One person's sorrow could not make the entire Chen Garden fall. The sorrow on Fan Xian's face always made one feel it was mischievous and mocking. Chen Pingping sat in the wheelchair and looked at the young man in front of him. He couldn't resist smiling.
It had been five years since Fan Xian first saw Chen Pingping. During these five years, he had seen Chen Pingping grow old and silent. He had experienced the terror of this elder, but he had never realized that Chen Pingping's smile would one day appear so pure, as pure as a child's.
For some reason, the dark aura that usually shrouded the wheelchair had long since disappeared. Today, Chen Pingping looked like a believer who had been a vegetarian for his entire life. His entire body exuded a refreshing and pleasant aura, as if he was transparent from the inside out.
Fan Xian stared at his face in a daze. He knew that one's appearance came from one's heart, but he didn't know what kind of mental journey had made Chen Pingping become like this. The old man's eyes were slightly indifferent, but they were not the emotionless coldness. They were calm as he looked at Fan Xian lightly. Slowly, he said, "Other than that poison, what else is there?"
"There's a lot more. We've talked about it before." Fan Xian sighed and stared into Chen Pingping's eyes. "You had Sir Fei pass by Dongyi and did everything in his power to protect Sigu Jian's life …"
From this point on, Fan Xian no longer used a questioning tone. Instead, he began to speak each word like he was stating a fact.
"Ku He did everything in his power to prolong your life because he could see clearly that the longer you lived, the greater the chance of you and the Emperor falling out," Fan Xian continued with his head lowered. Fan Xian lowered his head and continued, "You allowed Sigu Jian to live this long because you had long planned to have the Sword Hut reveal the Shadow's identity and force the Emperor to act against you."
"Force?" Chen Pingping smiled as if he had heard an interesting word.
Fan Xian was not moved by the old man's smile. He sighed and said, "As for your poisoning three years ago, it seems very clear now. You used this to not enter the capital and allowed the Eldest Princess and empress dowager to mess around in Jingdou. Nominally, you were obeying the Emperor's secret edict and letting the dogs into the courtyard. In reality, you had a bigger plan. "
He laughed at himself and said, "I was in a critical situation at that time, so I didn't think too deeply about it. Only later did I understand. The Eldest Princess' chief strategist, Yuan Hongdao, and the old Qin master's most trusted Overwatch Council spy, Yan Ruohai, were all your trusted aides. Although you were in the wilderness, you were clear about the situation of the rebellion. With these two people secretly helping you, if you wanted to help the Emperor control the situation, Jingdou would not have fallen into such chaos. "
Chen Pingping laughed, his voice a little sharp. "Then tell me, why didn't I control the situation?"
"You wanted the situation to be a bit more chaotic. You wanted everyone in the palace to die." Fan Xian lowered his head and faintly said, "The Emperor set a fire, but you allowed the fire to burn too brightly. Too many people died. You were hoping that in the end, when the world turned white, only Boss and I would be left to clean up the mess. "
"The problem is, there's one thing you haven't explained. Why did I betray His Majesty? Do I have the power to make it so that only you and Prince Heqing remain in Jingdou? "
"You have this ability. I have never doubted this. If the Emperor had actually died on Dong Mountain, Yuan Hongdao and Yan Ruohai would not have been able to be used at all. You would have directly abandoned Yuan Hongdao." Fan Xian looked at Chen Pingping and felt a strange taste rise in his mouth. It was slightly bitter and sour. "As for why you betrayed the Emperor, you and I both know."
Chen Pingping laughed and patted the arms of the wheelchair. It was like he was patting a strong diabolo in the wind, making a buzzing sound. He was silent for a long time. He stared fixedly into Fan Xian's eyes like he was staring at a similarly young person many years ago. Darkly, he said, "Shouldn't I?"
Fan Xian was silent. He had no idea how to respond to this question. As a son, he couldn't say he shouldn't. He had always been shocked by Chen Pingping's bone-deep longing for Ye Qingmei and his desire for revenge that could burn everything.
Chen Pingping was the Emperor's closest official. Ever since he was young, he had served in King Cheng's manor. He and Ye Qingmei met very late and presumably did not spend much time together. It was because of this woman who was like a passerby in his life that the leader of the darkest special forces in the world hid a dagger in his heart for over 20 years. It pierced his heart and everyone's hearts.
Chen Pingping suddenly lay back tiredly on the wheelchair and said, "You don't understand the past. You don't understand."
Fan Xian had not personally participated in the events of the past, so he did not easily say he understood. He was silent, calculating, and enduring silently. He had no idea how to deal with it. If there was only hatred between people, perhaps this world would be much simpler. However, the relationships between people were always so complicated.
…
…
"I also understand the second reason you took the poison." Fan Xian looked at Chen Pingping's eyes that were as still as an ancient well. Suddenly, his heart throbbed with pain. He felt that the matters of the world were indeed somewhat hurtful and hurtful. "You had thought that the Emperor would never be able to return from Dong Mountain. You have also destroyed his kingdom. You have been ruler and official for a lifetime. You should accompany him on the road to the Yellow Springs. You can consider it fulfilling your duty as ruler and official."
Chen Pingping closed his eyes and said, "After all, I have watched the Emperor grow from a child to an Emperor. I understand him too well. He is someone who is afraid of being alone. I am worried that he will be afraid on the road to the underworld alone, so I want to accompany him."
"Accompany him?" Fan Xian's voice became harsh. "He has killed enough people. There will be many people accompanying him on the road to the Yellow Springs. Do you need to be like this?"
He calmed his emotions and said in a heavy voice, "Furthermore, he is not dead."
"It is always very difficult for a person to die." For the first time in front of Fan Xian, Chen Pingping sighed and said these words. Looking at him, he slowly said, "I have never underestimated the Emperor. Before and during my plans, I have always been cautious and prepared for all possibilities of failure. Even if I failed, I would not leave behind anything that could be used against me or drag you down."
Fan Xian looked at Chen Pingping. A powerful feeling of worship suddenly rose in his heart. He was too familiar with this old cripple. There were many things that he had not hidden from him. Thus, he knew more about what Chen Pingping had done than the Emperor in the Palace.
In this world, Chen Pingping was probably the only person who could secretly plot against His Majesty and hide it from His Majesty. The founder of the Overwatch Council was truly too powerful when it came to scheming. He was so powerful that he did not have to purposely weave anything. He just went with the flow of the world and occasionally smeared a few dark colors. He had once caused the Emperor and the Qing Kingdom to sink into a situation that could be beyond redemption.
However, the Emperor's own strength was too powerful. He was powerful to the point where he could easily tear apart all schemes and schemes. However, Chen Pingping was truly powerful. Even so, he still did not reveal any tiny loopholes. He had even arranged an escape route many years ago.
Chen Pingping did not care about life or death. What he cared about was Fan Xian's safety after his death. That was why, starting from the Hanging Temple and after the Shadow accidentally stabbed Fan Xian, he began to arrange everything, including the attack in the valley and even the matter in the Palace. He was cutting off Fan Xian and Fan Xian.
Even if it came to light in the future, these things that were hidden in the depths would become a cleavage between Chen Pingping and Fan Xian. In front of the evidence that he had painstakingly found, the Emperor would believe that Chen Pingping wanted to kill Fan Xian and that Fan Xian had nothing to do with Chen Pingping's matter.
As for why Chen Pingping wanted to kill Fan Xian, that was a question for the Emperor to ponder. Fan Xian had been heavily injured in the Hanging Temple incident and almost died. The valley was also extremely dangerous. These two pieces of evidence were too powerful.
Fan Xian could feel Chen Pingping's painstaking efforts. Looking at his old face and sensing the fresh air that rose from his heart, his heart was moved, but he didn't know what to say.
…
…
Chen Pingping's expression was incomparably calm. "You should have already thought through these things three years ago. That day, before the Chen Garden recovered, you also said something similar. Why are you doing it again today?"
"The Emperor will always be suspicious, particularly after you played such a trick in Dongyi," Fan Xian said. "I can only come to clarify these things with you."
"The Dongyi matter was arranged three years ago. After I promised you to let go, I already let go," Chen Pingping said with a smile.
"I don't care. Since you want to let go, then be more thorough," Fan Xian said. "The Emperor has already made me the Director of the Overwatch Council. You can completely retire."
"Retire? That would be no different from my current life. "
Fan Xian smiled strangely. "You still dare to say such words in front of me? If you are not willing, even if I am the Director of the Overwatch Council for another 10 years, the Overwatch Council will still be yours. "
"Oh, no." Chen Pingping also smiled. "The Overwatch Council is the Emperor's."
"Oh, no." Fan Xian mimicked his tone and sighed. "Twenty percent of the Overwatch Council is the Emperor's, thirty percent is mine, and the other half is yours. It will always be yours."
Having been in the Overwatch Council for so long, Fan Xian knew the frightening degree of control the old cripple in front of him had over the Overwatch Council. The so-called Emperor's private special forces had long become his private organization under Chen Pingping's old hands. This was because the Emperor had never doubted the loyal dogs at his side. It was also because Chen Pingping's prestige in the Overwatch Council was too high. There were too many officials who swore loyalty to him.
Fan Xian did not doubt one thing. If the Palace issued an edict to deal with Chen Pingping, people like Yan Ruohai and the bald head of the Seventh Bureau would not even think before standing behind Chen Pingping.
Everything for the Qing Kingdom? In the hearts of the Overwatch Council officials, perhaps the Qing Kingdom was the Emperor. In the hearts of the middle-level officials who truly held power, other than Chen Pingping, there was no one else.
"Hmm … What exactly do you want to do?" Chen Pingping asked as he looked at Fan Xian with an expression of admiration. This seemed to be a normal question, but it was also like some kind of change between the two Overwatch Council Directors.
Fan Xian suddenly hung his head dejectedly and said, "Before I came today, I had already seen Yan Bingyun. I had him begin to prepare to gather the eight bureaus of the Overwatch Council, as well as the Fourth Bureau's branches in the various counties, and cut off all possibilities of you extending into the Council. However, I know that if you don't pull back, just Yan Bingyun and I alone will not be able to do much."
"Have Yan Bingyun deal with his old man?" Chen Pingping chuckled. "That's not a bad move. Although, the old man he has to deal with will certainly be much more than he imagines."
The old man he spoke of referred to the upper echelon of the Overwatch Council officials who were completely loyal to Chen Pingping.
Fan Xian sat forward and gently held Chen Pingping's tightly furrowed hands. "Let go."
"If you let go, why are you still holding onto my hand?" Chen Pingping smiled slightly. "You can try to cut off the hand I extend into the Council. However, I can promise you that the old men are more powerful than you imagine."
Those old men were the first nest of eggs the Overwatch Council had laid at the beginning of the Dragon Flag. They had countless disciples in the Council. It would be incomparably difficult to clean out these old men. Fan Xian cursed in his heart. On the surface, he said angrily, "You said that the two of us have gotten along well these years. We are no different from father and son. Is there a need to fight a battle with me at this time?"
"The key question is, you still haven't convinced me. Why should I let go?" Chen Pingping's gaze was very interesting.
Fan Xian was silent for a moment. He then said, "The Emperor has already begun to investigate the attack in the valley and the Hanging Temple matter. One day, he will suspect you. Even if he can't find any evidence, this matter is always dangerous. Furthermore, you know that the Emperor's personality has changed a lot ever since so many people died in the Palace. If it had been in the past, he would probably have used lightning fast methods the moment his suspicions grew. However, he has never done so. "
These words were true. The Overwatch Council was one of the powers the Emperor relied on the most. His trust in Chen Pingping was also an anomaly in the world. Once he discovered that Chen Pingping had other intentions in his heart, if it had been the Emperor of the past, he would probably have flown into a rage long ago.
"We've talked about this topic before." Chen Pingping nodded. "The Emperor has some affection for me. Even if he has some suspicions, he can't bear to act directly. He would rather wait for me to die of old age."
"Yes, the problem is that you never die," Fan Xian nodded. "It's fine if you don't die, but your heart doesn't die either. So, I can only ask you to leave Jingdou and return to your hometown to find your first love."
Chen Pingping smiled and scolded. He then suddenly asked, "If I don't retreat, what will you do?"
"I will begin to act," Fan Xian said after a moment of silence. Fan Xian was silent for a moment. He then said, "Even if I have to make a mess in the Overwatch Council, I will still beat you down."
"With what reason?"
"Of course, it is because I found that Director Chen's shadow was behind the attack in the valley. As a prince and the next Director of the Overwatch Council, I attacked with hatred and wanted to put you to death," Fan Xian said with his head lowered. Fan Xian lowered his head and said, "Regardless of whether or not I can win in the end, the Emperor will always think that I have also found out about this matter and will watch me fight. In the end, he will issue an edict to chase you out of the capital. On one hand, it fulfills my wishes and fills my grudge. On the other hand, it protects your life and completes the affection between you two."
Chen Pingping's grizzled brows rose. "Thinking about it, you also used this matter to convince Yan Bingyun?"
Fan Xian nodded.
"Using a non-existent grudge to hide the true danger within." Chen Pingping thought for a long time and then nodded. "You've improved a lot compared to before."
Fan Xian smiled and said, "I thought about it for a month. Knowing that the internal court had begun to investigate the valley matter, I thought of using this point."
Chen Pingping smiled tiredly. He knew what Fan Xian was worried about and why he had to go through so much trouble to force him to leave Jingdou. Just as Fan Xian's heart had been moved earlier, this head of special agents, who had been alone and bitter his entire life, suddenly felt his heart become much warmer.
"I promise you, I will leave Jingdou." Chen Pingping gently patted Fan Xian's hand.
Fan Xian was overjoyed and chuckled. He then said, "This shouldn't be a problem. Once in the Hanging Temple and once in the valley. Both times, I almost died to your hands. No matter what the internal court finds, it will only be a footnote for you to quietly leave Jingdou."
"Thinking of when you charged into Chen Garden in a wheelchair and yelled at me, it was very interesting," Chen Pingping said with a slight smile.
Fan Xian smiled and shook his head. At the time, he truly didn't understand why Chen Pingping wanted to do these things. It was only later when the Eldest Princess completely enlightened him that he understood exactly what Chen Pingping wanted to do and why he had been carefully preparing to completely sever ties with him.
"The Taiping Courtyard murder case was done by Qin Ye, right?" Fan Xian suddenly said.
Chen Pingping glanced at him and lightly said, "Qin Ye is only one of the Emperor's dogs."
Fan Xian was silent for a long time. He then said, "In the end, the Qin family wanted to rebel because of my existence?"
"Of course, you are Ye Qingmei's son." Chen Pingping smiled. "Qin Ye, that old dog, had been hidden by the Emperor for many years, but he understood the Emperor's intentions too well. If the Emperor planned on using you in an important position, then he would not have let you know the story from back then. Qin Ye was the only surviving loophole in that story. "
"The Emperor wanted to help you ascend the throne and preserve the relationship between you and your father, so he had to silence you. Qin Ye had to die," Chen Pingping calmly said. "Thus, Qin Ye had no choice but to rebel."
In the past, Chen Pingping had always insisted on not saying these things to Fan Xian. However, now that it had come to this, there was no longer a need to hide it. He no longer wanted to drag Fan Xian into the dirty water of the past.
"As expected." Fan Xian took a deep breath. The warm air of spring entered his lungs, but it burned his chest. Although he had long guessed these things, hearing Chen Pingping personally confirm it still made it difficult for him to suppress the burning.
"Three years ago, you asked why the Qin family rebelled." Chen Pingping suddenly looked at him with great interest. "Given your vision, you shouldn't be able to see so far. Who reminded you? Fan Jian? "
"Father would never tell me these things." Fan Xian laughed bitterly. "It was the Eldest Princess."
This name came out of Fan Xian's lips. Chen Pingping also became quieter. His gaze looked at the green trees outside the window. Lightly, he said, "That crazy girl was also a remarkable figure. She had no idea what had happened back then, yet she was able to guess the past from these details. Truly impressive."
"During the Jingdou rebellion, were you in contact with the Eldest Princess?" Fan Xian asked a question he had hidden for a long time. At the time, the Overwatch Council's reaction was truly strange. Even if it was part of the Emperor's plan to have Chen Pingping lure out the unstable elements in Jingdou, Chen Pingping's response was too strange. Particularly on the Eldest Princess's side, it seemed that she had never purposefully paid attention to the direction of the Overwatch Council.
"No," Chen Pingping said with his eyes closed. "There are many things that do not need to be in contact. We only need to guess each other's intentions and goals. The most ingenious plan in the world is just a flash of inspiration without any warning. Once each person's intentions come together … once it falls on paper, it falls short. "
"Concerning these things, you have to learn well from your dead mother-in-law," Chen Pingping said with a slight smile as he opened his eyes.
Fan Xian smiled bitterly and nodded his head.
Chen Pingping suddenly asked quietly, "Now that you know enough, what do you plan to do in the future?"
Fan Xian was silent for a long time. He then said, "I don't know."
Chen Pingping sighed with slight disappointment.
"Is there evidence?" Fan Xian's voice trembled slightly. "Even a little bit of evidence."
"There are many things in this world that do not need evidence. Only intentions are needed. I only confirmed that person's intentions a few years ago and confirmed my own intentions."
Chen Pingping's words had some similarities to Sigu Jian's way of the sword. "That day, the army marched to the West. The Emperor was near Dingzhou. Your father was also with the army. The Northern Qi army suddenly moved south. I led the Overwatch Council north to Yanjing …"
"Ye Zhong was also moved to the rear of the Western army." Chen Pingping only coldly stated a fact. "Most importantly, your mother had just given birth to you and was weak after giving birth."
Fan Xian's brows gradually furrowed. "What about Uncle Wu Zhu? I still don't understand why he would leave his mother's side at that time. "
"Someone from the Temple came." Chen Pingping smiled slightly. "An emissary appeared on the land. Although I'm not sure exactly where your mother came from, I can guess that she, Wu Zhu, and the Temple have always had some connection. Furthermore, Wu Zhu has always been very afraid of anything related to the Temple."
"Someone from the Temple came more than once. It was at least two times. I know of two times." Chen Pingping sighed. "Each time they came, Wu Zhu killed them. At that time, it seemed that the only people who could threaten your mother were the people from the Temple. Wu Zhu did not allow those people from the Temple to come within a hundred li of your mother."
"So, Wu Zhu left."
"But, your mother still died."
"Died … at the hands of one of our own."
Chen Pingping smiled strangely. He enunciated the words "one of our own" with a particularly heavy tone.
Fan Xian also smiled. His smile was particularly sincere. He then stood up and patted Chen Pingping's shoulder. "I had long guessed these things. It is only after hearing them from your mouth that I realized they felt so real. Alright, don't think about these things anymore."
Chen Pingping smiled and asked, "The chest should still be in your hands, right? Where is Wu Zhu? "
Fan Xian smiled somewhat bitterly. A moment later, he said, "The chest is not here. Uncle Wu Zhu had business and left."
Chen Pingping made a sound of acknowledgment. Once again, he did not hide his faint disappointment in front of Fan Xian.
Fan Xian suddenly asked with slight surprise, "You knew … the chest was in my hands?"
"Your father also knew," Chen Pingping said. "That's why your father didn't know."
Fan Xian's expression changed slightly. It took a long time for him to digest the shock in his heart. He thought of how his father, who had already retired, had done countless things for him in secret. Involuntarily, a glimmer of nostalgia rose in his heart. Once again, he patted Chen Pingping's thin shoulder and smiled. "You want me to learn from the dead Eldest Princess. I think you should learn from my still living father. When it's time to let go, let go. When it's time to retreat, retreat."
He placed his two hands on Chen Pingping's shoulders and used a little force. "Leave the future matters to me."
Chen Pingping smiled and didn't say anything. He only thought to himself that given this child's personality, he would probably continue to watch and endure. However, he didn't know how long he would have to watch and endure for. There were many bitter lovers in the world, and someone with Fan Xian's background was, without question, the most bitter kind.
Thinking of this, Chen Pingping suddenly felt that his and Fan Xian's 20 years of hard work had not been in vain. At least, Fan Xian had grown up healthily. Furthermore, he had grown up quickly. It seemed that he had only spent one night.
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Regarding Fan Xian, it is truly very painful for me to write. Many times, I am thinking about what I would do if I were Fan Xian. However, I can't find an answer. Although the outline has long been decided, it is still very difficult to continue writing. I will try harder to think and think.
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