After the 25th, the monthly tickets will be doubled. Brothers and sisters who still have tickets, help me keep some. When the time comes, smash them. Thank you here, and then go eat … I wish everyone a happy weekend. Eat oysters at night, haha!
For Fan Xian, it was a pity that Ming Qingda did not lose his composure in the face of the sudden attack he had hidden for a long time. His admiration was for the same reason.
Xia Qifei's true past was definitely one of the most secretive matters in the world. The Ming family had no idea that the Seventh young master was still alive in this world. After he had been saved by the old master of the Jiangnan water bandits, he had become the leader of the Jiangnan water bandits. The Ming family even had some business dealings with the Jiangnan water bandits. If Ming Qingda had known of Xia Qifei's identity earlier, he would probably have long thought of a way to deal with him.
Facing the Seventh young master who had appeared like a ghost, the current master of the Ming family was only slightly startled. At least he recovered his calm on the surface. No wonder he was the wealthiest man in the Qing Kingdom, the head of a large Jiangnan family.
Although the Ming family had deep connections in Jingdou, it was impossible for them to know this. Even Fan Xian had only begun to focus his research on the Ming family after he had drawn up this year's plan last autumn. Only then did he find a sliver of a crack he could use in the iron plate that was Jiangnan.
Of course, this was all thanks to the current head of the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council, Yan Bingyun, and Sir Yan junior's ability to summarize, analyze, and meticulously track down information. It was this normally quiet high-ranking official of the Overwatch Council who had successfully dug out Xia Qifei's most secretive past.
If Yan Bingyun had not helped Fan Xian take care of his foundation beforehand, Fan Xian's trip to Jiangnan this time would not have been so relaxed and confident.
The group of people from the Ming family suppressed the shock in their hearts and silently left the door of the palace treasury manor. They walked out of the street that had been sealed off by soldiers. A carriage had long since come up to receive them and drove toward Ming Garden outside the city. No one knew how chaotic Ming Garden would be tonight because of the news of the Seventh young master's sudden resurrection, or how the Ming family would respond.
Fan Xian stood at the door of the manor and watched with a slight smile as the Ming family's carriage disappeared into the dusk.
Seeing this, the officials behind him and the Jiangnan merchants couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts. They felt that the slight smile on the corners of the imperial envoy's lips was incomparably cold and cold-blooded.
Everyone couldn't resist glancing at Xia Qifei a few more times. It was as if they still could not connect the head bandit of the Jiangnan water bandits with the Seventh young master that the Ming family had thought dead many years ago. They knew that with the imperial envoy as a backer and the legendary will from back then, there would be a fight over the Ming family's enormous fortune. Although the Ming family could completely deny it, the matter would eventually become intense.
What kind of benefits could the Jiangnan merchants gain from this?
Xiong Bailing of Lingnan and Sun Jixiang of Quanzhou looked at each other. They were both thinking, for tonight's gathering at Jiangnan Restaurant... should they invite another person?
However, today's cards had been flipped too suddenly. The Jiangnan merchants could not make up their minds for a moment. Furthermore, to extend a hand to Xia Qifei at this time would be too rash. Besides, they didn't know what this Seventh Master Xia was thinking.
Fan Xian did not know what Xia Qifei was thinking. He only knew that in the action manual that Yan Bingyun had drawn up for him, the Jiangnan trip should be split into two groups. Attacking the Ming family, then the other merchants had to be appeased. Xia Qifei had taken so many bids today and was already faintly forcing the Jiangnan merchants to unite and begin fighting for food with the Ming family tomorrow. Once Xia Qifei's identity, which could not be verified, was revealed, the Jiangnan merchants should be able to smell the conspiracy and opportunity within.
Danger and opportunity had always been a pair. Merchants had an innate sense of adventure.
Thus, Fan Xian gave Xia Qifei a hand signal.
He saw Xia Qifei walk in front of Xiong Bailing and Sun Jixiang with a face full of smiles. Under their startled gazes, he quietly said a few words. The merchants all laughed lightly as if they were talking about a very interesting topic. Then, everyone dispersed and left the street.
Fan Xian turned around and said a few words to Xue Qing and Eunuch Huang. He glanced at Guo Zheng and then left first under the protection of the Tiger Guards. As he left, he turned his head back and swept a glance out of the corner of his eye. He saw that although Xia Qifei did not leave in the same direction as the merchants, he knew that there would be a chair for Xia Qifei at the Jiangnan gathering in a moment.
… …
The Ming family was at a disadvantage. The Ming family was being furiously attacked by Fan Xian. However, as representatives of the Ming family's backing, Eunuch Huang and Guo Zheng did not seem to be excited or concerned. The two of them smiled slightly and bowed to Governor Xue Qing and quietly said a few words.
Xue Qing furrowed his brows slightly and shook his head. He put his hands behind his back and climbed into his sedan chair to leave.
At this moment, only Eunuch Huang and Imperial Censor Guo Zheng remained in front of the large courtyard. They watched with narrowed eyes as the Jiangnan governor's sedan chair gradually turned the corner. Their expressions immediately became ugly.
Guo Zheng coldly said, "This governor does things too carefully. What is there to be afraid of in a joint petition?"
Eunuch Huang chuckled and said, "Sir Guo, how many people in this world can shoulder righteousness like you? Last year, in the great hall of the Ministry of Justice, you did not fear the nobility and interrogated Fan Xian. The Palace greatly admired this matter. "
Guo Zheng laughed self-mockingly and said, "Don't mention that matter."
Eunuch Huang calmed down and said in a quiet voice, "Xue Qing has always been deeply trusted by the Emperor. In officialdom, this person is the most slick and difficult to fathom … this time, Fan Xian secretly sent Xia Qifei out to seize the bid. You are the Imperial Censor, you can write rumors, but, after all, there is no way to hold onto solid evidence. Xue Qing will certainly not participate in this. My question earlier was just to test his attitude. You also know that the place we are looking at is not in Jiangnan."
Guo Zheng smiled slightly and replied, "Naturally, officials are not allowed to do business. This rule has been set by the court for many years. Which official has actually followed it? Even if Xia Qifei is Fan Xian's pawn, if we grab solid evidence and bring it to the court … I'm afraid the Emperor will just laugh it off and not care about it in the past few years. Now that Fan Xian is heavily favored by the Emperor, there will be even less of a problem. "
The two of them met each other's eyes again. Guo Zheng continued to smile and said, "The Jiangnan matter will eventually end in Jingdou. Eunuch, where do you think Fan Xian got so much silver? Although we can't find out how the silver came to Jiangnan, we can at least find out if the room that should have been filled with silver has been emptied out by the Fan family at this time. "
Eunuch Huang chuckled darkly and said, "Those masters in the Palace were thinking this way. Let the imperial envoy do as he pleases in Jiangnan … in a few days, the capital will probably start investigating the Ministry of Revenue. "
…
…
Fan Xian stood in Hua Garden's study with his body leaning forward. He looked at the little hand on the desk holding a brush and writing seriously.
Among such an old child, the Third Prince's handwriting could be considered pretty good. It was graceful but not gentle. The structure was strong but round on the outside. It was contained but not revealed, strong but not released. Judging a person by his handwriting, Fan Xian knew that this Prince, who always liked to wear a shy smile on his face, was not a simple character. However, he was still young and there were many things he could not see clearly.
Other than dealing with Jiangnan matters, Fan Xian's most important job was to fulfill his duty as the Imperial College's Siye and be responsible for the Third Prince's studies and cultivation. As for the Third Prince's studies, a few days ago, Xue Qing had kindly invited a famous Jiangnan teacher to come and teach the Third Prince. In the end, he had been kicked out of the door by the Third Prince.
After Fan Xian returned to Suzhou and heard of this matter, he flew into a rage and led the Third Prince to personally go to the Jiangnan Academy to apologize to the teachers. With kind words, he invited the teachers back into Hua Garden. He then locked the Third Prince in his study and viciously slapped his palms a few times.
When the ruler landed on the palm, the sound was crisp. Particularly when it landed on the Third Prince's palm, the ruler felt even more arrogant and proud.
By the time Xue Qing heard of this matter and rushed over, the slap had already been finished. The governor looked at the Third Prince, whose eyes were red but was still obedient, and couldn't help his heart being shocked. Although Fan Xian was the prince's teacher that the Emperor had personally appointed, to actually hit him … this Sir Fan junior was indeed extraordinarily daring!
After this matter was announced, the Jiangnan scholars all praised the imperial envoy as indeed the light of scholars. To be so respectful to his teacher, Fan Xian's already good reputation became even more beautiful.
What everyone didn't know was that Fan Xian teaching the Third Prince had nothing to do with the Emperor. It was purely because he didn't want to fail Yi Guipin's solemn request.
"Your Highness, it's almost done," Fan Xian said in a gentle voice as he gazed at the Third Prince, who was bent over the table and writing seriously.
"Teacher, there are still two more pages." The Third Prince turned his head in astonishment. It was as if he had not expected Fan Xian to be so gentle today.
Fan Xian smiled and said, "Your palm still hurts, right? You can make it up tomorrow. Rest a bit today and go out to play. "
He rubbed the Third Prince's head. This action appeared a bit too intimate. Even if he was a teacher, logically speaking, he should be sitting upright and serious.
Yet, the Third Prince liked this. Perhaps the children who grew up in the Palace all had some contact deficiency, whether it was physically or mentally. The little guy smiled and bowed. He then ran out of the room. He ran so fast that no one knew what fun things were waiting for him in Ming Garden.
Watching the Third Prince's departing figure, for some reason, Fan Xian's heart felt a bit empty. He began to miss his brother far away in Shangjing in Northern Qi. Wang Qinian had written to say that Sizhe had recently been busy, with the help of the Overwatch Council, consolidating the Cui family's routes in the North. However, it was impossible for a seventh leaf to leave the country. It was indeed difficult for a young man like him to manage such an important matter.
As for why the Third Prince had left so excitedly, Fan Xian understood the reason. It was because he had the Third Prince pester Haitang these few days. Given the prince's status, if he wanted to enter the Tianyi Dao Sect, presumably Ku He would not be too opposed. Even if this matter was not handled properly in the future, it would be beneficial for the Third Prince to learn some martial arts from Haitang to protect himself and forcefully put together a master-disciple relationship.
A knocking sound came from outside the study. Fan Xian woke up from his thoughts and raised his head to look. He saw Shi Chan standing with his head turned to look into the garden. His fingers were unconsciously knocking on the door.
He couldn't resist smiling and said, "Come in, what's there to see?"
Shi Chanli forced a smile and walked in through the door. "Teacher, to have the Third Prince learn martial arts from Haitang is truly something only you would dare to do … she is, after all, the saint girl of Northern Qi … if this matter gets out to the capital, I'm afraid it will cause a great deal of trouble."
"What trouble?" Fan Xian smiled. "The Emperor told me to take the Third Prince to Jiangnan. Of course, I have to teach him with all my heart. As for things like martial arts, Haitang is more suitable than me."
The two of them no longer discussed this topic. Shi Chanli said with a pained expression, "Today, Yang Jimei came again and insisted on inviting me to dinner."
Yang Jimei was the largest salt merchant in the area between the two rivers. The Hua Garden that Fan Xian lived in had been given to him by this salt merchant. Fan Xian knew that this salt merchant was close to Xue Qing, so he always gave him some face. Hearing Shi Chanli say this, he knew that although Yang Jimei had not earned much this year, he had great hopes for the palace treasury next year.
He smiled and said, "This garden is his family's. If he wants to come and see, of course, we can't refuse … he knows that he can't curry favor with me, so he can only curry favor with you. Let him eat. In the future, you will also be doing business in Jiangnan. It will always be good to know a few local tyrants."
"Where is he preparing to invite you?" Fan Xian asked.
"Jiangnan Restaurant."
The highest-class restaurants in Suzhou were Jiangnan Restaurant and Zhuyuan Restaurant. When Fan Xian had first arrived in Suzhou, the Jiangnan officials led by Xue Qing had chosen Jiangnan Restaurant to welcome him. Presently, the Ming family's Zhuyuan Restaurant had been half-bought and half-scared into the hands of the Third Prince and was prepared to be turned into a branch of the Baoyue Brothel. If Yang Jimei wanted to invite someone, it could only be at Jiangnan Restaurant. Fan Xian thought to himself that his question was indeed unnecessary.
He thought for a moment and then said, "Today, the Jiangnan merchants have also decided to meet at Jiangnan Restaurant … the Ming family has to deal with the matter of Xia Qifei, so they probably won't send anyone to attend. Yang Jimei insisted on inviting you to dinner. He certainly wants to use this opportunity to build connections with the royal merchants. Give this opportunity to Yang Jimei. When the time comes, bring him to the banquet."
Presently, everyone in Suzhou knew that the head shopkeeper of the Baoyue Brothel branch, Shi Chanli, was actually Fan Xian's confidant. With Shi Chanli acting as a middleman, the royal merchants would certainly be happy to accept Yang Jimei's arrival. Of course, Fan Xian's thoughts were not just to return a favor to Yang Jimei and Xue Qing. He also had other arrangements.
"At the banquet, keep your ears open," Fan Xian said. "The Ming family is not present, so the royal merchants will not avoid you. Perhaps they will purposely use your ears to send their plans for tomorrow to me."
Shi Chanli nodded. In reality, he was still a bit nervous. "Should I keep an eye on Xia Qifei?"
After staying with Fan Xian for a long time, Shi Chanli, who usually only knew how to study the books of the saints, had also become used to viewing everything in the world through the eyes of a conspiracy theory. These words clearly showed that he did not trust Xia Qifei.
Fan Xian smiled and said, "Relax, Xia Qifei is a smart person. He won't be stupid enough to betray me at this time. This will not benefit him at all."
Shi Chanli smiled with slight embarrassment and then asked, "Sir, do you have any words that you want me to bring to the Jiangnan royal merchants?"
"Hmm …" Fan Xian lowered his head and thought for a moment. "Just say that I support them to do as they please. Even if they completely empty out this year, I will compensate them next year."
He raised his head and warned, "Of course, you have to dress up your words a bit. Don't say it too plainly."
Shi Chanli accepted the order and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something Yang Jimei had mysteriously mentioned earlier. After thinking for a bit, he still opened his mouth and said, "Earlier, Yang Jimei said that there is an organization in Jiangnan called the Junshang Conference. Its power is somewhat mysterious and unfathomable. Please be careful, sir."
Fan Xian thought for a bit and felt that the name Junshang Conference was unfamiliar. It seemed that there was no record of it in the Overwatch Council's files. He furrowed his brows and said, "Mysterious … does not necessarily mean powerful. I understand."
…
…
After Shi Chanli left, Fan Xian's brows furrowed even tighter. An organization that even he didn't know about, what exactly did it represent? He called out.
Gao Da, who had been standing guard outside the door, walked in with large steps. Nowadays, Fan Xian was doing things less and less without avoiding him. One reason was to purposely use the Tiger Guards to show sincerity to the person on the dragon chair in the capital. The other reason was to try the words "moving people with emotion" and see if it was possible to truly turn these powerful Tiger Guards into truly "one of us."
He had Gao Da call over the head swordsman of the Sixth Bureau. Fan Xian furrowed his brows and said to the subordinate, "How many people are there in Suzhou?"
He was asking about the number of assassins and swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau. The Emperor had only moved a few Tiger Guards over. They either stayed by Fan Xian's side or stayed behind the Third Prince. They could not be moved. Most of the assassins of the Sixth Bureau were under the Shadow's lead. They were all over Jiangnan fighting guerrilla warfare against the group of aces sent by Dongyi. For a time, the number of people Fan Xian could move became somewhat inconvenient.
"The Sixth Bureau still has seven people … there are quite a few people from the Fourth Bureau of Inspection stationed in Suzhou," the subordinate replied in a low voice.
Presently, the head of the Qinian Unit, Wang Qinian, was in Northern Qi, Deng Zi Yue was in Jingdou, and Su Wenmao had been left behind by Fan Xian in the three workshops of the palace treasury in North Min. Thus, this person was currently Fan Xian's most direct subordinate. Coincidentally, he had also come from the Sixth Bureau, so he was the person in the Qinian Unit most skilled in defense.
"Don't move the people of the Fourth Bureau," Fan Xian sighed and said. Fan Xian sighed and said, "They are not good at fighting and killing. If there are any losses and Yan Bingyun knows that I used his people indiscriminately, given his personality, I really don't know how he will react. After I return to the capital, I will be criticized."
Gao Da and the member of the Qinian Unit, who were listening to the side, both laughed.
The subordinate asked with confusion, "Sir, what are we doing today?"
"To protect someone," Fan Xian said in a low voice. Fan Xian said in a heavy voice, "Take the seven swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau and hurry to Jiangnan Restaurant. Find Xia Qifei and tell him directly that these are the guards I gave him. At the same time, tell him not to be suspicious. Once the palace treasury bidding is over, I will immediately take them back."
No one knew whether or not Fan Xian had placed spies by Xia Qifei's side. At least on the surface, other than a few old officials of the Ministry of Revenue, the Overwatch Council did not monitor Xia Qifei's every move. This was the way the two sides interacted. Thus, Fan Xian had decided to move people to Xia Qifei's side. He had to at least give a word or two of explanation.
The subordinate furrowed his brows and said, "Sir, if they are all moved over, what about you and the Third Prince?"
Fan Xian glanced at Gao Da and smiled confidently. "Naturally, Sir Gao will worry about my safety. Your mission is to ensure that before the palace treasury bidding, Xia Qifei himself is not harmed in the slightest."
Hearing these words, Gao Da gripped the hilt of his knife and bowed.
The subordinate did not continue to ask questions. He calmly accepted the order and prepared to open the door to make arrangements.
Fan Xian furrowed his brows and suddenly said, "Be careful."
— — —
The old matriarch of the Ming family seemed to be in a very bad mood. She didn't even take a sip of her daily nourishing pigeon soup. She sent it back to the little kitchen untouched. After the Ming master and young master returned from Suzhou, they went straight into the back garden and had not come out.
The uncles and nephews of each branch also received their orders. With faces full of worry, they passed through the beautiful corridors and pavilions by the lake in Ming Garden and hurried toward the old matriarch's courtyard. The servant girls with heads full of confusion watched as the Fourth master, who only liked to walk his bird, the Third master, who only liked to take concubines, and the Sixth master, who only liked to practice wrestling with martial artists and win lotteries. They walked hurriedly and with unsure expressions. It was usually difficult for the men of the Ming family to gather together. At this time, they had all arrived. They couldn't help but be confused. What had happened?
For a moment, the entire Ming Garden was enveloped in a tense and uneasy atmosphere.
The speed at which rumors spread was always faster than the mail system that the Qing Kingdom was so proud of. Before long, all of the servants in Ming Garden learned of a startling piece of news. It turned out that at the palace treasury bidding in Suzhou, an enemy who dared to oppose the Ming family had suddenly appeared. That enemy … was the legendary Seventh young master of the Ming family who had died many years ago.
Back then, the previous master of the Ming family had loved the Seventh young master's mother the most. In his will, it seemed that most of the property had been left to the Seventh young master with a wretched fate.
However, after all these years, the Ming family had long become the property of the eldest branch. Now that such a person had suddenly appeared, what exactly would happen?
"Everyone, calm down."
The wrinkled old matriarch looked coldly at the men of the Ming family in the hall. A great anger surged in her heart. These men were so flustered at such a small matter. After a hundred years, how could she peacefully hand over such a large family property to them?
"Sister, with such a rumor suddenly appearing, it's no wonder the children are panicking."
Sitting beside the old Ming matriarch was the old master's concubine. Because she had fawned over the main wife well, she had lived until today. She looked at the old Ming matriarch's face and said in a trembling voice, "If that … Xia person is really Xiao Qi, what do we do?"
(To be continued, if you want to know what happened afterwards, please log on to WWW. CMFU. com. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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