Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

As dawn broke and the fog in Kyoto had not yet completely dissipated, there was already some activity within the Fan residence.

Fan Xian, sporting faint dark circles under his eyes, pushed open the door.

The night of sitting still did not make him look haggard; on the contrary, it made his eyes appear even brighter, like a newly sharpened blade.

He couldn't figure out Li Chengze's trump card, but he figured out one thing—it's better to take the initiative than to sit and wait for death.

Since the muddy waters of Kyoto are already knee-deep, why not dive down and see what kind of monsters and demons lurk beneath the surface?

Inside the main hall, Fan Jian was carrying a bowl of hot porridge. When he saw Fan Xian enter, he paused slightly.

"Have you thought it through?" Fan Jian put down his bowl of porridge, his tone calm, but his eyes revealed a hint of concern that was not easily detected.

Fan Xian pulled out a chair and sat down. Without any ceremony, he grabbed a meat bun, took a bite, and said, though his words were muffled, his tone was firm: "I've thought it through. Father, I want to enter the court."

Fan Jian frowned slightly, tapping his fingers lightly on the table: "Do you know what kind of place this imperial court is? It's a bloodless battlefield. Although you made a name for yourself at the Imperial Academy yesterday, you also completely offended the Crown Prince. The Second Prince seems to be protecting you, but in reality, he's putting you on the hot seat. He's the one who wants you dead the most. Going to court now means you're right in the center of the vortex."

"I know." Fan Xian swallowed the food in his mouth, raised his head, and looked intently at Fan Jian. "But some things can't be avoided. When His Majesty arranged my engagement with Lin Wan'er, I was already in the vortex. However, since His Majesty has thrown me into the game, he certainly won't treat me like a mere pawn to be discarded at will."

And I didn't intend to be just a pawn crossing the river. I want to know how my mother died, I want to know who is human and who is ghost in this capital, and even more so... what I possess that His Majesty would value.”

Fan Jian looked at the young man in front of him who bore a striking resemblance to that woman, remained silent for a long time, and finally let out a long sigh.

"So be it, a fledgling eagle must eventually fly on its own." Fan Jian took out a waist token from his pocket and pushed it in front of Fan Xian. "This is a waist token from the Ministry of Revenue. If you need it..."

Fan Xian shook his head, pushed the waist token back, and said with a smile, "Father, please keep this waist token. Since His Majesty has set up this scheme, he will naturally arrange a position for me. If I rely on your protection to get in, I will be at a disadvantage and will not be able to see His Majesty's true intentions."

A hint of appreciation flashed in Fan Jian's eyes, and he nodded: "In that case, be careful in everything. Remember, in Kyoto, sometimes staying alive is more important than anything else."

In the following days, Fan Xian did not rush to seek opportunities elsewhere, but instead stayed at the Imperial Academy to "teach and educate people".

Of course, his "teaching" method was somewhat unusual. He didn't lecture on scriptures every day; instead, when the mood struck him, he would write one or two shocking poems on the blackboard or tell a few bizarre stories.

"Ascending the Heights", "Spring View", "The Brocade Zither"...

One after another, timeless masterpieces, unheard of in the world, spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Kyoto through the mouths of the students of the Imperial Academy.

The name "Poet Immortal" spread like wildfire.

Fan Xian knew very well that in this era, reputation was the best protection. The more famous he was, the easier it would be for Emperor Qing to use him, and the more the Crown Prince would be wary of him. As for that unfathomable Second Prince... he might also reveal more of his true colors.

Until this day, a gold-embossed invitation was delivered to Fan Xian.

"A poetry gathering at Prince Jing's residence?" Fan Xian looked at the words on the invitation, a playful smile curling at the corner of his lips. "It seems someone else has taken the first step for me."

……

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

Emperor Qing, dressed in a loose white robe with his hair casually draped over his shoulders, was bent over, polishing the arrowhead in his hand.

"Your Majesty," Eunuch Hou said cautiously as he entered with a secret report in his hands, "The news from the Imperial Academy is that Fan Xian has been very well-behaved these past few days, spending his time either writing poetry or sleeping."

"Content?" Emperor Qing blew away the iron filings on the arrowhead, a half-smile playing on his lips. "If this kid is content, then there's no one unconventional in the capital. That poem 'Bring in the Wine,' I read it. Arrogant, very arrogant. 'Heaven has endowed me with talents, which must be put to use.' Heh, he's telling me that I must make good use of his talents."

Eunuch Hou said with a smile, "Young Master Fan is exceptionally talented; he is indeed a rare gem."

"A capable man?" Emperor Qing squinted, pointing the arrow at the sunlight streaming through the window. "He's a capable man, but also a whetstone. How's Chengqian doing?"

Mentioning the Crown Prince, Eunuch Hou bowed even lower: "Your Majesty, after His Highness the Crown Prince returned from the Imperial Academy... he threw a huge tantrum and smashed a lot of things. I heard... he also scolded Guo Baokun."

"Useless." Emperor Qing coldly uttered two words. "After being the crown prince for so many years and fighting with the second prince for so many years, you still wear your heart on your sleeve. You lost your composure after being provoked by a few words from the second prince. Your composure is not even as good as that country bumpkin Fan Xian."

Eunuch Hou dared not reply, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Where's the second prince?" Emperor Qing suddenly asked, his tone now tinged with inquiry. "What's he doing?"

"Second Prince..." Eunuch Hou hesitated for a moment before saying, "These past few days, besides reading and eating grapes at home, the Second Prince has also... been to Zuixianju."

"Drunken Immortal Abode?" Emperor Qing raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "This second son of mine is getting more and more carefree. Let him be. I want to see what kind of trouble these monkeys can cause me."

……

The Eastern Palace.

"Bastards! They're all bastards!"

Li Chengqian swept the precious porcelain on the table to the ground, shards flying everywhere. The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs were so frightened that they all knelt down, trembling with fear.

"That Fan Xian is nothing but a country bumpkin, yet he dared to openly humiliate me at the Imperial Academy! And the second brother... Li Chengze!" Li Chengqian's face was twisted, his eyes filled with resentment and venom. "He actually dared to say in front of so many people what I am?!"

Guo Baokun knelt on the ground, his face still covered in plaster, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, please calm down! Your Highness, please calm down! That Second Prince is arrogant and domineering; His Majesty will surely take notice. Now that Fan Xian's reputation has soared, if we make a move now, it will likely invite criticism..."

"Dissent? I am the Crown Prince! The future Emperor! Do I need to consider whose opinion to kill a subject?" Li Chengqian roared, but then, as if he had thought of something, he slumped back into his chair, panting heavily.

Although he was short-tempered, he wasn't stupid.

The Emperor's attitude is ambiguous, the Second Prince wields immense power, and then there's Fan Xian...

"The poetry gathering at Prince Jing's residence..." A sinister glint flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes. "Guo Baokun, make the arrangements. Since he made me lose face at the Imperial Academy, I'll ruin his reputation at the poetry gathering! If a literary contest doesn't work, then let's use force! I refuse to believe that this country bumpkin can turn the world upside down!"

……

Just as various forces were stirring up trouble, Li Chengze arrived at the banks of the Liujing River in a low-key carriage.

Ryūkyō River, Kyoto's most bustling den of extravagance. Painted boats lined the river, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and the aroma of cosmetics and fine wine permeated the atmosphere.

Zuixianju is the most dazzling pearl on the Liujing River.

Li Chengze was still dressed in purple today, with a half-silver mask covering his face, revealing only a pair of eyes that seemed to be smiling but weren't, and a mouth that always had a lazy smile on it.

He didn't bring Xie Bi'an with him, but only two assassins from the Luo Wang organization dressed in black and with a restrained aura. Although they were only at the Earth rank, they were still top-notch fighters in the martial arts world.

"Sir, our Drunken Immortal Inn is fully booked today, you see..." The pimp at the door saw that Li Chengze was a stranger and was covering his face, and was about to step forward to stop him.

Li Chengze casually tossed a gold ingot, which landed precisely in the pimp's arms.

"I want to see Si Lili."

The pimp weighed the gold ingot in his hand, his face immediately plastered with a fawning smile, but then a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face: "Sir, Miss Lili is our top courtesan, she rarely sees customers, and besides, there are already several distinguished guests in line today..."

Li Chengze didn't speak, but simply tilted his head slightly.

A man in black behind him stepped forward instantly, and a chilling killing intent enveloped the pimp.

The pimp felt his whole body stiffen, as if he were being stared at by a venomous snake, and even breathing became difficult.

"Lead the way." Li Chengze's voice was icy.

The pimp's legs went weak with fear. He didn't dare utter a single word, and hurriedly nodded and bowed, "Yes, yes, sir, please come upstairs. I'll go inform them right away!"

Inside an elegant private room on the top floor of Zuixianju.

Si Lili was sitting in front of the dressing table, looking at her stunningly beautiful face in the mirror, but a trace of weariness and worry flashed in her eyes.

She was a spy from Northern Qi, infiltrated into Southern Qing, and also the most sought-after courtesan at the Drunken Immortal Abode. She handled daily tasks like welcoming guests, navigating the social circles of powerful figures, and gathering intelligence with ease. The main problem was that she had a feeling that ever since she arrived in the capital, a pair of eyes had been secretly watching her.

"Miss, a distinguished guest has specifically requested to see you." The pimp's trembling voice came from outside the door.

Si Lili frowned slightly, composed herself, and regained her charming and alluring demeanor, saying softly, "Let him in."

The door opened, and Li Chengze slowly entered.

He glanced around the boudoir, which was filled with the fragrance of his daughter, and finally his gaze fell on Si Lili, a playful smile curving his lips.

"She truly is a rare beauty; no wonder she can bewitch the men of Kyoto."

Si Lili rose, gave a graceful bow, and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Young master, you flatter me. May I ask what brings you here so late at night?"

Li Chengze did not answer, but walked straight to the table and sat down. He poured himself a cup of tea, smelled it, and said, "It's good tea, but it's a pity that the person who brewed it is not at peace."

Si Lili's heart skipped a beat, but she remained outwardly calm. She walked to sit opposite Li Chengze to conceal her unease and said with a smile, "Young master is too kind. Lili is here at Zuixianju, welcoming and seeing off guests every day. If my mind were not at peace, it would have been in turmoil long ago."

"Yeah?"

Li Chengze put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and through the mask, his eyes seemed to see right through people's hearts.

"The Northern Qi spy, Miss Si Lili."

boom!

A simple sentence struck Si Lili like a thunderbolt!

The smile on her face froze instantly, her pupils contracted sharply, and her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched a poisoned needle tightly. Her whole body tensed, and her killing intent erupted in an instant.

"What are you saying, young master? I don't understand." Si Lili tried to remain calm, but her voice was already trembling slightly.

"Don't understand?" Li Chengze chuckled, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "Then I'll say something you can understand."

"Is your younger brother still a hostage in the Northern Qi palace?"

Si Lili's face turned deathly pale instantly, and the murderous intent in her eyes was replaced by terror. This was her greatest weakness, and the fundamental reason why she had to serve the Northern Qi royal family.

"Who...who are you?!" Si Lili suddenly stood up, staring intently at Li Chengze, her voice shrill.

Li Chengze did not answer her question, but instead slowly took out a token from his pocket and gently placed it on the table.

It was a black iron plaque with a ferocious spider engraved on it.

"The Net".

Li Chengze uttered two words calmly, "Have you heard of it?"

Si Lili looked at the token and trembled as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

The name Luo Wang caused a bloodbath in the martial arts world and the imperial court many years ago. It is the number one assassin organization in the martial arts world with a Grandmaster and its assassins are all over the world. How could she, as an intelligence agent, not know about it?

"Are you from Luo Wang?" Si Lili was secretly wary, but not very afraid, because in Daqing, Northern Qi spies and Luo Wang assassins were treated the same.

"I am the master of the net."

Li Chengze's cold bronze mask looked particularly ferocious in the candlelight.

His voice was deep and hoarse, deliberately disguised, yet exuding a chilling aura of power.

"The Lord of the Net...?"

Si Lili's pupils contracted sharply. She had imagined countless possibilities, but she never expected that the person who controlled the assassin organization that struck fear into the hearts of the martial arts world and the imperial court would actually appear in front of her in person.

"What do you want?"

"It's simple." The man in black leaned forward slightly, his deep eyes beneath the mask seeming to pierce through people's hearts. "I want you to be my dog."

"You can save my brother?" A glimmer of hope flashed in Si Lili's eyes, but it quickly turned into deep suspicion. "Why should I believe you?"

"You're not in a position to negotiate with me right now."

Li Chengze flashed and instantly appeared in front of Si Lili, his hand gripping her slender neck like an iron clamp.

A terrifying sense of suffocation instantly enveloped Si Lili; it was the very aura of death.

In the face of this mysterious man in black, her proud methods and poison skills seemed like a joke.

The man in black spoke indifferently, as if stating a given fact: "If I want to, there is no place in this world that the Net cannot infiltrate, and no person that the Net cannot rescue."

As he spoke, he casually tossed a jade pendant onto the table.

The moment Si Lili saw the jade pendant, she completely broke down.

Those were her brother's belongings!