Chapter 24: The Shadow of the World of Men

Chen Pingping laughed shrilly, rubbed her somewhat rough fingertips, and said, “Are the Five Greats in Kyoto now?”

This was a question that Fei Jie had also asked on Fan Xian’s wedding night, and Fan Xian shook his head and answered like he did last time, “I heard that they went to the south to look for Ye Liuyun, and I don’t know when they’ll be back.”

For some reason, Fan Xian seemed to vaguely hear a very regretful sigh from someone in some shadowy corner of this room, and he frowned, his fingers in his sleeves gouging the concealed crossbow – what the three were talking about at this moment was too horrible, and no matter who heard it, it would be a consequence that would be hard to bear for both Fan Xian and Chen Pingping.

“Come out.” Chen Pingping seemed to see the reaction in his sleeve and said softly, “I’m sure you’re curious as to who the true head of the Sixth Division is.”

With these words, a person, to be precise, a black shadow floated out from the gloom of the room, ethereal and unlike a mortal. This black shadow floated to behind Chen Pingping before gradually revealing itself, a …… strong man whose body was shrouded in black cloth.

Fan Xian felt the other party’s aura that was deliberately emanating at this moment, his pupils shrunk slightly, and his entire body tensed up before slowly relaxing. He had seen the other party before, in the distant sixteen years ago, this black shadow-like assassin stood on Chen Pingping’s carriage and swept by like a falcon, killing a mysterious mage in seconds.

“He is the head of the Sixth Division of the Inspectorate, who never sees outsiders.” Fei Jie smiled and explained, “Of course, you are not an outsider.”

That assassin leader of the Qing Kingdom did not say anything and stood behind Chen Pingping in silence, seemingly showing little interest in Fan Xian. Chen Pingping’s voice was a bit hoarse as she continued with Fei Jie’s words, “Other than the Five Great People, he is the most terrifying assassin in this world. And of course, the best protector, which is why I was able to survive until today.”

The Black Shadow owed a slight bow, expressing his gratitude to the wheelchair-bound old man for his praise.

Chen Pingping looked into Fan Xian’s eyes and said with a smile, “The shadow is an admirer, a follower of the Big Five, and even many of his techniques are the result of seeing the Big Five’s tactics and gradually imitating them many years ago when he was still young, so just now, when he heard you say that the Big Five were not in the capital, he was a bit disappointed.”

At this point, Fan Xian’s eyes were a little different when he looked at that shadow assassin again. Simply by imitating Uncle Five Bamboo, he was able to be so powerful, this Qing Guo’s number one assassin really did have amazing talent!

Of course, this meant that the blind Five Bamboo was even more terrifying.

Fei Jie pushed President Chen’s wheelchair into the large compound at the back of the Supervisory Academy, while that shadow disappeared back into the light of day, not knowing where he had gone. Fan Xian followed the wheelchair step by step, with some strange feelings in his heart. That Qing’s most powerful assassin was really somewhat similar to Uncle Wuzhu’s style – he hadn’t seen Wuzhu for many days, and although he wouldn’t worry about anything, as he was about to travel soon, he always wanted to meet up with his closest people.

This was Fan Xian’s first time entering the heavily guarded backyard of the Supervisory Academy, which was extremely spacious, and there were no tall buildings within dozens of feet outside the walls, so no one could see into the courtyard from the outside. Completely different from the world’s imagination, the back of the Supervisory Yuan is actually such a beautiful place, with green lawns everywhere, several large trees spreading shadows on the ground, and small wildflowers occasionally showing their faces along the green stone road.

The staff of the Supervisory Yuan came and went in silence between the different buildings, and when they looked at the black wheelchair from afar, they would bow respectfully.

And every time he traveled a certain distance, Fan Xian would frown, because under those beautiful wigwams, in the midst of the tender short forests, it seemed that there were hidden tails everywhere, and it was even more tightly guarded than in the imperial palace.

“Familiarize yourself with it, in the future this courtyard will be yours.” Chen Pingping said casually and suddenly, and it felt as easy as throwing a piece of steamed bread to Fan Xian.

Fan Xian, however, thumped in his heart, although he had known about this arrangement for a long time, he still hadn’t expected that this old cripple would say it so simply.

Chen Pingping turned around and frowned at him, shaking his head and sighing.

Fan Xian didn’t know why he sighed and smiled, “There are a few questions.”

“Tell me.” The wheelchair stopped next to a shallow pool on one side, the pool water was translucent, and golden fish could be seen swimming freely in the water, Chen Pingping’s eyes looked at the pool.

“I’ve offended many people in the Section Case, but why did Imperial Secretary Guo and Minister Han dare to lay hands on me? Are they not afraid of the wrath of my father and the Chancellor?” Fan Xian looked at Chen Pingping’s dazzling flowery hair and said quietly, “On the East Palace side, why would the Empress want to deal with me if it wasn’t the Crown Prince’s decree?”

Chen Pingping did not turn around and waved her hand, Fei Jie smiled and patted his student’s shoulder, expressing appreciation for his courage, before leaving the poolside.

Fan Xian stepped forward to take over the teacher’s place and pushed his wheelchair along the small pool. After a long moment of silence, Chen Pingping said, “Are you forcing me to show my hand?”

“You must at least let me know how much the other side knows about our cards.”

Chen Pingping laughed shrilly, “What a cautious young man, it seems that you have guessed some things and are afraid that the Empress is dealing with you because of those things.”

Fan Xian smiled, “Yes, if the Empress really knows those things I guessed, then it’s only natural for her to deal with me, and that’s the only reason I can think of. The problem is that if that’s the case, my current power is completely insufficient to fight against the Eastern Palace.”

“Enemies are all paper tigers.” Chen Pingping suddenly said.

Fan Xian did not expect to hear this from the other party’s mouth, so he was shocked, but then he heard Chen Pingping say faintly, “This is what your mother said back then, and she also said back then that we should defy the enemy strategically, and emphasize the enemy tactically.”

Fan Xian had some feeling of wanting to laugh, thinking that this cripple must not have known that the original person who made these words was not his mother-sama.

Chen Pingping smiled and said, “And your biggest problem right now, is that you are strategically attaching too much importance to the enemy, and even fearing the enemy, so you are doing things with your hands tied, think about that day in the Ministry of Punishment above the lobby, even if you fight it out, is there anyone else who dares to do anything to you? And on the tactical level, you thought too little, if you didn’t have the courtyard to wipe your ass, the things you did after entering the capital would have been enough for you to die hundreds of times.”

Fan Xian was dumbfounded as Chen Pingping crossed her hands tenderly on her thighs and said softly, “Don’t think of the Eastern Palace as too powerful, there are no truly powerful forces in this entire Kingdom of Qing, including Lord Chancellor, including your father Fan Jian.”

Fan Xian was enlightened and said softly, “Violence is the real power, so only the military and the Supervisory Court are truly powerful forces.”

Chen Pingping lifted a hand and shook it with a slender but pale fingertip, “No, in the entire country of Qing, there is only one person who is truly powerful.”

Fan Xian lowered his head and said softly, “It’s His Majesty the Emperor.”

Chen Pingping smiled and said, “Not bad, His Majesty can care about nothing, as long as he still holds the military power of the world in his hands, and no matter how the Hundred Officials’ Harem tosses and turns, he simply doesn’t bother to lift his eyes.”

Fan Xian sneered with a hint of mockery, “He is really a very idle emperor.”

Chen Pingping rubbed her somewhat dry hands and slowly said, “The Supervisory Yuan belongs to His Majesty, I’m only in charge of it, and in the future, you’ll only be in charge of it, so keep that in mind.”

Fan Xian looked at this big head of the Qing State’s secret service organization with a calm face, wondering if the legendary loyalty to the emperor was something he should or should not doubt a bit.

The black wheelchair had already been walking around that shallow pool for a long time, and those golden fish in the water looked a little dizzy, slowly sinking to the bottom, no longer paying any attention to the old and small uninteresting duo by the side of the pool, and began to play with the fine sand by rattling it with their fish mouths.

The officials of the Supervisory Yuan saw from afar that the President of the Lord and the newly unveiled identity of the Fan Tisi were having a secret talk, so they naturally did not dare to go forward to disturb them. Chen Pingping suddenly sighed and said, “Time always flies, and in a flash, your mother’s son is also so old.”

Fan Xian was stunned and thought to himself that this is a really weird way of putting it, what do you mean by your mother’s son? Why don’t you just say I’m finished? He smiled bitterly and said, “I’m just sorry that I don’t know what my mother actually looks like.”

Chen Pingping smiled and said, “There is only one portrait of your mother in the whole world, which was secretly painted by the original state artist, and in the end, that great artist was nearly killed by the five great men.”

Fan Xian smiled and responded, “That painting doesn’t exist in the palace, does it?”

Chen Pingping didn’t answer positively, but only said quietly, “There’s no need to worry too much about the Eastern Palace, as I said earlier, the Empress’s power was pretty much gotten rid of by His Majesty as early as twelve years ago.”

Fan Xian knew that story of the night of bloodshed in Kyoto, and said with a slight frown, “Why didn’t His Majesty abolish the Empress?”

“After all, she is the crown prince’s biological mother and has always been liked by the empress dowager. The most crucial thing is ……,” Chen Pingping said with a wry smile, “Our emperor, where can we find an empress who doesn’t have a trace of power behind her and is so stupid?”

Fan Xian’s heart was chilling deep inside, that emperor really wasn’t a good person, fortunately Chen Pingping didn’t know that he was describing his majesty in his heart in such a way, and said gently, “Don’t worry about being found out about your identity. The death of that baby sixteen years ago seems to be an irrevocable fact in the palace, the reason why the stupid Empress would let Han Shangshu move you this time is just to consider the issue from the perspective of the Crown Prince, she didn’t know that you were the Tisan of the Supervisory Academy at that time, she was just angry at your meeting with the second prince on the flower boat.”

Chen Pingping frowned in slight anger, “I think Lord Sinanbo should have told you not to get too close to these emperors, do you think that the nobles in this capital can be unaware of your meeting on the flower boat?”

Fan Xian smiled in embarrassment, when he was in the hall of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs, he really didn’t think that the Empress was using the burning rollers of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs as a warning because she was jealous of the second prince, and at the time, he thought that the other party was aware of his own origins.