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

  The black blood sprayed onto the purple grapes and dripped down, wetting the ground lit by the lanterns. The Second Prince had his head lowered, and mouth half opened. The bottom half of his jaw was covered in blood. Both his eyes were lowered. Without looking at Fan Xian, he raised his hand to stop his thought of walking over. 

  “The moment you walked in the manor, I took the medicine.” The Second Prince crouched on the chair, his head hung low. Faintly, he said, “I know you are Fei Jie’s student, but the poison has already entered my heart. You won’t be able to save me. I also don’t want you to save me. You have to know that although you are powerful, you can’t stop my dying.” 

  As long as someone had the desire to die, nothing would save their lives. Fan Xian understood this and calmly watched. His mind was a complete blank. He didn’t have a single thought. He was not just going to stand by and watch. Not because he had a glimmer of brotherly affection or the Second Prince, rather, he couldn’t let him die in front of him. 

  “There is no need to worry. I have already written a suicide note. The Palace will not blame you. No one will think you killed me.” With his head down, the Second Prince rummaged in his clothes with his bloodstained hand and pulled out a letter. He gently placed it on the table. 

  Before his death, who would have thought that he had even considered Fan Xian’s worries? Fan Xian’s heart felt slightly icy. He knew that the Second Prince was as Ling’er said. He was ruthless to himself to some level and had severed any hope at life. 

  The Second Prince glanced at Fan Xian with an envious gaze and spat out another mouthful of black blood. He used his sleeve to wipe carelessly at his lips and two slender fingers to carefully break off the grapes that had been stained by poisonous blood. He left behind a small portion before bringing it to his mouth again. 

  The sweet and juicy grapes were chewed to pieces in his mouth. With a pfft sound, the Second Prince spat out a grapeseed on to the ground, still carrying black blood. 

  Finishing the grapes, he wiped his hands clean on his clothes and sighed. Looking at the silent and barely moving Fan Xian, he faintly said, “I don’t want to continue living as a joke.” 

  Fan Xian nodded, showing he understood his thinking. 

  “Actually, you are also a joke.” Gradually, an ashen color rose to the Second Prince’s face. His gaze was somewhat muddled and scattered. Remembering something, he said, “There are many people who want to kill you in Jingdou. Yes, the first to take action was me, but do you think that Chengqian has much kindness for you? The Qin family didn’t kill you in the valley, so he bounced around in anger all night in the Eastern Palace. But, why?” 

  He stared into Fan Xian’s eyes. “Why is your attitude toward Chengqian completely different to yours toward me?” 

  Fan Xian also didn’t understand this. The Second Prince was about to die, so his words were direct, piercing directly into his heart. Why had he always shown the Crown Prince tolerance and gentleness while he always harassed the Second Prince at all cost?

  The Second Prince’s eyes drooped without strength. His voice was very low, “You don’t like me. From the very beginning, you didn’t like me. Of course, I also don’t like you. We are too similar. However, I never had luck as good as yours. No one would allow another one of them to exist in this world. They would all unconsciously try to get rid of the other.” 

  His gaze was cold and helpless. “If you were Sir Jai from the Songguo Manor, then I would be Zhen Baoyue from Jinling, never having many opportunities to appear in the books. But, I am the real one. I am the real one!” 

  As the Second Prince spoke, he coughed up more blood. The blood smeared all over the front of his robes. 

  Fan Xian looked at this scene in front of him. His body was frozen, unable to make any reaction. The Second Prince raised his head for the last time and stared at Fan Xian’s face. With some difficulty, he said, “I have always thought that Chengqian was the most cowardly of us brothers. It was not until I am about to die that I realized it is me who is the most cowardly. I would rather die and pettily leave behind Ling’er and my mother than have the courage to face……” 

  “After I die, help me look after Ling’er…… As for my mother, the best for her is probably to be banished to the Cold Palace. I must trouble you to take care of her.” 

  The Second Prince’s chest rose powerfully as if something was going to burst out. Staring into Fan Xian’s eyes, he barely managed to finish speaking. Without giving Fan Xian any chance to speak, he opened his mouth, and a huge puddle of black blood gushed out. He breathed no more afterward. 

  After he died, the Second Prince remained crouching on the chair with his left hand on his knee and an ashen color on his face. A moment later, his body fell off the chair with a crash. However, his eyes refused to close, staring widely. 

  Fan Xian looked at the Second Prince’s body with a wooden face. He suddenly wondered why an evening at the beginning of autumn was so cold? 

  He shivered with cold. His emotions were complicated. He had no idea what he should feel faced with this body. Perhaps the silence right now was the best? The Second Prince, this true prince, had died. How could the fake soul in his flesh to continue on? 

  The color on his face became uglier and uglier. It was not because the Second Prince had committed suicide in front of him or the heart-piercing things he had said his death. Instead, it was his last request for him to look after Ling’er and Lady Shu. 

  He didn’t even give me a chance to refuse, Fan Xian thought to himself. His expression was desolate like when the Eldest Princess had died. The Crown Prince knew that he had to die and had entrusted the rebel soldiers and those officials to him. Why? Do you not know that I am your irreconcilable enemy? Were your deaths not caused by me? Why are you all throwing so many burdens to me before you die? Do you want to crush me? Are you all betting that I will help you? All of you dead people! You can die, but you want me, a living person, to live unhappily? 

  He lowered his head, absolutely stupefied, as his body trembled slightly. Then, he walked to the Second Prince’s body, glanced at it, and picked up the thin suicide note on the table. Putting into his clothes, he walked out of the sinister room. 

  Walking to the bedroom in the back garden of the manor, Ye Ling’er sat stupefied, like him, under the cold light, knowing absolutely nothing about what had happened in the garden. Fan Xian sighed in his heart and walked up behind her, chopping down with his palm, he knocked her out without giving her any chance to react. 

  If he didn’t knock her out, once she learned about the Second Prince’s suicide through poison, she would probably follow him. Fan Xian could only use a rather direct method to stall the matter. ……

  Gong Dian came forward. Fan Xian bent his head down to think for a while. He handed the suicide note to him and, at the same time, handed him Ye Ling’er, who was on his shoulder. He then said something in a low voice. Gong Dian was shocked as he accepted the fainted Ye Ling’er. Once he heard about the Second Prince’s death, he furrowed his brows even deeper. 

  “The Second Prince wrote a suicide note so the Emperor will not blame us.” Fan Xian sighed immediately. “Before wangfei wakes up, bind her hands and feet and then tell her this news. If she won’t eat, force feed her rice porridge. No matter what, make her drink it!” 

  These last two sentences were said coldly between gritted teeth. Gong Dian thought that it could only be done this way. He didn’t notice Duke of Danbo’s loss of self-control. After thinking for a moment, he said helplessly, “But the young mistress’s temper is like fire. We can’t bind her for her entire life.” 

  Fire is not scary. It comes quickly and leaves quickly. At least it wasn’t as piercing as the chunks of ice he and the Second Prince were, Fan Xian thought to himself. Lowering his voice, he said, “After a few days, when things have calmed slightly, I will come again to console her.” ……

  After dealing with the matters at the prince’s manor, the night in Jingdou had gradually receded, and it was already early in the morning. In the distance in the east, there was a faint smudge of white showing above the horizon. Fan Xian could not go rest. He had too many things he needed to do. After detouring back to the Fan manor, he went directly to the Royal Palace. 

  Although Minister Fan had said the matter should be handled by the Ministry of Rites and Taichang Temple, Fan Xian could not forget his position as regent and pretend it had never happened. Furthermore, he was still the vice minister of Taichang Temple. Minister Ren Shao’an had gone with the Emperor to Dong Mountain for the worship. No one knew if he would come back alive. 

  He stood shoulder to shoulder with the Great Prince and looked at the three coffins in front of them. The two brothers remained silent. 

  One day ago, the two of them had stood on the Palace walls worried about the safety of the Palace and territory of the Qing Kingdom. No one would have thought that by now victory and defeat would have been determined. The people writing the history of the world had already changed their names. No one also would have thought that the black coffins beneath Fan Xian’s foot during the crisis of the Royal Palace would already hold the bodies of the defeated. 

  The Eldest Princess and Second Prince were lying peacefully in their coffins. There was still one empty coffin. No one knew who would lie in it. 

  “This doesn’t follow the rites.” The Great Prince’s expression was heavy. The space between his brows was refusing to show sorrow. The Eldest Princess’s death was understandable and acceptable, but the brotherly affection between the Second Prince and him was not fake. Although the brothers had been drifting apart these two years, seeing the scene in front of him and thinking of the person in the coffin, the Great Prince still felt a great pain in his heart. 

  Fan Xian nodded tiredly and said, “The officials of the Ministry of Rites had all been scared away. As long as the Emperor doesn’t return to the capital, the Six Ministries cannot pull themselves together. There are also very few people in Taichang Temple. This is just a temporary arrangement. After all, the face of the royal family has to be looked after. We can’t just let them sit in the manors.” 

  The Great Prince sighed and didn’t say anything more. Turning around, he walked toward the interior of the Royal Palace. Compared with the group of imperial soldiers escorting the coffins at his side, his retreating figure appeared particularly bleak. 

  Fan Xian watched him quietly and shook his head. He knew that the Great Prince was almost at his breaking point with the repeated pressure, as well as the news of death gradually trickling in. Thinking of this, only now did Fan Xian feel the waves of exhaustion coming from the depths of his body. He could barely keep his eyelids up. Furrowing his brows, he slapped his face and said to the subordinate at his side, “Back to the manor.” 

  He had returned to the manor four times in one night, but there had not been a moment of peace. Fan Xian calculated closely. From the preparation of breaking into the Royal Palace, it had already been two days and two nights since he had slept. His injuries had reappeared. The medicinal effects of the ephedra pill had died completely. He didn’t eat anymore. The physical and mental energy of his body had reached its limits. 

  \r \r \r 

  After returning to the manor, he looked at everything in the dark and did not go to visit Wan’er in Lady Liu’s rooms. Lowering his head, he sat silently on his bed for a while. With one foot, he kicked the black chest under the bed. Without even taking off his clothes, he stretched out and laid down. 

  Although he was clearly exhausted, he couldn’t fall asleep. He stared at the black ceiling of the room with bright eyes. ……

  He woke up shortly after falling asleep. After all, Jingdou was still in a state of chaos. As the regent, he could not leave too much time for rest and pain. After rising from bed, he randomly ate some food and used a hot towel on his face to force himself to recover his energy. 

  As he walked out of the door, he unconsciously glanced at the bed and fatal chest that sat for many years in the dust. It lay peacefully under the bed like the Eldest Princess and Second Prince in their coffins, never to be disturbed again. Regardless of whether it was a chest or a person, perhaps only by becoming an unremarkable existence, placed in an unremarkable place, can one obtain true peace. 

  As he left the manor, he unconsciously glanced back at it. After coming back from Taiping Courtyard, he had not seen Wan’er. He didn’t know how his wife was feeling. Thinking of this, a gloominess rose to his face. 

  As he entered the Palace, he unconsciously glanced at the gates. There were burn and scorch marks everywhere. Some of the cracks caused by weapons revealed the wood shards within. However, the copper nails that had fallen from the gates had long been cleaned up, only leaving behind countless ugly scars. 

  Fan Xian acknowledged that the Palace, city, and country were, after all, somewhere he had lived for 20 years. He had developed deep feelings for this place, even though the Palace was sinister and cold, the city had disappointed many people, and the country had made some grave mistakes. It was still his country. 

  He had always considered himself a person of the Qing Kingdom. Before many things were investigated clearly, he did not object to doing his best to protect the peace of the people in this country while he lived his happy life. 

  So many people had died. He was going to live well, unless there were people who didn’t want him to live. ……

  Scholars Shu and Hu were invited back to their manors to rest temporarily. These two officials had been annotating memorials in the royal study for an entire night. A large portion of the urgent memorials from various Roads in the Qing Kingdom had already been cleaned out. However, the two scholars were not made of steel. Their energy levels were far below that of Fan Xian’s. After suffering repeated scares and not sleeping, they were long exhausted. 

  Fan Xian sat in the empty royal study and couldn’t resist shaking his head. Usually, when the Emperor was there, although the royal study was still just as peaceful, it was filled with an unusual feeling. Was it dignity or something else? In any case, it felt completely different from the royal study now. 

  He didn’t know how the Emperor had come down from Dong Mountain alive, but he knew that his behavior would certainly please His Majesty. It looked like he could sit steady in the position of a powerful official. Thinking of the unifying battle that would be revealed in two or three years, Fan Xian’s mouth tasted a little bitter. 

  A gentleman does not take advantage of an empty room, but Fan Xian was not a gentleman. He sat alone in the royal study looking at the mountainous pile of memorials on the low table and low couch. He thought about how the Emperor ran all the affairs of the Qing Kingdom from here. His heart jumped a little. 

  He rose and looked quietly in that direction. Tilting his head slightly, he wondered what it would feel like if he sat down on it. Immediately after, he shook his head. The corner of his thin lips twitched up as he revealed a self-mocking smile. 

  Having been the regent for one day and one night had almost made him exhausted. Looking at the wretched faces of the two scholars as they were supported by the eunuchs, Fan Xian confirmed that the job of Emperor was certainly much more tiring than that of the Yellow Emperor, who defended against countless women each day. 

  The old saying still stood. In the world, there were three kinds of people: men, women, and Emperor. Those who could become true rulers were not people. 

  “Have the Third Prince come here.” 

  Fan Xian smiled slightly and spoke to the eunuch outside the royal study. Immediately after, he remembered that Hong Zhu and some of the people who had taken part in the rebellion were still shut up in the Cold Palace. He didn’t know how the Emperor would deal with them after he returned. From the perspective of outsiders, Hong Zhu had basically not done anything. There shouldn’t be any problems. 

  Before much time had passed, the Third Prince, who had gradually grown into a young man, arrived outside the royal study accompanied by an old maid and a few eunuchs. Fan Xian glanced at the old maid and waved his hand to dismiss them. Picking up the Third Prince’s hand, he came to the table holding the memorials. 

  Li Chengping’s hands were a little bit cold. The gaze with which he looked at Fan Xian was not quite the same as it was in Jiangnan. It appeared respectful and fearful. 

  The corner of Fan Xian’s gaze had noticed this, but he didn’t really care. Respect through fear, but there was no further sense of distance. He knew that his behavior in one day and night had left this prince with a deep impression, one he would probably never forget. 

  This was a problem in pedagogy. Other than Fan Xian, no one else understood in this world. To train a nine-year-old, who dared to operate a brothel and kill people, into becoming a kind-hearted ruler, simple virtue and preaching would not be enough to complete the job. He had to make the Third Prince understand that with many things in the world, the goal could also be reached through relatively just and honorable ways. 

  The Third Prince needed a role model. That was why, starting from the trip to Jiangnan, Fan Xian had set himself up as a role model in his heart. He was an immortal poet, a strong warrior, and a powerful official. He was the Third Prince’s savior. In the hearts of most of the common people in the Qing Kingdom, he was a good person. 

  Fan Xian hoped that the future Emperor of the Qing Kingdom was also a good person, just like the Crown Prince? 

  “Sir…… I heard father……” Li Chengping looked at Fan Xian with some fear. 

  Fan Xian smiled. “With the Temple above, of course, the Emperor has heavenly protection. Naturally, those tiny things could not hurt him.” 

  “Oh.” A glimmer of joy appeared on Li Chengping’s face. Although he knew that if his father died, he would, under his teacher and elder brother’s protection, become the next Emperor of the Qing Kingdom, he was, after all, only a youth. His thoughts were not that ruthless. 

  Fan Xian pretended he didn’t care, but he was carefully watching the change in emotions in Li Chengping’s eyes. He thought to himself that he had not seen wrong. 

  “In the future, His Majesty will probably often have you come to the royal study to listen.” Fan Xian paused after saying this. Slowly, he said, “Get familiar with the place first, Your Highness.” 

  The Third Prince had come to the royal study before. He also knew that his brothers the Crown Prince, second brother, eldest brother, and even teacher often came here to listen to his father and the officials discuss business after the court conference had been dismissed. However, in the future, this royal study would probably be much emptier. 

  “There are probably a lot of things that no one dares say to you.” Fan Xian thought for a moment and then calmly said, “But, I must tell you.” 

  The Emperor was about to return. Fan Xian had to give the Third Prince his own instructions. He knew that this child’s thoughts were meticulous, which was why he had used “Your Highness” to refer to him earlier but was directly addressing him as “you” now. 

  “The Great Prince is naturally interested in fighting. In the future, he will eventually be stationed at the border.” Fan Xian’s expression was slightly heavy. Using his own words, he outlined the Emperor’s future plans. “His nature is straightforward. He would not voluntarily do anything that would harm brotherly affections. You must be assured of his and not be overly suspicious.” 

  The Third Prince’s hand trembled as he looked at his teacher’s face. He didn’t know why he was suddenly talking about this. 

  “As for me, I will eventually leave. This world is so big. I have to go to the edges of the sea so as to not waste my life.” Fan Xian smiled slightly. “So you shouldn’t doubt me. Even after you grow up, you shouldn’t doubt me.” 

  The Third Prince opened his mouth but felt a sliver of fear for some reason. 

  “These are not things I should say as an official,” Fan Xian drew back his smile and calmly said. “But, I want to tell it to you. I’ve been alive 20 years, and I am already tired of the guessing and testing of intentions between people. Regardless of whether you believe this or not, when you are older, please, remember these words.” 

  Just as he said, these words had already broken a huge taboo in the royal family. Even scarier, this was said by an official. However, Fan Xian said it calmly and naturally. Li Chengping looked dazedly at his teacher’s usually handsome face, which was presently rather sallow, and unconsciously nodded his head. ……

  Three days had passed. Jingdou had already calmed. The three riders once again entered the capital, announcing to the world the news of the Emperor returning from the worship. The still astonished people of Jingdou were overjoyed. Standing on top of the Palace walls, Fan Xian didn’t know what they had to be happy about after suffering so much hardship. 

  The Emperor came back three days later than the scheduled time. During these three days, the military reports from the Dingzhou army came in endlessly to the capital through the military and Overwatch Council’s channels. Fan Xian thoroughly indulged himself as the regent, stamping wildly with the Emperor’s royal seal in both hands. 

  This day, the message had finally arrived. Taking the Third Prince, Fan Xian, along with the Great Prince and old royalist officials fortunate enough to survive, passed through the streets still scarred with weaponry out of Zhengyang Gate and stopped 10 li out. 

  Thousands of people knelt down densely. There was no space to stand on the official road. Many people just kneeled directly in the maize on either side of the road. At this time, the autumn harvest had not arrived. The golden grains pushed through the warhorses’ hooves, carrying a heavy harvest. They swayed in the slight breeze. The emotions of countless people swayed like the grains, gazing intently at the bright yellow royal entourage approaching from the distance. 

  Fan Xian pulled his gaze back from the maize fields and looked with a smile at the nervous and joyous Third Prince at his side.

  Chapter 577: The Second Half Of The Scroll Of The Father And Son

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

  The royal entourage arrived and stopped steadily on the road. Because of the confusion and chaos of battle, no yellow dirt had been spread on the road or water sprayed. However, the Emperor’s feet did not hesitate to step down firmly and steadily from the steps, standing on the dirt beside Jingdou. 

  The Emperor moved his hand from Eunuch Yao’s arm and slowly swept his calm gaze across the wilds. Thousands of officials and generals were kneeling on the ground, prostrating themselves in worship. His expression was indifferent. There was not much emotion in his eyes. 

  Amidst the greetings that shook the heavens, the Emperor pulled his gaze from the distant Jingdou closer. It landed nearby, passing over the scholars Hu and Shu, the Great Prince in armor, they youngest son who was nervous and giddily happy, and lightly landed on Fan Xian’s handsome and imposing face. He noticed that his face carried a deep exhaustion. 

  The corners of the Emperor’s lips turned up slightly. It carried a hint of affection. He was beginning to like that pretty face more and more in the depths of his heart. His brows immediately furrowed because he realized Fan Xian had sustained heavy internal injuries. 

  The bright yellow robe spread open as the Emperor extended out both of his arms. Calmly and dominatingly, he faced the field in front of him. The sound of greetings gradually faded away. 

  If no one dared to look at the Emperor, then how did these thousands of people know what the Emperor did? 

  From when he stepped out of the carriage, the Emperor’s gaze had practically been focused on Fan Xian. Fan Xian felt uneasy all over and kept his head down, not sure what to do. After the greetings, he heard the Emperor’s feet gradually approach his group of people. 

  Right before he arrived in front of Fan Xian, the Emperor suddenly changed direction. Without glancing at Fan Xian, he formally helped up Shu Hu and Hu the Scholar. He used both his hands to cover old Shu’s shoulder and pressed down slightly. With a warm and firm voice, he said, “You’ve suffered, old scholar.” 

  Shu Wu’s heart jumped. His face showed fear. Hu the Scholar also quickly repeated it. The Emperor smiled and didn’t say anything. Immediately after, he helped up the Great Prince, who had performed a great service and was always a soldier before all else in Jingdou. 

  As for this eldest son that he had never liked, the Emperor’s emotions were complicated. But, his expression was still calm. 

  After, the Emperor pulled up Li Chengping and stroked his youngest son’s head for a while with his right hand. His eyes gazed at the officials loyal to him in the field. He didn’t say a single word. 

  Then, he turned around and left, heading toward his carriage. 

  Everyone was shocked and thought to themselves, That was it? It was not about whether the ceremony of the Emperor returning to the capital was over or not. Rather, the official most responsible for safeguarding the country, Duke of Danbo Fan Xian, was still kneeling stiffly on the ground. Why did the Emperor say anything at all? 

  Shu Wu and Hu the Scholar glanced at each other, seeing the confusion in the other’s eyes. Fan Xian was also very confused and not sure if he should stand up. 

  “Stand up, unless you are unable to without me helping you?” 

  Before he climbed back into the carriage, the Emperor tossed this line into the crowd. Although it was not targeted at anyone, everyone knew that he was talking to Fan Xian. It seemed indifferent and cold but actually carried a trace of intimacy. As for the other means hidden in these words, only Fan Xian could understand them. The Emperor had already acknowledged his ability and loyalty. Even without his help, he was able to stand in a position that was his own in this court. 

  Fan Xian laughed bitterly and stood up. He lowered his head to look at the mud on his knees. Before the Emperor ascended the carriage, as an official, he was not allowed to clean his clothing. However, an impulse from somewhere made him use his right hand to brush at his knee, dusting away a bit of dirt. 

  This little action did not draw the attention of too many people, but it made the Emperor, who was climbing into the carriage, pause slightly. Then, everyone heard the Emperor’s words. 

  “An Zhi, come into the carriage.” 

  The officials were shocked again and looked at each other in astonishment. Earlier, the Emperor had not personally helped Fan Xian to stand. Now, the Emperor was giving Sir Fan junior a rare honor. To enter the capital with the Emperor’s royal entourage, what kind of honor was that? It was something even the Crown Prince had never experienced. 

  The gaze the cleverer officials turned on Fan Xian became heated. However, these officials appeared to be overly clever or thought themselves to be clever. Some of their gazes involuntarily shifted onto the Third Prince. Everyone knew that since the Crown Prince and Second Prince were involved in the rebellion, their ends would not be good. Everyone had originally thought that the future master of the Qing Kingdom would be the young prince, but looking at the Emperor’s attitude today…… 

  The reason the officials thought they were smart was because they expressed an inappropriate attitude in an inappropriate place. The scholars Hu and Shu kept their eyes to themselves as if they had not heard the Emperor’s words. This was the difference between a superior official and an official. 

  Fan Xian’s mouth tasted bitter, but he could not disobey an imperial edict. Walking to the side of the high carriage, he lifted the yellow curtain to stand in front of the Emperor. Although the royal carriage was tall, it was still unable to allow a person to stand straight. He was forced to stand in front the Emperor with his head down, just like everyone else in the world. 

  “Sit.” The Emperor seemed to see through his thoughts and slightly inclined his head as he spoke. 

  Fan Xian followed the instructions and sat down across from the Emperor. Looking at this Emperor he had not seen in a month, his emotions gradually became complicated. In the past, although this monarch had been brilliant and powerful, he did not come close to how scary the Emperor was now. The Emperor remained calm, but it was like a bottomless abyss, hiding unfathomable power. This kind of feeling made Fan Xian afraid. Looking at the two sharp brows, those calm eyes, he involuntarily felt the need to shrink back. 

  An Emperor’s dominating power did not emerge from his outward appearance and physique. Rather, it emerged through his strategies and results in the history books. To be able to come down from Dong Mountain alive and arrange such a large setup, it was no wonder that such a powerful person was the foremost person in the land in the last 30 years. Fan Xian understood this reality and accepted it. 

  The middle-aged man wearing a dragon robe lowered his head to look at the urgent memorials from various Roads the two scholars had presented. He didn’t acknowledge Fan Xian’s gaze on him, even though such a look from an official to an Emperor was rude and tabooed. 

  The royal carriage slowly began to move. The sunlight outside the window slanted through and shone on the memorial in the Emperor’s hand. He lowered his head and read them with furrowed brows. Suddenly, he said, “Three years. My Qing Kingdom still needs three years.” 

  When he said these words, the Emperor did not raise his head. It seemed that he was talking to himself. Fan Xian understood what the Emperor was saying. Having experienced an internal rebellion, putting aside the heavy damages that Jingdou sustained and the chaos in court affairs, just the attack within the army had already caused serious consequences. At this time, the military was still not stable. Furthermore, the officials in the Dongsheng Road region were all implicated. Although the Emperor had moved capable officials from Jiangnan to take over, the impact on the people’s lives was certain to be massive. 

  Recouping the army’s loyalty would take at least a year. Removing the psychological impact of this rebellion would take at least a year. To truly be prepared in terms of wealth, resources, public support, and other areas for a largescale war would take the Qing Kingdom at least three years. 

  Presumably, in the Emperor’s heart, this Northern expedition to unify the world would be the last Northern expedition. The steps of history that had been forcefully blocked by the other two Great Grandmasters would slowly accelerate. 

  The sunlight from outside the carriage window shone through the square pieces of glass and reached continuously toward the back. It scattered countless rays of light on the father’s and son’s faces. The Emperor continued to keep his head down and said, “When one’s work is done, brush off clothing and hide deeply one’s person and name…… This was something you once wrote but don’t think that I will let you go. When work is done, presently the major work is incomplete. You, a young man, why are you rushing to finish and retreat?” 

  \r \r \r 

  The Emperor’s eyes were looking at the memorial. These words seemed to be spoken unintentionally, but Fan Xian’s heart thumped. He was unsure what to say. When one’s work was done, brush off clothing. He had not thought that his unconscious dusting off of his clothing in front of the royal carriage would cause the Emperor to guess at his thoughts and destroy all of his fantasies and mental probing with unusual determination and heartlessness. 

  He laughed bitterly and did not hide anything. He said straightforwardly, “I am truly not skilled when it comes to things like fighting. It is better for me to quietly earn some money for the court.” 

  Fan Xian had other plans on his mind, so he took the opportunity to first say everything clearly. The Emperor suddenly raised his head and looked at him. “There is no need to think about quitting. If you’re afraid of people talking, I will take care of the matter of reducing your power.” 

  Fan Xian cried out bitterly in his heart. The Emperor’s words had forced him into a corner. If he was forced to stay in Jingdou to plot, he did not want his power to be reduced. The Overwatch Council was the most powerful weapon in his hands. If the Emperor really did tear a hole in that, what would he use to negotiate with this unfathomable Emperor? 

  Until now, he still did not know the truth of what happened on Dong Mountain. In the carriage, he didn’t dare to ask. It was the Emperor who first spoke and inquired as to the specific details of these few days. Although Jingdou had been sending non-stop memorials to where the Emperor’s carriage was these three days, matters involving the privacy of the royal family were not. There were many things that could only be personally reported by Fan Xian to the Emperor. 

  Fan Xian’s voice rang out in the carriage. He told his tale of leaving Dong Mountain, entering Jingdou disguised as an oil merchant, setting the plan with the Great Prince, breaking into the Royal Palace, and finally about when the Ye family attacked. He told everything methodically and clearly. He purposely glossed over some of the details that the Emperor probably didn’t want to hear. 

  As Fan Xian was making his report, the Emperor had already lowered his. It was difficult to carefully observe the Emperor’s emotional reactions. Unexpectedly, regardless of whether it was the Eldest Princess’s death or the news of the Second Prince’s suicide, neither made the Emperor’s stone-like expression move at all. It was not until he reported on the empress dowager’s illness did the Emperor raise his head. 

  “How many days does the empress dowager have left?” 

  “The Imperial Academy of Medicine has seen her…… Her body is feeble, and her vital energy is weak. She has also experienced such a major event and was frightened. I’m afraid……” Fan Xian’s words stopped. A malicious thought toward the cold and indifferent Emperor rose in his heart. The empress dowager had been scared to death by you, what should you do as a filial Emperor? 

  “The Imperial Academy of Medicine?” The Emperor’s brows furrowed as he looked coldly at Fan Xian. “What good are those useless fools? You’re in the Palace, do you not know the details?” 

  Fan Xian said dimly, “It is truly beyond the capability of people to reverse the situation.” ……

  Under the gaze and salutes of countless people, the Emperor’s royal entourage entered Jingdou. Following the wide and straight Tianhe Avenue, they entered the Royal Palace. Along the way, the common people who had just suffered at the hands of the soldiers forcefully suppressed the sorrow and fear in their hearts to joyfully welcome the Emperor’s return. It seemed they were welcoming back a pillar of their lives. From this, it was evident that the Emperor’s reputation and prestige among the Qing people were just like the right of a monarch itself, solid and unbreakable. 

  Arriving at the main doors of the Royal Palace, Fan Xian retreated from the carriage with his body bent. Meeting the Great Prince’s eyes, he shook his head indicating that the Emperor’s mood was fine and had not been impacted by the series of deaths. 

  Fan Xian followed the carriage into the Palace. Looking at the bright yellow curtain, he involuntarily thought of the Emperor’s expression earlier. His heart felt a chill. Although the Eldest Princess and Second Prince were both main culprits in the rebellion, they were, after all, the Emperor’s younger sister and son. Furthermore, looking at the rebellion now, it was clearly a trap the Emperor had purposefully woven for the other party. Learning about the death of his sister and son, the Emperor still remained calm. This level of will and cold-bloodedness truly made him shiver. 

  The Great Prince walked to his side and said in a low voice, “Why did you get off?” 

  “Dare I ride the entire way into the Palace?” Fan Xian glanced at him. “The Emperor asked about some matters in the carriage. As you know, those matters cannot be announced to the crowd.” 

  There had been no need to explain anything to the Great Prince, but Fan Xian saw the gazes being trained in his direction and knew what kind of discussion and consequence his entering the capital with the royal entourage would have. Unconsciously, he added these words. Afterward, he felt that talking like this with the Great Prince might have the opposite effect. Smiling bitterly, he said, “It was too cold in that carriage. I came down to stretch out my muscles.” 

  The Great Prince laughed and patted his shoulder, not saying anything. At this time, both the brothers were actually forcing their smiles. Having secured Jingdou and prevented the monarch of a country becoming a lonely spirit, they had, without question, performed a great service and were deserving of the most credit. But, so many people in the royal family had died, and they had used so many tricks. No one knew what the Emperor was thinking. ……

  The Qing Emperor wasn’t thinking anything. In the process of organizing the sweeping up of rebel soldiers outside the capital, he had already learned of the deaths of Li Yunrui and Li Chengze from the urgent memorials Fan Xian had sent. In the carriage, he was only learning the specific situations about when they died from Fan Xian. 

  His face was calm, as if the people who had died were strangers. He continued to look at the memorials presented by the Hall of Governmental Affairs. When the carriage entered the Palace and Fan Xian got off, the Emperor put down the memorial in his hand and leaned against the back of the chair with his eyes closed silently. 

  The lonely silence continued for a long time. Gradually, a trace of age and sallowness appeared on the Emperor’s face. By this time, the carriage had already stopped outside Hanguang Palace. 

  He gently sighed and slowly walked out from under the curtain Eunuch Yao had pulled up. Exiting the carriage and seeing the familiar but unfamiliar Palace, his expression immediately became calm and severe. There was no longer a trace of the gloominess when he was alone in the carriage. Every eyebrow and every glance imparted his strength and power. ……

  The empress dowager was wearing plain white clothing and lying on the warm and soft phoenix bed. The lines on her face were deep, as if she had also been greeted with too much wind and rain like the Royal Palace and had been eroded to such a degree. 

  The Emperor said some things to the imperial physician kneeling in fear on the ground. He then sat down on the side of the bed, placing his slender fingers on the empress dowager’s wrist. 

  Fan Xian and the other two brothers waited patiently behind the screen, not daring to interrupt. Fan Xian felt slightly nervous. It could faintly be seen that the Emperor’s actions in taking a pulse were well practiced. It was clear that he had some medical learning. 

  However, he had more confidence in Sir Fei Jie’s medicine. Most importantly, that pill was not a poison. Regardless of whether it was a doctor from the Imperial Academy or any other wise doctor, they would not be able to find the true reason for the empress dowager’s gradually receding life force and would directly attribute it to her failing old body and the end of her lifespan. 

  The Emperor’s long finger had already left the empress dowager’s weak pulse. Lowering his head and thinking for a moment, a trace of helplessness flashed through his eyes. It seemed that this Great Grandmaster also knew that it was impossible to stall his mother’s leaving. His brows suddenly furrowed as his finger went out like the wind, landing between the empress dowager’s brows. 

  As his finger stretched out, the atmosphere in the entire Hanguang Palace changed. The cold and sinister autumn wind was dispersed by a copious and irresistible sunlight. A powerful and impressive atmosphere reached each person’s heart. 

  Fan Xian suddenly felt the atmosphere behind the screen. His heart shook as his fingers quickly began to tremble. Although this atmosphere was not familiar, it seemed as harmonious as family to the zhenqi in his body. However, it was a number of levels higher than his realm. Faintly, he realized that this was the entry to the realm that he had long searched for but could not find. 

  He abruptly raised his head and gazed at the thin screen in a daze. A sound in his heart was calling out to him that this was the second part of the scroll he had been practicing for 20 years but unable to move forward on.