"Who's Fei Jie?"

"Who else in the courtyard is named Fei?"

"Does Milord mean Old Fei?"

"I'm talking about that old monster." Fan Xian had finished everything. He called for someone to bring in a basin of warm water, carefully washed his hands, and wiped them dry with a cloth. Then, he said to Yan Bingyun, "You've been tortured for too long. Your heart meridian is injured, and your martial arts cultivation has been greatly diminished."

After saying this, he carefully observed the other man's expression, discovering that Yan Bingyun looked perfectly calm, as if he hadn't heard a thing. He couldn't help but admire him greatly, and he became even more determined to bring this seemingly cold, yet extremely proud, young man under his command.

"After you return home, take good care of yourself, and it's not like it can't be healed. Your fingernails were pulled out, but they'll grow back eventually. Your bones are dislocated; I'll have that bald guy from the Seventh Division break them again for you. Then I'll treat them. You can't end up like Chen Pingping, that old cripple."

Fan Xian was joking, but Yan Bingyun found it a bit strange. In the entire Overwatch Council, with its spies spread across the world, no one dared to call Director Chen an old cripple in front of others!

Yan Bingyun slowly narrowed his eyes, seemingly trying to see through the truth behind this matter, like… why Fan Xian was so young, yet already a Supervisor of the Overwatch Council. Just then, a burning sensation rose from his chest and abdomen. Even with his incredibly steadfast nature, he was still shaken by this sudden pain, and his brow twitched slightly.

"It's nothing, just a method of forcing out the poison. Because I'm not sure what kind of old poison is in your body, the medicine I used was a bit strong. But with me watching over you, you won't die." Fan Xian nonchalantly draped the clothes over him. "Just bear with it."

Beads of sweat the size of soybeans began to appear on Yan Bingyun's forehead, and he was clearly in great pain. He said in a low voice, "Damn it, this is even worse than being poisoned. What kind of antidote is this?"

Fan Xian was overjoyed and clapped his hands in admiration. "Brother Yan is willing to curse now! That's right, who are you putting on that cold, aloof face for? It's fine to act cool in front of the Northern Qi Embroidered Uniform Guard, but don't try that trick with me. I've been sick of it since I was a kid."

The one he had been sick of since he was a kid was naturally that cool and handsome Uncle Bamboo.

"Who did you learn this detoxification method from? I don't trust you." Yan Bingyun felt the parts of his body covered in ointment start to burn as well. He asked in a cold voice.

"I said it earlier," Fan Xian said, smiling as he looked at him.

A strange light flashed in Yan Bingyun's eyes. He completely forgot about the severe pain in his body, and said in a hoarse voice, "Are you Fei Jie's disciple?" His words were full of surprise. He continued, "Fei Jie doesn't have a student like you."

"It's a wonder you boasted that you knew everything about me before I was twelve," Fan Xian began to pack up the bottles and jars beside the bed, sarcastically saying, "You don't even know who my teacher is."

Yan Bingyun looked at him, silent for a long time. Fan Xian looked back innocently, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at the earthworms all over Yan Gongzi's body, and said softly, "I say, Brother Yan, why do I always feel like you're glaring at me with anger?"

This was a thorn in Fan Xian's side. If he wanted to win Yan Bingyun over, then he had to know why the other man had such a strong sense of resistance towards him. Otherwise, the days to come would be very difficult.

After a long silence, Yan Bingyun still didn't seem to want to talk about this topic. But for some reason, as the burning sensation inside and outside his body gradually disappeared, the head of the Overwatch Council's Northern Division felt a bit dizzy. Looking at Fan Xian's handsome face, he felt an inexplicable hatred. Thinking of the stimulating life he had lived in the Northern Qi court, where he had carried his head in his hands, the words escaped the restraint of his slightly dry lips as if he couldn't control them:

"Supervisor, I wonder if you still remember that there was a murder case in Danzhou five years ago that has never been solved."

Fan Xian's hand, which was closing the box, didn't pause for a moment, but he was inwardly surprised. Of course he remembered that murder case. It was the first time Fan Xian had killed someone in both his lives. Even now, the cold chestnut that popped out on the assassin's throat seemed to still be stimulating Fan Xian's palm.

"I know what you're talking about." Fan Xian frowned and said, "Does this matter have anything to do with you or me?"

Yan Bingyun smiled strangely. "That assassin was under the jurisdiction of the Fourth Division. It was precisely because of this matter that I was driven to the north to be a rat."

"So you hate me?" Fan Xian fell into silence. After a long while, he suddenly laughed extremely happily. "I thought you should be thanking me."

……

……

"Why?" The dizziness in his head faded a little. Yan Bingyun was slightly surprised, but quickly returned to his cold demeanor.

Fan Xian stared into his eyes, saying each word carefully, "Because I can tell that you're a born spy in your bones. You like this kind of life… I think these four years of lurking in Northern Qi, constantly on edge, have been a very stimulating and fulfilling life for you."

Yan Bingyun said, "If Milord likes it, you can try it too."

Fan Xian smiled, picked up his medicine box, and walked out of the厢房 like a doctor. As he closed the door behind him, he shrugged his shoulders imperceptibly and flicked a bit of sleeping medicine from his fingernail into the corner of the box. He warned himself in his heart that using sleeping medicine on his own people was a one-time thing, never again. Yan Bingyun was indeed powerful. He was able to wake up so quickly under the effects of chloroform. If he knew that he had used these means, the relationship between the two of them would probably be difficult to reconcile.

Hearing this story from Yan Bingyun's mouth made Fan Xian feel quite touched. At the same time, he learned the real reason why the other man didn't like him. Fan Xian felt very relieved.

He hadn't expected that he and Yan Bingyun would have such a strange connection. Five years ago, because of the attempted murder in Danzhou, Yan Bingyun was driven to the northern border, and eventually became the head of the Overwatch Council's secret agents in Northern Qi. And five years later, it was actually him who came to personally escort him back to the country. Thinking of this, Fan Xian couldn't help but laugh. You never know when things in this world will come full circle.

—————————————————————

"Milord, Boss Sheng has brought wine." A subordinate asked for instructions.

Fan Xian waved his hand and said, "You guys take it. I don't want to see him." The subordinate responded and left. Fan Xian frowned. He had just educated Young Master Cui, and then there was news from Xinyang. That Princess Royal was really chasing after him closely. Just as he was thinking, Wang Qinian came in from outside, holding a letter in his hand, and said softly, "A letter brought by Sheng Huairen."

Fan Xian tore open the seal and read it carefully. A trace of worry appeared between his eyebrows. He muttered to himself, "What exactly are these people playing at?" He raised his eyebrows and went into the backyard.

Yan Bingyun was very alert. When Fan Xian opened the door, his hand had already reached for the saber beside him.

"Relax a little." Fan Xian looked at him, still keeping his eyes closed, and said, "No one here wants to assassinate you."

Yan Bingyun slowly opened his eyes, looked at Fan Xian's face, and a flash of coldness passed through his eyes. He said, "What kind of medicine did you give me? Why has my head been a bit dizzy?"

"I used some calming medicine," Fan Xian explained calmly. "Your mind was too exhausted. If you want to recover as soon as possible, you need good sleep. I just didn't expect that your body's functions would be strong enough to resist the medicine. It wasn't very useful. What a pity."

With these simple words, he glossed over the previous matter of the sleeping medicine. Fan Xian's delicate and immaculate face was truly the best disguise for schemes and tricks.

Yan Bingyun knew that the other man had returned to the room because he had something to ask. His gaze fell on his hand, and he frowned and said, "Lord Fan, what is it?"

Fan Xian shook the letter in his hand and said with a smile, "A letter from the Princess Royal."

Yan Bingyun was a little surprised, but he didn't show it on his face. He said calmly, "What does this have to do with this official?"

"Before returning to the capital, you are still the Qing Kingdom Overwatch Council's Chief Secret Agent stationed in Northern Qi." Fan Xian said with a smile, "So when the imperial court wants to do something, I naturally have to ask for your opinion."

"Please speak, Milord." Yan Bingyun remained impassive.

……

……

After Fan Xian clearly explained the contents of the two consecutive letters from Xinyang, Yan Bingyun frowned. There were a few strands of silver in his eyebrows, which made him look a bit weak and listless. He asked softly, "Why does the Princess Royal want to manage these things?"

Fan Xian said, "I'm just here to ask for your opinion. Does the Council want to intervene in this matter?"

Yan Bingyun shook his head. "The Council wants Xiao En dead, but the Princess Royal wants us to cooperate with Shang Shanhu to rescue Xiao En. These are originally two opposite goals. How can we cooperate?"

Fan Xian sat down and looked at Yan Bingyun's cold face. He said, "Let's not discuss this issue first. I need to know from your mouth what the current situation in the Northern Qi court is like."

Yan Bingyun glanced at him and held up three fingers. "Three sides. One side is the Empress Dowager, one side is the Emperor, and the other side is Shang Shanhu... But since Shang Shanhu has been transferred back to the capital, his strength has been greatly damaged. He must choose one between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."

These were simple and rough words, but they were judgments full of confidence – Fan Xian motioned for him to continue in silence. Yan Bingyun continued, "According to Milord's statement, if Xiao En is Shang Shanhu's adoptive father, but Grandmaster Ku He wants Xiao En dead, then it seems that Shang Shanhu will inevitably side with the Emperor in the end."

"Why?"

"Because the Empress Dowager will definitely listen to Ku He's words."

Fan Xian subconsciously twitched his eyebrows and asked hesitantly, "The Empress Dowager is indeed quite young... but does Grandmaster Ku He still have such thoughts?"

Yan Bingyun was stunned. After a long while, he realized that this young Lord, who was pure and beautiful on the outside but extremely base on the inside, had misunderstood his meaning. He looked at Fan Xian with disdain and said, "Things are not as you imagine."