Fan Xian's head hurt a little. A pair of warm and soft hands reached out and gently rubbed his temples. He was slightly startled, but his eyes were still closed as he asked, "Where is this place?"
Perhaps it was because he had drunk too much, but his voice sounded dry. He felt the hands on his temples leave his hands, and a moment later, a cup was carefully brought to his lips. He tasted it and found it was honey of the right thickness, perfect for dispelling alcohol. He couldn't help but smile.
He believed that Haitang wouldn't poison him, because that wouldn't do her any good. Just as he was thinking about this, he suddenly smelled a faint fragrance around him. This fragrance was extremely elegant, but it caused ripples in his heart. A wave of heat rose from his lower abdomen, directly messing up his mind.
The fragrance drew closer, softly resting against the back of his head. The enchanting collision of bodies made the fire in Fan Xian's heart unbearable.
...
...
Fan Xian abruptly opened his eyes. There was a lingering desire in the serenity in his eyes. Looking at the pair of white jade wrists in front of him and the light green sleeves, he said, "Lili?"
Si Lili turned around. Her body went limp, and she fell into his arms. Her eyes gazed at him weakly. There was a glimmer of hope, and a trace of hidden bitterness.
The two of them had been traveling north, and the only thing they hadn't broken through was that layer of paper. Fan Xian smelled the familiar scent of a woman, and he couldn't help but be absent-minded. After he came to Shangjing, he had only seen her once in the temple. He had already decided not to have too much of a relationship with this woman. But now that Wen Yu had thrown herself into his arms, that familiar and soft touch kept rubbing against his chest and abdomen …
He had just been drinking with Haitang, and now he was being intimate with Si Lili.
Of course, Fan Xian understood what was going on, but he didn't quite understand. It's not that I don't understand, but the world changes quickly.
— — —
In the early summer of Shangjing, when there was no wind, it would be hot and stuffy. When there was no rain, there would be dust. It really couldn't be called a good time. Fortunately, it was already late. A light night breeze swept past, freeing the little temple from the scorching heat of the day. Sparse branches hung from the eaves of the temple, and a large, round moon was reflected in the distant but also very close background of the night sky.
Fan Xian fastened his belt and ran out of the room like a perverted thief. His handsome face was filled with disbelief and absurdity.
At the entrance of the temple, he suddenly turned around and looked at the woman sitting on the full moon on top of the temple. He cursed, "You're the same as your master, you're both crazy!"
Fan Xian had always liked to disguise himself. He was shy, sweet, and naive. Although no one believed him, he was still pure. But today, he had encountered of such absurdity. He was shocked and angry, and he finally opened his mouth to curse.
Haitang squatted on the roof like a nanny watching over children in love. She did not tie the floral scarf on her head, but around her neck. She looked like a captain from another world. She did not seem to think that Fan Xian would wake up so quickly. Her face was full of surprise, but a faint shyness and a smile flashed through her eyes. A moment later, she said quietly, "So fast."
After Fan Xian's anger, he was immediately dumbfounded. What kind of woman was she?
Haitang seemed to immediately understand. She patted her head with some self-blame. "How could I forget that you are Fei Jie's disciple? If I had known earlier, I would have increased the dosage when I drugged you."
The moonlight moved slightly, and the sparse branches trembled. Haitang floated down without stirring up a speck of dust. She landed lightly by Fan Xian's side. She turned her head and looked at the inner room with a smile. She pushed open the temple door and signaled for Fan Xian to go out with her.
Outside the temple, it was completely dark. In the distance, frogs croaked from the pond. It was a farmhouse atmosphere, but Fan Xian's heart was filled with resentment. He coldly asked, "What drug did you give me?"
"Aphrodisiac," Haitang said matter-of-factly. "The best kind in the palace."
"You!" Fan Xian stretched out his index finger and pointed at her nose, which was straighter than most women's. He felt the urge to smash her nose. "I am an envoy of the Kingdom of Qing. She will soon be your Emperor's woman … how dare you!"
Haitang's face immediately grew cold. "Master Fan, when you drugged me by Wuduhe, why didn't you feel like you were a coward?"
"Then we were enemies. Today we are friends. How could that be?" Fan Xian immediately seemed less confident.
Haitang smiled. "When we were in the palace, what did you say?"
...
...
Many days ago, in the palace.
"The antidote you gave me last time was too much orange peel. It was a bit bitter." Haitang was intoxicated by the sunlight.
Fan Xian smiled. He knew that she had seen through his tricks that day. He said quietly, "I am the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council. I am not a sage who seeks the Way of Heaven. It is normal for me to use some tricks. I hope you do not mind. Of course, if you do mind, you can also give me … that drug."
These words were a bit frivolous, but Haitang did not blush like other women. She said lightly, "If there is a chance, I will naturally use it."
...
…
If there is a chance, I will naturally use it. If there is a chance, I will naturally use it!
Fan Xian, with his amazing memory, of course remembered this sentence clearly. He did not expect that as a woman, she would actually use it. He could not help but snort coldly. He was angry, but there was nothing he could do. He had let someone else drug him, and someone else had drugged him at his request. It seemed that there was nothing he could say. And so … Fan Xian raised his head to look at the moon, and lowered his head to hate the woman.
"I am not a sage. I am just a petty woman who holds a grudge." Haitang laughed. She was very much a woman.
"It should not be Si Lili. You are her sister." Fan Xian looked at Haitang coldly. "You know what this means."
"Lili likes you." Haitang smiled. "You do not dislike Lili, so we sisters think this is possible." Actually, after knowing that Fan Xian was the Mister Cao who wrote Story of the Stone, Haitang was even more certain of this idea.
Fan Xian suddenly fell silent, thinking of something. After a while, he suddenly looked at Haitang and said, "Actually … since you drugged me with an aphrodisiac, although you … are indeed not a beauty, I can still reluctantly sacrifice myself. Why drag Miss Si into this?"
No matter how carefree and natural she was, no matter how uninhibited she was, in the end, she was still a young girl. Hearing this, she couldn't help but become angry. Her bright eyes stared fiercely at Fan Xian like a she-wolf in the middle of the night on a wasteland.
Fan Xian let out a breath of resentment and immediately recovered his calm. Narrowing his eyes, he said, "I can just pat my butt and leave. Be careful of your teacher punishing you."
Haitang took a deep breath and suppressed her emotions. She said calmly, "I hope you will forgive me for plotting against you today."
Fan Xian said expressionlessly, "You can plot against me a few more times. No man would refuse such luck … but you can forget it."
Haitang was no longer angry. She only said quietly, "The day after tomorrow, there will be a banquet in the palace. There will be a martial battle. You should prepare first, sir."
"After the banquet, I will leave for home." Fan Xian stared at Haitang's ordinary face. It was strangely strange. "I cannot stay in Shangjing. There are urgent matters at home. Arrange for me to meet with Miss Si again. "
Haitang bowed slightly and silently agreed. She then watched Fan Xian's figure gradually disappear into the darkness. As he passed by a ridge, Fan Xian stumbled slightly and almost fell. Perhaps it was because he was uneasy, but seeing his hands fumble in his robe, she realized that his belt had not been fastened properly.
The immortal of poetry of a generation, the future minister of a generation, the most embarrassing scene of his life, happened inside and outside the most remote temple in Shangjing.
Haitang smiled. Her bright eyes were full of joy. No one knew why she was so happy.
— — —
Returning to the diplomatic mission, Fan Xian's eyes were serene. He did not look the least bit embarrassed, nor did he show the anger he had earlier. Living in this world, it was difficult to avoid being schemed against by others, unless you were a perfect person who could see through the hearts of others.
He did not expect Haitang to have such a reckless side. He also did not expect her to act so boldly and decisively. This kind of gambler was not much different from his own.
"Only four in total?" He had already taken a bath and was half leaning on a chair. But he still smelled a faint fragrance on his body. He could not help but think of that girl, and a faint feeling welled up in his heart. Even though he was a cold and hard person, he could not help but narrow his eyes. He began to calculate how this matter would affect that girl.
Perhaps what Haitang said was true, but what of it?
Yan Bingyun frowned and looked at him. Fan Xian was his superior, the official commander of the diplomatic mission. Just as the diplomatic mission was about to leave the Kingdom of Qi, he had disappeared without a trace for an entire day. There were many things he could not ask for instructions on. Although the news in the afternoon confirmed that he was having a drinking contest with Haitang, who rarely appeared in front of people, where did he go? Why did Master Fan look so strange today?
"Yes. In four years, only four concubines entered the palace," Yan Bingyun replied. "The Northern Qi Emperor has practiced the Way of the Heavens since he was a child. Looking at his style of governance, he can be considered a wise ruler. Anyone with great ambitions would naturally not be interested in the affairs of men and women. "
"The Northern Qi Emperor should not have any children yet, right?" Fan Xian asked with his eyes closed.
"The Emperor is still young, and the palace is not in a hurry."
"Not in a hurry? ... Forget it. Go and have Wang Qinian make arrangements for the palace entry the day after tomorrow, as well as the return trip. "Fan Xian snorted in his heart and waved his hand for Yan Bingyun to leave.
Yan Bingyun looked at him with some confusion. He knew that the Commissioner had many secrets that he had not revealed. It was true that although Fan Xian was the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council, there were many things he would not tell anyone.
For example, tonight's matter, or... the possibility of the Northern Qi Emperor being attacked. Fan Xian's fingers were still cold. Only now did he realize that he was not as brave as Haitang.
...
...
The main gates of the palace slowly opened. The beautiful palace, hidden in the green mountains, with its black eaves and flowing waterfalls, once again appeared in front of everyone. Fan Xian looked coldly at the unfamiliar Northern Qi officials and calmly walked into the palace. He then greeted Wei Hua and the other officials from the Office of the Grand Herald, who he was familiar with, and was politely invited into the great hall by a eunuch.
The great hall was quiet. The clear water beside the long imperial path was calm and unruffled, and the fish in the water swam naturally.
The empress dowager and the Emperor sat high up on the imperial platform. Below them were a dozen or so tables. The people sitting there were all high-ranking officials of Northern Qi. Ordinary officials only had the right to eat in a side hall. As the head envoy of Qing, Fan Xian sat high up on the first table to the left. Other than Gao Da, who was standing steadily behind him, the only other people in the diplomatic mission were Lin Wen and Lin Jing.
Sitting opposite the diplomatic mission were the grand tutor and the prime minister of Northern Qi. Fan Xian glanced at the grand tutor. He knew that he was Zhuang Mohan's most famous student. He had not expected him to be so young.
After a series of formalities, the birthday banquet finally began. The empress dowager of Northern Qi was actually still very young. Although there were some wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, she still had the pure beauty of a noble woman.
But Fan Xian knew from the matter with Xiao En that this woman was actually an extremely cruel and merciless person. Thinking of Xiao En, he subconsciously tilted his head — Shang Shanhu was sitting at the table next to him. It was a pity that when he entered the hall, he had not had the opportunity to clearly see the elegance of the foremost general of Northern Qi.
The empress dowager raised her wine cup and said something. Her voice was very soft and clear. Fan Xian did not pay attention. He just followed the officials in bowing and reciting the words of praise.
The empress dowager's birthday was a red bomb that the common people could not compare to. The officials of Northern Qi wanted nothing more than to plunder all the precious objects in the world and move them to the palace. The Green Dragon Jade on Dong Mountain, the marvelous bell imported from Dongyi, the rare two-tailed ferret from the snowy lands of the north...
The empress dowager nodded slightly, seeming quite satisfied.
The gifts from the Qing diplomatic mission had long been transported from the capital. Although they were expensive, they were not extraordinary. Naturally, Fan Xian would not actually compose a poem for the empress dowager. Otherwise, before the empress dowager's face hit the ground, his face would hit the ground first. Furthermore, his calligraphy would not be presentable.
His personal birthday gift was a small bottle. Inside the bottle was a clear amber liquid. It looked ordinary, but after the empress dowager opened the lid and took a whiff, the look in her eyes when she looked at Fan Xian was not quite right. It was one of admiration and love.
Yes, it was a very uncreative perfume. The palace treasury had stopped producing it for 15 years, and Fan Xian had stolen it from Qingyu Hall. He had originally planned to use it to intoxicate Haitang.
But he had not expected Haitang to not be into it. He had not expected that Haitang was not a great beauty. When Fan Xian had been preparing Li Qingzhao's poem in the capital, "The Water of France", he had not expected that he would not be able to subdue Haitang through the issue of men and women. Instead, he had almost been tricked by her.
After Fan Xian thanked the empress dowager, he raised his eyes and glanced at the emperor. Unexpectedly, he found that the young emperor was also looking at him with a smile. He had long been prejudiced against him. Seeing the emperor's liking gaze, he could not help but feel his hair stand on end.
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