Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Wan’er had not arrived yet, but the people that Fan Xian in Suzhou had sent out began to come back one by one. They scattered Fan Xian’s sinister seeds all around Jiangnan and brought back to the good news Fan Xian needed.
The first to return was Xia Qifei.
Fan Xian did not meet him in Hua Garden, as the Baoyue Brothel was half collapsed they also could not meet there. In the end, he chose to visit the Xia-Ming manor in the south of the city deep in the night. Fan Xian had paid for this garden, but he had only come once with the Third Prince.
The somewhat travel-worn Xia Qifei looked at the approaching Fan Xian escorted by Tiger Guards and jumped in front. He had originally planned to visit Hua Garden in the afternoon but had been instructed to wait in the manor. He had not expected that the commissioner would personally visit.
After he respectfully showed Fan Xian into the study, these two illegitimate children did not spend much time exchanging pleasantries. Fan Xian impatiently expressed a superior’s warmth and immediately dove into the topic.
Through Xia Qifei’s report, Fan Xian’s heart was finally at ease. Ever since Xia Qifei took on those big lots from the palace treasury, he had begun to, with the help of the Overwatch Council, move his jianghu bandit brothers. They began to turn toward the right path, however, after all, these were jianghu people. Fan Xian was worried that the Seventh would not be able to deal with the matter appropriately.
It was tonight that he finally felt at ease. It looked like Xia Qifei had indeed inherited somethings from his old man. Bringing in goods, making the bill of lading, opening up a path, and bribing officials, these were all skills necessary to a merchant. He didn’t miss a single one.
What put Fan Xian’s heart most at ease was that after the Xia-Ming merchant group passed through Jiangbei, they had connected with the Northern Qi people in a little town south of Cangzhou.
On Northern Qi’s side, that little Emperor had appointed the son of Marquis Ning, Wei Hua, as the leader of the Brocade Guard. There would be no safety concerns in the sending of the goods, but Fan Xian was curious as to who had personally entered deep into the Qing Kingdom territory and braved the risk to collect this first batch of goods.
It was the Provost himself.
Xia Qifei also seemed to be slightly shocked at the meeting back then.
Fan Xian was surprised and couldn’t help but readjust his judgement of this Wei Hua. He was in a lofty position, yet he was so daring as to enter the territory of the Qing Kingdom. He also couldn’t help feeling disdain for the defensive abilities in the Cangzhou area.
The Northern Qi Brocade Guards were only responsible for the safety of the roads going North. Back then, it was the Northern Qi empress dowager and Eldest Princess making exchanges that had become very familiar with it. Now, it was the little Emperor and Fan Xian making exchanges. This first trade needed to be done with extra care.
Where are our people in the North?
he suddenly furrowed his brows and asked.
Xia Qifei looked at him carefully and removed a letter from within his clothes.
This is a letter a Sir Wang asked me to bring. There is another present coming toward the South.
Fan Xian accepted the letter and saw that it was indeed Wang Qinian’s unique penmanship. He did not take the long box that Xia Qifei handed over, he just indicated for him to place it to the side. He shook his head and asked,
Wang Qinian, this guy, he’s even more cowardly than me, of course, he would not stupidly go South…however, we do need someone to follow them. Which merchant in the North is taking over?
He knew that the Cui family routes in the North had already been completely taken over by himself while the Qing court still thought that it was the controlled by the little Northern Qi Emperor…the matter of Second Fan controlling the Northern smuggling route was only known by a few people in the Fan manor, the Yan family, and a few of Fan Xian’s confidants. The Qing Emperor only knew that Second Fan was in the North, but would not think that Fan Xian had the daring to let his young brother run such a large business.
Fan Xian did not plan to tell this to Xia Qifei, so he only asked it as a casual question. He wanted to see how his brother was doing in the North through Xia Qifei’s words.
Unfortunately, Xia Qifei’s attention at the time had been completely on the very daring provost of the Brocade Guards and did not pay much attention to the merchants in the North. However, he had heard some vague rumors. He heard that the merchant responsible for handling the palace treasury smuggled goods was very mysterious. Normal people didn’t even know whether the big boss was male or female.
Fan Xian smiled and a glimmer of approval rose in his eyes. Sizhe, this kid, looked like he had finally learned to keep a low-profile and endure silently. However, now that Haitang was in Jiangnan, it was just him and Wang Qinian making their way in the North. It was not convenient for the Overwatch Council spy system to help him handle too many matters. Of course, the little Northern Qi Emperor would, for his sake, not make things difficult for Sizhe, but…for one young man to contend in such a dangerous place, it really was hard for him.
Fan Xian did not plan to send people to help him because his rebirth experience clearly told him that to excel, one must improve oneself through practice. Sizhe had a natural gift for commerce. If he didn’t go through this difficult and repetitive grind to be polished, that would truly be a pity.
Fan Xian talked a bit more with Xia Qifei and found himself approving more and more of this leader of the Jiangnan water bandits, now his subordinate. It looked like his original choice to subdue him in Shazhou would be of great benefit to his larger Jiangnan plan.
Everything was done as according to policies set previously.
Fan Xian said,
Su Wenmao is in the palace treasury. I will leave Deng Zi Yue in Suzhou. Deputy Ma Jie will handle the moving of the goods from the palace treasury. If you temporarily are unable to figure out the accounts, then listen to the suggestions of those old officials.
The old officials were all experts scooped out of the Ministry of Revenue. It had been a giant gift from the Minister of Revenue, Fan Jian, for his son. It would be easy for them to make some false accounts and pull a few tricks.
Xia Qifei made a sound of acknowledgement and hesitantly said,
This is the first time, and the route North has been cleared…but it won’t be hidden for too long.
Fan Xian thought for a moment. The hint of a cold smile rose between his brows.
What are you afraid of? Xinyang smuggles every year, who doesn’t know this? As long as they don’t have information to use against us, what can they do to you or me?
A chill ran through Xia Qifei’s heart. He realized that the commissioner was indeed extremely daring and confident. However, he kept thinking of another matter and couldn’t help a strange expression rising on his face.
Fan Xian watched and couldn’t help but laugh. He calmly gazed at him and said,
Are you feeling dissatisfied concerning the Ming family matter?
Xia Qifei thought for a moment. Over this half year, everything he learned told him that it was best not to hide anything in front of this young man, so he gritted his teeth and summoned his courage,
I am dissatisfied.
Xia Qifei was silent. During the Ming Garden crisis, he had been following orders and sending goods North, so he did not participate in it. He had received the news during his journey and seen the last of the people’s mourning. He couldn’t help giving a bitter smile,
Although dead, she died grandly.
Fan Xian said gently,
You know how the old Ming matriarch died?
Xia Qifei suddenly raised his head. He gazed at Fan Xian thinking, Didn’t you help me force her to die? Suddenly his mind turned and thought of the Jiangnan people’s peace after the chaos and the Ming family’s strange silence after the funeral; he couldn’t help but think of another terrifying possibility.
Ming Qingda?
he asked in disbelief.
Fan Xian nodded coldly.
I won’t hide this from you. The Emperor wanting to subdue the Ming family was an easy matter, but to smoothly subdue the Ming family was a very difficult matter. The current situation is one that I worked very hard to devise, so please don’t ruin it.
Xia Qifei immediately understood everything. The commissioner had made a secret deal with Ming Qingda. He felt a mixture of emotions and some faint fear, would he…become a useless pawn to be sacrificed?
Fan Xian’s following words surprised him again.
You’re not satisfied, and neither am I,
Fan Xian smiled slightly and said.
Of the six branches of the Ming family, currently you and I only hold two of them. Through this matter, Ming Qingda finally became the true master of the Ming family…and I can no longer act openly…that old fox tricked me, do you think I won’t make him repay that?
Xia Qi Fei opened his mouth slightly and eager anticipation flashed through his eyes,
When do we act?
Don’t let your feverish anticipation get to your head every time revenge is brought up.
Fan Xian seemed to be lecturing him, but he also seemed to be stating some business that was mighty, distant, and his own.
The Jiangnan people’s blood letters had been sent to Jingdou long ago, the Emperor’s edict scolding me should be here in a day or two.
Fan Xian continued,
At this time, I will not move against Ming Qingda again.
I don’t understand.
Xia Qifei thought of something and asked hesitantly,
How does it benefit Ming Qingda to act in this way? Does he naively believe that as long as he lowers his head, you would leave him a path?
Fan Xian looked at him with approval and said,
He is just dragging out the time, that’s all.
Dragging out the time?
Yes,
Fan Xian sighed and said,
using his mother’s life in exchange for a year of time. I once said, this elder brother of yours, does things even more extreme than me.
One year of time?
Xia Qifei asked with confusion.
What can that do?
Fan Xian would not tell him about the seemingly stable but actually strangely dangerous situation in Jingdou. He only smiled coldly and said,
Your elder brother is bowing and bending the knee, biding his time, and swaying between the two sides, all to see clearly the situation of the court in a year’s time. As for you and I, we’ll just watch for a year.
After a year, the other side should not be able to resist making a move, right? After a year, he would be able to kill some people.
Don’t be anxious.
Fan Xian tried to convince Xia Qifei as well as himself.
Your elder brother is a clever man, but in the end, he sways between the two sides not wanting to offend either. In the end, he will die for his cleverness.
Because in the end, he has no power.
Just as Fan Xian said these words, he suddenly remembered the three sentences Ye Liuyun said to him before he sliced the building in half and a chill ran through his heart. Perhaps the Great Grandmaster had seen further than him and already seen some danger that he was not aware of?
After the imperial envoy was almost assassinated, Jiangnan Road Governor, Xue Qing, exploded with rage and immediately had a very powerful response. Ming Garden’s private soldiers were all disarmed, and the enmity the Jiangnan people felt toward Fan Xian due to the old Ming matriarch’s death was somewhat lessened because of Fan Xian’s injury—people’s hearts have always been such strange things.
In the end, Ming Garden’s power was once more diminished. It still became a piece of dough in Fan Xian’s hands, allowing him to shape it as he wished. However, with the current situation in Jingdou and the imperial edict that was about to arrive, he had to push back his plans to a later date.
Even if Ming Qingda completely throws in his lot with me, I would still not accept.
The corners of Fan Xian’s mouth twitched and what he said made Xia Qifei happy.
Fan Xian calmly said,
I am someone who really holds a grudge. Perhaps you don’t care about your water bandit brothers who were killed in front of the Jiangnan Restaurant, but I remember. A number of the swordsmen from the Sixth Bureau I sent to protect you died.
Xia Qifei’s sorrow showed slightly.
Fan Xian continued,
Ming Qingda is a clever person, as I said earlier. That is why he believes that compared to a great benefit, I would accept the deaths of these seemingly normal people with a smile…but he is wrong.
He quietly said,
The Ming family asked someone to kill my people, so I will kill their people. Although these were his mother’s actions, having a son pay for his mother’s debt…isn’t that fair?
Xia Qifei couldn’t resist laughing and respectfully bowed,
You are correct, it is fair.
…
…
Fan Xian patted Xia Qifei’s shoulder.
We won’t speak any more of such boring things. In this half year, you should learn how to manage well the route going North. At the same time, be on good terms with the Lingnan Xiong family and Quanzhou Sun family. As for Yang Jimei, you can also have some contact…in the future, you are going to manage the Ming family’s massive fortune, so it is important to have good relations with these major merchants.
Xia Qifei heard the meaning in the commissioner’s words and couldn’t help but be shocked. He quickly said,
Many thanks for helping me accomplish my goal.
It’s still early,
Fan Xian said calmly.
However, I have already ordered Ming Qingda, you will definitely appear at the yearly worship in the seventh year of the Ming calendar.
After Xia Qifei’s great surprise, a tumble of complicated emotions surged in his heart, this meant…he was going to return to his family? He had wandered on the jianghu for so many years, finally, he could return to Ming Garden.
…
…
Leaving Xia Qifei’s manor, Fan Xian disapproved of Xia Qifei’s final joy and tears in his eyes. Was returning to the family so important? After all, he was a person with the experience of two lives. Although he knew how people in this age valued bloodlines and this matter at hand so highly, he still did not understand it very much and even held it in some contempt.
Those who gave birth to me were my parents. Those who raised me were my parents. If you treat me as your child, I will treat you as my parents. If you treat me with hatred, I will treat you with hatred. This was the logic.
The second person to return to Hua Garden in Suzhou somewhat surprised Fan Xian, because, at that time, he was worrying in the study about going to Hangzhou to pick up Wan’er and whether or not he should bring that chest of silver as that chest of silver…was a bit too heavy.
Just as he was thinking hard, a shadow appeared before his table and gave him a fright.
Next time you enter, I’ll trouble you to knock.
Fan Xian glanced at the shadow and lowered his head again to read the Council report.
The Shadow suddenly tilted his head. Under the black clothes covering his entire body shone a pale white face that seemed interested in Fan Xian. After all, even the Director treated him like a nephew, yet Fan Xian was not the same.
Yun Zhilan returned to Dongyi.
Fan Xian raised his head and knew that this meant that the game between the swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council and the ace assassins of Dongyi that had continued four months had finally come to an end.
While Fan Xian was in the palace treasury’s three large workshops, at the voting conference in Suzhou, in the Ming Garden battling the enemy with wit and strength, there was another secret battle line. They fought silently but were actually an important enough component to turn the situation around completely, and the battle on this front was certainly bloodier and more terrifying.
He was silent for a moment and then said heavily,
How many brothers did the Council sacrifice?
Seventeen.
The Shadow’s words still did not have any obvious changes in emotion.
How many people died on Dongyi side?
This was a topic Fan Xian was very interested in.
Seventeen.
Oh, one for one, it seems we didn’t lose out.
Although it could be said they didn’t lose out, there was still a sinister fire flashing in Fan Xian’s eyes. He lightly used his finger to knock on the table and slowly said,
Remember this debt clearly. After some time, we will take it back.
The Shadow asked,
Will you get it back or will I?
Fan Xian glanced at him and smiled easily,
Can you defeat that idiot brother of yours?
The Shadow did not get angry,
No, but you can’t either.
Fan Xian remembered the power of Ye Liuyun’s strike and admitted this truth.
Although I can’t defeat him, that doesn’t mean I can’t kill him.
The Shadow looked at him and didn’t know where this young man’s confidence came from to dare to say he could kill a Great Grandmaster.
The study fell silent.
Fan Xian continued with his own business and didn’t even glance at the Shadow in front of him.
In the end, it was still the Shadow who broke the silence.
I heard…Ye Liuyun came?
Fan Xian glanced at him and asked curiously,
How did you know it was Ye Liuyun?
Because Sigu Jian is still in Dongyi.
Fan Xian sighed and shook his head, thinking, Such simple logic that even Shadow, a man who only knew how to kill people, could figure it out. What on earth was Ye Liuyun, this old man, thinking?
Can Sigu Jian not quietly escape Dongyi?
Although Fan Xian thought that way in his heart, he still couldn’t break the habit of framing Dongyi and did not wish for the internal faction of the Qing Kingdom to have such a large crack.
The Shadow was silent for a moment then said,
He…it’s already been six years since he left the Sword Hut.
…
…
Fan Xian was shocked. He knew the Shadow’s identity and, of course, trusted the other party’s judgement and source of information. If it really was like this, then this matter was too strange. No wonder that even though the Qing people had used Sigu Jian as a scapegoat countless times, Dongyi had yet to make a direct response.
Fan Xian suddenly thought of a marvelous possibility.
Do you think…
he rested his chin on his hand and asked animatedly,
Do you think it is possible that your idiot brother has already died?
No.
The Shadow’s words could only bring Fan Xian a sigh.
As long as he doesn’t leave, it’s fine.
Fan Xian immediately thought of another wonderful thing and smiled.
As long as Sigu Jian does not go out, I don’t have to be afraid someone will kill me.
The Shadow thought about this and tacitly accepted this truth then said again,
I heard Ye Liuyun came.
This was already the second time the Shadow had raised this topic. Fan Xian clearly did not want to talk about it, however, he didn’t expect the Shadow to be so stubborn. He couldn’t hold back his anger and said,
And I heard love came back…whether or not it is Ye Liuyun, whether or not he came or not, is it very important?
It is very important,
The Shadow replied with rarely seen seriousness.
My idol is Sir Wu and the person I want to defeat the most is Sigu Jian but if I can battle Sir Ye Liuyun once, it is enough for me to be pleased all my life, so…Sir, I envy you.
Fan Xian was lost and sincerely said,
There is no need to be envious of me. Next time there is something amazing like this, I will definitely leave it to you. As for Ye Liuyun, I can promise you, if you fight him, the person who dies…will certainly be you, and it will be a very thorough death.
The Shadow was silent, and then he turned and left, disappearing into the darkness.
Fna Xian suddenly thought of something and said quietly to the dark and empty night,
The day after tomorrow, I am going to Hangzhou, you will come with me.
He was going to Hangzhou to pick up Wan’er. He didn’t know whether or not Haitang would go with him. For safety purposes, he felt more at ease with the Shadow beside him.
…
…
After that night, Fan Xian and Haitang recovered their usual interaction. It was only in occasional moments their gazes would meet and there would be many more things that were unclear. It was strange that Haitang was just as indolent and peaceful as she always was, on the contrary, it was Fan Xian who felt out of sorts.
Haitang’s gaze would occasionally be all smiles, which made Fan Xian angry.
This reality made Fan Xian realize clearly that even if he used some dirty tricks such as having the word spread out, he might still not be able to bind such an independent woman by his side for a lifetime. He had once encouraged Ruoruo to travel around, but someone like Duoduo…
However, Fan Xian was as selfish as he admitted…there were not many young men who dared or could marry Haitang Duoduo. After he had caused such a scandal, who would dare to marry her?
A naughty smile flashed through his eyes as he ripped open the letter Wang Qinian had sent back. He skimmed it and couldn’t help laughing again. Seems like Lao Wang was very unhappy in Northern Qi. The burden on his shoulders was too heavy. It was indeed not as comfortable as following Fan Xian. This letter was asking about his return date.
Fan Xian understood how he felt. Living in a foreign country, there was indeed a feeling of loneliness. Once things go wrong, regardless of whether it was the Overwatch Council or the court, either of them could throw him aside. This feeling of being tossed to one side was not a good one.
As he thought, he suddenly sighed. Tonight, he had first seen Xia Qifei and then the Shadow, including Wang Qinian far away in the North, these were all his capable subordinates. The first two both carried a deep vengeance with them. They were both the smallest of a large family. They wandered the ends of the world and could not return to the homes they had.
In reality, how was his past any different?
A gathering of abandoned orphans would eventually become hyped.
