"Three years ago, the entire capital was hunting me. If it weren't for the help of the Sun family, I would hardly be alive now, let alone have been able to transport the Black Knights into the city."

The atmosphere inside the Imperial Study was somewhat tense. Fan Xian lowered his head slightly, looking at the Emperor on the couch before him. His expression was grave as he spoke slowly, word by word, "From this perspective, the Sun family can be considered my lifesavers and even meritorious officials in quelling the rebellion."

"Quelling the rebellion?" The Emperor didn't raise his head. The dim lamplight illuminated his tightly bound hair, revealing a few strands of white reflecting the light. He continued Fan Xian's words with indifference, "If I remember correctly, it was the Sun family's daughter who contributed, what does it have to do with her father?"

"The Sun family's daughter is still born from her father." Fan Xian raised his head, looking at the Emperor with stubborn calmness.

The Emperor put down the document in his hand and also raised his head, quietly looking at his son. He remained silent for a long time, as if trying to discern the true thoughts deep within the young man's heart. After a while, he spoke softly, "Did you enter the palace today just to say this?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Emperor fell silent again. After a long while, he suddenly asked, "Why?"

"I am a person who always repays kindness and avenges grudges." The reason Fan Xian gave was simple, "Miss Sun did me a great favor."

"If you just want to repay the kindness..." The Emperor said with a hint of sarcasm, "If I betroth Sun Pin'er to you, Sun Jingxiu's face will naturally be radiant. Why would he need to fight for this position?"

Fan Xian didn't force a smile, his face was calm, but his heart was slightly tight. He gritted his teeth, and a voice seeped out from between them, "Because Your Majesty promised me three years ago."

The Emperor fell into silence. Three years ago, Fan Xian asked him for merits, which included the matter of Sun Jingxiu. He slowly said, "How can anything in this world remain unchanged forever? Especially the positions of officials, which are the foundation of the dynasty. How can they be eternally unchanged just because of a few words? According to you, if I promised you something, even if that person is corrupt and breaks the law in the future, I must still not move him based on your words?"

Fan Xian's previous words carried a hint of petulance and an inappropriate fierceness. The Emperor was quite angered by the implication of demanding rewards for merit, but he calmed down in an instant. Perhaps the Emperor preferred Fan Xian's nature of bringing everything out into the open.

"Sun Jingxiu is a capable official." Fan Xian didn't back down an inch, looking at the Emperor's face, he said clearly, "If he dares to be corrupt and break the law, I will be the first to capture him and subject him to a thousand cuts."

A strange light flashed in the Emperor's eyes. He seemed surprised that Fan Xian would be so concerned about this matter, and vaguely thought that perhaps the means of weakening power came too quickly, hurting the young man's heart.

The matter of Dongyi City was still being processed, and the court hadn't truly rewarded him for his merits, yet it was already rushing to arrange opponents for him in the court. No wonder Anzhi felt uncomfortable and stubbornly pushed back. The Emperor smiled slightly, thinking he understood Fan Xian's thoughts, shook his head, and didn't continue to say anything about it.

"Routine evaluations must always be done." The Emperor lowered his head and said gently, "Since you want to repay Sun Jingxiu's kindness from back then, I naturally won't force you to be an unrighteous person. However, if he is not suitable to continue in this position, I will naturally replace him."

The Emperor raised his head, seemingly warning, and seemingly reminding, "Even though you are the Director of the Overwatch Council, you cannot interfere too much in court affairs. The Grand Academicians of the Department of Ministries are toiling over state matters, don't meddle too much."

Fan Xian didn't say much, bowed and left the Imperial Study. In these last two sentences, the Emperor had expressed himself very clearly. He would not personally interfere in this matter, but He Zongwei's side would still target Sun Jingxiu, and he was reminding Fan Xian not to make any private moves against He Zongwei, otherwise the Emperor would truly be angered.

After Fan Xian left, the Emperor looked at the documents on the table with some helplessness, a faint feeling of annoyance arose in his heart. He pushed these documents away with one hand, sitting alone in the Imperial Study, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Anzhi is good in every way, but his temperament is a little too direct and stubborn."

The Emperor thought to himself, while summoning Eunuch Yao in, asking about what happened in the capital today, his expression gradually calming down. Hearing about the Sun family's birthday banquet, the Emperor pondered for a long time, understanding why Fan Xian jumped up like an old cat whose tail had been stepped on. A minister who had just made great contributions was about to have his power weakened and his face swept away. Not to mention Fan Xian, anyone would probably feel angry.

"Perhaps this matter was a bit too rushed." The Emperor thought to himself, but was unwilling to admit that he had overlooked something. He said indifferently to Eunuch Yao, "Tell He Zongwei's side to proceed. As for Anzhi's side, don't bother them for now."

The Emperor didn't expect that Fan Xian's anger was basically feigned. He just wanted to use his anger and sadness to force His Majesty to be moved, to have a heart that couldn't bear to be deceived, and to retain the great power in his hands for a little longer.

Eunuch Yao responded with utmost respect, then lowered his voice and said, "That matter has been traced to the end."

The Emperor grunted, a cold light flashing in his eyes, and said, "Speak."

"The dispatch order from Bing Ward, the pass for the city-defense crossbows to leave Minbei, have all been obtained. However, after finally tracing the transfer order to the Department of Military Affairs, it pointed to the Qin family, and there was no sign of *that one*."

Eunuch Yao said in a trembling voice. The Imperial Household Department had been secretly investigating the mountain valley assassination for the past year. His Majesty had never let go of the doubts of that year, wanting to find that person and comfort the little Fan Xian.

To be able to do so much silently, and even extend one's reach into the Internal Treasury, even a former military meritorious family like the Qin family could not do it, and yet leave no clues behind. In the entire Qing Kingdom, besides the Emperor himself, only the people of the Overwatch Council could do it.

The Emperor's expression was very complex. He was an extremely vengeful and sensitive person. The overall situation of the world was promising now. Although there were some minor problems within the court, nothing could threaten the foundation of the Li family's rule.

Therefore, the mountain valley assassination of that year had become a thorn in his heart, not only because someone had almost killed his son, but also because he discovered that that person was vaguely escaping his control.

Just like Fan Xian today, he also seemed to be showing a tendency to break free of his control. He could tolerate Fan Xian for the time being because he was his biological son, his most beloved son, and the son who had made the greatest contributions to the Qing Kingdom. But what about that person?

That person had made even greater contributions to the Qing Kingdom, and the Emperor had never figured out the reason. He sat wearily on the soft couch, seemingly not wanting to continue thinking about this matter. After a long silence, he said, "The mountain valley matter ends here. Anyway, they are all people who are about to die."

"Have you found out who was behind the two eunuchs?"

Eunuch Yao's temples ached slightly, and he shook his head in great fear. He knew who the two eunuchs His Majesty was talking about were. This was another mystery behind the Qing Kingdom's mists. At that time, under the leadership of the Empress Dowager, the entire Qing Kingdom imperial family was moving towards the path of the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne. The Second Prince also temporarily maintained peace with the Crown Prince. It was at this time that two eunuchs suddenly jumped out of the palace, intending to assassinate the Third Prince, Li Chengping.

What exactly was the intention? Moreover, under the circumstances at that time, the Third Prince's life or death had no essential impact on the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne. On the contrary, if the Third Prince died tragically in the palace, it would be a terrible reputation for the Crown Prince and the Second Prince to bear.

Afterwards, Fan Xian also carefully investigated, but neither the Crown Prince nor the Second Prince admitted it. Before her death, the Eldest Princess didn't even talk about such a small matter. Fan Xian couldn't continue the investigation, so he had to believe that there were too many variables in the palace at that time, and he didn't know what kind of conflict had erupted to put the Third Prince in danger.

However, Emperor Li Chengping didn't think so. He never let go of any of the slightest oddities, which was why he could achieve the most magnificent career.

——————————————————

Fan Xian walked out of the dark imperial palace, ignoring the humbly bowing eunuchs and palace maids around him, and walked away with a flick of his sleeves, his face gloomy.

Regarding the attitude towards servants, Fan Xian was definitely a major anomaly in the Qing Kingdom. Not to mention the servants, maids, and housekeepers in the Fan residence, he had always been gentle in his words to the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace. Not only was he generous with money, but he was also very different in his attitude. It seemed that he never thought that these deformed people had anything worthy of disgust.

Because of this, the people in the entire palace had a genuine feeling of respect and love for this young lord. Even Lord Hou, who died under the crossbow bolts of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council three years ago, although he was a person secretly planted by the Eldest Princess, actually praised Fan Xian in his daily life.

Today, Fan Xian's unusual performance fell into the eyes of many people. This posture was very different from his previous demeanor. These eunuchs and palace maids felt a trace of strangeness and guessed that the young lord was probably arguing with His Majesty in the Imperial Study again.

Walking out of the dark and long palace gate tunnel, Fan Xian stood on the square in front of the imperial city. He didn't turn his head to look at the palace gate, but spread his arms and shouted loudly, as if to vent all the depression in his chest with this shout.

The sound echoed in the quiet and empty square, collided with the red walls of the imperial city, and then turned back, lingering for a long time without stopping.

The guards inside the palace gate, the imperial guards outside the palace gate, the eunuchs who were preparing to lock up, all eyes turned to him, startled by the sound.

If it was an ordinary person making such a loud noise at the palace gate, the imperial guards would have rushed forward to beat him severely and then押押 him into the prison, waiting for the autumn to be beheaded for the crime of disturbing the palace. But Fan Xian shouted like this, but no one dared to move, not even a verbal reminder.

Even if this person was crazy, but if it was Fan Xian, then everyone would just beautify it as a poet's infatuation and turn a blind eye.

The imperial guard commander on duty at the palace gate today was Gong Dian. The first senior official Fan Xian met after entering the capital was this person. The two could be considered familiar. Hearing this shout, Gong Dian ran out of the duty room and hurriedly went over to drag him back, saying, "What are you going crazy for?"

Fan Xian tidied the sleeves on his arm and sneered, "I really am going crazy."

Although he said that, his face had already calmed down a lot. He did need to vent some pent-up emotions, because after enduring in this world until now, Fan Xian no longer needed to hide anything from anyone, or do anything against his nature, except in front of the Emperor... Acting in front of the Emperor put a lot of pressure on him, and his emotions were very complicated.

Seeing the Emperor's thin and slightly tired face, for some reason, Fan Xian thought of the portrait in the small building, and thought of that story from many years ago. A scene of blood and fire filled Fan Xian's eyes, and he found it difficult to bear this torn feeling that was mixed together.

But even this shout in front of the palace gate was actually an act. He knew that this shout wouldn't take long to be reported to the Emperor's ears in the Imperial Study.

He had to act like a real person, a illegitimate son who was somewhat indignant and aggrieved.

It was very tiring, and he didn't want to act anymore.

"Accompany me to drink." He stared at Gong Dian like a refugee staring at a piece of streaky pork, "I'll close down Baoyue Tower and call sixty girls to accompany you."

"You're really going crazy." Gong Dian's eyes were piercing, staring back at him, he put his hand on his forehead.

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Next to Xinhuai Lane was a residence. This residence didn't occupy a large area, and the flying eaves and photo walls weren't particularly magnificent. The location wasn't very good either. It intersected with the surrounding houses, and there wasn't much difference. This residence was the former residence of an old censor from the previous dynasty. After the old censor returned to his hometown to retire, the residence was left vacant and managed by a few old colleagues, thinking about the convenience for their descendants to seek a future in the capital in the future, so they didn't intend to sell it.

Three years ago, this residence was finally sold. From then on, the quiet Xinhuai Lane became lively. Officials came to visit from time to time, and during festivals, there was a dragon-like flow of people at the door, very lively.

As the new owner of the censor's residence gradually rose, on the contrary, fewer and fewer officials came to visit, because the new owner's reputation for integrity gradually spread, and no one wanted to tempt him.

He Zongwei, the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and Grand Academician of the Department of Ministries, was the new owner of this censor's residence.

In fact, colleagues had advised him, and even the Emperor had mentioned that officials mostly lived in the South City. He Zongwei still lived in the old censor's residence in Xinhuai Lane, which was inconvenient and didn't match the status and dignity of a senior court official.

He Zongwei, the Grand Academician who was smooth and harmonious in court affairs, understood the essence of officialdom, and was highly appreciated by His Majesty and respected by his colleagues, was very insistent on this matter. He even rejected His Majesty's decree to grant him a residence, and still lived in this old censor's residence with his three or two loyal servants, a widowed aunt, and a few distant brothers.

He had lived there for three years.

He Zongwei pushed open the door and walked into the somewhat desolate courtyard of the old censor's house, looking at the wild spring scenery and the green branches that were randomly placed everywhere, he couldn't help shaking his head with self-deprecation.

The reason why he had been living in this old censor's residence was because he had feelings for it, and this residence represented many extremely important meanings for his life. He Zongwei first truly stepped onto the stage of the Qing Kingdom during the incident five years ago when Prime Minister Lin Ruofu resigned.

He Zongwei "accidentally" met the wife of Wu Bo'an, a strategist in the Prime Minister's residence, stood up for her, and filed a lawsuit in the Censorate. He also "accidentally" met the assassins from the Prime Minister's residence, and then "accidentally" met the Second Prince and his son, Li Hongcheng. Through a series of coincidences, he happened to follow the then prevailing trend of the Qing Kingdom's dynasty, and actually brought down Prime Minister Lin Ruofu.

He Zongwei, who had missed the spring examination due to mourning, was still a commoner at that time. In the eyes of everyone, he used the power of a single person to bring down a generation of treacherous prime ministers. His reputation became loud at that moment. In the hearts of scholars, no one just regarded him as a talented person in the capital on par with Hou Jichang, but regarded him as a remarkable figure with great ambitions and a resolute character.

It was also through the downfall of Prime Minister Lin that He Zongwei first saw the Emperor's face. From that day on, he was deeply impressed by His Majesty's demeanor and mindset. And it was on that day that the Emperor also took a fancy to this young scholar. A decree made him enter the Censorate and become a censor.

In the following years, He Zongwei maneuvered between various forces, and finally succeeded in becoming the youngest Grand Academician of the Department of Ministries in the history of the Qing Kingdom. His prominence was unparalleled for a time. Of course, that was because no one would compare him to *that one*, even if he was Grand Academician He, in the hearts of the ten thousand people of the Qing Kingdom, *that one* would always be unique and high above.

And *that one* in He Zongwei's heart was a shadow. This shadow floated above his head, obscuring the infinite light in his life, leaving only a piece of coldness—that shadow was Fan Xian.

When He Zongwei was praised by scholars for the Lin Prime Minister incident, Fan Xian had already exposed the spring examination fraud case, making fifteen officials of the court, including the Minister of Rites, dead men. What's more, there was also the poem on the night before the palace examination.

When He Zongwei was still an ordinary censor in the Censorate, Fan Xian was already the Director of the Overwatch Council, forcing His Majesty to beat censors in front of the palace, and those censors were He Zongwei's seniors and superiors.

When He Zongwei finally ushered in the most glorious moment of his life, Fan Xian still just looked at him contemptuously, holding the Overwatch Council in one hand and the Internal Treasury in the other, and now he had captured Dongyi City, a large piece of land, for the Qing Kingdom.

He himself was a talented person, while the other was a poetry immortal. He himself was a Grand Academician, while the other was the Duke of Danbo. The most important thing was that he was just a poor child from a poor family, while the other was the Emperor's illegitimate son!

No matter when, no matter where, Fan Xian was firmly压着 him,压得 him almost out of breath. He Zongwei looked at the spring garden in front of him, looking at the wildly growing grass branches that no one took care of, fell into silence. He knew that in this life, no matter how hard he tried, he would not be able to surpass *that* person.

He Zongwei slowly closed his eyes and sighed helplessly. He had extremely strong confidence in his abilities and ambitions, and didn't think that he was much worse than Fan Xian, but fate had already decided this point, so what could he do?

……

……

It was said that the young Lord Yan of the Overwatch Council had several vicious dogs at home, forcing no court officials to dare to visit. It was said that Fan Xian had countless guards at home, and as long as anyone dared to shamelessly come to his door to give gifts, they would all be beaten out of the mansion. He Zongwei's mansion couldn't afford to raise dogs, nor could it afford to raise people, but it did raise a black face.

In order to maintain his image of being just and incorruptible, He Zongwei had paid a lot, and he couldn't be as unreasonable as those two people in the Overwatch Council. He had to reject bribes without making the other party feel uncomfortable, so He Zongwei was also very tired. At least he thought he was more tired than Fan Xian.

The salary of court officials was not much, only one-third of the salary of officials of the same level in the Overwatch Council. In addition, He Zongwei was determined to establish a reputation for integrity, so it was difficult to maintain the expenses of the mansion. Although His Majesty knew that his family was poor, he had also ordered the Internal Treasury to reward him with a lot of gold, silver, and utensils, but the comings and goings in the capital were always too expensive. As a result, He Zongwei was now most worried about not Sun Jingxiu of the Kyoto Prefecture, but whether or not to spend money to repair this garden.

He Zongwei gave a bitter smile, thinking to himself, who knew how much he had paid for such glory? He wasn't like Fan Xian, who had such a large Internal Treasury to support him, and had the support of bookstores and brothels.

But strangely, the more impoverished his life was, the more peaceful He Zongwei's expression became, and the happier he felt in his heart. It seemed that only a painful torture could make him truly understand his meaning of existence.

He wanted to do great things for the court, and he wanted to become a truly famous minister of a generation.

He Zongwei's eyes became brighter and brighter, looking at the chaotic spring garden at night, without saying a word, just thinking in his heart, Fan Xian really went to the Sun residence today. What kind of posture should he adopt tomorrow when the Department of Ministries discusses matters? The Emperor's verbal message brought by the eunuch from the palace earlier had calmed his heart, but it also made him more disheartened.

"I must find another way." He Zongwei lowered his head in the night wind. What great things, what a famous minister of a generation, under Fan Xian's pressure, he must first ensure that he could survive after His Majesty's death. Therefore, before His Majesty died, he must let Fan Xian die first.

……

……

(This chapter is written better in the back than in the front, like all my books...)