He took a deep breath. It was not yet late autumn, but in the Imperial Study, a dark-colored heater had already begun to emit warmth. The air was a little dry, and it went straight from his mouth and nose to his lungs, causing him to feel a faint pain. Fan Xian looked at the Emperor's face in front of him and suddenly thought of many things and people.
The storm in the Qing Kingdom began decades ago. As the dust gradually settled, the only ones still in the eye of the storm were probably this father and son pair.
Fan Xian's attitude toward the Emperor was actually very difficult to grasp. Even he could not clearly explain it. From Danzhou to Jingdou, brushing shoulders in the Qing Temple, meeting for the first time in the bamboo tea shop beside Taiping Courtyard, from bestowing marriage to the Overwatch Council, and learning of the portrait in the Palace, Fan Xian had guessed earlier than anyone else. He had guessed his true past.
Whether it was the Fan Shen of his previous life or the Fan Xian of this one, they were both fatherless and motherless. Unfortunately, they were born in the Kingdom of Qing, so they had a mother named Ye Qingmei. Later, they discovered that they had a father. But this was a bloodline inheritance. For Fan Xian to truly regard this Emperor as his father was something he could not have done at the time.
At that time, Fan Xian had been acting the entire time. He had acted beautifully. No one knew that there was a completely different soul inside him, so he could fool everyone, even the Emperor in front of him.
As time slowly progressed, Fan Xian gradually began to have suspicions about the murder case in Taiping Courtyard. He became a bit more wary and even afraid of the Emperor on the dragon chair. Thus, his acting became more steady and cautious.
But, after all these years, if Ye Qingmei and Fan Xian were that connected soul hidden in history, an existence with a natural sense of closeness, a person who used the aura of everything around her to remind herself and gradually became one with her mother's image. The Emperor had used so many years of interaction, favor, trust, methods, and realm to get closer to Fan Xian's life step by step, making him feel indecisive.
It had to be said that the Emperor had invested in Fan Xian a trust and tolerance that he had rarely shown in his life. At the beginning of the battle for the throne, perhaps the Emperor had only watched his illegitimate son gradually grow stronger and, to a greater extent, used him. Gradually, the Emperor's attitude toward Fan Xian changed, particularly after the Jingdou rebellion in the seventh year of the Qing calendar. For Fan Xian to be able to have his present position and power in the Qing court and people, it had to be said that the Emperor's favor toward him had far surpassed what he had toward the Crown Prince or the Second Prince.
This pair of ruler and official, father and son, often discussed matters in the Palace and chatted in the royal study. Fan Xian hid something, so he continued to act. While acting, he could clearly feel what exactly the Emperor's attitude toward him was.
Thus, during these three years after learning the truth about Taiping Courtyard, Fan Xian had been suffering with difficulty. Although he had been preparing in certain areas, he had never been able to truly settle his heart. On one hand, he knew that His Majesty was like the great snowy mountain in his dreams. It was impossible for him to be easily overturned. On the other hand, he often asked himself late at night, what kind of light would come out of the crevice he was in? How should he choose?
He wanted to choose a third path that did not necessarily lead to bloodshed. Thus, he had worked hard to be the vanguard of the King and the Qing court. He worked busily, completely against his nature. He only hoped that any matter could have a relatively calm and bright ending.
He wanted Chen Pingping and his father to be able to retire peacefully.
In the end, all of this was an illusion.
Fan Xian was disappointed, even hopeless. He felt sad and tired. He didn't want to act anymore.
…
…
After carefully reading the files on the table, Fan Xian gently coughed. Thinking about it, that deep breath earlier and forcefully suppressing the emotions in his heart had already caused some pain in his unhealed lungs to once again reappear in some part of them.
The Emperor looked at him silently and also gently coughed. There was an acknowledgement of each other's strength between this strange pair of father and son, as well as complicated emotions. Even their injuries were put together to tell the two of them that they were actually very similar people.
According to Chen Pingping's plan, perhaps at this moment, Fan Xian should show an expression of disbelief, tremble all over, be angry and confused, and then roar at the Emperor, I don't believe it. I don't believe this was done by the old Director. Why would he do this? Then, the Emperor would gently and coldly explain to him what kind of goal Chen Pingping had lived for the last few decades of his life, what kind of bone-deep hatred he had for the Li royal family, and how good this old dog had been to you in the past was actually all fake. He wanted the Qing Kingdom to be destroyed in turmoil and destroyed in the disaster caused by our falling out as father and son.
Then, Fan Xian would still appear to be in disbelief. He would even angrily berate the Emperor, "You faked all of this. Chen Pingping is not like that." Then, he would angrily leave the royal study and return to his manor. He would think for many days and truly understand the Emperor's painstaking efforts, Chen Pingping's insidiousness, and so on and so forth.
This was a proper court drama. This was the great turning point that the dramatists needed. The emotional conflict, in the end, yielded to the mutual trust between the Emperor and his officials because of the ironclad truth. From then on, father and son would let go of their former enmity. The curtains would open, and the musical instruments would ring out. The glorious Qing Kingdom would step onto the stage of history.
However, Fan Xian did not have any expression.
Fan Xian didn't have any expression. He just placed the files back on the table. He lowered his head slightly and didn't say a word. It was as if he was thinking about something important. It was also as if he was just too tired. Tired to the point that entering the Palace had used up all of his energy.
The Emperor looked at him calmly. His eyes gradually narrowed at a very slow speed. His eyes gradually brightened and then dimmed. Disappointment rose and then turned to a kind of calm or coldness.
"So, you knew all of this the entire time." The Emperor looked at his favorite illegitimate child and coldly said, "I have always found it strange. The Shadow has always followed you. This kind of thing shouldn't have been hidden from you. You should have long known that the Hanging Temple incident was done by that old dog. I have also been thinking. If you truly continue acting according to the things presented in these files, once I ask why Chen Pingping betrayed me, I really don't know how to open my mouth. "
The tip of Fan Xian's finger trembled slightly. He acutely sensed that a great change had occurred in the Emperor's state of mind. However, his expression did not change at all. He raised his head and looked directly at the Emperor. In a slightly raspy voice, he said, "I actually always knew."
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and looked at him. A cold light flashed and disappeared in his eyes.
Fan Xian pressed his slightly dry lips together and did his best to suppress the rising and falling emotions in his heart. Calmly, he said, "Furthermore, I have always worked hard. I have worked hard to not let the blood of the past swallow up the things that already exist. From the moment I made this decision, I knew it was a very naive and childish choice. However, after my battle to the death with Yan Xiaoyi three years ago, I understood that in one's life, one has to work hard to do something. Even if others laugh at my naivety, I have to silently try. "
"Of course, naive things are always easy to fail. However, "he looked at the Emperor and said," any great thing, at the very beginning, doesn't it always seem particularly idealistic and naive to the point of ridicule? For example, the vow you, mother, and the others made by the seaside in Danzhou? "
The Emperor continued to look at him silently. His eyes grew brighter and brighter. From the moment Fan Xian opened his mouth to say that he knew and worked hard, he knew clearly what kind of goal his favorite son had wanted to achieve all these years. For some reason, the Emperor, who was already used to coldness, suddenly felt a glimmer of warmth in his heart. Perhaps it was not a bad thing. However, this glimmer of warmth often disappeared too quickly.
"He has already left. He no longer thinks about the past. Why did you …" Fan Xian looked at the Emperor woodenly and said in a raspy voice, "Why did you have to have him die?"
These words were directed at Chen Pingping. Fan Xian did not cry out or angrily berate. He was only filled with sorrow and helplessness, as well as undisguised hatred. He looked woodenly into the Emperor's eyes. The Emperor also looked at him calmly. After a long silence, the Emperor smiled. His smile was cold, disappointed, and sharp.
"Haha …" The Emperor narrowed his eyes and said, "I killed him?"
The Emperor slammed his palm down on the table beside him. He didn't smash the wooden table into pieces, but the force was enough to send the paper on the table flying. He looked at Fan Xian and scolded in a low voice with slight anger, "What I am most angry about is this. I gave him a way out. If he hadn't come back from Dazhou, perhaps I would have pretended nothing had happened. However, in the end, he came back alone."
"He forced me to kill him." The Emperor's gaze was as cold as a snowy mountain. "I could only do as he wished. I have stood in this world for dozens of years, and I have never trusted anyone easily, but I once trusted him. I even thought that maybe I could see him as a friend, and I even gave him a chance in the end, but … he didn't give me any chance. "
The Emperor took a deep breath. His calm voice was filled with a heart-shaking coldness. "In the end, a servant will always be a servant."
Hearing the word "servant" in these words, as well as the hatred and disdain that could not be hidden, the image of the old cripple in the black wheelchair seemed to suddenly appear in front of Fan Xian's eyes. He stared at the Emperor. His voice was as sharp and cold as a knife. Gritting his teeth, he said, "The mistakes of the world are all the fault of others. Of course, Your Majesty is wise and powerful. However, I still don't know how my pitiful mother died."
The Emperor's face was cold. He had no reaction at all to Fan Xian's heart-wrenching words. He only narrowed his eyes and looked at him disdainfully. "Including that old dog, all of the enemies of the Qing Kingdom probably hoped for the scene in the royal study to happen today. You didn't disappoint them. You only disappointed me. Someone as stupid as you cannot be taught."
Fan Xian closed his eyes and then opened them. They had already recovered their calm. "However, there are many things that I still don't understand."
"If you don't understand something, then don't think about it." The Emperor's tone was indifferent. It was clear that he was disappointed in Fan Xian's behavior. As for his last question about the cause of Ye Qingmei's death, it was unconsciously suppressed by the Emperor in the depths of his sea of consciousness, not allowing it to surface. He looked at Fan Xian and coldly said, "In front of me, in the end, you are still an official. If you think too much, I will not let you continue to think."
This was not a threat. It was just a simple statement of fact. It was just like the Eldest Princess's evaluation of Fan Xian. Fan Xian appeared to be naturally cold and unfeeling. In reality, he was very emotional and had too many weaknesses to grab. However, during the Jingdou rebellion, the Eldest Princess's wish had already been fulfilled. She did not deign to grab Fan Xian's weaknesses. However, in Jingdou, it was not a difficult matter for the Emperor to crush Fan Xian to death.
Hearing these cold and harsh words, Fan Xian straightened his body. Using a direct attitude that he had never shown in front of the Emperor, he said, "Your Majesty has treated me very well these years. I know very well …"
Inside the royal study, the father and son were not acting. They were both saying what they wanted to say the most. For the first time, Fan Xian stood up firmly and slowly spoke of his interactions with the Emperor these years, one by one. When he got to the point where he spoke seriously, the heater in the royal study seemed to sigh. The smoke twisted as if it couldn't bear to see the father and son break apart.
Only Fan Xian knew how well the Qing Emperor had treated Fan Xian. If it had been the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, or any other son of the Li family standing in front of the Qing Emperor and saying these words, they would probably have died a long time ago. However, Fan Xian was still alive. Perhaps the Qing Emperor was a heartless person and did not treat Fan Xian with much affection. Relatively speaking, he gave Fan Xian the most affection.
Listening to Fan Xian's calm recollection, the Emperor gradually straightened his body. He then waved his hand tiredly and said, "I am not killing you not because I can't bear to kill you."
The Emperor closed his eyes and was silent for a moment. He then said, "I don't want to explain what happened in the past in front of a junior like you. But, I think that perhaps those people have always been watching me from above. You are my and your mother's son. Perhaps you are like a pair of eyes they have left in this world. I won't kill you because I want to prove to you, as well as those who care about you, that I am right. "
He opened his eyes and coldly said, "And, they are all wrong."
Fan Xian bowed deeply and replied, "I will stay in Jingdou obediently and watch Your Majesty's great plans."
He did not thank the Emperor for not killing him because there was no need for thanks. Since the Emperor allowed him to live, he would live on well. He would keep his eyes open and watch on behalf of Ye Qingmei, Chen Pingping, and many people in the past.
"You will be obedient?" The Emperor looked at his son and suddenly laughed. His laughter suddenly stopped. Icily, he said, "I don't believe it, and you won't believe it. However, I have never thought that your dishonesty is a flaw. I just hope that you won't be so dishonest that I can't be bothered to tolerate it."
"Just stay in Jingdou." The Emperor glanced at him and suddenly said tiredly, "Just teaching in the Imperial College is good. Don't touch the matters of the Overwatch Council and the palace treasury anymore. I don't want to spend too much time on you."
Having spoken to this point, it could not be said any more clearly. The Emperor was giving Fan Xian one last chance to live if he was willing to be obedient. Even though this was a threat to his life, for some reason, a glimmer of confusion grew in Fan Xian's heart. He had not thought that the Emperor would make such a decision in the end.
The Emperor looked at Fan Xian's complicated gaze. Suddenly, his heart darkened. He thought of how Fan Xian had blurted out "father" by the seaside in Danzhou. After a moment of silence, he said, "In the future, if you have nothing to do, you can still come into the Palace to pay your respects. When you are alone, I allow you to call me father."
There was no one else in the royal study. It was completely silent. Fan Xian's body froze slightly. Seriously, he replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
…
…
No one knew what the Emperor and Fan Xian talked about in the royal study. At least, when Fan Xian walked out of the royal study, his body was unharmed and had not become a spirit. This reality made most people in the Royal Palace let out a breath.
The Emperor had also issued an edict for Fan Xian to return to his position. There weren't even any obscure hints of rewards. On the contrary, at almost the same time Fan Xian walked out of the royal study, a few edicts that had been prepared beforehand were sent out. The court, with the cooperation of the six ministries and three temples, began to strengthen the purge of the Overwatch Council and palace treasury. The edict summoning Suzhou Zhizhou Cheng Jialin, Jiaozhou Judge Hou Jichang, and the palace treasury transport company Su Wenmao to the capital to report on their work had also been sent out. At the same time, the edict naming Yan Bingyun the Director of the Overwatch Council left the Palace one step ahead of the others.
It was clear that the internal court had long made preparations. The Emperor saw through his son, Fan Xian, too well. Even if he didn't want to kill him, he had enough ways to trap Fan Xian in Jingdou so he wouldn't move rashly and be too dishonest.
As for whether or not the information Fan Xian had sent out through the Qinian Unit could, in the end, become a bargaining chip with the Emperor, it would depend on whether or not the Emperor had this kind of sensitivity and powerful motivation beforehand.
In reality, regarding these two points, there was probably no one in this world who was stronger than the Emperor.
Fan Xian walked out of the Palace with a heavy face. Hong Zhu, who saw him out, was careful and followed at his side with slight fear.
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