After everything had been arranged, Fan Xian went to the bedroom. Liu Shi was lying on the edge of the bed, and it looked as if she had fallen asleep. He quietly woke her up, and they whispered to each other for a while. Liu Shi's tear-stained face gradually revealed a look of determination. She nodded and accepted this arrangement. She didn't know what Fan Xian had promised her, or how he had convinced her.
It was getting late, and the insects in the garden had long since stopped chirping. Ruoruo was accompanying Liu Shi. Fan Xian walked over to the side of his sleepy little brother, and looked at his face, which was still gritting his teeth in hatred. He looked at the pockmarks that were about to burst out, and he couldn't help but smile and shake his head. He took the ink from the desk and took out the document that Shi Chanli had prepared. He pressed Sizhe's fingers onto the document.
Seeing the bright red fingerprints on the snow-white document, Fan Xian nodded with satisfaction. From now on, the 70% of the shares that Sizhe owned in the Bao Yue house were now officially transferred to someone else's hands. He was no longer associated with the brothel, which was filled with blood and bones.
Wan 'er knew that he was in a bad mood, and she made a face at him. But she didn't get any response. Deep in her heart, she couldn't help but feel a little useless. She smiled.
Fan Xian also smiled and said, "This has nothing to do with you. Children need to go out and try their luck." He suddenly asked, "Has Miss Shen been brought back?"
"She is in the west pavilion." Wan 'er explained, "Mister Yan has already gone there."
"Good." Fan Xian calmly agreed, and then he sat down next to Sizhe's bed. He thought for a moment, and then stood up again. He called for the kitchen staff to make some food, and then he sat down in the side room and picked up a bowl of hot porridge. He blew on it and slowly drank it. He wanted to give Yan and Miss Shen some time to reminisce. More importantly, he wanted to give Liu Shi some time to be alone with her son.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but Deng Zi Yue was led by a servant. He nodded at Fan Xian.
Fan Xian understood. He didn't want anyone else to help him, so he walked into the bedroom and personally carried Fan Sizhe to the back of the courtyard through the corner gate. He then climbed into the carriage. Fan Sizhe was still in a daze. Lady Liu bit her lip and stroked his cheek affectionately, but he did not wake up. Ruoruo also stroked his thick ears with reluctance. Even Wan'er's eyes flashed with a hint of sadness at the separation.
Only Count Sinan, Fan Jian, continued to sleep peacefully, as if he did not care about his youngest son at all. He was about to leave for a foreign country, and did not know when he would return.
"You guys go first." Fan Xian said to the icy-faced Yan Bingyun, "I'll have to trouble your father with this matter. Be careful when you leave the city."
After nightfall, the gates of Jingdou were closed. Only the people of the Overwatch Council had the power to silently send a person out of the city.
Yan Bingyun slowly raised his head, glanced at him, and asked, "You're not coming?"
Fan Xian lowered his head and said, "We'll meet at Songlin Bao. I still have some things to do."
From the corner of his eyes, he could clearly see that his brother had tears in the corners of his eyes. He had clearly woken up, but he did not know why he had pretended to be unconscious in front of Lady Liu. Fan Sizhe's lips twitched. He must have hated Fan Xian and his father.
In the darkness, besides the Qinian Unit, there were also swordsmen from the Sixth Bureau on standby. Based on the strength of this group, unless the second prince mobilized the Ye family's forces in the capital, there was no way they could face them head-on.
Fan Xian stood below the carriage with his head lowered for a moment, then waved his hand.
The carriage slowly began to move, heading out of the capital. Behind them, the three women who stood by the back door of Fan Manor couldn't help but look sorrowful. Lady Liu's sorrow was even greater.
— — — —
The unmarked carriages traveled through the quiet, dark streets of the capital. Yan Bingyun had used some unknown method to leave the city without a hitch. They stepped onto the official road outside the city and traveled northwest for half an hour. Using the moonlight, they saw that there was a small mountain in front of them, and they arrived at Songlin Bao.
The carriages stopped there, waiting for Fan Xian.
Fan Sizhe, who was in the carriage, suddenly opened his eyes at this moment. His eyes were still filled with ruthlessness. "Aren't you afraid that I'll run away during this exiled journey?"
There were only him and Yan Bingyun in the carriage. Yan Bingyun coldly said, "You're a smart man. Of course you know what to do. Fan Xian has used so many methods for your sake. Of course, it's not just to ensure your safety. "
Fan Sizhe lowered his voice and cursed, "It's to protect his own reputation."
Yan Bingyun mockingly replied, "If it was just to protect his own reputation, he could have sent you directly to the capital government. Who could say anything about it?"
Fan Sizhe knew this was the case, but he refused to admit it. In a shrill voice, he said, "That's because father would not allow such a thing to happen!"
"The Minister?" Yan Bingyun's cold eyes had an additional trace of mockery. "The Minister's thoughts are not something that young people like you and I can think about."
Fan Sizhe weakly said, "Brother Yan, where does my brother want me to go?"
"Northern Qi," Yan Bingyun replied.
"Ah?" Fan Sizhe's face showed a look of despair. He let out a long sigh, and then fell to the ground in a manner that did not match his age. He lay down, but when he touched the wound on his back, he couldn't help but let out a scream.
Yan Bingyun looked at him, amused. "Fan Xian's medicine … although effective, it is very overbearing. You should continue to endure it." Back when he was in Shangjing, Northern Qi, he had been tormented by Fan Xian in the same way.
…
…
"I know what I'm doing. It looks terrible, but I haven't broken any bones. Why are you acting pitiful?" Fan Xian spoke coldly, and with a cold face, he walked into the carriage.
Fan Sizhe looked at the expression on Yan Bingyun's face, and thought of the punishment he had received earlier.
"What are you doing?" Yan Bingyun frowned and looked at him. "Time is of the essence."
Fan Xian put down the person he was carrying on his back and threw her next to Fan Sizhe. Suddenly, the carriage was filled with a faint fragrance. Fan Sizhe was shocked. Looking at the woman's soft face, he was shocked. He shouted at Fan Xian, "What did you do to her?!"
The woman that Fan Xian had captured was the Baoyue Brothel's most popular prostitute, Yan 'er.
Fan Xian looked at Fan Sizhe and laughed mockingly. "You pity her that much? It looks like you have inherited your father's good genes. When you opened the brothel, why didn't you show some mercy? "
Fan Sizhe and Yan Bingyun did not understand the word "genes", but they were curious as to why Fan Xian had captured this woman. Of course, with Fan Xian's skills and the use of drugs, and the fact that the Baoyue Brothel was in a state of panic, it would have been easy for him to kidnap a prostitute.
"Is she your first woman?" Fan Xian looked into his brother's eyes and softly asked.
Fan Sizhe thought for a while and nodded. His eyes looked pitiful, and he begged his brother to let the woman go.
Fan Xian shook his head and sighed. "You are indeed stronger than me. Fourteen years old, and you already had your bud …" He then laughed out loud and said seriously, "I know your attitude toward this woman is different from others. I also found out that she still has some affection for you … although you are only old enough to be her younger brother."
Fan Xian couldn't help but smile.
"The Baoyue Brothel will not be peaceful in the future. If Yan 'er were to remain there, I don't think you would feel at ease. I will not bring her back to the manor. Even if my father allowed it, Auntie Liu would have killed her." Fan Xian calmly said, "After thinking about it, your journey up north, although it was meant to be a trial, it was far too lonely. It would not be good for your temperament. So, I brought her with me to accompany you."
Fan Sizhe and Yan Bingyun's eyes opened wide. They were full of disbelief. He was being exiled from the capital, and he was bringing a popular prostitute with him? Was this an exile, or was this a vacation?
"Brother, what are you trying to do?" Fan Sizhe did not believe that, after all the trouble he had caused, he would still be able to enjoy the privileges that even the second young master of the Fan manor could not enjoy. He spoke with a stutter, and he looked at Fan Xian's calm face in fear. He even forgot about the pain he was feeling.
Yan Bingyun looked at Fan Xian and felt very confused. He shook his head and patted Fan Sizhe's shoulder, saying, "Your brother is a wonderful man."
He got off the carriage and left the carriage for the two brothers.
…
…
After a short silence, Fan Xian quietly looked at Sizhe and said, "Why didn't you say goodbye to your mother?" Without waiting for him to answer, he asked, "Do you know why I am so angry this time? Why did father and I decide to send you away?"
Fan Sizhe lowered his head and thought for a moment. He then said, "Sending me away … I don't have to worry about the capital government handling the Baoyue Brothel case. Even if I run away to avoid punishment, I don't have to worry about that. That way, my family can go and fight with the second son."
"Correct." Fan Xian was pleased to find that his brother, under his influence, had begun to refer to the princes as the second son and the third son.
"Secondly … it is my punishment." Fan Sizhe suddenly raised his head and endured the pain in his buttocks. He cried and said, "But I don't want to go … Brother, the people of Northern Qi Kingdom are very fierce. What can I do there?"
"Do what?" Fan Xian very seriously replied, "Do what you are best at, of course. Do business."
Fan Sizhe raised his head stupidly. He did not look like the owner of the Baoyue Brothel at all. He asked, "Do business?"
"Yes." Fan Xian said, "Father asked me to make some arrangements. I thought about it, and I decided to leave you a thousand liang of silver. When you arrive in Shangjing, I will send someone to pick you up. But … I will not give you any extra help. If you can, within five months, turn this one thousand liang of silver into ten thousand, then I will truly acknowledge your ability. And then …"
"Ten times?" Before his brother could finish, Fan Sizhe could not help but shout, "I am not a god!"
"That is your problem," Fan Xian said.
"A thousand liang of silver is too little!" Fan Sizhe was both embarrassed and angry. "This business is embarrassing."
"What kind of bullsh * t logic is this? When we opened Danbo Bookstore, how much money did we spend?
"Bah! If you have the ability, then go and sell Story of the Stone. I promise I can turn a thousand into ten thousand. "
"You wish! That guy with the surname Cao has already been driven crazy by me … Where else can he go? "
After the two brothers yelled at each other, the atmosphere became a little more relaxed. Fan Xian looked at Fan Sizhe's chubby face and sighed. "It is very windy out there. Father told me not to take too much care of you. You must be careful."
Fan Sizhe silently nodded and suddenly said, "Brother, you said I am a genius at business. Do not worry."
Fan Xian then said, "I hope you do not blame me for chasing you out of the capital."
Fan Sizhe shook his head and did not say anything.
Fan Xian knew he must be feeling very uncomfortable, so he frowned and said, "Actually, the two reasons you gave me to get you out of the capital were false."
Fan Sizhe raised his head and looked very confused.
Fan Xian quietly said, "Even if you stay in the capital, what is there to be afraid of? Don't tell me I can't even protect you? I can just hide somewhere and wait for this to die down. I don't think the second prince would dare do anything to me. Even if the capital government were to investigate the Bao Yue brothel, would they dare to search the capital in front of the Fan family? "
"As for the second reason, you said it was to punish you. That is only a small part of it." Fan Xian looked at the unconscious Baoyue Brothel headliner and calmly said, "On this journey north, perhaps you will suffer a bit. But compared to the things you have done, it is really nothing. If I send you back to Danzhou, according to grandmother's way of doing things, I'm afraid you will be even more miserable."
Fan Sizhe was a little scared and pulled back his head. He did not dare make a sound because of the injury on his back. In his heart, he was thinking, "Then why do you have to chase me north?"
Fan Xian slowly lowered his eyelids and said, "I didn't think you would be so daring in doing things and so ruthless. If you remained in Jingdou, for the sake of father and me, other people would always have this or that kind of honey to lure you into the deepest valley. Thus, I feel that it's better for you to experience some wind and rain outside. Perhaps it will be more beneficial for your growth."
He suddenly looked at Fan Sizhe coldly and said, "In business, you must do whatever it takes. But there must be a certain degree of control. If you are too sharp and cruel, it is easy to get hurt. Besides, as a person, it is always good to be kind to others. You must always try to be on the bright side. "
In reality, Fan Sizhe had never been very happy with the Bao Yue brothel. After all, in his eyes, the Bao Yue brothel was a symbol of his success. The dirty things that were hidden in it were not a big deal. He lay on the long carriage stool and said with a grunt, "These words … are full of righteousness. Those who don't understand would think that my good brother has nothing to do with the Overwatch Council and is instead a wooden scholar of the Imperial College."
His words were full of mockery, but Fan Xian only raised his eyebrows. He was the commissioner of the Overwatch Council, and his subordinates specialized in doing dark things. A mere brothel, regardless of whether it was in terms of the density of darkness and filth, or in terms of the level of cruelty, was a world of difference. It was no wonder that his brother did not think much of his discipline.
Fan Xian smiled and said, "Do you think that I have always stood on the wrong side, and to use these words to talk about you … is absurd?"
Fan Sizhe saw his brother smile warmly and began to panic again. He did not dare say anything, but his black eyes rolled. It was clear that this was what he meant.
"Of course I am not a saint. I am not even a good person," Fan Xian said. Fan Xian said, "But, even if it was a murderous butcher, if he truly cherished his family, presumably he would have the same thoughts as me. In our line of work, even if we reek of blood, we still want our brothers to be pure and clean. Perhaps it is because we have come into contact with the most evil things in the world, so we hope you can stay away from these things."
Fan Sizhe heard him say "we" over and over again, and he was suspicious.
Fan Xian thought for a moment, and then quietly told the story of Xiao En and Zhuang Mohan. He smiled and said, "Xiao En has killed many people in his life, and done many evil things, but he still wanted to raise his brother to be a good man. In reality, he succeeded. Zhuang Mohan did not disappoint him. Until the night before his death, I still admire him. Although your brother is not very talented, I want to do what Xiao En did."
He seemed to be trying to convince his brother, but it also seemed like he was trying to comfort himself. "It is good to be a good person. I want to be a good person, too."
…
…
This was the first time Fan Sizhe had heard of such a shocking secret. His mouth was wide open, and he was speechless for a long time. After a long time, he said in a trembling voice, "But … when I look at Master Zhuang's historical collections … I get a headache. Brother, if you want me to be a master, it will be too difficult."
Fan Xian laughed angrily. "With a brain like yours, of course you won't be able to study."
Fan Sizhe didn't know what to say. "Then tell me this story …"
"Do your business well. In the future, you will strive to be a merchant whose name will go down in history." Fan Xian smiled encouragingly. "Merchants … don't have to be as treacherous as people think. In this world, there are some merchants who walk the bright path, and still succeed."
Fan Sizhe said foolishly, "Merchants focus on profit … You just need to make money. How can you go down in history? The bright path? Even if you succeed, you will still be a piece of fat meat in the mouths of the government. "
"With me and my father, you can do business properly. Who would dare to do anything to you?" Fan Xian looked at him with calm and gentle eyes. "And have you forgotten about the Ye family? You told me on the Cang Mountains that the reason you were interested in business since you were young was because when you were little, your father often told you about the Ye family's power and influence. If the mistress of the Ye family hadn't died, not to mention the government, even the big countries in the world wouldn't have dared to do anything to the Ye family … "
Fan Sizhe's eyes lit up, but they immediately dimmed. "The brothel business is very profitable. It's more profitable than anything else." He still felt that in business, what was the point of saving face? Making money was the most important thing.
Fan Xian smiled. "I asked Big Ye of Qingyu Hall. He said that in the past, the Ye family did all kinds of business, except for these unorthodox ones. First of all, the mistress of the Ye family's gender determined it. She must have hated this business. Second of all, Big Ye's explanation is that unorthodox … Since there's the word 'unorthodox', then even if you can make a lot of money, in the end, it's not the right way … It's like the green water beside a big river. Although it's deep and endless, it can't be vast and mighty. If you really want to be the best in business, just playing around in these small rivers won't do. "
For some reason, the more Fan Xian spoke, the more excited he became. Perhaps it had touched the softest part of his heart. He said in a clear voice, "It's not easy to live. Whatever you do, you have to do it to the extreme. Then you can't be satisfied with being an unscrupulous merchant, and you can't be satisfied with being an official merchant, or even a royal merchant. The way of business still exists. You have to be a merchant of the world. Not only will you be rich enough to rival a country, but you will also be respected by the people, and your name will be remembered for generations to come. "
Fan Xian spoke slowly, but Fan Sizhe felt a headache coming on. He looked at his brother helplessly and said, "The Ye family, back in the day, even sold firearms. They helped the Qing Kingdom destroy Northern Wei. The people in the north didn't like them very much. If we're talking about business, Baoyue Brothel … I only used a few dirty tricks. Master Yuan only killed a few prostitutes, but the mistress of the Ye family has killed many innocent souls. Big brother, what you're saying …"
Fan Xian was at a loss for words. He waved his hand disinterestedly, stopping Fan Sizhe from continuing to compare. He said, "In any case, bullying the weak is not very interesting."
…
…
Fan Sizhe suddenly looked worried and said, "Big brother, I really don't want to leave the capital." He then said, "Father and mother are in the capital, and I want you to be filial to them on my behalf." He knew that only if he left the capital would the Baoyue Brothel incident truly die down. The weapon the second prince used to draw the Fan family to his side would disappear without a trace. Although Fan Xian would never admit this, seeing his father's decision, he knew that he had brought trouble to his family.
And after hearing what Fan Xian had said, the fourteen year old boy felt a surge of desire. If he could reach the level of the mistress of the Ye family in this lifetime, how great would that be?
Fan Xian nodded and agreed. He leaned over to his brother and whispered something into his ear. Finally, he told him about the people he could trust in Shangjing.
Fan Sizhe suddenly heard his brother's true intentions, and for a moment, he was stunned. The palace treasury … smuggling to the north … the Cui family … such a large amount of money … did he have the ability to do so?
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