Zhu Tian: A journey of spiritual practice starting from Joy of Life

Chapter 194 The Choice of Succession
"Brother Wang, you're too kind."

Leng Feibai said calmly, "These are just minor matters. It's just that we have distinguished guests staying at the Fan residence, so it's inconvenient to entertain them. Please make yourself at home, Brother Wang."

Fan Xian's heart was in turmoil upon hearing Leng Feibai's words.

With the added threat of hidden experts lurking in the shadows, Fan Xian quickly realized something and hurriedly said, "Brother Wang, this..."

Wang Shisanlang wasn't stupid, and readily replied, "I was just about to take a stroll around the area, so I won't bother you any longer."

After saying that, Wang Shisanlang picked up his luggage and walked away into the distance.

After watching Wang Shisanlang leave, Leng Feibai turned to Fan Xian and asked, "What's going on? Why is Si Gu Jian's closed-door disciple following you?"

"A closed-door disciple!"

Fan Xian swallowed hard and said, "Brother, you mean, Wang Shisanlang is one of the twelve disciples of Si Gu Jian..."

"No!"

Leng Feibai shook his head and said, "Although Wang Shisanlang is also Si Gu Jian's disciple, he is not among the twelve disciples. But in terms of aptitude, Wang Shisanlang's talent is even above Yun Zhilan's. I guess Si Gu Jian sent him to travel incognito in the hope that he could find his own path and become the second Grandmaster to lead the Sword Pavilion after him."

After saying that, Leng Feibai couldn't help but look at Fan Xian.

In the original novel, Si Gu Jian and Ku He had a simple purpose in having Wang Shisan Lang and Haitang Duoduo follow Fan Xian: they hoped that these two disciples could find the opportunity to advance to the Grandmaster level through Fan Xian, just as they had when they met Ye Qingmei.

But becoming a Grandmaster isn't easy, and we don't know how the TV series portrayed Leng Feibai.

However, in the original novel, Fan Xian's final strength was only on par with Hong Sixiang.

It was only after the original author made two revisions that Fan Xian combined the strengths of the four Grandmasters to advance to the Grandmaster realm, becoming the only Grandmaster in the world.

"elder brother!"

Fan Xian couldn't help but ask, "Has His Majesty come to Danzhou?"

Leng Feibai nodded. Upon seeing this, Fan Xian felt as if he had swallowed an ice cube, stuck in his throat, unable to spit it out or swallow it down.

"No, didn't His Majesty say he was going to Mount Dadong?"

Fan Xian lowered his voice and said, "What is he doing in Danzhou!"

Before Leng Feibai could speak, a figure walked out of the Fan residence and said, "Young Master Fan, now that you're back, why don't you go back to the residence and visit your family?"

"Eunuch Hong!"

Fan Xian looked at Hong Sixiang standing at the gate and said with a helpless smile, "If you're here, then His Majesty must be here too."

Hong Sixiang didn't say much, turned around and stepped back to the door, making a gesture of invitation to enter with a blank expression.

Fan Xian sighed, then turned to Teng Zijing, who was waiting nearby, and said, "Old Teng, I'm going home to check on things first. I'll come over to have a drink with you later!"

Teng Zijing nodded and said, "Okay, I'll prepare food and drinks for you at home!"

Fan Xian turned around and helped Lin Wan'er jump off the carriage. The four of them quickly walked into the Fan residence.

As Fan Xian continued on his journey, he felt that the once tranquil Fan residence was now extremely oppressive and stifling.

Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that many experts have been hidden within the Fan residence to protect Emperor Qing's safety.

Seeing this, Fan Xian let Wang Qinian wander around the Fan residence for a while.

The three of them went directly to the small courtyard where Old Madam Fan usually rested. As soon as they entered, they saw Emperor Qing and Old Madam Fan sitting in chairs, silently flipping through the books in their hands.

Fan Xian looked at the two people in the room, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face. He quickly led Lin Wan'er forward, knelt down, and said, "Your Majesty, you, how could you..." "You brat!"

Emperor Qing put down his book and said irritably, "What, am I not allowed to come? I should ask you, how did you manage to handle the affairs of the three major districts in Jiangnan, and end up in Danzhou?"

After hearing this, Fan Xian scratched his head and said, "The matter in Jiangnan has been settled. The confiscated property of the Ming family and the proceeds from the auction of the goods in the Imperial Treasury have been escorted back to the capital by Shadow and Yan Bingyun."

"You sure know how to slack off!"

After listening, Emperor Qing said irritably, "These two sums of money are extremely important to the national treasury, yet you didn't personally escort them..."

Before Emperor Qing could finish speaking, Old Madam Fan's soft voice rang out, "Your Majesty, I am a little tired. If you wish to reprimand your ministers, please do so outside! Fei Bai, help me back to my room to rest!"

Leng Feibai nodded and helped Grandma Fan back into the house.

Seeing that his two saviors had left the room, Fan Xian had no choice but to steel himself and say, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please punish me!"

"You'll be fined one month's salary!"

After Emperor Qing finished speaking, he looked at Lin Wan'er beside him and said, "Alright, you two get up. Where is that brat Chengping?"

Fan Xian helped Lin Wan'er to her feet and quickly said, "Your Majesty has returned to the capital with the people from the Surveillance Bureau!"

Emperor Qing said nothing after hearing this, but turned to Lin Wan'er and said, "Wan'er, go inside and keep my mother company. Have Leng Feibai come over! I have something to say to these two boys!"

Lin Wan'er said nothing, bowed, and went inside to bring Leng Feibai out.

Emperor Qing said nothing and led the two directly to the Fan family garden.

After a moment, Emperor Qing turned to the two of them and said, "Yan Bingyun should have told you everything that happened in the capital, right?"

Before Fan Xian could speak, Leng Feibai quickly said, "Young Master Yan only handed over what His Majesty entrusted to us; he didn't tell us anything else!"

"It's the same whether you say it or not!"

Emperor Qing pointed southwest and said, "Thirty miles away over there, there is a mountain called Da Dong Mountain. It is the highest mountain in Qing Kingdom, and even in the whole world."

Leng Feibai and Fan Xian remained unmoved after hearing this, while Emperor Qing continued to speak to himself, "I had high hopes for Cheng Qian, but unfortunately his personality only allows him to be a ruler who maintains the status quo, not a king who conquers and expands the territory. So I used my second son to temper him, hoping that he could grow up and become the person I expected him to be. Unfortunately, he did such a thing, which completely disappointed me."

Leng Feibai and Fan Xian exchanged a glance after hearing this, but did not say anything.

"Fan Xian!"

Emperor Qing turned around and asked, "I ask you, now that the Crown Prince is about to be deposed, who do you think is more likely to succeed him as heir apparent?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Xian was completely stunned. After thinking for a moment, he reluctantly said, "Second Prince?"

"The second son is indeed ambitious, but unfortunately..."

A hint of melancholy flashed across Emperor Qing's brow. "But if he ascends the throne, all my sons, including you, will die at his hands."

Fan Xian breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and gave a more relaxed answer, "Your Highness?"

"The eldest son's bloodline is impure, and he only knows how to fight wars; he has no ability to govern a country!"

Emperor Qing said helplessly, "As for the third son, he is timid and naive by nature. Let alone being the emperor, he would not even be suitable to be a county magistrate."

Fan Xian was stunned upon hearing this, and said, half-sulking and half-feigning ignorance, "Does His Majesty intend to pass the throne to Li Hongcheng instead of Prince Jing's heir?"

(End of this chapter)