507-511

Chapter 507: The More Silence, The More Joy

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

The feast progressed relatively smoothly, at least on the surface. Fan Sizhe smiled superficially as he received the pair of jade lions from Marquis Chang'an.

As the owner, Fan Sizhe habitually swept his gaze across Baoyue Brothel's main hall. Baoyue Brothel had been completely booked by him. There were no other guests. Sitting beside him, Wei Hua furrowed his brows slightly, thinking, Who else was coming? How come he wasn't informed ahead of time?

Looking at Fan Sizhe's expression, one immediately knew that the coming guest was someone of importance. Otherwise, he wouldn't have unsuppressed anticipation and nervousness. If the guest was someone of importance, why didn't he wait for them to arrive before starting the feast?

Wei Hua unconsciously shook his head. A bitter self-mocking smile rose to the corners of his lips. He knew that when it came to the brothers of the Fan family, one could not judge them based on common sense. He had taken over Shen Zhong's old position and was now the Commander of the Brocade Guards. Most of Northern Qi's special service organizations were under his control. The young Northern Qi Emperor trusted him greatly. He held great power. Once he met with the Fan brothers from the South, Wei Hua felt faintly nervous.

Fan Xian controlled the Overwatch Council. He was truly Wei Hua's "colleague" in the same profession. However, Wei Hua knew that he had not been in this business as long as Fan Xian and the Northern court's Brocade Guards were not as powerful as the Southern court's Overwatch Council. Thus, if the two of them actually competed across country borders, he was definitely not a match.

As for Fan Sizhe, Wei Hua looked at the slightly chubby youth next to him, who was looking after the guests, and furrowed his brows slightly. Concerning him, he admitted that he had misjudged him two years ago. Initially, he had thought that Fan Xian was just using the leverage in his hands to send his brother to Northern Qi to flee a crisis. He had not thought that after a year, Fan Sizhe, while hidden behind the scenes, would have seized complete control of the old Cui family's trading route and helped business secretly flourish.

It was not the commercial sense and power that a young man normally had.

Wei Hua patted his head and smiled slightly as he drank a cup with Fan Sizhe. He joked for a bit. Fan Sizhe's purpose for inviting everyone was clear. The smuggled goods from the South needed someone to collect them after arriving in the North. They couldn't have a Qing person openly selling them in Northern Qi. In the past, it had always been the Wei family, Marquis Changning in particular, who had done it. Fan Sizhe's boldness was growing, so he felt that Marquis Changning's family was taking the goods too slowly. Thus, he had also brought Marquis Chang'an into this.

Wei Hua was not bothered by this arrangement. It was not because Marquis Chang'an was his uncle. Rather, he knew that the Wei family was just a puppet the Emperor placed in front of the stage. Most of the profits flowed through this business endlessly into the Emperor's palace treasury and national treasury.

No matter how crazy Fan Sizhe got, he was on Northern Qi soil. Wei Hua had sufficient power to control him. Once things were no longer harmonious, the Brocade Guards could easily clean out Fan Sizhe's business.

However, this was the final resort, Wei Hua would never do such a thing. He wouldn't even ask for an edict because Northern Qi needed the goods Fan Xian brought out from the Qing palace treasury. Wei Hua was scared of Fan Xian's sinister methods and that he would be unreasonable.

The curtain to Baoyue Brothel moved slightly. Two girls entered together. Wei Hua's hand holding the wine cup shook. He almost spilled his drink.

He recognized both of the girls. This was also one of the reasons Wei Hua was deeply afraid of Fan Xian.

Haitang and Fan Ruoruo.

Wei Hua rose to welcome them and turned around to mockingly scold Fan Sizhe. He invited the two respected heirs of Tianyi Dao to sit at the high table.

The scene became momentarily awkward.

Every Northern Qi person knew that the empress dowager wanted Haitang to marry Wei Hua. However, Haitang had some unexplainable relationship with Fan Xian.

Wei Hua forced a laugh and said to Haitang, "Second Fan invited you, and you came. You're really not giving me any face."

Haitang smiled and accepted the jade lion Fan Sizhe handed over to play with it. "You just like to run your mouth."

Wei Hua laughed loudly and didn't say anything more. He knew that she was not a woman he could touch. When the empress dowager expressed her intentions, he had, at the first moment, entered the Palace to tactfully decline. However, it had no effect. The empress dowager's love for the descendants of his family were always unreasonable.

The empress dowager was unreasonable. Fan Xian was unreasonable. Wei Hua did not have such daring. This matter was too much of an offense toward Fan Xian. If he married a ninth-level ace into his family, where was his husbandly authority? Besides, although Haitang was lovely and intelligent, her appearance was truly very average.

Last year, Wei Hua's sister had followed Lang Tiao far away to Jiangnan. When they passed Wuzhou, she had gotten into an argument with Fan Xian. Wei Hua well knew Fan Xian's petty nature would remember this grudge, so he had unwillingly written a great deal of praise and finally quelled Fan Xian's anger.

As his thoughts floated through these years, Wei Hua couldn't help losing his composure and sighing mournfully. Fan Xian, ah, Fan Xian. You really give me no face. You always have to push me down in everything. We were in the same position, why rush to make enemies of each other? Why couldn't he, the Commander of the Brocade Guards, live his life as smoothly as the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council?

…

…

Ever since Haitang and Fan Ruoruo entered Baoyue Brothel, the feast in the hall had become quieter. The shrewd elders of the Wei family put on their elderly appearance and chatted with each of the girls. However, they were thinking they had initially wanted to take more money for the Emperor in this negotiation. Now that these two had arrived, particularly Haitang, just which way did she bend? Thus, they slowed down their attacks toward Fan Sizhe.

Fan Sizhe's expression was calm. He smiled slightly as he spoke. During the leisurely chatting, he stated clearly the division of profits in the coming year and details of the deal. He had asked Haitang and his sister here to give himself a bit more leverage. It would at least mess with the Northern Qi people's minds.

In name, this was a negotiation between himself and the Wei family. In reality, although not everyone knew about Fan Xian and the Northern Qi Emperor's collusion, Marquis Changning, who ran the Wei family, knew everything about it.

After the wine had been passed around three times, the discussions came to an end. Both sides drank happily and left. However, Wei Hua's expression was not very joyous. It was very clear that in his new cycle of splitting the profits, it was still Fan Sizhe who took the lion's share.

The night gradually grew darker. Haitang held the gentle jade lion and glanced at Fan Sizhe with almost a smile and left, leaving Baoyue Brothel to the brother and sister.

…

…

"I don't like Haitang." In a room in the Shangjing branch of Baoyue Brothel, Fan Sizhe furrowed his brows and spoke.

"Now you're becoming more and more old and serious." Fan Ruoruo patted his brother's head out of habit and smiled slightly. "What's bad about sister disciple? You aren't still angry about her using you as a donkey, right?

Fan Sizhe shook his head and said, "That was brother's intention. He wanted me to struggle. I understand."

Fan Ruoruo looked at her brother in surprise and tilted her head. "You are truly becoming more and more old-fashioned. You're really not like a child."

Fan Sizhe smiled self-mockingly and said, "In this place, there isn't anyone I can trust. I have no choice but to be careful. Oh yes, sister, you said old-fashioned…" His spirit suddenly became excited. "Are you saying that I am becoming more and more like brother?"

Fan Sizhe asked this with great excitement. In his heart, his older brother Fan Xian was his idol. If he could become more like his brother's image, the more pleased he would be.

Fan Ruoruo covered her mouth and laughed. "More like you are becoming more and more like father. Looks like father's past beatings of you were somewhat effective."

She paused and said, "Earlier, you said you didn't like Haitang. Why exactly is that?"

Fan Sizhe looked into his sister's eyes calmly and didn't speak for a while.

Fan Ruoruo looked calmly at him.

"Sister, you should understand," Fan Sizhe said seriously. "We already have a sister-in-law."

Fan Ruoruo's brows furrowed together as she sighed. "Yes."

Fan Sizhe furrowed his brows and thought for a moment before quietly saying, "Brother doesn't know, but during this year, sister-in-law has written many letters to me."

Fan Ruoruo was slightly surprised and asked, "What did she say?"

"What else could she say? Of course, it was about how the family was, how father and mother were." Fan Sizhe sighed. "With me being in a foreign country by myself, of course, sister-in-law is worried. To speak truthfully, during this year, anytime I have something I can't figure out, I never wanted to bother brother. It is all sister-in-law who has helped give me ideas."

Fan Ruoruo gradually processed her shock. This was also her first time learning of this. After thinking it over for a while, she extracted many things from it and dimly said, "Sister-in-law… She is a very pitiful person. As you know, the Eldest Princess has been imprisoned by the Emperor in the side courtyard and brother is in Jiangnan."

"Brother only knew to kick me to the North." Fan Sizhe's tone was full of displeasure. "Although I know it was to train me, did he ever think about how young I was? Such a big mess. How could I deal with it? He only knew to let go. He is nowhere as thoughtful and considerate as sister-in-law."

Fan Ruoruo furrowed her brows and scolded, "Brother doesn't have it easy in the South. If he didn't stand firmly, how could you stand firm in the North? When did he just let go? The Qingyu Hall shopkeepers are all secretly helping you. The Overwatch Council's network in Northern Qi are also working for you. In order to train you, he has put down a great deal of blood capital. As for training, it's not like you don't know what kind of person he is. He grew up alone in Danzhou. Who knows what hardships he had to endure to be where he is today. He believes in this way. This is how he treats himself. We are his younger siblings, of course, he would also choose this method."

After a stream of scolding, Fan Sizhe felt he had traveled back in time to Jingdou a few years ago. At that time, he, who was neither afraid of the sky nor the earth. He was only afraid of the metal ruler in his sister's hands. At once, he softened. After being speechless for a while, he mumbled, "In any case… I don't like Haitang."

Fan Ruoruo sighed. "You know how much help Haitang has secretly helped brother."

"It is only an exchange of benefits. Other than the passed away Zhuang Mohan, how many Northern Qi people are truly saints who have no connection to material goods?" Fan Sizhe laughed coldly. "Even though you've now entered Ku He's tutelage and I am a second to none businessman, if brother is no longer useful to Northern Qi, I'm afraid we will immediately be stepped on by others. At that time, I don't expect Haitang will come to our rescue."

Fan Ruoruo said seriously, "My opinion is the opposite of yours."

Fan Sizhe shook his head and gloomily and said, a moment later, "In all things there is always an order of precedence, right?"

Fan Ruoruo thought in silence for a long time. She then slowly nodded her head. She felt an incomparable pity for her respectful and loveable sister-in-law, who was used to silence and pain, so she agreed with her brother's opinion. However, suddenly, an absurd thought surged into her mind. If they were speaking of order of precedence, wasn't she the person who arrived at her brother's side first? It was only the teasing of fate. A bitterness rose to the corner of her lips. She immediately suppressed these emotions that she shouldn't have and worried, with her brother, about the fate of sister-in-law Lin Wan'er.

"Brother definitely isn't a fickle man of few feelings. However, sister-in-law is stuck between the Eldest Princess and brother. There is really nowhere for her to stand."

"Don't think so much." Fan Sizhe shrugged. "The important issue right now is brother's situation in the South."

"Seeing you host a big feast tonight, I thought you had forgotten the situation in your joy."

"With the Eldest Princess having fallen, I have to use this opportunity to earn some money," Fan Sizhe said. "However, with only brother's faction in power in court right now, I always feel like something is going to go wrong."

"Perhaps you're thinking too far. He isn't the only power in court. He is just standing at the heart of everything." Fan Ruoruo smiled slightly. "No matter whether it is family matters or national matters, neither seem like something the two of us, as strangers in a strange land, can worry about."

Fan Sizhe thought that given sister's usual attitude, she should be very worried about Fan Xian's safety. How come she appeared so indifferent? But, he didn't dare criticize his sister. Unconsciously, he asked, "Whose poem was that?"

"Brother's."

"I thought he stopped writing poems?"

"He stopped writing them in front of outsiders."

"Hmm… Then, we really shouldn't do anything?"

"What can we be worried about?" Fan Ruoruo's calm expression showed a confidence in her elder brother. "He worked hard to send us to Northern Qi so that we wouldn't be involved in these things. If we really want to do right by him, then we have to live well here and not make him worry."

"How should we live well?"

"Are you happy being a boss?"

"It's not bad. Although, it's quite troublesome at times."

"I'm going to the hospital tomorrow. I also think this kind of life is very joyful. Brother once said, to live in this world, one has to find something one likes to do."

"Since we have already found them, then we should continue doing them well. The safer we are, the happier we are," Fan Ruoruo said decisively. "And, the more at ease brother will be. We will also have contributed to the family."

Chapter 508: Tea, Liquor, Paper, Big Picture

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

There were three convenient ways to get from Jiangnan Road to Jiangbei Road. No matter the path, one always had to cross the wide river. In this world, there were no concrete bridges with which Fan Xian was familiar. There were only the endless little boats on the two sides to support the busy crossing.

The three workshops of the palace treasury were in North Min. The transport company yamen was in Suzhou. Sir Fan junior was in Hangzhou. It appeared that the control of the palace treasury was in a relaxed state. After the Overwatch Council and palace treasury yamen joined hands, only a portion of the officials and merchants knew how strict the control was over the specialized roads for the goods spread out over Jiangnan.

In particular, the road heading North purposely made a detour to the West. Crossing the river in Shazhou and heading North, meant going around the wild mountains in Jiangbei Road and meadows in Cangzhou Road before delivering endless goods into Northern Qi territory. Then, it brought back abundant amounts of silver into Qing Kingdom and other necessary purchases on the side.

The goods heading North were mostly under Xia Mingji's control. With Fan Xian's help, Xia Qifei won a few large bids and secretly formed a small business and faction in the Jiangnan area. He had already gradually grown in power.

The reason he chose to cross the river in Shazhou, in the eyes of the officials, was because the Jiangnan Navy was stationed in Shazhou. Only Fan Xian and he knew that the reason he chose Shazhou was because the Jiangnan water bandit's power was at their peak here. The palace treasury goods could be escorted by court-appointed officials. But, they did not want the court to see everything they had stashed between.

Xia Qifei sat at a tea stall outside the Shazhou city gates. As he drank tea, he watched, with his eyes slightly narrowed, the boats coming and going on the calm river. The second young master in the North had suddenly increased his appetite for goods. But, it was to a level that he couldn't fulfill. After all, the doors of the palace treasury were completely open for people like him, Fan Xian's trusted aides. However, to be able to deliver all the goods to that side in such a short time while ensuring the court didn't become suspicious needed detailed planning.

Fortunately, according to the court rules, supervision of the transport of the palace treasury was solely managed by the Overwatch Council. At this time, the worries the officials in court had in the past had finally become reality. Fan Xian was supervising himself. How could there not be problems?

Xia Qifei put down his teacup and slowly savored the bitter taste in his mouth. There was not a trace of bitterness in his heart. Thinking over this year and a half, he sometimes felt that he was dreaming. Ever since he jumped onto the imperial envoy's coattails, the thought of revenge that had clamped its jaws around his heart for over a decade like a venomous snake had finally been resolved. The Ming family had returned to his hands. His identity had changed from a shameful head boss of the Jiangnan water bandits to being a member of the Overwatch Council, whose name shook the wealthy merchants in Jiangnan.

The things in this world were indeed very strange.

He knew that the present-day Ming family was not the same as the one in the past. Although the court had not directly stretched their hands in, if Sir Fan junior truly spoke out, he would have to follow the instructions exactly.

Thinking of this, he retracted his satisfied gaze from the chests of goods on the boat in the river and furrowed his brows slightly. There were some things he didn't understand, such as the goods being smuggled to Northern Qi and Dongyi. Without question, they were the most profitable business. Given Sir Fan junior's status, what need did he have to be so greedy? Previously, Sir Fan junior had explained the reason that the Eldest Princess was greedy for silver was because she needed to buy power in court. She needed to lay the foundations for the princes and buy support in the military.

Sir Fan junior was a prince himself. Now that he had entered the Fan family, it was impossible for him to inherit the throne. Why did he need all this silver for? Furthermore, what the Emperor disliked in the past was the Eldest Princess emptying out his palace treasury in secret. Would the Emperor tolerate Sir Fan junior doing this now?

Ever since the Eldest Princess had lost power, this average-sized shockwave had been quietly swept aside in the hearts of the nobles. It did not cause any more ripples. Of course, this was just a superficial peace. No one knew what people were really thinking in secret.

Everyone did know just how deep the Qing court official Fan Xian was in the Qing Emperor's favor and how much power he had in his hands. The people couldn't help but grow wary and eager. No matter what, Fan Xian was still a scholar in people's hearts. His behavior these years on the global stage made it clear to people that he was very different from normal nobles in Qing Kingdom. At least, he wasn't as hot-blooded and filled with battle lust.

Naturally, Northern Qi and Dongyi wished that Fan Xian could last a long time. No matter how much the young Northern Qi Emperor wanted to pull Fan Xian to his side and make a royal prince, he knew that Fan Xian staying in Qing Kingdom would be the most beneficial for him. He wished that Fan Xian's power would grow even more and be even more favored by the Emperor. It would be best if he grew powerful enough to influence the Qing Emperor's decisions.

However, this was only an extravagant hope and idealism. No ruler would be stupid enough to place the hope of peace on an official from a foreign country. Peace between countries was, in the end, demonstrated through strength. A country's strength was its military power.

Ever since the beginning of spring, in the wilderness to the north of Yanjing and to the east of Cangzhou, Shang Shanhu, a legendary Northern Qi general who had been released from house arrest, had taken over the Southern line. In a short period of time, he had established his absolute might in the military and began to drill the soldiers every day, maintaining the great intimidation of the Qing soldiers and suppressing the Qing people's wild ambition.

The person directly clashing with Shang Shanhu was a great Qing general, the Northern Governor Yan Xiaoyi. With these two bullish people crashing together, how could there not be any sparks or stench of blood gradually rising? Although it was said that there were no battles on the borders, friction and a purposely tense atmosphere gradually pervaded the air.

The reason the goods that Xia Qifei had Xia Mingji deliver detoured north toward the Northern Sea in the south of Cangzhou was actually because the situation in Cangzhou had long been tense.

All this completely changed during this month. For some reason, Shang Shanhu suddenly pulled his soldiers back north over 50 li. He moved the army and put up a show of being lazy and not defending or approaching. It was as if he cared not at all that Yan Xiaoyi was leading 100,000 elite troops in the region between Yanjing and Cangzhou, glaring like a bull as if he wanted to take a bit at any moment.

Tension suddenly turned to leisure. The two countries displays of force suddenly changed into an excursion. The instantaneous change made the Qing military feel an unreasonable anger and shock.

Just what were the Northern Qi people thinking?

Yan Xiaoyi knew what the Northern Qi people were thinking. He picked up the cup and took a drink of the liquor produced in the plains to the north of the Northern Sea. The liquor wet his beard slightly. The cold light in his eyes gradually grew stronger.

After the news from Jingdou reached Cangzhou, Yan Xiaoyi knew the crisis he was about to face. When his trusted aides were giving him ideas at night in lowered voices, he maintained his calm and didn't say a single word.

When Shang Shanhu led the Northern Qi troops in a slow retreat and gave the appearance of naked women reclining on couches, Yan Xiaoyi was not surprised or confused. He only smiled coldly.

Naturally, the Northern Qi people knew the news of the Eldest Princess falling from power and that the Emperor would certainly take them down. Thus, at this moment, Shang Shanhu purposely appeared weak and removed all the pressure that had been placed on Yan Xiaoyi so that he could maintain all his power and spirit.

What was the purpose of maintaining them? Naturally, it was to deal with his own Emperor.

Yan Xiaoyi slowly put down his wine cup. A cold smile rose to the corners of his lips. If, at this moment, the Northern Qi Emperor suddenly moved against Shang Shanhu, he would also do this. When an enemy country has internal problems, as the opposing side, he would sit and watch. Furthermore, he would give the enemies as much space and power as needed. This way, he could have the other side squander their time and energy. After they had slaughtered each other, he would reap the benefits of a spectator. How could he not be happy?

However, it seemed that Yan Xiaoyi did not make any preparations. It seemed that he was waiting for that day, waiting for a few old and wrinkled eunuchs to come on horses, to tiredly, in hoarse voices, and with fear on their faces but still forcibly composed to announce the Emperor's edict to him.

"Yan Xiaoyi…"

The Eldest Princess had fallen. As the Eldest Princess' trusted aide and her greatest support in the military, the Emperor could not allow him to continue controlling the elite Northern expedition army. Yan Xiaoyi knew this well.

He was already prepared. Thus, he didn't concern himself with his trusted aides' faces of fear. Unexpectedly, the Emperor's edict was yet to arrive. Worry rose on his face. He wondered to himself just what crime was the Emperor going to pin on him that needed so much time?

The liquor burned his heart and made Yan Xiaoyi's heart hurt. Did the Emperor truly trust him so much? The Emperor knew that, in the past, he had been nothing more than a hunter. If it wasn't for the Eldest Princess, he would have lived and died in obscurity.

Furthermore, he and Fan Xian had the death of his son between them. Although Yan Xiaoyi never found the evidence, he believed that inside Qing Kingdom there were only two lunatics bold enough to kill his son other than the Emperor. Other than the Eldest Princess, there was only the lunatic Fan Xian.

The Emperor would not kill his own illegitimate child to avenge his son's death. This was the largest irresolvable conflict between Yan Xiaoyi and the Emperor. Yan Xiaoyi's tyrannical nature would not allow him to let this go and grow old in Jingdou.

But, he wouldn't lead his troops and defect toward the Northern Qi Emperor, who was sitting and watching the show, because that was a kind of humiliation.

Yan Xiaoyi once again raised his cup of liquor and threw it back in one go. He gave a long sigh and truly didn't know what to do. Then, he received a letter. The person who wrote it was someone he had never seen before.

Looking at the letter, his hand holding it began to shake. The hands that had always been as steady as a mountain, drew a bow like a god, remained as solid as steel and iron even when caught between the great ninth-level aces, the Shadow and Fan Xian, actually shook.

…

…

Qing Kingdom was still in the end of spring. On the distant Southern borders, it was already scorching hot. The dense woods were drained of energy by the heat of the sun high in the sky. The drooped on the mountain stones while the vines on the stones had long been baked to a withered mess by the high temperatures.

The heat was not scary, but the humidity in the dense woods was terrifying. No one knew why the South had so many thunderstorms. Although the rains did not continue for long, once the rain hit the ground, it did not even have a chance to sink into the mud before it was turned into steam by the high temperatures. Enveloped by the woods, animals, people walking through the trails, and all life found it very difficult to breathe.

A large group was walking lazily on the official roads. Even the officials of the Honglu Temple, who were responsible for the dignity of the kingdom, had opened their robes without a care to etiquette. The military was always strict. The hundreds of imperial guards in bright grey armor also had their clothing askew. Even the Tiger Guards surrounding the carriages in the center had a tired and irritated expression in their eyes.

In the dead center of the carriage sat the Crown Prince of Qing Kingdom.

It had been more than a month since he had left the capital. The rituals in Nanzhao had gone smoothly. He had lain and cried in front of the dead monarch's coffin a number of times and gently talked a bit with the child King. After he witnessed the coronation, the Crown Prince and his people began their return to the North.

The reason they had chosen such a blazing hot day to travel was because when the sun was bright, it was rarer for there to be fog in the forests. In the dense forests between Nanzhao and Qing Kingdom, the most terrifying thing was the poisonous miasma.

The Crown Prince Li Chengqian knocked on the window of the carriage to signal for the entire group to stop. Then, with the help of a eunuch, he got down from the carriage and quietly said something to the head official of the Board of Rites.

A Tiger Guard respectfully said, "Your Highness, it is best to travel while the sun is out so that we will not be soaked in the poisonous miasma."

The Crown Prince smiled slightly and said, "Have a rest. Everyone's tired."

"I'm afraid we won't make it to the inn in front," the Tiger Guard said awkwardly.

"Didn't you say yesterday that before that inn there is a smaller one?" the Crown Prince asked amiably. "It will be fine to stay there tonight."

The official of the Board of Rites that had been questioned earlier urged, "With Your Highness' status, how can you casually live in the wilderness? The inn in Tiancheng County is truly too broken down. The large one we decided on last night should have made preparations and be ready to welcome Your Highness."

The Crown Prince refused to agree. He only said that his followers were all already exhausted. The official of the Board of Rites couldn't hold back his slight fear and asked, "But if we miss our return date…"

"I will take all responsibility. I can't let all these soldiers fall sick from exhaustion." The Crown Prince furrowed his brows.

The order was sent down to have the hundreds of people rest where they were. They should be able to make it to Tiancheng county tonight to pass the night. After the soldiers and Tiger Guards heard these words, the immediately let out a breath. They thanked the Crown Prince. They set up guards on the two sides of the road and rested in groups.

Everyone knew that it was because the Crown Prince felt their pain and hardship. They all turned grateful gazes in his direction but didn't let the Crown Prince see. In the past month, from Jingdou south to Nanzhao and back to the north, the path had been long and dangerous. However, the Crown Prince was not as delicate and fragile as they had all thought. He hadn't made a sound of protest. Furthermore, he had been very encouraging to his subordinates and unspeakably amiable and intimate.

All along the way, everyone came to a new understanding of the Crown Prince. They felt that His Highness truly cared for his people. Not only did he have no resentment toward the Emperor's edict, he also never forgot about them.

The Crown Prince accepted the edict to go to Nanzhao to observe the rituals. In the eyes of the people, such an arduous and thankless task was a warning from the Emperor to the Crown Prince, if not an exile. Or, perhaps, it was a twisted kind of punishment. Presently, these soldiers and officials were all confused. Such a gifted Crown Prince. What was the Emperor displeased about?

A tent was set up in the woods for the Crown Prince to rest in. Everyone knew that it was mostly for the convenience of the Crown Prince relieving himself. Although along the way, the Crown Prince had suffered hardships with them, they couldn't have a Crown Prince crouch with the rest of them in a row on the ground with his backside bare to relieve himself.

Li Chengqian smiled helplessly at the imperial guards who set up the tent. He lifted one corner and walked in. However, he didn't untie his pants. He only stood there coldly and waited tensely.

Before too long, a hand holding a medicinal pill stretched into the tent.

Clearly, such a thing had happened more than once. The Crown Prince directly took the pill and swallowed it down. He then used the tip of his tongue to carefully show the gaps between his teeth to confirm he hadn't left any traces for the eunuchs, who were here nominally to serve him but secretly to spy on him, to discover.

"Why can't this medicine be provided to the soldiers?" After the Crown Prince was silent for a while, he spoke to the faint shadow outside the tent. His tone was very unhappy, "Seven people have already died on this trip."

There was too much poisonous miasma in Nanzhao. Although the Imperial Academy of Medicine had prepared very high-quality medicine, there were a still a few imperial guards and eunuchs who had breathed in the miasma and died.

The shadow outside the tent paused for a moment then said, "Your Highness, I find that I like you more and more." After saying this, Thirteenth Wang shook his head and disappeared without a sound.

The Crown Prince crouched down and furrowed his brows slightly. He knew that Fan Xian had sent Thirteenth Wang, but he didn't know why Fan Xian was protecting him so carefully. Fan Xian's words had been very clear. He did not need to see this as a favor. However, he didn't like the feeling of having an ace following him at a distance. And, he had once tried to have him give all the medicine to him.

However, every night he went to bed, he was served by eunuchs. If someone found the Crown Prince was carrying medicine from unknown sources, it would indeed be very troublesome.

Except, without medicine at this side, he couldn't save anyone. Every time he thought of the people who had died along the way, the Crown Prince couldn't help giving a sigh.

During this time, he had behaved well. He could have done no better. He knew what kind of person his father was. Father was looking for an excuse, a reason to depose him. If he couldn't find an excuse that wouldn't damage his face, his father would not rush to act.

His father loved face too much, Li Chengqian smiled slightly as he thought. Standing up, he tossed the used paper onto the ground. What difference was there between face and toilet paper?

However, it was indeed very necessary. At least, in this way, Li Chengqian could still persevere for a while. A stubborn expression rose to his face. Father, I won't give you too many excuses. If you want to depose me, then don't think you'll be able to keep face.

He pulled open the tent and walked out. Looking at the piercing sun in the sky, he suddenly thought about the little child beside the coffin of the Nanzhao monarch. His mind wandered slightly as he thought, They were both Crown Princes. For a father to die early, it was actually a rather blissful matter.

He immediately remembered that tonight they were going to stay in Tiancheng County and felt the name of this county was very auspicious. He couldn't help but smile.

Chapter 509: Absurd Words

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

After months of travel, the Crown Prince of Qing Kingdom and his group finally returned from the distant Nanzhao to Jingdou. The official road outside Jingdou had not been covered in yellow dirt and sprayed with water. The greenish-black stone road lay smoothly against the ground and welcomed the return of the heir. The dense willows on either side of the road nodded their branches with the breeze in greeting to the Crown Prince.

At the city gates, the civil and martial officials were there to welcome the Crown Prince back, as well as the three princes that had been left in the city. They all bowed in greeting while the Crown Prince warmly helped up his two elder brothers and younger brother. They held hands and looked at each other. They had things to say but choked on them. They instead spoke of the situation after the Crown Prince left.

The Great Prince looked with concern at the Crown Prince and confirmed that a difficult journey had not put his younger brother through too much hardship. This allowed him to relax. Like everyone else, he also wondered what his father had meant by giving this task to the Crown Prince. However, his status was the not the same as others. Additionally, his nature had always been tranquil and calm, so he didn't wish to think too deeply. In any case, it had nothing to do with him. Everything was fine as long as Chengqian was alright.

The Second Prince, who had stayed silent for almost half a year inside his manor, flashed his trademark smile to welcome the Crown Prince back. There was something else caught in his smile. It seeped drop by drop into the Crown Prince's heart. The Crown Prince smiled slightly toward him and nodded but didn't say anything.

Li Chengqian held his third brother's hand and looked at the quiet and clever face of the little boy beside him. He couldn't help but give a sigh in his heart. The situation that had developed to what it was today quietly made this youngest brother become his biggest opponent. It was very baffling.

He suddenly remembered that the new ruler of Nanzhao seemed to be about the same age as the Third Prince. His heart suddenly jumped. The hand holding the Third Prince's hand unconsciously loosened. Before his index finger had completely raised, he recovered and once again warmly and seriously held onto the little hand.

The Crown Prince knew that his third brother was much cleverer than that snot-nosed monarch. Furthermore, his teacher was Fan Xian. However, the Third Prince's gaze toward the Crown Prince appeared very calm, much calmer than children ought to be. In fact, there was no other emotion at all.

The sons of the dragon stood outside the city gates, each with their own thoughts. The Crown Prince lowered his head slightly and looked at the lonely shadows under the sun. He thought, with some sadness, The harm between father and son was inevitable, but did brothers also have to hurt each other?

The Crown Prince entered the Palace, debriefed, bowed to the Emperor, and returned to his Palace.

The entire process was as smooth as the Board of Rites and the Second Temple had planned. There was not a single problem. At least, no one would be able to find anything strange in the Emperor and the Crown Prince's expressions. However, people noticed that the Emperor seemed somewhat tired and didn't keep the Crown Prince in Taiji Palace to talk a little. This was nothing like the emotions the Emperor should have after a son he hadn't seen in almost half a year had finally come home. He had the Crown Prince return to the Eastern Palace.

With Eunuch Yao in the led, the Crown Prince came to the gates of the Eastern Palace. He raised his head and looked at the newly repaired Eastern Palace. He couldn't help but let out a breath in surprise. This beautiful palace had been burned down by him. In just a few months, it had been repaired like new. It looked like his father didn't want to make things overly sensational.

He suddenly turned his head to ask Eunuch Yao, "I want to go greet the empress dowager in a while. Will that be allowed?"

Eunuch Yao paused. He was responsible for sending His Highness back to the Eastern Palace. He had received orders from the Emperor to quietly spy on him to ensure that the Crown Prince returned to his Palace and only stayed there. This was like a twisted form of house arrest. However, the Crown Prince had asked suddenly to leave and used a good excuse. Eunuch Yao had no idea how to respond.

He forced a laugh and slowly bent his body forward. In a slightly sharp voice, he replied, "Your Highness scared me. You are the master, if you wish to visit the empress dowager, why are you asking me?"

The Crown Prince smiled bitterly and didn't say anything as he pushed open the great doors to the Eastern Palace. As he passed through the doors, he unconsciously glanced in the direction of Guangxin Palace. He knew that his aunt had already been imprisoned in one of the royal side courtyards and the Overwatch Council was responsible for guarding her. The Guangxin Palace he was very familiar with was already completely empty. He still couldn't resist glancing greedily in that direction. To the side, Eunuch Yao carefully observed the Crown Prince's expressions unobtrusively.

The Crown Prince acted like he didn't exist at all and gazed in a daze in that direction. He thought to himself, While people were alive in the world, there were always many temptations. It was impossible to know how he had been charmed and who had gone crazy. He thought of what his aunt had said. His heart began to jump. Yes, everyone was crazy, the world was crazy. Everyone in the royal family had the seed of lunacy. If he wanted the entire world, then he had to be crazy to the end.

Self-restraint led to lunacy. He once again turned and smiled warmly to Eunuch Yao. He then closed the great doors of the Eastern Palace.

An action, such as closing a door, should be done by a serving girl or eunuch. However, the amount of serving girls and eunuchs in the Palace were far from the number deemed appropriate in the system of rites. A few months ago, hundreds of eunuchs and serving girls in the entire Palace had disappeared without a trace. No one knew where they had gone. The Crown Prince knew they had gone under the ground. Although the Eastern Palace had now replaced a large number of the eunuchs and serving girls, it was clear that these new servants were rather nervous.

It was impossible to hide so many deaths in the Palace for a long time. However, no official dared to be so blind to the situation as to ask. For one, this was not something within their jurisdiction. Second, the officials were afraid of death.

As he walked, serving girls and eunuchs kowtowed in greeting but no one approached him to wait on him.

The Crown Prince smiled self-mockingly and entered the main hall. He furrowed his brows and sniffed because he had smelled a very strong scent of alcohol. The stench was so strong that it made one want to throw up. It floated through the most respected of halls in the Palace.

The light inside the hall was somewhat dim. Only a few tall lights had been lit. Li Chengqian paused and recovered his sight before seeing a familiar woman lying on the couch. To the side of the screen, the large-leaved fans that the palace treasury produced were waving up and down, creating a small breeze that dissipated the suffocating air in the hall.

The woman wore a luxurious palace robe, but her makeup was atrocious and her hair was loose. A jug of wine dangled from her hands. She was pouring wine into her mouth. Her face was wan and sallow, and hopelessness was clear between her brows.

The person holding the large-leaved fan was an indistinct eunuch.

Li Chengqian furrowed his brows in disgust but immediately sighed. A glimmer of gentleness and pity rose between his eyes as he walked forward. He knew why his mother would become like this and loathed her usual feigned mysteriousness. Once something happened, she panicked and lost her mind. But, she was his mother, after all.

The half-drunk empress started and rubbed her eyes for a moment before seeing clearly that the young man in front of her was her son. A moment later, she suddenly let out a sob and staggered up before throwing herself to her son. She held him tight and sobbed, "It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back."

The Crown Prince held his mother and laughed amiably. "I was gone for many months. I've made you worry."

A glimmer of joy flashed through the empress' eyes. She said indistinctly, "As long as you're alive, it's fine… I thought… I would never see you again."

Ever since the Emperor had sent the Crown Prince to Nanzhao, the empress' thoughts had been sunk in hopelessness. The Emperor and her had been husband and wife for 20 years. She knew how merciless and terrifying the man on the dragon chair could be. She had thought that with the Crown Prince's leaving, it would be difficult for him to return again. Seeing her son alive, she couldn't help but be overjoyed. A fleeting glimmer of hope rose in her hopelessness.

The Crown Prince smiled self-mockingly and held his mother. He patted her back and said some words of comfort. Even now, the empress did not know why the Emperor had suddenly abandoned the Crown Prince. He had also not told his mother the truth. Although the people in the royal family were crazy, they still did well in terms of filial piety.

Thus, the Crown Prince did not play on telling her all the dangers and hardships he had run into during the journey. If it weren't for someone helping him in secret, even if he made it back, he would probably be lingering on a sickbed with little chance of rising ever again.

Before long, the half-drunk empress had fallen into a deep sleep in the Crown Prince's arms. He picked her up and moved her to the couch, pulling a thin, embroidered sheet over her. He waved his hand to stop the movements of the eunuch waving the large-leaved fan and found a round palace fan to begin carefully fanning the empress himself.

After fanning for a long time and confirming that his mother had fallen into a deep sleep, the Crown Prince threw down the fan and sat in a daze beside the couch. He buried his head deep between his knees and didn't raise his head for a long time.

When he finally raised his head, his face was slightly pale. His gaze swept to the side and saw the only eunuch in the vast and lonely hall and asked, "Does she often drink these days?"

"Yes." The eunuch walked out from the shadows and knelt down to greet him respectfully.

Watching the eunuch raise his face, the Crown Prince was startled. He immediately furrowed his brows and said slightly mockingly, "Of the hundred or so in the Eastern Palace, only you survived."

The eunuch wasn't just anyone. H had been the head eunuch of the Eastern Palace, Hong Zhu. A guilty looked rose on Hong Zhu's face. He lowered his head and didn't say anything. At this point, everyone in the Eastern Palace had been silenced on the Emperor's orders. His sole survival was enough to explain the entire truth.

Although Hong Zhu had never told the secret to the Emperor, he had told it to Fan Xian. This all seemed to have sprung from that. Thus, the guilt on Hong Zhu's face was not feigned. During his time in the Eastern Palace, the empress and Crown Prince had been relatively good to him. The empress had been particularly kind. During these recent days, he was under strict orders from the Emperor to secretly serve and spy on the empress. Seeing the disappointment and hopelessness of the mother of the nation, who used spirits to numb herself day and night, he couldn't help feeling pity.

The Crown Prince gazed at him calmly. He then suddenly laughed unhappily. Muttering to himself, he said, "Initially I had thought father had moved you here because you had offended Fan Xian. But, I had forgotten, after all, you are someone who came from the royal study. Is the hatred between you and the Danbo Duke real?"

"It's real," Hong Zhu lowered his head and replied. "However, I am a man of the Qing Kingdom. The Emperor's orders come first."

For some reason, the Crown Prince flew into a rage. Grabbing something from beside him, he threw it at him and cursed loudly, "You eunuch! You dare refer to yourself as a man?"

The thing he had thrown out was the rounded fan he used earlier to fan the empress. It floated lightly and without strength. It did not hit Hong Zhu. It floated down near him and landed on the front of his eunuch robes.

The Crown Prince was afraid of waking his mother and calmed his heaving breathing with great difficulty. Gazing at Hong Zhu with hatred, he said, "Looks like the Emperor really does like you… You know such a major thing, yet he kept your dog life."

Hong Zhu kowtowed twice and asked with confusion, "Your Highness, what matter?"

The Crown Prince came to his senses. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "At present, the Eastern Palace is nothing like what it once was. What are you still doing here? If you want to leave, I will talk to my father."

Hong Zhu's expression was hesitant. He said, a moment later through gritted teeth, "I want to stay in the Eastern Palace."

"Stay here to spy?" the Crown Prince lowered his voice and asked cynically. "The entire place is filled with spies. Do you even make a difference?"

For things having developed to where they were today, the Crown Prince knew that the Emperor would eventually depose of him. Since it was so, why bother being hypocritical while hidden in his own palace?

"I want to serve the empress."

After a moment of silence, the Crown Prince suddenly sighed. A glimmer of pity rose to his face. He looked at Hong Zhu. "Xiu'er also died?"

Kneeling on the ground, Hong Zhu's body shook. After a long time, he sorrowfully nodded his head.

…

…

"Has anything happened during these months?" The Crown Prince watched Hong Zhu quietly and asked a question that, logically speaking, never had an answer.

Hong Zhu was silent for a long time. He then said, "The Emperor went to Hanguang Palace a few times. Each time he came out, he wasn't very happy."

The Crown Prince smiled slightly and felt himself relax a little. He looked at Hong Zhu with approval, and said, "Thank you."

Hong Zhu lowered his head and said, "I dare not accept it."

The Crown Prince sat beside the couch and began to think. It was clear that his father had not told the truth of this matter to the empress dowager. Although the Emperor controlled the world and none dared to bar him, yet an Emperor such as his father was still trapped by a bind on his heart.

He was bound by such things as face that was like toilet paper and the words "filial piety."

Qing Kingdom was particular about using filial piety to govern the world. The Emperor had placed the cage around himself.

Li Chengqian clenched his fists slightly and knew that he still had some time. If his father wanted to depose him, he still needed time to arrange his arguments. Even if the Eighth Bureau of the Overwatch Council wanted to create rumors, it wouldn't be that easy.

…

…

"I wonder how Hong Zhu's feels about Xiu'er's death," Fan Xian said quietly. "If it was any other eunuch, perhaps they couldn't think too much about it. I know that Hong Zhu has never been a simple eunuch. He's studied and understands, which is why he understands gratitude and hatred, and values friendship. After all was said and done, the reason Xiu'er was killed was because of me and him. It was us two who caused the deaths of hundreds of people in the Palace."

He furrowed his brows. "It seems that our imagination is still somewhat lacking when it comes to the Emperor's ruthlessness. Fine, even if Hong Zhu doesn't hate me, he will certainly hate himself. Will this cause any problems?"

He once again said "fine" then said unhappily, "But the deaths of those hundreds of people were still caused by me. Yes, I am a very indifferent and merciless person, but I am still not as strange a creature as Uncle Wu Zhu. I still feel strange in my heart. In the past, I had said to Haitang that I could kill dozens and hundreds of people without a blink of the eye, but I couldn't be an Emperor because I wouldn't be able to maintain my calm when tens of thousands of people died in front of me."

"It was my secret influence that made the Emperor want to depose of the Crown Prince… Of course, even if I didn't influence him, this will matter would still have blown up." Fan Xian shook his head. "Now, I want the Emperor to not depose of the Crown Prince so quickly. Why is that? Isn't this very pointless and absurd? Just what am I afraid of?"

"After the raging inferno and hot oil, there is only a cold pot and leftover rice…" He smiled self-mockingly. "If the Crown Prince, Second Prince, and Eldest Princess are all done for, then I am the leftover rice and dishes. Even if the Emperor truly loved me and was willing to take me to conquer the world… But, as you know, I am a pacifist. Yes, a very hypocritical pacifist. I don't like war. Everything I have done these two years, was it not to maintain the current status quo?"

"Thus, I must delay. I cannot let the Emperor enter the path of preparing for war before I am ready. At that time, he will have the Great Prince leading the troops and me supervising them. Killing our way into Northern Qi and Dongyi, there will be endless ghosts beneath our knives. Even thinking of such bloodthirsty days makes me feel uncomfortable."

"This is the main conflict when hiding. You know this."

After Fan Xian said this, he carefully put away the piece of paper in front of him and replaced it back into the chest. He sighed and was angry at his own curiosity. Every time, he couldn't resist taking out his mother's letter to read it again. But every time he read it, it was unbelievably troublesome.

He was in Hangzhou, in Hua Garden. The huge chest at the door was still open. The white silver inside shone with a beautiful light.

Just like Minister Fan, he had learned to talk to a piece of paper. However, his father spoke to a painting. He didn't have that power, so he could only speak to a letter.

There were many things he couldn't say to others. The only people he could talk to were not by his side. Thus, Fan Xian felt suffocated. For a while in the past, he had even treated Wang Qinian as his best audience. However, to prevent Lao Wang being terrified into a heart attack by his words, he eventually stopped the torture on Lao Wang's state of mind.

Uncle Wu Zhu was not present, nor was Ruoruo, Wan'er, or Haitang. Who could he share all these words with? Where would he find support for his rebellious thoughts that would not tolerate this world?

Gradually, Fan Xian began to feel a kind of loneliness, the kind with meaning contained within.

He developed personal misgivings for the first time about his second life.

Chapter 510: Miserable Tears

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

Everyone, at certain times, will think back on their life. They will consider some past events and look ahead to the future. This is often done by people who already feel weary of life or after they have achieved a set goal. This was true for an old man sitting beside some water. As he fished, he would sigh about how life and the water beneath his feet flowed away, never to return.

Fan Xian was not Ku He. He didn't have any interest in fishing and was still young. His life had one more repetition than everyone else in this world. Counting carefully, he should be 39 years old—a middle-aged man who almost knows destiny. However, he was forced to stay in this beautiful skin.

He didn't hold a beautiful woman and sigh that he never contributed to the beautiful justice of mankind. Rather, he was looking for clarity in the chaos. He was trying to find his resolution and clear goal because he was lost.

After he was reborn, he had always been a man with a firm goal. On the precipice, he had once expressed three great wishes to Uncle Wu Zhu with three symbols as their foundations. Up to today, the three wishes had mostly been realized. Except, Fan Xian did not overly lust after women, so it was impossible for the number of women around him to increase.

The foundation of the three great wishes was to survive. For this goal, he had always worked hard and been tough and unyielding. Furthermore, a hidden branch of the three great wishes, or perhaps it should be called an additional attribute, was the ideal he had spoken of to Fan senior.

In the present-day Qing Kingdom, under heaven, Fan Xian could truly live up to the words "powerful official." Wherever he walked, there was no one who did not respect him or fear him. However, now that this day arrived, it confused the young man who was about to know his destiny. Was this truly the life he wanted?

He walked by himself on the path from Hua Garden to the Jiangnan Governor's manor with his head lowered, with an air much like a philosopher. Behind him followed a few Tiger Guards. A number of secret agents from the Overwatch Council on the sides of the streets secretly protected him.

"Sir Fan junior."

"Young master."

"Imperial Envoy."

"Commissioner."

A whole series of warm fawning and slightly fearful greetings rang out from his side. Fan Xian abruptly raised his head to find that he had already walked into the Jiangnan Governor's manor. The Jiangnan Road officials stood on either side and looked at him with an affectionate gaze that held indescribable warmth and kindness. It seemed that the entire department had arrived with him. Instantly, there were countless people fawning over and trying to curry favor from him. It was deafening.

Fan Xian unconsciously scratched his head and didn't notice that this action somewhat reduced his prestige He smiled self-mockingly. He was completely removed from the things that had been spinning around his head earlier. Right now, it seemed a bit too early for him to start doubting life. It was not until Newton was old did he truly become a god. The second half of young Ai's life was spent struggling with the unification. Both of these incredible returned to the simple life after washing away the extraneous things. But did he count as one of them?

In the end, he had to admit he was a common man. Although, he still enjoyed some of the benefits brought by glory, power, money, and reputation.

As Fan Xian waved amicably to the officials he headed toward the study in the Governor's manor. He thought to himself that he was not the same as Ye Qingmei. It was better for him to not sprinkle himself with the glory of idealism.

In this world, no, in all worlds, idealists were lonely and isolated, and all died easily. These were two things Fan Xian could not accept. It was better to just be a powerful official.

After he walked into Xue Qing's study, he lowered his head. He talked to Xue Qing for a long time before his inner-self began to mock itself again. Was a power official something one could be just because one wanted to be? That had to depend on whether or not the Emperor allowed you to do so. A mediocre and useless Emperor may be turned into a figurehead by a powerful official. But, someone like the Emperor, how could he give him this kind of opportunity? He had lived for 30 years. How could he be so naïve?

He stretched and looked, with narrowed eyes, at Xue Qing sitting in the advisor's chair. He quietly cursed in his heart and said, "For something like checking accounts, it's enough for the Ministry of Revenue to do it. The palace treasury has always been managed by the Overwatch Council. Why is the Imperial Censor suddenly getting involved? Didn't all the Imperial Censorates go to prison a few months ago? How are there enough people in the Imperial Censor to check the accounts? Even if there are enough people, if those people who only know how to do things by the book see the numbers of the account, they might faint. Sir Xue Qing, you have to submit a memorial about this. Jiangnan is doing fine. I cannot understand why these people are coming."

Xue Qing smiled and silently cursed in his heart, thinking, The Ministry of Revenue is run by your old man. The Overwatch Council is managed by you, as well as the palace treasury. What is there to check? Jingdou has long had objections about this matter. The Hall of Governmental Affairs has come up with a new idea. All this is because they're afraid you are stealing and selling things from the palace treasury.

During the year and a half that Fan Xian had been in Jiangnan, he had worked well with Xue Qing. There was great mutual understanding between the two of them. Xue Qing had scooped up innumerable profits from him, so these words could not be said openly. After thinking a moment, he said, "It fine for people to come check. However, there is hate between you and the Imperial Censor. If they come to check, who knows whether or not they'll use a public matter to avenge a private matter?"

These words could only ever be spoken privately by high-ranking officials.

"Can it not be delayed further? Are Shu Wu and Hu the Scholar bored with nothing to do?" As there were no outsiders in the study, Fan Xian spoke angrily. He knew that the orders, which came in name from the Hall of Governmental Affairs, were actually from the Emperor. Him holding onto the palace treasury and Overwatch Council was an inappropriate situation. In Jingdou, He Zong was the sand poured into the Overwatch Council, but he had been suppressed to the point of suffocation by Chen Pingping. Now, Jiangnan was joining in.

Fan Xian was on guard because perhaps the Emperor had not believed his explanation about Zhaoshang money house and had become vigilant about the relationship between himself and Northern Qi. As for the smuggling matter, he didn't care much at all. The Eldest Princess had done it for a dozen years. He had only earned one year's worth of money and had immediately given a dazzling amount of silver to the national treasury. The Emperor would certainly not be so stingy.

Seeing Fan Xian's slightly unhappy face, Xue Qing laughed and said, comfortingly, "It's nothing more than a show for the people in court. What are you worried about? Even if he sent an imperial envoy to lead the three departments to investigate, you could flip your hand and who would be able to find anything. Don't forget, you are also an imperial envoy."

Xue Qing turned his hand and took the opportunity to pick up the teacup on the table and take a drink.

Fan Xian stared at his steady hands. A thought flashed through his head. Xue Qing knew a little about the smuggling, but he didn't know the details. Thus, he appeared so composed. If he knew that Fan Xian was secretly damaging Qing Kingdom's interests, the old man would probably be so shocked he would drop his cup onto the ground.

He was just about to add more fuel to the fire when, unexpectedly, he saw Xue Qing's expression become serious after he placed down his teacup.

When interacting in officialdom, particularly between people like Xue Qing, a local Emperor, and Fan Xian, a prince, the most important things were said in a laughing way to prevent each other from feeling too socially distant. This could create coldness and an unpleasant situation. Thus, it was Fan Xian's first time seeing such a serious expression on Xue Qing's face. He couldn't help but furrow his brows.

Xue Qing was silent for a long time. He then slowly opened his mouth and said, "Naturally, you know more about the Jingdou matter than me. I wonder what your thoughts are on it."

Thoughts? Bullsh*t! For such a major thing as this, I don't have any thoughts about it. Fan Xian kept his mouth closed and didn't say a word. He only smiled and gazed at the beard on Xue Qing's chin, as if he enjoyed it greatly. Other than a few Great Grandmasters and the Emperor, he wasn't afraid of anyone else in this world. He could easily put on a blank face.

Xue Qing coughed. Looking at Fan Xian's expression, he knew that his question had been asked without any skill. Fan Xian's impatience was far more skilled. He smiled self-mockingly and, after some consideration, said, "To speak clearly, the Emperor wants to depose the heir."

Fan Xian started as if he didn't hear the words clearly. A moment later, he came to his senses and abruptly stood up. He started into Xue Qing's eyes without saying anything for a long time.

He was shocked. He wasn't shocked at the deposing of the heir or that Xue Qing was discussing this with him. Rather, he was shocked that Xue Qing said this to his face. This was certainly not something he was guessing. The Emperor in the Palace must have already let it slip to his loyal servant and, at the same time, used him to spread the word.

Was the public going to start talking about it?

Xue Qing's fingers lightly knocked against the table. He gazed at him with a slight smile. "Why are you so shocked? Was this not within your expectations?" He suddenly sighed as a pitying look flashed across his brows. Slowly, he said, "I'm not afraid of you knowing. I have already written to dissuade the Emperor of this idea, but it was to no avail."

"You want me to also write to the Emperor?" Fan Xian looked at him.

Xue Qing said with light mocking, "Everyone knows about your relationship with the Crown Prince. I am not so stupid."

He paused for a moment and then quietly said, "The Emperor has made up his mind. As officials, we can only do as the orders say…" Xue Qing suddenly stopped, as if he was very confused. The Crown Prince had clearly been growing more and more mature during these two years and had become very serious and sincere. He was improving in all areas, so why did the Emperor suddenly want to depose the heir? However, he vaguely guessed that there had been a problem within the royal family. He didn't vocalize his confusion in front of Fan Xian, an illegitimate child of the royal family.

Fan Xian thought for a while and then asked, "How many people know about this?"

"In the Jiangnan area, it is certainly just the two of us that know," Xue Qing said. "However, I believe that the Governors of the Seven Roads have all received the Emperor's secret edict. It would depend on when they follow it."

Fan Xian laughed coldly in his heart. The Emperor was truly ruthless, to the point of being muddle-headed. The Crown Prince had behaved this year. During his long trip to Nanzhao, not only did he do nothing wrong, he also won the praise of many in the court. Presumably, the Emperor wanted to depose the heir. But, it was too difficult find an excuse, so he used the battle tactic of the outer encircling the inner.

Although the words of the Governors of the Seven Roads were powerful, they were only officials. Who would take the lead in doing such a thing? Even if the Emperor had passed down a secret edict, the seven Governors were not idiots. Presumably, they didn't believe their participation in the battle of the throne would bring them any good.

Xue Qing seemed to see what he was thinking and slowly said, "I am, presumably, the first official to write to the Emperor to dissuade him of deposing the heir."

Fan Xian started and gazed into Xue Qing's eyes. He knew that this man was loyal to the Emperor to death, but he hadn't thought that he was loyal to such an extent.

"What was your reason?"

Xue Qing smiled slightly and looked at Fan Xian. "This is the reason I invited you here today. The Emperor's meaning was very clear. It is time for the Eighth Bureau to take action."

Fan Xian had already sat back down in the chair. His head was slightly tilted as his mind wandered. If the Emperor wanted to depose the heir, he would have the use the Eighth Bureau of the Overwatch Council to make a start. After all, a great deal of information that could be used against the Crown Prince had fallen in the hands of the internal court and Overwatch Council. In addition, there was the Ming family court case in Jiangnan concerning the heir's natural right to inheritance. No matter how this matter was looked at, if the Emperor wanted to depose of the Crown Prince, Fan Xian should be the runner before the carriage.

His expression was very calm. The storm inside his heart could not be seen. A moment later, he said, "A region is a region. Jingdou is Jingdou. If it is only these actions, the counter-push in the court will be immense. The scholars in the Hall of Governmental Affairs are not going to watch as the Crown Prince is deposed for no reason."

What he said was the truth. The civil officials were wholeheartedly for Qing Kingdom and stability. They would be greatly opposed to the Emperor's seemingly absurd suggestion. There would probably be countless battles ringing out in court again.

"The Overwatch Council, in particular, cannot make an appearance." Fan Xian lowered his head. "I cannot make an appearance. The Overwatch Council is a special organization. The Crown Prince and I have never gotten along. If some of the things came out of my mouth… It will only have an opposite effect."

"Your words are reasonable. I will report to the Emperor," Xue Qing said. "There is something the Emperor wanted me to tell you. In a few days, he is going to go worship heaven."

Fan Xian was shocked again. He furrowed his brows for a long time before slowly coming to an understanding. Although the practice of ghost and spirits did not flourish in Qing Kingdom, nor did it take it to heart as much as Northern Qi to Tianyi Dao, they still had great respect for the illusory temples. If the Emperor could truly conjure up some sign from heaven…

With public opinion attacking the Crown Prince, followed by memorials from the Governors of the Seven Roads, and officials coming out to accuse him of losing his virtue and not being fit to succeed, the Emperor would be caught in a difficult position. He would personally visit the great temple to worship heaven. He would receive the will of heaven and depose the heir.

Fan Xian shook his head and asked, "When?"

"In a month."

Chapter 511: A Lowly Monarch (1)

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

In terms of blood, the Crown Prince and Fan Xian were brothers. There wasn't actually any irreconcilable hatred between them. In the end, those were the matters of the elders. The Crown Prince had expressed to Fan Xian his willingness for peace. However, it was impossible for Fan Xian to believe this. He also knew that the Crown Prince did not have enough power or a strong enough state of mind to bring him down.

Thus, the biggest target for Fan Xian's actions for the past half a year had actually been the Eldest Princess. He had expected that the Emperor would only imprison her. Instead, he rushed to depose the Crown Prince. Fan Xian pondered this situation for a long time. He felt there was some problem with the order. Given the Emperor's long immersion in the wrestling ring that was the world, he shouldn't have made such a mistake.

Regardless of whether the order was right or wrong, the matter of deposing the heir began to be vigorously discussed throughout Qing court. It was more like the butterfly effect. A major event in history may have begun as nothing, but it can create small and inconsequential ripples in court.

The Eastern Palace catching on fire and Crown Prince's journey to Nanzhao were the ripples.

When the Eighth Bureau of the Overwatch Council threw out some old stories, the Supreme Court suddenly took an interest in the old matter of the winter jackets for the Northern expedition army and began a new investigation. The Ministry of Revenue cooperated in investigating where that silver actually went. The ripples were gradually growing.

During the past spring, the Crown Prince and Second Prince's factions had investigated the Ministry of Revenue in order to attack Fan Xian. In the end, the largest loophole they found was the matter of the winter jackets for the Northern expedition army. At that time, the Crown Prince would never have thought the matter would be pinned on his head. Fortunately, the Emperor had withdrawn his hand, so the Crown Prince avoided the consequence of losing all his face.

The old matter had been brought up again in court. The officials all sensed there was something different now. The Crown Prince's side had long lost most of its loyal followers. Who was the Emperor going to have the Crown Prince throw out to take the crime?

The officials still didn't think the Emperor would directly have the Crown Prince shoulder the crime. Thus, when the Supreme Court and the Overwatch Council placed Xin Qiwu into prison, everyone thought the matter was settled.

No one expected that less than three days after Xin Qiwu was placed in prison, he was let out again. This trusted aid of the Eastern Palace and close official to the Crown Prince was not overly ill-treated in the Overwatch Council because of his good relationship with Fan Xian. He also didn't give up the Crown Prince.

Even so, the Overwatch Council and Supreme Court still held tight to the Crown Prince and submitted a secret memorial to the royal study. Once again, another royal study conference happened before the eyes of the Hall of Governmental Affairs, the six ministers, and others in the nucleus of Qing Kingdom's power.

Shu Wu and Hu the Scholar's begged for mercy on the Crown Prince's behalf. They even agreed to be his guarantors before the Emperor let go of some of his feigned rage. After the conference was dismissed and the two scholars were drinking together, they couldn't help but give out long sighs.

The Emperor had truly made up his mind to depose the heir. As scholars of the Hall of Governmental Affairs, they had to protect the Crown Prince. This had nothing to do with factions. As pure officials, they had to demonstrate their attitude toward this matter. As long as the Crown Prince was the heir, they had to treat him like half an emperor. The Emperor would not criticize them harshly for this.

The officials that Shu and Wu represented all agreed that the Crown Prince had acted absurdly in the past. However, he had greatly improved in the past two years. In order to prevent the great turmoil that would arise from a battle for royal power, and to take early action against Fan Xian becoming involved in this matter, they truly wished the Emperor would make up his mind. He needed to decide the future of Qing Kingdom.

Regardless of how one looked at it, the present Crown Prince was the best choice. It avoided Qing Kingdom from draining its resources and prevented the young man in the Overwatch Council from being a solitary power.

The Qing Emperor was not an airheaded monarch. He knew the benefits that the checks and balances between officials brought to Qing Kingdom. He also expected that the matter of deposing the heir would draw great opposition. Thus, he temporarily chose silence. After one wave, his thoughts of deposing the heir seemed to have been removed. ( Updated by NovelFull.Com)

However, the scholars and other officials knew that their Emperor was not one to easily come to a decision. Once he did, he would persist with it no matter what difficulties he faced.

Within a few days, the Jiangnan Governor Xue Qing's public memorial was delivered to the Palace and read out during the court conference. Each word was quietly directed toward the Eastern Palace. Everyone understood the meaning hidden within.

Shu Wu abruptly flew into a rage. Although he knew the situation was past the point of no return, he still broke rank and scolded Xue Qing harshly for having a disloyal heart. He wildly babbled words inappropriate of an official.

The Emperor took pity on Shu Wu's age and body and ordered him to recover at home for three months. No punishment was given.

The public memorials from the Governors of the other six Roads also arrived. Some were heavy in tone, and some were light. Others spoke explicitly, while others' were implicit. They all quietly expressed their attitudes.

At this point, the situation was becoming clear. The Emperor had intentions to depose the heir and the seven Governors were restricted by the might of the Emperor to submit memorials in agreement. The ministers and officials were caught in the middle. They wanted to oppose it but felt they were blocked by the sky above and pierced from below. They felt uncomfortable all over.

Although Shu Wu had been asked to return to his manor, the Hall of Governmental Affairs continued to use the power they were given by the Qing Emperor. Of the officials in court, the brave ones chose their words carefully to express their opposing opinions. Those who were less brave maintained their silence. There was not a single official who came forward under the Emperor's silent signals to submit a memorial asking the Emperor to change the heir.

Even the people who liked to curry favor found it difficult to do this. All the court and people in Jingdou were watching these officials. The Crown Prince had not many any major mistakes but was going to be deposed. This was simply unreasonable. It would be impossible to explain in history books.

After the court conference ended, a few representatives of the civil officials came to the Shu manor and carefully asked for Shu the Scholar's opinion. The Emperor knew of this matter, so they were not afraid of someone accusing them of forming a faction.

Shu Wu, in a cloth robe, was silent for a long time. He then smiled slightly and said, "All things in the world have to be reasonable, particularly in the case of the heir apparent to a throne. It involves both the heavens and the people. If it is not reasonable, it cannot be obeyed. Fan Xian once said, the first concern should be the affairs of state. The enjoyment of pleasures come later. This is a state matter not a domestic matter of the Emperor's family. As an official, I must help the Emperor lessen his burdens and Qing Kingdom remove its worries. There is no need to analyze the Emperor's heart. It is enough to ask your own."

"The Emperor has already made up his mind. What should be done?"

Shu Wu stroked the beard on his chin and said in his usual laughing way, "Sir once said, when the Emperor has a wrong order, officials may not accept it."

The sir he referred to was the great Zhuang Mohan, who had died almost two years ago. The officials each went home in silence.

If the Emperor actually wanted to secretly signal the officials to submit memorials, there were many ways. He could easily find someone to speak for him in court. Remarkably, ever since the ripples had spread, other than the Minister of Revenue Fan Jian, the Emperor had not summoned any other official to enter the Palace alone. Thus, all the officials were confused. They were not sure whether or not the Emperor's mind had been made up. They were not family servants like the Governors of the Seven Roads and did not dare to randomly submit memorials.

The court sunk into an awkward and silent confrontation. In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince remained gentle and peaceful. It was as if he wasn't concerned about this matter. There were no powerful people in his faction, yet he had received the support of many officials. This could be said to be an unexpected surprise.

Thus, the Crown Prince was secretly grateful and became even more silent.

…

…

In this storm of deposing the heir, there were two young men who were removed from the situation that most attracted the gazes of the officials. These two young noble's appearance and temperament were similar and both had a complicated relationship with the Crown Prince. Their behavior recently was rather unexpected.

The first was Fan Xian. In everyone's eyes, he was completely in the Third Prince's faction. Furthermore, he was also the Emperor's illegitimate son, so his position was very sensitive. However, before and after the memorials from the seven Governors, he maintained a death-like silence in Jiangnan. His usual memorials sent into the Palace did not touch on this matter at all. He only talked in circles about the daily matters of the palace treasury and matters around him. Although the Overwatch Council investigated the Eastern Palace through the Ministry of Revenue, it was clear that their investigation wasn't as powerful as the officials had imagined. Everyone could clearly see that the Overwatch Council's actions in Jingdou had nothing to do with Fan Xian.

This made everyone suddenly wonder whether or not the Emperor had tossed Fan Xian to Jiangnan because he wanted to separate him from the Overwatch Council. Why didn't the outwardly gentle but inwardly unswerving Commissioner Fan not take this opportunity to beat a dog while he was down?

The second was the Second Prince. Before Fan Xian entered the capital, the Second Prince was deep in the Emperor's favor. He was the first among the Emperor's sons to be granted the title of Prince and had amassed a large number of civil officials in the court. Later, everyone learned that the Eldest Princess was openly protecting the Crown Prince but secretly protecting him. The Second Prince had done well. Secretly, he could be a true rival to the Crown Prince. The so-called battle of the throne actually referred to him, at first.

Major events happened one after another during this half year in Jingdou, yet they seemed to have nothing to do with the Second Prince at all. After the Eldest Princess was imprisoned, nothing happened to the Second Prince. Rather, it was the Crown Prince who had been exiled for a while by the Emperor.

In the present critical situation of the Crown Prince being deposed, the Second Prince stood to benefit the most. Logically, he should be taking action. Even if he wanted to avoid arousing suspicion, win the Emperor's favor, and act in accordance to filial piety and fraternal duty, he could simply maintain his silence. However, he personally submitted a memorial to explain, on the Crown Prince's behalf, the case of the winter jackets for the Northern expedition army. He also secretly called into action officials in his faction to take a stance against the Emperor's wishes.

Of course, his power in court had been almost completely wiped out by Fan Xian through two attacks. Since he had been in the game for so many years, he still had some power to speak. After he married Ye Ling'er, he became half a master of the Ye family. His words on the behalf of the Crown Prince did indeed have an effect.

The Crown Prince's two brothers, his two biggest enemies, used different ways to demonstrate their support during the Crown Prince's most dangerous time. This was a remarkable and amazing situation.

Presumably, the emotions of the Qing Emperor were very complicated.

…

…

Before the matter of deposing the heir reached a high tide, on one of the three most dangerous borders in the world, a high tide had already happened. It shocked the already frightened Qing officials into becoming more excited.

The three most dangerous borders were the ones between Northern Qi and Northern Man, Qing Kingdom and the Xi Lake, and Qing Kingdom and Northern Qi.

The extreme North had suffered three years of heavy snow. It froze the cattle and horses to death. The entire clan had no choice but to go around natural terrain and move. After going through endless difficulties, they finally wrapped from the north of Northern Qi to reach the west of Qing Kingdom. However, they paid the tragic price of about 70 to 80 percent of their entire population.

This was a major historical event that had some deep and far-reaching consequences. First, the Northern Qi people no longer had to worry about the power savages behind them. They could finally free a hand to deal with the Qing people in the South—the famous general, Shang Shanhu.

After Xi Lake used two years to digest the Northern Man who had come there, their power grew abruptly. Although there were not many survivors from the Northern Man, those who did had survived a move of thousands of li, with no food or medicine. They were all elite men and women.

Qing Kingdom was surrounded by enemies, front and back. The pressure increased greatly.

This was why there was an emergency Western line set up by the Ye family in Dingzhou. King Jing's heir, Li Hongcheng, was currently playing hide and seek in the West with those Hu people.

Yan Xiaoyi in the North also returned to his camp ahead of time. Using powerful military force, he suppressed Shang Shanhu's plans and bad ideas from the Northern Qi people.

The climax on the border happened on the Northern line between the Northern Governor Yan Xiaoyi and General Shang Shanhu.

When Shang Shanhu had led his army in a retreat to give Yan Xiaoyi time to think and prepare, Yan Xiaoyi did not think about this back path into Qing Kingdom or make preparations to welcome the Qing Emperor capture of himself. Instead, he led his army North. With 20,000 elite troops, they went through the middle of Cangzhou's Yanjing and abruptly attacked the Northern camp.

All was fair in war. The soldiers swept through like a hurricane. Yan Xiaoyi perfectly executed this directive. He did not ask permission from the Bureau of Military Affairs, nor could he wait for the Qing Emperor's edict. He personally led the troops and attacked.

Shang Shanhu, who had never miscalculated before on the battleground, had clearly not expected Yan Xiaoyi to attack when his own life was in question.

The Northern Qi troops had slowly withdrawn 50 li and had not yet firmly set up camp when they were abruptly attacked in the night. They suffered heavy casualties, while the Qing army lost 5,000 lives for the great Cangzhou pass.

This seemed to be Shang Shanhu's first defeat in people's memories.

After the news traveled to Jingdou, regardless of whether it was Shu the Scholar who had been ordered home to recover or a commoner selling alcohol on the street, they all became excited. The love for battle and enthusiasm for border expansion was buried deep within the blood of the Qing people. They were lifted to a peak by this shameless battle.

The dark clouds that had long hung over Jingdou seemed to be less ominous. Everyone was thinking, With such great news, surely the Emperor would not persist in his absurdity and do things contrary to people's emotions? It would truly not be a good decision.

With the arrival of the battle reports, the Northern Qi emperor's letter also arrived. In the letter, the Northern Qi Emperor scolded and cried, speaking about how friendly the two countries were and how could Qing Kingdom do this, and so on. It was very shameless.

After receiving this letter, the Qing Emperor only smiled and gave this matter to Honglu Temple and the Board of Rites to handle. The borders between countries were very blurry. It was difficult to say clearly who entered whose territory. If there truly was a misunderstanding, he could apologize in a few days. In any case, the people who had been killed could not be brought back.

The Emperor smiled and said to Eunuch Hong beside him, "Yao Xiaoyi did well. He knows to use the correct method to demonstrate the reason for his existence."

If someone had no purpose for their existence, then they shouldn't continue to exist, such as the Crown Prince.

Thus, the Supreme Court continued to investigate the winter jackets case. The Overwatch Council dug up the mistakes the Crown Prince had made. The most shameless was the Eighth Bureau. They seemed ready to write about the Crown Prince's teasing of the serving girls when he was young into a memoir.

The matter of deposing the heir did not suddenly end because of Yan Xiaoyi's massive victory. It only rested a little. Under the officials' disappointed gazes, it slowly, and without doubt, began to be pushed out.

…

…

None of this had anything to do with Fan Xian.

Currently, he was on a citizen's boat looking at the Council reports in his hand in a daze. He thought to himself that the Emperor was indeed even more shameless than him. It looked like the worship that Xue Qing had brought up was going to start in a few more days. No one knew what the quiet Qing Temple in Jingdou would be like at that time.

After finding a reason to depose the Crown Prince, the Emperor then asked for heaven's instructions. He was a son of heaven and the Crown Prince was the heaven's grandson. If the heavens thought this grandchild had not been obedient, then the son of heaven could only follow instructions.

Once this was written, it would come across much better in the history books. It was extremely shameless.

Fan Xian shook his head and placed the Council report down. Ever since Xue Qing had begun submitting memorials, he had escaped Suzhou, not returned to Hangzhou, and had not gone to Wuzhou. He only disguised himself as a citizen and boarded a private boat. Unconsciously, he wanted to leave this political whirlpool as far away as possible.

He also learned of the matter of the Second Prince writing to protect the Crown Prince. He thought the Second Prince was ruthless.

He thought again of the Cangzhou pass matter. A glimmer of confusion flashed through his eyes. When it came to military matters, he had always been clueless. However, he wondered how such a terrifying person as Shang Shanhu could suffer such a loss at Yan Xiaoyi's hands. Lightly undertaking a military endeavor was a massive crime. The officials and common people could be happy, like they were watching a show, but how could the Emperor also be as happy as a fool?