"Why should I intervene?" Wu Zhu rarely used rhetorical questions. Since Fan Xian left Danzhou for Kyoto, he seemed even more mysterious than he was in Danzhou, never once meeting with Fan Xian.

Fan Xian felt a pang in his heart, thinking that it was true. Even if the other party had watched him grow up, he had no reason to ask anything of him. In this world, he only owed Wu Zhu.

Hearing that he didn't speak, Wu Zhu slightly turned his body and said faintly, "I said it once before. I taught you for many years, and Fei Jie also taught you. If you still can't handle these little things, that's your problem, not ours."

"I only found out afterwards that the big man was actually an eighth-rank master. Uncle, you said before that my strength is actually at the seventh rank, with potential for the third rank. I shouldn't have been a match for that big man." Fan Xian said with a bitter smile, "You say this is my own problem. Don't you care if I get killed by someone else?"

"Are you dead?" Wu Zhu asked a question with an obvious answer, a rare second rhetorical question.

Fan Xian stared at the black cloth on his face and took a breath of cold air, "You were by my side the whole time?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you intervene?" Fan Xian lowered his voice and shouted angrily, "Those three guards are dead! Teng Zijing is also injured!"

"I never care about the life or death of anyone other than you." Wu Zhu's words seemed cold and ruthless. "The people around you are gathered by yourself. If you want to control their lives, you must protect their lives. So, the life and death of these guards is your responsibility, not mine."

Fan Xian fell silent again, knowing that what Uncle Wu Zhu said was actually correct.

"I can't help you too much." Wu Zhu said coldly, "On the cliff in Danzhou, I once said that in Kyoto, if I am by your side, it will bring you trouble, the kind of trouble you absolutely don't want to face."

Fan Xian smiled bitterly as he recalled the conversation he had when he was twelve years old. At that time, he said playfully, "I will protect you." But that could only ever be a joke.

"So remember, in Kyoto, I will never stand by your side in the sunlight, unless you are about to die, or... you are already dead." Wu Zhu continued to say expressionlessly.

Fan Xian didn't understand what such an unparalleled powerhouse like Uncle Wu Zhu was still afraid of, but he heard that this sentence was decisive and left no room for negotiation, so he nodded somewhat sadly.

"Someone's coming." Wu Zhu said these four words very quickly, and then disappeared into the darkness once again.

The visitor was a guest, but a guest that Fan Xian didn't particularly want to see at this time. Li Hongcheng, the heir of Prince Jing, walked in with a gloomy face and sat down on the edge of the bed without any ceremony. He lowered his voice and roared, "You know about today's news, right? The Northern Qi envoys are refusing to admit anything. Those agitated imperial students almost smashed the Honglu Temple."

The Honglu Temple was the diplomatic agency of Qing Kingdom, specifically responsible for the exchange of documents and money with Northern Qi, various small vassal states, and Dongyi, as well as related matters. Hearing that the Honglu Temple was almost smashed, Fan Xian said with a bitter smile, "These young people are really passionate, but... Northern Qi naturally won't admit it. Otherwise, if the Qing Kingdom people confirm that the enemy country can send assassins to assassinate at will in Kyoto, I'm afraid there will be endless troubles between the two countries."

Li Hongcheng said with a bitter smile, "It has already started to cause trouble. His Majesty has issued a clear decree that the Northern Qi envoys staying in Yanjing have been driven out of the city, and even their luggage has been thrown out."

Fan Xian mocked, "They are quite quick to deal with outsiders."

Hearing the other meaning in his words, Li Hongcheng frowned and said, "I've been coming to see you these past few days, but your injuries haven't healed, so it's not convenient to say some things."

Fan Xian sighed and said, "I don't know what I owe you in my past life. Getting you a meal ended up with me being assassinated. I only met you, an acquaintance, after entering Kyoto. You are an upright heir, but you've always been straightforward. Why are you hesitating today?"

Li Hongcheng said somewhat remorsefully, "This matter is indeed my fault. Who would have thought that Drunken Immortal Inn would be a Northern Qi spy?" He deliberated slightly and said, "Today, first of all, I am here to express the Second Prince's apology. He originally planned to visit you in person, but as you know, the waters in Kyoto have been somewhat murky recently because of your assassination, so it is not convenient for him to come rashly." He said with a bitter smile, "You know, many people are still speculating that I and the Second Prince are the masterminds behind your assassination, just to frame His Highness the Crown Prince."

Fan Xian looked at him with a smile that was not a smile.

Li Hongcheng laughed and said, "You're looking at me so profoundly. Am I supposed to admit that I orchestrated this?"

Fan Xian also laughed. He believed that this matter was not done by the other party because losing Fan Manor's support would be a loss that the Second Prince, who originally had no strong backing in the court, could not afford. At least, it was far greater than the benefits gained from framing the Crown Prince... far too much.

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Fan Xian finally managed to sit up from the bed. The maid helped him pour a bowl of water to drink. Seeing the figure at the door, he couldn't help cursing in his heart. He was obviously so seriously injured, but he was constantly receiving visitors. This was not healing; it was clearly suffering. This time, the visitor was a stranger. The visitor reported his identity, revealed to be an official from the First Bureau of the Surveillance Institute, who had been ordered to handle the affairs of the institute and was investigating the assassination case on Ox Lane. Because this case involved officials in the court and rumors were circulating about some unclear backgrounds behind it, all the case files were handed over to the Surveillance Institute.

"What's your name?" A servant had already poured a bowl of tea for the Surveillance Institute official. Fan Xian squinted at the other party. This was the first time he had seen a Surveillance Institute official somewhere other than when he "bravely broke into" the Surveillance Institute last time. The Surveillance Institute officials seemed to have a rotten aura about them, and this feeling once again reminded Fan Xian of that damned teacher, Fei Jie.

"This official is Mu Tie." The official's lips were thin as iron, his face was dark, and he answered expressionlessly, "Some time ago, Young Master was seriously injured, so some questions were not asked clearly. Today, I am here to ask questions on orders. Please cooperate, Young Master."

Fan Xian frowned, thinking that this official seemed to be unaware of the secret relationship between Fan Manor and the Surveillance Institute, so he spoke like this. He said faintly, "I'm tired. Let's talk about it another day."

Mu Tie seemed unable to imagine that the other party would refuse to answer the questions, and his face turned somewhat unsightly.

Fan Xian waved his hand and asked curiously, "The joint memorial from the Institute and the Ministry of Justice has already been submitted. What else is there to ask?"

"Some things have not been clarified yet." The official named Mu Tie stared intently at Fan Xian's eyes. Fan Xian's heart stirred. He knew that the Surveillance Institute was also suspicious of the archers, but what use would it be to ask him? The only person he had offended in Kyoto was Guo Baokun, a mere son of a civil official, who would never dare to collude with Northern Qi. As for the Crown Prince's side... that was something he couldn't even say.

Fan Xian took out the waist token Fei Jie had left him from under the pillow and threw it over, "We're all on the same side. Just say what you want to say directly."

Mu Tie didn't touch the tea on his side. He took the token and looked at it twice. His face changed drastically. He actually got up from his seat, walked to Fan Xian's side, and knelt down on one knee. He clasped his fists and saluted, "Greetings, sir."

Seeing Mu Tie kneeling respectfully in front of him, Fan Xian was shocked. He didn't expect this token to have such a great effect. He didn't know that the token Fei Jie had left him was a Supervising Officer's token. It was a transcendent existence in the Surveillance Institute, independent of the Eight Bureaus. Except for Director Chen Chang, who could directly command it, it was on the same level as the heads of the Eight Bureaus. So, when Mu Tie saw it, he was inevitably shocked and naturally knelt down to pay his respects.

Signaling him to stand up, Fan Xian frowned and asked, "When is Fei Da Ren returning to Kyoto?" This was the question he was most concerned about right now. Firstly, Wan'er's health was gradually improving, but the root of the illness could not be removed. He didn't know how much longer she would have to endure. Secondly, the current situation in Kyoto was complex. Uncle Wu Zhu was still a ghost, his father was still polite with concealment, and Fei Jie, whom he trusted from the bottom of his heart, was not in Kyoto.

Hearing that this handsome young man asked about Fei Da Ren as soon as he opened his mouth, Mu Tie confirmed that the other party must be a deeply hidden Da Ren in the Institute. Institutions like the Surveillance Institute always liked to develop some nail-like figures in various mansions and departments in Kyoto. Obviously, the young master of this Fan Manor was one of them, and one of a particularly high rank. Mu Tie respectfully replied, "It should still be some days."

"What have you found out?" Fan Xian stared into his eyes.

Mu Tie responded in a deep voice, "The Institute learned of the news too late, so the bodies of the archers have all been cremated. The final investigation led to the Patrol Division, where the trail ended."

"Patrol Division? Who's in charge of that?"

"Jiao Ziheng."

"Hmm?"

Mu Tie looked up at Fan Xian, somewhat curious that the other party didn't know Jiao Ziheng's identity. He replied, "It shouldn't be the Crown Prince's man." As soon as he saw the waist token that was impossible to counterfeit, he determined the other party's identity, so he spoke without hesitation. This was the style of the Surveillance Institute. All the strict hierarchy only worked internally.

"Are you in charge of this case?" Fan Xian looked at him curiously, "What rank are you?"

"This official is a seventh-rank Deputy Administrator." Mu Tie replied with a smile, "Just an errand boy."

"When can Si Lili enter Kyoto?" Fan Xian suddenly thought of the only witness and frowned.

"Those people are running fast. Even if we intercept them now, it will still take some days to return to Kyoto."

Mu Tie looked at him, thinking he had guessed why someone would collude with Northern Qi to assassinate this handsome young man. It seemed that this young man was a key candidate being cultivated by the Institute. Thinking of this, his heart warmed. He seemed to have discovered an opportunity to rise rapidly. He plucked up his courage and asked, "Da Ren, although I don't know what specific affairs you are handling in Kyoto, you are, after all, new to Kyoto. If there is anything that this subordinate can do to help, please feel free to order."

Fan Xian asked curiously, "What about your current affairs?"

Mu Tie smiled foolishly and said, "They can be transferred immediately. Institute affairs have always been graded according to rank. With Da Ren's status, it would be a very simple matter to transfer me to help."

Fan Xian immediately guessed what the other party was thinking and said with a bitter smile, "Let's forget it. I myself don't know what to do. If you follow me, you'll lose your life for no reason. What good is that?"

His heart suddenly darkened as he thought of the three guards who died on Ox Lane a few days ago. These guards had been following him since he entered Kyoto, but he hadn't even remembered their names, and they were already dead.

He asked the maid to open the window. The sunlight and fresh air from outside suddenly poured into the gloomy room. Fan Xian took a deep breath, his spirits lifted, and he decided to do something. He asked the enthusiastic Surveillance Institute official, "There's someone in the Institute named Wang Qinian, right?"