New Year welcomes surplus and Qing, fine season marks longevity and Spring. Once again, the annual Spring Festival arrives predictably, without delay, and without any novelty.

This winter, Fan Xian spent most of his time away from Cang Mountain. In addition, the later events frightened Wan'er and Ruo Ruo, who both rushed back to Kyoto. Everyone was present except for Fan Lao Er, so the Fan residence was lively.

The red paper scraps from the firecrackers lay thick on the ground in front of the mansion gate, like a carpet of joy. The air was filled with the scent of fireworks, a bit pungent, a bit sweet. The abundance of fish and meat from the large and small kitchens made the masters and servants feel that life couldn't be any better, thanks to the digestive medicine Young Master had prepared...

On the night of the thirtieth, the palace bestowed several large platters of dishes and some small trinkets. Fan Xian didn't pay much attention, only engaging in a difficult conversation with his wife and sister in his room. After somewhat dispelling their confusion, he led the two young ladies to the front residence before they could fully awaken from their shock and bewilderment.

A hasty New Year's Eve dinner was finished, and the family gathered to play a few rounds of mahjong. Fan Xian leaned behind Wan'er, offering silly suggestions, successfully losing a lot of silver to the two elders. He also deliberately told a few classic jokes from his past life, finally alleviating some of the awkwardness at the table.

The next day, the first day of the New Year, the young people struggled to wake up after staying up all night and went to the front hall to perform the New Year's greetings.

Fan Xian didn't slack off at all, genuinely kneeling with both knees on the ground. Amidst the strange gazes of the crowd, he remained calm and composed, kowtowing three times to his father, the loud thuds marking the intimate contact between his forehead and the ground.

Master Fan stroked his beard and smiled softly, unable to express the comfort he felt.

The young ladies and wives went out to make sweet dumplings. Only the bachelors remained in the front residence on the first day of the New Year. Fan Xian walked behind his father and gently massaged his shoulders. Since the rumors had spread, perhaps having broken the mental barrier, Fan Xian no longer separated himself behind a veil. He began to express the emotions a son should have, and the distance between the father and son seemed much closer than before.

Minister of Revenue Fan Jian relaxed and enjoyed his son's service, asking, "How is Si Zhe doing over there?"

Fan Xian respectfully replied, "He's doing well. Wang Qi Nian is a clever man."

Fan Jian smiled slightly and said, "You have many acquaintances in Northern Qi, so I'm reassured about that." He suddenly shook his head, saying somewhat inexplicably, "It's strange, but I think you treat the Northerners quite well. But don't forget that there is an irreconcilable feud between our two countries. It's okay to use them sometimes, but you can't trust them completely, especially not place your final hopes on them."

Fan Xian was slightly taken aback, wondering if his father had guessed something. He chuckled and offered a few explanations.

Fan Jian suddenly asked with concern, "How is Fei Lao treating your injuries? How is it going now?"

Fan Xian didn't want his father to worry, so he didn't reveal the truth about the scattered true energy. He nodded and replied, "It's almost healed. With two more months of recuperation, I shouldn't have to worry."

"Still two more months?" Fan Jian frowned and said, "Jiangnan is not like Kyoto. The mountains are high, the rivers are deep, and the emperor is far away. Now that your body is not as good as before, you must be careful in everything. Don't rush ahead in everything like you have in the past two years. Once you strike, you must kill your opponent... Whenever you can be tolerant, be tolerant for now. There's no need to rush."

Fan Xian heard the worry in his father's words and knew that his elder was reminding him.

In the struggles in Kyoto, Fan Xian had always been extremely ruthless. Even when facing the Eldest Princess and the Second Prince, he had never retreated, always being bold and daring. However, now that he was going to Jiangnan, facing those regional officials, and delving into the heartland of the Jiangnan aristocratic families, although no one seemed to be able to shake his position of power, without his father and Chen Pingping behind him, he should be more tactful in his actions.

The father and son exchanged views on the matters after the New Year and made a detailed analysis of how the Eldest Princess's entry into Kyoto would affect the court situation. Fan Jian reminded Fan Xian to pay attention to Scholar Hu, who would enter the cabinet after the New Year. Fan Xian didn't understand why his father specifically mentioned that literary master, but he still firmly remembered that name in his heart.

Fan Jian gently patted the steady and youthful hand on his shoulder and said with a smile, "It seems His Majesty is really preparing to hand over the Overwatch Council to you. In the future, when you are in the Council, he will always have to find a civil official in the court whose reputation and status are commensurate with yours. This is preparing for the future."

Scholar Hu was only a young man in his early twenties when he led the literary transformation of his time. Now he is about forty years old. His literary fame in the South was unmatched before Fan Xian's emergence. However, this brother's official career has been quite bumpy in recent years, drifting among the seven routes, holding high positions without real power. This time, his entry into Kyoto to take charge of the Department of Decrees is considered an important appointment by the imperial court.

Fan Xian shook his head with a smile, thinking that he didn't plan to interfere too much in politics, let alone provoke that Scholar Hu. He thought that he wouldn't take the initiative to provoke him either.

The father and son chatted for a few more words. Fan Xian, thinking that the clan would be holding ancestral rites today, tentatively asked a question.

Fan Jian glanced back at his son, sighed, and shook his head, thinking that it was already extremely rare for this child to have such a thought. However, even though he could express his feelings, he couldn't allow his name to be recorded in the clan genealogy, as he still had to consider the face of the one in the palace.

Fan Xian was only testing to see if such a possibility existed. Seeing his father's direct reaction, he knew that he was still indulging in wishful thinking and felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart.

……

……

The morning sun shone warmly in the Fan family garden. Most of the people, including Minister Fan, Madam Liu, and Ruo Ruo, had already gone to the Fan clan's ancestral hall in the estate, along with a large group of stewards, nannies, and maids. At this time, only a few people were left in the front and back residences, making it exceptionally quiet.

"I know you want to go," Wan'er said softly, sitting beside him to comfort him.

Fan Xian was reading a book, the first batch of "Zhuang Shi's Commentary Collection" printed by Danbo Bookstore. Fan Xian chose the name, and Fan Xian also wrote the calligraphy for the title. According to Qi Ye, the sales were extremely promising, and the returned funds were much faster than expected, especially since the Northern Qi court ordered 10,000 copies at once, making Fan Xian's purse bulge again.

Hearing his wife's words, he smiled and looked up, casually putting the book aside. He hummed and asked, "What? Are you worried I'll be thinking too much about it?"

Wan'er smiled and said, "Why aren't you worried about me thinking too much about it?"

Fan Xian stretched out his arms and embraced her, pressing his face against her slightly cool cheek. He asked with concern, "How has your health been lately?"

Wan'er misunderstood what he was saying, and a hint of worry appeared on her face resting on his shoulder. She said, "There's still no movement."

Fan Xian laughed and said, "Who cares about that unborn daughter? I'm just asking how your health is. Fei-xiansheng used methods for treating cows to heal me. Now I'm starting to doubt his skills."

"My health is fine," Wan'er thought for a moment and asked curiously, "Why a daughter?"

"Daughters are good. They don't have to stand in the court and fight every day," Fan Xian said with a smile. His thinking, of course, was very different from the people in this world.

Lin Wan'er pulled away slightly from Fan Xian and pointed to her chest, giggling and saying, "Girls aren't good either. They marry a husband and don't even know who he really is... It hurts here."

Fan Xian's hand honestly and impolitely reached out to touch his wife, saying seriously, "Let me see how serious the problem is."

The couple laughed and joked for a while, but they couldn't completely put the matter aside. Wan'er said quietly, "...Who would have thought."

"Isn't it good?" Fan Xian said with a smile. "Lin Meimei, call me Brother Xian to hear."

Wan'er spat, "Pah! You're not Baoyu."

Fan Xian thought that made sense. He was much better looking than Jia Baoyu. He rolled his eyes, left the room, and Wan'er wondered what he was going to do. Before long, Fan Xian returned to the room, but... he was wearing tattered clothes that even the servants didn't often wear!

When Lin Wan'er saw his little beggar-like outfit, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Fan Xian widened his eyes, opened his mouth wide, and said with an incredibly silly grin, "Cousin... ah hehe, ah hehe... I've finally waited for you!"

Lin Wan'er was stunned, wondering why her husband had suddenly gone mad. Was it so fun to call her "cousin"? She asked hesitantly, "Cousin?"

Fan Xian smiled foolishly, "Ah, I'm your cousin, Hong Qi..."

……

……

Lin Wan'er was dumbfounded, listening to her husband speaking nonsense with a Jiaozhou accent, and didn't know how to respond for a long time. Fan Xian looked at her reaction and felt discouraged. He lowered his head like a defeated soldier, went out and changed back into his clothes.

"Husband, what were you... doing just now?"

"East Meets West Imitation Show," Fan Xian said with a bitter face.

"Imitation Show?"

"Show... show also, is what people in the South often call sao... don't ask, just think of me as being horny."

Fan Xian's level of acting was actually very high. Ever since he was reborn into this world, he had been playing the innocent child, the poetry immortal, and the lover. Performing was his forte. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had the confidence to deceive that unfathomable Emperor with sincere performances in the palace and in the small building.

But people always need to rest, so he didn't want to hide too much in front of his closest people, such as his wife and sister. After the exposure of his background, Wan'er was shocked, but gradually accepted the reality. The fact that her husband had suddenly become her cousin only gave her a wonderful feeling of closer kinship.

As for Ruo Ruo, the fact that her brother had suddenly become someone with no blood relation was something she couldn't understand. So, these days, Miss Fan had been intentionally or unintentionally avoiding Fan Xian, seemingly not knowing how to face her brother.

She was restless, and even Fei Jie's classes were muddled. The family didn't dare let her go to the Imperial Hospital to discuss the important matter of saving lives with those old scholars.

"Ruo Ruo just hasn't turned the corner yet," Wan'er comforted.

Fan Xian said with a bitter smile, "Aren't I still her brother? This fact can't be changed anyway." He closed his eyes and rested for a moment before saying, "After I leave, if things can settle down on Ruo's side, I'll take you over. As for my sister, I estimate she'll be leaving Kyoto soon too."

Lin Wan'er was very happy to hear this and clung to his shoulder, saying, "I heard the water is good in Jiangnan, and the people who are born there are like paintings. I've never been far from home. I have to have some fun this time."

Fan Xian teased, "Are you planning to look at handsome guys?"

Lin Wan'er couldn't stand such playful words, and her plump face immediately blushed. She clenched her fist and pounded Fan Xian in the chest as if to kill him.

Fan Xian laughed, grabbed her little fists, and said seriously, "The Eldest Princess is returning to Kyoto. You have to go see her."

When Lin Wan'er heard this, she was overwhelmed with emotions, and her soft heart was tangled. She didn't know how to deal with this relationship. Fan Xian comforted, "I know it's difficult, but you have to learn to tear this piece of paper in half, so that they don't intersect and each has its own affairs."

This matter couldn't be resolved with comfort and persuasion, and Fan Xian understood this. He had no choice but to drop the subject. Instead, Wan'er cheered up and worried about the Neiku matter for him, saying, "Even if you take all the shopkeepers of Qing Yu Tang with you, I'm afraid you won't be able to take charge of the Neiku in the shortest time. After all, Mother has been managing it for so many years, and most of the local officials in Jiangnan have to look at her face."

She hesitated for a moment before saying seriously, "Especially if you take the old men of the Ye family to Jiangnan, it will easily cause controversy among the people and in the court..."

Fan Xian nodded and said calmly, "I understand, but this matter must be done. The shopkeepers have been managing businesses for various princes and nobles over the years, and I can't fully understand what they're thinking or whether they can trust me... But without them, I really can't do anything with those things in the Neiku. The reason why the imperial court has been keeping a close eye on them these years is because they understand the manufacturing process of the Neiku. This information is of paramount importance to the imperial court, and they can't allow the knowledge in their minds to be spread to Northern Qi or Dongyi City... However, the various businesses and products of the Neiku always need technical guidance, which is why they have kept their lives."

Lin Wan'er was silent for a while and said softly, "Don't think that these shopkeepers seem to have freedom of movement in Kyoto. In fact, they have people following them all year round. Once they show signs of leaking secrets, the people around them will immediately kill them."

Fan Xian asked with slight surprise, "I can guess that, but I don't know which side those people are from. I checked in the Council. The Overwatch Council is only responsible for the periphery. I haven't found the people responsible for silencing them."

"They're people from the palace," Lin Wan'er said with worry. "I estimate they'll follow you to Jiangnan as well."

"The eunuchs' subordinates?" Fan Xian smiled reassuringly. Since entering Kyoto, he had had good relationships with the eunuchs in the palace. No matter which palace or faction the eunuch was from, they all deeply regarded Supervisor Fan as a confidant.

"Don't worry about these things," he said after thinking for a moment. "Although the Neiku matter hasn't been implemented yet, the general trend is already set... Your stone imperial brother probably doesn't have much of a chance. The struggle between the princes won't resurface for at least a few years. This is something I think His Majesty is most grateful to me for, even though he hasn't said it out loud."

Lin Wan'er sighed and stared blankly at her husband. After a long time, she said quietly, "Don't think things are too simple... In my opinion, the Emperor just doesn't like his sons causing trouble... As for what he's really thinking, who can know? Take the Second Imperial Brother for example. Even if he's currently confined to his home, who knows if he'll suddenly make a comeback in the future."

Fan Xian's heart skipped a beat, and he listened as his wife continued to analyze.

"The Emperor is a very special person," Lin Wan'er said with wide eyes, revealing an intelligence and cunning that was completely different from usual. "He's a monarch of a generation who climbed up from blood and fire. His greatest characteristic is his confidence, extremely confidence. He doesn't believe that there is anything in the world that can truly shake his position, so the struggle for imperial power only brings him annoyance. He's just a father who doesn't want to see his flesh and blood killing each other... I estimate he doesn't care about the titles that Crown Prince Imperial Brother has. Who will take the throne in the future actually depends on what he thinks in his heart and how the imperial brothers behave in the coming years."

"Even these aren't the main points that the Emperor cares about," Lin Wan'er continued softly. "Uncle's health is good, and he's not very old. He thinks he can still live for many years... He hasn't even thought about the matter of passing on the throne. His mind is actually focused on the world. He still has great ambitions."

Fan Xian's temples twitched twice, and he frowned and said, "Does His Majesty... still plan to fight a war?"

"It's hard to say," Lin Wan'er was, after all, a young lady and didn't like the matter of war. She said quietly, "It's actually been very strange that it's been quiet for more than ten years. Now that the Western Hu don't dare to come east and the affairs of the Southern Yue will be settled, His Majesty is just waiting for you to take over the Neiku, the people's livelihood in Jiangnan to gradually become stable, and the national treasury to accumulate silver and grain, then he's probably going to send troops again."

"It depends on the scope," Fan Xian said. "The key is the level of the war. If it's still the kind of small-scale fighting from last year, there's no need to worry too much."

"Worry?" Lin Wan'er smiled and said, "This is naturally something for His Majesty and the Privy Council to worry about. You're going to be sent to Jiangnan, so don't worry about it. Even if the Overwatch Council is going to participate in the war, it's a matter for the Third Bureau."

Fan Xian smiled and didn't explain. If the Emperor of Qing was really preparing to start World War II, he would have to dissuade him. If wisdom didn't work, he would try violence.

Lin Wan'er didn't know that he was thinking about such treasonous things and said to herself, "In theory, Crown Prince Imperial Brother should be the one to take over, but as you know, His Majesty has never liked the Empress, so there's a chance this could change. Besides the First Imperial Brother, everyone has a chance, even the Third Imperial Brother, who is only eight or nine years old... This time you're going to Jiangnan, although everyone in the court knows it's like a disguised exile, but His Majesty is letting you take the Third Imperial Brother with you... This matter is a bit strange, and you have to be aware of it."

Fan Xian nodded and still didn't say anything, listening to his wife's words very calmly. He knew that he was leaving Kyoto soon, and Wan'er was worried, so she was making an exception to say so much.

"The Empress Dowager likes the Crown Prince and the Second Imperial Brother. It seems there's no difference. The old woman dislikes the First Imperial Brother the most, and she also dislikes the Third Imperial Brother," Lin Wan'er said, revealing the secrets of the palace. "Although the Empress doesn't have much real power, she has always been on good terms with Mother."

Fan Xian listened carefully to the political situation in the Qing's harem and interjected, "Why doesn't she like the Third Imperial Brother?"

Lin Wan'er glanced out the window and said hesitantly, "Maybe it's because of Master's relationship... As you know, Consort Yi is closely related to our family."

"Wan'er, in your opinion, what should I do this time in Jiangnan?" Fan Xian asked very seriously.

Lin Wan'er said very directly, "Manage the Third Imperial Brother strictly and keep your distance. You have to be like a teacher, and you can't let the Empress Dowager think you're deliberately instilling something in him... Also, investigate the case quickly and don't delay. If you delay for too long, your days won't be so good... In the court, Mother doesn't just have the Second Imperial Brother and the Censorate."

Fan Xian was taken aback.

Lin Wan'er struggled for a long time before saying softly, "Perhaps everyone thinks that she was on good terms with the Eastern Palace back then just to hide the smoke bombs of the Second Imperial Brother, but you must be on guard, Husband. Maybe Crown Prince Imperial Brother will eventually lean towards her side again one day."

Fan Xian was silent and then saddened again. In this world, his dear wife was actually put in such a pitiful situation—he knew that the Eastern Palace wouldn't watch him grow, and this was related to the grievances of the past. However, he didn't expect that the Eldest Princess was such a skilled dancer, actually like a master who played both sides.

Thinking of his fun mother-in-law, Fan Xian couldn't help but laugh.

————————————————————————

The first day of the New Year: Ancestral rites.

The second day: A large group of officials in Kyoto flocked to the door to pay their respects.

The third day: The Fan family escaped and hid in Prince Jing's residence for a gathering. Fan Xian and Shizi Hongcheng met and reminisced awkwardly.

The fourth day: Ren Shaoan and Xin Qiwu jointly invited Fan Xian to a banquet for a day as a farewell.

The fifth day: Yan and his son came to the Fan residence. After Yan Ruohai resigned from his official position, he became fond of Go and played Go with the Minister until dark. Fan Xian and Yan Bingyun had a secret talk in the small study until dark.

The sixth day: Visited Chen Garden.

The seventh day: Tens of thousands of people in Kyoto went out to play, chickens didn't crow, dogs didn't bark, and eighteen-year-old girls ran all over the streets. Fan Xian, with his wife, sister, and the four great ladies, Jia Rou, Ling Er Ye and others rampaged through Kyoto and had a good time.

The eighth day: Noon, the Duke's mansion invited him. Dusk, the Fan clan gathered, and Fan Xian became the focus of the banquet.

……

……

Once the fifteenth day of the first month had passed, Fan Xian left Kyoto and arrived at the ship wharf south of Kyoto. This river was called the Wei River, and the Liujing River flowed into it. Hundreds of miles south of the Wei River, it would merge into the Great River, and straight down the river, he would arrive at the prosperous Jiangnan, even more so than Kyoto.

According to the agreement with His Majesty, Fan Xian only said to the outside world that he was returning to Danzhou to visit his grandmother and then would go to Jiangnan. Calculating in the eyes of outsiders, he would have to wait until March to arrive in Suzhou. However, no one thought that he would arrive earlier.

Today, when leaving Kyoto, Fan Xian didn't let anyone send him off, including officials he knew in the Council and officials in the court. Unexpectedly, the students of the Imperial College had learned the news in advance and had all run to the wharf.

Fan Xian hadn't been working at the Imperial College for long, but he had always been extremely friendly. During the spring exams last year, he spent a lot of money arranging for countless poor students. He exposed the malpractices of the spring exams and spoke for the scholars of the world. As for the famous anecdotes such as the poem recitations in front of the palace and giving books to everyone, all of this combined to make him high and close in the hearts of the scholars, with an excellent reputation.

After he entered the Overwatch Council as a Supervisor, he handled some bribery cases and played the little tricks of the Bright Division while rectifying the atmosphere, so the darkness of the Overwatch Council didn't cause too much erosion to his brilliance.

As for the subsequent case of his identity - it was also wonderful to say, in fact, scholars often consider themselves noble and don't take pride in their family background. However, when they really learned that the leader of their group, that poet Xiaofan, actually had such a glorious background, the scholars' hearts didn't have the slightest resistance. On the contrary, they felt a bit of unbearable and corrupt sense of pride!

What about the official? What about the merchant? Our scholar's... leader is also a prince!

At the wharf, whether it was teachers or students of the Imperial College, at this time of parting, they all felt a sense of reluctance. For a time, the wharf was full of people and was very lively. In the end, Fan Xian drank three cups of watery wine before he could reciprocate the earnest kindness of the students. The scene was very lively and glorious. It was thought that it wouldn't be long before it spread throughout the court.

After finally persuading everyone to leave, Fan Xian gently held Wan'er's hands, carefully instructed her countless times, and said that he would send someone to pick her up when the spring was warm, which stopped Wan'er's tears. Wan'er looked at the departing scholars in the distance and suddenly smiled and teased, "Did you notify them?"

Fan Xian's thick skin also blushed slightly, and he explained, "Just satisfying their beautiful wishes."

He turned his head and saw that his sister was hiding behind the maids and nannies in the house, hanging her head and saying nothing, but refusing to come forward, obviously secretly weeping. Looking at that girl's shrunken appearance, Fan Xian's heart was filled with unprovoked anger. He pushed away the people who were seeing him off, came to Ruo Ruo, and shouted loudly, "What are you crying about?"

Fan Ruo Ruo didn't expect her brother to come directly in front of her and was taken aback. She quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and stammered, "No... no... nothing."

She suddenly thought that it had been more than ten years since her brother had been so fierce to her. How could he be so fierce today... After all, he was not her own brother, and he was not as gentle to her as he used to be. Thinking of this, a carefree woman who was as elegant as a chrysanthemum couldn't help but feel sad and tears welled up in her eyes, but she stubbornly bit her lower lip, giving rise to a sense of unspeakable tragedy.

Fan Xian looked at his sister like this, and he was so angry that he laughed. He gritted his teeth and didn't know what to do. The servants around him also quickly stepped aside, not daring to stay by the side of these two Fan family masters. Fortunately, Wan'er came over at this time and put her arms around Ruo Ruo, not knowing how many soft words of comfort she had said. She also said that Fan Xian was in a bad mood when he left Kyoto, so he would be so fierce. Only then did Ruo Ruo gradually calm down.

Fan Xian was fierce only because he couldn't bear to see his sister sad and deliberately avoiding him. The fire that had been suppressed for these ten days was very intense. Seeing his sister still looking at him with lingering fear, he sighed in his heart and softened his voice, saying, "It's only right that I'm fierce to you. I'm your brother, you're my sister. If I'm not fierce to you, you should be sad."

Ruo Ruo was also a person with an icy mind. She understood the so-called closeness and distance when she heard this. If her brother didn't treat her as his own sister, how could he be fierce to her in front of so many people? The young lady understood this, and then a hint of joy appeared on her eyebrows. She said to Fan Xian, "Then... then... then it's inevitable that my sister is sad to see her brother going far away. What are you being fierce about?"

She raised her face and said righteously.

"Hahahahaha." Fan Xian finally laughed and knew that his sister's knot would be untied, and his heart was full of comfort.

……

……

"Young Master! If you don't leave, you'll miss the time!"

On the big ship next to the wharf, the big maid Sisi stood on the bow of the ship with her hands on her hips and shouted loudly. When Fan Xian went to Jiangnan, he always had to bring a few close attendants with him. Sisi had been following him since Danzhou, so of course she was the first choice. As soon as this young lady left the Fan residence, she returned to the time in Danzhou, and the whole person seemed to light up.

Wan'er looked at her shouting loudly and couldn't help but smile, "Husband, you've really spoiled this girl."

Fan Xian laughed twice and whispered a few words in his sister's ear about the important things that would soon spread to Kyoto. He then shockingly and vulgarly hugged Wan'er in public and kissed her twice fiercely before waving his sleeves and boarding the big ship on the riverbank.

As the saying goes, I wave my sleeves and want to take away all the silver.

———————————————————————

Little Fan's departure from Kyoto today had already become the talk of the town. Whether it was in taverns, teahouses, or deep mansions, they were all talking about this matter.

The Second Prince, who was under house arrest in the palace, sighed as he listened to the report from his subordinates, "This fellow has finally left."

The strategist had no strategy and said bitterly, "It's good that he left quickly, otherwise I would have skinned him alive to vent your Highness's hatred."

The Second Prince was squatting on a chair and eating frozen milk paste. He frowned when he heard this and was silent for a long time. He smiled self-deprecatingly and said quietly, "No wonder someone has always said that this prince and Supervisor Fan look alike... So there's such a story in it... But alike is alike, I'm not his opponent. You have to be clear about this."

He jumped off the chair and looked at the free sky outside the courtyard. A sweet smile appeared on his face, "This fellow has finally left... It feels so good, like someone has taken the poisonous snake behind my back."

Three hundred miles outside Kyoto, an exaggerated team was slowly heading west. The woman from the Xinyang Palace was walking on the road back to Kyoto. She didn't know that her son-in-law had also chosen to escape Kyoto on this day. The other party's reaction to her kind expression and attempted peace talks was to avoid it like the plague.

In the solemn Qing Temple outside the three-mile area, a high pile of dry firewood was burning fiercely in the middle of an extremely desolate threshing ground, and the fire was extremely strong, and the things inside made a crackling sound.

The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, coldly watching the pile of firewood, watching the body inside that was gradually turning into black smoke. Behind him, the Qing Nation's Great Priest maintained the calmness of a ascetic, but fear appeared in his eyes.

Outside the Qing Temple, Little Eunuch Hong Zhu was chatting with the guards, one sentence after another. He would be transferred to the Empress's palace as the chief eunuch tomorrow, and today should be the last time he would serve His Majesty.

……

……

A few days later on the Wei River, Fan Xian stood on the bow of the ship, silent for a long time. The cold river surface rushed towards him, but it couldn't blow through the expensive fur coat on his body.

He had already left Kyoto, but the information was still coming continuously. The Eldest Princess had sent many outposts to Kyoto, and also had the old nanny bring many local products from Xinyang to the Fan residence. In name, it was naturally for Wan'er. It seemed that after his mother-in-law had used her useless power and her futile assassination attempts, she finally admitted Fan Xian's strength and began to gently repair the relationship between mother and daughter.

This was just a small matter, not within the scope of Chen Pingping's teaching on how to see the world.

What really interested Fan Xian was the news that the Qing Nation's Great Priest had returned to the country after many years, but had died because his essence and blood had been exhausted by his ascetic practices in the south. At the same time, he learned that Hong Zhu had been transferred to the Empress's palace as the chief eunuch. He was a little disappointed and a little happy.

His student Shi Chanli shielded his eyes with his hand, blocking the harsh river wind, and came to his side to ask for instructions, "Teacher, the school officer on the ship said earlier that at the current speed, we will be able to pass Yingzhou tomorrow, and in a few days we will enter the territory of Jiangnan Road."

The group to Jiangnan had changed ships in the Overwatch Council's secret shipyard not far from Kyoto. The ship that everyone was on now was a civilian ship that was generally converted from a naval ship.

Facing the river wind, he seemed to be able to vaguely see the picturesque mountains and rivers of Jiangnan. Fan Xian was slightly stunned, nodded, and said with a smile, "Little Shi, although the beauties of Jiangnan are waiting for you to care for them, don't be too anxious."

Shi Chanli's face was embarrassed. The business of Baoyue Building was going to be expanded to Jiangnan, so he and Sang Wen had to go. Sang Wen could drag it out until March, but he, as a disciple of Fan Xian, didn't dare to drag it out. Thinking of the few friends and classmates in Tongfu Inn back then, who were now officials in Jiangnan, but he was going to become the owner of a world-famous brothel, he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.

Traveling on the river in the cold weather was really annoying. Sang Wen was fortunate enough to be kept by President Chen. The fortune of the other person was not very good, and he was forced out of the palace by his father's strict order, without having to wait until the spring flowers bloom.

The Third Prince timidly lifted the thick ship curtain and looked at Fan Xian and said, "Division Administrator, dinner is ready." The reason why Fan Xian was qualified to educate the prince was because he still had the identity of a Division Administrator of the Imperial College, so the Third Prince addressed him as such.

Fan Xian turned around and looked at the eight or nine-year-old child. His smile was filled with a hint of coldness, "Then has your Highness finished his homework?"

(I still have to delve into the details of the Jiangnan trip, so this chapter may be shorter tomorrow.)

(Support the author, support genuine reading!)