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

  Baoyue Brothel was already a net that extended all over the world. Although various factions knew the world’s largest brothel was the property of the Fan family, they had no way to control it. After all, it was a legitimate business. No countries had laws that could control it. Baoyue Brothel had good conditions. They were polite and kind to the women that worked for them, truly enjoyed by the customers, and had harmony between their labor and management. With Fan Xian’s power as a support and Xia Mingji and Zhaoshang money house for financial assistance, in four short years, it had extended its reach to every place. 

  Although Baoyue Brothel’s intelligence gathering was nowhere near as professional or powerful as the Overwatch Council’s, it provided Fan Xian another source of information. 

  In the end, the Overwatch Council was a government intelligence agency. There was always a faint fear in Fan Xian’s heart that if one day the Emperor asked him to hand over the Overwatch Council, his sight and vision would decrease greatly. For example, this secret report concerning the Great Prince confirmed the benefit of Fan Xian greatly supporting Baoyue Brothel. 

  As for the information on the secret report, there had not been a single mention of it in the Overwatch Council’s report or even the Qinian Unit’s secret report. If it hadn’t been for Baoyue Brothel, Fan Xian would not know that there was another good move being played out in Jingdou. 

  Fan Xian knew that this could not be blamed on the Overwatch Council and Qinian Unit. It involved the face of the royal family and was a family matter of the Emperor’s. Even if the governmental intelligence agency’s found some information, they would not be able to report it to him before it was confirmed, particularly with the internal court and Imperial Censorate watching. 

  Baoyue Brothel did not care about this. Of the organizations under Fan Xian’s control, Baoyue Brothel was more like the Imperial Censorate in that it had the freedom to learn through hearsay. The secret report brought up the news of the Great Prince taking on a secondary fei. It was only rumors that abruptly popped up in Jingdou. 

  Wind through empty caves may not be without reason. Fan Xian furrowed his brows and thought of what was happening in Jingdou. 

  If it was just the Great Prince taking on a secondary fei, it would be a small matter. There was no need for him to be so nervous. But, the Baoyue Brothel’s report clearly said that taking on a secondary fei was the decision of the Palace. The Great Prince did not know of this. Furthermore, it said that the Great Prince held powerful conflicting emotions about this matter and had already entered the Palace to argue with the Emperor twice. 

  Fan Xian’s head hurt a great deal. He knew what kind of person his eldest brother was. Although the Great Prince knew to look at the big picture, he was very stubborn when it came to matters that involved his personal life. Additionally, he and the Great wangfei were harmonious in their affection. How could he agree for the Palace to appoint him another wedding? 

  The Palace wanting him to take on a secondary fei carried a deeper layer of meaning. Fan Xian was also very clear about this point. 

  After the Jingdou rebellion incident had truly been quelled, and the Emperor had re-discovered his love for his eldest son, he did not send the Great Prince to the border troops as a full authority Commander. Rather, he secretly prepared for the Great Prince to take a secondary fei. 

  The Great wangfei was a Great princess from Northern Qi. The honeymoon period between the Qing Kingdom and Northern Qi had already come to an end. For the sake of future battles, the Emperor would not allow his eldest son to be managed so tightly by a Northern Qi woman. When it came to the final Northern Expedition, the Great Prince was the best choice for Commander of the vanguard. The Emperor’s intentions were clear. First, he was going to have him take on a secondary fei. Then, he would find an excuse to depose the Great wangfei. 

  The intention was clear. Unfortunately, none of the Emperor’s sons were obedient. The Great Prince had never been an obedient person, so he had been able to resist it for two years. Looking at Baoyue Brothel’s message, the Palace was going to bring this matter into the light and speak directly on the subject to settle it. 

  Fan Xian hugged his knees as his head ached. He was angry and had great objections in his heart toward the Great Prince. He thought, Since the Emperor was already pushing this hard, just accept it for now. What are you afraid of? Did it have to come to the Emperor passing an edict and then you going into the Palace to declare you would rather die than submit? 

  What right did the children of the royal family have in being saints of affection? The Great Prince and the Great wangfei’s love marriage had signs of working together slowly and accompanying each other until old age. It made Fan Xian feel envious and wished he was as good as others. 

  Other than admiration, what made Fan Xian’s head hurt was a message that the intelligence report secretly revealed. Although, it spoke of it obscurely. After the Emperor and Lady Ning had discussed the matter, they temporarily suppressed their anger and was thinking of having Fan Xian return to talk the Great Prince into taking on a secondary fei. 

  After the Jingdou rebellion and the deaths of the Crown Prince and Second Prince, the Emperor’s attitude toward his remaining three sons had become much gentler. If it had been in the past and the Great Prince had forcefully resisted an edict like this, he would probably have long been put under house arrest in his manor. It was nothing like that now. 

  The Emperor’s secret edict would probably arrive in a few days. Baoyue Brothel would have gotten the news much faster. Fan Xian hugged his head and wondered what exactly was going on. When the Northern Qi’s Great Princess had come thousands of li south to marry the Great Prince, it had been him who had officiated the wedding. Four years later, was he now going to be the one to break up the marriage? 

  Just as he sighed earlier, the affairs of the world were difficult to predict. ……

  Morning arrived. The sunlight streaming in from the east shone through the lonely autumn trees within the Qingzhou army’s yamen. Sliced into large pieces of light, they shone clearly on the paper windows. A serving girl carrying a basin passed in front of the window and cast a shadow. 

  The Shadow stood quietly by Fan Xian’s side, looking at his worried face without saying a single word. The best assassin in the world was used to standing quietly behind Chen Pingping or Fan Xian, becoming part of the shadows of the building or scenery. He was used to seeing the constant worries of the two masters of the Overwatch Council. He was still not used to talking to them and making plans with them. His job was to kill people. It did not include these poor, thinking matters. 

  After returning from the grasslands, the Shadow took off his herdsman’s clothes and returned to his position by Fan Xian’s side quietly. Fan Xian occasionally noticed that the best assassin in the world would periodically glance at the recovering Thirteenth Wang in the courtyard. His gaze was complicated and strange. 

  “I can’t return to the capital right now.” Fan Xian knew the Shadow was not Yan Bingyun, Deng Zi Yue, or the chatty Wang Qinian. Waiting for him to reply was an impossible matter. Rubbing the spot between his eyes, he said, “The matters in Xiliang Road have not come to an end. Plus, since the capital has not sent a message, it is not appropriate for me to rush back like this.” 

  “This is only a small matter,” the Shadow knew Commissioner Fan was looking to talk to him and said after a pause. “There is no need to worry too much.” 

  Fan Xian shook his head and sighed. “It is not a small matter. You don’t know the men of the Li family. Each is more stubborn than the last. Just take Chengqian and the Second Prince. Even faced with death, they would not give up their stubbornness and submit to the Emperor. Although the Great Prince’s personality is much more magnanimous, he has a sense of the Dongyi people’s love for freedom in his bones. With the Emperor pressuring him like this, who knows what terrifying response he will make?” 

  Without waiting for the Shadow to reply, Fan Xian continued with a face full of worry. “The Emperor, and perhaps everyone in court, seem to firmly believe one thing. If someone is not one of us, their heart is suspect. if it was not so, then it would not be the case that no one believed that the Great Prince could inherit the throne because of his half Dongyi bloodline. He was already one-half Dongyi. His wangfei was also a Northern Qi person. In the present situation, the Emperor having him depose of his wangfei was showing that he wanted to protect him and put him in an important position.” 

  During the Jingdou rebellion, there were three officials who deserved credit: Fan Xian, Ye Zhong, and the Great Prince. At that time, the Great Prince held the Imperial Army in his hands. He controlled a vital power, yet he determinedly carried out the so-called posthumous edict of the Emperor and successfully controlled the situation of the rebellion within a boundary that the power of the Qing Kingdom could accept. Because of this matter, the Emperor’s attitude toward him had changed greatly. It was no longer as indifferent as in the past. 

  \r \r \r 

  “The Emperor feels a great deal of guilt and remorse toward the Great Prince.” Fan Xian spoke as he rubbed the slightly sore spot between his brows. “That is why he wants to give compensation to the Great Prince. Speaking from the Great Prince’s life goal, the best compensation would be to appoint him to the vanguard and allow him to fight for the Qing Kingdom from the South to the North, to unify the world and shine in glory on the battlefield. The Emperor has truly decided to appoint him as Commander, which is why he must depose of wangfei.” 

  Thinking of this, he also felt some resentment toward the Emperor. The Great wangfei was a Great Princess of Northern Qi. She would indeed have an impact on the Great Prince leading a Northern Expedition as the Commander, but why did he need to resort to such lowly Palace in-fighting methods as appointing a secondary fei to resolve it? This was not the elegance that the ruler of a country should have. He was like an old man with a grudge against his son. Suddenly, his heart jumped. Had the Emperor not learned from his previous experiences and still had great suspicions? Was he was using all kinds of methods to try and nip these doubts in the bud? 

  Fan Xian’s heart gradually became cold. He realized that he had made a mistake these years. He had still underestimated an Emperor’s great desire for power and natural paranoia and coldness. 

  Being a son was difficult. Being the son of an Emperor was even more difficult. Being the son of the Qing Emperor was hardship piled on hardship. Fan Xian let out a troubled breath. He knew that after he returned to the capital, he would probably be unhappily caught between the Emperor and Great Prince, so he may as well not think of it for now. 

  He was somewhat curious about whose daughter the Emperor had appointed to the Great Prince as a Secondary fei. Which noble was so unafraid of death that he dared to deliver his own daughter into the mouths of the tigress that was the Great wangfei, the tiger that was the Great Prince, and the old mother tiger that was Lady Ning in the Palace? 

  Thinking of Lady Ning’s merit and virtue after the rebellion, as well as the Great Prince’s face, the Emperor had finally raised her rank. Late by 20 years, he finally granted her the title of Imperial Consort. After the Dongyi girl slave had become an Imperial Consort, her bold and vigorous personality did not change. She was still as ferocious as a tiger. 

  The Great Prince’s family was a forest of tigers. 

  In any case, it could not be Ruoruo. Fan Xian was confident of this. Presently, the Emperor was full of trust and affection for him. He also knew that for the sake of Ruoruo’s marriage, he had almost beaten Hongcheng into impotency. He would not cause conflict with him over this and face losing more than he gained. 

  Fan Xian stood and pushed open the door to go outside. He welcomed the courtyard full of autumn colors, no longer thinking about those annoying matters in Jingdou. It was already deep into autumn. Gazing out from the military yamen, it was full of clean and distant colors. The sky was very blue, and the clouds very light. It made one’s mind open the moment one saw it. 

  Qingzhou was close to Xi Lake and had an atmosphere of the grasslands. Perhaps only in such a land could one nurture an open and bright state of mind, such as that strange Great Prince from the royal family and strange Ye Ling’er from a noble family. 

  Fan Xian smiled slightly as he looked at the girl in the courtyard. He thought to himself, Great wangfei was in a very difficult position, but the Second wangfei seemed to be gradually walking out of the shadow of the Second Prince. There were always good things happening in the world. ……

  Thirteenth Wang’s body was recovering quickly. He could now sit in the wheelchair and wander around the Qingzhou military yamen. Because of Ye Ling’er’s words, Fan Xian couldn’t be bothered with continuing the useless attempts to hide the secret. He summoned a few serving girls and gave them the responsibility of pushing the wheelchair. He then sent a few subordinates from the Sixth Bureau to follow along to ensure his safety. 

  During these dozen days, Fan Xian was busy making contact with Dingzhou and leading Xiliang Road’s entire counterattack movement. He also had to carry out private exchanges with the grasslands. He was very busy and didn’t pay much attention to Thirteenth Wang’s movements, but he was not blind. He could see that this lonely and cold Qingzhou military yamen had gradually changed because of Thirteenth Wang’s waking. Amidst the autumn garden, there was an occasional hint of spring. 

  When Thirteenth Wang sat in his wheelchair and rested occasionally in the garden, not far away from him would be a girl sitting and doing other things, such as embroidery, or looking at the scenery like a stupid goose. 

  Thirteenth Wang would become a stupid goose dazedly watching the stupid goose looking at the scenery. 

  Other than greeting each other when they ran into each other face-to-face, the young man and woman did not talk leisurely. They only played out their parts stupidly. They sang toward the sky but were also afraid that the gentle ripples from red claws would disturb their unintentional clear waters. [JW1] 

  Fan Xian was a master in the Overwatch Council, while Ye Ling’er was a master in Qingzhou. With her order, there were no longer daily trips out of the city, like in previous years, to intercept Hu harvesters who galloped out of the grasslands. She stayed properly in the military yamen and chased out all of the old troops that were in the military yamen, leaving only a cycle of serving women and girls. 

  Now, there was an extra scene in the little garden in Qingzhou’s military yamen, it was the two stupid geese Fan Xian was quietly smiling about. ……

  As her teacher, Fan Xian knew what kind of person Ye Ling’er was. He admitted to himself that if he was a girl, he would probably also be astonished by Thirteenth Wang’s 38 knife wounds on the front of his body. It would be engraved in their heart and carved into their bones. Furthermore, Thirteenth Wang was a silent, gentle, and heroic person. How could such a person not move Ye Ling’er, who was born into the military? 

  Although Ye Ling’er’s identity was a bit troublesome, Fan Xian did not worry about this. Two years ago, the Emperor had quietly passed an edict allowing Ye Ling’er to remarry and pick her own husband. This was a heavenly gift. As long as it was someone she liked, even if it took the Qing court, they would grab him for her. 

  The problem was Thirteenth Wang’s identity. Although he was secretly doing things for the Overwatch Council and the Emperor knew of these matters, in the end, he was still Sigu Jian’s last disciple and one of the 13 disciples of Dongyi’s Sword Hut. Ye Ling’er was once the Second wangfei. If she wanted to marry an ace from Dongyi, would the Palace approve? 

  If Dongyi could completely lean toward the Qing Kingdom under his management, then these obstacles would not exist. Fan Xian decided to put more effort into the matter as compensation for the poor girl on behalf of the Emperor and Ye Zhong. 

  There was only one problem. Fan Xian looked at the two people in the garden with a smile and rubbed his nose in thought. These two were stuck in a strange situation. Someone had to expose the truth. It was not strange that Ye Ling’er would like Thirteenth Wang but what was Thirteenth Wang thinking exactly? No matter how noble Ye Ling’er identity was, she was also a widow. 

  He knew why Thirteenth Wang had been attracted by Ye Ling’er’s profile. It had been very lonely, but Fan Xian knew that the true Ye Ling’er was not like this. 

  Fan Xian shuddered. Ye Ling’er actually embroidered in front of Thirteenth Wang to appear delicate and frail. If this got back to Jingdou and reached Wan’er’s ears, it would probably make his wife faint with laughter. 

  He decided to tell Thirteenth Wang about the true Ye Ling’er so his young friend, whom he appreciated greatly, would not realize that his life was a great misunderstanding after his marriage 

  Just as Fan Xian was about to go down the stone steps and disturb the “condescending” young man and woman, the Shadow behind the door quietly said something. He immediately stopped his steps. 

  The Shadow had carefully hidden his tracks so that Thirteenth Wang would not discover anything. Fan Xian knew of the complicated relationship between the Shadow and the Sword Hut. He also knew the Shadow’s true identity could not be known by anyone. Sigu Jian and the Shadow had an irreconcilable hatred. Looking at Sigu Jian’s favorite disciple in the autumn garden, the Shadow’s emotions were not as happy as the man and woman in the garden. 

  A moment later, Fan Xian said, “We will go next year spring. He won’t die this early.” 

  [JW1] This is a play on a famous Chinese poem. It doesn’t make as much sense without knowing the reference.

  Chapter 602: The Gazes On The City Gate Watch The Return To The Capital

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

  When it came to Sigu Jian’s life and death, the Shadow was more interested in it than anyone. He didn’t want Sigu Jian to die by anyone else’s hand, not even the heartless hands of god. Many years ago, there was suddenly a rebellion within Dongyi. Sigu Jian had come out with his sword and massacred all the elders and family in his clan. Only the 16-year-old Shadow managed to escape. Since then, his entire life has been lived with the purpose of getting revenge on his elder brother. He gradually sank into the powerful grasp of fear and anger and became the shadow behind two leaders of the Overwatch Council. 

  The reason Sigu Jian was known as an idiot probably had something to do with his crazed and overly bloody behavior when he killed the people of his clan. 

  As for how the Shadow had escaped Dongyi, met Chen Pingping, and was taken in my Chen Pingping into the Overwatch Council to become completely loyal and willing to put his life on the line, was perhaps another very long story. 

  Fan Xian was not sure about this, but he did not want to inquire too deeply. Everyone around him had their own story and secrets, such as Jing Ge and the Yan family. He did know the Shadow’s identity, which he buried in the lowest depths, and of the sea of hatred between the Shadow and Sigu Jian. Like how he treated the other people by his side, Fan Xian and the others helped each other and supported each other to walk across the difficult world. 

  Fan Xian didn’t turn back his head when he quietly said, “I know you’ve always wanted to ask him something. Rest assured, you’ll be able to ask it.” 

  The Shadow was silent for a moment. He then disappeared from behind Fan Xian. He didn’t let Thirteenth Wang and Ye Ling’er in the garden notice anything. 

  Fan Xian was silent for a moment. He then walked toward the garden. In a moment, he had come between the silent man and woman. Thirteenth Wang raised his head to glance at him and felt slightly surprised. The Qing court was carrying out a fatal battle in Xiliang Road against the Hu people of the grasslands and the support of Northern Qi. For a dozen consecutive days, Fan Xian had been hard pressed and busy because of it. Why did he now have time and the mood to enjoy the garden? 

  Ye Ling’er had her head down and was embroidering on a taut embroidery rack. She had long sensed Fan Xian’s arrival and immediately jumped out of the peaceful, silent, calm, and happy atmosphere that she had been in. A slight resentment grew in her heart. Her needle already moved at a very slow speed, but now it became even slower. It was less like embroidery and more as if she was using the sender point of the needle to scratch at the taught embroidery cloth. 

  Fan Xian stood between the two of them. Since they didn’t say anything, he also couldn’t think of any reason to speak. Putting his hands behind him, he put on an air of knowing all things in the world. Gazing at the lonely tips of the autumn branches, he pretended to have a cultured air. 

  Seeing his affected appearance, Thirteenth Wang didn’t know if he had seen the thoughts he had never voiced out loud. His gaze became slightly panicked. Ye Ling’er took one glance at him and then buried her head deeply again, gently biting her lip. 

  The time was right. Fan Xian coughed and said, “Wangfei, although Qingzhou’s scenery is good, embroidering every day in the garden with the courtyard blocking the light, isn’t hard to see anything?” 

  Hearing the word “wangfei,” Ye Ling’er thought Fan Xian was reminding her of something. Her face immediately became pale. She didn’t reply. 

  Thirteenth Wang was silent. Like Ye Ling’er, he also misunderstood Fan Xian’s meaning. He thought to himself, Never mind. Although he hadn’t talked much to the girl, he knew that she had a relaxed nature. There was indeed a string in his heart that had been played by the wind in Qingzhou. But, she was a wangfei of the Qing Kingdom. The difference in statuses was too big. 

  Fan Xian sighed and turned his head to Thirteenth Wang and said, “Thirteen, ah, although you are heavily injured and need someone to look after you, one must be cautious when it comes to men and women, particularly as the young lady of the Ye family is the Qing Kingdom’s wangfei. There is no one else in this garden, yet the two of you just sit like this across from each other. You must think of how I am going to explain matters after I return to the capital.” 

  These words made things clear. Earlier, Thirteenth Wang had sighed slightly. Under his gentle nature, there was an incomparable stubbornness. His brows rose as he looked at Fan Xian. “I will immediately leave the manor.” 

  Ye Ling’er abruptly raised her head and glared daggers at Fan Xian. 

  Fan Xian’s heart stuttered slightly. Shortly after, he smiled warmly. He thought that Thirteenth Wang was worthy of his trust. He didn’t acknowledge Ye Ling’er’s angry look beside him. Flipping his hand, he drew three circles in the air. His hand then shot down toward the embroidery cloth in front of Ye Ling’er. Gentle and without a breeze, yet astonishingly fast, it was a little trick he had relied on to make his name. 

  Ye Ling’er’s fingertips unconsciously snapped. The embroidery needle shot through the air with a crack and flew toward Fan Xian’s wrist. The angle was very crafty. 

  This was also a little trick, but these tricks had been taught to her by Fan Xian. How could they stop him from stealing the cloth? 

  With just a shadow flashing by, Fan Xian had already taken the embroidery cloth from her and floated to Thirteenth Wang’s side. Smiling, he said, “Thirteen, I am just afraid that you’ll be tricked. Our wangfei is not a young lady of a large family that knows how to embroider.” 

  Thirteenth Wang started slightly, not understanding why the Commissioner was suddenly talking about this. Afterward, he watched as Fan Xian spread the embroidery cloth in front of his eyes only to see that there was half a duck embroidered on it. 

  Ye Ling’er had been in the garden, where Thirteenth Wang could see her, embroidering for an entire seven days. The result was only half a duck? 

  Thirteenth Wang immediately understood the misunderstanding Fan Xian was talking about and couldn’t resist a small smile. It was Fan Xian who laughed loudly and said, “Joy between man and woman is heaven’s law and earth’s principle. No one can stop you, but you have to think about it carefully.” 

  Ye Ling’er abruptly stood up. Her body was shaking with anger. She looked at Fan Xian with rage but was also too embarrassed to say anything. Mist rose in her eyes. She looked pitiful. 

  Thirteenth Wang looked at the girl and felt his heart move. He withdrew his smile as his face filled with concern. 

  Fan Xian slowly stopped his laughter. He then suddenly lowered his voice and said next to Thirteenth Wang’s ear, “Talking is always needed in dating. Even if two stupid ducks sit together for a lifetime, what good will it do?” 

  Only now did everything become clear. Thirteenth Wang knew that he had purposely come to help him break through the glass in the window. Other than a slight embarrassment, he couldn’t help but feel grateful. He also didn’t have Fan Xian’s thick-skin to say it. Ye Ling’er didn’t know what Fan Xian had said. Looking at the two of them whispering, she felt a great sense of unease. 

  Fan Xian had done what he needed to do. Leisurely, he walked toward the front hall of the military yamen. His posture was relaxed, like he had completed a good deed. He looked very pleased. 

  Ye Ling’er looked at his retreating figure and, for some reason, a great sense of dissatisfaction rose from the bottom of her heart. Huffing lightly, she mockingly said, “Teacher, I don’t know how to embroider, but this duck…… It’s probably better than what the one in your house can do.” 

  Fan Xian heard this and immediately thought of the needle marks on Wan’er’s finger, as well as that image of the duck. He felt a cold settle over him and embarrassment appeared on his face. It was impossible for him to respond, so he quickly escaped. 

  Looking at this sight, Ye Ling’er chuckled out loud. The sound of her laughter tinkled like bells within the autumn garden in Qingzhou. The person beside her did not laugh. He only looked at her with quiet appreciation. 

  One person laughing was no fun. Ye Ling’er awkwardly restrained her laughter. In the dozen days Thirteenth Wang had been recovering from his injury, she had purposely restrained her carefree nature and appeared particularly quiet. Unexpectedly, all her efforts had been ruined by Fan Xian. She didn’t know if this made her feel that she was overly scathing. Countless thoughts immediately flashed through her mind. The emotions in her eyes became complicated. 

  Thirteenth Wang felt very nervous, but he hid it from his face very well. Looking at Ye Ling’er, he said, “My name is Wang Xi, and I go by Tie Xiang. I am the thirteenth disciple of Dongyi’s Sword Hut. I have relied on your care greatly these days, and I am endlessly grateful.” 

  Ye Ling’er had not thought he would suddenly speak and do so sincerely. She panicked slightly. She then calmed herself and returned the bow, lightly saying, “Sir Wang, you are too kind.” 

  \r \r \r 

  In Ye Ling’er’s opinion, it was much more relaxed and natural to use an official title to refer to someone. She did not understand why he had chosen this time to give his thanks so sincerely when they had already interacted for a dozen days and had only spoken a dozen sentences altogether. 

  Was he really going to leave the manor or was all of this a dream? Ye Ling’er sighed faintly in her heart. If she had been a normal girl, perhaps she would have chosen to leave because of the melancholy in her heart. Ye Ling’er was, after all, Ye Ling’er. She didn’t know how to embroider. She could only dance with knives and spears. Although she was a widow, she still acted like a teenager, full of the vitality of a wild child. 

  She stared closely into Thirteenth Wang’s eyes and said, “If you have something to say, say it straightforwardly. There is no need to announce your family. Looking at the way you do things, you are a direct person. Do not learn Fan Xian’s long-winded and hypocritical ways.” 

  Thirteenth Wang said a moment later, with sincerity, “Sir Fan junior said everything needs to be talked out.” 

  Ye Ling’er understood things a little. Suddenly, she felt an autumn breeze. When it brushed past her face, there was not a murderous aura at all. There were only all kinds of gentleness……

  The matter between Thirteenth Wang and Ye Ling’er did not go as Fan Xian imagined. After he exposed the situation, it was not as if they had met under a golden wind among white dew and had an experience that neither had before. Their meeting was not like that of dry kindling wood and fire, as unstoppable as the Yellow River in a flood. Contrary to his expectations, the young man and woman continued to treat each other with etiquette and sat with the stone path between them, only occasionally saying a few words. 

  Speaking of which, it was strange. Thirteenth Wang and Ye Ling’er’s personalities were both first-rate, particularly since Ye Ling’er had grown up by the grasslands. Compared to the ladies in Jingdou, she was much more open. Once the word “affection” was involved, and because of the tragic matter in Jingdou the year before, as well as Thirteenth Wang’s identity, both of them were rather quiet. 

  Seeing all of this, Fan Xian still didn’t feel anxious. In any case, the affairs of the world happened in all different ways. It was impossible for him to expect every man and woman who had affection for each other to climb falls and vault through windows in impatience. 

  Furthermore, he didn’t have the time to watch these wonderful things because those not-so-wonderful things in Xiliang Road still needed him to take the lead. 

  Time moved quickly into the end of autumn and beginning of winter. The eight bureaus of the Overwatch Council gathered in Qingzhou. The tribes from all over the grasslands gathered in the court to debate matters. With unusual ruthlessness, the Qing Kingdom had severed the hand the grasslands had extended out, as well as the hand that Northern Qi had extended to the grasslands. They watched as the situation on the grasslands grew worse each day. 

  Northern Qi had only clasped that hand for a year, yet it had already fully tested the Qing court. The borders were usually low on food. The national treasury, military power, and energy were all forcefully kept in the West, while the pressure on their true enemy, Northern Qi, was lessened. 

  Under the Emperor’s impetus, the Overwatch Council had prepared for four months. With Fan Xian personally leading the effort, they had finally severed the two hands that were clasped together in the late autumn and early winter of the ninth year of the Qing calendar. 

  The situation on the grasslands might not collapse beyond repair with the control of Chief Su Bida and Haitang, but if the Northern Qi Emperor still wanted to cause waves in Xiliang Road, it would not be so easy. Furthermore, Fan Xian had laid down his own powers on the grasslands. When the flowers bloomed next spring, he would begin to reap the results. 

  After confirming the implementation of the various assignments and verifying the results of the battle. Fan Xian could finally leave behind the extremely busy council affairs and began to prepare for his return to the capital. Thirteenth Wang would not follow him back to the capital. He was not fully recovered and did not want him to have too much contact with the Shadow along the way. Additionally, there was still over half a month before Ye Ling’er returned to the capital for New Year. Those two spending more time together was always a good thing. 

  Whatever Fan Xian decided on rarely changed. Since he had decided to help Ye Ling’er and Thirteenth Wang be together, he was confident. After he had returned to the capital and resolved the Great Prince’s domestic matter, he would probably have to go to the Bureau of Military Affairs and propose a marriage to General Ye. The matter first had to be approved by the Emperor. 

  On Nov. 15, in the ninth year of the Qing calendar, the Overwatch Council completed its mission in Xiliang Road. From Dingzhou, the Commissioner began his return trip to the capital. Outside the walls of Dingzhou, countless officials and generals came to send him off, packed densely into two rows. 

  The Governor of Xiliang Road and General Li Hongcheng stood with Fan Xian. They said some official words and then ended their conversation. At the end, Li Hongcheng gazed at Fan Xian deeply. Fan Xian understood his meaning. He just quietly said, “I’ll wait for you in Jingdou.” 

  The carriages began to move, driving onto the official road in front of Dingzhou. Fan Xian unconsciously turned back his head to look. He didn’t stop his gaze on the officials from Dingzhou’s military and civil branches. Instead, he raised his head and looked at the wooden scaffolding above the Dingzhou city gate. 

  An entire row of scaffolding had been built above the Dingzhou city gate. A body hung from each one. During this mission, over 40 spies had been put to death. However, these spies were still unable to rest in death. They were hanging high above the city gate blowing whichever way by the wind and exposed to the burning autumn sun. 

  Some of the bodies that had been hung up the earliest were completely rotten, faintly revealing the faintly visible white bones below. Even the scavenging birds from the fields didn’t want to eat from them. The clothing on the bodies were in tatters and carried the black blood marks of torture. 

  A long row of corpses swayed slowly in the wind, giving off a terrifying and bloody stench. This terrifying scene welcomed every person coming in from the grasslands. ……

  Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and pulled his head back from outside the window. Hanging bodies had an effect in the psychological battle. At least, the spies that the little Northern Qi Emperor sent later would develop an innate feeling of horror. However, when it came to battles in the Central Plain, because of a thousand-year balance between virtue and benevolence, the killing of prisoners of war was rare. The desecrating of bodies was seen even less. 

  But, Dingzhou was not the Central Plain. It was the center of conflict between Central Plain and Western Hu. The two sides had killed each other for thousands of years and done far more cruel things. 

  Fan Xian had no sympathy for these spies. What he saw on his trip from Dingzhou to Qingzhou made him realize that once the battle started, it was not a problem that could be resolved through benevolence and virtue, particularly the ongoing hatred between cultures. Speaking just of the dozens of bodies above the city gate, they had cost the lives of thousands of common Qing people. What made Fan Xian even more ruthless was the fact that these people were not Hu people. They were Northern Qi people who were of the same origin, same kind, and same ancestors of the Qing people. 

  As for the hatred between the grasslands and Central Plain, it was not something that his generation had the power to calm and resolve. It would have to be left to their wiser descendants. 

  Fan Xian closed his eyes to rest. He thought to himself that he had severed Northern Qi and the grasslands’ grasp or had at least caused grievous harm. He was afraid that it had also created a wretched wound between him and Haitang. He didn’t know if this wound would be able to heal completely. He didn’t know what Haitang would do on the grasslands. This grasslands, this city, this border, would he ever return in this lifetime? 

  As he thought these gloomy things, the imperial envoy’s carriage had already arrived at the closest inn outside Dingzhou. It was precisely the one where Fan Xian had peeped at an erotic picture. 

  Entering the inn, Fan Xian teased the deputy official of the inn with whom he was familiar. The deputy that had just been released with difficulty from prison, so he didn’t reply in a loud voice and quietly went to boil water. 

  Fan Xian looked at Deng Zi Yue beside him and said, “Zi Yue, I’ll need you to endure in Xiliang Road for two years.” 

  Officials from all eight major bureaus of the Overwatch Council were coming to Dingzhou to prepare for battle. Deng Zi Yue had been summoned all the way back from Northern Qi by Fan Xian. Now that Fan Xian was leaving, all of the Xiliang Road affairs were handed to Deng Zi Yue. The officials turned back after seeing the imperial envoy out of the city, but the officials of the Overwatch Council saw him all the way to the inn. 

  Deng Zi Yue nodded and said, “As you command.” 

  Fan Xian thought for a moment and gave him a few more instructions. He then began to read the imperial bulletins from Jingdou. After a moment, his eyes narrowed slightly. As the second-in-command of the Qinian Unit, Deng Zi Yue had served Sir Fan junior for a long time. Seeing him narrow his eyes, he knew something troublesome had happened. He inquired in a quiet voice. 

  , 

  Fan Xian smiled and said, “The Council reports mentioned it but the imperial bulletin finally confirmed it. The Commander of the Imperial Army in the Palace has been changed.” 

  Deng Zi Yue’s heart jumped in surprise. He thought, The Great Prince had been always performed well, why would it suddenly change?

  Chapter 603: Old Events By The City Gate But Not The People Of Old

  The imperial bulletin and Council report stated clearly that the position of the Commander of the Jingdou Imperial Army would no longer be filled by the Great Prince. Instead, it was given to Gong Dian. After the Jingdou rebellion, Gong Dian had reprised his old position as Commander of the Internal Guards. It was not entirely surprising for him to now take on the position of the Commander of the Imperial Army. The Ye family’s loyalty to the Emperor was known to everyone. Since the safety of the Royal Palace was no longer the responsibility of the Great Prince, it could only be handed to Gong Dian. 

  The question now was, if the Great Prince was no longer the Commander of the Imperial Army, what position would the Emperor give him? The imperial bulletin didn’t say. There were also no clear rumors in Jingdou. Fan Xian looked at the paper in his hand and couldn’t resist shaking his head. 

  There were a number of important personnel appointments being made in Jingdou all concentrated in the military. It was clear that the Emperor was beginning to make a position for the Great Prince. What caught Fan Xian’s attention the most was that the Commander of the Jingdou Garrison, Xiao Jinhua, had been removed from his post and transferred to the army by Nanzhao to be the deputy Governor. The Northern Expedition Governor, Shi Fei, had been summoned back by the Emperor and had taken over the important position of Commander of the Jingdou Garrison. However, Shi Fei’s superior, the Governor of the Yanjing camp, Wang Zhikun, stayed where he was. 

  The movement of three major military personnel was not normal. Fan Xian understood the role these different military personnel played and the Emperor’s different attitude toward each of them. For example, during the Jingdou rebellion, Xiao Jinhua was the head of Donghua Gate, one of the thirteen city gate guards. Since he had stood his ground firmly and kept the Crown prince and Qin family’s remaining troops blocked within Jingdou, he had performed a great service. That was why the Emperor had raised him three consecutive levels and gave him the post of Commander of the Jingdou Garrison. This was a demonstration of the Emperor’s approval toward a loyal official. 

  Fan Xian had long guessed that the Emperor would not have Xiao Jinhua stay in the position of Commander of the Jingdou Garrison for long. First, he was too inexperienced. It was difficult for him to subdue others and take on the important responsibility of the Jingdou Garrison. Second, Xiao Jinghua had started as one of the 13 city gate guards. The Emperor had been the most disappointed by their performance during the Jingdou rebellion. 

  The Emperor had trusted Zhang Deqing the most, yet he had been loyal to the Eldest Princess. Although the Emperor had killed Zhang Deqing after the incident, as well as three generations of his family, it still did not release the anger in his heart. Xiao Jinhua was guilty of being a fish in the same pond. However, he presumably understood his use as a symbol and would be able to accept being a deputy Governor in Nanzhao. 

  However, the situation of the Northern Expedition Army was rather complicated. Yan Xiaoyi had been killed by Fan Xian on the summit. Additionally, the Qing Kingdom’s Northern Expedition Army camp by Cangzhou had been involved in the matter of the rebellion. They had suffered through countless purges these two years. The court had not allowed General Shi Fei to officially take on the position of Governor of the Northern Expedition and only gave him the title. He was under the jurisdiction of Wang Zhikun of the Yanjing camp. 

  For the past dozen years, General Shi Fei had always been Wang Zhikun’s deputy, so this arrangement would not be a problem. Now that the Emperor had called Fei Shi back to the capital to take on the position of the Commander of the Jingdou Garrison, the position of the Governor of the Northern Expedition camp had become empty. Who was it being kept for? 

  Fan Xian shook his head and thought that probably everyone could see that the position of the Governor of the Northern Expedition, on the border of Northern Qi poised in the heart of the struggle, had been left for the Great Prince. 

  It looked like the Emperor was finally laying down his pieces after two years of rest. Particularly during these two months, the Overwatch Council and Dingzhou army had forcefully stabilized the situation in Xiliang and on the grasslands. Now, the Emperor finally had the time to prepare everything for the northeast. 

  If the Great Prince wanted to become the Commander of the Qing vanguard and manage the 100,000 soldiers on the front lines and become the powerful Governor of the Northern Expedition, he had to accept the Emperor’s arrangements in another matter—taking on a Secondary fei. The day he left would be the day the Great wangfei lost her position. 

  “The Great Prince is not this kind of person.” Fan Xian furrowed his brows in thought. The Emperor had already laid down the foundations for the Great Prince to command the Qing army and enter the battlefield. He was just waiting for the Great Prince to acknowledge his painstaking efforts and place his feet onto the path. Although the Great Prince loved the battlefield, he probably still could not do such a thing. 

  Every time he thought of the fact that after he returned to Jingdou, he would have no choice but to do such a thing under the Emperor’s pressure, Fan Xian felt irritated and couldn’t resist letting out a huff of air. Although this huff was quiet, he still scared Deng Zi Yue and Mu Feng by his side. They weren’t sure what had happened. 

  “It’s nothing. Go rest. We still have a long way to go tomorrow.” Fan Xian rubbed the spot between his brows and waved his hand at both of them. After thinking for a moment, he kept Deng Zi Yue behind. 

  He looked at Deng Zi Yue and said after a moment of silence, “You’ve been stationed for a long time in Shangjing. Do you know how the Northern Qi people perceive Shi Fei? 

  Shi Fei had been stationed in Cangzhou two years. Leading the Northern Expedition camp, he had fought against the famous general Shang Shanhu. Although he had taken some small losses, he had been calm and collected. He had stabilized the situation well. 

  Deng Zi Yue thought about it for a while and said, “General Shi Fei has always been the deputy of Governor Wang in the Yanjing camp. His name was not very well-known. It was only after he went to the Northern Expedition camp two years ago that he became gradually known to the Qi people. Although there had not been any major battles in the north and south of Cangzhou these two years, and based on the fact he was able to keep calm under Shang Shanhu’s intimidating force, it at least proved that Shi Fei’s personality leans toward being reserved and patient.” 

  “Reserved?” Fan Xian echoed with disapproval. “If he is only reserved and patient, why would the Emperor have him take on such a heavy burden two years ago?” 

  Deng Zi Yue knew what the Commissioner was talking about. In the depths of autumn in the seventh year of the Qing calendar, the Dong Mountain incident and the Jingdou rebellion occurred. Everyone had neglected the Northern camp that Yan Xiaoyi had abandoned near Cangzhou. They had not realized the importance of that place. But, Fan Xian had never forgotten. While the Emperor was still trapped on Dong Mountain, he had already sent a secret order to have the Yanjing camp be ready at any moment to take over the Cangzhou Northern camp, in case the Northern Qi people took advantage of the chaos to enter. 

  This was an important mission. With the death of Yan Xiaoyi, thousands of soldiers were taken as prisoners of war. If there wasn’t a capable general holding down the fort, the Northern camp might have truly mutinied. General Shi Fei had been responsible for the Emperor’s important edict. 

  Not many people knew the exact process of how to subdue the military spirit of the Northern camp. As the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, Fan Xian knew. In his opinion, Shi Fei taking over Qing troops according to imperial edict was the stuff of legends. 

  General Shi Fei only took a dozen personal attendants and entered the Cangzhou Northern camp. Holding the imperial edict in his hand, he easily took control of it. Faced with 100,000 soldiers, where did this general get the boldness to do such a thing? What kind of power was needed to have the Northern camp, which had been run by Yan Xiaoyi for a number of years, become as docile as a warhorse? 

  A person able to accomplish such a thing was not merely reserved and patient. The center of Fan Xian’s forehead was hurting more and more. He felt like there was a dark cage enveloping his brain. The Emperor having the Great Prince lead troops on a Northern Expedition was an expected thing. Having a capable figure such as Shi Fei not stay on the front lines and instead return to Jingdou as the Commander of the Jingdou Garrison, who was this targeting? 

  Before the previous Crown Prince had left for Nanzhao, Fan Xian had predicted that once the Eldest Princess’s faction’s power had melted like ice and snow, he would immediately be met with the Emperor’s merciless culling of his power, as well as a merciless attack on the older figures in court. During these two years, the Overwatch Council’s powers had been culled a great deal. Fortunately, his favor with the Emperor had grown by the day. No one in court dared to do anything to him. Furthermore, the elders Fan Xian worried the most about had also obtained precious experiences through the Jingdou rebellion. They had not waited for the Emperor to act. Instead, they had taken it upon themselves to quietly disappear from the stage. 

  His father had long quit his position as Minister of Revenue and gone quietly back to Danzhou in retirement. Although Chen Pingping was still the Director of the Overwatch Council, he no longer managed affairs. He had handed all Council affairs to Fan Xian and Yan Bingyun’s hands. Furthermore, he had requested to resign his post. Since the Emperor truly treasured their friendship, he had refused to grant him the request. The most tragic figure of the elder generation was his father-in-law in Wuzhou. During the Jingdou rebellion, the previous Prime Minister, Lin Ruofu, had miscalculated one thing. He had dragged out all the people he had hidden in court and handed them to his good son-in-law thinking that he would be able to rise again. Unexpectedly, the Emperor had returned safely to the capital. Thus, everything had become an illusory soap bubble. 

  Not only did it become a soap bubble, but the Emperor also held the previous Prime Minister’s dishonesty in great taboo. These two years, he had thoroughly punished those who had supported the Prime Minister. Although he didn’t use any sinister tricks, he still completely uprooted the last of Lin Ruofu’s power in Jingdou. 

  \r \r \r 

  Concerning this matter, Fan Xian didn’t have a place to talk. He could only watch it all with a bitter smile. He watched his father-in-law tremble in fear in Wuzhou and repeatedly send secret letters to the Emperor to sincerely beg for forgiveness. 

  Fortunately, for the sake of Fan Xian and Lin Wan’er, the Emperor did not continue investigating Lin Ruofu. 

  Thinking of it now, the three old men the Emperor had wanted to sweep away had all retreated toward the back of the stage of their own accord. The Qing court was like an iron bucket, so what was the reason for transferring Shi Fei into Jingdou? Why was such a powerful figure not left in the battles that would unite the world and was instead transferred back to the Emperor’s side? Who was he targeting? 

  Was it himself? Fan Xian was a bit gloomy. He didn’t think about these problems anymore. Raising his head, he asked Deng Zi Yue in a quiet voice, “Don’t worry about the matters in Jingdou.” 

  He paused for a bit and then said, “No matter what you hear or know, don’t worry about it. You have to remember, you are an official of the Overwatch Council and an official of the Emperor. I am leaving you in Xiliang for the sake of the lives of the hundreds of millions of Qing people. If you do this well, everything will be fine.” 

  Deng Zi Yue was the second person to enter the Qinian Unit. He had been personally picked by Wang Qinian. Other than Lao Wang, he was Fan Xian’s top confidant. These few years, he had been stationed in Northern Qi’s Shangjing as the head of the Fourth Bureau stationed in Northern Qi. He knew the Commissioner was promoting him and was endlessly grateful. Hearing the Commissioner’s inauspicious tone, he couldn’t help being surprised into speechlessness. His eyes were filled with worry. 

  The three consecutive Overwatch Council heads for the spy network of the fourth Bureau in Northern Qi were Yan Bingyun, Wang Qinian, and Deng Zi Yue. They were all Fan Xian’s most capable assistants. As long as they didn’t have an accident like Wang Qinian, they would become the topmost officials in the Overwatch Council. 

  Fan Xian looked at Deng Zi Yue calmly. “The Xiliang matter is very important. You have to deal with it well. After returning to the capital, you will take the position as head of the Fourth Bureau. For now, this way it will be much easier to ask for aid from the other seven bureaus. But, don’t bother with the other administrative regions. Yan Bingyun will continue to lead there. Do you understand what I mean?” 

  “Understood.” Feng Zi Yue nodded his head. “Thank you for your favor.” 

  “Don’t let the Hu people take one step into our territory.” Fan Xian stared into his eyes. “I have lost many people and have placed you, who I trust the most, in this desolate Xiliang Road for at least two years. You know why I am doing this. Don’t disappoint me.” 

  Deng Zi Yue’s heart trembled. He went down on one knee. Solemnly, he said, “I will not disappoint you.” 

  Fan Xian nodded and did not say anything more. It was Deng Zi Yue who continued to feel moved. He had followed the Commissioner for five years and had never seen him delegate a matter so seriously. What shocked him more was the fact that Sir Fan junior was clearly only a young man just over 20 years old. Yet, when he delegated tasks and handled matters, he did it with the calm of an old man who had been submerged in the court for decades. 

  He hesitated a moment and then said, “Concerning Songzhi Xianling……” 

  The news of Songzhi Xianling being Haitang would slowly get out. For now, other than Fan Xian, only Deng Zi Yue knew of this secret. Hearing this question, Fan Xian was silent and didn’t reply for a long time. ……

  After a dozen days, Fan Xian’s carriages reached the outskirts of Jingdou. Three days ago, Fan Xian had given the order for all of the honor-guard and eye-catching things to be dispersed. On this trip, he had only gone through the motions of following the imperial edict to inspect Xiliang. The secret plan was the most important part. Additionally, there were some small troubles in Jingdou. Fan Xian did not wish to be overly ostentatious. Thus, the imperial envoys honor-guard immediately became the carriage of the Overwatch Council Fourth Bureau. 

  Naturally, there was nothing wrong with the Overwatch Council’s travel documents. The guards of the palace gate department also did not dare anger these important figures. The group of carriages did not wait for long outside the western gate before they drove through the city gate. Fan Xian lifted the corner of the curtain and looked outside. He couldn’t help but think of the first time he entered the capital and the sight of Ye Ling’er gracefully riding in. 

  Ye Ling’er should already have arrived in Dingzhou. Thirteenth Wang was certain to come to the Fan manor to report before the end of the year. However, he didn’t know if she would come with him. Involuntarily, a relieved smile rose on Fan Xian’s face as he thought of that spring and the light-colored dress the girl had worn, the white deerskin hat on her head, her brows like distant mountains, her bright eyes…… 

  Suddenly, a black shadow charged by past the side of the carriages and almost scrapped the side of the carriage Fan Xian was on. The shadow moved very fast. It almost startled the Overwatch Council’s horses. The situation was dangerous. 

  The swordsmen of the Overwatch Council Sixth Bureau gripped the hilts of their metal rods, prepared to attack at any moment. 

  Fan had already seen that shadow clearly and shook his head. It was only a young girl riding a horse. There was no need to be so nervous. However, the girl on the horse had charged quickly. She had absolutely no regard for the safety of the people and their produce waiting outside the city gate, which made Fan Xian unable to resist furrowing his brows. 

  It was probably a young lady of a noble family on the horse. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so arrogant. Fan Xian stuck his head out of the window and narrowed his eyes at the girl entering the city gate. He looked at the troops startled by her horse, as well as an old farmer who had fallen in fright. His mood dimmed. 

  There were many things souring his mood. The most important among them was that the noble young lady on the horse was wearing the same dress as Ye Ling’er and the white deerskin hat on her head was also the same as Ye Ling’er’s. 

  “Which family does this young lady belong to? Doing things with such carelessness.” Fan Xian asked Mu Feng’er next to the carriage. Mu Feng’er family worked in the First Bureau of Jingdou and was familiar with the members of the noble families in Jingdou. However, Mu Feng’er looked at the disappearing horse and only shook his head, indicating that he did not know. 

  It was a member of the Qinian Unit who had come out of the city to welcome them that said in a lowered a voice, “It is the young lady of the Wang family.” 

  “Wang family?” Fan Xian’s brows raised. Other than the daughter of the Yanjing Governor Wang Zhikun, which other Wang family in Jingdou would be so arrogant? The Jingdou rebellion was already two years ago. The Yanjing camp had behaved outstandingly during the rebellion. Not only had they helped the Emperor sweep clean the entire Dongshan Road, but they had also taken control of Yan Xiaoyi’s Northern Expedition camp. Presently, Wang Zhikun was far away in Yanjing, while Shi Fei had been moved back to Jingdou. This was the so-called Yanjing faction in the military, and they were at the peak of their royal favor. 

  “It is indeed the young lady of Governor Wang’s family. It is said that the Governor was thankful for the royal favor and missed his old home in Jingdou. He had his daughter return to Jingdou. The current Commander of the Jingdou Garrison, Shi Fei, used to be Governor Wang’s subordinate. This young lady calls him uncle. She is said to love the elegance of the Ye family from when she was in Jingdou. Thus……” The member of the Qinian Unit explained in a low voice. A talented subordinate would always help their superior analyze the situation to prevent unnecessary problems from happening. 

  “She wants to copy Ye Ling’er?” The smile at the corners of Fan Xian’s lips was somewhat strange. “When I saw Ye Ling’er outside the city gate for the first time, the people of Jingdou made way for her of their own accord. I had never seen my disciple wave her whip wildly to chase people away……” 

  Watching this sight, he gradually understood who the Palace wanted the Great Prince to take on as a Secondary fei. His face gradually became dark and heavy. “We’re not going to the Palace first. Go around to Prince Heqing’s manor.”