his heart, thinking, Girls. Each was truly more troublesome than the last.

…

…

The long corridor behind Taiji Palace in the Royal Palace distantly faced the rear of the tall Palace walls and winter trees below the wall. The Palace was tightly guarded. Close to where the inner palace was, it was strictly prohibited for people to make a racket. It was even more impossible for someone to do anything too presumptuous.

However, when the serving girls and eunuchs passing through saw who the young official was—stretching his back and doing other stretching exercises in the long corridor—no one dared go forward to berate him and or remind him of anything.

It was impossible for there to be any young officials in the inner palace. If there was, then it had to be that one person. Only he would be so relaxed and at ease in the Royal Palace.

In the long corridor, the young official finally retracted the leg he was stretching from the large round column. He turned his head to look at the awkward middle-aged eunuch, who wanted to laugh but did not dare to do so, and scolded, "What's there to smile about? This Palace is so big, of course, my legs would hurt. I don't know how you guys all have such good legs and feet."

Naturally, this young official was Fan Xian. The matter of him being the illegitimate child of the Emperor was known to the world. In addition, over these years, he had been heavily favored by the Emperor and had harmonious relationships with the various nobility and eunuchs in the Palace. He had once recovered from an injury for a month in the Palace, so the serving girls and eunuchs were all used to his existence in the Palace.

Also, only he had the boldness to broadcast gymnastics inside the Palace.

He was accompanying Wan'er back to her mother's palace. However, they had just entered the Palace when Wan'er was held back by the empress dowager, who refused to let her leave again. She said she was going to have her favorite granddaughter stay the night. Fan Xian had no choice and could only take the various gifts and head toward the various palaces. After returning to the capital, where he had already paid a visit, he now had to do it again. It was truly irritating. Thus, he took a break and rested his feet in the long corridor behind Taiji Palace.

The eunuch accompanying him, holding a big pile of gift boxes, was Eunuch Dai. He heard Fan Xian cursing at him. Instead of being surprised, he was cheerful and said with a chuckle, "Sir Fan junior is a ninth-level ace, how could us servants compare?"

Eunuch Dai was also once greatly in the Emperor's favor. Although he belonged to Lady Shu's palace, when it came to announcing imperial edicts in the various manors and any urgent tasks, they were all done by him. However, because of his connection to his nephew and involvement in the battle between Fan Xian and the Second Prince, he was shuffled to a position with practically no obligations. Later, because of the assassination in Hanging Temple, he was forced to the side. If he had stayed for another two years, he would probably have died without anyone to bury him.

Because Fan Xian had endlessly spoken in praise of him and the Emperor remembered his previous good service, he was spared his life and allowed to return to the inner palace to perform odd tasks.

For Eunuch Dai, Fan Xian was his savior and, perhaps, half his master. He was even more important than Lady Su, so he dared not provide inadequate service to Fan Xian.

The shoes on Fan Xian's feet were hot, so he just didn't bother to put them on completely. He just shuffled along like this toward the end of the long corridor.

Eunuch Dai glanced at his feet and said in a pained voice, "Sir, it's best to be a bit particular in the Palace."

Fan Xian glanced at him and was about to say a few teasing words when he suddenly saw a few eunuchs approaching from the end of the corridor. The one in the lead was young, and his appearance was somewhat familiar. His head was raised high and exuded a sense of pride. The few young eunuchs behind followed him half bent over, looking like servants of servants.

"It's Eunuch Hong." Eunuch Dai restrained his expression and reminded Fan Xian calmly from behind him.

Fan Xian furrowed his brows slightly and didn't say anything. He directly glanced toward him.

The two people from the two sides met in the middle of the corridor. Fan Xian could clearly see a few pimples on this prideful young eunuch's face. He didn't say anything and just stood where he was, looking coldly at the other person.'

Hong Zhu paused. He knew Fan Xian was waiting for him to greet him. However, he was now the head eunuch in the Eastern Palace and, furthermore, recently the Emperor would occasionally have him go to the royal study to help him. Compared to the past, when he held books in the royal study, he was much more well-regarded. Who didn't venerate him in the palace? Even the officials entering the Palace were polite to him. Other than Shu the Scholar, there was no other official who waited for him to offer greetings first.

He knew Fan Xian was not a normal official. Seeing Fan Xian's cold expression with a hint of disdain, his face flushed red. He refused to lower his head first.

The two sides were caught in a deadlock.

The three or four young eunuchs following Hong Zhu were too low ranked and had never seen Fan Xian. They had no idea that this was the all-powerful Sir Fan junior. Looking at this scene, they hurried to help Eunuch Hong take the initiative. In a high voice, they said, "Sir, how could you randomly walk around in the forbidden grounds of the Palace?"

Eunuch Dai secretly smiled from behind Fan Xian. He no longer had the status from the past and was heavily oppressed by people in the Palace, such as Hong Zhu. At this moment, watching these idiots offend Fan Xian, he felt an unspeakable joy in his heart. Just as he wanted to do something, he was stopped by Fan Xian waving his hand.

Fan Xian looked at the eunuchs behind Hong Zhu with a slight smile and said good-naturedly, "You haven't been in the Palace long, right? There are not many people in the Palace who don't recognize me. I was also not wandering around. I am just going to Shufang Palace as ordered by imperial edict."

Indeed, it was a few eunuchs who had not been in the Palace long so they didn't understand the meaning of these words. They straightened their necks and said, "How are you. Where is Shufang Palace? Why are you stopped in the long corridor? Be careful that Eunuch Hong doesn't call the guards here to have you thrown out!"

He was helping his boss extend his influence, but he didn't know that he was making trouble for him instead. As expected, Hong Zhu saw the smile on Fan Xian's face grow warmer and warmer. His own expression immediately changed. He was shocked, fearful, and angry. He turned around and viciously scolded the young eunuchs a bit before slowly bowing to Fan Xian, "Greetings, Sir Fan junior."

Once they heard these words, the young eunuchs immediately knew they were done for. They looked at Fan Xian with terror on their faces and immediately knelt down to beg for mercy.

However, Fan Xian couldn't be bothered to look at those young eunuchs. He only looked at Hong Zhu's face and mockingly said, "My father is Minister Fan, so everyone refers to me as Sir Fan junior. You, servant, what Eunuch Hong are you? If Eunuch Hong hears about his, be careful he doesn't skin you alive!"

Hong Zhu's face was filled with fear and ruthlessness. He stared fiercely at Fan Xian and didn't say a single word.

"Punish yourself," Fan Xian furrowed his brows and said.

Hong Zhu gritted his teeth and said, "I belong to the Eastern Palace. You are a court official, so how could your power reach into the Palace?"

Fan Xian also didn't say anything and just looked at him coldly.

Forced by his gaze, Hong Zhu had no other choice. He could only slap himself gently across the cheek.

After this slap landed, Eunuch Dai, who was still standing behind Fan Xian, almost burst with joy. He decided he was going to properly spread this around the Royal Palace. However, the young eunuchs behind Hong Zhu were terrified half to death. They knew Eunuch Hong's status in the Palace. How could they have known that with just a few words from Sir Fan junior, Eunuch Hong would have no choice but to slap himself?

It looked like Eunuch Hong was indeed not as powerful as Sir Fan junior.

Fan Xian turned his body slightly to the side and blocked Eunuch Dai's line of sight. Taking advantage of the fact that the young eunuchs were kneeling on the ground, he shot Hong Zhu a meaningful glance.

Hong Zhu saw it clearly, but his gaze cried out bitterly, indicating that he really was unable to find a convenient place to talk.

Fan Xian nodded and coldly said, "Get lost."

Thus, Hong Zhu shook his sleeves. Angry and embarrassed, he led the young eunuchs to the other end of the long corridor.

Looking at this scene, Eunuch Dai smiled at Fan Xian and said, "Let's see that dog being arrogant again. Just because the Emperor and empress both like him, he keeps doing foolish things in the Palace.'

Fan Xian smiled and said, "Indeed, it is not good to act foolishly in this Palace. When we go to Shufang Palace in a moment, I'll have to be careful of my appearance.

Without waiting for Eunuch Hong to say something else righteous, he crouched down. As he pulled up the long boot on his foot, he stuffed the piece of paper under his boot into his boot.