Chen Pingping pushed his wheelchair to the window, as he had habitually done over the years, gently lifting a corner of the black cloth curtain to feel the summer heat being blocked by the thick glass. He gazed at the golden palace eaves in the distance, his nearly sightless eyes half-closed as he sank further into his wheelchair.

"I'll have Yan Bingyun come."

Fei Jie wasn't surprised by this. He knew that before Director Chen did anything significant, he always arranged a backup plan... not for himself, but for the Overwatch Council.

A gentle knock sounded from outside the secret chamber. Chen Pingping listened for a moment, a hint of approval on his face. The person knocking was still so unhurried and calm. In terms of temperament, he was indeed much more suitable than Fan Xian. He tapped the armrest of his wheelchair twice with his right hand.

Receiving permission, the person outside pushed the door open and entered. It was none other than Yan Bingyun, the current head of the Fourth Bureau, whom Chen Pingping had just been discussing, the young Master Yan.

It had been almost a year since Yan Bingyun was rescued and brought back to the kingdom. His body had fully recovered from the wounds he had suffered, and he had regained his frosty demeanor. He managed the Fourth Bureau with remarkable efficiency. Under his leadership, it was even more assertive than it had been under his father, Yan Ruohai. For a time, the young Master Yan became a subtly important figure in the Qing court.

However, the work of the Overwatch Council was not often visible, so Yan Bingyun's popularity was not very high. But this did not prevent high-ranking officials and nobles in the court, who knew the inside story, from desperately trying to send their daughters to the Yan residence. Regardless of Yan Bingyun's own power, ability, and appearance, just the fact that he had a good relationship with Fan Xian, as well as the Yan family's own nobility, made him the son-in-law everyone wanted.

After entering the room, Yan Bingyun first saluted Chen Pingping and reported on the work of the Overwatch Council in recent days. With Chen Pingping in retirement at Chen Garden and Fan Xian far away by the sea, this young man was actually presiding over the daily operations of the Overwatch Council.

Chen Pingping listened with his eyes closed for a long time before suddenly asking, "Did Fan Xian contact you beforehand?"

Yan Bingyun shook his head. "The time was too short. The Council was only responsible for conveying the palace's intentions to Supervisor Fan. The Second Bureau didn't have time to develop a strategy. Supervisor Fan handled everything on his own."

Chen Pingping nodded and suddenly smiled. "How's your marriage coming along? Your father came to Chen Garden a few days ago to ask me for advice... but this matter is not easy to handle."

Yan Bingyun was silent. The elders of the Council were all aware of the matter of Miss Shen, but they had never brought it up. However, the current marriage proposal had the backing of the palace, making it difficult for him to resist.

Few people in the capital knew about Miss Shen's affair. It was related to the matter that Fan Xian had handled in Jiangnan, so it had been covered up extremely strictly. Even if the matter were exposed in the future, Yan Bingyun would have no way to openly marry Miss Shen into his household, for the sake of the good relationship between Southern Qing and Northern Qi.

"Delay it for now," Chen Pingping said, his eyes half-closed. "Ask that one in the Prince's household what she thinks, and ask her to help delay it."

"That one in the Prince's household" was naturally the First Imperial Concubine, the Grand Princess who had married from Northern Qi. Since marrying into Southern Qing, this Grand Princess had been gentle and virtuous, possessed of a grand manner, and was greatly favored by the Empress Dowager in the palace. This was completely different from the discrimination suffered by the First Prince.

Yan Bingyun's face remained calm, but deep down, he felt a small wave of emotion. The old Director Chen probably didn't even care about the affairs of Jiao Prefecture, yet he was willing to offer advice on the marriage of someone like himself. This kind of care for his subordinates was truly...

"Wait for Fan Xian to return to the capital and see how he handles it." Chen Pingping suddenly cackled. "That kid is very experienced in being a matchmaker and breaking up marriages..."

This was indeed the case. In recent years, the palace had arranged a total of four marriages, two of which were related to the Fan family. Fan Xian himself had managed to gather Lin Wan'er, but he had taken eight thousand detours, causing a stir that shocked the world, creating a certain situation, but only... to allow his younger sister to escape from the arranged marriage.

Whenever he thought of this, even Chen Pingping couldn't help but feel a hint of admiration for that kid – a truly unruly and stubborn person.

Yan Bingyun took the opportunity to salute Fei Jie and express his gratitude. Fei Jie had been a great help to him in his recovery over the past year.

Chen Pingping said coldly, "The original plan was for you and Fan Xian to switch places, for you to take care of the First Bureau first, but looking at the recent situation... you should be prepared."

Yan Bingyun was slightly surprised, not knowing what he should be prepared for.

"Fan Xian... can't be distracted by the Council's affairs too much." Chen Pingping said faintly, "After Wang Qinian returns to the capital, he won't be in the First Bureau. He'll stick to Fan Xian like glue. Find a capable person in the Fourth Bureau to prepare to take your place."

Yan Bingyun vaguely guessed what was happening, but he wasn't agitated. He simply nodded.

"I'm stepping back, and you need to help Fan Xian secure his position." Chen Pingping's voice sounded somewhat tired, almost as if he were entrusting him with his last wishes. "Even if he becomes the Director, he'll probably be impatient with these detailed matters. When you become the Supervisor, you must help him handle them well."

Yan Bingyun knelt on one knee in silence, cupping his fist in salute. "Yes."

Chen Pingping looked at him, and Fei Jie also looked at him from the side. After a long while, the old cripple said softly, "Everyone in the world thinks that... Fan Xian is the first Supervisor since the founding of the Council, but your Yan family has been working in the Council all along, so of course you know that there was one before him. And you... will be the third Supervisor since the founding of the Overwatch Council. Remember this. It is a glorious and dangerous position."

Yan Bingyun felt a pressure pressing on his shoulders, making him unable to move.

"That day will come soon. I want you to listen carefully to what I'm about to say."

"Yes."

"The appearance of the Council's first Supervisor was to monitor me." Chen Pingping said calmly, without the slightest hint of displeasure. "Of course, he had that ability, so his position as Supervisor was the most detached. He didn't usually manage affairs much, but even though he doesn't manage the Council's affairs now, if you have the opportunity to see him in the future... no matter what he orders, you must do it."

Yan Bingyun didn't immediately agree. Instead, he was silent for a long while before saying, "...Even if it conflicts with the imperial decree?"

Chen Pingping opened his eyes, the light in his eyes as sharp as an eagle on a cliff. After a long silence, he said coldly, "Yes."

……

……

Yan Bingyun took two deep breaths, suppressing the trace of doubt and unease in his heart, and tried to calm himself down as much as possible. He asked, "How will I know who he is? The Supervisor's token is on Fan Xian."

Chen Pingping smiled. "We all call him Fifth Master... Of course, some people call him Old Five, but you don't have the right to call him that. As long as he's in front of you, you'll naturally know it's him. It's a simple matter."

Seeing him, you'll know it's him. This was a very awkward and mysterious statement, but Yan Bingyun cleverly understood it.

"His existence is the Overwatch Council's greatest secret." Chen Pingping said coldly. "His Majesty once issued a strict order about this, so you must know how to keep it a secret... As long as Fifth Master is around, even if the situation changes greatly in the future, at least this broken yard of ours, this deformed existence, can survive."

Yan Bingyun bowed his head and knelt, understanding the Director's meaning. The Overwatch Council was His Majesty's special agency, but it was more than that. It was a sharp sword hanging over the Qing court. His Majesty was the hand holding the sword. If that hand suddenly disappeared... the Overwatch Council would certainly become an object that everyone would eagerly want to cut off. But... he didn't know who that Fifth Master was, who could possess a deterrent force similar to His Majesty's.

Chen Pingping raised his second finger and said coldly, "Fan Xian is the Council's second Supervisor, but you also know his identity, so the Overwatch Council can only be a part of his journey, and it's impossible to confine him here forever."

"And you will be the Council's third Supervisor. What you need to do is different from the previous two."

Chen Pingping sighed wearily and said, "Your task is... if one day I die and Fan Xian goes mad, you must endure everything at all costs, even if it means bearing humiliation and living in disgrace. You must preserve this Council. Even if you can't preserve it on the surface, you must preserve those networks that we have always hidden in the dark."

……

……

Yan Bingyun finally found it difficult to feign calmness. He looked at the old man in the wheelchair with a face full of shock, because the old man's statement about the three Supervisors clearly contained some conflicting points, especially the Fifth Master and his own task... If the Fifth Master wasn't dead, the Overwatch Council wouldn't fall, so what was his... task? Moreover, the old man's words were so serious and sad...

There was only one possibility: Director Chen predicted that in the near future, either the Fifth Master would die, or a force that the Overwatch Council couldn't resist would descend from the sky.

For example, the hand holding the sword... would easily let go, causing the Overwatch Council to fall into the mud.

But... why would His Majesty deal with the Overwatch Council?

Why did the Director seem to be entrusting him with his last wishes?

Yan Bingyun was always intelligent and calm, but at this time, he couldn't help but be confused. He didn't dare to think deeply about this question, and he didn't dare to ask any further questions. He didn't know what the old man in the wheelchair would do, and he didn't know what kind of major events would happen, and how that event would affect everyone's lives.

"Tell me, why does the world have an Overwatch Council?" Chen Pingping's words seemed to be asking Yan Bingyun, and also seemed to be asking himself.

Yan Bingyun's brows were furrowed tightly. His mind was actually still stuck in the previous shock. Director Chen's loyalty to His Majesty had never been questioned, and His Majesty's favor toward Director Chen was almost unprecedented... Why? Why was this happening?

"For His Majesty..." Yan Bingyun subconsciously said, but immediately closed his mouth.

"I hope that the people of Qing can all become unruly citizens. When abused by others, they have the heart not to yield; when attacked by disasters, they have the heart not to be frustrated; when there are unjust matters, they have the heart not to fear correction; not to fawn on jackals and tigers..."

Chen Pingping suddenly laughed heartily.

Yan Bingyun was too familiar with this passage. All the officials of the Overwatch Council had grown up looking at this passage. Because this passage was always engraved on the stone tablet in front of the Overwatch Council, shining with golden light, never fading, and the signature was three words – Ye Qingmei.

And now the world already knew that Ye Qingmei was the mistress of the Ye family back then, Fan Xian's biological mother.

"Actually, there are two more sentences after this passage." Chen Pingping said slowly with his eyes closed, "But no one has dared to mention them since her death. Ask Ruohai when you get home, and he will tell you what those two sentences are."

"Yes."

Even if Yan Bingyun had thousands of words in his heart, they all turned into this one word.

———————————————————————————

The young Master Yan hurriedly returned to the Yan residence in a carriage. Along the way, he didn't know if it was because the weather was too hot, or because he was too frightened deep down in his heart, but sweat soaked through his permanently white clothes.

He passed through the not-so-large back garden, and didn't pay much attention to the greetings of the servants along the way. With a solemn face, he entered the study.

In the study, the retired Yan Ruohai was sitting and playing chess with a young lady. The chess pieces falling on the stone slab didn't make too much noise, but the matte chess pieces exuded a sense of fierce killing intent.

Seeing Yan Bingyun enter the room and noticing that his son's mood was a little strange today, Yan Ruohai smiled warmly at the person opposite him and said, "Miss Shen isn't focused on the chess today."

The only surviving daughter of Shen Zhong, the former commander of the Northern Qi Embroidered Uniform Guard, Miss Shen, who had fled to Southern Qing, smiled embarrassedly, stood up and saluted Yan Ruohai, and looked at Yan Bingyun with concern before slowly walking out of the study. When she left, she carefully closed the door.

Yan Ruohai looked at his son and said softly, "What's wrong?"

After a moment of silence, Yan Bingyun recounted the Director Chen's instructions at the Overwatch Council today.

"Supervisor Fan will definitely become the Director," Yan Ruohai said, looking at his son lovingly. "His energy will be focused on the court in the future, and someone will definitely need to manage the specific affairs of the Council. You've suffered a lot these years and done a lot for the court. Although in my opinion, you're still a bit young, but... Supervisor Fan trusts you so much. You must help him well as the Supervisor of the Council."

For these old people, Fan Xian's future arrangements for the Overwatch Council were very clear. Within the Overwatch Council, besides his Qinian Group, Fan Xian trusted Yan Bingyun the most. His arrangements for Yan Bingyun were not very surprising.

"But..." Yan Ruohai changed his tone and sighed, "Why the Supervisor? Your qualifications, your abilities... are still far from enough."

He mocked with a smile, "You're not Fifth Master."

"You also know... that Fifth Master?" Yan Bingyun said worriedly.

"Your father has been in the Council for quite a few years." Yan Ruohai said with a smile, "No matter what, this is also a good thing... It brings glory to the family. Why are you so worried?"

"What are the last two sentences of that passage?" Yan Bingyun said anxiously.

"Oh." Yan Ruohai said faintly, "Those are two very treasonous sentences... Whoever says them will die."

Yan Ruohai said with a smile, "Someone once said that sentence, so even she... died."

……

……

"Don't think too much." Yan Ruohai sighed and said, "Director Chen's loyalty to His Majesty is beyond doubt. I think what the old man is worried about is only the matters after His Majesty. The so-called bearing humiliation and carrying heavy burdens naturally refers to preserving one's strength in impossible situations in order to wait for the future."

He stared into his son's eyes and asked, word by word, "Perhaps... you will become a treacherous villain who sells out his master for glory, a shameless person who is cursed by everyone. Are you prepared for this kind of mental preparation?"

Yan Bingyun didn't answer his father's words. He just asked calmly, "Father, if... I mean if, you had to choose between the palace and the Council, what would you choose?"

What was being chosen? It was self-evident.

Yan Ruohai looked at his son with an amused look and sighed, "Silly child, I would naturally choose the Council... If the old Director Chen didn't have this confidence in me, how could he have said so many things to you?"

Yan Bingyun smiled bitterly. He didn't expect his father to answer so simply and clearly. After a moment of silence, he said calmly, "I am your son, so... I am also prepared for that kind of mental preparation."

"I've wronged you, child."

Yan Ruohai suddenly said these words without head or tail.

——————————————————————————

"He has indeed been wronged these years."

In the imperial palace of Qing, the night was as dark as ink, and the layers of palace eaves exuded a cold and strange atmosphere. The Emperor of Qing was wearing a loose-woven, thin robe, standing in the night wind in front of the Taiji Hall, looking coldly at the square in front of the hall, enjoying the rare coolness.

In the corners of the Taiji Hall, the eunuchs and palace maids serving the emperor were quietly avoiding this area, and the guards responsible for security were also carefully maintaining their distance, ensuring that they would not hear the conversation between the emperor and the person beside him.

Chen Pingping sat in his wheelchair, gently stroking the wool blanket on his lap, and sighed, "Take it slowly. The resentment in the child's heart... I see that it has been smoothed out a lot these years."

The emperor said with a smile, "Actually, in the small building... that child should have already forgiven me... but I always feel like I still owe him something."

Chen Pingping responded with a slightly sharp voice, "Among the several princes, he now has the greatest power... Everything that should have been given to him has been given to him. Although he's a bit stubborn, he's not a fool, and he can certainly understand His Majesty's intentions."

"What I fear is that he doesn't care about these things." A hint of a smile emerged between the emperor's brows. "During the New Year, he insisted on going to the ancestral hall of the Fan clan. Isn't this revealing his resentment to me?"

The emperor continued before Chen Pingping could speak, "I... can give him a title, but... not now. Tell him these words for me."

Chen Pingping knew what the emperor meant. The Empress Dowager was still alive, and the emperor always had to consider the old lady's feelings. But from these words, it seemed that Fan Xian's actions over the past two years, daring to be a lone minister, had already given the emperor enough trust in him.

"His Majesty has a heart." Chen Pingping said with a smile. In fact, words like "has a heart" should never be used on a monarch, but he and the emperor had grown up together since childhood, and the numerous events that followed had made the relationship between the ruler and his subject too extraordinary.

"My having a heart is only one aspect." The emperor slowly shook his head. "The key is that this child has a heart, and he has this ability... The affairs of Northern Qi, the affairs of Jiangnan, the affairs of Jiao Prefecture, have allowed the court to gain both face and profit. Moreover, this child is neither greedy for wealth nor greedy for fame, which is truly rare."

After a moment of silence, Chen Pingping said, "Should we transfer him back?"

"Don't rush." The emperor said faintly, "There are still loose ends of the Ming family that haven't been cut off. The Junshan Assembly that you spoke of in the palace a few days ago... let Anzhi sweep through Jiangnan again."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The emperor suddenly grabbed the wheelchair and pushed it, walking along the long corridor in front of the Taiji Hall, pushing it as he smiled and said, "You're not that old, but you've been showing your age these years. You're still covering yourself with a wool blanket in this hot weather. Aren't you afraid of getting hot? Did that old boy Fei Jie ever give you any medicine?"

"What's the point of wasting medicine money on someone who's about to die?" Chen Pingping's white hair was flying in the wheelchair. "Let go, Your Majesty. This old slave can't afford it."

Only when the two of them were alone would Chen Pingping refer to himself as an old slave.

"I say you can afford it, and you can afford it." The emperor said calmly. "Back in the days in Prince Cheng's mansion, you were a small eunuch who was sent over from the palace. You've been serving me every day since then. Now we're both old, and you broke your leg serving me. What's wrong with me pushing you around for a while?"

Chen Pingping shrank his body and sighed after a long while, "Sometimes when I recall the past, it seems that everything is still before my eyes. This slave seems to still be with Your Majesty, fighting with Prince Jing and Vice Minister Fan..."

The emperor was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Yes... I was thinking a few days ago, when will I be able to go back to Danzhou and take a look?"

……

……

The emperor going on an inspection tour was not such a simple matter, so Chen Pingping said directly without thinking, "No."

The emperor said with a smile, "What are you worried about now?"

Chen Pingping knew that there must be some big move hidden behind the emperor's trip to Danzhou. He said slowly in a hoarse voice, "Have you made up your mind?"

After thinking for a while, the emperor shook his head and said, "Not yet."

Without waiting for Chen Pingping to speak, this most powerful man in the world said coldly, "You and I, the people who crawled out of the pile of dead bodies back then, these clowns are not enough to make me want to clean them up. But sometimes I'm also very greedy. If Yun Rui can really persuade those two old men to take action... taking advantage of this matter, to accomplish the thing that we ruler and minister have always wanted to accomplish, wouldn't it be wonderful?"

"It's too dangerous," Chen Pingping sighed, but in his heart, he was thinking about how to make His Majesty's mind more resolute.

The emperor said with a smile, "Isn't this world all about seeking success in danger?"

The palace maids and eunuchs in the distance watched this scene from afar, watching His Majesty personally pushing the wheelchair for Director Chen, and they couldn't help but be shocked and warmed in their hearts. Such a good story between ruler and minister was truly rare throughout the ages.