The Baoyue Brothel guard outside the door had already fainted. Fan Xian stood alone in the doorway, looking emotionlessly at his fourteen-year-old brother.
At this point, the thugs and young men in the room came to their senses. Some of them did not know who Fan Xian was, and their faces showed signs of nervousness. The young man with the injured right hand recognized him as Mister Chen from last night. He screamed and brought a few men with him, ready to rush forward.
Fan Sizhe did not have time to think. He turned his hand around and smashed the teapot in his hand.
…
…
There was a loud bang. The first thug to pass by Fan Sizhe received a heavy blow to the head. He grunted and fell to the ground. His head began to bleed.
The teapot in Fan Sizhe's hand broke, and the steaming hot tea splashed all over his hand. On the floor, the man's body began to emit a white steam. His eyes looked at the doorway in fear. His right hand, which was holding the half-broken teapot, could not help but tremble. Even the tone of his voice changed.
"Big brother, why are you here?"
Fan Xian did not answer him, but the people in the room were all shocked. How could the big boss knock out his own man? Everyone looked at Fan Sizhe in shock. Only the young third prince looked at Fan Xian with an innocent look of confusion.
Some of the more quick-witted people finally remembered what he had called Fan Xian, and from that, they knew who Fan Xian was. The reason the Bao Yue Brothel dared to be so arrogant was because of the big boss's big brother, Commissioner Fan of the Overwatch Council. Could it be that the young man in front of the door was Fan Xian's backer, Fan Xian?
Fan Xian did not have the self-awareness of being the backer of a brothel. He looked down and asked, "Are we going back?"
Fan Sizhe did not have time to think about what was about to happen to him. He gritted his teeth, and the fat on his cheeks trembled. After a while, he said, "Yes."
He lowered his head and walked over to Fan Xian's side. He looked like a child who had done something wrong. Fan Xian tilted his head and looked at his little brother. He noticed that the little guy had grown quite a bit over the past two years. He was almost at the base of his ears. He sighed and coldly said, "First, you did something wrong. Second, you are not a child. So, do not pretend to be pitiful in front of me."
"Yes." Fan Sizhe groaned.
Fan Xian ignored him. His cold gaze swept over the dozen or so people in the room. He found that some of them were the nobles who had appeared the night before. They had escaped, so Fan Xian had not broken their bones with his bare hands. He narrowed his eyes and found that there were a few faces that he could still recognize. He had a good memory. Although the other party did not have the ability to recognize him, since they already knew his identity, he could only humbly step forward and bow.
…
…
"Greetings, big cousin."
"Greetings, Uncle."
"Grandpa Xian."
The major and minor shareholders of the Baoyue Brothel walked up to Fan Xian in a pitiful manner and greeted him. Hearing these people introduce themselves, Fan Xian's heart was filled with anger and self-mockery. What the f * ck was going on? Investigating a case had led to the discovery of his own face!
No wonder Sang Wen said that carriages often came from Minister Alley. The people in front of him were all related to him. If they were not from the Fan family, then they were related to the Liu family. Fan Sizhe and the third prince were the leaders of this brothel. They had opened this brothel, so naturally, these people were related. He shook his head, and his chest was filled with anger. He wanted to throw these people, who he did not know where they had come from, into the Thin Lake behind the brothel.
After a while, he suppressed the anger in his heart. He grabbed Fan Sizhe by the collar like he was carrying a little chick and walked out of the secret room of the Baoyue Brothel. Just as the two brothers were about to walk out of the room with flagging interest, the Third Prince seemed to have just come back to his senses. Revealing a sweet smile, he said with pleasant surprise, "Sir Fan junior … oh, cousin!"
Fan Xian turned around and looked at the youngest prince. A gentle smile appeared on his face, and he said, "Third Prince, don't ever try to act like a little kid in front of me. Also, I have no interest in talking to a little kid like you."
Everyone was shocked. To call a prince a little kid in public … Fan Xian was the first person since the founding of the Qing Kingdom.
Everyone was shocked by Fan Xian's boldness, but they were also confused. No matter how much the Emperor loved him, he was still an official. How could he be so disrespectful to a prince? The third prince stared at Fan Xian, and his lips trembled with anger.
Fan Xian's smile was even sweeter, and he said, "That little mouth of yours is trembling.
The third prince almost fainted from anger, but he remembered what his mother had said. When this big cousin smiled gently, it was when he was very unhappy. It was best not to provoke him. He gritted his teeth and did not say anything.
…
…
It was in the afternoon, and there were not many customers in the Bao Yue Brothel. News of what happened upstairs had already spread, and many people rushed to the first floor. They were fortunate enough to see the eldest brother scold his son. At this time, everyone who knew the inside story knew that Mister Chen, who had caused such a ruckus in the Bao Yue Brothel last night, was the famous Young Master Fan. Naturally, no one dared to step forward and cause trouble. They could only watch.
The thugs and girls, who did not know what was going on, could not help but whisper to each other. There was a glimmer of excitement in their eyes, and they spread the news they had just received. Could it be that the little fatty, who was being held like a chicken, was the most mysterious boss of their brothel? No matter how they looked at him, he did not look like the vicious character that was rumored to be.
And who was the beautiful young man holding the boss?
Fan Xian walked forward, holding the "boss" of the Bao Yue Brothel. His face was expressionless, but he saw the girl named Yan 'er in the corner. Her eyes seemed to be worried.
He raised his eyebrows, and his heart was moved. He knew that this matter had gotten out of hand, and he could not hide it from the people of the capital for long. But he did not intend to hide it. He had other plans.
— — —
Walking out of the door of the Bao Yue Brothel, there was a carriage on each side of the quiet street. Fan Xian's carriage was on the west side, and the carriage on the east side had no markings. But the curtain was lifted, and Crown Prince Hong Cheng revealed an apologetic face. His face had long since lost its usual brightness, and he greeted Fan Xian.
The sun was moving toward the west, and the dusky light made one feel uncomfortable. It shone through the leaves of the autumn trees, and it shone on Fan Xian's face. He seemed to be pierced by the sun, and he squinted his eyes in annoyance.
Teng Zijing appeared out of nowhere, and he said, "The master knows that the young master has something to discuss, and so he asked me to take the second young master back."
Fan Xian did not turn around, and he nodded slightly. He then said, "In a moment, there will be people from the clan entering the manor. Tell the guards in the house to be on high alert. Do not let a single one of them slip out." He then looked at Fan Sizhe, whose face was pale, and said, "If anyone dares to sneak out again, I will break their legs."
Although his words were soft, they made those who heard them shudder. Teng Zijing could clearly feel the anger in the young master's heart, and he did not dare to be careless. He respectfully replied, "The master has spoken. You will deal with this matter yourself, young master. The manor will be closed today, and we will await your return."
Fan Xian nodded, and walked toward Crown Prince Hongcheng's carriage. Fan Sizhe cried out "brother" behind him, but he received no response. He could only obediently get into the carriage.
...
...
The two parties beside the carriage did not seem to be in the middle of some kind of negotiation or peace negotiation, but more like they were chatting. Fan Xian laughed lightly. "Why are you in such a hurry to take Miss Yuan back to the Jinghe River?"
Hongcheng laughed bitterly. "I didn't think Yuan Meng's matter could be hidden from you."
Fan Xian replied, "You know what I do for a living. It's difficult to hide something like this from me."
Li Hongcheng moved slightly to the side, and invited him into the carriage. Fan Xian shook his head, and then he saw that in the spacious carriage, besides the well-endowed Yuan Meng, there was another person sitting there.
That noble person was half-squatting on the seat, looking at Fan Xian with a warm and sincere gaze.
Fan Xian's pupils shrank, but he immediately returned to normal. He smiled and cupped his hands in salute. "Greetings, Your Highness."
"Back in the spring, we weren't so distant." The second prince's thin lips moved slightly, and there was a look of pity in his clear eyes. He slowly said, "How did you suddenly become like this?"
Fan Xian laughed. "Perhaps I don't know how to appreciate favors."
The second prince was silent for a moment. After a while, he said, "This is not a good place to talk. Master Fan, would it be possible for us to talk in detail?"
Fan Xian's smile faded, and he shook his head. "I'm in a hurry to go home and deal with that useless child of mine. I don't have time."
"I'm just passing by." The second prince smiled at Fan Xian, and said something that neither of them would believe.
Whether or not the Bao Yue brothel case was investigated had nothing to do with him. If Fan Xian wanted to investigate it, the Fan family would lose face and profit. If he did not investigate it, then that would be the best outcome. Everyone would be eating from the same bowl, and the Fan family would have to be more tolerant of him in the future when it came to politics.
Although the second prince saw that the palace treasury was on the brink of collapse, he cared a great deal about the money that the brothel brought. But compared to whether or not he could win over Fan Xian, money … was a small matter.
Fan Xian sighed and said, "Investigating a case has led to my own family, and I've let the second prince watch a good show. What a joke."
The second prince shook his head and sighed. "I can't laugh. The Bao Yue Brothel's business is too complicated. Although I didn't get involved, I know that aside from the third prince, at least seventy percent of the shares are in the hands of Fan Sizhe. You are brothers, after all. If you can't, then let it go."
The two of them were talking about something else, and they both knew what they were talking about.
"Where did he get the money to be a big boss?" Fan Xian shook his head and smiled wryly.
"Hong Yi Gong's two grandsons … also paid a lot of money." The second prince seemed to be kind enough to remind Fan Xian.
Hong Yi Gong was in the Liu manor. Fan Xian pretended to be surprised, and then sadly said, "It looks like we will have to stop investigating this case."
The second prince knew that not investigating the case meant that Fan Xian was willing to make peace for the time being. He was happy, and the smile on his face was very genuine. He said, "Although everyone's status is different, we are all poor people who live in the capital. You are an important person in the manor, and you have to make decisions for your children."
Fan Xian said, "I won't lie to you, Your Highness. I am not a pure official who is loyal to the law." He looked straight into the second prince's eyes and said, "Besides, Your Highness has calculated all the details. How can I not give in?"
The second prince was shocked. He knew that Fan Xian was not a person who would show weakness. As expected, Fan Xian clapped his hands, expressionless. Suddenly, there was a commotion in the Baoyue Brothel behind the carriage. There was the sound of people and horses tumbling, tables and chairs falling to the ground, and the terrified screams of the girls in the brothel.
Li Hongcheng's face changed. He didn't know how many people Fan Xian had arranged for the First Bureau of the Overwatch Council to be placed in the Baoyue Brothel. His face was full of worry, and he said, "An Zhi, to be honest, even if you make this a hard case, you can't hurt us. Why go through all this trouble?"
Hongcheng was a very direct person, Fan Xian thought, and a self-mocking look flashed in his eyes.
Seeing that he was still a thousand miles away, no matter how much self-control the second prince had, his heart gradually grew cold. He stared into Fan Xian's eyes and said, "It is just some children's business. Sizhe and the third prince had nothing to do, so they set up a brothel to play. Don't take it too seriously."
Fan Xian knew that the business of the Bao Yue house was far from enough to deal a blow to a prince. Furthermore, the handsome second prince in front of him had nothing to do with this brothel. If he started with Yuan Meng, he would only be able to get Hongcheng involved. If he really wanted to investigate further, he would only end up hurting his own hand.
"Sizhe is my little brother. I will think about how to discipline him." He looked back at the second prince. "But you have to discipline your own brother."
Hongcheng finally couldn't help but shake his head and say, "An Zhi, you must not misunderstand this. The business of the Baoyue Brothel was indeed done by those two kids. I know Yuan Meng came to help, but the second prince and I did not interfere."
Fan Xian shook his head and said, "Sometimes, not interfering and just watching is a very clever move." He looked at Hongcheng with a not-quite-there smile and said, "And I do not believe Fan Sizhe has the ability to investigate the relationship between you and Yuan Meng."
The raid continued, and the Baoyue Brothel was still in a state of chaos. The second prince frowned and thought, Is Fan Xian really so cold-hearted? To protect his own reputation and attack him, Fan Xian didn't even care about the life and death of his own brother and his family.
Fan Xian guessed what he was thinking, and with a self-mocking expression, he looked at the second prince and said, "Your Highness, your calculations are flawless. I do not dare investigate the Baoyue Brothel. After all, I cannot personally send Fan Sizhe to the capital government." As long as the two sides could maintain their current peace, then the Fan and Liu families, as well as the people involved in the Baoyue Brothel, would not have to face the pressure of the capital government. Even Fan Xian himself thought the second prince had played a beautiful hand. The price he asked for was not too high.
…
…
After a long time, Fan Xian looked at Mu Feng'er, who was far away, making a secret gesture. He knew he had not copied out the account books of the Baoyue Brothel, but he never expected to do so. Fan Sizhe, that little rascal, was being blackmailed by the second prince. Fan Sizhe only knew how to be an unscrupulous businessman, but he did not know that the buttocks of a businessman were always being watched by officials.
The second prince finally understood what Fan Xian wanted to do. He smiled and thought, "Fan Sizhe was the owner of the Baoyue Brothel, and there is no way Fan Xian can clear his name." The Fan and Liu families are both caught up in this. If you do not want to make a big deal out of this, you will have to make peace with yourself.
"The Baoyue Brothel will continue to operate." Fan Xian continued to speak calmly, "Your Highness, you should understand what I mean."
The second prince nodded to show his agreement, but deep in his heart, he felt a strong sense of unease. He knew that Fan Xian was not easy to control, and he would not allow himself to be tied down by a brothel. He did not know what Fan Xian would do next.
Fan Xian's tone changed, and he said, "Hongcheng, this is not right. You were sleeping outside, and I did not have the heart to tell Ruoruo about it. I hoped that after your marriage, you would be more restrained. But how could you know that Sizhe was doing such a shady business, and yet you did not tell us? Even if I was not in the capital at the time, could you not have told Ruoruo? After all, in a few days, you will be Sizhe's brother-in-law. "
He looked at the prince and said, "Hongcheng, you have disappointed me."
The second prince was silent. No matter how smart he was, there was no way he could detect the hidden meaning behind Fan Xian's words. Even Li Hongcheng felt guilty. He did not know what Fan Xian was planning to do with this incident, or what ulterior motives he had to achieve.
The search of the Baoyue Brothel continued, and the second prince thought, "If you have agreed to make peace, why do you still want to search? He was worried that the black dogs of the Overwatch Council would discover the relationship between Hongcheng and the brothel, and so he frowned and said, "Mister Fan, can you tell your men to stop? After all, this is the business of the capital government. The Overwatch Council interfering with government affairs is something that the Emperor has forbidden. "
Fan Xian smiled and said, "Your Highness, I am only following orders from my family to come to this brothel and take back a few of my useless relatives. Of course, I have used the men of the First Bureau, which is a private use. But the officials of the court often call on their subordinates to help them move houses, and my subordinates only know how to fight. Asking them to help me capture a few of my relatives is not a big deal."
The second prince was angry. Fan Xian had used the word "relative," and he did not know what to say.
In the Bao Yue Brothel behind the carriages, the noise gradually died down. The disguised officers of the First Bureau of the Overwatch Council pulled out seven or eight people. These people were all relatives of the Fan and Liu families, and they were deeply involved in the Bao Yue Brothel. Their faces looked defeated. At the very back of the group, there was a young man with a vicious face. He had been beaten down the stairs, and his body was covered in wounds. It was the young man who had wanted to kill Fan Xian the night before.
Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and gazed at his terrified relatives. Through gritted teeth, he said coldly, "Send them back to the manor."
He turned to the second prince and softly said, "Do not worry, Your Highness. What I promised you, I will do. But these people are mine. It is not convenient to use the laws of the Qing Kingdom to investigate them, so I will have to use the family rules to deal with them."
The second prince thought to himself, "No matter how you use the family rules, you cannot hide the fact that the Fan family owns the shares of the Bao Yue Brothel. You will not have a falling out with me, and I will let you vent your anger on your own." The second prince looked at the people of the Fan and Liu families, and his heart trembled. He did not know what kind of family rules Fan Xian was going to use to deal with them.
Fan Xian looked into his eyes and suddenly said, "The people who ambushed me last night, I would like to trouble you to pass on a message. From now on, on the streets of the capital, do not let me see them again. Yes, that is all."
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