Chen Pingping gently plucked a pink flower and carefully tucked it into his hair. Seeing the flower tremble precariously, threatening to fall, Fan Xian quickly smoothed the old man's temples with his finger, securing the flower more firmly.

Chen Pingping smiled very happily and gently patted Fan Xian's hand, saying, "After sixteen or seventeen years of fussing, you have finally entered the capital and finally grown up. I can finally give an account to your mother."

Fan Xian had always been curious about the stories of the past and couldn't help but ask, "How many of you were there back then?" This was naturally referring to the powerful individuals who followed his mother and wanted to change the world.

"Count them yourself."

Fan Xian counted on his fingers and smiled, "Six people."

"Yes, your mother was a remarkable person." Chen Pingping smiled slightly, "It seems you're quite clever."

"Regarding the previous sentence, Teacher Fei Jie had already said it when I was very young."

"I don't think he said that. We actually all miss your mother very much. From some perspectives, she was my guide."

"Somewhat unexpected," Fan Xian smiled, "But I could guess a little."

"Be more respectful to Si Nanbo, and be good to the Fan family." Chen Pingping suddenly said very seriously, "They have sacrificed a lot for you."

Fan Xian lowered his eyes slightly. To be able to protect a tiny infant in such a treacherous situation, to be able to make the people in the palace believe that he was dead, without being asked... his father must have sacrificed a great deal. He said, "Who exactly is the enemy I really need to guard against? It can't be that madwoman, the Eldest Princess; she was very young back then."

"The Eldest Princess is just a pitiful woman. To the royal family, Miss's brilliance was too dazzling. She lived in your mother's shadow her whole life. She prides herself on being intelligent and capable, and has secured many benefits for Qing Kingdom, but she will never match your mother's position in His Majesty's heart, so she has become somewhat mad with jealousy. As for the enemy... there is no enemy, no enemy." Chen Pingping repeated softly, as if trying to convince himself.

"First in charge of the Overwatch Council, then in charge of the Internal Treasury. I think some people will notice something amiss." Fan Xian said with a smile, "What exactly do you want me to do?"

Chen Pingping said softly, "Don't you want to be a powerful minister?"

Fan Xian looked quietly into Chen Pingping's eyes, and suddenly said, "I think I know what you want to do."

Chen Pingping's expression remained unchanged, and he smiled, "I hope you will always pretend not to know what I want to do."

Fan Xian frowned, "Although I have no blood ties with them, I still don't want to see too much bloodshed."

"It's still early." Chen Pingping said softly, "And bloodshed often happens when foolish people first draw their knives, wanting to cut other people's throats, but accidentally cut their own."

Fan Xian smiled wryly. Although he respected and trusted this old man, he still had to eat his own meals and walk his own path. Although he had maintained a silent, tacit cooperation with the Director of the Overwatch Council since entering the capital, and the other had done many things for him, if something really happened in the future that led to different ideas between the two, Fan Xian would choose to respect his own wishes first.

Chen Pingping waved his hand and frowned, "You need to learn to broaden your horizons in the future, don't always focus on a single department, a single office, mere officials, this mere capital city. You need to learn to stand in a higher position..."

Fan Xian responded with a smile, "Are you saying I should set my sights on the world?"

Chen Pingping smiled, "Perhaps even higher."

Fan Xian was silent and puzzled.

"Go, be careful on this trip to Northern Qi." Chen Pingping coughed twice, took the small pink flower from his temple, rubbed it gently with his fingers, and said softly, "Xiao En must die, of course, you must first ensure your own safety. In addition, handle those three tasks as you see fit. If the situation allows, you can try to find out where the Temple is, after all, in this world, only the Northern Qi National Preceptor Ku He has ever come into contact with the Temple."

Fan Xian frowned, "The Temple... it's too sudden, I don't seem to have any confidence, although deep down I still like adventures."

Chen Pingping nodded, "Your mother also liked adventures back then. But I really rarely worry about your life and death. If the five Great Masters have taught you for so many years, and you still can't crawl back from Northern Qi alive, then I will express my disappointment at your funeral."

The old man smiled, scattering the flower petal fragments between his fingers on the ground, a pink patch. He thought to himself, how could you, this young man, be able to cope with the real enemy?

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After bidding farewell to his mother's closest old comrade, Fan Xian returned to the building, met with Yan Ruohai, and took some files to prepare to study them carefully back at the mansion. The situation in Northern Qi was also an exceptionally complex one. Originally, even if Chen Pingping wanted to use this matter to allow Fan Xian to truly control the Overwatch Council, if Fan Xian was unwilling, it seemed that no one could force him to go to that strange country...

But Fan Xian really wanted to go.

In his previous life, he was confined to a weak body and could not be autonomous. In this life, he was confined to a bizarre background and could not be autonomous. It was rare to have this opportunity to go on a mission to Northern Qi, where he could be as free as a bird in the sky and as a shrimp in the sea. How could Fan Xian let go of such an opportunity to be unrestrained? So he earnestly consulted Yan Ruohai about the matters that should be paid attention to during this mission, and inquired about the people he needed to be aware of in Northern Qi.

Yan Ruohai shook his head, looking at this young Director, seemingly not understanding why Fan Xian would be so enthusiastic about this matter, and said, "Northern Qi has always been unstable. The Empress Dowager is too young, and the Emperor is too young, but after that war last year, it seems that their capital has become much more stable. Director Fan needs to pay attention to three aspects: one is He Daoren, one is Shang Shanhu, and the other, of course, is the rarely seen National Preceptor Ku He."

"He Daoren?" Fan Xian frowned. There is no Taoism in this world, so why would he be called He Daoren?

Yan Ruohai didn't know what he was thinking, so he didn't explain, and continued, "He Daoren is a master of the Empress Dowager's faction. Cheng Jushu, whom Director Fan killed last year, was his disciple. Shang Shanhu is a rare tiger general in Northern Qi who has been fighting the barbarians in the snowy lands to the north. It is said that after Northern Qi's defeat last year, he was transferred back to the capital by the young Emperor. Director must pay attention to him during this trip to Northern Qi, because the Council has always suspected his lineage. As for National Preceptor Ku He, as one of the four Grand Masters in the world, he should not be involved in these worldly affairs, but..."

He frowned, and said, "Ku He has taken a closed-door disciple who has officially entered the world this year. Director Fan is famous throughout the world, so you still need to be careful of the other party coming to cause trouble."

Fan Xian was stunned, and for no reason, he thought of those prostitute sects commonly seen in novels in his previous life, and asked with a wry smile, "It wouldn't be a woman, would it?"

Yan Ruohai said expressionlessly, "Unknown gender, only know that for the past three months, this Grand Master's closed-door disciple has traveled throughout Northern Qi, single-handedly challenging countless top-grade masters. There are even rumors that the other party is the legendary Celestial Vein inheritor." He glanced at Fan Xian and asked softly, "Director Fan knows about Celestial Vein inheritors, right?"

Fan Xian felt that this term seemed a little familiar. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration came to him, and he remembered that Teacher Fei Jie had mentioned it once when he was a child, and later in the Eldest Princess's Guangxin Palace, he had also heard it once while eavesdropping on her conversation with Master Zhuang Mohan.

After listening to Yan Ruohai's explanation, Fan Xian frowned, "A genius who only appears once every five hundred years, the bloodline of heaven, it's not like leeks planted in the ground, cutting one crop and another comes. I don't believe it."

Yan Ruohai nodded and said, "The Council analyzes that it is estimated that Northern Qi needs to create an image of an unparalleled young and powerful person to enhance national confidence because of years of defeat."

Fan Xian smiled and said, "That's more likely. Just like the Council has been shaping my image as a Director during this period... What's that person's name?"

"Hai Tang." (海棠 - Begonia)

Fan Xian had a headache, "I hope it's an effeminate man, but please don't let it really be a broad."

The two spoke a few more casual words. Finally, Yan Ruohai looked at Fan Xian calmly, the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes wrinkled weakly, and said softly, "I will trouble Director to take care of my son's affairs."

"I said it at the gate of the Ministry of Justice." Fan Xian answered very seriously, "I will safely bring Young Master Yan back to Qing Kingdom."

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After leaving the Fourth Division's room, Wang Qinian, who had been waiting outside, quickly came over and took the pile of files in Fan Xian's hand. Fan Xian looked ahead, but said softly to his "confidant," "I will definitely take you with me to Northern Qi."

"Thank you for your trust, Director." Wang Qinian responded with a smile. If there were no other arrangements for this trip to Northern Qi, it would really be a journey for gilding, a carefree trip. There is no country in this world that would dare to attack an envoy.

Fan Xian shook his head and laughed, "I'm taking you because you are the fastest runner in the Overwatch Council, of course, besides Zong Zhui."

Wang Qinian smiled wryly and said nothing. He had previously gone to Zong Zhui's place to reminisce about old times for a long time. He and Zong Zhui were once known as the twin wings of the Overwatch Council, but later Wang Qinian settled down to literary affairs, so his position gradually became ordinary. Zong Zhui had always felt very depressed. Now that Wang Qinian had become Director Fan Xian's confidant, Zong Zhui felt that his old friend had finally regained some glory, and he was very happy.

That Third Division Chief, Brother Leng, had already been waiting by the door of the secret room. When he saw Fan Xian coming, he didn't greet him much and felt very indifferent. Pushing open the door of the secret room, a gust of fresh air hit his face, but the wind speed was not rapid. Fan Xian raised his eyebrows and immediately knew that this kind of place with air circulation must not be related to places where poison is refined.

Chief Leng glanced at his little brother and suddenly grinned, saying, "Nice figure."

Fan Xian glanced at his newly recognized senior brother, shuddered, and thought to himself... wouldn't it be? He immediately heard his senior brother's next sentence. Chief Leng shouted loudly towards the inner room, "Standard!"

Fan Xian was stunned. After a while, he saw five or six people push out a large table, on which were placed several boxes and a piece of clothing with a somewhat strange material. The five or six people glanced at Fan Xian expressionlessly. Perhaps they had been staying in such a strange department of the Third Division for a long time, so they all seemed a little wooden. But after careful examination, several people couldn't help but reveal admiration and said to Director Fan again and again, "Indeed a nice figure."