Fan Xian smiled and looked at Sisi until she felt uncomfortable, then he retracted his smile, returned to a serious expression and said, "This matter, you have to ask my mom!" - Xiao Jin Yu

(Important Reminder! The above sentence has nothing to do with the main text; I was simply laughing so hard at Xiao Jin's book review that I had to use it as the headline. The main text is below.)

---

A carriage rumbled over the bluestone pavement of Xinjiekou, creaking as it went. The winter was deep and cold, and there was already ice on the road, so the four-wheeled carriage dared not go too fast. The coachman, Su Wenmao, was carefully flicking his whip. Around the carriage, swordsmen from the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council, wearing wadded boots, walked alongside, vigilantly watching their surroundings. Members of the Qi Nian Squad were scattered, disguised as ordinary people in cotton-padded coats, hidden among the onlookers on the street.

The carriage bore the Fan family's crest: intersecting circles with a flowing gold and black border. Inside the carriage sat Fan Xian and Gao Da, with two Tiger Guards sitting opposite them. Fan Xian looked calm and said, "The formation is too large, too conspicuous."

Gao Da lifted a corner of the thick curtain on the window and glanced at the street. There were not many pedestrians, but people in the surrounding residences and shops had already noticed the Fan family's carriage and guessed who was inside. They cast strange glances at the carriage. The rumors had been spreading for days; the news that Fan Xian was the Emperor's illegitimate son had taken deep root in the hearts of the people. Seeing the direction the carriage was heading, the people of Kyoto knew that Lord Fan was entering the palace and couldn't help but begin to speculate, wondering if today Kyoto would provide people with even more shocking news.

The Imperial Palace seemed both distant and near.

The carriage stopped outside the Imperial Palace square. After the Xuankong Temple incident, the Imperial Guards were much more vigilant. Fan Xian got out of the carriage, took the cloak that Su Wenmao handed him, and draped it over his shoulders. He then took a cane and tucked it under his arm. Gao Da knew that Fan Xian's external injuries had long since healed, and couldn't help but glance at him in surprise.

Fan Xian ignored his gaze and led the group towards the chilly and majestic red and yellow palace.

Before they even reached the palace gate, a small team of Imperial Guard soldiers responsible for guarding the area came to meet them, silently and considerately shielding him from the wind, and welcoming him into the palace gate. Such treatment was usually reserved for elderly and frail veteran ministers, and even the princes were rarely treated so favorably. Fan Xian couldn't help but frown, feeling somewhat puzzled.

He didn't know that the First Prince had secretly instructed his subordinates. Although the First Prince hadn't explicitly stated anything, his subtle gestures were enough to make all the Imperial Guard generals understand that the rumors hadn't harmed Fan Xian's position, and had only restored the relationship between Supervisor Fan and His Highness.

The eunuch Hou, whom Fan Xian had first met when entering the palace, was responsible for welcoming him at the palace gate today. The two were already very familiar with each other. Eunuch Hou said with a fawning smile, "Young Master Fan... fortunately, this servant got up early today. I never expected you to arrive so early."

Fan Xian scolded him with a smile, asking with a hint of doubt, "Didn't you say you were going to the Xi Guan Bureau last month? Lao Yao was the one receiving me the last few times I entered the palace. Why are you out here today?" Eunuch Hou had already been promoted to Director of the Xi Guan Bureau, in charge of palace medicine and deaths, a crucial position, and a prominent figure in the palace. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be his turn to welcome Fan Xian outside the palace.

Eunuch Hou smiled and said, "Lao Yao went out of the palace on business. His Majesty asked this servant to fill in for a day."

Fan Xian nodded and followed him into the palace. They walked along the large palace courtyards and gardens, chatting casually. After a while, Fan Xian finally sighed and said quietly, "These days, I've grown accustomed to the strange gazes of others. You're still the same, Lao Hou, treating this official as always."

Eunuch Hou tensed slightly, then felt a warmth in his heart, and said flatteringly, "Look at what you're saying. Young Master Fan will only become more successful in the future. Of course, this humble servant must serve you carefully."

Fan Xian didn't expose him, but just smiled. In fact, he did feel that everyone's demeanor had become somewhat unnatural after learning about his relationship with the royal family. On the contrary, the eunuchs in the palace didn't seem to react too strongly.

He didn't know that the eunuchs in the Qing Kingdom's palace had always maintained a balance between the princes, and dared not rashly choose a master. They were unlike ministers; once they chose the wrong master, they would only die after the other side ascended the throne. Therefore, on the contrary, they treated the princes with respect mixed with distance. Moreover, serving the Emperor daily, they weren't too afraid of the other three princes, except for the Crown Prince.

Whether Fan Xian was a prince was not important to the eunuchs. Rather, his own official position was the reason for the eunuchs to curry favor with him.

……

……

They walked past several familiar palace halls and finally arrived in front of the Imperial Study. Eunuch Hou carefully spoke outside the door, turned to Fan Xian and winked, then retreated to the side.

After the door opened, Fan Xian entered with the cane, standing in front of the tall bookshelves and giving the Emperor, who was reading memorials on the soft couch, a deep bow, feigning some awkwardness as he put the cane aside.

The Emperor didn't even look up, hummed, and then said, "Find a place to sit yourself. Wait for me to finish reading these."

How could one find a seat in the Imperial Study? Hongzhu, who was holding a whisk and standing beside the Emperor, was extremely clever. Sensing His Majesty's meaning, he quickly went to the back to fetch an embroidered stool and placed it beside Fan Xian. Fan Xian gave the little eunuch a grateful smile, sat down, and wondered, "Why are this kid's pimples still so bad?"

The Emperor lowered his head, seemingly not noticing this scene, but a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes as he looked at the memorials.

The Imperial Study was silent. No one dared to speak. The eunuchs inside and outside the door didn't dare to make a sound. This wasn't the first time Fan Xian had been alone with the Emperor, but after the rumors spread, he felt a strange tension in his heart, and his chest felt itchy. He couldn't help but cough twice. The coughs echoed clearly in the Imperial Study, startling him.

The Emperor looked up at him, said nothing, and continued to read the memorials.

Fan Xian quickly sat up straight on the stool and began to quietly observe the Emperor's daily work. He knew that not many people had the opportunity to witness this scene. After a long time, he became distracted and subconsciously began to observe the Emperor's appearance. Although the Emperor's head was slightly lowered, Fan Xian still found a few familiar shadows on his gaunt face, specifically places that resembled his own.

This was probably what they called a blood connection.

The Emperor took a very long time to read the memorials. There were many documents on the desk. His eyebrows would furrow in anger, or relax happily, or become silent and gloomy, or become excited. The Qing Kingdom had a vast territory, ruling over seven circuits and twenty-six commanderies. The number of counties was countless. Using Kyoto as the hub to govern the world was a very difficult task. The official documents and memorials sent from various places every day were as numerous as snowflakes. If it were an Emperor who practiced ruling by doing nothing, he might delegate power to the cabinet and spend his days traveling and enjoying the scenery. But the current Emperor of the Qing Kingdom was clearly unwilling to be a mediocre ruler and didn't want to let go of the power of the empire. Therefore, he didn't hesitate to drive Prime Minister Lin Ruofu out of the court and only established the Secretariat…

"This is simply masochistic." Fan Xian calmly watched the scene before him, a sneer flashing in his mind. Being an Emperor was indeed not a fun thing. Compared to that, growing flowers like Prince Jing seemed like a good choice.

The sun gradually moved to midday. The sunlight, after being filtered through layers of cold clouds, had been frozen and lost all its warmth. The people in the palace seemed to have forgotten the time. Just then, the Emperor finally finished his morning review, closed the last memorial, closed his eyes, and slowly rested. Finally, he stretched.

Eunuchs filed in with towels, refreshing tea, snacks, and incense, beginning to apply them to the Emperor's body. Fan Xian noticed that the towel didn't emit any warmth in this winter. He frowned and asked, "Your Majesty… is this cold?"

The Emperor hummed, took the towel and rubbed it vigorously on his face, saying vaguely, "Ice-cold penetrates the bone, it can clear the mind."

Fan Xian thought for a moment, and finally said, "Your Majesty, try using a hot towel, it's good for the body."

The Emperor was slightly surprised, then smiled and said, "Hot towels are too warm and comfortable. I'm afraid I'll fall asleep."

Fan Xian also smiled and said, "Use a scalding one, the hotter the better." He suddenly almost choked, coughing and waving his hands frantically, "Of course, be careful not to get burned."

The Emperor suddenly revealed a meaningful smile, looked at him a few times and said, "Not bad, you're still acting quite calm."

Fan Xian was speechless.

The Emperor's gaze moved to the cane behind Fan Xian, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "This child has a stubborn heart like his mother... he deliberately wants me to see that he's trying to be good, wants me to reprimand him, and strengthen his heart. Does he think I don't understand?"

Thinking this, the Emperor missed someone more and more, and increasingly felt that Fan Xian was a good son who didn't have any presumptuous thoughts, but rather had a somewhat aloof demeanor. He got up and walked out of the Imperial Study, signaling Fan Xian to follow him. Fan Xian quickly went to get the cane. The Emperor laughed and said, "I knew your injury was almost healed. Why are you pretending to be pitiful in front of me?"

Although he pointed it out, there was no anger from the Son of Heaven. Fan Xian paused for just the right amount of time, as if he hadn't expected the Emperor to... not reprimand him. Then he smiled and threw the cane aside, following the Emperor out.

Fan Xian won the first psychological battle with his so-called "Imperial Father".

---

Walking along the long palace eaves to the northwest, the halls gradually thinned out, leaving behind the magnificent buildings of Hanguang Hall and Taiji Hall. All the palace maids and eunuchs they encountered humbly lowered their heads and made way. Behind the Emperor and Fan Xian was only the little eunuch Hongzhu. Gradually, even palace maids and eunuchs rarely appeared. The winter garden was extremely deserted. There was occasional lingering snow on the artificial mountains, no bird sounds, and no insect chirps, only a quiet stillness.

Fan Xian understood where they were going, so he naturally remained silent. The Emperor seemed to be in a different mood, and didn't say anything. Until even the Cold Palace had disappeared from view, and the halls looked dilapidated, the Emperor stopped. Before them was a quiet courtyard. The courtyard wasn't large, and contained only a two-story wooden building. The building was somewhat old and hadn't been repaired for many years.

As the Emperor stepped up the stairs, Fan Xian's heart began to tense. He took a deep breath.

The outside of the small building was dilapidated, but the inside was impeccably clean, spotless. It must have been cleaned regularly throughout the year.

Upon reaching the second floor, in the main hall, the Emperor finally sighed, walked out of the building, and looked at the garden opposite the terrace, remaining silent for a long time. The terrace faced a corner of the Imperial Palace, already the most remote and quiet place in the Imperial City. The flowers and plants in the garden were unkempt, growing wildly on their own, and then beaten by the autumn winds, cold dew, and blizzards, collapsing to the ground, looking like countless murdered corpses, yellow, white, and bleak.

In the distance, the corner tower of Huayang Gate could be faintly seen.

Fan Xian stood silently behind the Emperor, naturally not wanting to speak, but his peripheral vision had already scanned the hall. He didn't see the portrait he had expected to see.

The little eunuch Hongzhu, like a magician, produced hot water from somewhere in the small building, brewed tea, and respectfully placed it on the table, then obediently went downstairs, not daring to serve them.

……

……

"I had you waiting in the Imperial Study earlier," the Emperor said, his face facing the railing, his hands firmly gripping the railings. His tone was even, without much emotion, "To tell you, a ruler has a ruler's way."

Fan Xian remained silent.

"As the ruler of a country, I... must consider the country, must consider the people of the world." The Emperor said slowly, his eyes staring straight into the distance, "Being an Emperor is not an easy job... your mother once said that. So sometimes I must give up some things, even some things that are quite precious. Leaving you in Danzhou for sixteen years, don't resent me."

Fan Xian had been waiting for this day for a long time, and had made very solid mental preparations, but upon hearing these words, a chill still ran down his neck to the top of his head. He trembled, unable to speak. After a long silence, he suddenly bit his lower lip and replied in a clear voice, "This subject... does not know what Your Majesty means by this."

Fan Xian's reaction seemed to have been anticipated by the Emperor. He smiled self-deprecatingly, not turning his head, but his tone became more gentle, "Including your brothers, the people of the world, even if they have grievances against me, I'm afraid no one dares to say it or express it in front of me... Anzhi, you indeed have some of your mother's style."

Fan Xian forcefully straightened his neck, stubbornly remaining silent.

"Don't understand what I mean?" The Emperor turned around. His light yellow shirt looked even more elegant by the railing of the winter building. He said slowly, "What I mean is, you are my... biological son."

……

……

Fan Xian was silent. After a long time, he suddenly laughed, laughing, laughing with a dry, bitter, and indignant expression. After a long time, he slowly composed his expression. For a moment, he felt lost. He had forgotten whether he was performing according to plan since he entered the palace, or had he already completely adopted the role of the Emperor's illegitimate son, and was finding it difficult to break out of the role!

He bowed deeply to the Emperor, but still refused to say anything.

The Emperor sighed in his heart, completely deceived by the emotions Fan Xian was showing. He said quietly, "The rumors in Kyoto, I could have refused to acknowledge them, but I will acknowledge them in the end, because Anzhi, you are... my flesh and blood."

The Emperor approached him, looking at the unique firmness and stubbornness on the face of the beautiful young man before him. A look of pity flashed across his face and disappeared. He didn't demand Fan Xian to answer anything, but said to himself, "You'll be eighteen next month."

Fan Xian suddenly raised his head, wanting to speak but stopping. After a long time, he said faintly, "This subject... doesn't know when I was born."

These words pierced the Emperor's heart, causing this Emperor, who had always had a cold heart, to finally feel a little guilt. After thinking for a moment, he said slowly, "The eighteenth day of the first month." (正月十八 = Zheng Yue Shi Ba)

Fan Xian was slightly stunned, then smiled bitterly and sighed, "I only knew I was born on the eighteenth when I reached eighteen."

The Emperor smiled gently, liking the child before him more and more. He subconsciously said, "To be able to teach you to be such a sensible child in the countryside, your nanny in Danzhou must have worked very hard. One day, I'll go to Danzhou to see the old woman... Anzhi, how is the old woman's health recently?"

Fan Xian lowered his head and remained silent for a while, not knowing what he was thinking. Finally, he opened his mouth and said, "Grandmother's health is very good. This subject... I often correspond with Danzhou."

"Oh." The Emperor heard him finally stop calling himself "this subject," felt a warmth in his heart, gave him a comforting smile, and began to ask about Fan Xian's life when he was a child in a very gentle manner.

The conversation had a beginning, and Fan Xian seemed to have adjusted to this new "relationship between ruler and subject," and began to tell the supreme ruler of the world about his childhood days.

……

……

Please everyone read the following tongue twister.

Fan Xian is the Emperor's son. Initially, the Emperor didn't know that Fan Xian knew Fan Xian was the Emperor's son. Now the Emperor knows that Fan Xian guessed that Fan Xian is the Emperor's son. Initially, Fan Xian wanted the Emperor not to know that he knew. Now, he wants the Emperor to guess that he just found out but doesn't want to know. So, the Emperor doesn't know Fan Xian, but Fan Xian knows the Emperor. The Emperor treats Fan Xian as his son, but Fan Xian doesn't consider himself his son.

This is a matter of the mind, and this is also a psychological problem. From the first step into the palace gate, Fan Xian has been using this point, retreating step by step, but also attacking step by step.

Upstairs finally quieted down. This pair of "father and son," each harboring their own agenda, sat a few feet apart, drinking tea and chatting idly. Although Fan Xian still didn't speak freely, his expression had become peaceful, and his conversation with the Emperor was no longer confined to the responses between a ruler and subject. They could talk about trivial matters outside the palace, and the life and family matters in Danzhou over the years.

Thus, the Emperor began to revel in this atmosphere, and this was precisely what Fan Xian needed.