Following the murder in Niu Lan Street, Fan Xian had been contemplating certain issues. Teng Zijing had gone to the countryside to recuperate, and it was uncertain if he would be left with any disabilities. The families of the three deceased guards had received ample compensation, with even commendations issued by the relevant departments of the court. The guards were buried in the Fan family cemetery on the outskirts of the capital. Fan Xian, if he managed to leave the capital, would naturally pay his respects.

The bloody reality had taught him that survival in this world was not merely about romance and poetry, nor was it solely about hosting banquets. Therefore, he needed to possess power that was entirely his own, such as Wang Qinian, Fan Sizhe, and his own martial arts cultivation.

Now in Kyoto, he had shifted his meditation practice from midday to the evening. In his half-awake, half-dreaming state, he always felt the *zhenqi* within the snow mountain behind his lower back as a comfortable stream of warm water, washing over every part of his body. He vaguely sensed that the amount and density of this *zhenqi* had increased to some extent.

Fan Xian remained somewhat incredulous about how he had managed to kill that eighth-grade master while being harassed by the two female assassins. He had examined the *zhenqi* flow methods of Teng Zijing and the other guards, discovering that no one in this world trained in the same way as he did. This realization did not alarm him in the slightest. Since he could kill an eighth-grade master while being of a lower level with his slender dagger and sleeve crossbow, it proved that his *zhenqi* was effective.

He was different from the martial arts practitioners of this world, lacking the so-called unbreakable concept of ranks. Dahan’s bloody entrails had proven his point: as long as you were ruthless and accurate enough, what did the five Grand Masters matter?

However, progress on the second volume of the Domineering Arts remained stalled. Fan Xian's gaze fell upon the chest casually tossed in the corner of the room. Since arriving in Kyoto, he seemed to have forgotten about this item his mother had left him. It seemed he needed to find the key sometime.

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The prime suspect in the assassination attempt, Si Lili, had not yet been escorted back to Kyoto, but an imperial decree flashed through the sky of the capital like lightning. This decree, issued from the depths of the palace, concerned Fan Xian. In the current circumstances, the content of this decree appeared particularly unusual.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..." Listening to the eunuch's lips flapping incessantly, Fan Xian could barely make out what he was saying. Kneeling in the hall of the Fan residence, Fan Xian was terrified that the eunuch's spittle would land on his face, and he looked at the increasingly wet bluestone tiles with a worried expression.

The imperial decree was finally read. With Liu's prompting, Fan Xian followed the rules, shouted "Long live the Emperor," expressed his gratitude, accepted the decree, and Liu then subtly handed over a silver note. Only then did the eunuch leave, satisfied.

"Where do I put this thing?" Fan Xian, holding the imperial decree, asked Liu, "I can't just keep holding it, can I?"

Liu took it with a smile. "Although the residence often receives imperial decrees, you shouldn't call it a 'thing'. The residence has a special room for storing them." These days, Fan Xian and Liu maintained a delicate, superficial harmony, created by the circumstances, but neither knew what the future held.

"To be honest, I've also studied the classics, but how come I couldn't understand a word that eunuch was saying?" Back in his bedroom, Fan Xian re-bandaged his right shoulder wound, looking at his sister, who was sitting at the table, watching him with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Eunuch Dai is from Yutiao Prefecture in Jiangnan, and his accent has always been difficult to understand. But he's been to our residence so often to deliver imperial decrees these past few years that I can understand him a little."

Fan Xian quickly asked, "What did the imperial decree say? Why was it issued to me?"

Fan Ruoruo smiled, not answering directly, but saying, "Actually, the palace has been giving our family rewards for more than a decade. Although Father's title has been suppressed and not promoted, I and my brother, and even Liu, have all received titles. Now it seems it's your turn, Brother."

Fan Xian knew about these things. Even Fan Sizhe, that little rascal, had received the title of Graceful Cavalry Commandant, but since it involved himself, he couldn't help but be curious. "I'm not a member of the Fan clan. Even if the palace wants to reward me, there's no suitable title, right?"

"That's right. So this time, His Majesty's decree simply stated that you killed enemy spies in the previous incident, rendered meritorious service to the country, and were specially granted the title of Assistant Secretary of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."

"Assistant Secretary of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices?" Fan Xian's voice was shocked. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices was in charge of ancestral temple sacrifices. Although the position of Assistant Secretary was only an eighth-grade official, it allowed free access to the Qing Temple. Ever since recognizing Lin Wan'er, he had often wondered what the identity of the important person who presided over the ceremony at the Qing Temple was. Since it was Wan'er's relative and Wan'er had grown up in the palace since childhood, it seemed that the important person must be a big shot in the palace, maybe the Empress Dowager or the Eldest Princess. However, he had visited Wan'er the other night and learned that she was already worried about the conflict of interests after the marriage, so he deliberately refrained from asking.

Could it be that this imperial decree… contains some meaning? Fan Xian frowned, thinking. If that important person could persuade His Majesty the Emperor to issue such a decree, was she trying to clarify the matter of the Qing Temple that day? What was she thinking? Was it a gesture of goodwill? Or a show of force?

Seeing him frowning and pondering, Fan Ruoruo couldn't help but laugh, pointing at her brother and saying, "Brother, you really get confused as soon as anything involves yourself... This Assistant Secretary of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices... is a position that every princess consort must hold before marriage."

Fan Xian suddenly understood, smiling somewhat sheepishly. It seemed that this marriage was finally settled. He then thought that he hadn't been to the royal courtyard for many days due to his injuries. Wan'er must be very worried after hearing about his assassination. He wondered if her condition had worsened - would she be worried? Fan Xian suddenly felt somewhat confused. That icy and snow-like woman just happened to have such a mother and such a father.

"Yesterday, I asked you to help me go there. Was the letter delivered?" he asked, suppressing the faint unease in his heart.

Fan Ruoruo calmly replied, "It was. Sister-in-law listened to Brother and persuaded that head maid. She's been secretly eating well every day, and her health is improving. However, she was a little worried after hearing about Brother's assassination. But yesterday was too rushed, and Ye Ling'er was nearby, so she couldn't write a letter."

Fan Xian sighed, saying nothing. Fan Ruoruo was the person in this world who understood Fan Xian the most. As soon as she heard him sigh, she knew what he was troubled by.

"Romeo and Juliet." Ruoruo had heard her brother tell this love story when she was little, and she had remembered it ever since, encouraging him with a smile, "Brother, you said that people should be brave in pursuing happiness."

Fan Xian was very moved. He hugged his sister and patted her slightly thin back, saying, "Don't worry, those two guys died from drinking poison and stabbing themselves with a dagger, but your brother is specialized in concocting poison and playing with daggers. It's very different."

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"Is your injury getting better?" Seeing the young man jumping through the window, Lin Wan'er felt sorry for him and let him lie on the bed, complaining, "In this condition, why did you come here?"

Fan Xian said with a distressed look, "Worried about you worrying about me."

Lin Wan'er felt a warmth in her heart, understanding both concerns. She poured out the remaining tea in her teacup, brewed some new tea, and brought it to his lips, saying softly, "I'm listening to you. I've been taking good care of my body these days. You should also take good care of your body."

Fan Xian took the teacup with one hand, blew away the white mist, and said gently, "How can a princess serve people?"

Lin Wan'er bit her lower lip and said angrily, "If you tease me again, I'll kick you out."

"Would you be willing to?" Fan Xian looked at her with a mischievous smile.

……

……

"I've decided. After we get married, we'll spend the winter at the villa in Cangshan." Fan Xian leaned halfway on the bed, looking at his fiancée, who was looking at him with concern, and said with a smile, "It's good for your illness there. And I believe that before then, Teacher Fei Jie should also have returned to Kyoto."

"Don't just think about me." Lin Wan'er bit her lip, her white teeth looking very cute on her red lips. "What if something like this happens again in the future?"

Fan Xian couldn't remember how many times he had sneaked into this boudoir late at night. The guards in the courtyard were really hopeless, never having discovered it even once, and they were completely unaware that this engaged couple was already so familiar with each other. Regarding this matter, Fan Xian also had enough pride. Just imagine, this was equivalent to a small imperial palace outside the imperial palace. What thief could steal so effectively?

"What else can happen? The Northern Qi aren't fools. Now that they've been exposed this time, the court won't be fooled by the same trick again."

Lin Wan'er said worriedly, "What I'm afraid of is that there are some people in the court who, because the assassins can use the people of Northern Qi as a cover in the future, will dare to act recklessly against you."

Fan Xian had long known that his fiancée was a smart person, and she had grown up in the imperial palace since childhood. Although the Empress Dowager doted on her, the environment she was in was exceptionally complicated, so she understood the matters of the officialdom better than he did. Hearing her say this, he smiled and raised her soft chin, pinching it, and said, "Don't worry, I firmly believe that I am the luckiest person in this world."

Lin Wan'er felt itchy under her jaw. She was both happy and nervous about this intimate gesture. Two red blushes immediately appeared on her snow-white skin. She quickly pushed away Fan Xian's hand, a little embarrassed, and said, "People can't always rely on luck to live their lives."

Fan Xian liked to see her shy look the most, and teased, "I'm already lucky enough to have you." "Is having me... important?" Lin Wan'er lowered her head slightly. From this angle, her long eyelashes were trembling slightly, obviously a little nervous.

"Very important." Fan Xian hugged her. He wasn't very good at saying sweet words, so he was also a little nervous, clumsily trying to find the other person's lips.

Lin Wan'er was held in his arms, feeling a masculine aura coming towards her. Her body softened involuntarily, and she leaned weakly against his chest, turning her head and saying softly, "Who exactly wants to kill you?"

This turn of her head just happened to avoid Fan Xian's wolfish kiss. Fan Xian was very annoyed in his heart, and hearing this question made him feel even colder. He hugged the soft body in his arms, unconsciously stroking her back with both hands. "Don't worry about it."