Raindrops hit the roof of the carriage with a dull thud. Fan Xian closed his eyes to rest. He didn't know how long they had been traveling, but he found that the carriage had finally stopped. Fan Xian opened the door of the carriage with one hand and smiled slightly. He stepped out into the rain, only to find that there was an umbrella over his head, shielding him from the wind and rain. Only the cold of spring in the alley around him seeped in through the umbrella.
Wang Qinian, dressed in black, held the umbrella over Fan Xian's head. Behind him, the seven Tiger Guards carried long knives on their backs, silently lined up on either side of Fan Xian.
Fan Xian wore a dark-colored cloak with a plain-colored robe underneath. Hidden underneath was the nocturnal clothes he had prepared before leaving the capital. His plain clothes exuded a murderous aura. Paired with his handsome face, he looked incomparably spirited.
"Commissioner Fan, this way, please." The Brocade Guard responsible for leading the way expressionlessly extended his hand and led them into a courtyard. The courtyard was in a side alley. Fan Xian tilted his head slightly and could faintly hear the bustle in front of him. He smiled and said, "Looks like it's the back courtyard of a brothel."
The Brocade Guard's expression froze for a moment, then he replied with a smile, "Commissioner, your hearing is amazing. This is the back courtyard of Panshulin. Master Shen likes to entertain guests here."
Fan Xian knew of Panshulin. According to legend, it was the most exclusive place in Northern Qi. The first founding Emperor of Northern Qi had been a frequent visitor here. He smiled and nodded. He stepped on the puddles of water on the stone slabs and walked into the back courtyard. The courtyard was filled with layers of bamboo and layers of fake mountains. Brocade Guard spies could be seen everywhere. These people were clearly guards, and they did not deliberately hide themselves.
Along the way, Wang Qinian held the umbrella, and the seven Tiger Guards followed silently. With Fan Xian at the front, they walked coldly and confidently into the depths of the courtyard.
Along the way, seeing this group of people from an enemy country in the south, the Brocade Guards could not help but be surprised. They were surprised at the other party's courage, and surprised at the youth of the important figure in front of them.
...
...
With a swish, Wang Qinian closed the umbrella and silently retreated behind Fan Xian. Fan Xian held his hands behind his back and narrowed his eyes at the courtyard. The room was quite large, with a large round table in the middle. There was a large empty space around it, and all sorts of exquisite decorations. The round table was wide enough to seat fifteen to sixteen people, but there were only two people sitting at the moment.
One of them was dressed like a rich man. He wore a silk hat and a jade ring on his finger. After this person saw Fan Xian come in, two unusual cold lights began to appear in his extremely ordinary eyes. He looked directly at Fan Xian's face. A moment later, he opened his mouth and said,
"Commissioner Fan? I've heard a lot about you, and now that I've seen you today, you're indeed extraordinary. "
Fan Xian did not immediately respond to this polite greeting. Instead, he thought about it in his heart. All along the way, the Northern Qi Brocade Guard had addressed him by his official title of Commissioner. It seemed that this conversation was between the Overwatch Council and the Brocade Guard, and not a diplomatic negotiation between the royal court. He raised his right hand, and with two fingers undid the buckle at his neck, and the thin cloak slid down his back.
Wang Qinian was already behind him.
Fan Xian sat on the other side of the large round table and looked at the rich man across from him. He noticed that the man's eyebrows were very thick, so thick that they looked like they had been drawn on. He couldn't help but smile. "Master Shen, you look so cold to the world. Why are you so polite to me?"
This was the Provost of the Northern Qi Brocade Guard, Master Shen Zhong. Shen Zhong controlled countless Brocade Guards in the north, and was one of the most powerful figures in the world. Fan Xian had not expected him to look so ordinary. If it weren't for the extremely detailed records of this man in the Overwatch Council's files, Fan Xian would not have been able to recognize him.
"I'm not being polite." Provost Shen sighed. Looking at Fan Xian's delicate face, he couldn't help but shake his head. "Master Fan, you are famous throughout the world for your poetry. I, as an uncouth old man, admire you greatly. I didn't expect to suddenly receive news in the last two months that Fan Xian, the immortal poet, has become the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council … this … this I really don't understand. What is old Mister Chen thinking? How could someone like Master Fan live like rats in the sewers like us? "
Fan Xian chuckled. "Master Shen, you are too modest. I have traveled thousands of miles to become an official for the sake of wealth. No matter what I do, first, it is to benefit the court, and second … nothing more than to find a place for my family to live."
These words were a bit blunt, and Shen Zhong sighed in his heart. He couldn't help but look down on this colleague of his from the south. After all, he was a young man, and his words and actions were a bit crude. He really didn't know what Chen Pingping was thinking, and he didn't know why the terrifying emperor of the south would agree to the Overwatch Council's seemingly absurd personnel arrangement.
In truth, as the Provost of the Northern Qi Brocade Guard, Shen Zhong had always felt an indescribable admiration for his colleagues in the south. As for the crippled man in the wheelchair, he was even more respectful and fearful. He still couldn't understand how his counterparts in the South could obtain the Qing Emperor's complete trust, unlike him, who stood shakily in court and didn't know which day he would be thrown away like a pair of broken shoes by the people in the Palace.
Shen Zhong immediately came to his senses. He knew why Fan Xian, as the head of the envoy, had taken the risk of meeting him through Chang Ninghou. There was a huge profit to be made in this transaction. Shen Zhong couldn't help but be tempted, and the palace couldn't help but be tempted.
"When it comes to things like gold and silver, no one would complain about having too much." Shen Zhong suddenly smiled. "It's just that I can't see how the Provost can benefit from this."
Fan Xian waved his hand, and Wang Qinian and the seven Tiger Guards left. Shen Zhong nodded, and the rest of the people in the hall also left. Fan Xian looked at the man sitting next to Shen Zhong with some surprise. He was dressed luxuriously, but he didn't have the royal air that Fan Xian was familiar with. It seemed that he wasn't someone sent by the royal palace of Northern Qi to listen in. So why did he have the right to continue sitting here?
"This is Master Cui," Shen Zhong introduced.
Master Cui stood up and bowed to Fan Xian, but there was a hint of pride on his face. Fan Xian frowned. "A man of the Qing Kingdom?"
Shen Zhong laughed heartily and said, "I thought the two of you already knew each other. Commissioner Fan, this Master Cui is the second son of the Cui clan of the Qing Kingdom. The Cui clan and the Fan clan have always been on par, and both are sons of noble families. "
Fan Xian frowned. "Master Shen, what do you mean by this?"
A sinister look flashed through Shen Zhong's eyes. "Master Fan, didn't you want to talk business? In fact … I've been doing this business for many years, so I want to know if Master Fan has any more benefits for me. "
Fan Xian tilted his head slightly and looked at Master Cui, trying to read his face. Suddenly, he asked, "Master Cui, did you come to this banquet of your own accord, or did your family elders ask you to come?"
"How could I miss such a grand event?" Master Cui didn't seem to be afraid of Fan Xian.
Things had become very clear. This Master Cui was clearly representing the interests of the Cui clan, and behind the Cui clan... was the Eldest Princess, who was far away in Xinyang. It wasn't that Fan Xian hadn't considered the possibility that the Eldest Princess had relied on smuggling to obtain so much profit from the palace treasury. But he hadn't expected that the Provost of the Brocade Guard would pull the Eldest Princess's representative to the table!
What made Fan Xian even angrier was that this rascal Cui actually dared to sit at the table and act as a bargaining chip for the other party. The Eldest Princess had a favor to ask of Fan Xian, so it was impossible for her to interfere in his affairs. It must have been this rascal Cui acting on his own!
Fan Xian had taken the initiative to contact Shen Zhong. On one hand, he wanted to build a connection, but on the other hand, he wanted to attack Xinyang's source of income. He hadn't expected the Northern Qi Kingdom to play such a trick. What should have been a game of secret bidding had been brought out into the open.
As if sensing his displeasure, Shen Zhong smiled and said, "Master Fan, there is no harm in being frank. We are all people who want to make a fortune. This Master Cui and you are planning to do business in a way that overlaps, and I cannot eat both sides. Naturally, I would like to hear your opinion."
Fan Xian regained his composure. He looked at Master Cui. "I didn't expect Master Cui to have the guts to make such a big deal."
"How could I compare to Master Fan's guts?" Master Cui smiled.
Shen Zhong saw that the situation was a little awkward. He smiled. "Master Cui is also the son of a noble family. His family has several high-ranking officials in the southern court, but he is currently traveling. One day, he will enter the court as an official. You two should get to know each other."
Hearing this, Fan Xian laughed coldly to himself. He looked at Shen Zhong. "Master Shen, perhaps you've forgotten who I am. I really don't care about noble families or whatever."
Having said this, Fan Xian stood up. Without saying a word, he left the hall. Wang Qinian had already received him with an umbrella. Seven Tiger Guards gripped the hilts of their long swords in their hands. They escorted Fan Xian out of the courtyard. Along the way, none of the Brocade Guards dared to stop them.
All they heard was the soft sound of a carriage outside the courtyard. Fan Xian had left so rudely.
...
...
As if he hadn't expected Fan Xian to have such an intense reaction, Shen Zhong stood rooted to the ground. He had been immersed in officialdom for decades, and had seen all kinds of negotiations. But he had never encountered a situation like this. The way this young Commissioner Fan did things was far beyond anyone's expectations.
He turned his head and smiled warmly. "Master Cui, this Master Fan is a man of character."
Master Cui's face turned red and green. Fan Xian's words had greatly hurt his self-esteem. What noble families? How could Fan Xian say he didn't care about them? He thought angrily, What is the Fan family? He drank a cup of wine to drown his sorrows. In his heart, he felt that something was wrong.
Shen Zhong looked at him, not saying a word.
Suddenly, Master Cui's hands began to tremble. He remembered Fan Xian's identity as an Overwatch Council member, and that he was, after all, the son-in-law of the Eldest Princess. His face turned pale with fright. He looked at Shen Zhong again, his eyes filled with hatred. He cursed. "Master Shen, you tricked me into coming here. Do you want me to die?"
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