Chapter 73 Changes in the Fan House

Fan family is now divided into the front and back of the mansion, raw occupied a large part of the southern city, the two pieces of the mansion in the middle of a rockery water garden, the garden is naturally not small to go, this time it is already winter, the trees are early stiff, only some of the bamboo and plums by the freeze is still stretching. Early this morning, Fan House garden suddenly resounded with a burst of rapid breathing.

“Heh heh heh heh …… heh …… heh heh.”

Fan Xian, dressed in a single garment, was running around the garden’s courtyard wall, rushing to exercise when his injuries were first healed, and could not help but be a bit strained, his breathing a bit thick. The two Tiger Guards on duty and a few Sixth Division swordsmen were vigilantly guarding all corners of the garden, making sure to ensure the safety of Lord Tiji’s morning workout.

Outside the study in the distance, Deng Ziyue and Gao Da revealed strange expressions, their eyes moving along with Fan Xian. They didn’t understand why Fan Xian had to run for so long every morning, and Fan Xian hadn’t explained, twice daily practice was a good habit he had developed since he was very young, and now that he was injured and couldn’t practice true qi, he could only put in more hard work in exercising his bodily functions, and implicitly hard work was one of Fan Xian’s best qualities.

The servants and maids in the back of the house, however, did not glance at the young master who was running, these days, everyone had long been accustomed to it, squatting in front of the stone steps of the servant’s room, brushing their teeth and chatting with the foam sprayed on them. These were all the finest things in the inner treasury, and only the Fan family’s back house was willing to buy them for the servants’ maids to use, who told Fan Xian to be a person with some slight mental cleanliness fetish.

Ten laps finally finished, Fan Xian stood under the eaves outside the study, panting heavily, his hands crossed his waist, his head down, looking like Yao Ming in the fourth quarter, generally woeful. He waved his hand, signaling the maid next to him, who was carrying a copper basin, to wait a moment.

The women of the family were all still on Cangshan Mountain, so another maid was sent from the front house to serve him. This maid with two ring braids curiously glanced at the young master who was covered in sweat, and felt so strange in her heart, why did a person like the young master have to suffer so much? She rested the copper basin on the bench, put on a coat for Fan Xian, flicked the tip of her tail finger in the basin to test the temperature of the water, and softly reported, “Young master, according to your instructions, the water is very hot, and it will get cold if you set it aside for another bout.”

Fan Xian nodded and reached into the copper basin to pick up the towel, not caring at all about the scalding water and not wringing it out much, he lowered his body and put the towel over his face and wiped it very hard.

Beads of water dripped from between the towel and his cheeks, dangling.

After washing his face, his face was already a little red from the heat, while his spirit seemed to be much better, his eyes clear and bright. Throwing the towel back into the basin, he glanced at the two people around him, and said after a slight contemplation, “Today we are going to enter the palace, Zi Yue, you go to one place to see if there is any yard work that has not been pressed in the past few days.”

Deng Ziyue answered and went on his way. Fan Xian glanced at Gouda again and said, “Wait for me outside for a while, I’ll find you for something later.”

After the wind had settled in Kyoto, and knowing that the palace did not intend to eliminate himself physically, Fan Xian no longer scrupled about anything, so he summoned four tiger guards to come down from Cangshan. Gouda was not on duty today, and was called up by Fan Xian’s shouting, so he was already a bit suspicious, and hearing him say so, his heart was a bit more at ease, and he stayed outside the study as he was told.

Into the quiet study, Fan Xian eyes of the look only slightly become a little bleak, straight sat on the chair, very carefully viewed the condition of his body, found that the last time the body after the explosion of the true qi situation has not been improved too much, the meridians are still full of holes, and scattered in the internal organs of the true qi, temporarily honest, did not hurt the internal organs of the function. In this condition, he didn’t dare to forcefully mobilize the true qi back to the meridians, but if he waited for the meridians to recover automatically, who knows when he would have to wait to go?

After returning to his residence from Cangshan Mountain, Fan Xian had been very silent, and hadn’t participated in any of the outside world’s discussions and struggles. In the eyes of Chen Pingping Fan Jian Fei Jie, the older generation, the young man might have been stunned by the shock that came one after the other, and that level of political struggles really wasn’t something that today’s Fan Xian was able to control, and so he acquiesced to his sullenness.

However, only Fan Xian himself was aware that the biggest reason why he appeared to be in a loose frame of mind and at the mercy of his fathers during this period of time was still his own physical condition. Uncle Wuzhu once said that no one in this world can be truly trusted, so Fan Xian also trusts only himself, in his opinion, who’s favor, who’s care of the old, are not as good as their own strength is more reassuring, even if there are tiger guards around there are inspectorates there are qinian group, but if things are really inharmonious, in the end, can rely on, or only their own force.

The problem is, his own true qi is now completely scattered, simply do not have the ability to protect themselves – although the outside world people think his injuries are gradually healed, he is clear that it is far from that – so he must be silent, must be like a tortoise like shrinking into the shell, although the unsightly gesture, it was better to be safe.

There was a knock on the door from outside the study, and Fan Xian hmmm’d, pushing the door in was the daughter-in-law of the Tou family, holding a tray with two bowls of tonics and a couple of small bowls of pills, permeated with a strong herbaceous scent.

Fan Xian’s medicines were now handled by the daughter-in-law of Mr. Fuji’s family every day, and there were not many people he could completely trust in such an important aspect of his life.

The daughter-in-law of the great family of Fuji put the tray on the table, and hurriedly went to the side to pour a few cups of warm tea, lining up on the table like a line of soldiers, fearing that Fan Xian would not be able to pour the water in time when he swallowed the medicine.

Fan Xian shook his head, holding the medicine bowl in one hand and grabbing a handful of pills with the other, just like eating sugar pills and drinking sugar water, sending them to his mouth without changing his color.

It was just that there were too many servings of medicine, and it took him a while to empty the tray of all the medicine even with this bold, windswept method of eating.

“Bitter young master.” The daughter-in-law of the Tou family wore a look of pity, smacking her lips as if it was herself who was eating the medicine.

In addition to pity, this woman also extremely admired the young master, pouring so much medicine every day, where was this a human life? The young master was actually able to take it without changing his expression. That Lord Fei of the Supervisory Yuan is also a good person. Why is he so nervous and prescribes so many medicines when it’s just a knife wound?

Fan Xian smiled and said, “Saved money on breakfast.”

After the master and servant joked and laughed, the daughter-in-law of the Fuji family left the study. Fan Xian, however, sat behind his desk and began to stare. Taking a catty or two of medicine day after day, his teacher’s medical skills naturally did not need to be mentioned, and it was indeed extremely beneficial to fixing the meridians and cultivating the collaterals, but after all, it was not a complete solution.

Thinking about this section, he couldn’t help but think of Haitang’s letter, bitter lotus really willing to pass on the Heavenly Dao’s gong method to himself?

He laughed to himself, it seems that the other party is prepared to cultivate himself like a fierce tiger – this kind of tactic, the Southern Qing people have also done, such as the eldest princess, such as himself, all hope that the northern one, the Upper Cedar Tiger, can continue to maintain his valor, so that the other party’s court is always in a tense and uneasy state.

Heavenly Dao Gong Fa outward, such a critical matter, Bitter Lotus must not dare to be careless. Fan Xian concluded that the one who would go south to pass on the power in the future would be Haitang, who was the only one who had a good relationship with him under the Heavenly Dao sect. With this in mind, Fan Xian somehow began to look forward to that day.

Suddenly, he looked down at the cups of tea in front of him, and felt that these cups of green and yellow tea looked like one of the one-eyed monsters. After a stunned, but because of their own this strange association and laugh out loud, followed by a throat a astringent, stomach heart of a tent, vomiting greatly!

Knowing that he had eaten too much medicine, and eaten too fast, he hurriedly picked up a cup of tea and poured it down, rubbing his chest with palpitations, his face full of bitter smiles, no longer look like in front of the Fuji family’s daughter-in-law to pose as a cool and ruthless look.

I do not know why, was so tossed, but his mood is oddly good up, what will be the life, hatred, threat, the palace, Jiangnan, all cast into the back of the mind. Right, life is a myriad of pills, you have to swallow slowly, may be bitter, may choke, but you still have to eat ah, a little bit of happiness is always good.

Gouda one-handed sword in the back, feet not Ding not eight and stand, imposing, but no one saw behind him holding the long knife handle of the hand is slightly trembling. He looked at Fan Xian who was smiling not far in front of him, his heart thumped, secretly thinking how is the Lord Tisch so happy today? It was not like the moldy state of the previous days.

Fan Xian out of the study, up to realize that the Lord Tisi let himself get up early today, is to and his own sparring.

Gouda knows that he is not Fan Xian’s opponent, and the other party has recently been seriously injured, of course, refused to agree, but was forced by Fan Xian can not, and finally the two decided not to use the real qi competition. This was exactly what Fan Xian wanted, he didn’t have any real qi left, so naturally he couldn’t really fight tic.

Tiger guards long sword, against the palace guards from the hanging temple in front of the golden thread chrysanthemum bushes back to the black dagger. The two “masters” in the garden of the Fan House of real weapons against the battle, clanking and clanking very lively, causing many subordinates to watch and watch, and some bold, pulling the voice for the young master cheering.

Can’t use the real qi, by virtue of all the body control and reaction speed, not for a moment up to surprisingly lost the wind! Any moves in front of Fan Xian’s reaction and speed, seems to be not very useful, weapons without attached true qi, up to the realization that Fan Xian’s strength than their own also bigger, for this problem, he really puzzled, he knows his own martial arts practice is how hard, how can the Lord Tisi is still on top of himself?

Especially now facing Fan Xian, not only facing a superior, the thought of Fan Xian that was rumored to be a boisterous life, up to the shot will always be some subconscious fear. As a result, this faded, and after a few exchanges, his hand shook as he gripped his longsword.

Fan Xian flicked his fingers, and the slender black dagger spun deftly in his hand, drawing circles of black light that looked very bizarre; in fact, this was just the pen-twirling technique that he had practiced in class before he was hospitalized in his previous life, but in the eyes of Gouda, this move was really powerful.

He looked at Gouda, frowned and shook his head, saying, “As you can see I’m healed from my injuries, don’t keep your hand.”

After saying these words, he pointed his toes on the slightly slippery cold winter mud ground, and his whole body tilted forward and quickly rushed forward. Rin color appeared in Gouda’s eyes, finally both hands grasped the hilt of the long knife, legs slightly crouched, shouted: “Break!”

The long knife slashed down squarely in the middle, cutting through the early morning air of the Fan mansion’s backyard.

The knife fell fast, Fan Xian shot faster, actually in up to the long knife is still raised in the head of the time, has rushed to the other side of the body, legs a pop, wrist a contain, like a bird gripping food general, holding the dagger will be ruthlessly stabbed down!

When a crunching sound, the two people separated by two steps. After two shudders they stood firm. Fan Xian had taken advantage of the situation, making it impossible for Gouda’s long dagger to fully power up, while Gouda was taking advantage of the weight of the long dagger itself, and the two fought to a draw.

Fan Xian smiled, waved his hand and said, “That’s it for today, from tomorrow onwards, let’s fight every day …… I see that it’s still extremely good for healing.”

After saying this, he coughed twice and covered his lips with his sleeve, looking at the slightest trace of blood on his sleeve, he was not very alarmed, although he did not use any true qi for that last blow, but the strength blood rushed back, without true qi to protect his heart and veins, he still suffered some injuries.

Gouda did not notice this, just frowned and said: ”My lord, it is best not to invoke true qi after you are injured. However, not using true qi for battle instead of practicing doesn’t seem to be too useful, after all, when facing the enemy, the difference is too big …… Even if you practice your body to the extreme, it’s unlikely to bring too much benefit to the realm.”

As the commander of the Tiger Guards, he had watched Fan Xian run, and mistakenly thought that Fan Xian was planning to take a new path of cultivation, to enter the inner family with external gongs, and rightly held his subordinate’s position, and cautiously voiced his objections to this kind of “crooked way”.

Fan Xian laughed: “It’s just a matter of dredging the meridians and activating the collaterals, of course I know what is the foundation, you don’t have to worry.”

There was one thing he didn’t say – in this world, there were indeed people who didn’t know how to use true qi, but could still reach the very top of the realm – such as Uncle Five Bamboo.

The night before, the murder in the alley outside the mansion, Gouda had already reported to him, he thought that Uncle Five Bamboo had killed another assassin from the Xinyang side, and didn’t care much about it. Just think of one day they have to find a secluded mansion, and then let the five bamboo uncle cut a few plates of cold carrot shredded children, they drink a few cups of wine, reminiscent of the happy times in Tanyu State.

At this time, the red sun had already risen, and the morning cold had slightly gone, so the maid of the front house had already come over and called out. Fan Xian into the house to change a piece of clothing, on the front of the house to go, all the way to look at the rising sun full of round light winter scenery, the heart is sparse and comfortable, and do not know that the closest uncle Wuzhu has already drifted far away to recuperate from injuries, and what danger he had faced. Good thing, all of this is over.

The atmosphere of the morning meal in the Fan Mansion was a bit strange.

After all, the people in the front house didn’t serve beside Fan Xian every day, so those handsome little maids always liked to greedily peep at the young master’s “beauty”, and anyway, the young master was used to being looked at and didn’t care about it. But today, not many of the maids dared to look at Fan Xian, who had just entered the door, and only stood silently behind the table to serve, and occasionally some of the bold ones glanced at him, revealing their eyes in fear.

Imperial power is like the sky, this idea has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of all the common people in the world, and now it is rumored that Fan Xian is the illegitimate son of the emperor and the mistress of the Ye family, so everyone looks at Fan Xian differently, the bloodline of the family of the heavens ah …… is no longer just the young master of the family that was cute and lovely, and is no longer just a powerful minister who is both civil and military, and is no longer just a young master of the family that was cute and lovely. He was no longer just a powerful official who was good at both military and civil affairs, but the son of the Son of Heaven.

In this rumor, the role of Fan Jian, the master of the Fan family and the Minister of the Household, was a bit awkward, so even if the servants of the Fan family were curious, they could not show it at the dinner table, unless they didn’t want to be killed, so they could only whisper about it in the warmth of their beds in the room late at night.

Fan Xian could also notice the difference, but the beautiful smile on his face didn’t dissipate, and he walked straight to the table and bowed to his father, who was seated on the table, in a regular and respectful manner.

Fan Jian half-closed his eyes to recuperate, naturally nodded his head. Sitting beside Fan Jian, Liu’s face was a bit strange, forcibly hiding it, revealing a smile that was still a bit unnatural.

Liu’s family had a deep background, so of course she knew the truth of the rumors, and had long been shocked these days, especially when she thought that she had thought of poisoning the young man in front of her, her heart was even more fearful. When she thought of Fan Xian’s true identity, she felt that it was very inappropriate for her to receive this salute, and wanted to stand up to avoid it, but she was afraid that her lord would be angry.

Seemingly sensing her difference, the corners of Fan Jian’s lips floated up in a faint mockery, slowly opening his eyes and looking at his son in front of him, he said, “You’re going to the palace today, so pay attention to your demeanor.”

Fan Xian laughed: “It’s not the first time I’ve gone back, there’s nothing to pay attention to, it’s still the same as before.”

It’s still the same as before, the meaning in this sentence is very simple and not simple. In the side listening to the Liu’s heart slightly austere, still pondering the time, that side of the room father and son two have smiled and looked at each other, each other understand. One of the old comfort, one of the adoring thoughts, how it melts also.

Is eating a meal, suddenly listened to the garden east of the main gate at the faint sound of people. Fan Jian stopped chopsticks and frowned, “Who’s clamoring?” Fan Xian passed a towel over and asked Liu to wipe off the porridge particles on his father’s beard. He knew that his father had taken the path of purity ever since he had left his career at the Liujing River, and he couldn’t help but smile when he saw his father’s slightly flaming and dirty beard, “There can be nothing going on, so you can eat without worrying about it.”

There are underlings hurried to the house door said, the girl ring and came into the hall to say, Fan Anzhi listen to the great consternation, no longer can not bother to persuade his father to eat at ease, stopped chopsticks, staring blankly at the door of the room, do not know to stay in the room will be what to say.

The young granny Lin Wan’er, Miss Fan Ruo Ruo, at this time has led Si Si Si Qi two big maids, a cadre of attendants, riding a carriage from Cangshan back to Kyoto, at this time has arrived at the door of the house!

Fan Xian looked at his father and said, “Father, aren’t we hiding it from the mountain?”

Wan Er Ruo Ruo this group of people hurriedly rushed back to Kyoto in the early morning, must have moved yesterday, even came back overnight. So urgent, even stayed on the mountain tiger guards and Supervisory Yuan officials did not have time to send a letter to their own …… This is naturally because the girls are also finally aware of the rumors circulating in Kyoto, such a big thing, they are worried about Fan Xian, of course, they must rush back.

Fan Jian learned that it was his daughter-in-law and daughter who came home, his face had already returned to calm, took the towel from Liu’s hands and wiped it twice, lowered his head again to drink congee, and said slowly and methodically, “That girl Ye Ling’er and County Lord Roujia are both in the mountains, how many days can this be hidden?”

Looking at his son’s bewildered expression, Fan Jian smiled and said, “You young people have something to say, go to the back of the house, and later let the small kitchen re-do it for you, come down from this cold place on the mountain, and get some hot ones again.”

Fan Xian knew that his father had released him, and hurriedly answered, and went out of the hall to fetch the others.

The back of the house is quiet, Fan Xian and Wan Er Ruo Ruo sitting in the room, like three clay Bodhisattva, seems to know who should speak, after all, this matter is a little complicated, if let Fan Xian to explain, I am afraid to say a long to, if let the girls to ask, but do not know that the rumor is what is going on, ask questions indiscriminately, will not let Fan Xian heart is not happy.

After a long time, finally Wan Er bit her fleshy lower lip and asked tentatively, “Have the rumors in the capital subsided?”

“No.” Fan Xian heard his wife ask, but in his heart he breathed a big sigh of relief and smiled back, “Rumors of this kind of thing, where can it stop for a while …… You two are also right, how much is this a big deal? It’s worth it to rush down the mountain, traveling all night, in case you two fall, then how can I live?”

At this time, he taught his wife and sister a set of lessons, but forgot that he was down the mountain of the situation as fearful as a lost dog, was Fan Jian Chen Pingping two old man ridiculed a good deal.

“I’m going to enter the palace later.” Fan Xian thought for a moment, looked at his sister who wanted to speak again and again, and his wife who was full of bemusement, smiled and said, “What’s the matter, wait until you come back in the evening and say it again …… But there is a sentence in front of me, I, Fan Xian, am always Fan Xian, and this guarantee is something that can be given.”

Fan Xian went out and began to prepare for his entry into the palace, but Si Si, who was full of tiredness, came up to him. Si Si had grown up with Fan Xian since she was a little girl, and her love for him went without saying, but the key was that Fan Xian was extremely bold, and did not have any taboos or too many ideas of honor and inferiority, and Lin Wan Er and Ruo Ruo both had some things they could not ask for, but instead, this big maiden was direct and much more direct. She mysteriously held Fan Xian’s sleeve and came to a secluded place in the garden and opened her mouth to ask:

“Young master, I heard Miss Ye say that your …… mother is that mistress of the Ye family?”

Fan Xian laughed out loud, patted Si Si’s head, and said, “It’s still Si Si who is the most painful.” Then he lowered his voice and also mysteriously returned, “Yes.”

Si Si opened his mouth wide, immediately turned into a naive smile again, this big girl ring age than Fan Xian is also two years older, but is always this kind of soft with a rash nature, still not satisfied with that gossip heart, continued to ask: “That …… you really are …. …His Majesty’s son?”