Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Fan Xian was not escaping. He was close to running. He traveled the path far away from Jiangnan, Jingdou, and the political storm in Qing Kingdom. He knew that no matter how the situation in Jingdou developed, the Emperor had made up his mind. No one could stop the deposition of the heir from happening.
Since it was so, anything else he did would appear extra and unnecessary. Furthermore, he was worried that when the Emperor went to worship heaven, he would pull him into Jingdou and set him up as a human-shaped shield in front of himself. After the Crown Prince was deposed, there would certainly be random rumors in court. Fan Xian was certain that the Emperor would have him clash with the random rumors and newly re-stabilize the balance in court.
During these days, his mood had been rather low. Questions about life continually floated around in his mind. He didn’t have the energy to care about these things. He knew in his heart that at times like this, the further away he was, the smarter it was.
Every time he thought about the decision the Emperor was going to make in that quiet and secluded Qing Temple, his heart felt strange and uncomfortable. That temple was where he and Lin Wan’er had met. It was where he and his wife had confirmed their love. Now, it was going to become a place for a power-grab. It was annoying.
Thus, he chose to go far away.
As Yan Xiaoyi led tens of thousands of elite troops directly into the Northern camp for a night attack, Fan Xian had, also on a muggy night, boarded a large ship going straight from Hangzhou to the seaport. He was preparing to go around the choppy edges of the east side of Qing Kingdom and carry out a harmonious journey.
His trip this time took place before the Emperor’s edict arrived. He also didn’t tell Xue Qing. Everything was done in great secrecy. Fan Xian didn’t want to be involved again in this matter and thus ran determinedly. If the Qing Emperor discovered that his summons had not been delivered to him, he might be angry. But, there was no way for him to punish Fan Xian.
He was the active Jiangnan imperial envoy. It was necessary for him to sit in judgement. The only department that needed someone to sit in judgement was in the palace treasury area. His reason for going out in disguise was that he needed to check the palace treasury route to the East. It was just that his goal was Danzhou.
There were two reasons for returning to Danzhou. One, he was going to go visit grandmother. The housekeeper in the Danzhou manor had written and said that his grandmother had not been well recently, which worried him a great deal. Second, he wanted to get his grandmother’s opinion on the future complicated situation in Qing Kingdom and the world. He had grown up beside his grandmother in Danzhou and received his education from her. When things became chaotic and out of his control, he instinctively thought about asking grandmother to help him see through it all.
Perhaps his grandmother couldn’t help him with anything, but at least it put him at ease.
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…
The large ship left the seaport and moved forward against the newly risen sun in the east. Fan Xian only had time to briefly enjoy the expansive view between the sky and the land before he returned to the cabin and sat down beside the large chest of silver. He tilted his head and began to count.
He was counting the Cangzhou battle reports caught between the Council reports. Fan Xian counted back and forth and didn’t feel that there was anything wrong with the battle. Except, the timing of this battle, or part of the battle, was a bit strange. He furrowed his brows. He had been making arrangements for once the situation in the Qing Kingdom had settled. How should he handle matters? Should he let go of the Overwatch Council? What arrangements would the Emperor make for him? He thought about all this in detail and felt that he was thinking about it too early.
After a few more days, the matter of deposing the heir in Jingdou should have reached its end stages. Fan Xian was suspended alone in the ocean and had no idea of the developments of the matter. He didn’t want to accept an edict. He even had the boat temporarily break communications with the Overwatch Council’s intelligence system. Like a black and anti-radar plane, he floated alone on the ocean.
The boat arrived at some small city in Jiangbei Road. The private boat he was on was a retrofitted Overwatch Council military ship. Normal people wouldn’t be able to see a problem with it. Thus, he had thought that he wouldn’t draw any attention on his trip to Danzhou.
Unexpectedly, the officials in the little city respectfully sent over generous gifts. They didn’t ask to meet and left on their own.
Fan Xian was a bit confused, thinking, How could these minor officials have guessed that he was on the boat?
Wang Qinian smiled and said,
Your aura is too abundant.
This fawning was done poorly. Fan Xian displayed his displeasure. He turned his gaze toward the other man.
Thirteenth Wang glanced at him and shrugged.
Who knows? It seems to me like you’re quite happy to receive gifts.
Fan Xian’s vanity was exposed by him, so he was a bit unhappy. Thirteenth Wang laughed uproariously and walked to the side of the ship. He held the green banner in his hand. It was like a small-scale sail. It appeared very funny.
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…
The most important thing in officialdom was telling each other necessary information. After the officials in the little city knew the Overwatch Council Commissioner was on the boat, all the county officials along the coast knew of this news.
From that day on, every time they stopped somewhere as it followed the north coast, officials would come forward to give gifts. However, they seemed to have guessed that Fan Xian didn’t want to see people, so no one asked to see him.
They went and stopped for about 10 days. Fourteen groups of people came onto the ship to give gifts and greetings.
Fan Xian sat at the head of the boat and watched as the great green jade passed on either side of the boat. It was the great Dong Mountain that had been split into two by the heavenly sword. His mind was still wondering, How could his tracks have been completely discovered by others?
It did not matter. In any case, he was getting further and further away from Jingdou and the Emperor. Fan Xian’s mood was becoming lighter and lighter. He was a little drunk on the scenery by the wayside, as well as the service from the officials, who were like minions, along the way.
In another world, there had once been a drunkard on the boat on the Yellow River. He muddle-headedly accepted countless large gifts, verbal gifts, and pain in his body. Presumably, his vanity had been greatly satisfied, particularly in front of his shameless sister and brother disciples.
As Fan Xian floated on the East Sea, he also muddle-headedly accepted a countless number of large gifts. Although no one disturbed him, his vanity had received a certain satisfaction, particularly as the storm was reaching its height in Jingdou. Yet, he was able to float on the ocean, moving faster than the wind. This kind of feeling truly made one happy, even if this kind of joy was temporary.
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The ship passed the lonely seaside, sailed behind the great Dong Mountain that pierced the heavenly dome like a half-jade sword, and then made two turns. Once the temple on the mountaintop could no longer be seen, they were close to the Danzhou harbour.
This was the second time Fan Xian had taken this sea route. He no longer felt the same sense of impact as the first time he saw the strange and massive great Dong Mountain, but his heart still jumped slightly.
The large ship stopped in Danzhou harbor. No officials came forward to welcome him. Fan Xian let out a breath. Taking Gao Da, a few of the Tiger Guards, and the Sixth Bureau Swordsmen, he came to the doors of the old Danzhou manor under the endless greetings of the Danzhou people.
Fan Xian smiled slightly as he thought to himself, Didn’t I come back just last year? Why are these people still so warm and excited? He stretched out his hand and knocked loudly on the familiar wooden door of the old manor.
Just as his hand fell from the door, his brows furrowed together. He clearly felt that there were countless wary gazes trained on his body all around the manor. The owners of these gazes clearly knew how to hide their bodies as he had not discovered just where they were.
There were countless breaths, both open and hidden, and a suffocating pressure. Fan Xian lowered his head and bent his knees slightly. His left hand caught the trigger of the crossbow in his sleeve. His right hand drooped down naturally, ready at any moment to draw that slender black dagger from inside his shoe.
At his side, Wang Qinian’s expression did not change. He calmly held the Wei Emperor’s sword. Half of the blade was exposed. The cold light was slightly visible. The hilt was at the most convenient position for Fan Xian to stretch out his hand to grasp it.
Thirteenth Wang’s gaze dropped. He held the green banner tightly.
The Tiger Guards, with Gao Da in the lead, also felt something strange. Their brows furrowed slightly. Their hands were already wrapped around the hilt of their long knives.
Only the swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council reacted a little slower. However, they were all scattered behind the Commissioner. Abruptly running into enemies, they naturally moved their bodies toward the shops on the sides of the streets. Using the shadows of the buildings, they were prepared at any moment to enter the darkness and clash in the most direct way with the hidden enemies.
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…
Fan Xian was someone who greatly feared death. Although he didn’t bring many people, they were all the most powerful in the world. In the past, the Shadow and Haitang were the vanguards. Now, there was Thirteenth Wang as the ferocious warrior. In addition, there was himself, the Tiger Guards, and the swordsmen. With such strong defensive power, even if a Great Grandmaster came, Fan Xian was confident they could last a few attacks.
In other words, he was prepared at any moment to receive an assassination from a Great Grandmaster.
Outside the old Danzhou manor today, Fan Xian still felt the pressure from the people hidden in all directions despite the strength around him. This pressure was also coming from one person. It proved that the person was not a Great Grandmaster. In this world, who else could gather all these aces?
Fan Xian furrowed his brows and then laughed bitterly.
The wooden door of the Fan manor in Danzhou was slowly pulled open. With the creak, the atmosphere of nervous confrontation immediately disappeared.
A familiar face appeared inside the door. But, this face was certainly not meant to appear in Danzhou.
Sir Ren.
Fan Xian looked at the official of the Taichang Temple, Ren Shao’an, inside the manor and laughed bitterly.
Why are you waiting for me in my home?
Ren Shao’an smiled but did not greet him. Instead, he made an
after you
motion. Fan Xian paused slightly and turned to glance at Thirteenth Wang, who smiled and stayed with the swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau outside the manor.
Fan Xian led Wang Qinian, Gao Da, and others into the old manor. As he walked, he didn’t find anything unusual. He could feel that the previously quiet and secluded courtyard was filled with a sense of tension. Who knew how many aces were hidden behind those trees and outside that wall?
Reaching the door to the back garden, Ren Shao’an stopped. A eunuch with a face full of smiles took Fan Xian inside alone.
The smile on Fan Xian’s face became even more bitter. He couldn’t say anything for a while after seeing Eunuch Yao.
Walking into the little tower in the back garden, there were a few officials waiting silently inside. Seeing Fan Xian come in, they all rose to greet him. Fan Xian returned each of their greetings and recognized the Minister of Rites and a few people from the Imperial Observatory.
Eunuch Yao only saw him to the first floor. Fan Xian lifted the front of his robes and walked with heavy steps onto the second floor. Grandmother lived on the second floor.
Lifting the beaded curtain outside the second floor, Fan Xian walked in steadily. He saw his grandmother lying on the couch with a slightly ill appearance. Pain flashed across his face. Seeing the middle-aged man sitting beside the couch and holding her hand while talking to her, a glimmer of fear flashed through his heart.
He approached the couch and knelt down formally. He kowtowed to both of them and forced a smile.
Your Majesty, why are you here?
Fan Xian’s heart was filled with shock and helplessness. Going from Hangzhou to Danzhou, he had enjoyed the scenery as he passed and thought that he was as carefree as his eldest brother disciple. Waving his sleeves, he could toss the matter of deposing the heir to the back of his mind. He had not thought that his teacher had surmounted the people and was waiting here for him.
Can I not come?
The Emperor wore a thoughtful expression as he looked at Fan Xian. Slowly, he said,
You are an imperial envoy, but your work has brought you to Danzhou? I remember only having you manage the Jiangnan Road and not the matters in Dongshan Road.
Fan Xian’s expression was awkward.
I was mostly checking the eastern path for the palace treasury. After passing Jiangbei Road, I came to visit grandmother since Danzhou was not far away. I heard grandmother was not well. As a grandson…
He hadn’t finished talking when the Emperor spoke with slight anger,
Filial piety is not something that can be used as an excuse. Run. I want to see where else you can run to!
Fan Xian was shocked and dumbfounded. He thought to himself, You want to depose of the Crown Prince. I just don’t want to be involved. Is it necessary to be so angry? At this moment, he had endless amounts of confusion and worry in his heart. He was also not so stupid as to spar verbally with the Emperor. Smiling, he said,
I am an ant in your hand. No matter how I escape, I cannot escape the palm of your hands.
This fawning clearly had no effect on the Emperor’s mood. However, the Emperor did not seem to want to pursue this matter. Lightly, he said,
Since you are here to show filial piety, then come quickly and look. If you can’t make her better, be careful of your skin!
After saying this, the Emperor rose and spoke quietly beside the old woman’s ear,
Mother, look after yourself. I’ll come to see you again tonight.
He walked out of the room, leaving behind a confused Fan Xian.
Fan Xian rubbed his legs and stood up. He then planted his bottom down beside his grandmother. He laid his finger on his grandmother’s pulse. A moment later, his body went soft. A cold sweat broke out on his back.
The old woman smiled slightly and said,
You monkey, aren’t you afraid of scaring me like this? There is nothing wrong with me. You are afraid of something else.
Fan Xian felt a twinge of guilt and was speechless.
He was indeed afraid of other matters. The Emperor had actually come, without detection, to Danzhou. Was there not an empty Palace in Jingdou?
How could the Emperor be so far away from Jingdou at the critical moment of deposing the Crown Prince? What time was this? How could the Emperor be so stupid as to go on a plain-clothes inspection tour?
