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

Chapter 67: Qingguo Guest Official Temporarily Endures

"As expected of the fourth Grandmaster, he is far stronger than Si Gu Jian and Ku He."

Leng Feibai was just beginning to wonder when Fan Xian's voice rang out again, "Your Majesty, I'm here. Are you there?"

Leng Feibai's face was full of an expression of disbelief. He quietly nudged Fan Xian with his elbow, signaling him to shut up. Eunuch Hou also signaled the two of them to kneel down.

Fan Xian, however, was like a chicken with its blood pumped up, and he kept talking.

"Your Majesty, my brother and I are waiting outside."

"Should I kneel, Your Majesty?"

"Do you want to kneel?"

A rhetorical question was asked, causing the three of them to look back.

Fan Xian said subconsciously, "I should kneel down, but I don't want to."

Leng Feibai bowed to Emperor Qing, but stood straight with his legs.

Emperor Qing, wearing a black robe with a red collar, came up to Fan Xian, patted his shoulder and said, "If you don't want to, don't kneel!"

After saying this, Emperor Qing turned to Leng Feibai and said, "You can also excuse yourself. Did you kill the assassin outside the door?"

Leng Feibai straightened his back and said hesitantly, "Is what I did wrong?"

“That was very well done.”

Emperor Qing turned and said, "Do you two know what happened to that assassin?"

Fan Xian shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

Leng Feibai knew it in his heart, but pretended not to know.

After all, a corrupt official once said that when the boss wants to show off, the subordinates must never steal the limelight.

Emperor Qing said bluntly, "The assassin was from Northern Qi. However, it was I who instructed the Inspection Bureau to lure him into the palace to assassinate him. However, before Gong Dian could make a move, you killed him."

Leng Feibai listened with a blank expression and said nothing more.

Fan Xian opened his mouth and said, "The Northern Qi assassins' invasion of the palace is a perfect excuse to attack Qi."

Emperor Qing smiled again after hearing this. "But the traces are still too obvious. But now that the assassination on Niulan Street has occurred, it is even more legitimate for Qing to attack Northern Qi. And you..."

Emperor Qing raised his finger, pointed at Leng Feibai and Fan Xian, and said, "Fan Xian, you have made a great contribution by capturing Northern Qi spy Si Lili. I appoint you as Assistant Law Officer of the Taichang Temple."

After hearing this, Fan Xian quickly asked, "What rank is he?"

Emperor Qing had a blank expression on his face, and uttered two words, "Eighth Rank."

"It's a bit small...ah!"

As soon as Fan Xian finished his disdainful voice, Leng Feibai raised his hand and pinched the soft flesh on his back. At the same time, Eunuch Hou whispered, "Thank you!"

Watching Leng Feibai's little gesture, a smile flashed across Emperor Qing's face before he said, "As for you, Leng Feibai, I originally wanted to give you an official position, but a letter from your mother arrived earlier. She said she didn't want you to serve in the court. I didn't want to embarrass her, so I had no choice but to appoint you as a guest official of the Qing Kingdom. Although you won't have a rank, you can freely enter and exit the Imperial Palace and the Inspection Office with your badge. In the future, you don't have to call yourself a commoner when you see me."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Leng Feibai bowed to Emperor Qing, but when he lowered his head to look at the ground, a flash of coldness appeared in his eyes.

At this time, Eunuch Hou also handed the token to Leng Feibai, and Leng Feibai put it away.

Emperor Qing looked at Fan Xian again and said, "Fan Xian, you interrogated Si Lili last night. You should have figured out who the murderer is!"

"It's the second son of the Prime Minister's Mansion!"

Fan Xian knew that Lin Gong's affairs were known to the whole city, so there was no need to hide it anymore, so he might as well just admit it.

"Minister Lin is your future father-in-law, after all. I've already dealt with Lin Gong, and he won't threaten you anymore. It would be better if we leave this matter at that. Otherwise, your marriage to Lin Wan'er will be fraught with difficulties."

"If Teng Zijing hadn't been in trouble, I wouldn't have let it go so easily!"

This thought flashed through Fan Xian's mind, and he lowered his head and said, "I understand!" Seeing this, Emperor Qing's eyes flashed with a hint of pride, and then he said, "You two came here so early in the morning, and you haven't had breakfast yet. Eunuch Hou, take them downstairs to eat. Don't let Fan Jian accuse me of being stingy and not even providing a meal!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Leng Feibai and Fan Xian bowed to Emperor Qing again and retreated.

The place where Eunuch Hou arranged for the two to stay was a side hall.

Steaming white porridge was placed on the table in the hall, surrounded by several plates of cakes, steamed buns, fried fish, pickles and other things.

"His Majesty has ordered that you two may leave the palace after breakfast!"

After Eunuch Hou finished speaking, he bowed to the two of them. Leng Feibai returned the bow and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Hou. Why don't you stay and have some food?"

"This can't happen!"

Eunuch Hou said in panic, "This is the breakfast that His Majesty has given to the two young masters. How can this old servant dare to enjoy it? I will withdraw first."

After saying this, Eunuch Hou turned and walked out of the side hall.

When Fan Xian saw Eunuch Hou leave, a hint of anger slowly rose in his eyes.

"Hold it!"

Leng Feibai raised his hand and pressed Fan Xian's shoulder, whispering, "This is the Imperial Palace. The slightest mistake could lead to death. Don't disregard the safety of those around you for a moment of pleasure!"

Fan Xian's body swayed slightly, "Brother, but I can't help it!"

"Then turn your anger into appetite and eat your fill first!"

After Leng Feibai finished speaking, he picked up a steamed bun and put it into his mouth.

Seeing this, Fan Xian gradually calmed down. Leng Feibai was right. What was the point of venting his anger now? It would only bring trouble to the people around him.

Thinking of this, Fan Xian followed Leng Feibai's words, turned his anger into appetite, and stuffed the food on the table into his mouth desperately.

"Be polite and don't choke!"

As Leng Feibai spoke, he filled a bowl of porridge and drank it silently.

Fan Xian nodded, ate two more pieces of dessert, and said, "Brother, I..."

"Let's talk about it when we get back!"

Leng Feibai pointed at the surrounding walls and then pointed at his own ears, indicating that walls have ears.

Fan Xian nodded and could only take out his anger on the food.

Leng Feibai accompanied Fan Xian and watched him eat most of the food on the table.

As the food dwindled, Fan Xian gradually regained his composure. He wiped his mouth and said, "Brother, let's leave. If we don't leave now, I'm afraid we'll both end up like Lin Chong!"

Leng Feibai nodded and pulled Fan Xian out of the palace.

What surprised the two was that they did not encounter any obstacles along the way and left the palace very smoothly.

Not long after the two left the palace, Fan Xian took Leng Feibai to a roadside tea stall and ordered a pot of tea.

"Why, you didn't eat enough in the palace, so you came here to drink tea!"

Listening to Leng Feibai's teasing voice, Fan Xian shook his head and whispered, "Brother, what do you think His Majesty means? He wants to protect..."

"Be careful!"

Leng Feibai took a sip of tea, used the Emperor's Qi-gazing technique to check his surroundings, and whispered, "Even if it's just to maintain the royal family's reputation, he must get rid of this person. Otherwise, if word gets out that the princess is colluding with two enemy powers to kill her future son-in-law, then our emperor will lose a lot of face. You may not know this, but Li Yunrui and the crown prince attacked you once when you first arrived in Kyoto. But His Majesty stopped them!"

Fan Xian was stunned upon hearing this. Leng Feibai looked around again, and after confirming that no one was paying attention, he whispered, "The day you first arrived in Kyoto, when Eunuch Hou drove you to the Qing Temple..."

Leng Feibai calmly told Fan Xian step by step how Li Yunrui and the prince used the maids to ruin Fan Xian's reputation, but were stopped by Emperor Qing, including the fact that Emperor Qing ordered the maids to be killed.

　Thanks to the book friend 20240315402189 for the reward of 588 reading coins. The boss is generous.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)