The sea breeze blew against Fan Xian's face, waking him from his thoughts. Sitting silently on this precipitous cliff, he ran through all the stories of his rebirth in his mind. This was not only because he thought of Uncle Wu Zhu, but also because this familiar cliff top made him feel something.
Many years ago, it was on this cliff that Fan Xian, as a young boy, made his three wishes in front of Wu Zhu.
To have many, many children.
To write many, many books.
To live a very, very good life.
Uncle Wu Zhu concluded that Fan Xian needed many, many women, many gunmen, and many servants. Thus, he needed a lot of money, which was power. Thus, the two of them went to Jingdou.
…
…
To this day, in Fan Xian's second life, he had already had many experiences with the opposite sex. Although not much remained, he had no children. However, he was not in a hurry. He didn't hire gunmen, but he was almost at the end of "Dream of the Red Chamber". Copying poems in front of the palace, copying poems when he met beautiful women. Without question, he had grown into the world's greatest gunman.
As for money and power, Fan Xian had also obtained a lot, but … a very, very good life?
He furrowed his brows and shook his head. People were never satisfied.
Recalling and concluding did not take him too long. After confirming that Uncle Wu Zhu was not on the cliff, he decisively rolled up his trousers and followed the familiar stone path between the cliffs, sweeping down like a bird.
The reason he had returned to Danzhou and was not in a hurry to see his grandmother, instead coming to the cliff, was because Fan Xian had long been worried about Wu Zhu. Although in the past half year, he had not revealed a glimmer of anxiety in front of or behind others — of course, not many people knew of Wu Zhu's existence — in the depths of his heart, he was very worried.
One day before he left Jingdou, in front of the Overwatch Council's frozen mirror-like pool, Chen Pingping told him the news of Wu Zhu's injury.
In this world, the number of people who could injure Wu Zhu could be counted on one hand. In the battle with Ku He that no one knew about last summer, Uncle Wu Zhu and Ku He had separately recovered for many months. This time … how long would Uncle Wu Zhu need to recover?
Originally, Fan Xian was already used to the blind uncle's mysterious appearance, but when he thought of Wu Zhu's strange injury this time, he still couldn't stop worrying. He always felt that things were not so simple. The lack of news for half a year made him even more angry. So, as soon as he returned to Danzhou, he tried to find traces of Wu Zhu.
However, Uncle Wu Zhu was not here, and he did not know how his injury was.
…
…
Taking advantage of the dusk, Fan Xian quietly walked alone into Danzhou, the place he had grown up in. He greedily breathed in the slightly salty and damp air. His mood brightened and did not become salty and damp.
Walking past the city gate, the cloth shop, and the wine shop, the sky was dark. No one noticed that this young man was the imperial envoy that the people of Danzhou had been eagerly waiting for.
He walked all the way until he arrived outside the shop. Fan Xian closed his eyes and listened. He then turned into a side alley. Stepping on the moss that had not been imprinted on his footsteps for a long time, he fished out a metal key from beside the dusty door and opened the back door. His entire body flashed in.
The front and back rooms of the shop were covered in dust. The goods on the shelves had probably long been emptied by thieves. Only the chopping board in the back was still there. The thin knife marks on it seemed to tell the story of a young man chopping radishes.
Fan Xian chuckled and went forward to pick up the kitchen knife beside the chopping board. He gestured a few times. This kitchen knife had been "gifted" to him by Uncle Wu Zhu. Uncle Wu Zhu never left marks on the chopping board when he chopped radishes. Later on, he had managed to do it with some difficulty.
The taste of the radishes and sorghum was not bad.
…
…
Without wasting too much time, when Fan Xian stood in front of the door to his own Count's manor, the sun had not completely set below the mountain behind him. The warm light still shone inside and outside the incomparably lively Count's manor.
Today was a big day for the imperial envoy to visit his hometown and relatives, so the servants in the Count's manor were all busy, excited, and proud. Everyone's faces were like the two large red lanterns hanging at the manor's entrance, glowing with red light and high-spirited.
The officials in Danzhou begged for an audience but had no door. They had long been politely asked to leave. The people passing through the manor door were all the servants and housekeepers of the manor.
Fan Xian stood with a smile at the door and looked at those familiar faces. He didn't know what he was thinking. There were a few unfamiliar faces that had probably only been summoned into the manor in recent years.
"Young man, don't stand at the entrance." However, his tone was not very fierce. Under the care of the old ancestor, the Count's manor had always been very strict. There were very few cases of bullying the good and suppressing the kind.
Fan Xian smiled bitterly and opened his mouth. Before he had time to say anything, he heard a figure passing through the manor scream.
"Ah! … "
The person who screamed was a young servant girl. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were shining as she stared at Fan Xian outside the door. She ran out in small steps, almost tripping over the high threshold. Fan Xian was so frightened that he hurriedly held her up.
The little servant girl broke free of Fan Xian's hand like she had been electrocuted. Her hands twisted as she looked at Fan Xian. She was so excited that she couldn't speak. The housekeeper outside the door was curious. A few old people finally saw Fan Xian's appearance clearly in the dusky light and also let out a cry.
The little servant girl finally came to her senses. Her face was bright red. Toward the courtyard, she cried out in a sharp voice, "The young master is back!"
"What?"
"The young master is back! Quickly go inform the old madam! "
"Young master!"
Following the spread of this news, the already joyous atmosphere in the Count's manor immediately exploded. A wave of footsteps moved in this direction. No one knew how many people were coming to welcome Fan Xian home.
At this moment, Fan Xian, led by the little serving girl and carefully escorted by the various stewards in the door, walked into the manor. Fan Xian looked at the terrified men behind him and laughingly scolded, "Do you think I don't know how to walk? You can go back. "
Those people sighed and unwillingly retreated.
Fan Xian looked at the little servant girl beside him and thought she looked familiar, but he couldn't match her name. He couldn't resist smiling and asking, "What is your name? Are Little Qing and Little Ya alright? "
The little servant girl immediately became sad. She thought to herself, The young master has been away for less than two years. How could he have forgotten her name? She had heard from her sisters that the young master had been a good master who loved his servant girls since he was young. He was the most gentle and polite. She couldn't resist glancing at Fan Xian with hidden bitterness and said, "Young master, Sister Qing is already married. Sister Ya is still in the manor … I, I am Xiao Hong."
"Xiao Hong?" Fan Xian had already been unkindly stared at by the little girl's resentful gaze. Now that he heard her name clearly, he almost fell in fright. He stared at the little girl's delicate face and still didn't believe it. He couldn't resist sighing and saying, "It's only been two years. How did you grow so big?"
As the saying goes, a girl changes eighteen times between childhood and womanhood. When Fan Xian left Danzhou, Xiao Hong was still a 12-year-old tea girl. Now, she had already grown into a big girl. Her figure was already visible, and her features had developed. No wonder Fan Xian didn't recognize her at first.
Before the master and servant could exchange feelings, they heard a clamor coming from the west. The chattering was like countless birds swooping in.
Fan Xian's eyes were sharp. He saw from a distance that his Tiger Guards, Hong Changqing, and the others had fallen behind. From this, it could be seen how urgent the women lined up in front of the formation were.
A wave of fragrance wafted over. The servant girls in the Count's manor stopped not far in front of Fan Xian. They looked at Fan Xian with faces full of joy. They then respectfully bowed. "Greetings to the young master!"
The servant girls' faces were mostly filled with joy and excitement. Occasionally, there was a trace of sadness from being separated for two years.
At this time, the housekeeper and servants of the Count's manor also hurried over from the back and knelt down in greeting to Fan Xian.
For a moment, the garden was densely packed with over 20 people kneeling. Xiao Hong, the servant girl, stood by Fan Xian's side and didn't know what to do. She finally came to her senses and also knelt down.
Unexpectedly, Fan Xian pulled on her arm and laughingly scolded the servant girls in front of him who had been with him since childhood. "All of you, get up! You didn't do this at home. How come after leaving for two years … you all dare to disobey my wishes? "
The servant girls giggled and stood up, surrounding Fan Xian's side. Some inquired about his well-being, some brought him tea and water, some held fans to fan him, and naturally, there were also some who took advantage of helping him tidy up his clothes to satisfy the emptiness of not being close to the most beautiful man in the world for two years. They all did things, and so on and so forth.
Just like this, Fan Xian walked into the back garden with a crowd on his left and right.
Fan Xian looked at the Tiger Guards and Hong Changqing, who were waiting by the side of the road with strange expressions. He glared at them and thought to himself, I grew up amidst a pile of rouge, and I still find this kind of life comfortable. What are you men looking at?
He had just entered the back garden when he heard a sentence.
"What a scandal!"
The servant girls supporting Fan Xian giggled and let go of his hands. Fan Xian, who had been reveling in the relaxed and happy life he hadn't had in a long time, shuddered. Piling the sincerest smile on his face, he looked up the steps.
He saw a noble old woman looking at him coldly. Wan'er was holding the old woman's left hand with a face full of smiles. The Third Prince was carefully holding the old woman's right hand. Sisi was holding a large palm-leaf umbrella and hiding behind the old woman. She looked at Fan Xian with a not-quite-there smile, as if telling him … it was over for him today.
For an old woman to have this kind of status, she could only be the Qing Emperor's wet nurse. She had brought up an Emperor, a prince, a minister, and taught up a commissioner. She was the Danzhou ancestor and grandmother of the Fan family.
Fan Xian looked at the old woman's kind and calm expression. He was very excited. With a strange cry, he threw himself at her.
Who would have thought that in the middle of his journey, the old woman had already shouted in a cold voice, "Stop!"
Fan Xian was stunned and stood dumbly on the ground. Looking at his grandmother, he didn't know what mistake he had made.
The old woman slowly examined her grandson, who had been gone for two years. Her gaze gradually moved down from Fan Xian's face. After confirming that the little guy had all four limbs and was not disfigured, she nodded her head with satisfaction. However, when her gaze fell below Fan Xian's legs, her gaze still became cold.
"Go wash your feet. You're already so old, yet you don't care at all," the old woman scolded sternly.
Fan Xian lowered his head and looked at his muddy feet. Only then did he remember that when he climbed the mountain, he had long thrown away his shoes. Involuntarily, he raised his head and said with a bitter and pitiful expression, "Grandmother …"
"Wash first."
As soon as the words were spoken, the serving girls had already laughed out loud. They brought out a chair for Fan Xian and went to fetch hot water to serve Fan Xian as he washed his feet. Another serving girl entered the room and took out the shoes Fan Xian had worn a few years ago. Tilting her head, she giggled and said, "Young master, I wonder if your feet have grown."
Fan Xian allowed them to clean him up with a bitter expression. Seeing Wan'er by his grandmother's side reveal an expression that she couldn't help but laugh, he couldn't resist glaring at her. Wan'er stuck out her tongue and smiled cutely. Wan'er was also curious. Her husband was someone who feared nothing. Why was it that after returning to Danzhou and facing this old woman, he was so scared?
After washing his feet and putting on his shoes, Fan Xian leaned against the steps with shifty eyes.
The old woman looked at his expression and knew he had no good intentions. Suddenly, she thought of the wild actions he had done the day he left Danzhou and couldn't help but jump in fright. With a serious expression, she scolded, "What does this monkey want to do now?"
Monkey? To the side, Lin Wan'er and the Third Prince couldn't resist laughing again.
Normal men were forbidden from entering the back garden, so the housekeepers and servants, as well as the Tiger Guards and Hong Changqing, were all watching the spectacle from outside. Bystanders who heard these words would only think of Fan Xian climbing back and forth on the roof of the fake mountain in the Count's manor while Hong Changqing was thinking of the Commissioner jumping up and down on a large ship with white sails. They couldn't resist nodding their heads, thinking that the old woman's description was indeed not wrong at all.
Fan Xian approached the steps with a mischievous smile on his face. He could hear that his grandmother was putting on a strong front but feeling weak inside. She pressed forward step by step.
The old woman panicked and pointed at Fan Xian. "Just stand there, just stand there. Don't come any closer."
As soon as he finished speaking, Fan Xian had already leaped over. The skills of a ninth-level ace were indeed not to be trifled with. He hugged the old woman and kissed her hard on the cheek. There was a pop, and the sound of the kiss was audible.
Joyous laughter rang out inside and outside the garden.
"Grandmother, I missed you so much," Fan Xian said sincerely. He thought of how he had discovered earlier that the wrinkles on his grandmother's face were deeper than two years ago and that she had become thinner. For some reason, a faint sense of sorrow welled up in his heart.
He helped his grandmother into the room and had her sit in a chair. Only then did he kneel on the ground and formally bow again, giving three solid kowtows.
"I heard you have a girl in Suzhou?"
After the grandmother and grandson spoke warmly for a while, the old woman suddenly changed the topic and caught Fan Xian off guard.
Fan Xian raised his head in surprise and saw Wan'er's face full of confusion. Presumably, she also didn't understand why the old woman had suddenly said that. As for Sisi, her face was even more innocent, indicating that she had not said anything to the old woman.
(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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