Chapter 109 – Rain at the Temple of Celebration

Very faint footsteps sounded in the courtyard outside the door, the sound was extremely weak, especially because the food court at the end of the alley was still bustling, and would be bustling until twilight, so these faint footsteps were afraid that they were about to be covered up by the faint sound of bargaining.

However, these weak footsteps fell in Fan Xian’s ears is exceptionally clear, he slightly narrowed his eyes and listened to the movement outside, the middle ring finger of his right hand subconsciously flexed twice, and then realized that his black dagger has long been left in the autumn rain in front of the palace, and at this time I do not know where, but he is still calm, and still have full confidence in the outside of the people who came to be a one-strike checkmate.

Hong Yiqing gripped the dagger tightly, carefully and silently crouched behind the door, holding his breath, watching the silhouette that was getting closer and closer. That silhouette strangely walked directly to the door and then knocked gently twice. Hearing that rhythmic knocking sound, Hong Yiqing’s demeanor obviously relaxed, as this code word was an identification within the Qiyan group.

Fan Xian, however, did not relax, because he actually did not have a full grasp of whether or not the Qiyan group had been infiltrated by the imperial court or had already contacted the periphery, after all, from what happened in Dazhou, the existence of Gouda was pushed backwards, that his majesty the emperor in the palace placed a far greater importance on the intelligence aspect than Fan Xian or even Chen Pingping’s judgment, and also that the inner court must be harboring a lot of diehard loyalists within the Supervisory Yuan, or else it would be extremely hard for Yan Bingyun to It was extremely difficult to take control of that eerie courtyard within these seven days.

“It’s me.” The figure outside the door seemed to know that there was someone inside the house, and said in a hoarse voice.

Hearing this voice, Hong Yiqing did not hear who the person was, but Fan Xian’s face immediately changed, some joy, some sadness, some surprise.

The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man with an unfamiliar face, wearing the clothing of a common vegetable farmer on the outskirts of Kyoto, walked in.

“Chief Wang?” Hong Yiqing lowered his voice, incredulously looked at the visitor, from the familiar warmth of the smile in the pupils of those eyes to distinguish the identity of the other party, after all, he was hand-picked by Wang Qinian into the group of people, for Wang Qinian is still relatively familiar with, just …… in the hearts of the vast majority of officials in the Supervisory Yuan, Wang Qinian died three years ago because of the rebellion in the Dadong Mountains But today, he is alive and well in front of him.

After disguising himself, Wang Qinian patted Hong Yiqing’s shoulder, and then gazed at the table, very seriously and forcefully suppressed his excitement and made a deep salute to Fan Xian, who was standing behind the table.

“Let’s talk some other time, there’s always a time to meet again. Get on with business.” Fan Xian smiled and threw the knife in his hand to Hong Yiqing. Hong Yiqing’s face still had an unsettled look on it at this point, but he knew that things were urgent and didn’t dare to delay much, so he bowed to the two of them separately and headed for that grassland in the west, to seek out that character called the Songzhi Immortal Order.

Fan Xian walked out from behind the table, walked to Wang Qinian’s front, quietly looked at him for a moment, then hugged him, patted his back vigorously, and then stood up straight, easily seeing that Wang Qinian’s fatigue could not be concealed even after his disguise.

Fan Xian looked at Wang Qinian, and Wang Qinian looked at him, the two of them did not say anything for a long time, and only after a long time did Fan Xian sigh and say, “It’s really been a long time.”

On the road back to the capital in Dongyi City, Wang Qinian desperately intercepted the horse team of the Supervisory Board and informed Fan Xian of the shocking news, at that time of the year, the two of them simply didn’t have the time to say something or sigh something, Fan Xian then got up and burst straight into Kyoto to save Chen Pingping.

Carefully counting, Fan Xian returned to the capital exactly eight days, Wang Qinian rushed back to Kyoto again, and before that, Wang Qinian has already had a from Dazhou straight into the northeastern part of the difficult trip, two long-distance trekking, really let the age of Wang Qinian has not been small exhausted to the extreme, even if he is one of the wings of the Supervisory Yuan, at this time also has been about to hold out.

Fan Xian helped him to sit down on a chair and said after a moment of silence, “Where have you been these past few years?” This sentence asked very lightly, in fact, very thick, Fan Xian knew that he did not die, also knew that in Chen Pingping’s arrangements, fleeing the Great Eastern Mountain Wang Qinian and the family are incognito, in order to the safety of the old Wang family, Fan Xian just slightly check and then gave up this work, in these three years, Fan Xian often think of him, think of this their closest subordinate, know their most secrets of the lovely old Wang head.

“Actually haven’t been out of the capital, have been by the dean’s side, have been watching you, my lord, and know that you are doing well, that’s all.” Three years have not seen, the two did not give birth to the slightest feeling of alienation, Wang Qinian said in a sandy voice.

Fan Xian said after a long silence, “I …… came back late.”

This was talking about Chen Pingping, Wang Qinian lowered his head, also silent for a long time, and said in a low voice, “It was me who reported the news too late.”

In fact, the two of them had already done their best, however there was still still no way to change that which had already happened, a faint emotion of sadness and self-reproach just overflowed in the room.

“How is the family?”

“Good, the court should not be able to find out.”

“That’s good, come back to me.”

“Good.”

After such a natural to the extreme reply, Fan Xian’s heart that had been cold for a long time rarely warmed up a tiny bit, and he asked softly, “You were told to follow the brigade to Dongyi City, so why did you come back again?”

“The Black Riders 4,500 full members have entered the range of Dongyi City, one of the way at this time should start to the ten villages, the dean’s explanation has been completed, so I rushed back, just delayed for two days, so slowed down a bit.” Wang Qinian said, “Jing Ge, that old man from the seventh division, and Zong Chou are all in that way, the most powerful forces left behind by the dean are all going to be concentrated in the ten villages.”

Fan Xian was silent for a moment and smiled with a complicated face, “I can’t imagine that the matter of the Ten Villages wasn’t hidden from him.”

“The dean can always know something if he wants to know something.” Wang Qinian said.

“Let’s not talk about that.” Fan Xian sighed, “With you by my side, a lot of things are much easier to do, at least like today, why would I have to spend seven more days to drill out that net.”

After a few brief conversations, Wang Qinian clearly understood what had happened in Kyoto recently, and he couldn’t help but sigh quietly, “If the Supervisory Yuan was still in hand, it would be much more convenient to do things.”

Now Fan Xian can really believe that the people who can move, in addition to qinian group, is all over the world those close subordinates, however, the headquarters of the Supervisory Yuan has begun to gradually fall apart, especially Yan Bingyun father and son two generations control four, in the long run, Fan Xian and that group of old ministers in the influence of the yard will only get weaker and weaker.

“After all, this world is still his majesty’s world, even if at the beginning, the officials in the courtyard will be heartbroken about what happened to the dean, but after a long time, they must also accept this reality, loyal to the king and love the country. …… “The corner of Fan Xian’s lips curled up slightly, and he was only in the presence of a very small number of people. He would only show his contempt and disdain for imperial power, “And how many people would dare to confront that chair head on?”

“Lord Yan is not that kind of person.” Wang Qinian said in a hoarse voice, the Lord Yan in this sentence naturally refers to Yan Ruohai, “I don’t understand how Yan Bingyun thinks.”

“The dean has an explanation for him.” Fan Xian said with his eyes slightly closed, “The dean doesn’t want the world to bleed because of him, and is trying to do everything he can to preserve the survival of the power in my hands, to cut me off from him, and if I …… perform as well as he imagines, in a few years I’ll be able to climb back up again, and at that time… . his majesty might be old too.”

Yes, this was Chen Pingping’s wish, and the outward appearance that this wish manifested was in line with the world-first attitude that Yan Bingyun recognized very well, so Yan Bingyun was very calm and persistent in following Chen Pingping’s arrangement.

The next step was that it was just a matter of needing to see Fan Xian’s attitude.

“Yan Bingyun won’t watch the Supervisory Court turn into a machine for my vengeance, it’s probably a very advanced philosophy that public weapons can’t be used for private purposes.” Fan Xian said calmly, “However, he has forgotten that this world is His Majesty’s family world, and all official forces are His Majesty’s private weapons.”

He said with a slight sneer, “It’s a pity that our Prince Xiao Yan can’t see this, a loyal official and a rebellious son is not such a good thing to be, I hope that he will be able to sit in the Supervisory Yuan in the future and be more secure.”

Wang Qinian heard out that Fan Xian did not have too much resentment towards Yan Bingyun, his eyes narrowed slightly and said, “What to do next?”

“You rest first. Ten thousand years is too long, but you can’t just fight for it.” Fan Xian stood beside Wang Qinian, gently pressed down his somewhat collapsed shoulders, and said in a harmonious voice: “You are also tired these days, choose a place to stay in the capital, and it is estimated that there are not many people who can find you, and then …… I have something to give you to do.”

With Wang Qinian’s ability to track and hide, even if the court’s big net outside Fan’s house is still sprinkled, I’m afraid that he won’t be able to stop him from meeting with Fan Xian, and with him, although Fan Xian’s body is left in Kyoto, the voice of his speech can finally be spread out, and it’s no longer as hard as it has been in these seven days.

Wang Qinian already knew about the message that Fan Xian had sent out to all parts of the world today through the Qinian team, he didn’t make any suggestions about the plan, he just wasn’t sure if Fan Xian wanted to unveil his cards on this or if he was just being passive and defensive, hiding those strengths outside of Kyoto before waiting for a suitable opportunity to explode out.

“I hope that Zi Yue can come out of Xiliang alive.” Fan Xian frowned slightly, “I had planned to let him return to Beiqi to do this, but I’ve just been a bit uneasy, after all, even if they are willing to follow me, but after all, that’s because I’m a Qing, and even …… perhaps in their eyes, I’m a part of the royal family in my own right, so even if they were to face His Majesty. They can also be justified, but if it is Beiqi ……”

He raised his head and looked at Wang Qinian: “If I have to lead you to treason, will you follow me?”

Wang Qinian smiled bitterly and stood up, saying, “Did you do this kind of thing less some years ago? Even if Your Excellency wants to take me to the dirt, I’ll have to go.”

Fan Xian laughed and said, “That’s why I’m relieved that you’re the only one who can do this thing.”

The two left the small courtyard one after the other, destinedly, this small courtyard that cost one hundred and twenty taels of silver would probably not be visited by anyone else for a long time from now on, and only lonely raindrops and lonely cobwebs would be accompanying those smooth papers and cold ink blocks.

A large hat covered the top of Fan Xian’s head, and along the muddy road in the vegetable farm, he dotted Wang Qinian’s obliterating figure from afar, until he finally lost him. On the one hand, it was to make sure that there was no ambush outside the courtyard, on the other hand, it was to stabilize his own heart, even he lost himself and Wang Qinian, who else in Kyoto could follow him?

After finishing all this, Fan Xian’s mood relaxed a bit, just like the day before yesterday, the sky finally stopped the autumn rain, although it did not clear up, there are still light dark clouds, but finally can be with the wind to drift a little, leaking some light into the world, is not as heavy and chilly.

After all, the world to the world Bi, rob in the emperor’s hands before his majesty, Fan Xian want as much as possible to save the strength of their own hands, so that in the future a showdown, he will be able to have enough strength and weapons …… But I do not know why, he always feel that he seems to be in a place where he has made a mistake, and that kind of vaguely wary, just like a touch of clouds like always turning over and over in his mind, but he could never see the shape clearly.

Leaving the vegetable market behind him, and leaving behind those lively, mundane, intolerably caustic sounds of the marketplace, Fan Xian traveled along the spoked street that led from several of Kyoto’s gates in the direction of the imperial palace toward the southern city. The matter had already been completed, and the men of Qinian’s team had withdrawn from Kyoto en masse, so he didn’t need to worry about anything else, and even if he was placed under house arrest in his residence, it wasn’t a pain that was too hard to bear.

However, on the way, he had to pass by the palace, and as he passed by the palace from afar, Fan Xian couldn’t stop the pain. He forced himself not to think about the scene a few days ago, but could not help but begin to think about his sister now in the palace in the end how to live, although Eunuch Dai said, his majesty treats Ruo Ruo like a child, but Ruo Ruo now the status of the hostage, after all, she also know in her own heart, I think it must be a little hard to get through the days in the palace.

This was a very light touch by His Majesty, but it directly scratched the scroll that Fan Xian had endeavored to paint. It was impossible for Fan Xian to leave Kyoto, all because of this.

It was raining, and Fan Xian bowed his head slightly, letting his coat and hat cover those tiny raindrops as he silently left under the watchful eye of the Imperial Palace. This place is heavily guarded, not many pedestrians on the street, but also can hear a few curse the weather words, must be continuous fall rain just rested for two days and fell down, let the people of Kyoto is very dissatisfied.

Dissatisfaction also has the habit of becoming numb, today’s rain is not big, Fan Xian just like this silent to the mansion walking, just like a forced to throw into the prison of the prisoner, is really no method. He walked while thinking, comparing the one in the palace with himself in the most all-encompassing way, and finally put his thoughts on those hemp-clothed ascetics.

From the time Chen Pingping returned to the capital, until he was imprisoned, and until Fan Xian broke into the court of law, those hemp-clothed, hat-covered ascetics had suddenly appeared in the palace, in the Supervisory Yuan, and on the court of law. These ascetics strength although powerful, but not enough to make Fan Xian too palpitating, just he some think not understand, and because of these ascetics associated with that imaginary, but Fan Xian know really existed …… God temple.

Qing has always preserved the attitude of respect and distance to the divine way, and not like the Northern Qi like the heavenly way soaked official livelihood, especially after the emergence of the powerful emperor, the Qing temple in the life of the Qing country’s status has turned sharply downward, completely reduced to an accessory and lace, those who scattered in the world is not a small number of the Qing temple ascetic, even more become the object of the people to be forgotten.

Why did these forgotten people appear in Kyoto at this moment, appearing at His Majesty’s side? Could it be that His Majesty the Emperor had taken full control of the Qing Temple? But the Great Sacrifice of the Qing Temple had died in a strange way back then, the Second Sacrifice, Master San Shi, had died a cowardly death, and a large portion of the priests of the Qing Temple on the Great Eastern Mountain had even died under His Majesty’s wrath, so why had these ascetics of the Qing Temple fallen completely to His Majesty?

Could it really be that, as Chen Pingping said back then, he vaguely guessed …… that the emperor of that year had really once contacted the will of the temple? And because of this, these ascetics would not remember the years of hatred and stood by His Majesty’s side, helping him to radiate light in this world?

The rain didn’t get any heavier, and there were chances in heaven and earth, so when Fan Xian got rid of his thoughts from the fine rain and subconsciously looked up, he saw the Temple of Celebration not far in front of him.

The dark body, hidden green eaves, in the desolate and quiet street, on the upper bearing sky rain, do not cause dust, outside the long square wall, inside the round tower standing Qing Temple.

Fan Xian looked at this beautiful building in a daze, not knowing what to feel in his heart. In this temple, he once rubbed shoulders with the emperor, once saw the girl who loved to gnaw on chicken legs under the square curtains, and once carefully studied the strange murals painted under the eaves, but he really wanted to figure out the things, but he did not figure out a single thing.

He should have gone back to his house, but at this moment he subconsciously raised his steps and picked up the steps, passed through the temple door that was rarely closed, and walked directly into the temple. In the company of the fine autumn rain, he walked slowly in the temple, these days of fatigue and resentment but also wonderfully reduced a lot, I do not know whether it is the celebration of the temple itself will have a wonderful atmosphere, or here quiet space, quiet so that people are too lazy to think.

Very naturally, when he reached the back temple, Fan Xian’s figure suddenly stalled for a moment, for he saw that at the entrance of the short building in the back temple, a bitter monk in hemp clothes and a hat was frowning at himself.

Fan Xian wanted to retreat, but the ascetic monk opened his mouth at that moment, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he was filled with admiration, folding his hands together and sighing at the raindrops in the sky, “Heaven’s will has its own fate, Mr. Fan, we’ve been trying to find you, but to no one’s surprise, you’ve come.”

Having been shown his true colors, Fan Xian was unfazed and calmly looked at the ascetic monk and said softly, “You guys? Why are you looking for me?”

The ascetic was carrying a bell in his right hand, and when he gently struck it, the clear ringing of the bell swiftly penetrated the thin threads of rain and spread throughout the entire Temple of Celebration. Just like when Fan Xian first came to the Qing Temple, this temple didn’t have much incense, except for the tourists from all the states and counties, there was probably no one who wanted to come here, so today’s Qing Temple was still quiet, and the ringing of this crisp bell didn’t cause any disturbance, but only attracted …… more than a dozen ascetic monks.

The ascetics, dressed in the same style of linen clothes and wearing extremely similar ancient hats and caps, came out from all directions of the Qing Temple, vaguely surrounding Fan Xian in the center, just below the square and round tower.

Fan Xian slowly took a deep breath and began slowly lifting the unceasing flow of true qi in his body over the course of two weeks, and indifferently looked at the previous ascetic and calmly said, “This temple has always been quiet, so why have you come back to disturb the tranquility of the place if you’re not going to preach in the world?”

“Mr. Fan’s house heart is kind and generous, and he is deeply aware of heaven’s virtue, and he cultivated the Hangzhou Society in the south of the Yangtze River and gathered the wealth of the world in the river works, and we, such as the wastrels, walk around the counties, and we have heard much of Mr. Fan’s benevolent name, and we have seen much of Mr. Fan’s benevolence, and we have been looking forward to seeing him.”

The ascetic bowed his head and saluted, he had always called Fan Xian as Duke Fan, not Lord Fan, and that was because it was now known in Kyoto that all the official positions on Fan Xian had been stripped away by His Majesty the Emperor.

“I don’t think you all came here specifically to praise me.” Fan Xian bowed his head slightly, his brows slightly furrowed, he truly did not expect that he would meet such a group of strange people when he entered the temple to take a look at the temple with a single thought, could it really be that there was a heavenly will in the underworld, as the ascetic monk had said?

However, these weird ascetics really seemed like they had come specifically to praise Fan Xian, they took off their hats and hats, and kneeled down respectfully to Fan Xian in the center, worshipping, and praising and praying with sincerity. Fan Xian’s face was indifferent, but his heart was greatly shaken. The fine raindrops and the sound of prayers were intertwined together, and the atmosphere in the field was very strange.

The ascetics were not in the habit of wearing shoes, and their rough feet were somewhat white from soaking in the rain, and they knelt in unison on the soggy ground, looking as ridiculous as frogs, yet the powerful aura they released and the words they spoke were not ridiculous.

This powerful aura was the aura of the dozen or so ascetic monks after their real potential harmonized and unified, its purity and its righteousness made people not dare to take it lightly. Sincere words like chanting a mantra rang out in the rain, accompanied by the dozen or so bald heads that glowed in the rain, which was disgusting.

“We, for the sake of all the people of the world, implore Mr. Fan to enter the palace and ask for forgiveness in order to comfort the emperor’s heart.”

Fan Xian’s face turned slightly white, and in just an instant, he realized what these ascetics wanted to do.

The partitioned dispute between Emperor Qing and Fan Xian, a pair of monarchs and fathers, had been going on for seven days in a row, and no side had ever made any expression of backing down. For the sake of the world? That naturally meant that someone had to admit their mistake, someone had to back down, and the Kingdom of Qing could only allow for one honorable leader, and in the eyes of these ascetics, that person was naturally His Majesty, the Great Emperor.

The ascetic monks were keenly aware of the biggest crisis at hand in Qing, and for some unknown reason, they decided to persuade Fan Xian on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, and in their hearts, and even in the hearts of all the people of the world, as long as Fan Xian returned to the radiant light of His Majesty, Qing, and even the world, would surely have a brighter future.

“If I am unwilling?” Fan Xian looked at the monks, who he hadn’t had much contact with, and said softly.

There was a deathly silence in the arena, with only the fine rain still falling, landing on the ascetics’ bald heads and dripping from the eaves onto the Qing Temple’s lapis lazuli. After a long time, a dozen or so voices, either thick or thin, large or small, but all of them resolute and holy, rang out.

“For the sake of the world, please rest in peace.”