chapter 25 – singing in the middle of the night

Between one go and the other, five muffled sounds rang out in the quiet second floor before Mu Peng finally stiffened his entire body and could no longer move. It seemed like a very simple few rounds, but in reality, it was Fan Xian and the other party competing in a game of guts and the skill of administering poison. Wooden Peng lost the first hand, but like a ghost to reclaim the priority, if Fan Xian to the Peng drug powder slightly fear of heart, only afraid to lose the control of the other side of the great opportunity.

Especially the last small vial of poisonous smoke, Fan Xian actually wrapped it in a cloth, which was not only a means of administering poison, but also contained a very skillful manipulation of true qi, as well as a small means of skill in each of his fingertips.

Mu Peng, who was stiff, faced the scattered parcels on the bed, as well as the layer of color-changing green cloth on the side of the bed, and was greatly afraid, wondering who actually had such a great ability to use poison, and was able to restrain himself in a few moments.

Fan Xian took off his hat which was full of powder, carefully put it together with the color-changing cloth, took out the fire and ignited it, and the toxin melted when it met the fire, so it was no longer effective. After confirming the safety, he took off the gloves on his hands, grabbed the collar of Mu Peng, and brought him to another room.

Took out a antidote pill from his pocket and ate it, still felt a burning hotness in his throat, and thought that fortunately he was well prepared, or let that puff of powder go directly on his face, and didn’t know what the consequences would be. Thinking of this section, he couldn’t help but feel a little austere, looking at the immobilized Mu Pong in front of him, after thinking for a while, he forcibly pried open his lips and crushed a pill and sent it in.

“I’m not as good as you in medicine, but you’re not as good as me in things like using poison …… Elder Brother Mu Pong, you’ve been coming to my Southern Qing for two years, it’s always time to say what you came for.”

Fan Xian coughed twice and sat down opposite of Mu Peng. This sentence was not pretending to be dashing, but was stating a fact, just like the sentence he said to Zhuang Mo Han at the Night Palace Poetry Meeting many years ago, nowadays, Fei Jie has gone far away to overseas, Sean died long ago, that Poisoning Grand Sect of Dongyi City has gone into hiding, when it comes to the means of using poisons to detoxify poisons, there is indeed no one who can defeat him.

Mu Peng was stiff and unable to move, but he could clearly feel drops of toxin flowing towards his heart along with the acupuncture point at the back of his neck where he was stabbed with a needle, he didn’t know what kind of poison it was, but knew that since the other party fed him pills to detoxify himself, he was preparing to force him to ask for something, and wouldn’t let himself die for a while.

And right after Fan Xian opened his mouth, he immediately recognized the identity of the other party, apart from that elder brother of his little sister, who else in this world would dare to boast in front of this medical expert of his own.

Mu Peng was able to speak at this time, looking at Fan Xian with a hint of helplessness and gloom in his eyes, and said, “Little Lord Fan, I’m just a doctor, why do I need to use force like this?”

“You’re not an absolute beauty, what would I use force for?” Fan Xian shook his head, “I just want to know why you, as the second disciple of Bitter Lotus, have been hiding in Nanqing for the past two years.”

Mu Peng smiled and said, “Reason? You should know very well, isn’t Old Dean Chen’s health getting better and better?”

Fan Xian’s brow furrowed extremely tightly as he said, “This is exactly what I don’t understand, the better the old abbot-sama lives, wouldn’t you Northern Qi people be more upset?”

He suddenly raised his head, looked quietly into Mu Pong’s eyes, and said, “Is this not Bitter Lotus’s last order before he died?”

Mu Peng used silence to represent an acknowledgement.

Fan Xian took a deep breath and said, “You should be clear about what the Seven Divisions of the Supervisory Yuan do.”

The seven divisions of the Supervisory Yuan were responsible for the prison, and the most famous torture methods in the whole world were all in that prison. Wooden Peng heard, but did not move, said faintly: “Little Lord Fan, is this the way of hospitality of your Nanqing? Your sister in my green mountain learning art, I wood pong asked to teach, never hide private, even after the great east mountain, the late master also handed over the whole green mountain to the little sister, the court also did not change the attitude.”

He looked at Fan Xian and said in amusement, “Could it be that I deserve to die just because I conditioned President Chen’s body? That doesn’t make sense even if you say it to the heavens.”

Fan Xian fell silent, knowing that what Mu Peng said was extremely right, that the other party had indeed done nothing during these two years while hiding in Southern Qing, and through the investigation of the Supervisory Court, he had only dutifully tended to President Chen’s body.

But the problem is that this matter itself is very bizarre, the bitter lotus great master’s dying orders, one is to let Haitang collect the hu tribes on the grassland, with the support of north qi, to become the biggest external danger of the kingdom of qing, and the second one is the south of wood pong, could it be that letting Chen ping ping to continue to live well has some heavenly benefits for north qi?

This question Fan Xian couldn’t figure out, which was why he was privately alone to take a shot at Mu Peng.

“Are you preparing to leave?”

“What if I don’t leave since Little Sister has returned?” Mu Peng said, “It’s just that I still left a bit late and was caught by you.”

“I sensed your presence a few months ago, it’s just that you rarely came down to Castle Peak in previous years, so I couldn’t confirm your identity, and Ruo Ruo was just helping me confirm it.” Fan Xian bowed his head and said, “For Ruo Ruo’s sake, I won’t kill you for the time being, but I won’t let you leave Southern Qing until I figure out what exactly you Heaven’s Road is thinking.”

Mu Peng’s face changed dramatically, knowing that he would be imprisoned in the Supervisory Academy, he just didn’t know how long he would be imprisoned, would it be as long as Sean?

“So that doctor is Bitter Lotus’s second disciple, Bitter Lotus has a lifetime of amazing talent, wherever he dabbles, none of it is the ultimate in the world, no wonder this doctor is extremely high level.”

Chen Pingping in the wheelchair smiled, flexed her index finger and nodded, letting the old servant behind her push herself towards the depths of Chen Garden. Fan Xian followed behind the wheelchair in silence, listening to the squeaking sounds, as well as the sounds of babbling women singing songs not far away; it was already nighttime, and the songs in the quiet Chen Garden had resurfaced, making people listen to them with some trepidation.

“How you deal with it I don’t care, but it’s just a famous doctor, why do you still have to make this special trip.” Chen Pingping gently knocked on the armrests of the wheelchair, this was his habitual action for many years, his fingertips knocked down, sending out an empty sound, said pointedly and hoarsely, “Anyway, I have not been fed poison to eat in these two years.”

Fan Xian stood under the tree next to the wheelchair with his head lowered, shaking his head, not believing Chen Pingping’s words at all, with Chen Pingping’s knowledge of people, how could she not see the problem with the wooden poncho. After thinking for a while he said, “I just don’t understand what Bitter Lotus ordered Mupun to go south before he died for.”

In the past two years, Mu Peng was not only extremely attentive to Chen Pingping’s body, but also secretly through various channels, organized a large batch of medicinal herbs that were extremely rare even in the palace of the Qing Dynasty, and with his wonderful hands of spring rejuvenation, he really succeeded in stopping Chen Pingping’s aging and old injuries, and let the old man live a healthier life.

Chen Pingping turned his wheelchair, facing Fan Xian, waved his hand to signal the old servant to leave, then propped his jaw on the wheelchair and fell into silence. The light from the Chen Yuan house struck from behind him, and Fan Xian could not see his aged face, only a thick ink-like silhouette.

“Bitter Lotus is a very remarkable person, if according to what you said, Haitang’s life, and Xihu’s arrangement, all originated from his finalized plan on his deathbed, then Mupeng’s southward journey to save my life is naturally also a part of his plan.”

Fan Lang second time to come, naturally forced the old comrade to listen to half a day of hospital affairs report. Chen Pingping said somewhat helplessly, “This old bald guy, dead then dead, still worry so much about what to do.”

“In fact, you yourself should know very well the reason why Bitter Lotus desperately tried to save my life.” Chen Pingping scratched his somewhat itchy back and said, “Western Hu is my Daqing’s external trouble, while I live, I will surely become Daqing’s internal trouble.”

Although the old man did not directly state his judgment, a chill arose in Fan Xian’s heart. After standing stiffly for a few moments, he walked forward and stood behind Chen Pingping, gently pulling down the pale hand and tickling it for him, saying softly, “In these two years you have done nothing, and his majesty has had a few feelings for you, and the most crucial thing is that there were once so many rebels in the dynasty, and it is unlikely that he would have been able to move on you in order to care about the face of the celestial family with the glow of your one-time ruler and minister. ”

Fan Xian understood His Majesty the Emperor of Qing. So this deduction should not be out of the question, Emperor Qing and Chen Pingping’s one life as a ruler and subject, their love is different, they have been friends for more than thirty years, and have never had any suspicion or doubt, and they do not know how many great things have been done in the world, so it can be said that they are the anomalies in the dynasty.

If say Chen Pingping to Qing Emperor have different heart, no one believe, if say Qing Emperor scruple Chen Pingping power, also no one will believe. His Majesty the Emperor wanted to set a model for the subjects of the world, wanted to leave his image of a lenient and benevolent ruler in the history books, so if he couldn’t even tolerate a die-hard black dog like Chen Pingping, what would he take to convince future generations?

“The problem is that no matter what the love affair will always fade.” Chen Pingping sighed comfortably as she felt Fan Xian’s hand moving on her back, “Affection is like this poor back of mine, when it gets old after a long time, it’s easy to get dry and itchy, and without new credits to do the water to moisturize it, anyone would want to tickle it a bit.”

Fan Xian’s hand paused, shaking his head, “His Majesty treats you differently than ordinary subjects.”

“Different indeed, and in this regard I definitely feel His Majesty’s favor.” Chen Pingping slowly said, “But I am also different from the average courtier, two years ago, you had your suspicions, and I listened to your advice and did not continue, but …… his majesty also had his suspicions about two years ago, and his heart will always be uncomfortable.”

Fan Xian was silent, after the rebellion in Kyoto was put down two years ago, he had been greatly puzzled about the role that Chen Pingping’s Supervisory Court had played in this matter, and Yan Bingyun had also spoken to him secretly about those issues afterward.

Although on the surface, Chen Pingping was playing a trick by relying on His Majesty the Emperor’s astounding situation, Fan Xian knew clearly that the situation at that time was really a bit delicate, whether it was Ye Liuyun’s sudden backlash or the Emperor’s sudden transformation into a Grand Master, as long as one of these two conditions was not in place, Chen Pingping might make a move that would shock the entire world.

“In the matter of the Great Eastern Mountain, I once had some expectations and moved some thoughts, and although these thoughts were extremely well hidden and concealed by me, the Princess vaguely saw it, so in the whole matter of the Kyoto Plot Rebellion, she never paid any attention to me, because she knew that our great goal at that time was very close, and afterwards, Bitter Lotus also saw it to a lesser extent, and that is why, before his death, he would let the Mupun to keep me alive and prolong my life.”

What mind? Although Fan Xian knew it in his heart, but hearing Chen Pingping admit it in person today, he still felt shocked and unable to suppress it, his mouth drying up and unable to speak.

“I didn’t expect His Majesty to be able to walk down from the Great Eastern Mountain alive.” Chen Pingping lowered her head and said, “When I received His Majesty’s summons in Weizhou that day, I sighed a little, how can it be so hard to make a person die? The game of Dongshan that His Majesty plotted, after all, only showed me half a side face, not only did he count several great masters into the game, but he even came close to letting me fall into the game as well.”

“Of course, I didn’t jump down in a hurry like the Eldest Princess.” Chen Pingping coughed twice and said, “Perhaps in the beginning, I didn’t think that His Majesty would die so easily.”

Fan Xian said in a hoarse voice, “Since you didn’t jump, and there wasn’t any evidence, of course His Majesty wouldn’t suspect you.”

“Who is His Majesty? The fact that he hasn’t checked me doesn’t mean that he hasn’t suspected me, it’s just because he believes in our relationship as kings and subjects, and he can’t figure out why I would move those thoughts anyway.” Chen Pingping smiled and said, “But the most crucial thing is that he knows I don’t have a few years to live, in order to circumspectly fulfill the love between me and him as a ruler and subject, and in order to pay back the favor of my desperate attempts to save his life back then, he gave me a chance to die naturally.”

“If I die of old age and illness, whether he suspects me or I suspect him, it will become an old story under the yellow earth; I will be ready to enjoy honor and glory after my death, and his majesty will grieve for a few days, and then put down his heart, and everything will go away with the wind; will it not be the best ending?”

Chen Pingping said seriously, “It must be admitted that this is the favor that His Majesty has done to me, this is the best place he has picked for me to return to, so two years ago when you told me to let go, I let go, and waited for the day when I would die of old age.”

“But the problem at hand is …… “Chen Pingping’s smile has two more hints of absurdity in it, “Out of my and His Majesty’s expectation, this broken body and bones of mine has lived until today, and if there is no accident, it seems to be able to live for a few more years …… The longer I live, the more uncomfortable your majesty s heart will be, and one day, it will come to ask me some stories face to face. And wasn’t Bitter Lotus waiting for this to happen before he died?”

At this point in the conversation, Fan Xian had nothing more to say. If His Majesty the Emperor really noticed and believed in Chen Pingping’s insubordination, it would certainly be a great upheaval in the court of Qing, and he was caught between the two, of course he could not watch Chen Pingping die, and the chaos within Qing would surely come. Bitter lotus dying vision is so far-reaching and poisonous, in the chaos of the world affairs, accurately seize the only crack in the future of the Qing country, is really powerful.

He knew that Chen Pingping was right, the emperor of Chen Pingping left enough grace, if Chen Pingping died naturally, that is, his majesty will not have any sense of guilt, but also naturally no longer care about the Dongshan matter, Chen Pingping once moved the heart, it can be said that all are happy.

However, Chen Pingping survived in good health. Fan Xian or the emperor, it is always impossible to warmly persuade this dean of the court for the Qing dynasty to pay a lifetime of adults, die earlier, die, you die the Qing dynasty will be peaceful ……

“I seem to be a person who should have died long ago.” Chen Pingping pursed her dry lips and said quietly, “It’s just that when death comes to the forefront, I realized that I’m still afraid of death.”

As the founder of the Supervisory Yuan, Chen Pingping, whom countless people had heard of, would actually admit that she was afraid of death, and if outsiders heard this, they would only be greatly surprised. But Fan Xian just listened quietly, he was someone who had died once, of course he knew what an unbearable process it was to wait quietly for death to come.

Decades ago, the continent was in turmoil, with Sean in the north and Chen Pingping in the south, the duo. But even these two most powerful figures in the dark world still seemed so weak when faced with death.

When Sean died, Fan Xian was at the side to see him off. At this moment, he looked at the thin old man in the wheelchair and thought grimly that no matter how the times would develop in the future, he only hoped that when Chen Pingping was dying, he would be able to be by the side of this lonely old man with no children and no daughters to give him a ride.

“His Majesty will not be as lonely as Bitter Lotus wishes.” Fan Xian suddenly figured out something and said with a smile, “His Majesty’s temperament has changed extremely much, even if he once suspected you, these two years have proven that you have no intention to do the rest, so he won’t do anything about it.”

Chen Pingping also smiled, patted Fan Xian’s hand on her shoulder and said, “His Majesty has already been kind to me, I have nothing to worry about, even if I can live for a few more years, so what? It’s always impossible to live behind Your Majesty.”

With these words, Fan Xian’s mood finally relaxed a bit, and suddenly his heart moved, and from the darkness at his feet, he picked a small yellow flower that was tough and open in the winter wind, and pressed it delicately into the white hair at Chen Pingping’s temples.

Chen Pingping laughed.

Fan Xian took his leave. Until the end of the conversation, Chen Pingping didn’t say why he had developed an insubordinate heart towards His Majesty, and Fan Xian didn’t ask, because he knew the reason for all this, but didn’t know what he should do after everything had been separated.

The old servant marched out, pushing Chen Pingping around the garden. After a long time, Chen Pingping suddenly sighed quietly and said: ”Bitter Lotus has lived for too long and knows too many things before settling on this plan. It’s a good thing that, as Fan Xian said, His Majesty should suppress his temperament and wait for me to die of old age, just ……” He turned to frown and said, “Do you think that, when this child Fan Xian hugs my corpse and cries out, he will blame me for lying to him and using him?”

Whichever way you look at it, His Majesty the Emperor would remain fully patient with Chen Pingping’s death, Fan Xian thought this on one side as he walked towards the outside of the Chen Garden against the chilly wind of the night, and having solved a big problem in his mind, he felt that his entire being was relaxed.

At this moment, the singing voice of the Chen Garden’s songstress came out from the night wind, extraordinarily bleak and clear, but continued to pull up high without falling, very stubborn and persistent, like the small yellow flower that Fan Xian had picked earlier, and like the old man who lived in this garden.

Fan Xian couldn’t help but stomp his feet in the bone-chilling wind. In November’s weather, it was impossible for the sun to come out at this hour, and the smell of the cold seeped down the leather boots under his feet, making his feet a little numb from the cold.

Fan Xian very do not understand, winter sun out of the late, the time of the court why can not move back a bit. But this was a thousand year old rule of etiquette that had been inherited from the Great Wei Dynasty, and even if he was powerful now, there was nothing he could do to change it. He looked at the surrounding darkness, is sometimes bright and sometimes hidden some red lanterns, thinking that really has a ghost movie feeling.

Today was the day of the great court meeting, according to the custom of the court, the civil and military officials climbed up from their warm beds in the middle of the night, and came to guard in front of the palace gate. There were many people who were staging a ghost movie along with Fan Xian, and Grand Maester Hu was also stomping around him at this time, completely lacking the dignified appearance of the first civilian minister in the court.

“His Majesty’s gracious decree allows you to enter the palace in a sedan chair, so why do you bother standing here with me?” Fan Xian hugged the heater and puffed white air, lowering his voice to gossip to Senior Maester Hu. Now that old bachelor Shu Wu has completed his task of passing on his duties, and has returned to his old age with honor, Hu Daoshi is naturally the head of the Chinese Academy under the door, and although he is in good health, his majesty is thinking that he is also a bit old, so he is allowed to enter the palace in a sedan chair.

Grand Maester Hu gave him a rather thoughtful look and said with a smile, “You’re standing here, no one dares to come up and talk with you, am I not welcome?”

Fan Xian froze, then laughed bitterly, Wuzhou father-in-law in the dynasty of the civil power was broken up by the emperor, the Supervisory Yuan in these years has been in a fierce grasp of the rule of law, the officials in the court, although they are in awe of their own, see their own face to respectfully ask for good morning, but there are not a few dare to stand beside themselves.

Is this thinking, a red lantern hit by the darkness floated out. He Zongwei, the left imperial inspector of the Capital Inspection Yuan, and the middle secretary under the door, came to the front of the two of them under the guidance of a servant, and bowed down calmly, the red light shining on the young minister’s face, illuminating a few points of sincerity and obedience.

However, Fan Xian’s eyes narrowed.