Chapter 26: The Days Before Leaving Tanyuzhou

After a little small talk, Fan Xian took the opportunity to once again make the proposal of asking his grandmother to accompany him to Kyoto to retire, only as on that night, the old lady expressed her attitude quite directly with silence. Fan Xian couldn’t help but sigh and said, “Why don’t you want to go?”

Knowing that he was talking about Dong’er’s family, the old lady smiled and said, “It’s not easy to live …… in Kyoto. What’s more, Dong’er is so close to you, don’t forget, these few big maids around you since you were young, they are all tempered by you to have a heart higher than the sky, hardened and ruthless, and no one can do anything about it.”

Fan Xian was stunned and touched his head. I think it is indeed this truth, now remain in the house of small elegant is followed by their own in the smallest one, look at that mouth is a habit can not spare the powerful role, and a few days ago with their own men back to the house to see their own Xiaoqing …… Xiaoqing’s man is still a scholar with a merit, the results in front of the small green is also the atmosphere dare not put a sound.

Xiaoqing Xiaoya is like this, not to mention the winter sister and always wanton Si Si …… This house several big girls really are spoiled by their own, but also teach bad, where are hard and incomparable roles, but also will not be in the world as the most important rules in the eyes, the appearance of although all soft and smooth, but inside the heart of the bright.

Fan Xian thought of thinking, some self-satisfied smile, even if he can not change the world too much, but at least changed a few women’s thoughts and life, is also good …… Of course, also have to be followed by his girl, to have this kind of welfare, if not he this mountain in the back leaning, these four big girl temperament, I’m afraid in the This world is difficult to move an inch.

The night was silent. The next day Tanyu city came a news, said so-and-so house so-and-so son was kicked hard, spit out a number of bowls of blood, urgently looking for a doctor to save the life back, is lying on the bed moaning.

The murderer did not see, and Tanyu State has always been pure and simple, good security, the people are honest, no banditry, such as this powerful son was beaten news, is really never heard of.

The whole Tanyu state was shocked, the governor was furious and was ready to investigate the case properly to give his former teacher a great face, but when the master of the division came to him and said a few words in his ear, the governor immediately calmed down a bit and went back to his own meditation lounge to drink tea.

The smart people of Tanyuu slowly guessed the cause of this matter, and no one dared to talk too much about it. And was beaten by the son of the house, although the heart is certainly resentful, but even more do not dare to shout all over the world to go, but instead is respectfully sent to the winter child yard, will be the two years of medical expenses and compensation for both hands to send on.

Things faded very quickly, Tanyu people know that the Fan family young master is not a love of nonsense, just a shortcomings of the person, and not how to worry.

After some more days, a secret decree from Kyoto and a newspaper from Jiangnan were sent into the Count’s residence at the same time. Fan Xian looked down at the two thin pieces of paper, knowing that his trip to Tanyuzhou had come to an end, and couldn’t help but feel a hint of reluctance well up in his heart.

After all, he is the Supervisory Yuan, the Division of the line Jiangnan Road, Plenipotentiary Minister, and is still young and healthy, it is impossible to learn like Chen Pingping to hide in their favorite place to retire.

Although Tanyu is good, always have to leave.

In the morning of the next day, Fuji Zijing took Lin Dabao and the Third Prince out to sea to go fishing once again, while Fan Xian also finally fulfilled his promise to Wan’er, holding her little hand, stepping step by step on the land of Tanyuzhou with the slow footsteps of the two of them, feeling the atmosphere of this place, and taking a rich day trip to Tanyuzhou.

After a small disguise, the husband and wife went to the bustling food market, went to the beach by the pier, looked at those beautiful white birds that Hong Changqing abhorred, squatted at the door behind the Earl’s Mansion and told stories for a while before going to the extremely quiet grocery store.

Wan Er smiled gently all the way, allowing her husband to hold her hand and walk either swiftly or slowly, she knew that all these were Fan Xian’s fondest memories, and he had brought himself here today in the hope that he too could share the most tender and beautiful part of his heart.

The grocery store was quiet, the dust still so thick.

Both husband and wife were lazy people, naturally they were too lazy to clean, they just stood in the room looking around and talking about old times.

Wan Er quietly listened to Fan Xian’s emotional recollections of his childhood, the tip of her heart couldn’t help but tremble, thinking that not only did she live a tense and dangerous life in the palace since she was young, but even her own husband’s childhood, outside of the joys, there were also so many hardships.

Her hand gently gripped the cleaver, and she said with a smile, “Then uncle is using this cleaver to cut shredded radish for you to drink?”

Fan Xian laughed happily and nodded.

Wan’er glared at him and said, “Drinking sorghum at a young age, you’re not afraid of getting drunk.”

Fan Xian laughed and didn’t say anything.

Lin Wan’er suddenly opened those big eyes and said curiously, “Where is the cliff where you practiced? Is it like that steep slope on Cangshan Mountain? Can you show me?”

Fan Xian was stunned and said, “That place is dangerous, you can’t go up there.”

Lin Wan’er let out a whoop, but a strong regret was clearly expressed on her round face.

Fan Xian looked at her and suddenly spoke, “Hold me tight.”

Lin Wan’er froze for a moment, then hemmed and hawed, passing her hands between Fan Xian’s arms and hugging him tightly, just as she had done in bed that night, just as she was afraid that he would disappear like that, and even more so, that he would just immerse himself in Tanyuu’s scent.

Fan Xian and Lin Wan’er stood hand in hand at the edge of the cliffs above the high cliffs on the seashore of Tanyuzhou, and a few steps ahead was the abyss, the ocean, and the snowflakes.

The sea breeze is coming from the face, the sun above the head than in the ground looks rather seems to be farther away, clear sprinkled with a layer of aperture, does not appear to be very hot.

Wan Er’s breath is slightly disorganized, her cheeks are flushed, but there is a slight fear in her eyes. This way by Fan Xian back on the cliff, is really the girl ever the most exciting experience, those slippery steep cliffs, do not know how they came up, so that at this time she stood on the edge of the cliff, but not very afraid, seems to be some numbness.

She looked at the distant Tanyu City with some trepidation, and realized that with her own eyesight, she couldn’t even see the appearance of those residential houses clearly.

She turned her head again to look at the calm-faced Fan Xian, and spoke softly, “…… used to …… climb every day?”

“Yes.” Fan Xian smiled and said, “Since I was six or seven? I can’t remember anymore, anyway, besides me and Uncle, you’re the third person to come up in this place.”

Lin Wan’er lowered her head and spat out her tongue, knowing that this must be the biggest secret in Fan Xian’s heart, and that she was able to be brought up by him……. A hint of sweetness welled up in the girl’s heart, and then it was a hint of bitterness, and she slowly leaned against Fan Xian’s arm, and said, “I’ve always felt I’ve had a hard time in the palace, and now I realize that you’ve had a better time than me. Now I realize that you’ve suffered even more than I have.”

At such a young age, he was forced to climb the mountain, for what? Naturally, they were worried that someone would come to kill them. Growing up in such a horrible environment, for the boy back then, what kind of torture it was. Thinking about this, Wan Er felt more sympathy for the seemingly powerful man beside her.

Fan Xian smiled faintly, ”What’s so bitter about it? If you don’t want to die, you naturally have to work harder. In fact …… compared to other people in this world, you and I are already considered to be honey pot soaked human children, don’t speak lightly of hard work, we at least don’t have to think about whether or not we’ll have to eat our next meal, whether or not we’ll have clothes to wear, and whether or not we’ll be sold by our parents to a brothel to become prostitutes or big teapots.”

Wan Er listened calmly from the sidelines.

“My apparent dashing vigor …… is all feigned.”

Fan Xian looked out at the golden light on the sea, “In fact, you should know that I can be said to be the most attentive, hardworking, and diligent person living in this world.”

Wan Er nodded. Fan Xian had not forgotten to practice twice a day even during those Cangshan years after his wedding, in fact, with Fan Xian’s realm and power nowadays, he did not need to be this diligent and hardworking at all. The world tends to only see the shiny side of Lord Little Fan, but it doesn’t even occur to them how much sweat and effort he has put into this side.

“It’s been like this since I was very young.” Fan Xian said slowly, “No one can understand why I treat myself so harshly.”

Wan Er only understood a little, so she quietly listened to him.

Fan Xian paused for a moment and slowly closed his eyes, welcoming the sea breeze of Tanyuzhou and said softly, “Actually, the reason is very simple …… I don’t want to die.”

“I don’t want to die.”

“Just like the words I used to say when I was a child, only when one is drunk does one know how strong one is, only when one is dead does one know how heavy one’s life is, a person who has not died before will never know how horrible death is.”

“I have to live in this world, so I have to be ruthless, I have to make myself strong.”

“And you don’t know, when you’re used to lying in bed and being unable to move, and you can’t move a finger if you want to toss yourself …… Suddenly the heavens give you a chance to toss down, you’ll be immensely grateful to the heavens and be intoxicated beyond belief to go and toss away.”

Fan Xian reveled in the memories of his two lives. Wan’er was at his side, but she couldn’t understand at all, looking at his clear face for some reason, looking at the mature and vicissitudes of flavor that suddenly emerged on that face that didn’t match his age at all, her heart moved, her heart mourned, and she felt that her own heart, along with Fan Xian’s, welled up with a trace of indescribable, indefinable sadness.

Wan Er’s eyes were slightly wet, and with some difficulty, she stood on her tiptoes, clutched the corner of her sleeve, and wiped the corners of her eyes for Fan Xian.

The trip back to Tanyu State to visit his relatives ended like this, but before he left, Fan Xian got together in the old lady’s study and muttered with her for half a day, and regarding the news from Kyoto, these two grandchildren, who appeared to be the most gentle, but in fact the most cold, had a serious conversation.

When he left the study, Fan Xian’s face was somewhat heavy.

Returning to his room, Wan Er carefully asked, “What happened?”

“Nothing major.” Fan Xian thought for a while and said calmly, “It’s only natural that the imperial historian of the court would write a letter, and for me, as a traveling Jiangnan Road Commissioner, to come to Tanyu to play, I’m sure I’m in the way of many people’s eyes. The point is, heard a news that is not very comforting.”

“What news?” Wan’er couldn’t help but laugh when she saw a rare hint of annoyance pass across her husband’s face, “It can mess you up as well.”

Fan Xian sighed and smiled bitterly, “At the New Year’s Festival, Yan Xiaoyi will also be returning to the capital to report on his duties, about the same time as I enter the capital at about the same time.”

Yan Xiaoyi? The Qing State’s Great Governor of Conquest of the North, the year’s Great Commander of the Forbidden Army, the Qing State’s prestigious Ninth Grade Upper Super Strongman …… The most crucial thing is that this person is the heart of the Eldest Princess, and is quite famous in the army, even if it is His Majesty, he will not hastily make a move to suppress him before there is any evidence.

And when such a character returned to the capital, it was inevitable that he would directly confront Fan Xian.

Fan Xian still remembered to this day the shocking arrow he had encountered back then when he had infiltrated the palace.

Wan’er frowned and said, “Could it be that …… the martial deliberations before the palace are going to resume again?”

Fan Xian gave her a surprised look, then smiled and patted her head, thinking that his wife’s sense of smell in this area was really sharp, nodding his head, he said, “I heard that it was the Privy Council’s intention, and that the military has suggested resuming the martial deliberations in order to revitalize the nation’s morale.”

“What did His Majesty say?” Wan Er worriedly said, she knew in her heart that Qing was a country that took over the world with horses, and had always placed great importance on military achievements, only after the three Northern Expeditions, His Majesty recuperated to prepare for another war, so he turned his attention to the rule of civilization, and also stopped the most important annual martial discussion thing that happened many years ago.

“His Majesty will naturally not object.” Fan Xian smiled and said, “This is originally a good thing, the court has been delayed in peace and quiet for a long time, and even the sailors in Jiaozhou have changed in quality, so naturally, there needs to be a reason to gather the hearts of the military.”

After Lin Wan Er was silent for a little while, she suddenly opened her mouth and said, “I am only afraid …… that it is aimed at you.”

“I am a civil official.” Fan Xian said with a smile, but in his heart, he also clearly sensed a hint of a problem. He and the flow crystal river on the second prince’s view is not the same, the second prince always think that the emperor let Fan Xian to deal with the matter of the Jiaozhou naval division, is loose to let Fan Xian contact familiar with military affairs, but Fan Xian thought, his own tough to the extreme “father” in mind is the opposite of the problem. He had killed Chang Kun and killed the Party Snapdragon, and regardless of the factions in the army, I’m afraid that all the marshals and generals would hold a grudge against him in their hearts.

His Majesty still does not want to let the Supervisory Yuan’s Tisi to gently caress the military power ah ……

Wan Er looked at him and sighed and said, “You’re a civil official, but …… you’re also a martial arts expert known throughout the world.”

Fan Xian raised his eyebrows and said, “Do you mean that when Yan Xiaoyi returns to the capital, he will challenge me on top of the martial arts council?” The people of Qing were good at martial arts, and although the trend had faded over the years, the flavor of toughness that was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and officials was something that simply could not be brushed away. Just as Ye Ling’er could throw a knife outside the palace courtyard to challenge Fan Xian, dueling was still a legal thing in Qing, not to mention the occasion of the martial arts meeting in front of the palace, no one was willing to retreat.

But Fan Xian was willing to back out, and he sneered, “How childish. If he wants to fight me, I have to fight him?”

In his mind, martial arts were for killing people, not for dueling and fighting, and if he wanted to kill people, Fan Xian asked himself that there were countless ways to do so that were more efficient and safer than dueling – dueling? A child’s game. Fan Xian suddenly felt that Qing’s military was a bit childish and couldn’t help but snort.

Wan Er sighed and said gently, ”Although this method is direct and effective, it is stupid …… Mother should not be foolish enough to let Yan Xiaoyi challenge you in the palace. Regardless of whether you win or lose, Yan Xiaoyi wouldn’t dare to really hurt you, His Majesty’s eyes are watching miles. So I also feel that I can’t figure out the reasoning behind this, maybe we’re thinking out of the box, Yan Xiaoyi is the Great Governor of the Northern Expedition, he hasn’t returned to the capital for two years, he should also report to his duties.”

Fan Xian suddenly had a bright idea in his mind, and his brows wrinkled, if Yan Xiaoyi’s return to the capital this time is not related to the so-called martial arts discussion, then it can only prove that one, that force in the court, finally tried to challenge the authority of the royal family head on. But …… what does the eldest princess she have?

“If I avoid war, I am weakening my voice.” Fan Xian smiled and said, “But you know, I don’t care about the face.”

This is a lie, Fan Xian is also a person who loves vanity, if it is another military heavy general who challenges Fan Xian in the martial arts council, Fan Xian will not blink an eye, and directly beat the other party until the other party’s mother doesn’t even recognize, and then add a golden edge to his own reputation, but …… that person is Yan Xiaoyi.

Fan Xian asked himself, even if his injuries have long since healed, and with the help of Haitang’s Heavenly Dao supreme heart method, he has long stood firmly on the peak of the ninth rank, but if he really has to face a super strong man who has stunned the world with one arrow, he will still not be able to do much good.

There were two people on his side who could resist Yan Xiaoyi, Haitang and Shadow, but the problem was that it was impossible for these two people to fight for him.

There is another person on his side who can easily take out Yan Xiaoyi, Uncle Five Bamboo, the problem is …… that Uncle Five Bamboo has once again left home.

While Fan Xian was nervous, he was suddenly inexplicably excited, and the tip of his nose seemed to smell those salty flavors from the sea cliffs. If, after returning to the capital, he really has to fight Yan Xiaoyi head on, what kind of degree can he actually achieve without relying on those small means?

Kyoto, wind and thunder, strong men, martial arts, these words were tempting Fan Xian’s restless heart.

After he was silent for a moment, he suddenly looked up and spread a smile, and said gently, “I favor not to fight, but …… how about trying to kill him?”

Wan Er opened her big eyes and was speechless for a long time.