Wolf Peach was stunned. He had thought that by choosing Wuzhou as the negotiation venue, even if Fan Xian was shameless and despicable, he would still have to consider the Lin family's reputation. He never expected that the former Prime Minister of Nan Qing would be just as shameless as his son-in-law, and even... his skin was so thick.

Was there no justice? Was there no reason?

"This is a matter of morality," Wolf Peach said to himself. He didn't bother to talk to Fan Xian anymore. He cupped his hands and took his leave.

The restaurant returned to tranquility. Fan Xian let out a breath, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and sat back down at the table. He didn't feel particularly nervous. As for the people from Northern Qi, they wouldn't be a problem for him. After all, he knew Haitang. He couldn't even figure out that woman's temper. Even if she temporarily left Suzhou, they would always meet again someday. The world was vast, but there would always be a time for them to exchange barbs.

What really made Fan Xian nervous was what Wolf Peach had muttered earlier – after all, this was Wuzhou, the hometown of Prime Minister Lin. Discussing his issues with another woman in this city, what would Wan'er think? Where would Prime Minister Lin put his face? How would he explain it to his family?

That's why he had been avoiding Wolf Peach, partly out of consideration for this.

The reason he came today was because Lin Ruofu had openly and honestly had a conversation with him. Only then did he have enough thick skin and shamelessness to discuss these matters with Wolf Peach.

……

……

The people from Northern Qi took the sword that had been twisted into a rope and headed south in their carriage. Fan Xian didn't want to, nor could he, worry about what would happen in Suzhou. He would just wait for Deng Ziyue and the others to send news back. He stood by the railing of the restaurant, watching the figures of the departing travelers, staring at the still-pouting Miss Wei, and couldn't help but smile bitterly – he couldn't persuade Haitang, and Wolf Peach naturally couldn't either. He just didn't know if Ku He would appear. Duoduo was just a noble person who wanted to control her own life, which was very special.

Then, thinking about the matters in Wuzhou City, Fan Xian couldn't help but feel a trace of guilt, naturally towards Wan'er. After thinking it over and over, he couldn't come up with a good solution, and he gradually felt Zhang Wuji's pain and happiness back then. However, he knew that he was not as hypocritical as Leader Zhang, but he was even more shameless than Zhang.

He shook his head, opened his front, let the wind outside the restaurant enter his clothes, cooled his mind, and followed the footsteps of those distant guests downstairs.

——————————————————————

Although he hadn't come to Wuzhou with great fanfare, after staying in the Lin family's mansion for so many days, the news had already spread outside. The governor of Wuzhou had already prepared generous gifts to pay a visit, and the people in the market also guessed that the son-in-law was vacationing in Wuzhou.

But when Fan Xian's carriage traveled on the street, no one came to disturb him, and no citizen shouted out about it. The people of Wuzhou just saw the carriage, bowed slightly, and saluted silently.

This kind of respect, with a hint of distance but from the heart, made Fan Xian very happy. He clearly saw from this matter what kind of status and reputation his father-in-law had in Wuzhou City.

However, he didn't expect that the respect of the people of Wuzhou for him was not only because of the old Prime Minister Lin, but also because of the reputation of Little Fan himself. The people of Wuzhou were very proud of this son-in-law.

When the carriage returned to the Lin family's terrifyingly large manor, Fan Xian quickly walked to the back hall. The old man, who was playing with a green snuff bottle, said the first sentence: "Those who achieve great things need to be thick-skinned and black-hearted."

Fan Xian was silent. He found a chair to sit down and softly retorted, "This has nothing to do with those things."

The old man playing with the snuff bottle was naturally Lin Ruofu, the retired Prime Minister. In a year's time, this once leading figure in the Qing Kingdom had become like a kind old man in the countryside. His hair was softly combed, he was wearing a comfortable single garment, and he was wearing a pair of heel-less slippers.

However, Lin Ruofu's deep-set eyes carried a trace of fatigue and boredom. Perhaps it was because he was separated from the scheming and fighting in the court that this kind of indifferent cultivation made his spirit not as good as it was back then.

Lin Ruofu listened to Fan Xian's subconscious rebuttal and couldn't help but smile and criticize, "Could it be that you think this is really just a love affair between children?"

Fan Xian was silent for a while before saying, "I don't think... there is much difference in essence."

Lin Ruofu's hand, which had been constantly stroking the snuff bottle, stopped. He looked at him and said, "Is that so? But the development of this matter is not just that simple... If that woman didn't have the identity of the Holy Maiden of Northern Qi, didn't have a relationship with the Northern Qi royal family, a children's love affair? Do you think I would allow you to have these frivolous thoughts less than two years after your marriage? Would His Majesty acquiesce to you?"

Fan Xian understood this principle. If marrying Haitang wouldn't bring some benefits to himself and those behind him, no one would stand on his side. Especially from Lin Ruofu's point of view, there was no reason to plan for his son-in-law to take a concubine.

"Old father-in-law..." Fan Xian said with a bitter smile, "You are the one who asked me to be ruthless, and now you are the one who is criticizing me. What am I supposed to do?"

Lin Ruofu couldn't help but laugh when he heard this and said, "What you said last night suited my taste very well... I don't care what your relationship with that woman is, as long as you stand firmer in the court, my Lin family will also be more stable."

Fan Xian nodded. With Haitang as a major external ally, his position in Nan Qing would also be much more stable. However, he was indeed a very indifferent and ruthless person in some respects, but he still retained some concepts from his previous life, and he subconsciously didn't want to link his private affairs with politics.

What's more, Haitang might not be willing to marry him.

As if guessing what Fan Xian was thinking, Lin Ruofu said with a smile, "In fact, you and I both understand the development of this matter. It doesn't matter whether she marries into your Fan family or not... As long as she doesn't marry someone else, that's fine."

Fan Xian nodded again, admitting that the old fox's idea was the same as his own.

"I'm going to see Wan'er and Da Bao." He stood up and respectfully bowed to his father-in-law.

Lin Ruofu thought for a while and said gently, "You don't have to worry about Wan'er. Although she wasn't by my side since she was a child, she grew up in the palace after all, so she will naturally understand the reasons."

Fan Xian smiled bitterly and was speechless. He thought that his father-in-law was brutally honest. However, on second thought, didn't Lin Ruofu have a daughter with the Eldest Princess, which led to his later success? Thinking this way, he understood.

The things of the previous generation were indeed more despicable than his own.

He thought for a while and insisted, "I'm just going to see Wan'er."

"She and Da Bao are back in Wuzhou for the first time. The brothers and sisters-in-law of the clan are treating them like gods. They should be playing in Yidong Heaven now." Lin Ruofu looked at his son-in-law with a smile that was not a smile, "If there's anything you need to explain in the bedroom, leave it for the evening."

Fan Xian scratched his head in annoyance.

"Do you know why I agreed to marry Wan'er to you back then?"

Although Fan Xian could guess a little, he still shook his swollen head.

Lin Ruofu slowly put the snuff bottle on the table and said, "His Majesty intended to point Wan'er to you, which happened around the first and second years of Qingli. At that time, Chen Pingping opposed it, strongly opposed it, and I smelled something strange about this matter."

Fan Xian thought, what does Chen Pingping's opposition have to do with your opposition?

Lin Ruofu answered his question: "Among all the civil and military officials, there are only three people I am afraid of."

"Which three people?"

"Your father, Old Cripple Chen, and the old man of the Qin family."

Fan Xian carefully pondered that Chen Pingping was in charge of the Overwatch Council, which could be said to be the person with the most power in the hands of the civil and military officials, except for the prime minister. Moreover, he had extremely strong hidden strength in his hands, which Lin Ruofu naturally feared at the time. And although the old man of the Qin family was old and rarely went to court, he was still the Chief of the Privy Council, the number one figure in the military, a super-grade official, and his students and former colleagues were all over the military, so Lin Ruofu naturally had to pay attention to him.

It was just his own old man... who was only a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue at the time. Why did Lin Ruofu value him so much?

Lin Ruofu didn't explain the question in his eyes and continued softly, "And among these three people, I admire Chen Pingping's vision the most. So when he strongly opposed your marriage with Chen丫头... and this matter didn't seem to have any obvious disadvantages at the time, to any party... so I knew he must know some secrets that I didn't grasp... so..."

The old man said with a smile, "I also opposed it."

Knowing that Wan'er and his brother-in-law were out playing, Fan Xian understood that the work of supporting the grape trellis could only be done in the evening. At this time, listening to the old man's words, he knew that he was preparing to discuss the affairs of the court, so he simply sat up straight and listened carefully. Hearing this, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Then why did you agree later?"

"I told you... maybe you have forgotten." Lin Ruofu's smile couldn't help but reveal a trace of vicissitudes, "Gong'er is gone, I only have Da Bao and Chen丫头 under my knees. And His Majesty had already revealed the idea of letting me leave my post... I have been in the court for many years, and the name of treacherous prime minister is not for nothing. I don't know how many people I have offended, and my clansmen have also gained great benefits in this world because of my protection... After I leave, who will protect them? Who will protect my Da Bao?"

Lin Ruofu stared into his eyes and said, "The day you sent me the snuff bottle, I determined that you could do all this, so I agreed to this matter."

The exquisite emerald snuff bottle was quietly placed on the wooden table next to Lin Ruofu.

Fan Xian was silent for a moment, then calmly and sincerely said, "Don't worry, as long as I live for a day, I won't let Wan'er be wronged, or let Da Bao be unhappy."

Lin Ruofu nodded with relief, then sighed, "Later, your identity came out... and I knew that you were Miss Ye's son. Then what else do I have to worry about?"

This slowly led the topic to the direction that Fan Xian needed, the direction that had always been unspeakable and could not be asked.

"I don't have any capable people in the literary officials of the court... except for Ren Shaoan." Fan Xian said with a bitter smile, "On the surface, it looks like I can beat the Second Prince to a pulp, but if that day really comes in the future, and we argue in the court... I don't have anyone to speak for me."

Lin Ruofu clearly knew what he meant, but he didn't point it out. Instead, he said with a smile, "Old Shu and Little Hu, the two most powerful Grand Secretaries under the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, both appreciate you... Aren't you satisfied?"

Fan Xian shook his head and said, "Appreciation can't be eaten. When it really comes to choosing sides, who can trust whom?"

Lin Ruofu stared into Fan Xian's eyes and asked, "You need some trustworthy people?"

Fan Xian didn't deny this. He laughed, like a greedy little bird opening its mouth, drooling, and waiting for its elders to feed it.

Lin Ruofu couldn't help but chuckle when he saw his expression. However, his smile quickly faded, and he said calmly, "I won't give you any."

……

……

This answer greatly surprised Fan Xian. However, he understood that since Lin Ruofu had bet his entire clan on his chariot, he would always give him some help. It was impossible for him to make the horse run without letting it eat grass. Today's answer naturally had its reasons.

Sure enough, Lin Ruofu said gently, "Aren't you very strange? Since I left Kyoto, the civil officials in the court have been a bit chaotic. Those who sided with the Second Prince and Yun Rui have sided with them, those who sided with the Crown Prince have sided with him, and there are still a large number of people who honestly stand under the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat..."

Fan Xian frowned slightly. He had naturally discovered this phenomenon long ago. The strange thing was...

"The strange thing is, why doesn't anyone take the initiative to side with you?" Lin Ruofu looked at him with a smile that was not a smile, "You already have a great reputation among the scholars of the world, plus the gift of Zhuang Mohan. Although you are a bit young, it is not impossible to openly become a leader of the literati... Why? Why, apart from Shaoan, who was a colleague of the Honglu Temple, who took the lead in clarifying the team, no civil official in the court has taken the initiative to join you? In the past year or so, not a single civil official has come to your door... To this day, apart from your four students who are spending their days in various prefectures, you haven't developed any power at all."

This was precisely Fan Xian's great doubt and great headache. At first, he thought it was the Emperor's balancing act, but later he discovered that the Qing Kingdom Emperor's focus on him was still in the military, and he didn't care much about his interactions with civil officials. So he had always been a little puzzled... It seemed that a hand in the dark had been hindering his progress in that area.

He raised his head in astonishment, staring at his father-in-law: "Why?"

Today, Fan Xian naturally understood that the reason why this was the case was that his father-in-law, who was far away in Wuzhou, was using his remaining influence not to let his original disciples get too close to him.

"A tree that stands out from the forest will be destroyed by the wind." Lin Ruofu liked his son-in-law's wit and said gently, "What's more, your tree has already grown too tall, even taller than those real princes... That's right, I arranged this. I won't let you use those people who are useful in your eyes for the time being, so as not to cause palace discussions... As for when to give you..."

The old man sighed, "Back then, I stood too high, so I had to step down. How could I bear to let Wan'er's husband repeat the same mistake?"

"When the new Emperor ascends the throne, those people will be yours."

Lin Ruofu said this at the end.

Fan Xian was silent, but he smelled a hint of ominousness. Those people can only be given to me when the new Emperor ascends the throne... This, on the other hand, shows that Lin Ruofu subconsciously couldn't come up with any adventurous ideas in the face of the unfathomable Emperor.

Lin Ruofu's secret influence on the court still existed, so he had to avoid suspicion and make the Emperor believe that he was really retiring in Wuzhou.

This was a contradictory and difficult vicious circle, and the biggest loss was that Fan Xian had no way to obtain those helpers.

"I'm afraid it will be too late." Since both sides had already spoken frankly, Fan Xian no longer avoided anything, "The forces of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince are basically in the court. If they inherit the throne in the future... I think I won't have a good life."

Lin Ruofu said, "You... should say it more directly."

"Okay." Fan Xian said directly, "I won't allow the Crown Prince or the Second Prince to sit on that chair."

Lin Ruofu laughed, "So this is your problem... You don't need those forces. The Crown Prince and the Second Prince are already no match for you. Why do you care about these? You have done a good job in the past year, but the biggest problem is... you have found the wrong direction of struggle."

Fan Xian was surprised.

Lin Ruofu didn't know if he was thinking about certain things many years ago. The look in his eyes became more profound, and he slowly said, "In the current situation, you only have one enemy... and that is Yun Rui."

……

……

Fan Xian was shocked at first, and then he felt a little disapproving. He had seen the Eldest Princess's methods. Her schemes were as intricate as embroidery, but unfortunately, facing himself as the director of the Overwatch Council, and with Chen Pingping and Yan Bingyun, one old and one young, helping him, the Eldest Princess's best weapon was of no use to him.

As for strength, Xinyang had once sent assassins to Cangshan to assassinate Fan Xian, but the result was a disgrace.

So Fan Xian thought about it, and he didn't think the Eldest Princess was anything to be afraid of. The rumors in the world might have been exaggerated. Facing Lin Ruofu's solemn expression, he couldn't help but shake his head.

Lin Ruofu said, "Have you forgotten the Junshan Society?"

"Junshan Society?" Fan Xian slowly lowered his head, "Ye Liuyun is only one person, and he can't change the general trend."

"There is only one Ye Liuyun." Lin Ruofu looked at Fan Xian with a very strange look and said, "There is only one Sigu Jian, and there is only one Yan Xiaoyi, and I... there is also only one."

"But there may be countless members of the Junshan Society."

……

……

Fan Xian understood what this meant and looked at his father-in-law in shock, his lips a little dry: "You... are also a member of the Junshan Society? And Sigu Jian?"

"What is the Junshan Society?" Lin Ruofu said with a smile, "Maybe no one can say it clearly, and Yun Rui herself can't say it clearly... What I can explain is that the Junshan Society is just a very loose organization, which may be a tea-tasting group, or it may be the mastermind behind the destruction of tens of thousands of lives and the division of the country."

Fan Xian wanted to ask something, but Lin Ruofu stopped him with a wave of his hand.

"The Junshan Society is just a way for some people who stand relatively high in this world to communicate with each other." The last prime minister of Da Qing Dynasty slowly narrated the secrets of this world, "We are not the monarchs of a country, but we just happen to have some great power or strength in our hands... And there are many things that we are not convenient to do ourselves, so we will ask friends for help through the Junshan Society, and when friends are in trouble, we will also help."

"Very equal, isn't it?"

"The Junshan Society is just a friendship association between friends."

"The Junshan Society does not have a strict and complete organizational form, no definite goals, and no consistent wishes to achieve."

Lin Ruofu finally concluded, "So, in terms of pure lethality, the Junshan Society is not strong because of its looseness, at least... not as useful as the Overwatch Council under the old cripple."

Fan Xian was a little puzzled. If that was the case, why did his father-in-law want him to be vigilant about the Eldest Princess's Junshan Society?

Lin Ruofu said with a smile, "Chen Pingping is finally forcing Yun Rui, and you seem to be forcing her too... I guess I'm right?"

Fan Xian had to admire the other party's political acumen and nodded.

"But you and the old cripple seem to have made a mistake." Lin Ruofu said softly, "You always thought that if you forced the Eldest Princess and the Second Prince and the Crown Prince to jump up and force them to the opposite side of His Majesty, you could easily win the entire battle."

"Isn't that so?" Fan Xian frowned. The Qing Kingdom was the strongest country in the world, and although the Qing Kingdom Emperor had been silent for more than ten years, the history of the past had already proved that the Qing Kingdom Emperor's methods were definitely not something that anyone could resist.

"Because you have underestimated Yun Rui, underestimated the Junshan Society... If this situation is allowed to develop, and she really goes crazy... who knows what the consequences will be?"

Lin Ruofu said with a smile, talking about the Eldest Princess, who had entangled with him for many years and gave birth to a lovely daughter for him...

"Isn't the Junshan Society very loose? How can it be compared to the power of a strong country?"

"The Junshan Society is like a ball, bouncing around in a room. But if someone wants to press it down, the rebound force will be concentrated." Lin Ruofu said with a worried expression on his face, "Especially in the past year, being skillfully woven by you and the old cripple, Yun Rui seems to have no way out... If at this time, the Junshan Society suddenly discovers an unusually powerful opponent, the looseness will also become tight, and the hidden power will also burst out."

"This is the same as people... When you find a long-awaited goal, any danger is worth taking."

Fan Xian felt a chill in his heart when he heard these words. Although this situation was created and hoped for by himself, he was still shocked by his father-in-law's words.

If the Junshan Society, in addition to Ye Liuyun, also had connections with Dongyi City and many other helpers, then the other party's strength had already surpassed the restrictions of the national borders and was above the world, and was qualified to turn a loose friendship association into a powder keg...

Of course, the only one in this entire world who had this qualification was the Qing Kingdom Emperor.

……

……

"Sigu Jian will also take action?" Fan Xian couldn't help but shake his head.

Lin Ruofu looked at him with a smile: "If Yun Rui is not crazy, she will naturally not make such an arrangement, but if she is really forced by His Majesty and you... who can say for sure? The safety of His Majesty involves the general trend of the world... If he dies, too many people can benefit."

The former Prime Minister said solemnly, "Except for you and me, the citizens of Da Qing."

If the Qing Kingdom Emperor died, Northern Qi would naturally be the happiest, and Dongyi City would also set off firecrackers. And the Qing Kingdom was afraid that it would immediately face endless disasters.

Lin Ruofu finally said, "For such a great goal, the enemies of the Qing Kingdom will unite... You said Sigu Jian earlier, why not talk about Ku He?"

Fan Xian's mouth was a little bitter, and he didn't want to answer this question.

Lin Ruofu sneered, "The Junshan Society? Not members of the Junshan Society... As long as they are willing, they can join at any time. Yun Rui is the central contact point, which is what she is best at."

Fan Xian understood this point. The Eldest Princess had an extremely good private relationship with the Northern Qi Empress Dowager, and she had always colluded with Dongyi City. He couldn't help but say with a bitter smile, "Everyone comes from all over the world, for a common goal... Hmm?"

He suddenly frowned and said, "We can guess it, and His Majesty must also be able to think of it. Why doesn't he strike first?"

……

……

The room was quiet for a long time before Lin Ruofu spoke gently, "What I said earlier was about Yun Rui's affairs. Although she is crazy, I have known her for twenty years after all, so I can naturally guess what she will do."

"But His Majesty..." Lin Ruofu couldn't help but reveal a trace of admiration, "Although he once let me down, I must say that no one knows what he is thinking in his heart. Maybe... he is waiting for that day."

"Maybe, he is so arrogant that he is mentally retarded," Fan Xian thought inexplicably.

"Then what should I do?"

Lin Ruofu said softly, "Weren't you originally planning to be an onlooker? It's just that if things get to a certain extent, whether you are willing or not, you will eventually have to come on stage and act. And at the moment, no matter which angle you start from, you must firmly stand on His Majesty's side."

Fan Xian thought in his heart that this was nonsense. Even if he wanted to stand on the side of his mother-in-law, but after being scared by you, the old father-in-law, where would he have the guts to play with lunatics.

……

……

(I'm sick, very badly. I'm going to sleep. If you feel that these chapters are a bit rough... please forgive me, I can't hold on anymore.)