My condition is so-so. Charging my laptop keeps tripping at home … I am very annoyed. Sorry.
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The banquet proceeded smoothly, at least on the surface, particularly after Fan Sizhe accepted the pair of jade lions from Marquis Chang 'an with a false smile.
However, as the host, Fan Sizhe habitually glanced out of the hall of Baoyue Brothel. He had reserved the entire Baoyue Brothel, so there were no other guests. Sitting beside him, Wei Hua furrowed his brows slightly and wondered who else was coming. Why hadn't he received any news beforehand?
Looking at Fan Sizhe's expression, one could imagine that the identity of the guests who were about to arrive was not low. Otherwise, he would not be unable to suppress his anticipation and nervousness. If the identity of the guests was not low, why had the banquet begun before the guests arrived?
Wei Hua unconsciously shook his head. A self-mocking and bitter smile rose to the corners of his lips. He knew that he could not use common sense to judge these two brothers of the Fan family. He was now the commander of the Provost of the Northern Qi Brocade Guard. He had taken over Shen Zhong's former position. Most of Northern Qi's special forces were under his control. The little Northern Qi Emperor's trust in him could not be said to be weak. His power could not be said to be small. However, once he faced the Fan brothers from the South, Wei Hua still felt faintly nervous.
Fan Xian was in charge of the Overwatch Council. He and Wei Hua were in the same line of business. However, Wei Hua knew that he had not delved into this line of work as long as Fan Xian had. The Northern court's Brocade Guard also did not have as much power as the Southern court's Overwatch Council. If the two of them actually fought across the border, he would not be a match for the other.
As for Fan Sizhe, Wei Hua looked at the chubby young man beside him who was entertaining the guests and furrowed his brows slightly. He had to admit that he had indeed misjudged this person two years ago. He had thought that Fan Xian was just using the power in his hands to send his brother to Northern Qi to escape. He had not thought that after a year, Fan Sizhe, hidden behind the scenes, had firmly controlled the old Cui family's routes. His secret business was also flourishing.
This was completely not the business sensitivity and ability a young man should have.
Wei Hua slapped his forehead. Smiling, he toasted Fan Sizhe and cracked a few jokes. The purpose of Fan Sizhe's invitation today was clear. The smuggled goods from the south had to be taken over by someone. They couldn't let a Qing man openly sell them in Northern Qi. In the past, it had always been the Wei clan, especially Chang Ninghou, who had taken over. Now that Fan Sizhe was becoming more and more daring, he felt that Chang Ninghou's family was moving too slowly. That was why he had dragged Chang Anhou in as well.
Wei Hua did not dislike this arrangement. It was not because the Marquis of Chang An was his uncle. Rather, he knew that the Wei family was just a puppet the Emperor had placed in front of the stage. The majority of the profits flowed endlessly into the Emperor's internal treasury through this business.
Furthermore, no matter how much trouble Fan Sizhe could cause, he was, after all, on Northern Qi territory. Wei Hua had enough power to keep an eye on him. Once things went wrong, the Brocade Guard could easily clean out all of Fan Sizhe's businesses.
It was just that Wei Hua wouldn't dare to do such a thing until things had reached the final step. He didn't even dare to ask for an imperial edict. Northern Qi needed the goods Fan Xian had spat out from the Qing palace treasury. Wei Hua was afraid of Fan Xian's sinister methods and his unreasonableness.
The curtain at Baoyue Brothel's door moved slightly. Two girls entered together. Wei Hua's hand holding the wine cup shook and almost spilled it.
He knew the two girls. This was also one of the reasons why Wei Hua had always been deeply afraid of Fan Xian.
Haitang and Fan Ruoruo.
Wei Hua stood to welcome them. He turned around and pretended to scold Fan Sizhe a few times before inviting the two noble disciples of Tianyi Dao to sit at the main table.
For a moment, the scene was awkward.
Everyone in Northern Qi knew that the empress dowager's intention was for Haitang to marry Wei Hua. However, Haitang and Fan Xian had some unclear relationship.
Wei Hua laughed bitterly and said to Haitang, "Second young master Fan is inviting us. You really don't give me any face by coming like this."
Haitang smiled and took the jade lion Fan Sizhe handed to her. She fiddled with it and said, "You just like to talk."
Wei Hua laughed and didn't say anything more. From a long time ago, he knew that this woman was not someone he could touch. When the empress dowager had first shown interest, the first thing he did was enter the Palace to decline. However, it didn't have much effect. The empress dowager's love for her juniors was always unreasonable.
The empress dowager was unreasonable, Fan Xian was unreasonable, and Wei Hua did not have the courage. This matter offended Fan Xian too much. Besides, if he married a ninth-level ace, how could he maintain his authority? Besides, although Haitang was intelligent, her looks were very average.
Last year, Wei Hua's sister had followed Lang Tiao to Jiangnan. When they passed through Wuzhou, they had gotten into an argument. Wei Hua knew Fan Xian's petty personality and that he must be holding a grudge. He had no choice but to write a letter and say many good things before Fan Xian's anger subsided.
As his thoughts drifted through the years, Wei Hua couldn't help but sigh. Fan Xian, ah, Fan Xian, you don't give me any face at all. You always push yourself down on everything. We are in the same line, so why are you in such a rush to destroy each other? As the commander of the Brocade Guard, why was he not as happy as the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council?
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Ever since Haitang and Fan Ruoruo entered Baoyue Brothel, the banquet in the hall became much quieter. The shrewd and ruthless elders of the Wei family put on the airs of elders and chatted with the two girls. In their hearts, they were thinking that they had originally wanted to help the Emperor get more benefits in this negotiation. Now that these two had arrived … particularly Haitang, where were her arms and elbows born? Thus, their attacks on Fan Sizhe slowed down.
Fan Sizhe's expression was calm as he spoke with a slight smile. In their casual conversation, he clearly explained the division of profits in the coming year and the details of the handover. He had Haitang and her sister come today to give himself a bargaining chip. At least, he wanted to mess up the hearts of the Northern Qi people.
Nominally, it was his negotiation with the Wei family. In reality, although not everyone at the banquet knew about Fan Xian and the Northern Qi Emperor's shady dealings, Chang Ninghou and his son, who led the Wei family, knew.
After three rounds of wine, the discussion ended. Both sides parted happily. However, Wei Hua's expression was not very happy. It was clear that in this new round of agreement on dividing the spoils, Fan Sizhe had still taken the lion's share.
The night gradually darkened. Haitang held the warm jade lion and glanced at Fan Sizhe with a not-quite-there smile. She then left, leaving Baoyue Brothel to the siblings.
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"I don't like Haitang," Fan Sizhe said with a furrowed brows in a room in the Jingdou branch of Baoyue Brothel.
"You're becoming more and more old and heavy." Fan Ruoruo patted her brother's head out of habit and smiled slightly. "What's wrong with sister? Don't tell me you still hold a grudge against me for using you like a donkey? "
Fan Sizhe shook his head and said, "That was brother's intention. He wanted me to suffer. I understand."
Fan Ruoruo looked at her brother with some surprise. Tilting her head, she said, "You're truly becoming more and more old. You're not like a child at all."
Fan Sizhe smiled self-mockingly and said, "In a place like this, there's no one I can trust. There's nothing I can do if I don't want to be careful. Right, sister, you said old …" His spirit suddenly rose and he asked, "Are you saying that I'm becoming more and more like brother?"
Fan Sizhe asked excitedly. In his heart, his older brother was his life's idol. If he could get closer to his older brother's image, naturally, he would be more pleased.
Fan Ruoruo covered her smile and said, "You're becoming more and more like father. It looks like father's beating you back then did have some effect."
She paused and then said, "Earlier, you said you didn't like sister Haitang. Why?"
Fan Sizhe looked quietly into his sister's eyes and didn't speak for a moment.
Fan Ruoruo also looked at him calmly.
"Sister, you should understand," Fan Sizhe said seriously. "We already have a sister-in-law."
Fan Ruoruo's brows also furrowed. She sighed and said, "Yes."
Fan Sizhe furrowed his brows and thought for a moment. In a quiet voice, he said, "Actually, you don't even know that during this year, sister-in-law has written me many letters."
Fan Ruoruo was slightly startled and asked, "What did she say in the letters?"
"What could she say? It's just how the family is, how father is, and how mother is. " Fan Sizhe sighed. "My brother-in-law is alone in a foreign country. Of course, sister-in-law is worried. To tell the truth, during this year, whenever I have something I don't understand, I don't want to go and trouble brother. It's all sister-in-law who helped me think of ideas."
Fan Ruoruo gradually digested the shock in her heart. This was also the first time she had heard of this matter. She thought about it for a moment and tasted many flavors. She sadly said, "Sister-in-law … is a very pitiful person. As you know, the Eldest Princess is currently imprisoned by the Emperor in a side courtyard, and brother is in Jiangnan."
"Brother only knows how to kick me to the North," Fan Sizhe's tone carried dissatisfaction. Fan Sizhe sounded dissatisfied. "Even though I know he's training me, has he ever thought about how young I am? Such a big mess, how could I manage it? I only know how to let go. How could I be as thorough as you think? "
Fan Ruoruo furrowed her brows and scolded, "It's not easy for brother in the South. If it wasn't for him standing firm, how could you stand firm in the North? How is he letting go? The shopkeepers of Qingyu Hall are all secretly helping you. The Overwatch Council's network in Northern Qi is also serving you. In order to raise you, he has put a lot of effort … as for training, it's not like you don't know what kind of person brother is. He grew up alone in Danzhou. I don't know what kind of person he has gone through to get to where he is today. This is what he believes in. This is how he treats himself. We are his brothers and sisters. Of course, he would also choose this method. "
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After a string of scoldings, it was as if Fan Sizhe had returned to Jingdou a few years ago. At that time, he, who was not afraid of heaven or earth, was only afraid of the iron ruler in his sister's hand. In an instant, he softened. A moment later, he muttered, "In any case … I don't like Haitang."
Fan Ruoruo sighed and said, "It's not like you don't know how much Haitang has helped brother in secret."
"It's just an exchange of benefits. Other than the dead Zhuang Mohan, how many people in Northern Qi are truly saints who do not care about worldly matters?" Fan Sizhe smiled coldly. "Don't look at how you've entered Ku He's tutelage and how I'm the number one boss. If brother is no longer useful to Northern Qi, I'm afraid we will immediately be stepped on. At that time, I don't expect Haitang to stick up for us."
Fan Ruoruo said seriously, "My view is the opposite of yours."
Fan Sizhe shook his head and faintly said a moment later, "No matter what … there has to be a first come, first served, right?"
Fan Ruoruo thought deeply for a long time and slowly nodded. She also felt great pity for her respectable and amiable sister-in-law, who was used to being silent and hurt. She agreed with her brother's view. Suddenly, an absurd thought welled up in her heart. If it was said first come, first served … shouldn't she be the first to reach brother's side? It was just that fate played tricks on her … a trace of bitterness rose to the corner of her lips. Shortly after, she suppressed this undeserved emotion and worried with her brother about Lin Wan 'er's fate.
"Brother is definitely not someone who is fickle and indifferent. It's just that now, sister-in-law is stuck between the Eldest Princess and brother. She really doesn't know what to do."
"Don't think so much." Fan Sizhe shrugged. "Right now, the most important problem is brother's situation in the South."
"I saw that you had a large banquet tonight and thought you'd already forgotten yourself."
"The Eldest Princess has fallen. Naturally, I have to use this opportunity to earn more money," Fan Sizhe said. "But right now, only brother's faction is powerful in the court. I just feel that there will be some problems."
"Perhaps you're thinking too far ahead. It's not exactly powerful, but it's standing at the edge of the wind." Fan Ruoruo smiled slightly. "Regardless of whether it's family affairs or national affairs, it doesn't seem to be something that people like us who are guests in a foreign land can worry about."
Fan Sizhe was startled. Given his sister's usual attitude, he thought, she should be very worried about Fan Xian's safety. Why did she appear so indifferent? But he didn't dare to criticize his sister. He unconsciously asked, "Whose poem?"
"Brother."
"Didn't he compose a poem?"
"He doesn't do it in front of outsiders."
"Hmm … we really don't care?"
"What can we worry about?" Fan Ruoruo's calm expression carried a sense of confidence in her brother. "He worked so hard to send us to Northern Qi because he doesn't want us to be involved in these matters. If we really want to do what's best for him, then we must live well here and not make him worry."
"How do you live well?"
"Is it happy being a boss?"
"It's okay, although sometimes it's a bit troublesome."
"I'm going to the medical shop tomorrow. I also feel that this kind of life is very happy. Brother said that people live in this world to find things they like to do."
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