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

  The old man put the wooden trowel on a rock beside the vegetable bed, then, holding his back, slowly sat down. It appeared to take some effort. 

  It had just snowed. The weather was cold, and the vegetable garden was full of leftover snow and mud. How could there be vegetables growing, and what need was there to water them? However, tonight, he had unconsciously picked up the wooden trowel and used clean water to water the ground as if he wanted to wash something away. 

  The old man was very old. After Xiao En and Zhuang Mohan died, he became the only one left in the world who had personally witnessed the founding ceremony of Qing Kingdom. Fifty years had passed. The deep wrinkles and those more and more apparent yellow spots told a story of his history and the country’s history. 

  An old official of three dynasties? More than that. How many Emperors had he served? The old man couldn’t quite remember clearly anymore, however, when the previous Emperor took the throne, he had, without question, chose the correct path. Thus, he had obtained an irreplaceable position in the military for his clan. 

  The current Emperor, without question, was the one he admired the most out of all the rulers he had experienced through all these years. Three expeditions North, taking from the South and going on campaigns to the West……although he had long guarded Jingdou as a powerful military official, stabilizing the rear for the Emperor, the sons of the clan in the military followed the Emperor out. Some slept forever in foreign lands, and some returned home. 

  Qing Kingdom had been forged with spears, knives, bows, and on horseback. The old man had also spent his entire life among these weapons. He had killed countless people in his life and wiped out numerous clans all around Qing Kingdom. Tens of millions of people could die in front of him without his expression changing. This kind of history could not be washed clean with a few trowels of clean water. 

  In this long history, who knew how many good and famous generals, wise Emperors and Grandmasters gave off their own special light. However, the person that the old man had the deepest impression was actually a very young and beautiful woman. 

  Every time he thought of her, the old man’s heart would begin to tremble. No matter how extraordinary a person, they could only try to change the direction of history. However, this woman, it seemed from the very beginning, was preparing to flip over Qing Kingdom’s foundations and continue to turn the entire world upside down. 

  The old man never knew whether or not those attempts had a chance of success. He only acutely felt that if any of the situations at the time had developed further, the entire nobility class of Qing Kingdom would be wiped away by an unseen current. And, as everyone knew, the nobility class of Qing Kingdom provided the military with the most powerful human resources. 

  He was afraid of these disturbances. These disturbances looked as if it could make Qing Kingdom powerful but would change it to something unlike itself. 

  The old man was a military man, a military man loyal to Qing Kingdom. For him, extending Qing Kingdom’s existence was an order from the highest power, so he had participated in some secrets and had kept this secret until now. 

  That woman……or perhaps it was better to say that beautiful demon woman died…… 

  Is this very good? At least Qing Kingdom was still powerful and this Qing Kingdom was still the Qing Kingdom of the past without any changes. To exchange one person’s death for the peace of an entire country, the old man had never felt regret for the choice back then. 

  The old man sat silently on the rock on the ground. Looking at the muddied water in the vegetable garden, he didn’t say anything for a long time. He had already heard of the incident this afternoon in front of the Bureau of Military Affairs, 200 heads…… 

  The Emperor had treated him well. He served 30 years as the head of the Bureau of Military Affairs, which was a rare honor never seen before in history. 

  However, this leading figure in the military was still the same as many years ago, seeing himself as a normal member of the military and considering the other men in the military to be his brothers. With his growing age, he began to see them as his descendants. 

  Although his face was cold, his heart was kind. This old man’s might in the military was not something a normal person could compare to. 

  Those 200 good men were the old man’s most trusted squad of his private army. He had long kept them in Xiao Mountain, secretly training them. Originally, they were for the purpose of attacking Northern Qi. However, now he had to use them ahead of time in a plot to kill an imperial envoy of the court. 

  The old man generally did not pay attention to the politics in the court, however, this time, he had to pay attention. Regardless of whether it was for the continued existence of his clan or for the future of Qing Kingdom he believed in, he had to kill that young man. 

  Unexpectedly, he did not kill him. 

  The old man coughed. He didn’t know whether it was because the coldness of the rock beneath had seeped into his cotton coat or because a chill had welled up in his heart. 

  Two hundred people. 

  The old man’s face appeared very old and had a faint additional glimmer of sorrow. Those were all his juniors. They should have been Qing Kingdom’s wonderful future, but they had died just like this. And, they received no peace after death. Their names would never be recorded. They would be remembered in history books to be cursed by others. They had become the first rebel Qing Kingdom troops in dozens of years. 

  The old man’s heart was sore and cold. ……

  The Emperor was too fickle and made one’s heart turn cold. Having the young man stay in Jingdou and giving him more power every day, this kind of trend had no end to it. Even if that young man couldn’t be touched while the Emperor was alive, but what about in the future? After he and the Emperor had both died, would that young man not bring up old debts? 

  He had participated in the shocking murder case that killed Ye Qingmei, could he count on the fact that her son would not dig up this old debt? 

  Ever since a few years ago, when that young man in Danzhou was summoned to Jingdou by the Emperor, a glimmer of coldness had appeared in the old man’s heart. Other than Chen Pingping and Fan Jian, no one knew that the old man had long known of Fan Xian’s past. 

  However, the old man was silent, even more silent that he had been in the past. Thus, in the past few years, the Qin family had been strangely quiet in court. 

  Because that young man was of the Emperor’s flesh and blood, it was impossible for the old man to act ahead of time. He only watched to see what arrangements the Emperor would make for him. 

  In the beginning, the old man was very at ease because that young man seemed to be a hedonistic child. He spent all day with King Jing’s heir loitering in brothels, competing and being jealous, and wrestling at night. He didn’t demonstrate anything special. 

  Following that, the old man became slightly worried because the young man was going to marry princess Chen and was preparing to take over the palace treasury. Furthermore, he made 300 poems in one night in front of the palace and shocked the world. However, he immediately relaxed again because how could the mere palace treasury be considered important in the eyes of a leading military figure? No matter how powerful wealth was, it still couldn’t stand against knives and spears. No matter how shocking poetry was, it couldn’t stop the thundering of horses’ hooves. 

  However, gradually, the development of events made the old man watching coldly from the side become wary because of the spring examination incident. It was not until that moment did he know that the Emperor had actually secretly allowed the young man to have the Commissioner token of the Overwatch Council. 

  As the most powerful figure in the military, over these years, he had worked countless times with the Overwatch Council. Of course, he knew the terrifying power of Chen Pingping and the Overwatch Council, so he felt a glimmer of unease. Thus, he chose to show his attitude for the first time. He spoke to the Emperor and had Fan Xian go on a diplomatic trip to Northern Qi. 

  He knew that this diplomatic trip would not be as easy as it appeared on the surface because there was Xiao En and many other difficulties. After the old man spoke, he once again became silent. He secretly prayed that the young man would stay forever in Northern Qi. It would have been best if he never came back. 

  However, the development of matters disappointed him once again. Fan Xian returned fine to Qing Kingdom and had even more power and reputation. ……

  The old man again fell into silence. He quietly and steadily watched that young man, watched as he fought joyfully in Jingdou against the Second Prince. He watched the Imperial College, the Hanging Temple, and the Palace. He found that this young man was, as he expected, ruthless, clever, relentless, and vengeful. 

  Powerful. 

  The old man felt a glimmer of fear. Although Fan Xian was still not enough to make him scared, every time he thought of that woman back then and of the fact that Fan Xian was her son—every time Fan Xian seemed to be walking exactly the same path as that woman using a very short amount of time to obtain a great deal of power and when he was even more ruthless and vicious than that woman—he felt a slight fear. Adding to the fact that he didn’t know just what the Emperor was thinking, he began to try and find a moderate solution in his silence. 

  He was gambling on the fact that Fan Xian would never know of the Qin family’s connection to what happened back then. 

  The old man chose to retreat, not asking and not acknowledging. When the Emperor became angry because of Fan Xian’s matter and ordered the court beating of the Imperial Censorate, the old man directly decided to say he was ill and stopped going to court. He also stopped watching over matters in the Bureau of Military Affairs. He only stayed quietly at home, growing old. 

  As the Emperor supported Fan Xian, the old man retreated. He retreated to the very end to avoid that old matter from the past being dug out by someone. 

  The old man knew that the Emperor had this ruthlessness in him. 

  \r \r \r 

  This was not him holding a grudge against the Emperor, rather, this was him showing himself staying within his bounds to the Emperor. Also, he didn’t want to have to interact with Fan Xian in court. However, on the other side, the old man arranged for his son to befriend Fan Xian and also invited Fan Xian to the manor for a chat, watching him at a close distance for a long time. ……

  If matters had developed like this, perhaps the old man would still have considered Fan Xian as a junior worthy of treating with respect and the door of the Qin family would have been forever open for Fan Xian. However, plans never come as violently or caught one off-guard as change did. 

  The Ming family had the support of the old man. The Qin family were all in the military. If they needed silver, it was much more inconvenient for them than those major officials in court. Thus, many years ago, when the Eldest Princess sent someone to respectfully bring 10 percent of the shares to the Qin manor, the old man nodded his head reservedly. He had always thought the Eldest Princess was a rarely seen clever person in the royal family. 

  Even if Fan Xian investigated Jiangnan, the Qin family was not afraid. They only had 10 percent of the shares of the wealthy Jiangnan merchants. How could the Emperor punish a long loyal powerful military family because of such a small matter? 

  Then there was the East Sea island matter. 

  Privately moving troops and massacring the island, these were shocking matters. As the head of the Bureau of Military Affairs, of course, the old man was one of the few people in court who knew of this matter. 

  Thus, the old man once again became silent and sank into thought. 

  Admiral of the Jiaozhou Navy, Chang Kun. 

  Just like when Deng Zi Yue of the Overwatch Council reported to Fan Xian when he was in Jiangnan, this first-level admiral had a good relationship to the Ye family but was actually born to the Qin family. 

  The old man had not given Chang Kun any instructions. The Qin family did not interfere with Chang Kun’s actions. It should have been the Eldest Princess’ intention. After all, everyone had too much interest tied up in Jiangnan. 

  However, the old man knew that the Emperor knew clearly that Chang Kun was one of the Qin family. 

  Chang Kun had already died, and the Jiaozhou Navy had been purged. Although the old man still had some generals in the Jiaozhou Navy and his nephew was already going to take over the post of admiral, he still did not understand just what the Emperor was thinking. Why would he still allow his family to control the Jiaozhou Navy? 

  The Jiaozhou case had been investigated by Fan Xian. ……

  Even though it was so, it was not enough to have the old man make up his mind to carry out a lightning strike against Fan Xian. He knew that if he assassinated an imperial official, a prince in reality, and if it got out after the fact, the Emperor would probably grant him a cup of poisoned wine and his clan would certainly be wiped out. 

  The last straw that truly broke down the old man’s defenses around his heart was a piece of news from the Overwatch Council. 

  The Qing Kingdom military and Overwatch Council worked together for dozens of years, and each had pervaded a bit into the other, particularly in the way the Overwatch Council hired officials. Their first picks were unsuccessful examinees and retired generals. After dozens of years, countless retired military generals became powerful figures in the Overwatch Council. 

  As the leading figure in the military, the old man would not be so stupid as to pass up this opportunity. He had long arranged for people of his choice to enter the Overwatch Council. 

  Naturally, the Overwatch Council also had spies in the military. This was something both sides were aware of but neither would expose. The Emperor tacit allowed his two hands to watch each other. 

  It was the old man’s most useful person in the Overwatch Council that brought a strange message to the Qin manor. 

  There was a power above that of the eight bureaus in the Overwatch Council that was investigating matters that happened 20 years ago. However, the things being investigated seemed to be wholly unrelated to the situation of Jingdou’s change in defenses, the supply logistics from the Western Expedition back then, as well as the situation of the royal defenses for the Palace. There was even some trivial matters regarding moving of grains. All these loose pieces did not make a united whole. 

  However, because of all these years of caution, the old man sensed a glimmer of danger. When he read the file, he couldn’t help but furrow his brows. If someone carefully stitched all these loose pieces together, they would probably gradually find the truth of the Taiping Courtyard murder case, that bloody truth. The dishonorable role that the Qin family, who had been guarding Jingdou and was responsible for stabilizing the rear for the Emperor who had gone personally on an expedition, played would also be revealed to the world. 

  A careful and clever investigation meant he was terrified of someone being alerted. It probably wouldn’t be long before they tore through the layers of lies and touched upon the true history. 

  Who was investigating the events of that past? Who had the power to be above the eight bureaus in the Council? 

  Based on the report from the person in the Overwatch Council and the old man’s own judgement, both of them pointed that power toward to the Qinian Unit that Fan Xian personally led. 

  The last straw came crashing down. The old man gave out the order to kill Fan Xian. 

  He had the confidence he could temporarily hide the truth of the attack from the world and from the Emperor, but he absolutely did not want to face a Fan Xian that would crazily seek vengeance for that woman once he learned the truth. So, he chose the simplest, roughest, and more direct path……kill. 

  Perhaps he miscalculated Fan Xian’s interest in revenge. 

  However, this mistake could not be changed. ……

  Hearing about the news of the failure, about the news of the 200 tragic deaths, the old Qin Master suddenly aged a dozen years. He rubbed his tree bark like face and gradually calmed down. 

  Twenty years of faint worry and a glimmer of fear for that woman’s spirit forced him, under pressure, to make the most direct decision. 

  After the failure, this old military man, who had fought on battlefields for half a century and who had once stood proudly without retreat in court, finally felt there was a slight problem. 

  It was not just Fan Xian who was able to mobilize such power to investigate the clues of 20 years ago and to also be above the Overwatch Council, there was also Chen Pingping, that old black dog. 

  Having Chang Kun massacre that island, it looked like it was for the Jiangnan matter. In reality, it was a very roundabout way of pulling the old Qin family into this mess. This was the Eldest Princess, that crazy woman’s, favorite trick. 

  The old Qin Master sat on the big rock and coughed. He had finally thought through the entire process of this matter. It had nothing to do with Fan Xian, the Emperor, or the Eastern Palace. There were only two people who, for different reasons, both wanted to bring the old Qin family into this matter: Chen Pingping of the Overwatch Council and Li Yunrui, the Eldest Princess. 

  The two people who were the best in Qing Kingdom, or even the world, at plotting and scheming for different reasons but for the same goal, cleverly planned for over half a year and finally reached the result they wanted. 

  Faced with the unintentional cooperation of these two people, even for a major figure like the old Qin Master, what could he do? ……

  “Father, it’s cold outside. Let’s go back to your room.” 

  The second son of the Qin family, the current head of the Jingdou garrison, Qin Heng, came to stand behind his father. He placed a large coat on his father’s body and respectfully asked for instructions. 

  The old Qin Master turned his head to glance at his son. A sudden grievance rose in his heart. He was already so old, yet his son was only 30-something years old. Once he died, would he be able to protect the Qin family’s dignity and position? 

  “If only my eldest hadn’t died.” 

  The old Qin Master thought forlornly, remembering his impetuous eldest son. If his personality had not been so rash, he wouldn’t have been killed by an officer in the army during a mutiny. If his son was still alive, would he himself still have to work so hard?

  Chapter 443: There Are Dogs Under Heaven, Who Will Chase Them Away? 

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

  The old Qin Master sat quietly on the big rock, and then he smiled. Elders’ smiles always appeared so calm and warm, like they had long lost their intense moods and only had a calm that came with understanding the matters of the world. 

  He wore the cotton coat as well as the large jacket. He appeared a little swollen. However, the old man’s body was strangely tall and sturdy, so he did not appear burdened. 

  “Don’t worry too much.” 

  The old man placed his hands behind his back and stood in front of the snowy and wet vegetable patch. He slightly raised his head and used that pair of already muddied eyes to look at the winter moon that peaked occasionally out from behind the night clouds. A long unseen glimmer of aggressiveness rose on his old face. 

  It was only last night when Qin Heng learned about the setup in the snowy valley. Full of shock, he didn’t understand why his father suddenly decided to act against Fan Xian. As the heir of the Qin family, logically speaking, he should not allow, under any circumstances, the clan to make such a difficult enemy as Fan Xian for no reason. However, he did not object. 

  He believed that this father must have had his reasons. Furthermore, he was a son, a son of a military family. He was used to the military’s attitude and welcomed his father’s order. In the Qin family, the old man was the marshal, and everyone else was a subordinate officer. 

  As for orders, there was only acceptance. There was no need for explanation. 

  Qin Heng was also a clever man. He knew why his father was not worried after the failure of the snowy valley incident. an Xian had too many enemies in the court. It seemed that any faction could have tried to kill him before he returned to the capital. The Qin family was the least likely power to act of all of them. 

  Even Qin Heng didn’t understand why his father wanted to kill Fan Xian, much less the people in the court responsible for investigating this matter. Furthermore, they were the Qin family. Even if, in the end, the Emperor suspected something, under the circumstances and without a shred of evidence, it would be impossible for him to accuse them of any crime. 

  “Of the five military pavilions of the court. Us, the Qin family, has taken one and the Ye family has taken another,” the old man slowly said. “If you were the Emperor, would you allow this to happen?” 

  Qin Heng was silent. He lowered his head and looked at the mud before his feet. 

  The old man quietly said, “But the Emperor allows it because the Emperor has great ambitions. He has quietly waited a dozen years for the bald guy to the North and that idiot in the East to die……or to age. Thus, he allows our family and the Ye family to temporarily stay because when he takes over the world in the future, he’ll need soldiers to attack.” 

  The old man smiled slightly. “Back in the day, I was also said to be a famous general, but now I am old. Naturally, the first of the famous generals is that Shang Shanhu from Northern Qi. Qing Kingdom still has the Great Prince and Xiaoyi. Although Ye Zhong is much younger than me, after long years of being responsible for the Jingdou garrison, he had long lost his severity from the past. However, no one has thought the most powerful leading general is not anyone else, it’s actually the Emperor.” 

  Qin Heng remained silent but in his heart, he vehemently agreed with this. He was also a man of the military. Just like the hearts of all those in the military, he had long felt fear and worship toward the Emperor that lived deep in the Palace. Although the Emperor had not led soldiers for a dozen years, history had long proven the fact with three expeditions North and smashing the Wei Kingdom that traversed horizontally all across the land. Although he had never united the world, the words “able to command soldier’s like a god” could indeed be applied to the Emperor. 

  “For the Ye family to be able to exist until today……” the old man slowly closed his eyes, “it’s because of Ye Liuyun, that old fellow. Although the Qin family doesn’t have a Ye Liuyun, we are still able to survive until now. Why is that?” 

  Qin Heng lowered his head and said, “Because father is here.” 

  This was an extremely sincere praise. The old Qin Master was silent for a little while and didn’t object to this. His students were spread out among the court and in the military. If Ye Liuyun used his extraordinary martial talents to protect the lives of the Ye family, then the Qin family was under his protection and lived happily in Qing Kingdom. 

  “I am loyal to the Emperor……loyal to Qing Kingdom,” the old Qin Master slowly said. “I have never done anything unworthy of the Emperor, so the Emperor will never treat me badly.” 

  Qin Heng’s heart stuttered, thinking, Attempting to kill the imperial envoy Fan Xian today during the day in the snowy valley……that person was the Emperor’s illegitimate child. Does this not count as doing something unworthy? However, he would never dare ask this question. 

  The old Qin Master gazed evenly in front of him. An aggressiveness that came from spending 50 years in the military rose. “You don’t understand why I would choose this time to act. I don’t want to tell you about the matters that happened in the past, I only want to teach you when it is time to act.” 

  “When no one thinks you will strike, that’s when you strike.” The old Qin Master turned his head to glance at his son. “When it’s a time anyone can strike, you should strike.” 

  “This water is already muddied, so it won’t matter if we are added to it. No one knows what is beneath the muddy water, so we are safe.” 

  “Although the Emperor is wise, he still lives deep in the Palace. It is impossible for him to have firsthand news of many matters,” the old Qin Master said calmly. “Right now, in this world, there are only two people who are able to guess or know about my connection to the valley incident.” 

  “What is miraculous, is that neither of these two people will tell the Emperor. So although the mission failed this time, as long as no one is brought to the surface, this is still a success.” 

  Qin Heng had resisted for a long time, but he finally couldn’t resist anymore and asked in a low voice, “Why won’t those two people tell the Emperor?” 

  “Because the old cripple has been silent from the beginning.” A mocking smile rose to the corners of his lips. “No matter for what reason he was silent, the attack on the valley this time had the cooperation of the Overwatch Council. If he now makes this clear, how will he explain it in front of the Emperor?” 

  Qin Heng understood, yet he still did not understand. Why would the Director be silent? Did he also want Fan Xian to die? This made absolutely no sense. He was silent for a moment and then said, “But……if the Director pulled out the person we buried in there, could he not tell the Emperor of his guesses?” 

  “Guesses,” the old man said coldly. “You also know this is a guess. Why should the Emperor believe his guess? Furthermore, the person is not so easy to pull out!” 

  “What about the other person?” 

  A glimmer of color appeared on the old Qin Master’s pale face as if the battles he had not participated in a long time has made his entire person younger. He laughed quietly and mockingly. “Under the court controlled by the Emperor, the only people I am fearful of are the previous Prime Minister Lin and Director Chen. Prime Minister Lin was forced to retire by the Emperor, and Chen Pingping has other thoughts to occupy him……as for the Eldest Princess……” 

  The old man spoke with a trace of mockery, “If the Eldest Princess wants to make trouble, the Qin family will have problems. Will Yan Xiaoyi be able to stand outside of the matter?” 

  Qin Heng suddenly raised his head. He had also only found out last night about the matter of Yan Xiaoyi’s son hiding among his subordinates. Furthermore, judging from his father’s expression, he understood that Yan Xiaoyi’s son’s attack on Fan Xian before the valley and his luring of Fan Xian and his group into the valley was all single-handedly planned by this old man. 

  Thinking of this, he couldn’t help developing a glimmer of fear for his father. Although the old man had not concerned himself with matters for many years, once he struck, it was indeed very powerful. 

  “The Qin family has always stood on the Emperor’s side and maintained a central position in court matters,” the old Qin Master said indifferently. “Now, both sides are dragging us under water. We may as well go down. Naturally, I will also drag them down. Everyone can huddle into a group. We’ll see how things go in the future.” 

  The old man sighed. 

  Qin Heng was thinking to himself that all of these major figures in the court and the military all have their own thoughts, if everyone did huddle together, then……wouldn’t the Emperor become cut off from everyone else? 

  \r \r \r 

  “What did you see in front of the Bureau of Military Affairs today?” 

  Although the old man had already learned of the situation from his spy network, he still wanted to hear it again from his son’s mouth. Qin Heng recounted the scenario. He placed emphasis on Fan Xian’s mood and the tragic bloody man, who was the sole survivor from the valley. Both of his arms had been broken, one eye was blind, and he was covered in heavy injuries. He was on his last breath, however, he didn’t die. 

  “That is a good soldier from my army. He cannot suffer the Overwatch Council’s humiliations.” The old man spoke coldly. 

  Qin Heng knew that the group responsible for the killing in the valley was a private army his family secretly trained in Xiao Mountain. They couldn’t be found in the military registers at all. Even though Fan Xian chopped off 200 heads, the Qin family did not have to worry about anything. He hesitantly said, “That general is a strong-willed person……” 

  What he meant was that since that person would not sell out the Qin family, why run the risk of a spy being exposed to silence him? 

  “Those people in my army can only live standing up; they cannot live on their knees,” the old man faintly said. “To allow him to die honorably is the only compensation I can make at this time.” 

  Qin Heng was silent. A piece of the winter moon shone down with a silver light, reflecting off the accumulated snow in the Qin manor and glowing like gems. 

  The old man coughed and walked toward the manor. In the end, he said to his son, “When you do things in the future, you have to decider quicker and prepare more.” 

  Qin Heng lowered his head. He knew that his father was talking about the end of the killing today in the valley. When he had led the Jingdou garrison into the valley, he had been stopped by Fan Xian’s carefully planned escape. He had absolutely no way for him to carry out the final risky attempt. He laughed self-mockingly, thinking, Having someone like Fan Xian, this extremely clever person who trusted no one, what was he to do? ……

  The next morning, by the Qing Chengzi manor’s back door, just like every other morning, a man selling vegetables came. The man respectfully moved the vegetables in and, smelling the air in the manor, he didn’t dare to say anything. He carefully chatted a little with the manager in the manor and then quickly retreated. 

  From the little alley, he cut through to the main street. The man selling vegetables raised his head and glanced at Qing Chengzi manor’s blackboard. Rubbing his nose, he thought to himself that the Yan family was truly too subdued. Everyone on the street knew that this manor had been gifted by the Emperor to Sir Yan. Presently, Sir Yan had been granted the title of a third-level Count, even Sir Yan junior had a noble position, yet this board was still not changed. 

  The vegetable seller left. The vegetable basket was still left alone on the empty ground beside the Yan manor kitchen. 

  The manager saw that there was no one around and extended his hand to weigh the vegetable basket as if to see what the weight was like today, whether or not that vegetable seller embezzled a few pounds. 

  The weight was very full, so the manager began to smile satisfactorily. He placed his hands in the pockets of his winter jacket to prevent being frozen by the chilly wind on this winter day. However, no one realized that he had already pulled a thin strip of bamboo from the very top of the vegetable basket. 

  Arriving in the study, the already retired head of the Fourth Bureau, Yan Ruohai, was up early as usual. He had already brushed and washed and was copying out a calming essay. 

  The manager respectfully brought him tea and then, intentionally or not, he left the short bamboo strip beside the teacup. 

  Yan Ruohai picked up the bamboo strip. With furrowed brows, he used his finger to gently snap it in the middle and removed a very small piece of white cloth. He then read the words on it and sank into thought. 

  His finger tapped on the surface of the table. He tapped for a long time like his mind had wandered. 

  After a long time, the current head of the Fourth Bureau and the future Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, Yan Bingyun, pushed open the study door and entered. He then turned and very gently closed the door. 

  He sat across from his father and accepted that white slip of cloth. Looking at the content on it, his usually cold as frost brows also couldn’t help but furrow together. ……

  “That survivor……the Bureau of Military Affairs does not dare to accept him. The two sides fought the case for a long time. They both know that it was a very thorny issue. No one dared to put him in their own yamen. They’re afraid that he would suddenly die and the Commissioner would go crazy.” 

  Yan Bingyun worriedly said, “Even if I can think of a way to kill that person to silence him, but……what if Sir Fan junior finds out?” 

  Yan Ruohai sighed and said, “Since the old man has come to our door, this matter has to be done eventually.” 

  Yan Bingyun looked at his father and also sighed, “If, in the future, the Commissioner knew that we clearly knew about the attack in the valley ahead of time yet did not do anything about it, would he take apart our house and have the two of us beheaded?” 

  Yan Ruohai started and looked at his son. He sighed again. His sigh was full of helplessness. “What can be done? We can’t not do what Director Chen has ordered. If Sir Fan junior wants to kill us……we can only suggest that he first break that wheelchair before anything else.” 

  Yan Bingyun’s always cold face couldn’t help but reveal a glimmer of worry. A moment later, he said, “When did you move from the military to the Overwatch Council?” 

  “About 30 years ago.” Yan Bingyun thought about past matters and furrowed his brow. “Although I was not famous in the military, I was the old Qin Master’s personal soldier in secret. However, buried in the camp, there was never a use for me.” 

  Yan Bingyun shook his head and sighed. “No wonder the old man trusts you so much. However, for you to have stayed in the Overwatch Council and to have made it to where you are today, I’m sure that the old man is very proud in his heart of his arrangement.” 

  Yan Ruohai sighed for the third time and a not-quite-there smile appeared on his face. “However, the problem is……before I entered the military, I was already a secret spy of the Overwatch Council. It could only be said……the old Qin Master’s luck was not very good.” 

  Yan Bingyun lowered his head and said, “The Director indeed had everything in his grasp and calculated everything. However, I don’t understand. It was something clearly preventable, so why did he insist on watching these things happen?” ……

  In the Chen Garden on the outskirts of Jingdou, Chen Pingping sat in his wheelchair and yawned. Toward Fei Jie beside him, whose face was full of anger, he said, “Why are you so anxious? Are you here to kill me so early in the morning? He is your most loved disciple, is he not my most loved heir?” 

  The faint fire burned in Fei Jie’s eyes and he icily said, “What exactly do you want to do? Fan Xian almost died!” 

  Chen Pingping mumbled something. Using his very unique and slightly sharp voice, he said, “Why? Of course it was for this truth, this already established truth……everyone says I am the Emperor’s dog, but in reality, that old man is truly the Emperor’s most loyal dog……without some real blood being sprayed out, how could the dog owner be willing to hit the dog?” 

  Chen Pingping clapped his hands and licked his slightly dry lips. “I’ve always been curious, if I chase all of the Emperor’s dogs into the yard to bark randomly there, cutting him off from the others, what can he do?”