The not-so-famous comic partner Wang Qinian pushed open a crack in the door and slipped in. The forty-year-old little old man was as nimble as a fourteen-year-old boy, his attitude humble, but the occasional fleeting look in his eyes betrayed the fear in his heart.

Fan Xian was originally extremely happy to see him, but when he thought that this fellow had secretly brought Sizhe back to Nanqing without even reporting it to him, he felt a little angry. He ignored him and turned to frown at Fan Sizhe, saying, "The news of you being in Shangjing must not be hidden from anyone. There, Wei Hua's Imperial Guards could protect you, but now that you've returned to the country, you must be even more careful about your personal safety. You have to be cautious. Like today, bringing your followers on the street, even though you were disguised, there are quite a few people in the capital who know you, the little tyrant. And then there are those followers of yours. I know you hired a bunch of Northern Qi masters, but..."

He was a little annoyed by his brother's carelessness. "Wearing those scimitars on your waist, only a blind man wouldn't see that they're Northern Qi people... I say, your business talent is admired by the shopkeepers of Qing Yu Tang, how can you be so careless about these small things?"

Wang Qinian wanted to interrupt, but didn't dare to speak. Fan Sizhe gave the little old man a sympathetic look and explained in a low voice, "I'm using the identity of a Northern Qi merchant group..."

Fan Xian ignored his explanation and said coldly, "Anyway, returning without permission is your problem."

Fan Sizhe looked at his brother's back, his eyes rolled, and an idea came to him. He chuckled and said, "Speaking of... acting without authorization, brother, I heard that you suffered a serious injury in that valley. I'm sure father wouldn't allow you to go out and wander around... how did I see you on the street?"

Fan Xian choked, not knowing what to say. He snorted twice and let it go, then said softly, "Let's not talk about that. It's good that you're back. I really missed you after not seeing you for more than a year."

Fan Sizhe sighed and sat down next to Fan Xian, hugging his arm and complaining, "I've been managing the business for the past six months. Although arguing with those Northern Qi people to divide the profits is quite annoying, I'm always doing what I like... Brother, you don't know what the first few months were like..."

The young man seemed to see a snowy night, a stone mill, a donkey, and soybeans... these horrible images, and said in a trembling voice, "That's not a life for a human being..."

Fan Xian's heart suddenly stirred. He calculated that Haitang must have already returned to Shangjing at this time. He couldn't help but laugh and said, "Could it be that she returned to Shangjing, and you rushed to run away? How can you be so timid?"

Fan Sizhe said aggrievedly, "Brother, not all men in this world are as amazing as you, who can deceive any kind of girl... I don't want to look at a tigress like Haitang even twice."

Fan Xian laughed heartily and asked a few more questions about his brother's life in the north. As for official business matters, they had already been discussed countless times in their letters back and forth, so he didn't bother to ask again. He just listened to his brother talk about his days in Shangjing, listening to him, at such a young age, entering and leaving the princely mansions of Shangjing, which was quite interesting.

Especially when he heard that Fan Sizhe had now become a regular at the Changning Marquis's house, often drinking with Wei Hua's father, Fan Xian couldn't help but laugh again, thinking that the old bastard's body probably couldn't withstand the successive onslaughts of liquor from the two brothers.

Thinking of the old bastard in Shangjing, his eyes fell on the extraordinarily quiet old bastard beside him.

At this time, Fan Xian's mood had improved a lot. He looked at Wang Qinian with a gentle smile, his thin lips slightly parted, and said softly, "Lord Wang, how have you been..."

...

...

Anyone who had come into contact with Fan Xian knew that the most gentle smile of this young Lord Fan was when he was most angry. At such times, no one wanted to provoke this handsome young man.

Wang Qinian, as Fan Xian's confidant, was of course aware of the lord's temperament. At this time, looking at the smile on the lord's lips, his heart trembled, and he responded with a bitter face, "Lord, spare me..."

"When did you arrive?" Fan Xian picked up the teacup beside him and took two sips, moistening his throat, but found that the teacup had a scent of rouge on it. Only then did he realize that it was what Shi Qing'er had drunk from. He frowned slightly and exchanged it for his brother's cup, but then thought of another thing and turned his head to ask, "Where's your woman?"

Two sentences were asked to two different people.

Fan Sizhe chuckled beside him and said, "Keeping her tied up in Shangjing all day is really a bit boring."

Wang Qinian honestly said beside him, "I really arrived yesterday. I've already reported to Lord Yan in the courtyard. However, the courtyard said that the lord was unwell after being injured and told me not to rush into the mansion."

Fan Xian glared at his brother, thinking that this kid was just sixteen years old this year, and his words already had the feeling of a middle-aged married man? However, when he thought that Sizhe had started running brothels at a young age, his premature debauchery was simply outrageous, and he would probably never know what it meant to cherish women in this lifetime.

He then frowned and asked Wang Qinian, "You should know the arrangements for this return."

Wang Qinian hunched over and chuckled, "I heard that I'm going to take the lord's position and lead one of the bureaus... I don't want to do it."

Fan Xian was stunned and scolded, "Even the Director guessed that you would say that. That's the only one among the eight bureaus. It's such a good position. If you don't take it, how can I feel at ease? You've been in Northern Qi for a year and a half. Your seniority and experience are all here. If you don't let you go up, I'm afraid the others in the courtyard will have ideas."

Wang Qinian pondered for a moment and then said seriously, "Master Mu is fine in the First Bureau. As for me..." He shook his head and sighed, "An old man with a wife and daughters, I thought I would slowly mix in the courtyard affairs office until I died of old age, but I didn't expect to be dragged out by you, my lord. These past few years have been tense and exciting, but I still feel more comfortable working by your side, my lord."

"Always by my side..." Fan Xian pondered. He also extremely liked Old Wang running the Qinian Team. In the past two years, the Qinian Team was first handed over to Deng Ziyue, then to Su Wenmao, and finally to Hong Changqing for the past six months. These three people were all extremely attentive and perceptive, and there was no problem with their loyalty to him, but... Fan Xian always felt that it wasn't as happy as when he had just entered the capital.

He looked at Wang Qinian and said with a smile, "It won't always be calm. Many people died in the valley."

The room fell silent. After a long time, Wang Qinian said solemnly, "Precisely because of this, I still feel that the affairs around the lord should be handled by me... At least my nose is more sensitive, and I run faster. Although the swordsmen in the Sixth Bureau are quite capable, when it comes to preventing problems before they happen, I have more confidence in myself."

Fan Xian lowered his head, twirling the small teacup with his fingers, thinking about the future arrangements, and couldn't help but frown. Wang Qinian seemed comical, but in fact, he was meticulous in his work. In the past year in Northern Qi, he didn't make Fan Xian worry much at all, and he successfully established good relations with the Northern Qi royal family and the Imperial Guards, and successfully revitalized the Sixth Bureau's Northern Qi spy network, which had become a stagnant pool of water due to Yan Bingyun's accidental exposure that year.

The smuggling from the Jiangnan Internal Treasury to Northern Qi, Fan Xian's understanding of every move of Northern Qi, all relied on the skinny old man in front of him.

These things all proved Wang Qinian's ability. This silent but capable official of the Supervisory Council was a treasure that Fan Xian had picked up after entering the capital. Fan Xian wanted him to take over the First Bureau, also hoping that he could secretly investigate the officials in the capital for him, so that he could have a confidant who could grasp the overall situation when the storms came in Kyoto.

If Wang Qinian was only allowed to return to his side and serve as the head of the Qinian Team, Fan Xian thought it was a bit of a waste. However, Wang Qinian was very persistent, and Fan Xian was a little embarrassed.

He frowned and said, "We'll discuss this again... But in the next few days of the New Year, hand over the affairs in the north to Ziyue. Be careful, he doesn't have any experience in overseas activities, so teach him more."

Wang Qinian knew that His Excellency had tacitly agreed to his request and couldn't help but smile.

Fan Sizhe saw that his brother was starting to deal with the Supervisory Council's affairs and felt that it was a bit inappropriate for him to sit here any longer. He stood up and prepared to leave.

Fan Xian stopped him and said with a smile, "What you're doing in the north isn't just doing business. The Baoyue Building has already opened six branches in the world, and the branch in Shangjing, Northern Qi, is about to open. Pay attention to all intelligence gathering. I'll hand over the south to Sang Wen, and the north to you... It's as if you're now also an outside staff member of the courtyard. It's okay for you to listen to these things today. When Deng Ziyue comes over later, you also have to get close to him. Although he's my subordinate, the two of you have to cooperate in Northern Qi next year. Don't take yourself too seriously, or anything like that."

This was the most urgent idea Fan Xian had after the assassination in the valley. He had to build his own intelligence system. This system didn't need to be too big, but it had to absorb nutrients from the Supervisory Council, because once the Supervisory Council went mute, once it closed itself off to him, Fan Xian was very worried that he would become blind again, just like in the valley.

As he was speaking, someone knocked on the door outside the room, using the Supervisory Council's standard method of reporting to a superior.

Fan Xian responded with a smile.

Deng Ziyue, dressed in black lotus clothes, pushed the door open and knelt down on one knee to salute Fan Xian. After getting up, he looked at Wang Qinian, who was below Fan Xian, and said excitedly, "Lord Wang, you're back in the capital?"

When Fan Xian formed the Qinian Team, he only picked Wang Qinian alone. All the subsequent subordinates were personally chosen by Wang Qinian, and Deng Ziyue was the first person Wang Qinian had chosen to join the team, so he had always regarded Wang Qinian as a superior above a teacher. He couldn't help but be overjoyed to see him today.

"Alright." Fan Xian laughed, "Don't just talk about parting feelings in this building today. Make sure the things that need to be arranged are arranged properly."

He paused and asked, "How many more days until Wan'er and the others arrive?"

"Three more days." Deng Ziyue responded steadily, "Tiger Guards swordsmen are escorting them all the way. Plus, after hearing about the lord's assassination, the states are on high alert and have strengthened their defenses, so there should be no problem."

Fan Xian nodded. He wasn't actually too worried. Assassinations always had to be for profit. Killing himself was too tempting for those people, but assassinating other members of the royal family had no benefit at all.

The room was quiet. Fan Xian was the Director of the Supervisory Council, and the other two were also high-ranking officials equivalent to the heads of the Eight Bureaus. This was the first time Fan Sizhe had participated in a Supervisory Council meeting of this level. He felt that the atmosphere was very different from when he gathered merchants in the north to pick up girls and count money. He couldn't help but feel a little nervous, and subconsciously fiddled with his clumsy fingers.

But Fan Xian became quiet instead.

After a long silence, Wang Qinian asked, "Lord, is someone else coming?"

Fan Xian nodded and frowned slightly, "He should be coming."

Wang Qinian scratched his head and said, "I agreed to meet the Second Young Master here. You notified Ziyue, Lord... Who else?"

Fan Xian laughed, "Now all the forces in Kyoto know that the Baoyue Building is my territory. I don't know how many eyes are staring at this place. The fact that we're talking here will probably be passed on to the various princely mansions in a while. That kid won't relax his surveillance of this place."

He slowly lowered his head and said, "Since he knows I'm here, why wouldn't he come?"

Wang Qinian smelled a different meaning in these words.

...

...

After a long time, the quiet wooden door rang with a steady knock for the third time today.

A young man pushed the door open, dressed in white that was whiter than snow, with a cold and indifferent expression between his eyebrows, and a chilling aura that suppressed the fluttering snowflakes outside the Baoyue Building.

Fan Xian sighed in his heart, the melancholy between his eyebrows swept away, and he smiled, "You came quickly."

The man in white didn't want to joke with him. He said coldly, "As the Director of the Supervisory Council, you should know that your life is not just your own affair."

At this time, everyone in the room quickly got up to salute and greet him, "Greetings, Lord Yan."

The person who came was Fan Xian's brain, the cold and aloof Yan Bingyun. At this time, the five people in the room were all the new generation of influential figures in the Supervisory Council. It was very strange that these five people were also the key figures who had clashed head-on with the Second Prince because of the Baoyue Building incident a year ago. On the night that Fan Xian expelled Fan Sizhe from Kyoto, these five people had all been together.

In addition to Jing Ge of the Black Riders, who was far away in the camp outside the capital, Su Wenmao, who was left in Jiangnan to handle the affairs of the Internal Treasury, plus the Mu brothers outside the room and Hong Changqing, who was filing records in the courtyard, this room contained all of Fan Xian's direct descendants in the Supervisory Council.

Everyone took their seats, and Fan Xian looked at Yan Bingyun with a smile that was not a smile, rubbed his brow with his index finger, and said, "Three things."

Everyone listened attentively, even Yan Bingyun folded his hands slightly.

"First, His Majesty has summoned fourteen young officials to the palace." Fan Xian said calmly, "The court wants to change a batch of blood, but I don't know how much commotion it will cause. Send me the files and information of these fourteen people by tomorrow. Start working on controlling those who can be controlled immediately. For those who can't be controlled, find out the illegal things they did when they were still wearing open-crotch pants... and find a way to control them as well."

Open-crotch pants... naturally meant digging deep into the deepest parts of the officials' souls.

The room was silent, and everyone felt a little uneasy. The court did sometimes need the Supervisory Council to review the past official careers of officials beforehand, but the way His Excellency the Director was instructing them was clearly not for the sake of the court, but...

Fan Xian knew that his confidants had all understood, and he didn't explain much, because because of his assassination, the Emperor would definitely take the opportunity to do something, and this was also a very rare opportunity for him. Except for a few, these young officials didn't have any obvious factions, and because they were clean and didn't have a powerful backer, it gave Fan Xian a chance to secretly interfere in politics.

Yan Bingyun suddenly shook his head and said, "Does mine have to be given too?"

Yan Bingyun's name was also among the fourteen young officials. This was only a matter of a few hours ago. Yan Bingyun knew that Fan Xian had come to the Baoyue Building as soon as he left the palace, and he came over, but he also knew that there were not many things in this Kyoto that could be hidden from Fan Xian's ears.

"Still write a fake one." Fan Xian said unhappily, "Qin Heng doesn't need it. The files in the courtyard are clear. The focus is on He Zongwei. This person... it seems that His Majesty appreciates him very much."

He then sneered, "But... I don't appreciate him very much."

...

...

"The second thing." Fan Xian said softly, "There are spies in the courtyard. After Zhu Ge's death, the internal correction seems to be weaker. Find him out. I don't want any more problems in the future."

Yan Bingyun smiled and said nothing. But Fan Xian didn't smile at all and glared at him.

"The third thing." He looked at Yan Bingyun and said, "Prepare some paper and prepare to clean up the mess for the courtyard... I'm going to kill a few people."

"Kill who?" Yan Bingyun looked directly at Fan Xian's pressing gaze and asked calmly, "If it's a high-ranking official, I object. After this assassination, His Majesty can no longer tolerate it. If you act rashly, it won't help matters."

Fan Xian lowered his head slightly, subconsciously rubbed his brother's head beside him, raised his head and said, "Killing people is not the purpose, nor is it a means of obtaining some benefit, it's just a warning and a provocation... You must also understand one or two of Director Chen's intentions. You should know that adding fuel to the fire at this time is beneficial to the overall situation."

The others couldn't understand, nor did they know what Director Chen's so-called overall situation meant, but Yan Bingyun tasted bitterness in his mouth and said with a bitter smile, "If you want to make trouble, then make trouble, but don't associate it with some overall situation if it's just childish revenge and venting anger."

"I just want revenge." Fan Xian squinted and said, "You are all my people, and the ones who died in the valley are also my people. Since my people died, their people must also die."

He finally instructed these most trusted subordinates, "On the day before Wan'er returns to the capital, I will hold a banquet at the Baoyue Building, inviting His Highness the Crown Prince, the First Prince, the Second Prince, Qin Heng, and the two Vice Ministers of the Grand Council... You prepare for it."