Alright, everyone, please continue to kill me. It looks like the wine I drank the day before yesterday has not completely sobered me. The seventh chapter should be about the Son of Heaven. Why is it about having fun in front of the Palace again? He was completely speechless to the extreme. He lowered his head and admitted his guilt.
The chapter was called Zhou Gong as the Teacher. It came from a line in the historical records of Zhou Benji, "Zhou Gong as the teacher attacked Huaiyi in the east." It referred to Fan Xian entering Dongyi. It was a spring day. Zhou Gong slept soundly, and so did Fan Xian. Of course, I found this part on Baidu.
PS: Today is the last day the monthly votes will be doubled. Given my condition and level of effort these two days, I truly do not have the confidence to ask for a vote. However, I will still shout. I will not release a single chapter to ask for votes. I promise everyone that for the rest of this month, I will let me, who is writing, and you, who is reading, live happily and of high quality. Amitabha …
Those who believe in me, please bestow a monthly vote.)
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Fan Xian and Wei Hua, the two heads of the greatest special agents in the world, were like two pure and open-minded scholars holding hands and exchanging pleasantries. They were filled with admiration and speechlessness. Immediately, they sat down hand in hand and drank and chatted merrily. They thought back to the foreign affairs of Shangjing in the past and quietly talked about smuggling. When they were happy, they laughed loudly. When they were emotional, they had a thousand thoughts.
Such a sincere display stunned the accompanying officials of the Song Kingdom, as well as the officials of the Board of Rites from Northern Qi and the Qing Kingdom, and their attendants and attendants. They wondered if the two of them had such a good relationship. Immediately, everyone understood the reason and sighed with admiration. They thought to themselves that, in the end, he was the head of the top special agents. With such a shameless and hypocritical nature, it was indeed a meeting of talent. They appreciated each other and couldn't help themselves.
After sitting and chatting for a while, everyone knew that since the two of them had met in the Song Kingdom, they would represent the large power behind them and carry out a test. They would use words to force out some knives and swords. If they were to stand to the side, they would only see the two of them laughing. Very consciously, they retreated.
After the serving girls finished serving, they also retreated. The most luxurious single room in Baoyue Brothel immediately sank into silence. Fan Xian did not sit at the table. Instead, he sat down on a carved wooden chair to the side. His gaze was very calm. Looking at Wei Hua, he said, "You arrived yesterday and came to my door today. You really aren't going to give me a chance to breathe."
Wei Hua smiled and picked up a hot towel from the table to wipe his face. He walked to Fan Xian's side and sat down. After thinking for a moment, he quietly said, "Although everyone can guess that Sir Fan junior will come personally, if they don't see it with their own eyes, how can the millions of people of the Qi Kingdom be at ease?"
Fan Xian's eyes narrowed slightly. He smiled and said, "What? Are you here to seek justice for the people of Daqi? "
Last year, the Overwatch Council had launched an attack in Xiliang and caught all of the Northern Qi spies and secret agents who had infiltrated Dingqing and Qingzhou and colluded with the Hu people. They had killed countless people. This matter caused the Northern Qi court to become furious after a great shock. The superficial peace that the Northern Qi Emperor and Fan Xian had done their best to maintain finally tore a large hole in it.
There was no one else in the hall. Fan Xian and Wei Hua would not continue to chat about the weather. Their voices became light and icy. Wei Hua glanced at him and said in a cold voice, "Sir Fan junior, when you and I worked together in the past, it could be said that we trusted each other. Last year, you did something like this without any warning. Didn't you go too far?"
Fan Xian's brows rose. A ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. "You colluded with the Hu people and killed the people of the Qing Kingdom. Did I have to tell you before I did something? Who do you think you are? "
Wei Hua's heart trembled slightly. Only now did he know that Fan Xian was no longer the gentle and amiable young man who had just come out into the world in Shangjing.
He was silent for a moment and then said, "Don't bring up old matters. However, I don't know what exactly Sir Fan junior is thinking about going to Dongyi to attend the opening ceremony."
"Are you stupid?" Fan Xian said with slight mockery. "I am the Duke of Danbo of the Qing Kingdom. What I am going to Dongyi this time is for the benefit of the Qing Kingdom. It's not like you don't know, so why ask?"
Wei Hua furrowed his brows and felt a chill in his heart. He thought that although the Emperor was talented and managed the court affairs in an orderly manner, the situation in the world was here. The Qing Kingdom was as powerful as it was yesterday. If he wanted to persuade the Sword Hut and the Master of the City to not be overwhelmed by the Qing Kingdom's power, it would be a difficult task. Particularly since the Qing Kingdom had sent Fan Xian, a person he had never seen clearly, his heart was beating like a drum. He did not have much confidence.
"Someone asked me to ask you something," Wei Hua said as he sat by Fan Xian's side. Wei Hua sat beside Fan Xian. Lowering his voice, he said, "Does the agreement in the restaurant still stand?"
After these words were said, Fan Xian's expression changed slightly. A difficult to grasp self-mockery shone through his eyes. Quietly, he said, "What agreement?"
Wei Hua's expression did not change. However, his brows furrowed a little deeper. Perhaps even he did not know what the Emperor wanted him to ask about the agreement. His throat was a little dry as he asked, "Are you prepared to break your promise?"
Hearing these words, Fan Xian furrowed his brows slightly. Standing, he said, "First, there has never been any agreement. Second, should you be the one to tell me about such things?"
Although Wei Hua was the commander of the Northern Qi Brocade Guard and had the Northern Qi Emperor's trust, his status in the country was far below Fan Xian's. Fan Xian was certain that the other party did not have the right to negotiate with him.
"Dongyi is a large piece of venison," Fan Xian turned to look at him and said. "Those who are capable will have it. I will not give it to them."
Wei Hua rose and replied calmly, "The Qi Kingdom will not give it to them either."
The atmosphere in the hall gradually froze. Slowly releasing the will of knives and swords, the coldness immediately rose. It froze the precious and steaming dishes on the table until they didn't dare to breathe. Fan Xian only laughed and sat down at the table. With a fork in one hand and a dish in the other, he casually said, "Since Sigu Jian invited you, Northern Qi is not the only one who came. I am very curious as to who your true leader is."
Naturally, Wei Hua would not answer this question. The coldness in his heart grew stronger and stronger. Looking at the young and handsome official of the Qing court in front of him, he felt a great fear. Everyone in the world knew that Fan Xian controlled the Overwatch Council with one hand and the palace treasury with the other. He was the Qing Emperor's right-hand man. If he wanted to weaken the Qing Kingdom's power, being able to kill him would be a wonderful choice.
However, Wei Hua could not make this decision. He did not have the right to make this decision. After the two recent events, the Northern Qi court had all become aware of Fan Xian's power. For such a person, it was good to be able to kill him. However, if he was not killed, there would be endless trouble in the future.
In this world, who could kill Fan Xian? In the past, the Eldest Princess could not do it. The assassins the Qin family had set up in the valley also could not do it. Was it only the Northern Qi Brocade Guards or the ninth-level assassins of the Dongyi Sword Hut along the way?
Wei Hua gathered his thoughts and sat down again. He did his best to stabilize his emotions. He accompanied Fan Xian, who had already recovered his calm, as he ate and chatted idly.
— — —
The Qing Kingdom and Northern Qi were the two most powerful powers in the world. The two large diplomatic groups heading to Dongyi to witness the opening ceremony of the Hut had coincidentally run into each other the moment they entered the territory controlled by Dongyi. This reality made many people feel fear and unease. In particular, the welcoming disciples of the Dongyi Sword Hut and the officials of the manor of the Master of the City were very cautious. They were terrified that the two sides would become envious and impatient and start fighting.
The diplomatic groups on both sides added up to 500 people. Coincidentally, they lived in two adjacent courtyards. Every time they entered or left, the officials of both sides stood on either side of the long street. Under the hostile confrontation, it was truly a terrifying sight. A thousand eyes used their gazes to kill. No one in such an environment would have it easy.
Wei Hua was deeply worried, but he appeared relatively calm. The truly calm person was Fan Xian. He was not worried at all that they would run into any danger on this trip. Unless Sigu Jian had already made a crazy decision, no one in Dongyi would risk the Qing Emperor's rage and attack the Qing Kingdom's diplomatic group.
The officials and nobles of the Song Kingdom did not dare offend either side. They all used the highest level of etiquette and extravagance to express their sincerity. They were especially humble toward Fan Xian, the Duke of Danbo of the Qing Kingdom.
Fortunately, the first close contact between the diplomatic groups in Dongyi only lasted for a day. Wei Hua did not obtain any comforting information from Fan Xian. The unease in his heart grew heavier and heavier. He did not have the energy to continue testing the conditions the Qing Kingdom was going to give Dongyi. He left the Song Kingdom early.
The officials of the Song Kingdom and the people from Dongyi who had come to receive them watched this scene and all let out a breath. However, on the afternoon that the Northern Qi diplomatic group left, Fan Xian gave an order, and the Qing diplomatic group followed.
They followed for three days. Fan Xian only felt sleepy on the carriage. It seemed that he was not worried about anything happening in Dongyi. However, the officials of the Qing Ministry of Rites knew that the Northern Qi diplomatic group was in front, so they suppressed their own group's speed and did not come into contact with them again.
After Fan Xian slept lazily for a few days, he finally found a problem with the group's speed. He furrowed his brows and asked, "According to the original schedule, we should have reached Dragon Mountain by now. Why are we only entering Huai Shang now?"
Shi Chanli also felt it was strange. He asked a member of the Qinian Unit of the Overwatch Council in front of him and finally understood the reason. He returned to the carriage and reported, "The Northern Qi diplomatic group is too slow. I don't know if Sir Wei does not want to go to Dongyi to receive his failure, so he purposely moved slowly."
These words were said with a smile, but Fan Xian did not smile. Shi Chanli closed his mouth. He wondered if there was a problem with the slow speed.
Fan Xian scratched his head and furrowed his brows. "If someone from Northern Qi left Shangjing, how many days would it take for the information to reach my carriage?"
"At least eight days."
"In other words, if someone left Northern Qi's Shangjing five days ago and I had no way of knowing?" Fan Xian shook his head. "If it really was that woman, the news would have been well hidden. If she really came to Dongyi, I'm afraid she would have entered the Sword Hut within these two days. "
He furrowed his brows and said, "And we are still on the road."
Shi Chanli's heart trembled slightly. He quietly said, "Even if Lady Haitang went to Dongyi early, it would not affect anything."
Fan Xian smiled and didn't say anything. He thought to himself that Wei Hua had used such a shameful method to give Northern Qi's lobbyist time to meet with Sigu Jian alone. It was truly interesting.
However, what was interesting to Northern Qi was rather boring to Fan Xian. So, when the diplomatic group's majestic carriages entered Dragon Mountain, he summoned the officials of the diplomatic group and the subordinates of the Overwatch Council and made a decision that left his subordinates dumbfounded.
No one dared to oppose Fan Xian's decision.
— — —
Another spring had arrived. Willow catkins filled the sky and floated down for thousands of li, like snowflakes swaying in the warm wind. They soared up, covering the city walls and the light of the sea. It made pedestrians cover their faces and scurry away in collective grief. There was no sense of enjoyment at all.
Two traveling merchants wearing bamboo hats stood in the sky full of flying catkins. It was clear that these were two strangers from outside the city. They did not dislike these annoying catkins at all. On the contrary, they seemed to be intoxicated by them, standing by the carriage and admiring them endlessly.
"It truly is the most beautiful scenery in the world. It's a pity that it has covered up the most magnificent city in the world. I can't see it clearly … Achoo!" The younger man sneezed loudly, immediately ruining his interest in admiring the spring.
The older man next to him did not react. He only stared blankly at the catkins in the air. A moment later, he came to his senses and lightly said, "With such a large city, of course I can see it clearly when I'm closer. I often saw these catkins when I was a child, and they all disappeared in two days. Young master, your luck is not bad … but speaking of the most beautiful scenery in the world, you have been sleeping these past few days as the carriage has passed through the spring road. I can't tell you are a person who enjoys the scenery."
The young man in the bamboo hat raised the brim of his hat and narrowed his eyes at the passing pedestrians and merchants, as well as the city in the distance that could not be seen clearly. He revealed his ordinary and proper face, and a glimmer of a smile flashed through his eyes.
This person was none other than Fan Xian of the Qing Kingdom. For some reason, he had braved the risk of leaving the diplomatic group and only brought the man next to him to Dongyi.
Although Dongyi probably would not act against Fan Xian right now, who knew what kind of arrangements Northern Qi had made here? Fan Xian should not have taken such a risk. However, he had a complicated premonition that he had to come early. Otherwise, Sigu Jian might fall to the north.
In terms of safety, he was not too worried. Although Dongyi was filled with ninth-level aces, he was already a top ninth-level ace. Additionally, he had the best assassin in the world at his side. If he could not win, it should not be difficult for him to escape.
With the Shadow at his side, it was as if he had half of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council.
Fan Xian turned his head to glance at the Shadow and couldn't help but smile slightly. On this trip to Dongyi, he had the Shadow reveal himself and follow him by his side. Presumably, his enemies, who knew him incomparably well, would not be able to guess.
Having left home at a young age, Fan Xian knew why the Shadow was showing such a different emotion than usual, and why he had suddenly become so talkative.
Before Uncle Wu Zhu left, he had become more and more talkative. As his number one admirer, the Shadow was also becoming more and more talkative. In Fan Xian's eyes, this was a good thing.
"Have you never come back after all these years?" Fan Xian suddenly thought of something and asked in surprise.
The Shadow pushed down the brim of his straw hat, blocking out the falling cotton and covering his face. Coldly, he said, "I can't kill him. Why would I come back?"
Fan Xian smiled and didn't say anything more. The massacre in Dongyi back then was too strange. Other than using Sigu Jian as a crazy idiot to explain it, there was no other explanation. However, Sigu Jian was a Great Grandmaster. No one dared to ask him anything. Even if Fan Xian wanted to help the Shadow resolve the tragic past that had affected his life, he couldn't find any clues.
"Your idiot brother is about to die," Fan Xian patted the Shadow's shoulder and sighed. "A person's death is like a lamp going out. In the future, when the family is reunited on the road to the underworld, we can go ask."
The Shadow's shoulders froze. "He must die by my hand."
Fan Xian's heart tightened. He didn't know whether he had done the right thing or wrong thing to bring the Shadow back to Dongyi.
…
…
Although the Shadow had not returned to Dongyi for a long time, he had, after all, grown up in this large city before he was a youth. He still remembered the directions of the streets clearly. The description of the willow catkins was not wrong. By the time the two of them came close to Dongyi, the flying cotton in the sky had already sunk into the earth and no trace of it could be found.
Fan Xian jumped down from the shaft of the carriage and looked at the bustling marketplace and hurrying merchants around him. He sighed emotionally, "It is indeed a shopping center. However, after going to the flying cotton, it doesn't have the feeling of a grand city. It is truly disappointing."
He was indeed disappointed. Rumor had it that Dongyi was the largest city in the world. Unexpectedly, when Fan Xian actually saw the city, he found that this so-called largest city had no city walls. It was just countless marketplace buildings pieced together.
"Dongyi was built very late," the Shadow said in a cold voice to the side. "From the beginning, they never built city walls."
Fan Xian looked at the gray buildings that filled his field of vision and the layers of streets. He was secretly shocked. The area of Dongyi was truly frighteningly large. After listening to the Shadow's explanation, he furrowed his brows and said, "For such a large city to not have city walls, wouldn't that make it easier for enemies to invade?"
"In the beginning, Dongyi was filled with profit-hungry merchants and foolish common people. It had no ability to resist foreign enemies. Even if they spent countless resources to build a natural stronghold city wall, it would still be impossible for them to resist the armies of Northern Qi or the Qing Kingdom. Whether or not there was a city wall did not have much of an effect on Dongyi. "
The Shadow paused for a moment and then said, "Some people say that big brother is Dongyi's city wall. If he is alive and Dongyi has no city wall, no enemies will dare to invade. If he is dead, even if Dongyi has a thousand-foot wall, it will still be the end of the country and its family."
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