The comparison between Northern Qi and Qing?
This was a sensitive topic. He could not weaken his own country's prestige, and as an envoy, he could not lose too much face to Northern Qi. But Fan Xian's answer was smooth and natural, as if he had been thinking about it since he was in his mother's womb. He spoke confidently, forcefully, and quickly. It made Haitang's face contort in anger, and made the Emperor open his mouth wide, revealing his well-kept white teeth.
Fan Xian smiled warmly, cupped his hands, and said a few words:
...
...
"I do not know."
The Emperor was stunned for a moment, then began to laugh. This reply was a scoundrel, but he could not punish him. After all, he was a so-called "foreign official". Even if he knew about the Kingdom of Qing, it did not matter!
No wonder the young girl was a ninth-level martial artist at such a young age, while he himself had only just crossed the threshold of the ninth-level martial artist! No wonder the young girl was given the title of Tianmai by the people of Northern Qi, while he could only shamelessly rely on poetry to win "jianghu status"! No wonder the young girl waved her hand lightly, and he had to crawl on the ground like a dog! No wonder I used my flying needles and aphrodisiacs, while others only soaked in the lake. That is why I came to be influenced. "
The Emperor laughed. "With the title of immortal poet here, I will naturally let the students of the Imperial College come and listen to Minister Fan's lectures."
Fan Xian felt bitter. He had been a fake professor at the Imperial College of the Kingdom of Qing, and now that he was here in the north, he was a guest professor.
"If I go south, what do you think the chances are, Minister Fan?"
The young Emperor's face was calm, but the majesty he had cultivated in the palace suddenly came pressing in. Only two people in the world could ask such a sensitive and arrogant question. But it was an envoy from an enemy country, and the meaning was somewhat interesting. Like a spring thunder, Fan Xian's expression did not change. He replied lightly, "Not a single chance."
"Why?" The Emperor looked at Fan Xian coldly.
"The people of Qi do not want to fight, and they will be in danger." Fan Xian smiled. "The people of Qing are warlike, and they will be in danger. Fortunately, you two Majesties, one strives to be strong, and the other is experienced in governing the country. You balance these two sides."
The Emperor suddenly asked, "What kind of person is the Emperor of Qing? I have exchanged two private letters with him, but I still can't understand him. "
Fan Xian began to curse in his heart. After all, he was an official of the Kingdom of Qing. What was the meaning of this? Thus, he kept his mouth shut. Seeing him like this, the Northern Qi Emperor laughed and said quietly, "Your Emperor will grow old, and I will grow up. In the future, when I ride south, I hope Minister Fan can be my minister in the palace."
Fan Xian raised his eyebrows and replied in a manner that was neither servile nor overbearing, "If Your Majesty comes south as a guest, I will certainly compose a poem to congratulate you."
They were both heading south, but the meaning was completely different. The Qi Emperor's intention was to lead the army south and swallow up the Qing Kingdom. What Fan Xian meant was that the Emperor of Qi was a guest in the south. Naturally, he was a prisoner.
He only thought that the young Emperor in front of him was indeed a man of great ambition. However, the words he said in front of him were unavoidably a bit too much. He didn't know if it was because he was young and impetuous that he had slipped his tongue or if he didn't take him, a foreign official, seriously at all. He only wanted to use his mouth to pass his will to the Southern Palace.
…
…
Suddenly, the Emperor's brow furrowed with worry. Thinking of something, he gently waved his hand and said, "Shangjing has always been peaceful, but there have always been many misunderstandings between the two countries. I am worried that there will be people who have ill intentions towards you, Minister Fan. Although those people would not dare to do anything to you, provocations are unavoidable. For my sake, Minister Fan, please be more tolerant."
Fan Xian was shocked, not by the content of the words, but by the tone of the young Emperor's voice. Be more tolerant, for the sake of the Emperor? Fan Xian thought that he had no right to be valued so highly by the ruler of a country, and he didn't understand why the young Emperor would think so highly of him.
"I am a bit tired. Minister Fan, please return first." The Emperor gently patted the railing and turned to look at Haitang, who had been silent all this time. "Aunt Master, please escort Sir Fan out of the palace, lest he get lost. In the coming days, if anyone is rude to the Qing diplomatic mission, I will have to trouble you to say a few words. "
A single word from Haitang of Northern Qi was enough to restrain those fanatical nationalists.
Haitang bowed slightly and said, "As Your Majesty commands."
Fan Xian's eyebrows twitched. Did that mean he would have to see this ninth-level woman often? He didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
The Emperor suddenly smiled and said, "I hear that Master Fan is no longer composing poetry. I am rather disappointed."
Fan Xian smiled bitterly and replied, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Poetry is spoken from the heart. Recently, I have been feeling restless. I cannot, cannot."
The Emperor raised his eyebrows and looked at him with a smile that was not a smile. He said, "I am afraid it is because of emotion that you write poetry. Fan Xian, you look at me, this impure thing. Naturally, you cannot think of poetry."
Fan Xian's forehead was beaded with sweat.
The Emperor suddenly laughed. "Yesterday, the Empress Dowager showed me a small poem … Do you know or not? It should be green fat and red thin. Fan Xian is indeed talented."
Fan Xian was embarrassed, and Haitang was even more embarrassed.
…
…
With Haitang leading the way, Fan Xian left the mountain pavilion and walked along the quiet path toward the dark palace complex in front of the mountain. In the mountain pavilion, the young Emperor of Northern Qi stood silently. The excitement from the earlier conversation had faded from his face, and there was a faint smile on his lips. The Emperor suddenly closed his eyes and took two deep breaths. He seemed to have found a trace of the feeling of watching the moon alone that night.
Footsteps sounded behind him. The Emperor knew it was the eunuchs rushing to serve him. He waved his hand in annoyance and stopped them from entering the pavilion. He continued to stand alone by the side of the mountain pavilion, thinking about something.
After a long time, he suddenly sighed and quietly said to himself, "So this is what Fan Xian looks like. Lili should be here by now, right?"
— — —
On the other side, Fan Xian was silent and nervous as he followed Haitang out of the palace. He was not in the mood to admire the mountain scenery, nor was he in the mood to wave at the cool breeze. He only smiled hypocritically and proudly kept his distance from this strange woman.
With his eyes, he could clearly see Haitang's walking posture.
Haitang swayed three times with each step, but it was not the kind of swaying that women used to seduce men. Instead, it was a very rustic swaying. Her hands were in the pockets of her coarse clothes. Her upper body didn't sway much, but her lower body was dragging her legs as she walked forward on the stone path. She looked extremely lazy, but it wasn't the sexy indolence of a beauty coming out of the bath.
Fan Xian squinted for a long time, but still could not understand how she walked. Could it be that she was constantly practicing some kind of natural martial art while walking? Fan Xian was greatly impressed. He had always thought of himself as one of the most diligent practitioners of martial arts in the world. Ever since he started in Danzhou, he had never stopped training at two hours a day. But he had never thought that he could train even while walking!
No wonder this little girl was at the upper ninth level at such a young age, while he had only just crossed the threshold of the ninth level after working so hard! No wonder this little girl was given the title of Tianmai by the people of Northern Qi, while he could only shamelessly rely on poetry to win his "jianghu status"! No wonder this little girl only had to wave her hand lightly, and he had to crawl on the ground like a dog! No wonder when he had used his secret crossbow and flying needles and aphrodisiacs, she had only soaked in the lake water, and then walked away with a confident wave of her sleeves. She did not care about him at all — because she disdained him, she did not hate him.
Fan Xian's heart dimmed. This kind of genius, and so diligent, could only be compared to Uncle Wu Zhu, a genius among geniuses. He might not be able to.
…
…
After watching for a long time, Haitang seemed to feel the two fiery gazes behind her, always staring at her buttocks and waist. Finally, she could not stand it any longer. She quietly turned around and stared into Fan Xian's eyes, as if she wanted to peel off Fan Xian's beautiful skin and reveal his true, wretched self.
Fan Xian's eyes were clear, without a trace of distractions. Seeing her turn around, he was slightly startled, knowing that she had misunderstood something. He smiled bitterly. "It's just that the way you walk is strange. You must be practicing martial arts, so I'm very impressed."
He was startled, and Haitang was even more startled. She looked at this young man from the Kingdom of Qing with her mouth slightly agape. Her mind was a mess. She had spent most of her life in the mountains and in the palace, and her mind had always been as steady as stone. But for some reason, seeing Fan Xian's detestable and beautiful face, and listening to his random words, she was inexplicably angry. Hearing what Fan Xian said now, she was even more baffled. After a while, she said, "I'm not practicing martial arts."
After saying this, Haitang felt a little strange. Why did she have to explain this to him?
So she said with slight anger, "I've always walked like this since I was little. The Empress Dowager has lectured me for many years, but I can't change it. If Master Fan thinks it's an eyesore, why don't you walk in front?"
Fan Xian was startled. What was going on? He could only follow Haitang, who had turned around, and continue walking.
But Haitang continued to drag her feet, her hands clasped behind her back, and she walked forward lazily.
Fan Xian tilted his head slightly and frowned for a long time. Suddenly, he understood. What kind of martial arts was this? Wasn't this the most common walking posture of those lazy women in the countryside?
When he thought of how a superior ninth-level master, Haitang, who was like a fairy in the eyes of the world, was actually a village girl, walking in the palace like she was walking in a field, Fan Xian couldn't help but laugh out loud.
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