502-506
Chapter 502: Pit
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
As the day neared dusk, the reflections from Xi Lake and colors of the mountains melded in the golden light with an indescribable beauty. Amidst this dusky light, Fan Xian came to a mound by the lake alone. He looked at the young man holding a green banner. He tilted his head. "I heard that you've been telling fortunes in Hangzhou and have received the favor of some girls from wealthy families?"
The young man holding the green banner was the last disciple of Dongyi's Sigu Jian, the ninth-level ace who had helped Fan Xian kill Yan Shendu. Fan Xian always found his existence and the help he offered later to be as perplexing as the avant-garde shows he had heard of in his previous life. No matter how one sampled it, it always left a strange taste behind.
Although Sigu Jian, that idiot, appeared to be thinking clearly, Fan Xian felt that this matter was a mess. Not many people knew of the relationship between Thirteenth Wang and Sigu Jian. If Fan Xian turned his face and refused to honor the deal, how would Sigu Jian explain it to the Eldest Princess and Yan Xiaoyi?
Thirteenth Wang's face was turned toward the direction of Xi Lake. The faint golden light lit up his handsome appearance and gilded it with a pleasing glow, making him appear very gentle.
"Now, the entire Jiangnan area knows that I am your private ace." The young man smiled amiably. "Naturally, those officials have to give me some face. Of course, this fortune-telling business can't be too bad."
A light breeze blew over from the surface of the lake. It followed the green trees along the foot of the mound upward and gently moved one corner of the green banner in Thirteenth Wang's hands. It co-incidentally revealed the words "Tie Xiang."
The people who were present and had experienced Zhaoshang money house's invasion of the Ming family shares had all guessed that the young man standing behind the Zhaoshang money house's shopkeeper must have been an ace Sir Fan junior was using to keep an eye on the money house.
As the imperial envoy's trusted aide, his life in the Jiangnan region had been very good.
"Fortunately, you are not in the habit of bringing harm to the girls of good families." Fan Xian smiled and stood at his side. He turned his head to glance at him. A complicated emotion rose in his heart.
The green mountains beside the lake and golden light reflected off the surface made Fan Xian involuntarily think of the top of the cliffs in Danzhou. The man closest to him in the world also seemed to have been enveloped in a bright light.
The man covered with a piece of black cloth seemed to be saying farewell from someplace, but what about Thirteenth Wang? Fan Xian unconsciously shook his head. He didn't understand why he habitually connected this man with his blind uncle.
He missed Wu Zhu very much, particularly when Jiangnan was at peace. He didn't know whether or not Uncle Wu Zhu had recovered from his injuries. Even Chen Pingping didn't know where Wu Zhu was hiding to recover.
And, what kind of injury needed more than a year of recovery?
Fan Xian furrowed his brows.
Thirteenth Wang glanced at him curiously and asked, "Sir Fan, do you have something on your mind?"
"Yes." Fan Xian didn't hesitate. "I have something that I need your help with."
"What is it?"
"The Crown Prince of my court is currently heading toward Nanzhao. All along the way, poisonous miasma fills the air. The path is treacherous. I am a bit worried about his health," Fan Xian said calmly.
Thirteenth Wang's brows were pulled together tightly. His breathing deepened slightly. After thinking for a long time, he slowly said, "The imperial guards, Overwatch Council, and Qing Kingdom's Tiger Guards make for a very formidable defense. Even if I die, I still might not be able to get close to his body."
Fan Xian smiled. "You misunderstood my meaning."
Thirteenth Wang looked at him and didn't say anything.
"Bring him an antidote pill on my behalf." Fan Xian lowered his head slightly as if hiding from the increasingly strong golden light on the surface of the lake. "Help me protect him secretly and ensure his safety on this journey."
Thirteenth Wang's brows tightened even more. He did not understand why Fan Xian had suddenly tossed out this mission. After hesitating for a long time, he quietly said, "Why? Given my understanding of the situation in Jingdou, with the Eldest Princess imprisoned and the Crown Prince clearly losing his power, other than the Qing Emperor, there is no one else to stand against you."
Fan Xian smiled and didn't know how to explain it. So, he didn't explain it.
"What exactly happened in Jingdou?" Thirteenth Wang asked as curiously as a child. "Is it related to you?"
He unconsciously used the polite version of "you." Fan Xian spat and said without good humor, "I'm in Jiangnan. No matter how long my reach is, I can't reach Jingdou."
Thirteenth Wang thought about it and accepted his explanation. After scratching his head, he said, "But, with the Crown Prince heading south, it looks like your Emperor has some plans. You want me to go protect him? Is it because you've guessed something? But If I guessed correctly, aren't you putting yourself against the Emperor with what you are doing? I have now become a secret that everyone knows about. If I act so blatantly against your Emperor, are you not worried?"
"Never mind. Stop guessing wildly." Fan Xian sighed. "This matter has nothing to do with the Emperor. It's purely because of Wan'er's request in her letter. After all, I am half a royal son. I have to do something."
Thirteenth Wang smiled. He knew what he said was not true, but he did not expose it.
Fan Xian furrowed his brows and glanced at him, "Don't smile like Lord Rabbit. At this moment, it seems that you are not a complete idiot…"
Thirteenth Wang spread his hands and said, "When have I ever been stupid?"
"When you killed little brother arrow." The present Fan Xian had long learned the specifics of the entire process of the night time attack on the Yuantai camp from Thirteenth Wang's mouth. He knew about Thirteenth Wang's bravery that night and had sighed silently countless times. At this moment, he repeated once again, "Brave soldiers die very easily."
Thirteenth Wang smiled self-mockingly. "I'm probably only used to such a style of fighting."
For some reason, Fan Xian suddenly thought of the brave general played by Lin Qingxia and absurdly began to laugh. Under Thirteenth Wang's confused gaze, he gently patted his shoulder. "Presumably, your teacher had you follow me for some matter far in the future. Since it is so, it is best to value your life. On the trip to Nanzhou, just follow behind them secretly. Of course, it would be best if you don't have to take action."
He was silent for a moment and then said, "I am not threatening you. However, the Ming family is now in my hands. The palace treasury eastern route authority is also in my hands. You should be aware that your teacher and I have worked together well during these two months, so please help me with this."
…
…
Watching the green banner disappear into the golden willows on the side of the lake, Fan Xian fell silent. He crouched down and sat on the green mound. He watched, in a daze, the beautiful Xi Lake and the broken bridge that did not exist and never existed.
If Wang Qinian, who knew the inside information, knew of his arrangement, he would certainly be scared half to death and think that he had lost his mind. However, Fan Xian knew that he hadn't gone crazy. In the past, he had to bring the Crown Prince down. If the Crown Prince took the throne, he would not have a bright future.
At this moment, he needed to keep the Crown Prince alive to create trouble for the Qing Emperor. Once the Eldest Princess and Crown Prince had been completely removed, and there was no longer any buffer between him and the Emperor, a stripping of his power would immediately happen. Fan Xian was more worried about Chen Pingping and Fan Jian's safety.
He was aware that the Qing Emperor was some who cared a great deal about his reputation. This was abundantly clear from the Royal Palace incident. In order to hide a scandal of the royal family, he didn't hesitate to kill hundreds of people in the Palace. He had even tossed out the Eastern Sea island massacre case and details of Yan Bingyun being sold out.
In this way, the Eldest Princess's fall had solid reasons. The Emperor had taken so many twists and turns because he didn't want his reputation to be damaged. This was not a scandal of the royal family. It was the Eldest Princess's scandal only.
The arrangements concerning the Crown Prince also demonstrated this. Presumably, the Emperor had a headache as to how to depose the heir since he didn't want to slap himself in the face. The Crown Prince had been very well-behaved and restrained these two years. What excuse could the Emperor find?
During the journey to Nanzhou, many things were certain to happen. Fan Xian had sent Thirteenth Wang, this variable, to get rid of some of them.
Fan Xian wasn't stupid enough to raise the Crown Prince up again. He only wanted to cause some small problems for the Emperor so that he would not notice him or Zhaoshang money house. He also did not want the Emperor to start having thoughts about the two old men who stood behind Fan Xian.
He missed Uncle Wu Zhu. He knew that in Qing Kingdom, there were many people he cared about. For the sake of those people, he had to stop here. If it was just Fan Xian himself, he truly would not be worried or scared of anything. Even if he broke relations with the Emperor, he could still brashly and rudely stick his middle finger up at the Royal Palace.
In the eyes of the Second Prince and many clever people, all of Fan Xian's power was just on paper. He couldn't stand up to a single attack. He also knew that the people in this world all had an innate worship of imperial power. Beside the Overwatch Council, even his Qinian Unit and Sir Yan, who was far away in Jingdou holding down the fort, would perhaps stand against him because of an imperial edict.
Even if everything he had was completely taken away by one edict from the Emperor, he would still not be afraid and confirm the Second Prince's words. He had a modern person's heart that had stopped for a long time. He never had a sliver of fear for such things as imperial power. He had the ability to talk with Seventh Ye and create a copy of the palace treasury's industrial arts development process. He himself was a ninth-level ace who specialized in killing others.
He still had the chest. He still had the lover of the Emperor's one night stand. He still had Uncle Wu Zhu.
Fan Xian sat silently on the mound. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the dusky red clouds in the distance. If one day he was forced to give the middle finger to the Royal Palace, what a magnificent sight that would be!
…
…
Qing Kingdom was the most powerful country in the world. In the past dozen years, the Eldest Princess Li Yunrui had hidden behind the Qing Emperor's back and done many things that tricked the other two powers out of countless benefits. For example, she used the matter of Northern Qi and Dongyi's attempt to assassinate vice-minister Fan's illegitimate child to restart the war and take large amounts of Northern Qi territory. Additionally, she turned around and sold Yan Bingyun to Northern Qi in exchange for Xiao En returning North. This caused chaos in the Northern Qi court and the two factions in the country to clash against each other.
Amazingly, the Eldest Princess actually maintained a good relationship with the Northern Qi empress dowager and Dongyi's Sigu Jian. For things such as the palace treasury, they even worked together.
No one knew what the people of foreign countries were actually thinking.
No matter what they were thinking, the Eldest Princess's sudden imprisonment brought a strong sense of shock to many places under heaven. It made many people begin to think of things that might or might not be true. This forced Fan Xian to again focus his strategies on the Emperor.
The people in high places in Northern Qi and Dongyi would come to their own conclusions.
The Great Grandmaster in Dongyi had sent the disciple he was most proud of to Fan Xian's side but did not know that his disciple had been sent by Fan Xian to be a bodyguard. His mind was not on this at the moment. He was only concerned with the matter of the Eldest Princess being imprisoned.
The feeling of spring was heavy in the air. Dongyi, being out in the ocean, was filled with the scent of salt and damp. The wind on the ocean had blown warmly for many years, so the people in the city were not overly grateful for this sense of spring.
In the center of Dongyi was the manor of the Master of the city. It took up a large amount of space. He was responsible for leading all of the commercial matters in the city. In this commercially prosperous city, the so-called state affairs were also business affairs. Such problems as keeping the peace were rarely. There were not many pirates bold enough to attack where the most ninth-level aces gathered in the world, except young Wang Qinian in the past.
Everyone knew the place that truly guided the direction that Dongyi progressed and its survival was not in the manor for the Master of the city. Rather, it was in the unbroken row of straw huts outside the city.
The straw huts formed a U shape. The opening did not face the main road. Rather, it faced the large mountain behind. If someone wanted to enter these straw huts, they had to go around the back of the mountain and follow the mountain trails down.
Rumors said that this was the easiest way for Sigu Jian to test his visitors.
In the center of the U was a massive ditch. It was filled with the swords that aces who had once challenged or learned from Sigu Jian left behind. They were like a chaotic forest piercing toward the sky.
It was not easy being a newly minted Great Grandmaster.
Fortunately, the tide of challenges finally ended after the massive pit gradually filled in. No one was stupid enough to challenge Sigu Jian again. As for those who really were stupid enough, they had already died in the straw huts.
This was the sacred location of the Sword Hut that martial artists all over the world worshipped, admired, and could never forget.
Some also referred to it as Sword Master, which was very beautiful and meaningful name.
However, Sigu Jian would only use one word to describe the sacred place he lived next to—Sword Pit.
"This is just a pit." A mocking sound came from amidst the straw huts. The owner of the voice seemed very young. "Does that bastard Qing Emperor and that crazy woman Li Yunrui both take me for a true fool?"
Outside the straw hut, the famous sword master of a generation, Yun Zhilan, knelt properly on the stone steps and listened to this rather young voice.
Chapter 503: A New Generation Of Strange Little Creatures
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The voice in the straw hut was filled with mocking and an almost maniacal arrogance. It harshly scolded the most powerful brother and sister in Qing Kingdom and said, "Imprison? Only an idiot would believe that. The brother and sister have been playing god and the devil for a dozen years. How could they suddenly turn against each other? Even if they did, there needs to be a reason… Reasons Qing court has tossed out recently, can they even be considered reasons?
Yun Zhilan's knees hurt a bit. He knew that his master was caught up in his own mumblings and had clearly forgotten that he was still kneeling there. Rubbing his knees, he climbed up with a forced smile on his face. He thought that his teacher's life, for the most part, was absurd. But, he always had an admirable patience when it came to the big picture. In some details, he was also struck by genius, like his little brother disciple.
At this moment, his teacher's words had clearly become absurd again. Did he think that the huge incident in Jingdou was purely because the Emperor and Eldest Princess had nothing to do? That they didn't care about the face of the royal family and acted out a play for people to watch?
No matter what, Yun Zhilan did not believe in this. He said a few words to express his opinion.
The Great Grandmaster in the Sword Hut fell silent. It seemed that he felt his deduction did have some problems. However, in his heart, the Qing people, particularly the Qing royal family, were, without question, the vilest, shameless, filthiest, lowliest, and black-hearted of all creatures. It was not easy to have him believe that such a gap had truly appeared in the Qing royal family.
He unconsciously wondered if Qing Kingdom was preparing to scapegoat him for something again. This thought made him angry and dark, so he couldn't absorb Yun Zhilan's words.
As the leading disciple of Dongyi's Sigu Jian, other than the two times he was invited by the Eldest Princess to Qing Kingdom, Yun Zhilan represented his teacher's intentions at other times. He cooperated with the Master of Dongyi to maintain the peace in the city and surrounding small countries. As for politics, he was much cleverer than the Great Grandmaster, who the world labeled an idiot. Ever since the incident in Jingdou, he acutely sensed that a precious opportunity had appeared in front of Dongyi.
If they could grasp this opportunity, Dongyi's greatest threat could be removed. They would never again have to be like a big tree on the fence, sacrificing between the nobles in Qing Kingdom.
Since the Eldest Princess didn't die, this confirmed Yun Zhilan's judgement. Very sincerely, he related it to his teacher.
The straw hut once again fell silent. Sigu Jian didn't speak. He stayed silent. After a long time, that voice slowly said, "We can't interfere right now. How do we know it's not a trap?"
Yun Zhilan showed that he understood, but in his heart, he was laughing bitterly.
He didn't understand. The great swordsman in the Sword Hut and the idiot Great Grandmaster had not just been scared by Qing Kingdom's black heart. If Dongyi wanted to use Qing Kingdom's internal fighting, they needed a good opportunity. As the most powerful country in the world, this kind of opportunity couldn't be created by outsiders. They could wait until the people inside Qing Kingdom issued an invitation.
Regardless of whether it was Sigu Jian or Ku He, they were both giant trees outside of Qing Kingdom. These two trees could not lightly express their opinion or casually go where the wind blew. Once they leaned toward one direction, if they wanted to come back, it would not be an easy thing.
"Wait and watch. Let's see just what trick the Qing people are playing."
The noise rose once again in the straw hut and gave out orders to Yun Zhilan. He did not tell his disciple that some people in Qing Kingdom could deliver important messages through some channels. He was still weighing that information.
"Yes, teacher." Yun Zhilan got ready to go to the manor of the Master of the city to discuss it when he suddenly remembered something. He turned and said with furrowed brows, "Qing Kingdom's Eldest Princess has already lost power. Fan Xian should be safe there now. To prevent others from discovering little brother disciple's identity, should we call him back?"
The last disciple of Sigu Jian, Thirteenth Wang with the green banner, had always been a mysterious figure. In these two years, many people, including Yun Zhilan, only knew that the teacher loved this young disciple very much. But, they did not have the opportunity to enter the hut to see what the young disciple looked like. It was not until after the fight between the Jiangnan Ming family and Zhaoshang money house that Yun Zhilan found out for the first time that his teacher had sent him to Fan Xian's side.
Yun Zhilan did not understand and felt faintly uncomfortable. Within Qing Court, it had always been the young man named Fan who was Dongyi's greatest enemy. During these years, he had ruined a number of Dongyi's plans and killed many people from Dongyi.
Even Yun Zhilan himself had almost died by the Overwatch Council's assassination attempt. The ace assassins from Dongyi had conducted guerrilla warfare against the Overwatch Council's Sixth Bureau in Jiangnan for half a year. After finding out about his teacher's change in attitude toward Fan Xian, Yun Zhilan accepted it but was conflicted in his heart.
"I know what you are thinking," The voice in the straw hut said with ridicule. "You still think that it is wrong of me to help Fan Xian. Actually, you are wrong. It is not that Fan Xian needs our help. Rather, we need Fan Xian to accept our help."
"It's already over for Li Yunrui's side, at least in the palace treasury. We need Fan Xian. The Ming family is also done for, but it did not affect Dongyi. What does this mean? This means that Fan Xian has already accepted our help."
Yun Zhilan lowered his head slightly and said, "But, in this way, at least 30 percent of our channels are controlled by Fan Xian. This young noble from Qing Kingdom turns his face like turning pages in a book. If he decides to turn against us, he will not be easy to defeat."
"Why would he decide that?" In the straw hut, Sigu Jian's analysis stepped onto a wise and farsighted path. He could see everything clearly. "In the past, the two sides have only bickered slightly and did not involve their roots. The reason we clashed previously was because Li Yunrui was in between. Now that she has been imprisoned, there is no longer a clash of interests between me and Fan Xian. Why would he run the danger of everything turning against him and decide that?"
Yun Zhilan's heart jumped. He understood his teacher's words "between me and Fan Xian." Did this not mean that the teacher already, to some extent, admitted on the surface that Fan Xian had the right to sit and talk with him as an equal?
"If we could work with Li Yunrui before, we can now work with Fan Xian," the voice in the straw hut rang out again. "In Qing court, there are only these two who do not fear the Qing Emperor. Remember, Qing Kingdom doesn't belong to Fan Xian. He has no reason to suffer losses for the sake of the interests of Qing Kingdom."
Yun Zhilan thought for a bit but still didn't fully understand it. If Fan Xian was present, he would raise a thumb toward the straw hut and praise that the idiot had a relatively high emotional intelligence.
"Before the incident, I had your younger brother disciple throw in his lot with Fan Xian. This is the so-called attitude." The voice in the straw hut paused briefly. "The right amount of attitude has to be shown. Let your disciple brother do his work by himself."
Yun Zhilan furrowed his brows closely and thought, That mysterious and pitiful younger brother disciple was thrown like this to Fan Xian to do hard labor. Was it just to express his and Dongyi's attitude?
"Of course, I also had other reasons for having him go to Qing Kingdom."
Yun Zhilan's attention was piqued. He didn't know what secret he was going to hear next. However, the words that finally entered his ears shocked him. After thinking for a while, he realized that this was indeed the case. There was no other matter more important than this.
"Back when the Northern Qi royal family was faced with armed rebellion, why was that woman in Northern Qi able to hold onto her son and sit firmly on the throne and turn the sorrowful cries into what Northern Qi is like today?"
"Because Ku He stands on her side."
"Why have Dongyi and other countries caught between the two most powerful countries manage to continue on despite being pushed left and right, despite it being impossible to completely protect themselves, and despite paying out tributes and silver? The ambitions of the Qing Emperor and his people are boundless. Why have they yet to try and use their powerful military force to take over Dongyi?
Yun Zhilan had no need to think. With a trace of respect, he said, "Because Dongyi has you and the sword in your hand."
"Correct. Even though the title Great Grandmaster has little meaning, it is still pretty good for scaring people and using it as a weapon." The voice in the straw hut suddenly sounded a bit lonely. "Have you thought about if Ku He dies and I die, what would this world look like?"
Yun Zhilan's back felt cold. As for this scenario, everyone under heaven had thought about it, but no one dared to speak it out loud. They knew that given Qing Kingdom's powerful military and hot blood at the root of the Qing people's hearts, once the two Great Grandmasters, who didn't belong to Qing Kingdom died, the entire world would sink to battle again. Putting aside Northern Qi, it would at least be difficult to protect Dongyi. Sincerely and resolutely, he said, "Teacher, you won't die."
"What nonsense! Who doesn't die in this world?"
The voice in the straw hut became desolate again. "Even if I don't die, people will always become old. Ku He is at an advanced age now, and I am also not young. Do you think that a withered old man who can't even lift a sword anymore with his shaking hands is he still a Great Grandmaster?"
After Yun Zhilan was silent for a moment, he asked the question in his heart. "But, what does this have to do with young brother disciple entering Qing Kingdom?"
"Originally, there were no Great Grandmasters in the world," the Great Grandmaster in the straw hut said coldly. "About 30 or so years ago, a few of us strange creatures came out. There were none before, and who knows if there will be in the future. Presently, of all the aces in the younger generation in the world, there are few people who have the chance to reach this realm."
Yun Zhilan's heart jumped. He watched the calm and closed door.
The voice inside laughed. "It's a great pity, you are too old. It will be very unlikely. Many people have climbed out of my sword pit in Dongyi. It has perhaps produced the most ninth-level aces in the world. If we are talking about who has the chance to become the strange creature of a new generation, perhaps there is only your younger brother disciple alone."
Yun Zhilan opened his mouth slightly. In Zhaoshang money house in Suzhou, he had once faced off with Thirteenth Wang. At the time, when he learned that his younger brother disciple had already entered the ninth-level at such a young age, he was shocked. He felt that his young brother disciple's realm was far from being as integrated as his. Why was it that from the teacher's perspective, he was the person most likely to enter the realm of a Great Grandmaster?
"This is a matter of one's nature." Sigu Jian's voice had finally changed and become confident and tranquil. "There are some things to be desired, and some things that should not be cared about. You can't do it. Neither can the one called Lang Tiao under Ku He's tutelage, who plays with knives. During these years, presumably Ku He has been like me, troubled with the question mentioned earlier. Once we become old and die, what will happen to the land we leave behind? So, we have to resolve this question before we die."
"I chose your younger brother disciple. Ku He has chosen Haitang."
"What a coincidence. They are both final disciples."
"What is even more coincidental is that, Ku He had sent Haitang to Fan Xian's side…" Sigu Jian's voice carried a glimmer of ridicule. "Even if he didn't send her, he must at least be happy that something happened between her and Fan Xian. Since he can send someone, I can also send someone. However, Haitang is a girl, so she has a great advantage."
Yun Zhilan was dumbstruck and speechless. He had no idea how the plan of raising a Great Grandmaster brought the subject back to Fan Xian. He didn't understand why Ku He and his teacher, these two Great Grandmasters, one after another sent their last disciples to Fan Xian's side.
"Are there truly only four strange old creatures in the world?" Sigu Jian gently asked rhetorically. "Yes, perhaps there are only four strange old creatures. The other strange creature seems not to age. You should know of him, that blind man…"
Yun Zhilan's heart became cold. He knew that his teacher was speaking of the mysterious figure that had secretly passed through Dongyi many years ago.
"However, you do not know that Fan Xian is that blind man's disciple." The person in the straw hut laughed. "Is this not a very amusing matter? It is right that the last disciples of the strange old creatures should gather together to fight and to talk, It will help them progress a great deal. This is what is called 'practice.' Of course, presumably, Ku He thought the same as me. To have one's disciple at Fan Xian's side is also to dip into his good fortune."
"Fortune?" Yun Zhilan stared at the tightly closed door.
"What conditions are needed to be a strange old creature? Cleverness, wisdom, nature, and hard work. But, the most important is still good fortune." Sigu Jian sighed., "There are countless people who practice the martial arts. In the end, only a few people succeed. Is this because heaven is not fair or something else? It is actually only because our luck is better than some other people's."
In the end, he said, "The reality is that 30 years ago proved that in order to become a Great Grandmaster, this kind of fortune is needed. So, one must meet the blind man, but no one knows where the blind man is. Since it is so, then one can only go meet the blind man's last disciple."
Yun Zhilan was confused by these mysterious words. A moment later, he asked, "Younger brother disciple, Haitang, and Fan Xian… Teacher, of these three people, who do you think is the most likely to succeed?"
Among these three young aces, other than Thirteenth Wang, who had no reputation, Haitang and Fan Xian stood, without question, at the peak of the year group. They had both already entered the realm of the ninth-level at a young age and had very good teachers. Furthermore, at different times, people had thought they were Tianmai Beings.
When people discussed who would be the next Great Grandmaster, they would think of Fan Xian and Haitang Duoduo.
"Haitang." Sigu Jian's judgement came simply. "She is very good, thus, she is very quick."
"What about younger brother disciple?"
"Also possible. That child's nature is bright and thorough. He is not below Haitang."
"And Fan Xian?'
It was silent inside the straw hut for a moment. "Fan Xian is the least likely."
"Why?" Although he very much detested Fan Xian, Yun Zhilan still unconsciously raised an opposing opinion. "Although his realm sways within the ninth-level. He is very unstable and not as good as Haitang Duoduo. His progress speed could truly be said to be inhuman, particularly when it comes to his nature. According to what I have seen, it is rare to see such unswerving determination among the young people in this world. As for hard working, although he was born into power, he has practiced endlessly since his youth and is very hard working."
"He meets all the conditions, but Fan Xian is missing the most important part." Sigu Jian made his judgement. "He doesn't have heart. This young man has no heart toward this world. Since he has no heart, he has no nature to speak of. If he wants to enter the heavenly realm, he has to give up everything. Do you think he could?"
Fan Xian was a common man, so, naturally, he could not.
"Although the blind man is an incredible person and can bring fortune to his opponents, his own fortune is not very good. Furthermore, it is impossible that he is a good teacher."
Sigu Jian said. "I miss the blind man a great deal. It is a great regret that after he disappeared for a dozen years, he went looking for Ku He after he came out. Yes, it's a great regret."
Yun Zhilan heard the sound of a sword suddenly being drawn inside the hut.
Among the Great Grandmasters, Ye Liuyun was an unfettered person who never took disciples, while Sigu Jian took on many disciples. If the disciples that did not follow him all the time were included, there were at least 50. Thus, the disciples were of all different levels. Although there were ninth-level aces like Yun Zhilan and mysterious youths like Thirteenth Wang, there were also those who were not as successful. As for the Northern Qi Imperial Advisor Ku He, he didn't accept many disciples. But, each was an ace like the Northern Qi Emperor's martial arts teacher, the ninth-level ace Lang Tiao, or the one who wore flowery clothing and was rumored by the people to be a Tianmai Being, Haitang Duoduo.
The blind man Wu Zhu also had disciples. However, his first and last disciple was the same person, Fan Xian.
What Sigu Jian said wasn't wrong. The Great Grandmasters were also people. They also had to think about what comes after them. Thus, these strange creatures gave a great deal of attention to their last disciples. Of course, this was done secretly. They would not allow this kind of pressure to interfere with their disciples' cultivations.
Haitang, Fan Xian, and Thirteenth Wang had, up to now, never appeared at the same place at the same time. If such a day arrived, it would certainly be an interesting sight.
Sigu Jian got one thing wrong, or perhaps involuntarily forgot one thing. The Northern Qi Imperial Advisor Ku He once again took in disciples last year. Taking advantage of the auspicious clouds, he had accepted two female disciples. One had entered a Palace as a royal concubine and another was picking medicinal herbs in the mountains. This meant that Haitang was not the last disciple of Tianyi Dao. Fan Ruoruo was.
Chapter 504: The Young Lady Of The Fan Manor In The Forest And Letters
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Spring in Northern Qi arrived a bit late but still came. Not far outside of the capital city of Northern Qi, Shangjing, around the desolated topaz-like Xi Mountain and a few more hours of walking to the north, one would arrive amidst green and silent mountains. This mountain was not very big, but the roots of the trees on the mountain were dense and thick. The made it appear unusually primitive and silent. Layers of light and dark green colors lay on top of each other. It was very beautiful.
Like the place the Sword Hut had in the hearts of the world's swordsmen, the mountain was, in the eyes of Northern Qi people and practitioners of Asceticism, also a lofty scared place that was not to be violated.
Walking into the quiet mountains by the craggy mountain paths, one could faintly see the place where tens and thousands of pines gathered together.
The shapes of the pine needles and roundness of the trees were all different. Some of the pine needles were soft like hanging threads of hair. Some were vigorous, hard and piercing. Others were like a narrow round tube and particularly interesting. At this moment, it was dawn. The early morning dew covered the vegetation on the mountain. Most of the dew drops fell to the floor after moistening the pine needles. Only the pine trees with dense needles would store drops of crystal dew among their branches and leaves. When it reflected the morning light, it was as beautiful as a gem.
If one's eyes followed these dew drops into the mountain, one would see the structures of Tianyi Dao's school doors. These buildings continued the traditional styles of the Wei Kingdom and Northern Qi, with green and black as the main colors. The black was severe, while the green brought them closer to nature. Mixed together, they stood between heaven and earth. Their might was hidden within their clear beauty.
Although the school of Tianyi Dao did not accept students as broadly as the Sword Hut, with Grandmaster Ku He here for seclusion, countless sages came forward to worship him. Of those that came, only one stayed. Even though the Imperial Advisor took very few disciples, grown disciples such as Lang Tiao had to take on disciples. After a dozen years, the people in the school gradually increased. Presently, there were over a hundred people who had spent long years in the mountain in seclusion and learning.
In the heart of these disciples, they wished to stay in the mountain in recluse for many years. They would then go out into the world to rectify and help the courts, just like the immortal in their hearts.
Back then, the Northern Qi Sage Girl Haitang Duoduo secluded herself for countless years beneath these pines. Before Haitang Duoduo left the school, she grew vegetables in a garden on the outer bounds of the green-and-black buildings. Other than eating the vegetables she grew, she sent the rest to the study hall. Even up until today, many disciples considered it an honor to have eaten food that had been personally planted by Haitang.
During this year, most of Haitang's time had been spent in the Jiangnan in the distant Qing Kingdom along with the famous Sir Fan junior. This truth made many Northern Qi hearts feel uneasy, particularly the Tianyi Dao students in the mountains. Other than the jealousy and anger they wore on their faces, these students were also unhappy that it was difficult to see the flower-clothed girl. In the past, as long as they could see her figure, everyone's heart would be set immediately at ease.
Not long after Haitang left, another girl moved into that garden. At the same time, she changed the vegetables in the garden into medicinal herbs.
This girl's identity was not the average. She was the new last disciple that Ku He accepted. She took over Haitang's position. She moved into Haitang's garden and managed Haitang's vegetables. She was Fan Xian's sister.
The disciples in seclusion were shocked and did not understand why their teacher would go to the faraway South Kingdom to take on a female disciple. Furthermore, they didn't understand why he chose Fan Xian's sister, of all people, to be his disciple. Who was Fan Xian? He was one of the South Kingdom's most outstanding young nobles.
However, the matter had already happened. The disciples on the mountain weren't able to change anything, so they could only learn to accept it. After a long time, they finally adjusted to the existence of the young lady from the Fan family.
The South Kingdom and Northern Qi were old enemies. Although the two countries had existed in a state of friendship never seen before, the emotions rooted deeply in people's hearts were difficult to remove. Thus, Fan Ruoruo's initial days in the mountain were not smooth. Regardless of where she was, all that welcomed her were hostile gazes and secret discussions behind her back.
Fortunately, she did not care about this at all. Additionally, her personality had always been cold and indifferent, so she never noticed other people's attitudes. Thus, months passed and the disciples of Tianyi Dao found this girl had an even more indifferent attitude than them. Inevitably, they found it a little boring.
Fan Ruoruo was very happy with her learning lifestyle in Northern Qi. There were much more smiles on her face than when she was in Jingdou. However, the Northern Qi people didn't know this. After all, they didn't know that the young lady of the Fan family had long had the nickname of "talented ice lady" in Jingdou.
Fan Ruoruo's joy came from her relaxed environment and intense life. Imperial Advisor Ku He only taught her some rudimentary things about the Heart of Tianyi Dao and given her a few books. He did not mind her much. At other times, she followed her second brother disciple in learning the medical arts. This was one of the reasons she had come to Northern Qi. During the day, she would use the medical knowledge she learned to treat some of the poor people at the foot of the mountain. Her days were rich and full.
The second brother disciple was Mu Peng. Ku He had given all his disciples very amusing names. Lang Tiao, Haitang, Mu Peng, and Bai Shen were all names of plants. People were like their names. Lang Tiao was just like his name. His entire body was filled with killing intention and sharpness. Haitang was stood gently and firmly through the storm. Mu Peng was a traditional Chinese herb. One could think and know what Ruoruo's 40-year-old second brother disciple specialized in.
…
…
Fan Ruoruo raised the leaf and collected the dew on the pine leaves at the side of the courtyard. She tilted her head slightly and poured the water into a bottle. She was curious as to why the prescription would need to use dew.
She held the bottle and left through the courtyard door. She followed the stone steps up the mountain and got ready to carry out her daily learning. All along the way, she saw some young Tianyi Dao disciples. When these disciples saw the girl carrying the bottle, they all stood to the side and bowed in greeting.
For one, it was because, no matter what, she was these people's disciple aunt. Second, after a few months, the disciples of Tianyi Dao knew that although her nature was cold, her heart was truly kind and she made no pretenses. Compared to Fan Xian, who had a warm face but treacherous heart, she was much better. Furthermore, for months without end, the young lady of the Fan manor went down to the foot of the mountain despite the hard work to treat the common people. This made her young disciples deeply respect her virtue.
Fan Ruoruo slightly nodded her head to return the greeting without any expression on her face.
When she finished climbing the many stone steps, she stood on the top of the mountain. She stopped and gazed down at the verdant and lush green woods. Suddenly, she stretched and gave a loud cry. Two spots of color rose on her cheeks from the exercise. She felt slightly excited.
Ever since her youth, she did not have sufficient natural nutrition. Although her brother had treated her for a while, there was no turn for the better at the root of the problem. While she was in Jingdou, her face was mostly deathly pale. Now, seeing the healthy red glow on her face, one could see that her body was much better after living in Northern Qi for over a year.
One's health depended on one's heart. The most important thing was that her mood was much more relaxed.
"There is no need to participate in boring poetry conferences. I don't need to go to the various manors to chat with the women. I don't need to hide behind a screen to look at men like those sisters. I don't have to do women's crafts every day…"
Fan Ruoruo stared in a daze at the mountain below the stone steps and a happy smile rose to her face. "This is the kind of life I want. Thank you, brother."
…
…
Other than practicing the way of the Heart of Tianyi Dao, they also learned about scriptures and justice. Basically, they used the curriculum Zhuang Mohan had personally created. Fan Ruoruo finished an hour of practice and came to Mu Peng's room. She greeted him respectfully and then asked his advice on a few medical questions she was having problems with.
Mu Peng said a few things. He suddenly saw the quiet joy in the girl's eyes and said with a slight smile, "Sir Fan junior wrote again?"
Fan Ruoruo smiled and nodded her head. "Although it hasn't arrived yet, it should be here in a few days.
Mu Peng scratched his slightly disheveled hair and smiled. "Since you are so happy, presumably you two have a good relationship. Since it is so, why didn't you stay in South Kingdom? Although Northern Qi is good, it is a foreign country after all."
Although Mu Peng's status could not be compared to that old poison master in the Overwatch Council, no matter whether it was a medicinal practitioner or a major figure in poisons, it seemed that their hair was also messy and daily lives chaotic. Naturally, such a thing as looking nice was not something they noticed.
Fan Ruoruo smiled slightly and replied, "It doesn't matter where we are. Brother once said, in one's life, sacrifices will always have to be made to achieve one's goal."
Mu Peng asked with astonishment, "Oh? Then what is your goal?"
"Saving people," Fan Ruoruo said calmly.
"It's that simple?"
"Yes."
"Hmm…" Mu Peng hummed for a moment., "Medical practitioners have the heart of a parent. However, before you came to Northern Qi, you only listened for a while at the Imperial Academy of Medicine in the Southern court. How come you have such a great wish?"
"Brother disciple, it is not because it is a wish. Rather, it is what one wants." Fan Ruoruo didn't think deeper. "Brother once said, how should life be lived? First, one should make one's heart happy… Treating and saving people makes me happy, so I chose this."
How should life be lived? Mu Peng furrowed his brows slightly and sighed. He didn't speak anymore, but he was wondering just what kind of person Fan Xian was to be able to make Haitang lose her head.
The day had not yet entered dusk. Fan Ruoruo held the empty bottle and walked down the stone steps. She returned to her little courtyard and carefully tidied up the medicinal supplies in the garden. Then, she returned to the quiet room and began to prepare paper and brush. The decorations in the room had not been changed because she knew that, after all, this was Haitang's old residence. For Northern Qi people, it had a different meaning.
A letter lay silently on the table. A glimmer of joy flashed through Fan Ruoruo's eyes as she quickly opened up the letter and looked carefully at the familiar thin writing. While she read the letter, her mood changed endlessly. At times she was nervous. Other times she was happy. And, still other times at she had a faint sorrow.
The letter had come from Fan Xian. He had used a great deal of power to send his sister to Northern Qi's Tianyi Dao school. The brother and sister were separated by a great distance. It was not easy getting messages to each other. Each truly missed the other. After Ruoruo decided to stay, Fan Xian resumed sending a letter each month.
As a child, Ruoruo had returned to Jingdou from Danzhou from a very young age. Ever since Ruoruo could read and write, Fan Xian began writing to her. Using Qing Kingdom's developed mail route, the their letters moved between Jingdou and Danzhou through wind and rain. One letter a month without fail arrived until the fourth year of the Qing calendar, when Fan Xian entered Jingdou.
Who knew how many years they had been writing to each other? Who knew how much of the brother and sister's feelings were held in these letters?
The letters were about gossip, trivial matters, described their respective locations and people around them, and small domestic matters. All in all, their topics were numerous. Through these letters, Fan Xian became one of his sister's teachers and taught her about thinking. Ever since her youth, Ruoruo had been influenced by the contents of the letters. Her state of mind was different from most of the women… No, different from most of the people in this world.
She was still filial toward her parents, loved her brothers, and got on very well with the other women in the boudoir. However, there were many things different in how she thought. She had a relatively individual personality and a yearning for freedom. She never fit into any of the pigeon holes in this world, but she also refused to leave the life of this world.
It was because of this conflict that made her a self-restrained, polite, and cold-as-ice woman while she was in Jingdou. It was only later in front of Fan Xian that she dared to reveal her true heart. Thus, she went to a distant foreign country. The quiet and difficult life that many noble girls considered unusually terrifying pleased her and made her very happy.
The beginning of all of this were letters between her and Fan Xian.
…
…
Fan Ruoruo stared at the letter in a daze and let out a sigh after a long time. Her eyes were slightly wet. The fights in Qing court were very far away from her. She trusted in her father's and brother's abilities. Thus, she was not overly concerned about the dangers written in the letters. However, this time, Fan Xian mentioned Hongcheng.
Hongcheng…
Fan Ruoruo wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes. The face of the gentle heir rose in her mind. He was going to war in the West. Would he get hurt? Would he come back?
King Jing's manor and the Fan manor were old friends. Ruoruo had also grown up with Li Hongcheng. She knew that although the other party had lofty aspirations, he was a rarely seen good person in terms of nature. Throwing aside the romantic anecdotes on the pleasure boats, he was truly infatuated with her. This time, Hongcheng personally asked to leave the capital to leave behind the fight between the princes in Jingdou. She knew that it was also a kind of self-exile after she had hurt him.
It was impossible for Fan Ruoruo to accept Hongcheng. Her clever heart, which had been influenced by Fan Xian, was now, even more than Fan Xian himself, unable to accept the attitude the world had toward men and women.
Was this not an absurd and amusing thing?
Even if there were not those romantic accounts on the pleasure boats, even if Hongcheng was a perfect person, Fan Ruoruo would still not be able to accept living her entire life with that man, just like a story Fan Xian had once written in a letter.
That was all very good, but… I just don't like it.
…
…
"What story has he written now to make you cry?" A lazy and clear voice came from the doorway of the room. "That brother of yours is indeed very vile in some respects."
Fan Ruoruo raised her head to see Haitang standing in the doorway wearing a thin, flowered outfit. She quickly stood up and said, "So, it was sister disciple who brought the letter over. I had thought it was someone Sir Wang sent."
Haitang's hands were stuffed in her clothes. She walked in with dragging feet. "Wang Qinian won't be coming back, didn't Fan Xian say? The person in the capital now is Deng Zi Yue. You should have met him before."
Fan Ruoruo nodded.
Haitang smiled slightly and said, "I am truly very curious about the contents of this letter since it could make the usually calm you cry."
Fan Ruoruo's fingers squeezed the letter. She lowered her head. "Sister disciple, don't tease me. Brother is just as chatty as he always was."
Haitang sighed and said, "I have experienced that deeply."
Fan Ruoruo tilted her head slightly and asked with confusion, "Were you not in the capital? Why have you returned to the mountain?"
Haitang had not returned just to help Fan Xian deliver a letter to his sister. She gazed at Fan Ruoruo and said, "Teacher received a letter from second brother disciple and believes you can leave the mountain. I am here to accompany you to the capital."
"Go to the capital?" Fan Ruoruo asked with uncertainty. "But, there is still much I haven't learned."
"Someone wants to see you, so they asked me to bring you over," Haitang said. "If you like life on the mountain, then you can come back when the time comes."
"Do you not also like life in the mountain?" Fan Ruoruo smiled and asked. "I haven't dared to change this room. I've kept it like this. When we come back, we can live together."
Hearing these words, Haitang sank into silence. After a long time, she sighed and said helplessly, "Even if I wanted to come back, it's not a matter of a year or two."
Fan Ruoruo knew that Haitang had been doing something in secret for a long time with Fan Xian. At first, with Fan Xian acting as a bridge in the middle, she and Haitang's relationship had always been very good and they spoke casually. However, every time she thought about her sister-in-law Lin Wan'er far away in Qing Kingdom, Ruoruo always purposely maintained some distance between herself and Haitang. Perhaps they were just some womanly worries.
She suddenly thought of the words from earlier and asked curiously, "In the capital, who wants to see me?"
"His Majesty." A glimmer of a smile rose to the corners of Haitang's lips. She thought to herself that the Emperor's thoughts were just as difficult to fathom as Fan Xian's.
Inside the capital, which was not far from the mountain where the Tianyi Dao school was established, in that complicated, unique, and beautiful black-and-green Royal Palace, the Northern Qi Emperor was lying on a low couch. His large feet were covered with socks and with hot air passing through. However, his body was slanted in the arms of a beautiful woman.
The rather young Emperor sighed mournfully and asked the beautiful woman behind him, "Lili, I still don't understand. Tell me, what exactly did we do last summer?"
Chapter 505: If You Support Me
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
"I don't think we did anything last summer."
Si Lili held her head in her hands. She had a slight headache. Ever since Fan Xian brought up this phrase in his letter to Duoduo, the two women beside the young Northern Qi Emperor had sunk into endless thought. No matter how much they thought about it, they couldn't work out what exactly they had done to Fan Xian last summer.
There was only that one line in the letter, written plainly. It was like a warning but more so like a kind of threat. They could not understand what had made Fan Xian so angry.
Of course, they would not because Fan Xian had calculated the year wrong. Fan Xian's initial intention was to warn the Northern female soldiers that he already knew about the incident of the old temple.
The young Northern Qi Emperor furrowed his brows and coldly said, "Last year, I gave him a good sword through Wang Qinian's hands. Even if he saw through this matter, it's fine that he doesn't thank me. But, why but is he sending letters to scare my aunt disciple?"
"The sword of the Wei Emperor?" Si Lili covered her lips and smiled, glowing in all directions. "Or the great fertility sword?"
The words sounded the same. It took the Northern Qi emperor a moment to understand the naughty joke, but he didn't smile. His expression became somewhat dark.
Li Sisi's heart jumped. She knew the Emperor didn't like her being overly impudent, so she kept her mouth closed and knelt at the side.
The Northern Qi Emperor slowly rose and used his hands to smooth back his hair from his temples before tying up his raven-black hair. His two outstanding eyebrows were pin-straight. Calmly, he said, "Let's not talk about this first. Today, Fan Sizhe is hosting a large feast. I am sending Wei Hua in my place. What do you think?"
"You are wise," Si Lili thought for a moment and said seriously. "Keep the second son of the Fan family in the capital. Maybe Fan Xian will behave better in the South. Even if he has other ideas, he has to first think of his brother and sister."
"Speaking of sister, that Ruoruo aunt disciple should also have arrived today." The Northern Qi Emperor smiled and gestured with his hand with unspeakable carefreeness. "As for what you said, that isn't true. It is not us who are keeping the Fan children in the capital to threaten Fan Xian. Rather, it is Fan Xian who sent his brother and sister here to have us be the nanny."
He huffed coldly and continued, "What kind of person is Fan Xian? Since he dares to send them here, he is not afraid that we will take these two people and use them as hostages. He appeared so warm and accepting that time in the Palace. One doesn't know how dark and vicious he is until you start having dealings with him…"
Si Lili pressed her lips together and smiled. "However, you still agreed. When I said to keep them, I didn't mean using them as hostages. If Fan Ruoruo and Fan Sizhe are living well in Northern Qi, Fan Xian's mood will also be better. In the future, perhaps one day he will come over to our side."
"How could it be so simple?" The Northern Qi Emperor smiled self-mockingly. "He is rising smoothly in the South Kingdom. Plus, Li Yunrui has fallen from power. There is no one who dares touch him at all. How could he give up his endless power to come to my side? As for these arrangements of his, it only shows that he is just as sensitive and overly suspicious as his father the Emperor. A clever man always has more than one backup plan. He is just using my country as a backup for his family."
He sighed. "He just had to be in Jiangnan, in the palace treasury of the South Kingdom. There are too many things I need him for. I know what he is using me for, but I can only accept it."
Within a year or so, the Northern Qi Emperor and Fan Xian had each chosen a representative. Through the Cui family's old route, Xia Mingji and Fan Sizhe had begun the endless smuggling process. Both sides had reaped great rewards from it. Although things had to be done secretly in order to prevent the Qing Emperor from becoming suspicious, even if it were investigated, it would not implicate the high ranking figures. However, both sides were now bound together, so Fan Xian was at ease in having his brother and sister remain in Northern Qi.
What he said earlier wasn't wrong. Right now, the young Northern Qi Emperor was a good nanny that Fan Xian had found.
Furthermore, Fan Xian had not guessed the incident of the broken down temple. He was even less polite about his use of the young Emperor now.
"Why does Fan Xian need an escape route?" Si Lili asked with confusion. "Does he think that Qing Kingdom won't be where he lives permanently?"
"This is the point that I am most interested in." The Northern Qi Emperor smiled. "Just what kind of person is Fan Xian? During his climb up in the Southern Court, he had already begun to look for an escape route. Does he think that, one day, he will turn against the royal family? It is truly baffling and confusing."
He paused and then continued, "Do you still remember that time he saw you back to the capital?"
Si Lili immediately thought of their warm interactions all the way to the North and the endless spring light in the carriage. Her face warmed. She lowered her head without saying anything.
The young Northern Qi Emperor laughed uproariously. However, there was a slight twinge of jealousy in it. He used his finger to raise Si Lili's chin and gently said, "Lili, I don't like you thinking of other men when you're by my side."
Si Lili lowered her head without a word, but her red lips held a smile.
The Northern Qi Emperor huffed coldly. He found this girl was becoming less and less scared of him. He pulled back his hand and said, "Didn't you once say that on the road North, Fan Xian had once given you an antidote to a poison? Since it is so, he has saved both our lives. Thus, I don't understand. His cooperation with me for personal benefits happened later. Before this, it seemed that he didn't want me to die… In addition to the matter of the escape route mentioned earlier."
His brows were furrowed very tightly. He couldn't understand it no matter how hard he thought.
"Does Fan Xian truly consider himself a person of Qing Kingdom?
Si Lili slowly raised her head and smiled slightly as she gazed at the worried Emperor. She didn't tell him that while Fan Xian was still in Shangjing, he had already guessed that the Emperor would not be harmed by the poison in his body. She was now already a royal concubine and greatly in the Emperor's favor. Additionally, there were many layers of unexplainable connections. She lived deep in the palace, so she did not need to care about the threats from Qing Kingdom's Overwatch Council or accept Fan Xian's long distance control. For some reason, every time she thought of that young man's vilely warm smile, Si Lili's heart would soften and help him hide a great deal.
Perhaps it was to see the expression of agitated rage on the face of this Emperor in front of her, whose gaze was always looking far into the future.
"Qing Kingdom is a great enemy of my court," the young Northern Qi Emperor said with furrowed brows. "I understand the Qing people's savage animal-like hearts very well. Even if Fan Xian has endless hatred against the Qing royal family for the Ye family incident, he is still a Qing person. Why would he give me… No, give this court so many advantages? Is he not afraid that Qi Kingdom will rise one day and make Qing Kingdom look bad?"
Si Lili listened to this and stopped her teasing thoughts to sink into silence. Originally, she was a descendant of the Qing royal family and completely irreconcilable with Qing court. Thus, she had turned and changed sides to Northern Qi. However, Fan Xian was, after all, the Qing Emperor's illegitimate child. Although the Emperor watched and controlled him, in three short years, the Emperor had made him an outstandingly powerful official.
What more could Fan Xian want? Why would he secretly carry out so many deals with Northern Qi? Naturally, it would not be for his own sake, Si Lili thought self-mockingly. It also couldn't be for Duoduo and even less so for the Emperor. Although Fan Xian was a womanizer, he would not allow a woman to change his thoughts.
She was silent for a long time. Suddenly, a light flashed across her mind, "Unless, he never truly considered himself a Qing person."
Having said this, she shook her head. Even she didn't believe what she said. A strange light flashed through the Northern Qi Emperor's eyes, which immediately turned into a faint disappointment.
If Fan Xian truly didn't consider himself a Qing person, then perhaps he actually would change sides to Northern Qi. If Fan Xian changed sides, he would bring a great number of benefits, such as, secrets of the palace treasury, inside information on the internal workings of the Overwatch Council, and his status.
A prince of Qing Kingdom, the heir that Zhuan Mohan appointed, defection from the Qing to Qi… What kind of shock would this create in the world? How big an advantage and how much danger would this bring to Northern Qi?
If Fan Xian really wanted to defect, the always courageous Northern Qi Emperor would accept him regardless of danger. However, he knew that this situation was impossible. Everyone knew that Fan Xian was a proper Qing person. The Qing Emperor would also not be stupid enough to force his most accomplished son to the point of death and that final step.
Actually, it was just that no one in this world could understand the thoughts of a modern man.
Ever since Fan Xian had spoken in the cave, he had already accepted his role in this time period. However, he didn't have much opinion about the concept of family and country. Because of the environment he grew up in and the friends around him, he had a deeper connection to Qing Kingdom. From his perspective, the fights in the world were just internal disputes, like the elder concubine beating the younger.
Like in the spring and autumn era, or Warring States period, there was little shame in jumping around. The idea of betraying a country had never before existed in his mind.
This was the psychology of a foreign person.
…
…
Walking upward along the quiet stone path in the Royal Palace in Shangjing, the eunuchs and serving girls opening up the path served carefully at the side. They were terrified that the young man in dragon robes would accidentally fall. The eunuchs behind holding water bottles walked quietly with their heads lowered, not making a single sound.
The young Northern Qi Emperor's expression was not very pleasant. Ever since he was young, he hated having servants around him. They never gave him an opportunity to relax. However, the rules in the palace had always been like this. No matter how he raged, he couldn't change it. Even if he killed all of these servants, what would that accomplish?
Stopped beside a three-story Palace, a tree slowly lowered its branch and gently laid it on the black eaves. It was beautiful in contrast. The young Emperor stared at this scene in a daze. He thought to himself that he walked slowly through the palace every day. Why had he rarely noticed such a sight? Was it because he saw too much every day, so habitually forgot it?
He suddenly thought of something Haitang had once said. That man in Qing Kingdom had copied Haitang's walk in this Palace. He seemed to walk very happily. His eyes turned quickly, greedily, as if he wanted to suck all the beauty in the Palace into his eyes. Was it because he naturally liked beautiful things, so he was able to write such beautiful and clean words?
The Northern Qi Emperor lowered his head and put his hands behind his back as he sank deep into thought.
A moment later, he raised his head. A self-confident smile hung on his face while his feet changed directions. He headed toward a small mountain trail on the right side. At the end of that mountain trail, the sounds of a flowing waterfall could be heard.
The eunuchs and serving girls at his side jumped in fright. They thought to themselves, Wasn't the Emperor going to the top of the mountain to plant cassias? Why was he turning that way now? However, no one called out to stop him. They could only silently catch up.
The mountain trail turned a few times. They came to a flat stage on side of a cliff. On the stage was a square pavilion.
The Northern Qi Emperor pointed at the pavilion. The eunuchs and serving girls at his side immediately charged over to place seats, light incense, and clean off the dust.
The Emperor walked into the pavilion. He looked at the small creek beneath and spring flowers. His heart jumped slightly. He softly recited, "Patting the railings, the blossoms blew at my temples with the cold wind of the mountain. The grand songs shocked the floating clouds apart."
A number of people at his side tried to curry favor, "Your Majesty…"
The Northern Qi Emperor smiled self-mockingly as he thought of the words that Fan Xian had once said to him in his pavilion. "Good lines."
"To curry favor so indifferently… Fan Xian, you are the only one." The Northern Qi Emperor smiled. Standing beside the railing, he looked at the great sight of his own kingdom.
"Disperse. Everyone retreat," he suddenly ordered.
The eunuchs and serving girls in the pavilion looked at each other. The mountain stones were cold. If the Emperor caught a chill, how would they explain it to the empress dowager? However, they knew that the present Northern Qi was the Emperor's kingdom. Although the Emperor was young, his will was unusually firm and persistent. After Shen Zhong died, the Emperor ordered the release of Shang Shanhu to the South to resist Qing Kingdom. He also organized a few great changes in court. Even the major officials didn't dare look at him like a child anymore.
Inside the pavilion, it immediately resumed its usual peacefulness.
The Northern Qi Emperor stood by the railing and took a deep breath. He thought about Fan Xian's initial suggestion and thought to himself that what he had said was correct. A moment later, he thought of another matter. His brows furrowed together tightly. He said quietly to himself, "Fan Xian, just what are you thinking?"
"First, concern oneself with the affairs of the state. There is time to enjoy pleasure later."
"These affairs of state… Are they the ones of Qing Kingdom or the entire world?"
The Northern Qi Emperor's brows gradually relaxed. He faintly sensed the truth of the matter. The corners of his lips twitched up and revealed a strange smile. In a quiet voice, he said, "If you defect to me, how about I give you the rank of Prince? It's much better than your little dukedom right now."
Chapter 506: When All Was Done
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Updated by NovelFull.Com
In the pavilion on the mountain, the smile suddenly disappeared from the Northern Qi Emperor's face. It recovered its usual seriousness. He had grown up in the Royal Palace. When his father died, he had faced the most difficult test in his life. With the powerful support of Imperial Advisor Ku He, the empress dowager managed to support him through that hardship. This kind of beginning destined his reign as a monarch to be unusually rough.
There were many reasons for things being rough. The most important one was a secret kept in his heart, the empress dowager's heart, and Imperial Advisor Ku He's heart.
For this secret, the Northern Qi Emperor had made many sacrifices and changes that twisted his personality. He could not be overly close to many people. He could not be overly intimate with his sisters. He couldn't do and think as he wished. Over a dozen years, the people at his side had never changed. When he washed, it was as strictly guarded as if enemies were going to charge in. There were a number of concubines in his Palace that remained resentful.
In order to divert the Qing Kingdom's attention and make the officials in court more alert, he and his mother had put on a show for many years. It had been very tiring to pretend that he and his mother did not get along.
He did not want to shoulder these burdens. Since he had begun to do so, as a descendant of a warring family and having inherited the ambition and willpower his father should when he conquered the kingdom, he had to play his role well.
It had to be said that he had done well these days. No one could pick out too many problems with the young Emperor. He allowed, and even secretly directed, Shang Shanhu's attack on Shen Zhong and his family that rainy night. Thus, he firmly put the controls of the Brocade Guards into the hands of the royal family. He placed Shang Shanhu under house arrest to weaken his drive. He then let him out to the North to suppress the forcefully pushing Qing Kingdom army. He suppressed tyrants within his kingdom but colluded with Fan Xian outside the country borders.
One incident after another was taken care of. During the two years that the Northern Qi politics had been managed by him, it appeared much more organized. However, the Northern Qi Emperor knew in his heart that there many types of advantages in each level. No matter what he once imagined, he never thought that, through Fan Xian, he would be able to obtain so many benefits.
He lightly patted the railing and looked at the clear flowing water in the mountain cave. He sighed and quietly said to himself, "But why did you come? Why did you give all those advantages to me?" A cold self-mocking smile rose to the corners of his lips. "The illegitimate son of the Qing Emperor… How different could he be from his father?"
During the time he learned to be an Emperor, the only role model the Northern Qi Emperor could find was the powerful Emperor in the South Kingdom. He knew how incredible his older colleague was to be able to have wild ambition and be good at enduring silently.
"Eventually, you will become old. Actually, you're already old…" The Northern Qi Emperor furrowed his brows slightly. His gaze moved slightly. Staring into the distance South, he thought of the rumors about the fighting in the Qing royal family that had arrived recently. He quietly said, "Even if you were once a mighty lion that broke apart the Wei Kingdom and beat the Qi Kingdom to death's door, now you are old. Your entire person emanates a rusting stench. I really hope that you will continue this sinister rotting and force him to my side."
These words seemed to be sighing about every detail in history and increasing his own confidence. Everyone knew that, no matter how sensitive, overly suspicious, and bastardly the Qing Emperor was, history only trusted history. History had already proven that the Qing Emperor was the only victor these 30 years.
The young Northern Qi Emperor narrowed his eyes. The corners of his lips twitched up. Muttering to himself, he said, "I hope that you can survive this time so that I can defeat you openly and publicly on this world stage."
He couldn't quite understand Fan Xian, but Fan Xian could also not understand him.
As a monarch, no matter what color the heart in his body was, his first considerations were his throne and the world. If the relationship between himself and Fan Xian remained peaceful and mutually beneficial, the Northern Qi Emperor would spare no cost in fulfilling Fan Xian's demands. For example, Haitang and Fan Ruoruo being accepted as a disciple.
If Fan Xian threatened Northern Qi in the future, the Northern Qi Emperor would mercilessly use all the power at his disposal with unusual coldness and get rid of Fan Xian.
It had nothing to do with emotions. It had nothing to do with country of origin. It had nothing to do with men and women. In this world, there were only three kinds of people —men, women, and Emperors.
…
…
The mountain stream below the pavilion flowed and flowed until it reached a pond of clear water at the foot of the mountain to the side of the lowest story of the Palace. There was a small notch made with a white stone to the west of the clear water. The clear water flowed out of this little notch, but it never disturbed the pond of water.
In the woods behind the pond of clear water, there was a large group of eunuchs and serving girls who waited with lowered heads and restrained voices. No one knew that the Emperor was in a daze in the pavilion in the middle of the mountain. They only knew that the two noblest people in Northern Qi other than the Emperor were, at this moment, standing in a daze beside the pond.
One person was the Imperial Advisor Ku He, who looked like an Ascetic Monk in hemp clothing, straw hat, and bare feet. He was sitting on a rock beside the clear water pond with a fishing rod in his hand.
While the Northern Qi empress dowager, the woman who made it so that her son could sit firmly on his throne, paid out an immeasurable amount of her lifeblood, and endured countless slanders of arrogating power and corrupting politics, sat beside the Imperial Advisor Ku He with peace and joy between her brows.
Back then, the Zhan family had risen in a disorderly world. Using military power, they had forcefully inherited the Wei Kingdom's throne. However, wars continued year after year. Countless brave generals from the royal family died under the Qing Kingdom's ferocious attacks. By the time the Zhan Emperor died from illness, only the young Northern Qi Emperor and his mother were left in the entire royal palace.
At that time, Chen Pingping of Qing Kingdom used spies to rock the political situation in the Northern court. The royals and noble family all cried out. The situation inside the Palace was very unstable. However, it was under these circumstances that this woman still managed to have her son sit firmly on the dragon chair.
It was mostly because of the strong stance of the Imperial Advisor beside her. At the same time, it proved that this empress dowager was not as mediocre as she appeared.
Ku He's gazed calmly at the smooth surface of the water.
The empress dowager smiled slightly as she thought of the change over the past year or so. There had been unrests in the Palace. She had Marquis Ning leave the Palace under the risk of being killed to beg Shen Zhong to come to their aid. Shen Zhong and the Brocade Guard had performed a great service for them. However, once the Emperor grew up, he could not tolerate Shen Zhong's continuing arrogance.
The empress dowager felt guilty toward Shen Zhong. But, her son's mind was made up. She knew she would be unable to sway him. She quietly accepted the matter. The people of the Zhan family seemed to always be stubborn and would not change through other's influence. For example, her son and the person next to her.
She still wanted to make an effort because last night, the Northern Qi Emperor had talked with her long into the night and felt that this matter was not as perfect as he imagined. He had asked her to persuade the Imperial Advisor Ku He. Thus, there was the meeting today beside the pond.
"I have never met Li Yunrui. We've only sent each other a lot of secret letters," said the empress dowager gently. In front of Ku He, she would not use her royal title. Although her expression remained composed and dignified, her tone of voice was that of a silly little girl who didn't understand anything.
Ku He smiled and said, "The three countries are separated by great distances. When Zhuan Mohan first accepted the invitation to go South, he had also never seen the face of the Southern court's Eldest Princess."
The empress dowager sighed and said, "Thus, Master Zhuan left a lifelong regret."
Ku He shook his head. "But I have met the Eldest Princess before, so I know that this woman is not so simple. The incident in the Southern court happened so quickly without any fanfare at all. It was truly out of my expectations."
"Duoduo means…" The empress dowager was silent for a moment. "The battle between two countries is, in the end, a competition of national power. It is better if there is less danger."
"Why didn't he come personally to talk to me?" Ku He smiled slightly. "The child is still young. He probably doesn't understand why us old folks are still so wary even after the muddled behavior of the Qing Emperor these years."
He continued, "I know and you know that the Qing Emperor is truly not a normal person. In the second generation, there was not a new Great Grandmaster. Rather, there was an Emperor who could direct soldiers like a god…" His brows furrowed. "The longer he silently endures, the more uneasy I feel."
The Northern Qi empress dowager sighed and said, "Even so, there isn't a particularly good solution."
The old man laughed and took off his straw hat, revealing his bald head. Open-heartedly, he said, "I recall that Ye Liuyun also likes to wear this hat and run around all over the world. If such a person could be used by Li Yunrui, I believe the Eldest Princess will certainly think of something."
Once the conversation reached this point, the empress dowager knew she would be unable to convince the Imperial Advisor to change his mind. Respectfully, she said, "Great-uncle, let's watch a bit longer. Let the Southern court do as they will. It will always be beneficial for us."
"There isn't much time left." The fishing rod in Ku He's hand didn't shake at all. Slowly, he said, "If we can't solve these problems while we are still alive, who will solve them in the future?"
These words were almost exactly the same as the ones the Great Grandmaster in the straw hut said.
The empress dowager's hands shook a little. She smiled as she said, "What about Haitang? Besides, there is still Fan Xian in the South."
Ku He laughed and said, "Fan Xian. It will have to depend on his luck. If he is clever and powerful enough, presumably, he will obtain the most advantages from this matter. It could also be considered a gift from our court. Given this young man's nature, since he owes Duoduo such a large favor, he has to remember Northern Qi with some kindness."
When all was said and done, the powerful people in Northern Qi knew that when discussing state power, in a short amount of time, the long corrupt Northern Qi would not be able to catch up or surpass the South Kingdom. Looking at the larger picture, in the past 10 years, Qing Kingdom remained the main instigator while Northern Qi remained on the defensive.
"I originally thought that the Crown Prince of the Qing court or the Second Prince would have a better chance." The empress dowager furrowed her brows.
Ku He shook his head. "How could Fan Xian, a person who liked to kill but was afraid of death, give them a chance to take the throne? If this was really possible, do you think he would be reluctant to act and kill? In this entire world, there are not many people who could live after Fan Xian decided he wanted to kill them."
The empress dowager was slightly startled. She had not thought that the Imperial Advisor's estimation of Fan Xian's power was so strong.
"Don't forget. He still has that blind man standing behind him. However, Ye Liuyun cannot be a bodyguard to those princes in the Qing court."
Ku He smiled and raised the fishing rod in his hand. There was a fishing hook tied to the thin line on the rod. He was not like those boring people who tied angling to strings and used it to bullsh*t.
The fishing hook rose out of the water. A few clear water droplets dripped down from it before sinking into the water again. This pond of clear water in the Royal Palace seemed to have become excited by these few drops of water. With a splash, a wave rose and rocked the green water plants at the bottom of the pond.
Countless gold and blue fish jumped out of the water with joy and slapped the surface of the water. They seemed to be expressing their gratitude to the Ascetic Monk with the fishing rod in his hand.
…
…
The water gradually fell silent again, flowing out of the clear pond through a gap. The water dripped like a line of white jade and once again soaked half the mountain. It flowed along the rocks and out of through the Palace walls to gather in Yuquan River. The mountain stream in the Palace was just a branch of Yuquan River. It was named Yuquan River because the mountain stream from the mountain in the Royal Palace was named Yuquan.
The waters of the Yuquan River flowed toward Shangjing. Not far outside of the Palace walls, it passed a garden.
It was Haitang's garden. It was not far from the prosperous Shangjing but also very quiet. It was truly an unusually rare spot. Fan Xian had once mocked her for only caring about her reputation but had not thought that such a garden would have an abundant air of nobility without a hint of being rural.
At this moment, two girls came out of the garden, got into a carriage outside, and drove toward the city.
Before long, the carriage had reached the liveliest place in Shangjing. The speed of the carriage slowed. As they passed an antiques shop, the coachman seemed to hear a call from a woman in the carriage and stopped.
Haitang put down her right hand that had lifted the curtain and turned her head to say to Fan Ruoruo, "It's your younger brother. Do you want to go greet him?"
Fan Xian smiled and said, "Since he is hosting tonight, there is no need to see him early. Let's wander around Shangjing first."
Haitang nodded. The carriage began to move again without disturbing the people in the antique shop.
Inside the shop, a slightly rotund youth had his head bent over the goods inside. This was not just anyone. It was the second young master of the Fan family, Fan Sizhe, who had been kicked by Fan Xian to Shangjing, suffered countless hardships at Haitang's hands, and had finally made it out and took over the Cui family's Northern trading route.
Perhaps because he had changed his appearance or leaving home had made him mature faster, but he had a completely calm expression between his brows. The arrogance and ruthlessness of the past were completely gone. It made him appear much more mature than his actual age.
He was hosting a large banquet tonight in the Shangjing branch of Baoyue Brothel. He learned ahead of time that his sister and Haitang, the two people he was the most afraid of, were coming. He had come to the antique shop ahead of time to pick out gifts. It was imperative that he made them happy. After looking for a long time and even having the shop owner bring out the stored goods, he still couldn't find something that pleased him. This made him very unhappy.
Behind him were still the Northern Qi aces with curved swords. Although the Fan brothers knew these people were spying for the royal family, Fan Sizhe was just as daring as Fan Xian and continued to casually use them nor change them out.
There were other people inside the shop looking at the goods. From their skin tone, one could see they were wealthy and respectable people. This antique shop was famous, so the goods were very expensive. Those who came in to make a selection were all major figures in Northern Qi, either, wealthy merchants or nobility.
These people did not know Fan Sizhe. Looking at the four aces he had with him as guards, the secretly guessed that he must be the son of a family that didn't want to be in the limelight.
The shop owner came out solemnly with a red-cloth covered wooden plate. Moving close to Fan Sizhe's side, he said, "Young master, if you want a pair, there is only this left."
Fan Sizhe raised a corner of the red cloth and saw a pair of jade lions on the plate. The carving was well done. The lions appeared strong, steady, and particularly adorable. He couldn't help but smile, thinking, Giving this pair to his sister and Haitang was indeed very appropriate. It also gave him an opportunity to take out some of his anger.
"This will do." He waved his hand.
Unfortunately, the nobles on the side who were also looking for goods also liked this pair of jade lions. They asked if Fan Xian would be willing to let them have it. The son of a wealthy family was even willing to give a red pocket to show his sincerity. In big places like Shangjing, Jingdou, and Dongyi, there were usually not many fights over goods. After all, everyone present was wealthy and respectable. No one wanted to offend anyone.
In Shangjing, Fan Sizhe always kept a low profile. The wanted posters in Qing Kingdom still had his name. Other than the Brocade Guards and officials related to the Qing royal family, few people knew his actual identity. If this had been in the past, Fan Sizhe might have given into the wealthy young man's gentle request. Today, he truly liked this pair of jade lions, so he hesitated and did not reply.
With this hesitation, the mood of the nobles became rather unhappy. They thought to themselves that they had already given sufficient face. If it wasn't because the master had been invited to an important gathering and had given the matter of finding a gift to the young master and truly needed this pair of precious jade lions as a gift, why would they stoop to talk reason with a stranger?
The people split apart as a young noble about 12 or 13 walked out. He pointed at Fan Sizhe's nose and cursed, "In Shangjing, there has yet to be someone who dares to fight with me for things!"
Fan Sizhe furrowed his brows. If it had been in the past, he probably would have struck out with a fist already. As he grew gradually older, his nature became much more composed. He asked, "You are?"
Someone kindly reminded him, "This is the young master of Marquis Chang'an's family."
Marquis Chang'an and Marquis Changning were the Northern Qi empress dowager's brothers. This identity was indeed sufficiently noble. However, after Fan Sizhe started slightly, he began to laugh hatefully.
"Your father needs a gift for tonight, right?" No matter how much improvement Fan Sizhe had made, he was once, after all, a lawless fellow. Gritting his teeth, he stared viciously into the child's eyes and said, "Little rascal!"
After he said this, the people on the other side all crowded over. The group emotion was charged, as if they were preparing to act.
Fan Sizhe laughed coldly and led his four guards out of the shop.
In the carriage outside the shop, a strange light flashed through the eyes of one of the guards. He asked Fan Sizhe, "Boss, do you know that boy?"
Fan Sizhe spat and cursed, "Little bastard. Big brother had once broken his hands, yet he hasn't learned anything at all. If he dares to annoy me again, I'll break his other hand."
Inside the shop, everyone looked at each other, thinking, The man earlier was very bold to have the courage to call the son of the Marquis a little rascal to his face!
There was little idle chatter. The young master bought the gift, forcefully suppressed his anger, and happily returned to his manor. Following his father, he came to the Baoyue Brothel branch that had opened less than four months in Shangjing, preparing to participate in a very important gathering.
After he entered the building and sat down beside his father, he looked at the chubby boy talking merrily with his cousin at the head of the table and was immediately dumbstruck.
His cousin, Wei Hua, was the most outstanding youth in the entire Wei family. He was greatly liked by the Emperor and held the important position as Commander of the Brocade Guards. He held terrifying power all over Northern Qi.
However, this incredible figure was talking carelessly with the chubby young man as if they had been friends for many years. There was even a faint wariness between his brows.
The young master of Marquis Chang'an stared dumbly at this scene, thinking, Who exactly was the chubby guy who had called him a little rascal earlier?
…
…
Fan Sizhe found a moment in his conversation with Wei Hua and slanted his eyes down at the tables. He found that Marquis Chang'an had actually brought his useless son with him. He wondered to himself how could someone so old could have such a young son. Hopefully, he wasn't wearing a hat. As he silently criticized him, he smiled toward Marquis Chang'an and greeted him.
He had hosted the feast today and hadn't invited any outsiders. Everyone was a member of the Northern Qi royal family. The purpose was very simple. The news from the Qing court was clear, Li Yunrui had already fallen. There was no one else within Qing Kingdom who could threaten his brother. He had to grasp this opportunity to expand their entire business.
Doing business with Northern Qi was actually like doing business with the Northern Qi royal family. Thus, he had invited everyone in the Wei family. At the same time, he had also invited Haitang and his sister to help him hold the fort.
What was Fan Sizhe afraid of? All of the low-priced goods from the South were in his hands and endless products from the palace treasury were being delivered to him by Xia Mingji. If the Wei family wanted to make money, they had to depend on him.
He narrowed his eyes in a smile and gazed at Marquis Chang'an's son, whose face had changed color slightly. He blinked. His meaning was clear, Where is my pair of jade lions?