(The monthly tickets are currently 250 votes away from the third place, which is truly an unlucky number, haha, everyone please help push it up a bit more, thank you.)

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What's your mother's maiden name? My mother's name is Ye.

Before coming to Dongyi City, Fan Xian had already anticipated that he would definitely encounter people, events, or pasts related to the old Ye family in this city. Because he knew very well that his mother, Ye Qingmei, had first set foot in Dongyi City after coming into this world.

On that night when he was sixteen years old, Uncle Wu Zhu had told him everything about Ye Qingmei for the first time, everything that the amnesiac remembered. The Ye family's business started in Dongyi City, and the first wealth they seized in the world was also in Dongyi City. However, later, for some unknown reason, Ye Qingmei finally chose the then not-so-powerful Nanqing, or rather, the now exceptionally powerful Emperor Your Majesty.

Ye Qingmei left Dongyi City, and it is unknown whether she ever returned, but Fan Xian knew that this great city must be very important to her. However, he did not expect that Si Gu Jian would suddenly mention the past at this time, and use such an awkward and crude excuse.

"Spare me, spare me." Fan Xian glanced at Si Gu Jian and said with a wry smile, "I know very well what you want to say, but she is her, and I am me."

"Can you separate it? Could it be that your mother is willing to watch Dongyi City, which she once fought for, become no different from any other county in Nanqing?" Si Gu Jian sneered, "One must not forget one's roots. You are her son, so you are a Dongyi person."

Fan Xian raised an eyebrow and simply sat down on the ground beside the wheelchair, his legs dangling in the sword tomb, swinging back and forth emptily, and sneered, "Although I didn't see the events on Da Dong Mountain with my own eyes, I still know some details. I have also heard what you once said to Uncle Wu Zhu."

"You want me to be the City Lord of Dongyi City?" Fan Xian turned his head to look at Si Gu Jian and said with a slight mockery, "Just because of my half-Dongyi identity? Could it be that you've been hiding in the sword hut for so long and came up with such a response? Don't forget, I am ultimately a Nanqing person, and the relationship between me and His Majesty is already destined. Don't expect to use the identity of a City Lord to provoke His Majesty's suspicion and force me to break with him."

He waved his arm and said calmly, "There is no such possibility."

"Of course, I will not be the City Lord of Dongyi City either."

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...

Si Gu Jian said coldly, "You are so afraid of death, of course you are afraid that your imperial father will kill you. I never expected you to dare to take over Dongyi City. I'm just reminding you of one thing, you don't need to consider the interests of the Nanqing people from the start. I'm just putting your mind at ease, even if you think more for Dongyi City, it's not a rebellious thing."

"I have considered enough for the people of Dongyi City." Fan Xian did not yield an inch, "Those few words I said earlier, do you think anyone other than me would give up so much profit? Who would risk His Majesty's wrath to persuade him to accept these conditions?"

"Is that enough?" Si Gu Jian closed his eyes and said slowly, "Or rather, have you never thought about how your mother died back then?"

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...

Deep in the sword hut, countless swords in the large pit simultaneously surged up in an instant, emitting a wailing sound, trembling incessantly, as if they were about to break apart in the next moment. Fan Xian's legs hanging in the sword tomb also stopped swinging at this moment, his brow gradually showing a solemn expression, and his eyes were filled with an emotion that was hard to explain.

There was no one around, and with Si Gu Jian's level, he naturally didn't worry about anyone eavesdropping, but Fan Xian still felt his heart begin to constrict, twitching, with some irresistible pain.

He took a deep breath, his face somewhat unnaturally pale, and said softly, "Or rather, do you have any persuasive opinions?"

"No." Si Gu Jian said coldly, "I'm just guessing. How could someone like your mother die so inexplicably? The Qing Kingdom Empress is such a pig-head, or the Empress Dowager is such an old bitch that could kill your mother, then your mother is not your mother."

"That's it?"

"Ku He is also guessing, Chen Pingping is also guessing, why can't I guess?"

Fan Xian's lips trembled slightly, and he said softly, "Guesses like this... it's better not to bring them up, people will die."

"Is that so?" Si Gu Jian suddenly laughed loudly, his laughter filled with endless malice and ridicule, "It's rare to see someone as afraid of death as you."

Fan Xian knew what the other party was despising, and his expression remained unchanged as he said, "There are not many people who can easily kill their entire family."

Si Gu Jian's face changed, and a fierce look appeared in his pupils, as if he might kill Fan Xian at any moment. A heart-wrenching sword intent began to permeate the world again. However, this time Fan Xian seemed to have no feeling at all, glanced at him with disdain, and said, "If you've done it, are you still afraid of people talking about it?"

"As for me? I don't need you to worry about my affairs." He frowned and sighed somewhat helplessly, "Sometimes I really don't understand what you big shots, old monsters, are thinking. Why do you have to push me to the opposite side of His Majesty? Could it be that you really think I have the ability to fight him? Most importantly, do you really think I am willing... to rebel against him?"

He looked at Si Gu Jian's angry eyes and shook his head, "No matter what, he is always my father, so I don't understand the thoughts of you people."

"Father?" Si Gu Jian shrank his body on the wheelchair, and the whole person was like a sharp sword returned to its scabbard, with no more glory, "When you are really anxious, you can kill your father and mother."

Fan Xian's heart trembled slightly, and he shook his head with a wry smile, thinking that it was really unnecessary to discuss human relationships and ethics with this big idiot.

Regarding the true cause of Ye Qingmei's death, at the most critical moment of the Kyoto rebellion, the Eldest Princess had mentioned it to Fan Xian before her death, and Chen Pingping's intentional or unintentional actions also seemed to prove this point. However, Chen Pingping had not stated it clearly, nor had Shangshu Fan stated it clearly. After suspecting each other for many years, these two old comrades-in-arms finally aimed their sights at a certain person.

However, they were unwilling to tell Fan Xian this matter clearly and definitely. Except for old monsters like Si Gu Jian who were not afraid of anything and一心(yi xin) wanted to see Nanqing have big problems, no one wanted to try to lead Fan Xian onto a road of no return simply because of speculation.

"You are about to die soon, don't expect to see my Nanqing in civil strife before you die." Fan Xian nodded slightly with force, as if he wanted to persuade Si Gu Jian, and also wanted to persuade himself, "Accept my sincerity, and then wait for death peacefully. I will take good care of the tens of thousands of citizens of Dongyi City for you."

Si Gu Jian stared straight ahead coldly for a long time before he said, "Believe me, one day you will walk on the path arranged by this damn heaven."

"I just want... to defy the heavens!" Fan Xian said with a loud laugh, but he laughed so hard that he coughed, his face flushed red and embarrassed.

Si Gu Jian glanced at him with disdain.

Fan Xian was angered by this look, and bit his teeth and said in a cold voice, "Whether it's Ku He, or you, it seems that before you die, you put your hopes on me. Isn't this inherently absurd? This is not the will of heaven, it's just the selfish thoughts of you big shots."

"Selfish?" Si Gu Jian shook his head, "I don't know what that old bald head did before he died."

Fan Xian shrugged and said, "He sent his most proud second disciple to Kyoto to prolong Chen Pingping's life. It seems that he is counting on Chen Pingping to become the factor of civil strife in my Nanqing."

"Hahahaha..." Si Gu Jian couldn't help laughing loudly, cursing as he laughed, "This dead bald head, so that's what he was thinking. It seems that he is counting on Emperor Qing and Chen Pingping to have a big fight, and you are caught in the middle and unable to be a human being, and then forcing you to go crazy... um, your judgment is not bad, he, like me, has placed his hopes on you. But..."

Si Gu Jian twisted his neck and said with disdain, "Ku He is too stupid, it's better to force you directly on this kind of thing, why bother with Chen Pingping, that old black dog is estimated to be less loyal to the Qing Emperor than Ku He."

"Please, I'm right in front of you, you directly say you want to force me to rebel, doesn't it seem a little boring?" Fan Xian sighed and pointed to the big earthen pit in front of him, pointing to the swords inside that looked especially old after being exposed to wind and rain, and said, "I clearly know that there is a pit in front, do I still have to jump into it?"

Si Gu Jian did not directly answer this question, and said while shrinking his body, "Actually, whether you recognize yourself as a Dongyi person or not, I am not too worried about the foolish people in this city. Don't forget, Ning is a genuine Dongyi person. Your eldest prince can't say that he, like you, doesn't recognize his identity."

Fan Xian shrugged, knowing that what he said was right. His Majesty now has only three sons left, and the two adults have too many entanglements with Dongyi City. If Nanqing really sends troops to attack, it will indeed be a lot of trouble.

"The most critical issue is that in one's life, there are many pits. You know it's right in front of you, but you have no choice but to jump into it with your eyes open."

Si Gu Jian pursed his lips, pointed his arm at the depths of the sword pit, and his whole person was mixed with the aura of a dying old man and an irresistible sense of oppression, and said faintly, "Three years ago, I said to Zhi Lan that I knew there was a big pit in front of me, but I still had to jump into it."

This was referring to the Da Dong Mountain incident. Whether it was Ku He or Si Gu Jian, before they set off to assassinate the Emperor, they had considered it countless times, and they had doubted that this was a big pit, but time waited for no one, and the situation forced them, and the two Grandmasters had to jump, and then fell extremely miserably.

Fan Xian said after a moment of silence, "There is nothing to say about these things. After the envoy arrives, the things that should be done still have to be done. You don't need to worry about my affairs, so... shouldn't we talk about some happier things at this time?"

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...

"Happy?" Si Gu Jian suddenly cursed angrily, "I'm about to die, and I haven't left this broken hut for more than two years, how can I be happy?"

"Oh, you are so pitiful. Although your cultivation is still there, you are unable to move freely and dare not leave the hut at will. You have been forced to sit here for several years by your own eldest disciple." Fan Xian mocked, "Back then, King Wei Ling was starved to death in the palace by his own son. If Yun Zhilan also does this, your Grandmaster will die too ugly."

"I'm not a waste like King Wei Ling." Si Gu Jian's eye sockets were deep, and his eyes were shining coldly, "I just don't want to go out, what does it have to do with Zhi Lan."

"Sitting in a wheelchair and basking in the sun, it does feel a bit old and dying, but you have to get used to it." Fan Xian knew that he was telling the truth, even if he was a dying Grandmaster, if he wanted to leave the hut, who would dare to stop him, who could stop him?

"Um, that makes sense." Si Gu Jian suddenly lowered his head and glanced at him, and said, "The sun is good today, or you can push me out for a walk?"

Fan Xian was stunned on the spot, thinking that there were many experts outside the sword hut who were eyeing him covetously, even if Si Gu Jian spoke to protect him, but walk around Dongyi City? This difficulty is too great.

"The Emperor of Northern Qi is still in the hut." He lowered his head and said softly.

"Isn't that your woman? Let's all stroll together." Si Gu Jian coughed twice and called the boy to invite the little Emperor of Northern Qi from the room. Not long after, the little Emperor, already dressed, slowly walked over from the opposite side of the sword tomb, and from a distance, he saw Si Gu Jian sitting in a wheelchair, and Fan Xian sitting impolitely beside the sword tomb.

The clothes from last night may have been torn long ago. The sword hut prepared well. The little Emperor Zhan Doudou was wearing a light cyan dress today, which did not look at all charming, but rather a weak scholarly air.

Coming to the two of them, the little Emperor smiled slightly and said in a deep voice, "It is indeed difficult to see the Sword Saint."

Si Gu Jian tilted his head slightly, and rudely did not answer this question, but waved his hand to drive the boy far away. After a long time, he slightly raised the corner of his mouth, looked at the Emperor of Northern Qi and said softly, "I have seen Emperor Your Majesty."

"Sword Saint, you are too polite." The little Emperor's gaze did not even look at Fan Xian sitting beside him. This kind of cultivation of aura is truly the best in the world.

However, the calm appearance was easily broken by Si Gu Jian. This Grandmaster looked at the Emperor of Northern Qi with a complicated expression and said in a hoarse voice, "There is nothing good to see about old monsters like me, but a female emperor is the first in thousands of years. I am very happy to be able to see Your Majesty with my own eyes."

As soon as these words came out, the little Emperor of Northern Qi's face suddenly changed, and he glared at Fan Xian angrily and coldly, but Fan Xian did not react at all.

Si Gu Jian looked at the little Emperor and said with a smile, "First, I already know that Your Majesty is a woman. Second, I am about to die, and I will not be so talkative as to say it everywhere. I am a weirdo who likes to keep sweets in his box and not share them with others."

Si Gu Jian did not look at the little Emperor whose face was constantly changing, and continued to say softly, "Third, because I am about to die, our conversation can be more direct. I was just persuading Fan Xian to rebel, I wonder if Your Majesty is interested in this suggestion."

The little Emperor took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the slight fear and unease in his heart, and said calmly, "I am very interested in this suggestion. If Master Fan fails to rebel, he can come to my Northern Qi to live."

"That's what I thought too. Whether it's being a City Lord or a male consort, it must be more comfortable than being a slave to Emperor Qing... but he won't agree."

Fan Xian sat on the edge of the pit beside the sword tomb and said, "Scholars rebel, and it won't be successful in ten years. Don't you know that I am the most famous scholar in the world."

"Yes." Si Gu Jian laughed strangely and looked at the little Emperor and said, "So we plan to stop this topic and go to the beach in the city for a spring outing, I wonder if Emperor Your Majesty is interested."

"Can I say no?" The little Emperor said angrily.

Fan Xian responded from below: "Of course not."

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Si Gu Jian is the god of Dongyi City, and there is always a distance to be maintained between gods and humans, whether主动(zhu dong) or 被动(bei dong). So it is very obvious that this Grandmaster sitting in a wheelchair has not been out to see the street scenes casually for many years, and the whole person appears to be more excited.

Fan Xian and the little Emperor were walking slowly behind the wheelchair, occasionally glanced at each other, but did not speak. They were actually very shocked that the three of them left the sword hut so easily without letting the experts from the sword hut and Northern Qi discover any traces.

Even Si Gu Jian's ability to do this still shocked Fan Xian. Walking in the streets of Dongyi City, Fan Xian could clearly sense that no one was following him. Of course, with Si Gu Jian's level, if anyone followed for more than a moment, they would immediately be split into countless blood clots by the rootless sword intent on the wheelchair.

The three came to a large tree on the outskirts of the city. The crown of the tree spread extremely wide, and the green color covered the sky and the sun. They rested here, hiding from the scorching sun.

Si Gu Jian lowered his head, looked at the yellow mud next to the wheelchair and the gaps at the roots of the tree, and suddenly said, "Decades ago, I first saw your mother and Wu Zhu, this dead blind man, under this tree. But I forgot whether I was watching ants move or bugs pile dung balls at that time."