"Why are you gracing the palace with your presence today?"

The Emperor looked up, smiling at Fan Xian. His gaze was gentle but laced with a hint of amusement, suggesting the events of the past month had allowed His Majesty's mood to improve considerably.

Yet, a sense of inexplicable fear arose in Fan Xian's heart. He responded with a wry smile, unable to find the right words. Although the month-long leave had been granted by the Emperor himself, remaining out of the palace and avoiding an audience for so long was undoubtedly inappropriate. He clearly sensed the Emperor's displeasure and felt at a loss for how to react.

He had avoided the palace because of the coldness and fear in his heart. Yes, ever since learning that the Emperor was a Grand Master, the usually audacious Fan Xian had finally understood the meaning of fear. The Emperor's silence and tolerance during these past days only heightened his wariness. If he could, he would prefer never to enter the palace again, never to see the Emperor's face.

The gentler he was, the more afraid Fan Xian became. He swallowed, moistening his dry throat, and humbly explained the reason for his visit today. However, he avoided mentioning Prince Li Chengqian's name, sticking only to the matter at hand, urging the Emperor to show leniency when dealing with the matter of treason.

The victor is always magnanimous, and the Emperor, having lost so many family members, was becoming increasingly benevolent, Fan Xian thought to himself. Moreover, he was confident that someone as powerful as the Emperor wouldn't worry about the "spring wind blows again" issue.

However, contrary to his expectations, the Emperor's expression gradually darkened. He seemed surprised that Fan Xian, who rarely visited the palace, would request such a thing. A deep chill flashed in his eyes, and Fan Xian, stealing glances at the Emperor's face, knew he was in trouble.

But even knowing he was in trouble, he stubbornly stood by his opinion. It wasn't just a matter of fulfilling Li Chengqian's dying wish; it also concerned his own courage. If he hadn't found a reason to summon a sliver of courage, he might never have dared to enter the palace again, so he had to persevere.

...

...

It was precisely because of this insistence that the Imperial Study was both lively and terrifying today. The Chief Eunuch Yao and the junior eunuchs guarding outside the study paled with fright at the angry shouts emanating from within. They wondered what Master Fan had done to provoke the Emperor's fury.

The group listened nervously outside the Imperial Study, hearing the sounds of teacups shattering on the floor, followed by the sound of Master Fan kowtowing, the Emperor's scolding, and the two men arguing.

Chief Eunuch Yao remained impassive, but his heart was a tumultuous sea. He thought to himself that Master Fan was truly audacious, daring to argue with the Emperor to his face. He couldn't help but worry about what might happen next, and he cautiously watched the door, wondering if he should quickly inform the two Grand Secretaries of the Secretariat. Among the living people in the world and in the palace after so many deaths, only those few were qualified to mediate between the Emperor and the Count of Danbo.

Before long, the two doors of the Imperial Study creaked open, and Fan Xian strode out, his face still flushed with anger and resentment. Without glancing at the bowing eunuchs, he flung his sleeves and left the palace. But as soon as he was out of the palace and in his carriage, the angry, resentful look on his face vanished, replaced by calm and a hint of worry.

Predictably, the Emperor had sternly reprimanded Fan Xian. Any emperor, even the most benevolent ones, would show no sympathy to enemies who dared to usurp the throne. Fan Xian should have understood this, yet he still insisted on arguing.

Back in his residence for several days, no news came from the palace, nor was there an imperial edict of censure. Fan Xian grew increasingly uneasy, suspecting that the Emperor had probably guessed his intentions and was playing a trick on him. But he was helpless. He could only use his position as a Supervisor of the Overwatch Council to write several secret memorials, sending them to the palace in quick succession, hoping to provoke the Emperor again. But these memorials were like meat dumplings thrown at a dog, or mud Buddhas tossed into the river, eliciting no response whatsoever.

Several days later, the palace finally decided how to handle the matter of the rebellion. Fan Xian held the imperial edict in his residence, shocked and surprised. He had never imagined that after his argument with the Emperor in the Imperial Study, His Majesty would actually listen to him, raising the butcher's knife high but letting it fall gently.

The captured rebellious officials and some unreleased individuals, totaling more than a thousand people, were sentenced to be beheaded. However, the women and children implicated in the matter were mostly given lenient sentences.

Even the surrendered rebel army was treated with relative mercy. The Emperor only executed officers above a certain rank, while the ordinary soldiers were dispersed and sent to various border regions to fight for the country as death-row inmates, serving as a way to atone for their crimes.

In the end, about two thousand people died because of the rebellion, but this was far better than Fan Xian's most optimistic expectations, especially since most of the families of the officials who should have been executed or exiled according to Qing law were given a reduced sentence. This made him feel great.

Amidst his happiness, he felt even more puzzled. Why would the Emperor do this? If it was truly because of his advice, why had he been so angry in the Imperial Study that day?

...

...

In fact, the conflict between the Emperor and Master Fan in the Imperial Study had already shocked the entire capital. After all, there were many people in the palace, and it was impossible to keep the matter a secret from everyone. So, even before the Emperor's official announcement, most officials knew the inside story.

Although the officials had their own factions and knew that if the Crown Prince ascended the throne, they would likely meet a tragic end, they still felt a sense of sorrow for their colleagues, especially for the innocent family members and relatives implicated in the matter. So, when they saw the Emperor's extremely benevolent edict, they were all filled with admiration.

Especially the two Grand Secretaries of the Secretariat, who praised the Emperor's edict without reservation, extolling His Majesty from the bottom of their hearts. A benevolent ruler was the foundation for achieving a lasting empire, and the disciples and grand-disciples of Zhuang Mo Han wholeheartedly agreed.

And why was the Emperor so benevolent? Of course, it was thanks to Master Fan's efforts. Master Fan disregarded his own honor and power, and bravely spoke frankly in the Imperial Study. Although it wasn't exactly gambling with his life, he still took a considerable risk.

The court and the capital, upon reflecting on this matter, held Fan Xian in even higher regard, feeling that this master was indeed worthy of being Zhuang's successor, acting in a way that was reminiscent of ancient times. And those who had narrowly escaped death were secretly grateful to Fan Xian. For a time, Fan Xian's reputation for integrity once again resounded throughout the capital.

He had originally been an idol in the hearts of scholars, but due to his position in the Overwatch Council and the court's vigilance towards Lord Lin, he had gradually distanced himself from the scholarly circles. However, his reputation among the people remained quite good, and after this major event, officials also admired him greatly.

After all, not everyone dared to argue with the Emperor, especially on a matter of rebellion. Even Grand Secretary Shu Wu had remained silent.

Fan Xian had not expected this matter to bring him so many benefits. He had originally only wanted to fulfill Li Chengqian's wish, and to provoke the Emperor to see if he could get the terrifying old man to have a change of heart and let him leave.

He hadn't expected the Emperor to see through his intentions and play such a trick, pushing Fan Xian into the spotlight once again. Even if he wanted to resign, it was now impossible.

Fan Xian sat in his residence with a grim face, looking at his daughter, thinking that he was still far too lazy compared to the Emperor. But he still couldn't figure out why the Emperor had so generously given him such great glory. After thinking about it, he became annoyed, slammed his hand on the table, and stood up, gritting his teeth, saying, "I dare to enter the palace to see the Emperor, am I still afraid to see him?"

Fan Xiaohua'er kept her eyes tightly shut, but wasn't frightened to tears by the loud noise. Wan'er and Sisi beside her were startled, wondering why he was in such a bad mood, and quickly took the child away.

...

...

After the rebellion in the capital, Supervisor Fan Xian of the Overwatch Council returned to the Overwatch Council for the first time. All of his subordinates bowed respectfully in welcome, their expressions very serious. Countless events over the past few years had proven that the Overwatch Council, from top to bottom, had completely accepted this future Director, deeply awed by his methods.

Fan Xian sat in the dim room, wiped his hands with a wet towel, pulled open the black cloth, glanced at the distant palace, and shook his head. Chen Pingping wasn't there, but he couldn't go to Chen Garden just yet. He summoned several heads of the Eight Bureaus, briefly asked about the recent situation, and then left Yan Bingyun behind.

Hearing his question, Yan Bingyun shook his head and said, "There's still no news about Lord Wang. As for Hong Changqing's group, a few of them have returned one after another, but he himself is missing. Gao Da and the seven Tiger Guards he led were probably all killed by Si Gu Jian on Mount Dong."

Fan Xian's brow furrowed gradually, and he felt extremely uncomfortable. Theoretically, Wang Qinian was so cunning that how could he die silently on Mount Dong? Even if the battle of Grand Masters was terrifying, there should be a corpse left. The Overwatch Council knew that Wang Qinian was his closest confidant, so they shouldn't have missed it. As for Hong Changqing and Gao Da, he wasn't at all confident about them, thinking that they had probably really gone.

At this thought, his mood suddenly became gloomy. He didn't stay in the Overwatch Council, but left, got into his carriage, left the capital directly, and headed for Chen Garden.

Outside of Chen Garden, the traps that used to be everywhere between the green meadows were gone. Fan Xian sat in the carriage thinking that they must have been swept away when the Qin family sent the Kyoto Garrison to clear them out. When the carriage stopped outside Chen Garden, Fan Xian got out and was stunned by the scene before him.

This was no longer the magnificent, unique Chen Garden of the past. All that remained were broken walls, dry pools, shattered hills, drooping willows, and the charred remains of a fire. It was extremely desolate.

Chen Garden had been burned down, leaving behind a scene of devastation. However, there wasn't too much sadness at this time, because several brick and wood temporary residences had been built behind it, and more than a thousand laborers and craftsmen were busy working on the original site, looking like a bustling construction site.

Fan Xian waded through the construction site, finally arriving behind the original site of Chen Garden, and found Chen Pingping listening to opera while being served by a dozen beautiful maids. This old dog was dressed like a landlord today, sitting on a low couch, enjoying himself with his eyes squinted. His feet were covered with a blanket. Although the outside was noisy and the temporary residence was far from comfortable, his expression was extremely happy.

The sound of stone cutting and bricklaying was extremely loud, drowning out the sound of the opera completely. Fan Xian walked in and frowned, "How can you hear anything here? You have houses in Kyoto, why do you have to stay here? It will take at least three months to completely rebuild Chen Garden, are you going to spend three months here?"

Seeing him walk in, Chen Pingping smiled, his wrinkles blooming like chrysanthemums, each petal filled with an eerie flavor.

Fan Xian felt a little creeped out by the smile and didn't say anything. He sat down next to him and picked up a teacup to take a sip. Those flower-like maids who had been clinging to Chen Pingping, of course, knew that Little Duke had come today to discuss serious matters. Unlike in the past, they didn't look at Fan Xian with affectionate eyes, but quietly and attentively withdrew.

It seemed that officials from the Overwatch Council had given instructions outside, because even the sound of construction stopped, and the ruins in front and behind Chen Garden fell into silence.

Chen Pingping glanced at him. Fan Xian was stunned, leaned over, and fed him a sip of tea with the teacup in his hand. Chen Pingping moistened his throat before speaking, "Living in Kyoto is not easy, it's better to live in this broken garden."

"Living in Kyoto is not easy" was a response to Fan Xian's earlier deliberately natural words, but it seemed to hide some other meaning. Fan Xian immediately felt a little unnatural, knowing that this old cripple knew that he had come today to ask for advice.

Without waiting for Fan Xian to speak, Chen Pingping opened his mouth and said, "I have countless beauties in this garden, you know that."

Fan Xian nodded.

After coughing twice, Chen Pingping continued, "I take them in, they don't have to serve other stinky men, it should be considered a blessing, but they spend their days following an old man like me, they must be a little unhappy in their hearts, but they just don't dare to show it in front of me."

Fan Xian thought that of course this was the case, you are the most ruthless person in the world besides the Emperor, these girls in their teens and mature women in their twenties, no matter how controlled by hormones, wouldn't dare to complain.

"In the previous dynasty, a palace maid resented for too long, and ended up strangling the emperor to death." Chen Pingping touched his neck and said, "I don't want to have such a death, so I have to find a way to make the girls in the garden more comfortable."

Fan Xian's heart stirred, vaguely guessing what the old guy wanted to say.

"I am very lenient with them, even if they stare at you like they are staring at cucumbers every time you come, I won't punish them." Chen Pingping yawned and said, "And the reason why they are so devoted to me is that if they don't want to stay someday, I will expel them from the garden."

"Lenience is the best way to maintain a garden." Chen Pingping looked at Fan Xian and said, "It is also the best way to maintain the peace of a family, so His Majesty... has been so gentle recently."

Fan Xian understood, Chen Pingping probably also used this method to persuade the Emperor.

"But I can let them out of the garden at will, because there are too many unfortunate beauties in the world." Chen Pingping shook his head at Fan Xian, "But His Majesty will not let you out, because he only has a few sons in total, and... two just died."

The old cripple stretched out two fingers, looking at Fan Xian with a hint of sarcasm, "Do you think that speaking out for the Crown Prince and those rebellious officials can really anger His Majesty, and really make His Majesty drive you far away?"

"Don't think too beautifully, who can hide such clumsy tricks from? His Majesty scolded you in the Imperial Study, not because he blamed you for pleading for those criminals, but because he blamed you... for wanting to run away at this time."

Fan Xian sighed, thinking that he was now afraid of seeing the Emperor, how could he continue to stay in Kyoto? Thinking of that matter, he lowered his voice and asked in distress, "Even if His Majesty saw through my little thoughts, why did he play that trick later? So many graces were bestowed, aren't these all counted on my head?"

"Grace and fame are shackles, His Majesty is reluctant to let you go." Chen Pingping coughed again, and suddenly laughed, looking at Fan Xian's bitter melon-like face with great interest, "Have you never thought about... what is His Majesty trying to achieve by sacrificing himself to fulfill your reputation?"

Fan Xian felt a chill in his heart, and thought of a possibility that he had never thought of. His whole body stiffened. Sitting on the edge of the couch, he shivered.

Seeing that he had finally understood, Chen Pingping sighed, turned his gaze through the glass window of the temporary residence, looked at the construction site outside, and said slowly, "After so many people died, he finally understood, and it wasn't in vain that I spent so many years of effort."

Fan Xian's lips trembled slightly. He stood up suddenly, looked at Chen Pingping, and said, "What about the Third Prince?"

"The Third Prince... he is still young after all." Chen Pingping lowered his eyes slightly and said, "His Majesty will not establish a Crown Prince, but if something happens, if he leaves too early, choosing you to succeed him is of course the best choice at the moment."

"My name is Fan... I have worshiped the ancestors of the Fan family!" Fan Xian's angry voice grew louder and louder.

Chen Pingping glanced outside, frowned, and said, "Why are you making such a loud noise? Not all things in the world can be justified by a loud voice, whoever has the bigger fist is justified... His Majesty's fist is the biggest, as for whether your surname will be Li or Fan in the future, it's not up to him to say."

Fan Xian sat down dejectedly, completely unable to imagine that the Emperor's recent gentleness and benevolence hid such a big thing behind it.

"In His Majesty's current state, this matter may not happen for many years, maybe when the Third Prince grows up, His Majesty will like him more than you, and this matter will disappear with the wind. Anyway, except for His Majesty, me, and you, no one knows." Chen Pingping didn't know what he was thinking of, his expression was slightly dim. After looking at Fan Xian for a long time, he said, "You haven't entered the palace for a month, you seem to have some opinions about His Majesty... Why are you hiding?"

The reason why he was hiding from the Emperor was because of the fear in his heart. Fan Xian said quietly, "...I'm afraid."

"Afraid of what?" Chen Pingping looked at him and said slowly, "It's been four years, you have proven your loyalty to His Majesty, and gained a rare trust, which was exchanged for your several near-death experiences, you should enjoy this trust with confidence."

Fan Xian was silent. Since entering Kyoto from Danzhou, he had indeed almost lost his life several times, whether it was at the Suspended Temple, in the valley, or in the Mount Dong incident. From whatever aspect, the Emperor didn't have the slightest suspicion of him. Just as the reason why His Majesty trusted Chen Pingping so much was because Chen Pingping had once risked his life to save His Majesty's life several times.

What kind of trust is the most solid? Naturally, it is the willingness to sacrifice one's life for His Majesty.

"No matter what the other things are, just judging from His Majesty's attitude towards you, it can be said... it's not bad. Think carefully about these years, His Majesty has bestowed many favors on you, you should be grateful."

Other things? Fan Xian didn't think deeply about these four words, but thinking about the Internal Treasury, the Overwatch Council, and the many powers and trusts in his hands, compared with the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, Fan Xian knew very well that the Emperor was definitely not simply trying to make up for the regret of not seeing him for sixteen years. Since ancient times, the imperial family has been ruthless, not to mention that he was just an illegitimate son. The Emperor had enough ways to find out about the events of many years ago, but he chose the best path for Fan Xian.

"So I don't understand what you are afraid of, why you don't want to enter the palace, and why you are trying to escape." Chen Pingping looked at him and said.

Fan Xian smiled wryly. No matter how much the Emperor trusted him, no matter how much he doted on him, he was still a monarch. Not to mention the matter of decades ago, just his cold-blooded attitude towards the members of the royal family and his incredibly powerful methods made him feel extremely fearful. Once the Emperor knew that he was hiding many things from him, or even betraying him, he would definitely tear apart the father-son relationship and the loyalty between monarch and subject very harshly, and treat him with thunderous means.

Ever since he learned that the Emperor was a Grand Master, Fan Xian had been extremely worried about one thing - that he had secretly sneaked into the palace in the past and stolen the key in the Hall of Holding Light... If the Emperor had noticed this at the time, but had been patient until now, then what was he thinking? Smuggling with Northern Qi didn't matter, taking in Wang Shisanlang didn't matter, because the confident Emperor didn't care about these things at all, and wouldn't suspect Fan Xian of treason, but he wouldn't allow anyone to hold that box, because that box could threaten him!

Fan Xian was very sure of this, but he wasn't sure if the Emperor knew that the box was in his hands... A letter was missing from the secret compartment under the bed in the Hall of Holding Light, could it have been taken by the Emperor? So he was terrified every time he entered the palace, wondering when a bunch of experts would pop up to kill him, and worried that the Emperor would attack and turn him into a meat paste with the power of a Grand Master.

The current favor was unparalleled. Fan Xian could clearly see the Emperor's intentions, but he was still worried and afraid, because he wasn't a child who dared to say that the Emperor wasn't wearing clothes, because Uncle Wu Zhu hadn't returned.