473-477

Chapter 473: Where Are The Roots Of The Straw?

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

In the three years since Fan Xian entered the capital, this was his first time planning out something by himself without the help of the elders or Yan Bingyun's strategizing. However, he could still use the Overwatch Council's extensive intelligence network and enormous amount of files accumulated over months and years to begin extending a conspiratorial probe into the Royal Palace from outside.

The pressure was great, but he had to learn to endure such pressure. During the process of preparation, he had considered telling his father and Chen Pingping the truth. However, the true thoughts of these two elders were difficult to figure out and he didn't know how loyal they were to the Emperor. He was even less sure whether this plot, which would certainly plunge the royal family into chaos, would be forcefully suppressed by the two elders for some reason.

Thus, he chose to proceed on his own in the dark.

The Overwatch Council's intelligence reports were sent without end to his study. In order to avoid drawing other people's suspicions, his excuse was very clever. The information that he carefully came into contact with was only from the outer edges. It changed hands a few times and was then sent into the isolated and quiet little courtyard in the city.

He did not stay in the study for too long to avoid give something away. He showed the usual amount of filial piety toward his father and wandered around the garden. He even went to visit Ren Shao'an's manor. However, Xin Qiwu did not invite him over as he had done in previous years.

Fan Xian understood. Xin Qiwu was close to the Crown Prince. As the Crown Prince gradually woke from his silence and used his behavior to fool everyone in the Palace, Xin Qiwu must have received some indication from the Eastern Palace and no longer tried to gain favor with Fan Xian. However, this change was not abrupt. Xin Qiwu had found a good excuse and even visited the Fan manor personally with a generous gift.

After many days, Fan Xian finally figured out the heads and tails of the matter. After running the plan through his head, he took a prudent gaze to inspect the clues in his mind. He confirmed that it would be difficult for Hong Zhu to be implicated and himself to be involved when the royal family carried out a thorough investigation. Only then did he feel slightly more relaxed.

On the seventh day of the New Year, Fan Sizhe, who felt suffocated from being shut up in the manor, badgered his brother to take him out. Fan Xian glared at him and refuted him. "Do you think you're still the second young master of the Fan manor? Right now, the Council is hiding your location…but the Palace certainly already knows where you are. Right now, there aren't people from the Ministry of Justice here to seize you because the Palace is giving father and me some face. If you go out with that fat face, where would the Palace put their dignity? You would be immediately captured!"

Fan Sizhe paused thinking, Why was brother speaking so harshly today? In his year of doing business in Northern Qi, he had still had his treacherous commercial genius but had also lost some of his pompous nature. He immediately saw that his brother had something on his mind and his mood was rather heavy. Carefully, he asked, "Brother, what happened? In this world, we are brothers. If you have something to say, then say it. Maybe I can help you?"

Fan Xian suddenly thought of the Northern Qi aces that had come with Fan Sizhe south who were now settled in a manor outside the city. His heart jumped, but he immediately threw away such thoughts. He didn't dare disturb Director Chen and his father. How could he do that to his precious baby brother? However, since Sizhe noticed he had something on his mind, he had to find a cover.

He paused slightly and said, "On the 10th, the Great Prince's manor is opening its doors to guests, and I'll have to go."

"The 10th?" Fan Sizhe pressed his lips together and chuckled. "Brother, that is an important day. It looks like the Great Prince thinks very highly of you…to pick such a day to invite you."

Fan Xian laughed coldly. "I'm afraid it's wangfei's intention…what am I worried about? I said I would take Hongcheng with me, but last night someone came from the manor to remind me. On the 10th, the Second Prince will also be there."

Fan Sizhe sucked in cold breath and said, "My god…brother, you beat the Second Prince black and blue and now you have to sit at the same table and eat. Be careful he doesn't do something shady."

Fan Xian furrowed his brows and said, "That shouldn't happen…who would dare to kill someone in the Great Prince's manor? However, I just think it will be difficult to deal with."

Fan Sizhe lowered his head. He immediately understood what his brother was worried about. The Great Prince had chosen the 10th to invite guests and had invited both Fan Xian and the Second Prince. Presumably, the Great Prince still harbored hopes of having his two "younger brothers" agreeing to peace again. It was impossible for Fan Xian not to give the Great Prince face, but he also couldn't release his hold on the Second Prince. No wonder he was so troubled.

He thought he understood the reason why his brother's mood was so heavy. He shook his head and said, "Go and eat. Just don't reply to anything said to you. The Great Prince won't be able to do anything to you."

Fan Xian smiled. "That is true." He glanced at his younger brother and suddenly said, "You really want to go out? You can't get off the carriage. You can only look from the carriage."

Fan Sizhe was overjoyed and looked at him pitifully. After he returned from Northern Qi, he had been shut up in the manor. Even during the ancestral worship on the first day of the year, he could only kowtow a few times in the carriage. He had long felt suffocated. Hearing his brother's orders, he repeatedly nodded his head.

…

…

As they traveled through Jingdou in the carriage, snow floated down gently like catkins from willows.

The Fan brothers wandered around the prosperous streets in Jingdou. During the trip, they made a visit to the Danbo Bookstore and learned about the recent situation. When the two owners arrived, the Qingyu Hall shopkeeper, who replaced Seventh Ye, quickly entered the carriage to give a report. However, listening to the report was secondary. Fan Sizhe only wanted to have a look at the little bookstore he had opened when he had first started.

After leaving Danbo Bookstore, they went to Baoyue Brothel.

The carriage stopped at a hidden back door to the side of Baoyue Brothel. Fan Sizhe slanted his face to look up at the three-story building. His youthful face was filled with an elder's sighing. Seeing Danbo Bookstore earlier had already moved him. Now, looking at the brothel that had changed his life, those complicated feelings suddenly surged up in his mind.

Fan Xian lifted the curtain on the carriage and walked down. "Come on."

Fan Sizhe was overjoyed. Without saying anything, he followed him off the carriage.

There was already someone waiting at the back door to welcome them in. The group of people quietly entered the back garden and followed the quiet steps directly to the third floor. They sat in the room that was always left empty.

Fan Sizhe twisted his head excitedly to look around. Occasionally, his hand would touch the interesting furniture in the Wei Kingdom style that he had personally picked out. His face was full of reluctance and excitement.

Fan Xian glanced at him and smiled. He was not particularly worried about his brother's safety in Jingdou. As long as he went out with him, no one would forcefully do anything. However, seeing Fan Sizhe's mood, his emotions were suddenly moved. For people like Sizhe and the Third Prince, if they were discussed in terms of good and evil, they were probably both people who would be sliced a thousand times. However, he still stood firmly behind them.

He smiled self-mockingly and thought to himself that he truly wasn't a good person.

There was no one else in this room except Sang Wen and Shi Qing'er personally serving them. After drinking a cup of hot tea, Fan Xian gave Sang Wen a meaningful glance. The two of them walked into the secret room hidden in the back.

Fan Sizhe did not find this strange or give the two people a glance. He only continued to chat with Shi Qing'er. Between the lines, he was interested in the running of Baoyue Brothel after he left Qing Kingdom. After he heard She Qing'er tell him about some of the changes Fan Xian had made to Baoyue Brothel, as well as the contract situation with the girls in the building, he opened his mouth wide and sucked in a cold breath. The gaze he turned on the secret room was no longer the same.

Fan Sizhe felt true admiration for his elder brother from the depths of his heart. With these changes, it looked as if the brothel had suffered a disadvantage. In reality, it had earned people's hearts and reduced many unnecessary secret expenses.

He shook his round face and secretly sighed in admiration. "I only know how to earn silver, but brother knows how to earn people's hearts."

…

…

Fan Xian wanted loyalty from his subordinates. Other than sucking up the silver of the powerful and noble, the main purpose of Baoyue Brothel was to gather intelligence reports. For this type of work, he could only have Sang Wen, who was completely loyal to him, be responsible for it.

"Have you been to Chen Garden recently?" Fan Xian gazed at the sweet-tempered girl and seemed to ask this without thinking.

Sang Wen shook her head. "No."

Fan Xian nodded. Sang Wen was his direct subordinate. As long as the old Chen crippled didn't say anything, the rules of the Council and its related work processes should not be able to interfere with her actions.

"How is the preparation going for what I asked for?"

Sang Wen took out a sealed leather envelope and handed it over. "The information concerning the embroidery office was very easy to get hold off. However, the thing you wanted to investigate is not easy to do."

She smiled bitterly and said, "The doctors in the Imperial Academy of Medicine are all old men and don't go to brothels anymore. If you really want to investigate the Imperial Academy of Medicine, I think it would be most convenient to go at it from the inside."

Fan Xian shook his head and said, "As I said earlier, this is a private matter that cannot go through the Council. Also, the Imperial Academy of Medicine is filled with old men, but what about their disciples? Those are all young people."

Sang Wen's mouth and lips were a bit broad, but they were not ugly. On the contrary, they contrasted with her sweet-tempered face. It was very unique. She opened her mouth and bitterly said, "The salary of the students of the Imperial Academy of Medicine is too little. Without having graduated, they cannot go on house-calls alone and are not allowed to go to the various manors in Jingdou. It is difficult to have them come to Baoyue Brothel."

Fan Xian took out a file from the leather envelope and read it carefully with narrowed eyes. Using his extraordinary memory, which surpassed many others, he forced himself to memorize most of the important contents in the file and handed it back.

Sang Wen took out a yellow copper base and carefully burned the file and leather envelope she had placed inside. After they had completely burned to dust, she stood up.

Fan Xian digested the intelligence report in his mind and shook his head with his eyes closed. "Your part ends here."

Sang Wen bowed slightly and said, "Yes."

Fan Xian took his brother and left Baoyue Brothel. However, he didn't remain in his manor. After taking Sizhe back, he once again climbed into the black carriage.

He sat in the carriage and thought. Regardless of whether it was the intelligence reports the Overwatch Council obtained from the outer edges or the bits and pieces the Baoyue Brothel had, he could only reach a relative blurry conclusion through them.

The Crown Prince's change had indeed begun half a year ago. At that time, Fan Xian was far away in Jiangnan and had no idea what was happening under Jingdou's calm surface. But, without question, the venereal disease that had long troubled the Crown Prince, which had long made his mental state appear inferior and timid, had been cured by someone. This made the Imperial Academy of Medicine, who was aware of this secret, sink into wild joy. They all thought that it was the blessing of heaven on Qing Kingdom.

It was at this time that the Crown Prince, because of his body's recovery, began to emit a glow called self-confidence and became calmer. In his calm, he revealed the steadiness a future Emperor ought to have.

The empress dowager was very happy about this change, and the Emperor also seemed surprised and happy.

After receiving confirmation from Hong Zhu, Fan Xian sank into some kind of deep thought. In terms of psychology, he could deduce some things. The Eldest Princess may only be using the Crown Prince as some kind of substitute or perhaps even considered him as a pet like a little white rabbit. But, what about the Crown Prince? Even if was the passive side, where did he get that bravery from?

Regardless of whether it was the previous timid and boastful Crown Prince or the present steady and restrained Crown Prince, neither should have the daring to do such an absurd thing. Although it was beneficial in terms of politics, the Crown Prince was still not someone with this kind of daring because he was not crazy enough.

Thus, before he agreed to anything with Hong Zhu, the first thing Fan Xian did was to investigate the cause of this matter. He truly felt it was strange.

The carriage bounced along. Fan Xian's forehead was pulled very tight. As a disciple of Fei Jie, he was familiar with medicine. After roughly understanding the situation, he unconsciously shifted his suspicions onto the medicine.

Medicine.

In this world, although venereal diseases were impossible to recover from, they did confine people to their sickbeds. It was very difficult to endure and a troublesome thing. Otherwise, the Crown Prince wouldn't have suffered for all these years and the Imperial Academy of Medicine wouldn't have been perplexed for so many years.

What medicine would cure the Crown Prince in such a short time? And, what medicine could make the Crown Prince so much braver?

He had arranged for Sang Wen to begin investigating this path of clues. Of course, he used a different excuse. However, after much investigation, they found that this clue led nowhere. Baoyue Brothel's intelligence power was limited, but the supplementary research in the Overwatch Council also didn't make any progress at all.

Fan Xian began to feel a thread of danger as if his back was being watched by an icy cold gaze. Was this a trap? Did someone set up a trap and wanted him to expose this matter?

If he continued to dig deeper, he worried he might disturb the powerful figure hiding behind the curtains. He decisively stopped his investigation into the medicine and turned his attention to the path he should be on.

He understood one thing. No one knew of his connection to Hong Zhu. Since this was so, no one would think to use this level of connection. If there really was another person trying to control this matter, then their goal was the same as his. As long as he was not implicated when the incident happened, that person would not be able to use him.

The medicine was important, but also not important. What was important was still the Crown Prince's heart. The medicine may perhaps be able to have the effect of adding fuel to the fire, but this method of action was rarely seen and powerful. Fan Xian thought, If it really was the medicine, then who made it?

In a flash, a few names immediately rose in his mind. Those that had the motivation to do such a thing were only him, who wished at all times to be able to pull the Eldest Princess and the Crown Prince off their horses, and the Second Prince, who now had the support of the Ye family but faintly sensed that the Crown Prince was going to snatch away his position in the Eldest Princess' heart.

It could even be…the Emperor.

In the carriage, Fan Xian was abruptly startled and then shook his head unconsciously. Although he was always on guard toward the Emperor, the Emperor had truly treated him well. He didn't seem like this kind of person. Furthermore, putting aside the Emperor's feelings of regret toward the Eldest Princess, even if he wanted to clean out the Palace, there was no need for him to condescend to using such dirty methods.

Of course, the first name that rose in Fan Xian's mind was actually Chen Pingping. Because of the medicine, he very naturally thought of Fei Jie.

However, he couldn't find anything and didn't dare take risks in looking, so he couldn't confirm anything and could only pull back.

The carriage drove to an isolated courtyard. It was the one that Wang Qinian had spent a few hundred liang to purchase. Fan Xian directly walked in and moved out a chair to sit on in the innermost room. He silently looked at the dry old man in front of him.

Wang Qinian pulled a pained expression and said, "Zi Yue is out saying his farewells. He's going to Northern Qi tomorrow. Mu Tie doesn't dare to take over the First Bureau…"

Fan Xian waved his hand to stop him and said straightforwardly, "You know this isn't what I want to hear."

"You could go find Sir Yan," Wang Qinian said with a mournful look. "I'm not good at this…besides…this is a crime that will wipe out an entire clan."

Fan Xian glared at him and said, "What crime is there? This isn't something we did."

Wang Qinian glanced at him fearfully. Even if it wasn't a major crime, now he knew of this matter. If it was discovered by people in the Palace, then no matter how far the Overwatch Council could escape…it wouldn't be able to escape death.

Fan Xian smiled warmly and patted his thin shoulder. "What does this mean? This means you are the person I trust the most. Besides, you know everything about me. Any matter is enough for me to lose my head, so what's one more?"

Wang Qinian suddenly felt a great regret. After he came back from Northern Qi, he should have followed Sir Fan junior and the Director's intentions and immediately taken over the First Bureau. He should not have returned to Sir Fan junior's side and re-taken control of the Qinian Unit. In that case, he wouldn't have seen that chest he shouldn't look at even if he were blind and he wouldn't have heard that secret that he shouldn't have listened to even if he were deaf.

…

…

"Someone is investigating." In the light snow in the Chen Garden, Chen Pingping sat in a wheelchair with a thick cape over his shoulders. He looked at the gradually freezing ice shards on the surface of the pond in the garden and smiled slightly. "They investigated very cleverly and hid very deeply. We still can't confirm who it is."

Fei Jie glanced at the Director and shook his head. "There are still three months to the scheduled time. I hope no troubles arise."

"I wonder if the crazy woman will sense anything." Chen Pingping sighed. "However, the lady once said, the true death of the camel only needed the pressure of one last strand of straw…I won't live for many more years. I must quickly place this strand of straw."

Chapter 474: Everything Has Order

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

Fie Jie looked silently at the old man in the wheelchair. He knew that Director Chen had sufficient understanding of his own body, so he couldn't say any of the comforting words he had thought of.

The Overwatch Council was the darkest part of the newly born Qing Kingdom. Of those who could truly understand much of its history and sense Chen Pingping's thoughts, in this world, there was only this poisoner Great Grandmaster.

"In the middle of the year," Chen Pingping weighted his tone to put emphasis on the time, "leave Jingdou and never come back. I know that you've been everywhere in your life, and your only wish is to one day take a boat to where the foreign people live and see how they make their medicines. Since you have this wish…it is better to go early."

For a while, Fei Jie didn't speak. He understood that given his usefulness in the past in the military, the matter in the Palace could not affect him. However, the Director was urging him to leave Qing Kingdom and take a ship because he wanted him to complete his life's dream before the matter blew up. He wanted him to be removed from it.

Although he was old, he still had dreams.

"I should have gone long ago," Fei Jie smiled and said. "But, I took on a student, and I'm always a bit worried."

"Go," Chen Pingping said sincerely. "There is only one life, so go do what you like. Don't wait until you're old and crippled. Then, you can't go even if you want to. Although I don't believe in the karma the temples talk about, you've killed a lot of people in your life. It will eventually catch someone's attention. Of the three poisoners, Xiao En is already dead. I heard the one in Dongyi also suddenly fell ill to some strange sickness. There is only you left. You have to live on."

Fei Jie was silent for a moment. He then said, "I'll listen to you. In the middle of the year, I will go to Dongyi and out to the sea."

Chen Pingping glanced at him and smiled tiredly. "Why aren't you leaving from Quanzhou?"

"That place has the scent of the past, and I don't like to remember the past," Fei Jie said. "Plus, since I am leaving alone. I don't want the Emperor or Fan Xian to know where I went."

Chen Pingping nodded his head.

…

…

Fei Jie had a special role in the Overwatch Council. He had quit the Third Bureau many years ago and now could be considered an offering in the Council. The current head of the Third Bureau was one of his juniors. Commissioner Fan was his student. Through all these years, he was always Chen Pingping's right arm and good friend, so his status in the Council was extraordinary.

Although there was still an empty medicine research room left for him in the basement of the square building, he rarely went there. His daily work in making medicine and creating poisons were all done in a courtyard in a corner of Jingdou.

This courtyard was a solo research department. All expenses were covered by the Overwatch Council, and all servants and students were also members of the Overwatch Council.

The results of a great poisoner's research were very precious. Regardless of whether it was the arrow poison that the military needed or the poisons that the nobility in the rear of the Palace needed in their rivalries to kill people, it was something everyone salivated over.

However, the defenses around this courtyard were not very strict. Since Fei Jie's reputation for viciousness and poisons were well known outside, including his enemies in Northern Qi and Dongyi—as well as the nobles within Qing Kingdom––no one had the boldness to enter the courtyard and play thief. No one knew what venomous bugs Fei Jie kept in his yard or what poisonous powder he had scattered around.

The disciples serving Fei Jie did not have to worry about this. They all carried a poison antidote on them. Even if they mistakenly took it, it would not cause a danger to their lives.

However, the people in Fei Jie's courtyard often faced financial dangers. Since they were creating poisons, a great deal of money was needed to purchase rare materials. For a few years, the palace treasury didn't make enough silver and sometimes the Overwatch Council didn't transfer the silver quickly enough. If Fei Jie was in the midst of an experiment, he would not wait. So, his disciples' monthly pay would be cut. Afterward, Fei Jie would forget to make up for it again. The students were also too scared to ask for it, so their lives were not so rosy.

Cats have their roads and mice have their way. As long as one was part of the giant organization that serviced Qing Kingdom, people always found ways to make some extra money to supplement their wallets.

The disciples in the courtyard were not an exception. They depended on their understanding of poisons. Although they didn't enter the little room to sell off Sir Fei's precious discoveries, some unremarkable little things became their way to wealth. In these 10 years, assassins, great-aunts, and concubines all over the world had enjoyed the poisons of the Overwatch Council through various channels.

At the same time, money flowed in.

The danger involved in selling poison was very great. No one knew where these poisons would end up. Thus, later, the disciples began to steal Fei Jie's medical prescriptions to sell. At first, the business was not very good because no one dared to use prescriptions written by Fei Jie. It was not until Fan Xian, in his position as Fei Jie's disciple, healed himself in the Palace and later, Fan Ruoruo, who had inherited her brother's skill, began to lecture in the Imperial Academy of Medicine, did Sir Fei Jie's ability in medicine become acknowledged by the market.

Selling medicine was good. It was safe and caused no trouble later.

About five to six months ago, a disciple close to Fei Jie had sold a prescription, which brought him a great deal of wealth. He sold this prescription to the famous Huichun Hall in Jingdou. He had been very careful when he sold it. He hadn't left any clues in the prescription and did not reveal his face to the other party. He simply handed over the goods with one hand and received the payment with the other.

Four months ago, this disciple suddenly became heavily ill. Perhaps his long years of contact with poisons had infected him. After a number of ineffective treatments, he coughed up blood in bed and died.

Before this disciple died, Huichun Hall had already successfully created their first medicinal pill from the prescription they had bought. After confirming its effectiveness on the body of one of their experiments, the old shopkeeper of Huichun Hall very wisely made the existence of this medicine Huichun Hall's greatest secret. Thus, they did not discover the medicine's side effects.

He knew that many of the nobility needed this kind of medicine. This was the chance Huichun Hall had been waiting for to demonstrate their prowess in Jingdou. Of course, the old shopkeeper wouldn't be stupid enough to allow the prescription to be leaked. Rather, he sent a pill to their backer through a secretive connection.

Huichun Hall's backer behind the scenes was a sixth-level official in Taichang Temple. This official had always been very careful and did not let his connection to Huichun Temple become exposed. After he confirmed the effectiveness of the medicine, an excitement surged up within him and immediately took over his expression.

Taichang Temple was responsible for all matters relating to the imperial family and often moved around in the Palace. He faintly knew of the so-called hidden illness the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace had for some years. This official vaguely saw the possibility of his career rising meteorically. However, he was not satisfied with being merely the one to bring the medicine.

In a roundabout way, he found the manor of another member of the imperial family and sent it there. He didn't clearly say that it was the result of the experiments of his own medicinal hall. He only said that he had searched bitterly for it and had finally found this medicine in the foreign goods in Dongyi.

When the imperial relative heard him say this, his eyes lit up.

The Taichang Temple official said that he did not have the prescription and to continuously look for it.

He knew very well that as long as the medicine was in his hands, the nobleman in the Eastern Palace would always need him. Thus, his present career and future career would expand and grow.

The imperial relative knew clearly what the Taichang Temple official was thinking, but he didn't expose it. He stroked his beard, smiled, and said a few words of praise. He only said that he would take this medicine himself. Even on the pain of death he would not say that the medicine would be sent into the Palace.

They each understood the other.

From then on, the "personally created" medicine by the shopkeeper of Huichun Hall was delivered to the imperial relative who "needed the medicine to recover his strength" by the hard work of the Taichang Temple official who "worked hard to find" the medicine. It was then sent into the palace through a hidden channel.

Along with some tea, it was sent through the Crown Prince's thin lips.

One pill every 10 days. Never not taken.

All of this was done in great secrecy. If someone began to investigate, at any moment, a link could be broken. However, what no one in this chain knew was that from the very beginning, all the connections and possibilities in this chain had already been calculated by someone. They thought they were being very secretive and everything was within their control. They had no idea that they were actually pawns being controlled by someone else.

…

…

In the little courtyard, Fan Xian left behind Wang Qinian, who was sunk in bitter thoughts and walked to the well. Deng Zi Yue had been waiting outside the entire time, waiting for orders. Seeing that he was free at the moment, he quickly came forward to give his report. His face naturally revealed some reluctance and a little nervousness.

He would head toward the distant Northern Qi the next day to take over Wang Qinian's position as head of the northern spies. Although, this position, in name, was under the jurisdiction of the Fourth Bureau, it had always been directly responsible to the Director or the Commissioner. It was an important position. After Yan Bingyun, it had been Wang Qinian. After Wang Qinian, it had been him. He knew in his heart that his strengths were not in this area and was worried that there would be a significant difference in his handling of the matters in the North. Thus, he sincerely asked Sir Fan junior of the matters he should be aware of for this trip.

"Everyone under heaven knows that you are my trusted aide," Fan Xian reminded him. "It is impossible to hide this from the Northern Qi people, and there is no need to hide it from them. Unlike Wang Qinian, you are unable to throw off the Brocade Guards whenever you want, so you have to be more careful than him."

He paused and said, "You must get used to playing the part of a diplomat. There are many kinds of spies. Back in the day, Sir Yan was a secret spy while Wang Qinian was half secret half open. You can only be a public spy. If there isn't a special situation, don't use the network in the North. For related documents, it's better to send secret letters through the post. You are attentive enough. There are many pieces of information that don't need to be investigated in secret. As long as you participate in a few feasts and chat with the Northern Qi nobility, you will be able to notice them."

Deng Zi Yue was slightly startled. Sir Fan junior's new explanation immediately opened a door in his brain. Spies…don't have to eavesdrop?

"At the moment, the two countries are in their honeymoon phase." Fan Xian smiled slightly. "Everything adheres to this mandate. Don't make the Northern Qi people lose too much face."

Deng Zi Yue nodded his head and asked, "Then how should I sort out the network in the north? My identity is too public, like you said earlier, so it's not convenient for me to contact them."

"Lin Wen, or was it Lin Qing? He should still be in Shangjing. He's an old hand and will explain to you the things you need to focus on." Fan Xian thought for a bit and said, "I've already told you about the First Rank in private. However, you shouldn't go there…if you have something to relay, go find Sizhe. He already has a commercial network under his control, and it would be more convenient to get a message to the First Rank that way."

Deng Zi Yue knew that the First Rank was the oil shop that Sir Fan junior had privately told him about a few days ago. He thought that Sir Fan junior had organized this well and nodded his head.

"If there is a private message for me from the South, go through Xia Mingji." Fan Xian thought for a bit then said, "Baoyue Brothel's branch in Shangjing is about to open. When the time comes, I'll have them contact you."

Deng Zi Yue thought to himself that Sir Fan junior had already arranged everything, so he indeed didn't have to worry too much. Fan Xian looked at his calm face and a faint sense of regret welled in his heart. He had sent Deng Zi Yue, who had such a public identity, to Northern Qi for this very reason. He couldn't conveniently connect to the spy network in Northern Qi. This would give his brother a chance to extend his hand in and, at the same time, allow Baoyue Brothel to worm in.

Deng Zi Yue had never suspected Sir Fan junior's intentions, but Fan Xian had a very absurd thought. He wanted to see if he could turn Qing Kingdom's spy network in Northern Qi into his own family's eyes and ears.

This network was truly too important for Sizhe's business and his deal with Northern Qi.

He coughed gently and said, "For your trip North this time, I am sending 300 Black Knights to see you through Cangzhou. On the other side, there will be Northern Qi people to meet you. Other than court matters, the most important thing is that you have to help me bring this guy forcefully into Shangjing. After entering Shangjing, don't find anyone else. Go directly to the Tianyi Dao Temple to find Haitang. Follow her plans for after."

Fan Xian raised his head to glance at the bare-chested young man chopping firewood in the corner of the yard. The young man was angry, but there was still a hint of youth between his brows. No one knew how old he was.

Deng Zi Yue followed his gaze over and furrowed his brows. "Haitang can make the arrangements, but…will the Northern Qi people think too much of it after they find out?"

With a calm expression, Fan Xian said, "What the Northern Qi people think has nothing to do with us. I am just sending a person over."

Deng Zi Yue hesitated a little and then asked, "But after you've returned him to Si Lili…how will you control him in the future?"

He was Fan Xian's trusted aide, so he knew the story of the Commissioner forcefully taking this young man from the Director. He knew that this unremarkable young man, this young man that had been shut in this yard for almost two years, was actually the young brother of the present Northern Qi's royal concubine.

"There are many kinds of control. I don't need this kind at the moment, so I may as well be generous. It will also make it more comfortable when everyone works together," Fan Xian said with a smile. However, he was thinking that he and Northern Qi's interests had long entwined together. It was not all that different whether or not a hostage was here or not. Si Lili's brother had long lost his past importance.

Deng Zi Yue had no further questions.

Fan Xian waved his hand and called the young man over. He looked at the indignation and hatred on the young man's face that had not been smoothed over and warmly said, "You're about to go to Shangjing. Is there anything you want to buy for your sister?"

The young man spat onto the floor.

Fan Xian and Deng Zi Yue both smiled. Fan Xian gazed at him and shook his head. "After you go to Shangjing, change your temper…I don't want you to bring trouble for your sister. Also, don't blame me for shutting you up for two years…you know about the problem of your past. If I didn't shut you up, you would probably have died long ago. Hmm, when you get to Shangjing and see your sister, remember to give her my greetings."

Suddenly, he remembered his ride two years ago with Si Lili in the same carriage. He became slightly absent-minded and then immediately calmed down, "Tell her, thank you from me."

The young man didn't fully understand and scratched his head. He had only seen Fan Xian a few times. He had long been shut up in the yard and did not know about the rumors outside. However, he was sure that this young noble figure was definitely an important official in Qing Kingdom. Except, he seemed a little too young…he was rather surprised that this powerful noble named Fan seemed to be very familiar with his sister that he had not seen in a long time. It seemed like they were friends.

Hearing him say this, was he actually supposed to be grateful to him? The young man once again scratched his head.

…

…

As the day reached dusk, Fan Xian and Wang Qinian left this courtyard and climbed into the carriage. Fan Xian looked forward and teasingly smiled, "Lao Wang, your home is also around here. Why have you still not invited me to visit?"

Wang Qinian looked at the smile on his face. His heart jumped. He thought of when he secretly read the love letters between Fan Xian and Haitang and the final threat Fan Xian had made at the end. In a shaky voice, he said, "Sir, my daughter is still young…maybe in a few years."

Fan Xian paused and almost spat out a mouthful of blood. He glared angrily at the old man and thought, With your appearance, what kind of beauty could you have for a daughter?

It was nothing more than a joke. However, it was clear that Wang Qinian's ability to be the fall-guy fell a great deal when he was worried.

The carriage stopped outside Wang Qinian's home's back door, but it was already empty and there was no one inside the home.

Two commoners with normal appearances and rough-spun clothing appeared in the alleyway across the manor of some imperial relative in the south side of the city. The two men had their hands in their sleeves and were half crouching on the ground while chatting leisurely. The content of their chat seemed to not be very leisurely.

"It's this family. Most of the empress' relatives have died, this is a very distant relative."

"What's the point of knowing this?"

"If medicine is being sent in, then there has to be a regular pattern they follow. I want to know how often the person in the Palace needs the medicine." Fan Xian, disguised as a commoner, spat onto the road. "Although this medicine cannot boost masculinity, it can boost courage. That young master's bravery is being raised by this medicine. If one wants to catch a traitor, one has to figure out the traitor's timetable…"

Chapter 475: Unexpected But Attained

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

It was impossible for Fan Xian to be disguised as an unhygienic commoner and stand guard outside the imperial relative's manor 18 days. He was only there with Wang Qinian to confirm that the chain had progressed as they had calculated. He did not intend to continue investigating down this chain.

It was the seventh, and he would confirm things with Hong Zhu on the 20th. At the beginning of February, he would leave Jingdou and head out once more to Jiangnan. He knew that there was very little time and impossible to truly find patterns. All he could depend on was Wang Qinian's extraordinary tracking ability.

After confirming the target, the two of them left the door of the imperial relative and returned to the back door of the courtyard in the old city. Although Fan Xian was interested in seeing Wang Qinian's daily life, he was truly too short on time these days. He didn't have much time to enjoy life, so he waved his hand and climbed into the carriage.

All of his equipment was left on this black carriage. He took off his outer layer, inspected the crossbow in his sleeve and medicinal pouch, and then took out a makeup box and carefully applied it to his face. He used the Overwatch Council's special glue to glue down the corner of his brows.

Immediately, the distance between his eyes and brows changed. He then added a few unremarkable moles on his jaw. The elegant and beautiful young master immediately became an unremarkable passerby.

The carriage stopped outside the Lotus Pond Square in the west of the city. However, Fan Xian had already disembarked from the carriage and merged into the chaotic group of people in the west of the city.

The area of the west part of Jingdou was not very big compared to other parts of the city. It wasn't wealthy enough, peaceful enough, or noble enough. Particularly around the lotus pond here, it was a poor area. For the people who lived here, their main concern each day was how to survive. Only when there was food in their homes would people consider things like etiquette and virtues. The people living around here were not more likely to stand out from the chaos because of the name "Lotus Pond Square." On the contrary, all kinds of people mingled together and all kinds of shady deals happened there.

Passerby Fan Xian used the rain hood on the back of his clothes to block the little snowflakes falling from the sky. He stepped into the mud in the alley with a dark look on his face and headed into the depths of the Lotus Pond Square. His expression did not attract anyone's attention in the lotus pond. The commoners and shopkeepers in the stalls didn't bother to give him a second glance.

There were too many sinister faces in the square because there were many people involved in organized crime. They couldn't always collect the debt they were owed, and not everyone always escaped when the Jingdou government came to seize them. The brothers in organized crime were loyal and vicious. Their tempers were also explosive, so it was common for them to be gloomy.

Passing through a narrow alley with broken eaves extending outward, Fan Xian once again stood surrounded by prostitutes standing on the street. Fortunately, it was still early. Although the dedicated prostitutes were standing outside already, the shoddy makeup on their faces and endless yawns clearly demonstrated their low stamina. Fan Xian once again extricated himself and burrowed into a little wooden building on a back street, looking for his target location.

The little wooden room was filled with a disgusting smell. The moment Fan Xian entered through the door, he couldn't help but rub his nose. He still didn't remove the hat from his head. He directly sat down beside the bed and removed a token of trust from his clothes and handed it to the wary cripple on the bed.

The cripple could still move his hands. He gazed at this unexpected guest with a face full of anxiousness and accepted the token. After looking at it closely for a while, he said in a low voice, "Since you are one of us, why would you come so impudently?"

Fan Xian didn't have time to talk about such things and straightforwardly said, "What good things have come out from there recently?"

The color of the cripple's face changed. He didn't know just who this hateful person was in the gang to ask so directly. Since the other party knew about this matter that could lose them their heads, he must be a trusted aide or something of the gang boss.

He felt around for a long time in the smelly blanket and took out countless boxes. Fan Xian opened each and looked at them closely. His face still wore the spiritless expression. It was clear that he was not very pleased.

The cripple looked at his expression and shook his head. He dug around for a while in the porcelain pillow under his neck and finally found half a jade pendant that he handed over.

Fan Xian accepted the jade pendant and looked at it closely. The color of this piece of jade was warm and good. It was truly a treasure. Furthermore, the cloud inscriptions on it clearly showed it as something used by the imperial family. He nodded his head, pleased. "Not bad. For this kind of good thing, the more the better."

The cripple smiled proudly. Fan Xian also smiled internally. He knew that the cripple in front of him was not as pitiful as he appeared on the surface.

Jingdou was a place where the distinguished and wealthy gathered, particularly in the Royal Palace. Tens and thousands of people supported the Emperor and various nobles while the eunuchs and serving girls who served the Emperor and the nobles would often secretly steal things out to repay citizens in the darkness.

The Palace was like this, and each of the major manors were like this as well. Furthermore, there was a great deal of shady silver and treasures that needed to be laundered and changed into the land deeds for each province. This type of work could only be done by those professionals in the lower levels.

The underworld had such professionals, so every gang that had some power under heaven left a small branch in Jingdou. These jianghu people didn't dare oppose the court, but they had no compunction about being the court's sewer and earning some loose silver.

Since the jianghu people strangely stayed within their bounds, up until now, Jingdou still did not have any well-known organized crime syndicates. The Helou Gang was an unremarkable gang responsible for collecting things smuggled out of the Royal Palace. Fan Xian had talked a great deal with Xia Qifei while he was in Hangzhou and had some understanding of these powers in the dark. Only then did he learn that the Helou Gang had a secret passageway in the Palace. He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of respect. It also influenced his trip to Lotus Pond Square.

This cripple was responsible for the first link in Helou Gang's smuggling in Jingdou. These people were doing something that could result in their entire families being killed, so they were very careful. Each link was not connected, and the people picking up the goods often changed. This was what gave Fan Xian a precious opportunity.

As for that token of trust, it was something the Overwatch Council had prepared many years ago.

The cripple looked at his pleased smile and proudly said, "Apparently this was something the previous Emperor gifted to the empress dowager. However, something happened later and, for some reason, it returned to the Eastern Palace. This took quite some effort to get."

Fan Xian's heart jumped and he smiled. "Nobles don't know about these little things. They just casually leave them in storage and won't think to use them for decades."

The cripple sighed with feeling and said, "Exactly. If this piece of jade was sold in Jiangnan and taken to Jiangbei to buy land, it could probably buy almost a square kilometer of land."

Fan Xian didn't want to commiserate with him anymore and said, "First time making a deal, I don't know the rules."

He said it very directly and, on the contrary, didn't arouse the cripple's suspicions. From under his blanket, he took out an account book. He pointed at the empty space that said first-class wine and said, "Here."

Fan Xian smiled. "You cripples sure can hide things under the blanket."

The crippled muttered something. He seemed to be remembering past events. He was following the gang boss and fighting all over the place, but then he was struck and crippled. The gang boss took pity on him and allowed him to come to Jingdou to handle matters.

Fan Xian didn't know many stories about Helou Gang, so he didn't respond. After he signed, using his already altered handwriting, he took out and handed over a bank note. "The first week is 30 percent, right? Don't rip me off."

The cripple looked at the 1,000 liang banknote and nodded. "About that much. Although this piece of jade is certainly worth more than this price. It is, after all, a taboo object, so it can only be sold at a discount."

Having completed everything, Fan Xian put the piece of jade away carefully and walked out of the dark room without saying anything more.

…

…

Walking on the mud-stained streets in the Lotus Pond Square, the sky remained dark and gloomy. Meanwhile, Fan Xian's dark mood caused by that matter had instead relaxed. He had already thought through how the entire thing should be done. Although this plan was indeed rather complicated, roundabout, and irritating, Fan Xian had no other way. In order to ensure Hong Zhu's safety and that he would always stay behind the scene, he had to go round and round to get close to the truth and expose it.

He had a plan. Although he didn't know whether or not there would be problems, it was much better than a few days ago when he was faced with a basin of braised pig feet with no good place to bite down into.

He had thought through the entire process. All that was left was for Hong Zhu to operate it. Of course, it required the Emperor to truly be as sensitive and suspicious, and as full of imagination and wisdom that Fan Xian guessed him to be.

Just as the Eldest Princess and Fan Xian always thought, the Qing Emperor was indeed a sensitive and suspicious person. As someone who had stood at the peak of politics for a long time, he would always think the worst of any plot and display his wisdom. Thus, the more Fan Xian thought of it, the more relaxed he became. He felt that the Emperor would be properly played by him this time.

To be able to trap others, yet not have himself involved, made Fan Xian feel a rare thread of pride. Although he was a ninth-level ace with great power in hand, he still maintained a peaceful state of mind. However, he just couldn't suppress the pride he felt.

Ever since entering the Overwatch Council, he had always been very weak in terms of schemes and plots. In the past, he had Yan Bingyun helping, so nothing seemed wrong. However, after the Jiaozhou incident, Chen Pingping viciously scolded him and showed great disdain for his ability to craft schemes. So, now, Fan Xian truly felt very proud. The more he thought about it, the prouder he felt.

As he was feeling proud, he saw a disappointed person under the exit sign for Lotus Pond Square.

Fan Xian looked at the blue-cloth covered table under the sign and at the businessman shouting loudly with snow on his head and couldn't help but stare in a daze. He stopped his steps, hid behind a group of people, and took a closer look.

It was a litigation master. He was calling out to solicit business. His face was very pale. It seemed like there was something wrong with his body. Even his voice seemed rather weak.

Fan Xian lowered his head slightly and allowed the rain hood to hide much of his face. He narrowed his face and looked at that person. A strange feeling grew in his heart.

The litigation master's business was not very good. There wasn't even anyone asking him to write court suits for them much less coming forward to ask about lawsuits. Furthermore, the commoners who seemed to vaguely know the inside story were all giving the blue-cloth table a wide berth as if afraid of being stained by some bad luck.

Fan Xian furrowed his brows and left Lotus Pond Square.

…

…

About half an hour later, he was in an elegant room in a normal restaurant. Fan Xian's face was full of smiles. He pushed a dish beside him to across the table and said, "Eat slowly, and talk slowly. Why are you like this now?"

The person sitting opposite him was the litigation master from Lotus Pond Square. It was the litigation master who fought Fan Xian in his first lawsuit in Jingdou and who was later kidnapped by Fan Xian to Jiangnan and did well in fighting the lawsuit on Fan Xian's behalf against the Ming family—Song Shiren.

Song Shiren had a bandit name, Fu Zu'er, and also titled himself as the best litigation master in the world. He had walked counter to the law. Otherwise, why would he have sunk to such level as to lay out a store on the street? At the time, Fan Xian had felt very shocked when he saw him on the street. It was only later he had his subordinate go invite him here. However, he didn't dare go to Baoyue Brothel.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at the dejected litigation master. Although he had guessed some things, he still couldn't resist opening his mouth to ask about the other party's recent situation.

Song Shiren didn't eat any food. He only slurped up a mouthful of rice wine. He gazed deeply at Fan Xian, sighed, and laughed bitterly, but didn't say a single word.

"Speak. Is it related to me?" Fan Xian asked.

Song Shiren sighed again and said, a moment later, "Since you have guessed, I don't have to be worried about showing my shame. After I got back from Jiangnan, Tongren Street and other people all knew of my grandness in Jiangnan. I rose in their esteem slightly. They also knew that I was working for you, so they all nodded to me and bowed. However, the wind changed directions. For some reason, no one asked me to argue a lawsuit for them. Even those friends who were usually close to me gradually distanced themselves."

"Don't know for what reason?" Fan Xian sighed. "We both know the reason."

Song Shiren laughed bitterly. "Even if I know, am I going to lament my grievance everywhere?"

Fan Xian fell silent and listened to Song Shiren's cold and sorrowful story. Only then did he know that in these following months, how wretchedly the once greatest litigation master in the world had been living.

It was not only the problem of not being able to earn money. It seemed that in a flash, the entire Qing Kingdom bureaucratic institution began to target Song Shiren. The Jingdou government, Ministry of Justice, and even the Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple, came to make trouble for him. In any case, they used all kinds of excuses and stripped away his property like a storm. No matter how clever Song Shiren could argue and debate, how could he stand against the unreasonable ways of the court? Furthermore, the noble figures he was familiar with in the past now uttered not a sound. They seemed afraid of the person behind the scenes who was punishing Song Shiren.

Song Shiren could only take his family and rent in a place like Lotus Pond Square. His life could be described as extremely wretched.

Fan Xian met his eyes. They shook their heads at the same time. Both of them were well aware the reason for all of this.

Song Shiren helped Fan Xian fight the Ming family case in Jiangnan. Putting aside how much he helped Fan Xian, most importantly, through Song Shiren's mouth, he completely broke and destroyed the idea—not written into Qing law but just a holy law ingrained in people's hearts—of the heir's natural and immutable right to inheritance, which was drafted by Fan Xian.

This had broken a huge taboo in the Palace. The empress dowager quietly said a few words, so there were countless people thinking of ways to have Song Shiren shut his mouth.

This was a very profound lesson.

"At least I'm fine." Song Shiren rubbed his neck with lingering fear. "To be able to survive is already the heavens taking pity on me."

Fan Xian knew that the only reason Song Shiren was not killed was because the nobility in the palace still gave him some face. He couldn't help smiling self-mockingly and said, "Even if no one dared to help you…why didn't you come find me? When all is said and done, it was me who hurt you in this matter. If you came to me for help, I would have to try at least."

Song Shiren laughed bitterly. "I fought a lawsuit for you and almost ended up destitute and homeless. How could I dare to bring you more trouble?"

Fan Xian knew that his words did not match his thoughts. He was worried that if he approached him, he would instead be met with more disasters. He looked at Song Shiren and smiled. "Don't worry about anything."

He took out a banknote and handed it over. Song Shiren raised his eyes and looked at the terrifying number on the first topmost note and couldn't help jumping in fright. Although he was someone who had seen something of the world, to give out so much silver at once made him a little afraid to accept it.

Fan Xian said, "I will immediately arrange for your entire family to leave Jingdou. You don't have to worry about problems with safety. Take this money to use, for now. Consider it my compensation to you."

Song Shiren was silent for a long time and didn't say anything.

Fan Xian glanced at him and said, "Relax, if I wanted to kill you to escape calamity, I would have done it long ago in Jiangnan. You know that I've never shied away from killing a few people…you have to understand my personality. As long as someone has helped me, I will protect them and give them sufficient compensation."

"The resentment in the Palace will fade in a few days," Fan Xian pointed out and said. "At that time, as long as I am protecting you, who would dare to touch you?"

…

…

The 10th day of the first month was also known as the final 10th and considered a relatively important day of the year. Although there wouldn't be as many people going out as on the seventh, the streets were still very lively. Having planned everything, Fan Xian appeared particularly relaxed. He took Wan'er and wandered through Jingdou in the carriage for half a day. Under the endless urging of his wife and Teng Zijing, he changed the route and drove directly toward Prince Heqing's manor not far from the Royal Palace.

The doors of Prince Heqing's manor were wide open, but there were not many visitors. At this moment, the Great Prince was standing on the stone steps waiting for Fan manor's carriage.

The carriage stopped outside the manor door. The Great Prince gazed at Fan Xian with a cold smile. "You've come so late, don't you dare slip out early later."

Chapter 476: Breaking The Ice Like Jade

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

The snow in Jingdou stopped and then started again. It wasn't clear-cut and at ease like the snow situation in Shangjing in Northern Qi. It also wasn't as worrying as the complete lack of snow in Danzhou. It just happened to hang around annoyingly like the spring rains in Jiangnan. Fan Xian extended his hand angrily to brush away the snow on his hair and looked at the Great Prince standing by the manor's door. "It's just a meal. What need is there to be so nervous?"

The Great Prince wasn't wrong. If the inscription on the invitation did not have the name of the Great Princess of Northern Qi, whether or not he would sneak out early or not he even come was not certain.

Fan Xian thought, painfully, You royal brothers are having a gathering, so why call me, someone who has acknowledged the Fan ancestors, here? He truly didn't want to come. He didn't wish to see the Second Prince and his wife while the situation was still unclear. He also was thinking sinister things. If the Crown Prince, who was his target for these sinister plots, continued to warmly converse with him, what should he do?

There was no place for him to speak. His wife was already beaming with joy and standing in front of the Great Prince. She said something with a laugh and then the two of them entered the manor together.

Fan Xian looked at this sight of brother-sister affection and thought to himself that this brother was not a paternal cousin. A slight jealousy rose in his heart. How could he not enter the manor?

Fan Xian had not been to Prince Heqing's manor many times. As he followed them into the manor, someone came forward to show him to his seat. Fan Xian looked around. He didn't see anyone else, so he relaxed.

In the side room, Wan'er was warmly talking to the Great Prince she hadn't seen in a long time about something. Fan Xian sat by himself in the hall and felt bored, but he was also too lazy to join the conversation. He half closed his eyes to rest. However, the words to his side continued to worm their way into his ear. One moment, Wan'er was teasing the Great Prince about his appearance after the wedding. In another moment, the Great Prince was asking Wan'er whether or not she was used to living in Jiangnan, whether or not Fan Xian bullied her, how the was scenery in Jiangnan and what yamen the Hangzhou Conference belonged to.

By the time Wan'er had explained clearly to the Great Prince that the Hangzhou Conference had nothing to do with the yamen, Fan Xian already couldn't resist yawning, feeling bored. This brother and sister pair were important figures in the royal family. One had even once been a general who led troops to kill people. How come when they chatted together, they were not that different from the Teng family's wife and those aunties?

As he was criticizing silently to himself, he suddenly felt a slight breeze behind him. He cautiously opened his eyes and turned around to see a beautiful young woman in gorgeous clothing lifting the curtain and entering.

Fan Xian was slightly startled. He stared at the flower placed at the temple of the woman's thick hair and smiled, "Greetings, wangfei."

The newcomer was the Great Princess of Northern Qi, the Heqing wangfei. When this foreign nobility had married into Qing Kingdom, Fan Xian was the diplomat who brought her over. The two of them traveled together over thousands of li, so he was more familiar with her than others.

After she and the Crown Prince married, it was not appropriate for Fan Xian and her to maintain contact. Thus, it was essentially impossible to realize some of their secret promises to each other. Having not seen her in a long time, Fan Xian actually felt a bit unfamiliar. After his initial greeting, he didn't know what else to say.

Lin Wan'er saw that the wangfei had come out and also stood quickly to greet her. However, she was forced by the wangfei to follow the customs of the people and call her "sister-in-law."

The wangfei's appearance was dignified. The tip of her brows and corner of her eyes were particularly impressive, making her kindly and heartening. However, at this moment, her calm eyes turned and once again stared at Fan Xian. They revealed a glimmer of strange light. "It has been many days since I saw you. Have you been well recently?"

Fan Xian stood across from her and had long noticed the glimmer of ruthlessness and anger in her soft eyes. In addition to how she referred to him, he knew that she was angry. However, he knew that the wangfei's anger had nothing to do with the matters between men and women. She wasn't resentful for not seeing him often after he accompanied her back to the city. It was probably because of the Yangcong Alley incident that made her angry.

Without thinking, he glanced at the Great Prince's expression and found that the bastard was actually able to forcefully maintain his calm. He could only hide his awkwardness and smile. "Great Princess, what do you mean by this…I think it's best if you call me Fan Xian like before, or…you could call me brother-in-law?"

Although this joke was not funny, the titles in Fan Xian's words were very particular. He still respectfully referred to the other as "princess" and was using an old title. He wanted the other party to remember their past friendship and knew that hearing this title would make the wangfei calmer.

Although Northern Qi's Great Princess had married the Qing Kingdom's Great Prince and did not lower her status, it was still a distant marriage to a foreign country. Furthermore, the background to the wedding at the time was a war between the two in countries which ended with the Qing Kingdom's victory. This marriage, for Northern Qi people and the Great Princess herself, was not particularly glorious.

What's more, the Great Prince was given the title of Prince Heqing. Heqing, Heqing[JW1] , what did it mean? Every time he thought of the Great Prince's title, Fan Xian couldn't help but smile, thinking, The Emperor was indeed a jealous and grudge-bearing person. The Great Princess probably hated the title Heqing wangfei.

As expected, the wangfei was startled at hearing the words "Great Princess." She had lived in Qing Kingdom for almost two years. She had married a decent man and lived a decent life, but, after all, she was living in a foreign country. Although she had strictly prohibited the servants in the manor from using her full title, it had been a long time since she heard someone call her "princess."

The wangfei's gaze immediately softened. She looked at Fan Xian with a slight smile, temporarily surrendering her thoughts of causing trouble for him.

Lin Wan'er and the Great Prince were both smart people. They had heard the various levels of probing in the previous words. Involuntarily, they met each other's gaze and couldn't resist shaking their heads thinking that these two were very tiring.

The four of them sat and had only said a few words before Fan Xian couldn't resist but turn his head to glance in the direction of the main door and shook his head. "I said we came early today. Wan'er just had to rush me."

"Everyone's here, we're just waiting for you," the Great Prince glanced at him and said. "You're the new Duke of Danbo and have great face to make to two princes waiting for you."

Fan Xian was slightly startled.

"The Crown Prince won't be coming today," the Great Prince explained, saying that Chengqian had already sent a generous gift over while the Second Prince, his wife, Hongcheng, and his sister were sitting in the back garden right now.

The Crown Prince not coming allowed Fan Xian's heart to relax a great deal. He knew that this was normal. The Crown Prince's status was different. He was the heir to the country. Although his position seemed shaky these two years, his rank was still above those of the other princes. For a royal family gathering, he had to be invited. But, it also wasn't appropriate for him to come.

Wan'er said in surprise, "Second brother and them are already here? Why are we still sitting here?"

This wasn't a stupid question. It was purposely to weaken the negative effects of the Great Prince's words on the atmosphere in the hall. The Great Prince listened to Wan'er's words and smiled. "Let us go now."

Then, he glanced at Fan Xian.

Fan Xian forced a smile, thinking, I'm already here. Do you think I'll kick up a fuss in the manor and beat up the Second Prince? As he thought this, he rose and took Wan'er's hand to walk toward the back garden.

The Great Prince and his wife shook their heads at the same time, thinking, Fan Xian, that rascal, truly didn't have any awareness of being a guest. They followed him toward the back garden. As they left the hall, the wangfei thought of Fan Xian's collusion with her husband and couldn't help but furrow her brows. To her side, the Great Prince sighed and his heart trembled slightly.

…

…

This manor had been built by imperial edict the year before last. It was mostly for the marriage between the two countries. In order to display the Qing Kingdom's face, the manor did not scrimp on anything and was built particularly extravagantly. It took up a vast expanse of land. The group of people walked for a long time toward the garden before seeing a Flower Hall in the distant beside the lake. Faint voices could be heard coming from inside.

The lake was not very big. The weather was slightly better than the day before. The thin ice on the surface of the lake was broken into pieces, but they were unable to spread out. They rose and fell with the water and reflected the faint grey light from the clouds above. It looked like countless pieces of jewels.

The Flower Hall was also extraordinary exquisite. The three black, wood windows facing the lake were well sealed and cotton wind-blocking curtains were suspended above them inside. In the middle, at about waist high, was a narrow opening on which was inlaid with superior glass made in the palace treasury.

Such a design meant that the chilly wind on the river could not disturb the young nobles' spirits, and they could also admire the beautiful winter scenery through the window. It was very well thought out.

Fan Xian smiled and said, "I like this place."

"If you like it then come more often in the future. After all, you're not an outsider." The Great Prince's eyes were looking forward. It was unknown whether or not the word "outsider" had any deeper meanings. "This manor was originally even more imposing, but I didn't like it. Fortunately, the wangfei is very clever and renovated it a great deal. It looks very different from before. If you like it, you should talk to her."

Fan Xian turned his head to glance at the wangfei, smiled, and didn't say anything.

The Great Prince said with some pride, "I don't care if others say I am afraid of my wife, as long as she likes it, I will always do it for her. Take this circle of glass around the Flower Hall, for instance, it cost me a pretty penny…"

Hearing these words, the wangfei felt a bit embarrassed in front of Fan Xian and Wan'er, so she quietly sent him a glance.

The Great Prince chuckled and changed the topic. "Speaking of this glass, it's really very expensive. To speak of it, now you're the head of the palace treasury. In the future, when I need to change the glass, you have to sell it to me for cheaper."

Fan Xian replied, "Your Highness, have mercy. You are a great general and prince, do you really care about this little bit of glass? Never mind cheaper. In the future, if you want something from the palace treasury, write a letter and I'll buy it for you."

The Great Prince was not pleased and shook his head. "The palace treasury is important. The money you earned for the court were all spent on the riverbank crisis. I wouldn't dare to take advantage here."

Fan Xian knew that the Great Prince was someone loyal and upright, so he wasn't surprised. He smiled and said, "If you're using glass to curry favor with the Great Princess, I'm afraid you'll have to spend a great deal in the future."

The Great Prince was confused. "What do you mean? Are you saying there isn't enough glass used in this garden?"

To the side, the wangfei covered her smile and didn't speak.

Fan Xian smiled mockingly and said, "The Great Princess has lived in the Northern Qi palace since her youth…you've never wandered through that royal palace. The roof of the great hall is made completely from glass. Natural light shines through and lights up the limestone, jade platform, and white fish in the clear water beside the platform."

The Great Prince was shocked and sighed. "I have only heard of it in the past. I thought it couldn't be so exaggerated. The wangfei has never talked with me about it…it is actually true?" He clicked his tongue and sighed, although a different thought rose in his mind. Secretly, he thought that since the Northern Qi royal family was so extravagant, no wonder their country grew weaker by the day and couldn't even stand against one attack. However, it was not appropriate to say these words in front of his wife, so he could only forcefully swallow them back down.

With what he said earlier, Fan Xian also sank into his memories of his travels in Northern Qi. He was willing to appreciate impressive or extremely beautiful things, so his impression of Shangjing had always been very good. Of course, the girls in that city were not bad either. Unconsciously, a glimmer of a strange smile began to rise to the corners of his lips.

At this moment, the wangfei also began to reminisce about the landscape of her homeland.

Lin Wan'er looked at the smile at the corner of Fan Xian's mouth and couldn't help but press her lips together and let out a huff.

Like this, each with their own thoughts, they entered the Flower Hall. The two men and woman in the hall had already come forward to welcome them. They were the Second Prince, Hongcheng, and his sister.

Princess Roujia affectionately called out "Sister Wan'er." Wan'er affectionately called out "Second brother." Hongcheng affectionately called out "An Zhi." Everyone sat down and chatted leisurely beside the lake view and tribute fruits from the South. The conversation was peaceful and comfortable, as if nothing had happened in Jingdou these years, as if Fan Xian and the Second Prince truly were close and affectionate brothers.

This was probably a natural born ability of royal sons, right?

As Fan Xian sighed in his heart, he listened to everyone talking. He knew the true purpose of the Great Prince's feast today. He was also worried that Hongcheng would once again step onto the Second Prince's boat. Although he was good at these kinds of conversations in which the true purpose was disguised, he was not as used to it as these people who had grown up in the royal family.

He made his excuses and fled away to find a bathroom.

…

…

In a little corner courtyard not far from the Flower Hall, Fan Xian, who had been led there by a servant, was startled. He watched the girl coming out, the girl with bright gem-like eyes and not a trace of impurity.

Fan Xian waved his hand to dismiss the servant and looked at the shocked Ye Ling'er whose hands were still at her waist. He smiled and said with good humor, "Lady, you should be careful of your appearance. Don't you know that you should tidy up inside before coming out? What will the servants think if they see you?"

Ye Ling'er covered her smiled and said, "I just look like this, teacher…"

The moment the words came out, both of them paused at the same time and sank into silence. They both remembered in the year they had last seen each other, Ye Ling'er had long married and was a wangfei. She was no longer the unruly little girl who hung around Fan Xian fighting. And, Fan Xian…could he still be her teacher?

[JW1] The characters "和亲" (Heqing) could be taken to mean coming together or marriage.

Chapter 477: The Unconventional In The Royal Family

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

"Walk with me." Fan Xian extended his right arm to make a "you first" gesture.

Ye Ling'er looked at his face in a daze and smiled. She turned to glance at the room in the corner of the courtyard and teased, "Why aren't you in a rush now?"

Fan Xian laughed uproariously, "I was just using the bathroom to escape."

Ye Ling'er walked forward a few steps to walk beside him. She tilted her head and looked at him with those glittering eyes and asked curiously, "Teacher, why does the conversation in the Flower Hall make you so uncomfortable?"

Hearing the word "teacher" again, Fan Xian's heart warmed again without reason. After pausing for a moment, a warm smile rose to his face. "You know me, I'm not used to that kind of setting."

"How was it in Jiangnan?" Ye Ling'er pulled up her shoulders and followed at his side. "I know something happened to you on the way back. I should have visited you, but…"

It wasn't that she wanted to speak then paused, it was because she had closed her mouth helplessly. The entire Qing Kingdom was guessing about the truth of the attack in the valley and who was the true culprit that wanted to kill Fan Xian. Many people had once turned their suspicious gazes onto the Second Prince. After Ye Ling'er knew that Fan Xian had been attacked, she couldn't help but be shocked and worried. She had even privately asked her husband. Although she had received the Second Prince's promise that the attack in the valley had nothing to do with him, given the current situation and Ye Ling'er's status as wangfei, it was indeed not appropriate for her to visit Fan Xian.

Fan Xian smiled and very naturally patted her shoulder. "I have tough skin. How could I be hurt so easily?"

The hand he stretched out suddenly froze. Fan Xian pulled it back, smiling self-mockingly. The other person was now married and a wangfei. His words and actions should both be moderated.

As the two of them talked about the situation, they followed the winter woods in the manor toward the lakeside. Quietly, Fan Xian said, "Wan'er also hasn't seen you in some time. She was missing you a few days ago."

Before they were married, Lin Wan'er and Ye Ling'er were best friends ibn the lady's chamber. However, they were now each married to the two people of the younger generation who could least co-exist together. It inevitably caused some complications.

Ye Ling'er said, unhappily, "I also miss her."

"When you have nothing to do, then come visit the manor," Fan Xian said warmly. "If it's not convenient for you to leave the manor, I will send her to your manor to visit you."

Ye Ling'er sighed and stopped her steps beside a completely bare tree. She gazed at Fan Xian and faintly said, "Teacher, I truly do not understand you men, including him. Everything you say is so similar…it always seems, to those who hear it, as if nothing happened between you two."

Naturally, the "him" in her words was referring to the Second Prince.

Fan Xian smiled and said, "What does the life and death of us men have to do with your women's friendship?"

"What does it have to do with us?" Ye Ling'er's personality was straightforward and outspoken. She raised her face and said, "Do you think that Wan'er and I can still talk as easily after one of us becomes a widow?"

Fan Xian was shocked and forced a laugh. "Then what do you have us do?"

Ye Ling'er stood silently beside the tree. After a long time, she sighed. She knew that there were many things that could not change because she wanted them to. As a daughter of the Ye family, in the time before she married, she could wear clothes as red as fire and ride down Long Street, letting the all the commoners in Jingdou become familiar with her face. She cared nothing at all about what everyone said or what her father would be angry about because she was Ye Ling'er. But, for the entire Qing Kingdom, what did Ye Ling'er count for?

"In Jiangnan, I saw your grand-uncle." Fan Xian smiled and changed the topic. He reminded her, "However, not many people know about this, so don't spread it around."

"I know." Ye Ling'er was slightly surprised. "What was that old man doing in Jiangnan?"

It was Fan Xian's turn to be surprised, "No matter what, your grand-uncle is a Great Grandmaster. How can you just call him that?"

Ye Ling'er frowned and said, "He spends years wandering around. When he comes home occasionally, he never brings anything good. I call him an old man because what could he possibly complain about?"

Fan Xian smiled but had confirmed Ye Liyung's level of intimacy with the Ye family. Through Ye Ling'er's words, as well as the fact that although Ye Liuyun was, in name, traveling around the world, he had still returned home a number of times. Otherwise, Ye Ling'er, given her youth, would not refer to him with such familiarity.

"After you got married, did you abandon your martial arts?" Fan Xian asked quietly.

Ye Ling'er chuckled, not sure if he was going to test her. However, it put her in good spirits that Fan Xian did not try to avoid her or to maintain his distance from her under the current situation. Her eyes revealed an eagerness to give it a try.

Fan Xian pretended to not see this look in her eye. Minding his own business, he left the lonely tree and headed toward the lakeside in front. At this moment, the two of them had already made a large loop and came to the other corner of the lake. A corner of the Flower Hall hidden not far behind the trees could vaguely be seen.

A swoosh of cold wind came from behind him. It pierced quickly and sinisterly toward the back of Fan Xian's ear.

Fan Xian did not turn his head. His right arm lifted, and the Tyrannical zhenqi in his body surged along the increasingly wide Meridians and flowed into his right arm, making his right arm naturally shake.

He waved his right palm back. His five slender fingers dissolved into five broken branches and then formed a number of broken shadows. With incomparable speed and clarity, it pressed in order against the cold wind behind his head.

With a number of crisp slapping sounds, the thing in the cold wind fell to the ground.

However, Ye Ling'er's reaction was extremely quick. She directly aimed a fist toward the back of Fan Xian's head.

Fan Xian also didn't dare to be careless. He spun around on his toes and naturally flipped up both his palms in front of him as a block. It was like he had suddenly erected two large doors in front of himself, completely shutting out Ye Ling'er's wind punch.

Immediately after, his feet paused and knees bent. He silently and forcefully pulled back the silent feet below.

With a few puffs of breath, the end of the battle was announced.

Fan Xian and Ye Ling'er stood on the side of the river with their fists crossed and their legs in the same place…this position looked a bit ambiguous. Fan Xian could feel the pulsing sensation coming from beside his knee. Very naturally, his heart swayed. He developed some other kinds of feelings.

He coughed and separated from Ye Ling'er. He smiled and said, "Still too slow."

Ye Ling'er unwillingly took back her not-yet unsheathed little knife and said, "It's you who is too quick."

Fan Xian's gaze unconsciously dropped to look at the adorable embroidered shoes in Ye Ling'er's foot, thinking, If he had moved slightly slower just then and allowed this little foot to kick against his lower abdomen, it would presumably be very uncomfortable.

"Don't use this kind of move in the future. It will end bloodlines," Fan Xian teasingly said.

Ye Ling'er huffed and said, "Teacher is correct. The so-called little tricks are the same as being shameless…no wonder this kick didn't land on you. I just understood, your favorite thing to do are these little tricks, so, of course, you would be able to guess my next move."

Fan Xian was left speechless. When they had exchanged attacks earlier, Ye Ling'er had used Fan Xian's little tricks while Fan Xian had used the Ye family's Coffin Breaker, which was a simplified version of Great Grandmaster Ye's Flowing Cloud Scattered Hands. Although Ye Ling'er was a rare seventh-level ace among women, in front of him, she didn't have much opportunity to demonstrate it.

Ye Ling'er suddenly asked confusedly, "Teacher, although my strike from the back was a trick, how did you dare to use Scattered Hand to directly counter it?"

Fan Xian glanced at her and said without good humor, "Since we are just testing, of course, you won't use any poisoned weapons. What do I have to afraid of? Also, your little tricks are still not vicious enough. When your final punch was blocked, the hairpins in your hair can also be used to kill people."

Ye Ling'er glared at him and said, "Then wouldn't it have completely come down? We're in the Great Prince's manor, where am I going to find a serving girl to brush it up again?"

Fan Xian chuckled and said, "Then there is still your mouth left…it can be used to bite."

"Is perhaps my teacher a large dog?" Ye Ling'er was a bit mad and not going to go along with it. "As a teacher, don't you know to go a bit easier?"

Fan Xian looked at the stubborn and unconvinced girl and involuntarily remembered a time two years ago on Chang Street in Jingdou. Thinking of the scene when his punch had broken her nose and she had crouched on the ground crying, he smiled happily. A moment later, he suddenly opened his mouth and said, "In the future, it's best to not call me teacher. Although I have no objections, you are, after all, now a wangfei."

Actually, all of Jingdou knew about Ye Ling'er and Fan Xian's referring to each other as teacher and student. However, they just took it as play between two children and did not care much. Furthermore, Ye Zhong never raised any complaints. However, the situation now had changed. In addition, Ye Ling'er status was more noble, so Fan Xian's suggestion was within reason.

Ye Ling'er was not happy and said stubbornly, "So what if I call you that? If it's not acceptable, then you can call me teacher. In any case, the Ye family's Scattered Hand can't be imparted to outsiders, according to tradition."

Fan Xian sucked in a breath and forced a smile. He knew what Ye Ling'er said was the truth. He had learned the Coffin Breaker from her and had truly taken great advantage of the other. He could no longer say anything about distancing themselves.

The two of them walked along the river bank. After Ye Ling'er had become a wangfei, she no longer had the opportunity to wander around the streets and fight people for fun. Today, with her rare exchange with her teacher, although it was just a moment, it still made her unusually excited. It was with great difficulty that she finally calmed her spirit. After being calm for a moment, she suddenly said, "Teacher, my father is also coming back to the capital."

Fan Xian understood what she was reminding him of.

"The people in the old military units all hate you." Ye Ling'er gazed at him with a not-quite-there smile.

Fan Xian shook his head and smiled bitterly. Regardless of how aggressive his power was, as long as the military remained standing against him and the Ye and Qing families were still alive, it was impossible for him to strike at the Second Prince's foundations. It was also impossible to completely remove the Second Prince's powerful desire to take the dragon chair. Ye Zhong was returning to the capital to debrief. But, he, as well as Ye Liuyun behind him, had already become the Second Prince's supports because of his connection to Ye Ling'er.

"I've finally had a few days of rest. I don't want to hear any more bad news from your mouth."

Ye Ling'er was silent for a moment then said, seriously, "Teacher, no matter what, I will always be a girl of the Ye family. I will stand with my father and him."

Fan Xian paused. After thinking for a long time, he said, seriously, "As you should. Believe me, I speak from my heart."

A glimmer of unhappiness showed in Ye Ling'er's eye. She knew that Fan Xian spoke from his heart and that it would be difficult for the space between their positions to soften.

"Look, the ice on the surface of the lake will eventually melt," Fan Xian suddenly smiled and said. "Who says the matters in this world are so set?"

Ye Ling'er smiled. Her eyes glowed like gemstones with a clean and joyful light. She nodded her head repeatedly.

On the other side of the lake, not far away was the Flower Hall with the windows open, they could see the people inside were currently chatting. Fan Xian pointed in that direction and said teasingly to Ye Ling'er beside him, "Us walking on this side of the lake…is truly not adhering to propriety. If we are seen by those in the hall, who knows what nonsense they would say."

Although the folk customs of Qing Kingdom were quite liberated, it was still not that appropriate for men and women to interact alone. Ye Ling'er's expression was slightly embarrassed.

Fan Xian continued to tease, "Do you think the Second Prince's stomach as already exploded from anger? But in the end, he still has to maintain a slightly embarrassed and calm smile?"

"Don't forget, you also smile shadily every day!" Ye Ling'er was mad. "Also, you should first consider what Wan'er is thinking about."

"Wan'er is a good person," Fan Xian sighed and said, "She's also urging me to find a few sisters to keep her company…"

The moment the words were out, Fan Xian silently cursed. This teasing had already exceeded the bounds of teacher and student. Other than making the ambiguous clear, it was also slightly aggressive. The other person was no longer the maiden she used to be. She was already a wangfei married as someone's wife.

As expected, Ye Ling'er paused for a moment before understanding what he had said. After her shock, she became very angry. Squeezing her hands into a fist, she brought it down on his head.

Fan Xian knew his customary immoral behavior had activated. He felt very ashamed. How could he return the attack? He changed into a stray dog and ran in fright along the lakeside, wanting to escape into Flower Hall.

…

…

Inside the Flower Hall, the waist-high windows and curtains were both open. The cold wind from the surface of the lake blew but was dissolved into a fresh and pleasant spring breeze by the fire pit. The men and women of the royal family inside the Hall were talking casually about amusing matters from their childhood but later someone noticed the pair across the lake.

The Great wangfei smiled and said, "What are they doing?"

The Great Prince raised his eyes and looked over. His expression changed slightly. He immediately smiled, explaining, "That kid has always considered himself Ling'er's master. He's probably lecturing again."

The Great wangfei smiled and glanced at the Second Prince's expression.

At this moment, Li Hongcheng was holding a cup of wine and moved drunkenly closer to the window to see. As he saw the sight of Fan Xian and Ye Ling'er standing by the lakeside talking, he involuntarily smiled and said, "This two are both savages. They may be talking right now, but they'll probably be fighting in a moment."

With her face full of interest, Rou Jia also moved closer to see. She said, admiringly, "I also want to learn martial arts from Brother Xian, but he won't agree. It's completely unfair."

Everyone in the hall was looking at the young man and woman across the lake. It was only the Second Prince and Lin Wan'er who were sitting together and speaking quietly over some desserts as if they didn't care about what was happening at all.

The Great wangfei turned her head back to look at this scene. She couldn't help but feel strange, thinking to herself Did these two not have any thoughts about this at all?

The Great Prince looked across the lake and shook his head. In a low voice, he said, "The Ye girl has married, yet she still likes to act willfully outside. Second brother, you have to control her more in the manor…Fan Xian, he's also to blame."

He was a bit unhappy, but he also didn't want to say much.

The Second Prince was crouched on the chair and slowly chewing a cake made from osmanthus and said, indistinctly, "What is there to control? She's been shut up in the manor for a year. This girl's gone crazy with wanting to hit someone. With Fan Xian here, he can be the punching bag. This will stop me being at a suffering when I'm home."

At his side, Lin Wan'er nodded and said, "Two adults, but they have tempers like little children. Which time hasn't their meeting ended up in a fight? Don't mind them. Let them fight. In a moment, they'll come back."

Hearing these words, the Great Prince and Princess looked at each other thinking, What kind of explanation was this? As their words fell, everyone turned their heads back to watch only to see that another fight had indeed started. Ye Ling'er had her fist squeezed together and was chasing a wretchedly running away Fan Xian.

The Great Prince couldn't help but smile thinking, Even the imperial family could have the same ruckus and joy as normal families. With Fan Xian and Ye Ling'er, these two unique figures, was it not a good thing?

After watching the fight for a while it was no longer interesting. Everyone once again returned to their conversations. The Second Prince accepted the handkerchief Wan'er handed over and rubbed it over his hand. Suddenly, he asked with great interest, "Princess, I've long been curious. The Emperor of your country…just what kind of person is he?"

It was not just Fan Xian whose thoughts were detailed and meticulous. The Great wangfei clearly liked the title the Second Prince used. She smiled slightly and said a few things.

When Fan Xian miserably escaped back to the Flower Hall, it was just as the Great wangfei was talking about some amusing stories of Northern Qi's little Emperor. Her words traveled out of the door and surprised him.