The diplomatic mission of the Kingdom of Qing had quietened down, and now it was the turn of the other powers to be anxious. Shopkeeper Sheng often came to deliver wine, and humbly conveyed the greetings of Xinyang. Shen Zhong had also invited Fan Xian a few times, but Fan Xian found an excellent excuse to decline. Shen Zhong had no way of getting angry. On the contrary, Chang Ninghou felt his heart ache at the loss of a fat piece of meat that had been at the tip of his tongue.
Perhaps there was some agreement between the Eldest Princess and Shang Shanhu, but Xinyang did not have a deep foundation in Northern Qi. They still needed the help of the Overwatch Council. After Fan Xian's persuasion, Yan Bingyun finally agreed to his plan. He was prepared to use the network he had been building over the past four years.
The news from the south seemed to show that the Qing court was as stable as Mount Tai, without a single ripple. However, the Overwatch Council's report mentioned that there had recently been a few strange murders on Shandong Road. Although the murderers had killed ordinary people, their methods were extremely cruel. This was a case of the Ministry of Justice, but it had never been solved, so the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council had taken over.
Fan Xian did not pay much attention to this murder case, and Yan Bingyun did not pay attention either. After all, the matter in Shangjing was enough of a headache, and the two of them were planning something sinister.
...
...
Fan Xian's reason for declining all the invitations was very good. For the past two days, he had often been chatting with a village girl. Given her status, neither Shen Zhong nor Chang Ninghou had the guts to steal guests from her.
In a quiet alley in Shangjing, a man and a woman were strolling and chatting. Their words floated lightly, disturbing the butterflies that were nesting in the flowers.
"Nature is heaven and earth, and man is heaven and earth. The so-called unity of heaven and man means that human affairs must follow the natural path of heaven and earth. Only then can the two be harmonious."
"Harmony is only a facade. What do you think is the unity of heaven and man, and the connection between heaven and man?"
"Oh, I'm not sure about that. I just think that man follows the earth, earth follows the heavens, heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature. Only then can there be harmony."
"Or harmony?"
"Harmony is the highest."
...
...
"Master Fan, what you have said today is completely unconventional. I am truly impressed." Although she said she admired him, Haitang still put her hands in her pockets and dragged her feet. Her expression was serene as she walked on the street like a lazy woman. There was not a trace of admiration on her face.
Fan Xian rubbed his nose in self-mockery. Just like that day in the palace, he imitated Haitang's "sweeping footwork". Fortunately, this street was relatively quiet. Otherwise, if the two of them were to walk like this, they would probably be laughed to death by bystanders. Seeming to guess what he was thinking, Haitang said, "I just feel comfortable walking like this. As for what other people think, I really don't care."
Fan Xian thought about it for a moment and realized that it was quite true. People loved ease and hated work. Walking like this was indeed more comfortable than walking with one's head held high. The problem was, if one was really lazy, why not lie down in bed? As he thought this, his mouth naturally said, "I still feel that lying on the bed is more comfortable. If Miss Haitang is willing, we can lie on the bed and talk about literature, talk about life..."
Haitang glanced at him.
Fan Xian smiled a little embarrassedly and did not explain anything. He really did not have many romantic thoughts about Haitang, but for some reason, chatting with her always made him feel very relaxed.
After his rebirth, Fan Xian had always wanted to experience many interesting things and meet many interesting people. This visit to Northern Qi was largely to satisfy this spiritual need of his. Although there had been assassination plots along the way, and things had not been very interesting, Fan Xian had gotten to know two interesting people, Yan Bingyun and Haitang. Fan Xian felt that it had been worth it.
"I heard that Master Fan met with Master Shen Zhong a few days ago?" Haitang asked softly, reaching out to pull out the green branches hanging down from the street. It was already summer, but it had been raining heavily a few days ago, so there was no heat. The trees and flowers were still in the spirit of spring.
Fan Xian nodded. "We parted on bad terms." He knew that although Ku He was above the court, he could see that the power of his faction was still biased towards the empress dowager, so he guessed why Haitang had asked this.
"Parted on bad terms?" Haitang smiled, her face gentle. "I am just curious. Master Fan, why did you hurriedly throw out that proposal? Were you not afraid that it would affect your reputation as an official if it got back to the south?"
Fan Xian's heart trembled, but his face showed no expression. "I do not understand what you are talking about."
Haitang said, "The empress dowager was very tempted by your proposal."
Fan Xian's face darkened slightly. "Miss Haitang, you should know that these days, I have been in seclusion, refusing guests. The reason why I came out to accompany you when you spoke was because I felt that although you had acted against me at Wuduhe, you are, after all, an unworldly master. You would not talk about these petty matters of the world... Miss Haitang, you have disappointed me."
"If I did not say these things, I am afraid you would be even more disappointed, Master Fan." Haitang's mind was clear, and she would not be fooled by Fan Xian's flowery words. "The empress dowager invites you into the palace."
Fan Xian chuckled and cupped his hands in salute. "Thank you for your trouble, Miss Haitang."
"Earlier, Master Fan, you said that sincerity is the way of heaven, and sincerity is the way of man." Haitang's bright, jewel-like eyes looked at Fan Xian in a trance. "Since you know the way, why not? Isn't it easier to deal with people with sincerity? "
Fan Xian took a deep breath and slowly circulated the strange, tyrannical zhenqi in his body, resisting the pressure coming from Haitang. He smiled. "Dealing with people with sincerity can be divided into big and small. Sincerity to people is a small way, and sincerity to the world is a great way... Miss Haitang, if you treat people with sincerity, why don't you tell me what secret Xiao En has that even an unworldly master like your master is tempted?"
"Sincerity to the world?" Haitang's lips curled up slightly. "My master is sincerity to the world, so I cannot say much. But the secret in Xiao En's heart has kept him alive for 20 years. If that secret were to spread among the common people, I fear that the world would be in chaos for 20 years."
Fan Xian was startled. He knew something that no one else knew. Based on what Haitang had said, could it be that there was some danger in the temple?
The two of them returned to the path of idle conversation, and it was nothing more than a discussion of philosophy and theology. In any case, Fan Xian had a foundation in the history of Chinese philosophy from his previous life. He randomly picked out a few of Dong, Lu, and Wang's theories, and Haitang was greatly surprised. But many years later, Haitang slowly reflected on it and began to organize the theories of the great scholar Fan. Only then did she realize that the young man had said nothing.
...
...
For some reason, in the late spring and early summer of Northern Qi's Shangjing, the rain was so plentiful. Before, the warm spring sun had shone brightly, but now a chilly breeze blew, and raindrops fell through the branches above their heads.
With a crash, Fan Xian opened the cloth umbrella at his side and held it over Haitang's head. Under normal circumstances, given Fan Xian's status, when he went out in the rain, his subordinates would hold the umbrella. But right now, it was just the two of them, and purely in terms of status, it was only right and proper for him to hold the umbrella for Haitang.
The rain gradually soaked the street. Fan Xian looked calmly at the people on the street hiding from the rain, but in reality, he was carefully watching Haitang's steps. At this time, the feet of the two of them were covered in water. Fan Xian had long since stopped using the country girl's walk, intending to see how Haitang would walk.
Haitang continued to walk.
Fan Xian shrugged his shoulders helplessly. Only now did he realize that although Haitang's feet were dragging on the water, there seemed to be some kind of invisible power under her shoes, supporting her whole body. The soles of her shoes were not touching the water at all! This kind of skill, Fan Xian thought, was not at a level he could reach. He couldn't help but laugh at himself. "Haitang floats on water."
Haitang ignored him and continued to walk.
Fan Xian sighed. "I don't believe that you can walk comfortably like that."
"I don't like that man called Yan Bingyun," Haitang suddenly said.
"I think that Miss Haitang has always lived deep in the mountain palace. You shouldn't have had any contact with the great scholar of the Qing Kingdom."
"Using deceiving women to obtain his own benefits, Haitang is quite shameless."
"We are officials, not ordinary people," Fan Xian said on Yan Bingyun's behalf. He didn't want Yan Bingyun to be remembered by a ninth-level master for the rest of his life. "For the good of the Kingdom of Qing, there are some things that we must do."
Haitang said, "Ugliness is ugliness. Don't use being an official as a cover."
Fan Xian smiled. "Although being emotionless may not necessarily be a true hero, if one's heart is too soft, how can one survive in this chaotic world?"
"Master Fan, do you believe that today's world is chaotic?"
"The minds of the people are confused."
"Master Fan, do you believe that only chaotic times can produce heroes?"
"I do not seek to establish myself as a hero. I only seek to be a man with a clear conscience."
The two of them talked and stopped. They had already reached the outskirts of a small temple. At that moment, the rain had coincidentally stopped. This place was far away on the outskirts of the capital. It was very quiet, without a trace of human presence.
A leaf fell on the stone steps in front of the temple.
The temple door was slowly pushed open. Fan Xian looked at the woman sitting by the incense table in the temple. After a moment of absent-mindedness, he bowed. "Miss Si, long time no see."
The corners of Haitang's lips curled up. "Master Fan, you want to be a man. I did not expect that, as I expected, you are a man who has tender, protective feelings for the fairer sex."
With a swish, Fan Xian gathered up his wet umbrella and looked at Si Lili, who had risen to greet him. He smiled. "Being emotionless may not necessarily be a true hero. How can a man who has tender feelings for the fairer sex not be a man?"
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