Under One Person: Starting from the Inheritance of Gods

Chapter 388 Ye Ling'er, forced to take up her post, this is humiliation!
"inability!"

"Incompetent! Utterly incompetent!!!"

Emperor Qing, enraged, pushed the table to the ground, causing the writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and other porcelain items to fall to the floor with a clattering sound.

Emperor Qing's eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles under them, as he stared at Eunuch Hou like a rabid, hungry wolf.

It's been three days!
It's been three days!
That damned thunder went on for three days straight.

Every night, just as he was about to fall asleep, he would be startled awake, and then he would be too afraid to go back to sleep, fearing that he would die at the hands of that unknown weapon at any moment.

"The Surveillance Bureau and the Imperial Guards are all a bunch of incompetent good-for-nothings. They searched the entire city, but couldn't find a single person. What use are they to me? They're just wasting my time!"

After Emperor Qing had finished venting his anger, Eunuch Hou remained silent until he boldly stepped forward and helped the emperor to the bedside. He said cautiously, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Be careful not to hurt your health."

"The Oversight Council has indeed done its best, but with Director Chen absent, there's no one to oversee the situation..."

Emperor Qing raised his head and looked at Eunuch Hou with a sharp gaze. Eunuch Hou lowered his head guiltily, feeling that the few silver notes in his arms were burning hot.

Fortunately, Emperor Qing did not pursue the matter further, but instead said, "Go, order the Surveillance Bureau to recall Chen Pingping to the capital!"

"Yes!"

Eunuch Hou lowered his head and quickly walked out of the hall with small, quick steps. The moment he stepped out of the hall, he couldn't help but let out a long breath, and his body felt a little weak.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; the current Emperor Qing is more like a mad tiger, and you never know when you might fall.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, then quickly walked out of the palace gate to deliver the order, where someone was already waiting in a corner outside the palace gate.

"How is it? Has His Majesty punished him?" the man asked hurriedly.

Eunuch Hou shook his head, still shaken, and said, "Lord Zhu, if something like this happens again, I won't dare to do it again."

"His Majesty has issued an imperial edict to recall Dean Chen to the capital. Lord Zhu, please give the order as soon as possible!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ge breathed a sigh of relief and thanked him repeatedly.

After all, the Supervisory Board has not achieved anything in this mission, and it is really hard to explain. With the current tense situation in Kyoto, only the Director can take up this mantle.

------

Besides Emperor Qing being unable to sleep, those who were involved in Ye Qingmei's affair back then, such as the Empress and the Empress Dowager, were also filled with anxiety.

However, none of this mattered to Fan Xian. During his recovery, he slept exceptionally well, falling asleep soon after sunset and sleeping until dawn. He even gained a few pounds, and his already plump face began to show signs of becoming even more chubby, with a double chin appearing on his face.

"Ruo Ruo, is there any special news or gossip in Kyoto?" Fan Xian asked, bored in bed.

"News gossip?!" Fan Ruoruo asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Oh, it's just something that's been circulating and discussed a lot."

Fan Ruoruo thought for a moment: "In the past few days, the Surveillance Bureau and the Imperial Guards have been dispatched one after another to seal off the city gates and impose martial law on the whole city. Father specifically instructed us not to go out, but I don't quite know why."

"However, not long ago, a literary genius emerged. He was handsome and seemed like a celestial being descended to earth. He wrote a wonderful poem every day and spent his nights in brothels, which made many courtesans jealous of him. They all said he was a romantic and talented man."

Fan Xian curled his lip and said, "Even a lyricist who indulges in pleasures can't compare to Liu Yong, Liu Sanbian?"

Who is Liu Yong?

“A white-robed minister-like figure whom you do not recognize.”

"Oh!"

Fan Ruoruo continued, "His Majesty wanted to invite him to the palace, but that poet didn't even give His Majesty face. He directly turned the wind and rain in the street into a dragon and killed many of the soldiers who were delivering the decree."

"I heard that even Lord Ye Chong, the garrison commander of Kyoto, was injured. Lord Ye is a top-level ninth-rank expert."

Fan Ruoruo leaned closer and whispered, "There are even rumors that this 'Poet Immortal' might be a Grandmaster!"

"Grandmaster?"

Fan Xian looked at Fan Ruoruo with surprise and asked with interest, "What's this poet's name?"

"His name seems to be Meng Fan."

"Who? Who are you talking about?"

"Meng Fan, is that a strange name?"

"No surprise, it's a great name, excellent!"

Fan Xian's lips twitched. He had thought that Meng Fan's whereabouts would be difficult to find, but who knew that he would find out so easily with just a casual question.

Moreover, spending the night in a brothel, treating it like a hotel, and having the most beautiful courtesans as his companions every day—it has to be said, this fellow villager of his really knows how to have fun!
If it were Meng Fan, it wouldn't be surprising if he dared to refuse Emperor Qing's summons despite his strength.

However, what Fan Xian didn't notice was that when Fan Ruoruo mentioned Meng Fan, a look of longing and admiration appeared in her eyes.

-----

That night, at the Fan residence.

After guarding Fan Xian for five or six days, Fan Ruoruo finally couldn't take it anymore and went back to her room to rest.

Just as Fan Xian was about to fall asleep, a dark figure climbed through the window and entered Fan Xian's room.

"Teng Zijing, it's you?"

Fan Xian put down the poisoned dagger in his hand, somewhat surprised.

Teng Zijing's face darkened slightly: "I heard you were injured, so I came to see you!"

"That doesn't seem right. You must have something else to tell me. I remember you said before that you had your own things to do and didn't want to get involved with me."

To everyone's surprise, Teng Zijing knelt down on one knee and asked in a low voice, "Do you have the waist token of the Supervisory Council?"

"Have!"

"Will you go to the Examiner's Office after you recover from your injuries?"

“Probably!”

"Wait, what do you mean by that?" Fan Xian asked, puzzled.

Teng Zijing's expression was stern: "The Supervisory Council has case files on file. If you give me one of the less important documents, I'll give you my life!"

"From this day forward, I am your servant, and my life and death are in your hands!"

Fan Xian pursed his lips; with his modern mindset, he was unwilling to do something that would make others his servants.

Through his previous interactions with Teng Zijing, Fan Xian had come to understand him to some extent. He knew that Teng Zijing was proud and would never be someone who wanted to be a servant.

He was even more curious about what could have caused such a tough and unyielding man to kneel so humbly before him.

Unless you're completely desperate!
Fan Xian stepped forward to help him up, and then, through general questioning, learned the real reason.

"So, you're looking for your wife and son?" Fan Xian asked thoughtfully.

"The Investigation Bureau must have records of my family's whereabouts. If you can help me find them, my life is yours," Teng Zijing solemnly promised.

"I don't want your life, but I will help you!"

After Teng Zijing left, Fan Xian thought he could finally get a good night's sleep, but then a voice suddenly rang out.

"You're badly injured!"

Wu Zhu, clutching the iron rod, said with an expressionless face. "Uncle Wu Zhu!" Fan Xian exclaimed joyfully, hurriedly getting out of bed. "Why are you here?"

"I've been here these past few days, but there are guards in your room, so it's not convenient for me to come in."

Wu Zhu's voice sounded flat and emotionless, but Fan Xian sensed a deep concern from him.

Then, Wu Zhu seemed to want to explain: "He was there that day, so it wasn't convenient for me to go in, so... I'm sorry, it won't happen again next time, I promise!"

Wu Zhu gripped the iron rod tightly. He had made the same mistake a second time. He couldn't express his remorse in words, but he silently showed it through his actions.

The "he" refers to Emperor Qing. Fan Xian knew this in his heart. When he thought that his real father was Emperor Qing, he naturally wouldn't blame Wu Zhu, who was by his mother's side and who had intentionally concealed his whereabouts.

"Do you want me to kill that white ape for you?"

Fan Xian quickly waved his hand: "No need, no need, don't bother with it. Besides, I actually benefited from this misfortune and broke through to the ninth rank. In the end, I should thank that white ape."

He knew in his heart that the Zhu Yan was definitely raised by Meng Fan. With Meng Fan's unpredictable strength, Fan Xian was really afraid that Wu Zhu would not be able to defeat him.

Immediately afterwards, to prove that he had recovered well, Fan Xian patted his chest, but this only caused him to cough.

"You just focus on recovering, I'll be right here with you!"

After saying that, Wu Zhu flashed to the rooftop at an extremely fast speed and then disappeared.

------

Let’s talk about the other side.

After Ye Zhong, the garrison commander of Kyoto, was injured and carried home, the entire Ye residence was filled with mourning.

After several days of treatment, and with the help of countless skilled doctors from Kyoto, coupled with the terrifying vitality inherent in a ninth-rank master, Ye Chong was finally able to save his life.

However, Ye Zhong's injuries were also extremely terrible. He had a penetrating wound in his chest, and his hands, which he used to practice the Ye family's ultimate technique, the Great Coffin Splitting Technique, were also broken and almost crippled.

Looking at her pale and weak father, Ye Ling'er, driven by her impulsive nature, finally made a decision.

Nighttime at Zuixianju.

After giving the Surveillance Bureau personnel a routine tour, Meng Fan returned to Si Lili's pleasure boat.

However, upon returning, they witnessed this scene: the Black and White Impermanence were pressing down on a disheveled woman dressed as a courtesan, forcing her to kneel before Si Lili.

"This is?"

Hei Wuchang and Chang Haoling bowed respectfully and replied, "Your Excellency, we do not know which faction sent this woman. She claimed to be a dancer from Zuixianju and infiltrated the pleasure boat with the intention of assassinating someone. She was captured by my brother and sister. As for how to deal with her, please give us your instructions!"

Meng Fan brushed aside the red-clad woman's hair, revealing a pair of eyes filled with hatred for him.

Seeing this face, Meng Fan revealed the person's identity with a playful expression: "Ye Ling'er, daughter of Ye Zhong, the garrison commander of the capital!"

"Tell me, what brings you into my bedchamber? You can't be here to offer yourself to me, can you?"

"Bah, shameless!"

Ye Ling'er cursed angrily, her pretty face turning cold as she looked at Meng Fan, and said fiercely, "You seriously injured my father and crippled his hands, so of course I must take revenge!"

"revenge?"

Meng Fan gently lifted Ye Ling'er's chin with his fingers, his gaze brazenly sweeping over the slightly revealing veil on her body. He teased, "Why are you dressed like this for revenge? Shouldn't you be wearing night clothes?"

Ye Ling'er blushed under Meng Fan's burning gaze. She couldn't very well say that she was self-aware enough to know she was no match for Meng Fan, so she pretended to be a dancer and wanted to assassinate him when he was off guard!
Ye Ling'er was even prepared to sacrifice her looks.

After all, Meng Fan had a notorious reputation.

A romantic rogue who is suspected to be a grandmaster.

If she didn't use her looks to amuse him, she probably wouldn't even have the chance to get close to him.

But who would have thought that there were two top-level ninth-rank experts in Si Lili's flower boat? She only made a few mistakes in her dance steps, which alerted them, and she was captured by the brother and sister and fell directly into Meng Fan's hands.

Ye Ling'er steeled her resolve: "Kill me if you want, why waste so much time on this!"

"kill you?"

Meng Fan shook his head and said, "No, no, no matter what, with your face alone, I could never kill you. Besides, you delivered yourself to my doorstep. If I don't eat the meat that's practically in my mouth, would I still be a man?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Ling'er's face turned deathly pale, her heart sank, and her fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

Ye Ling'er bit her lower lip so hard that her teeth almost dug into her flesh, but she felt no pain at all. Meng Fan's fingers were still lingering on her chin, the touch as hot as a branding iron, making her body stiff.

"Shameless!"

Her voice trembled, and tears of shame and humiliation welled up in her eyes. Her skin beneath the thin veil trembled slightly, partly from the cool night breeze, and partly from the gaze that was peeling her skin apart inch by inch.

She suddenly realized with absolute clarity that the thin gauze dance costumes in the brothel, originally meant to please men, had now become shackles that humiliated her.

Shame and indignation surged up to her ears like a tidal wave, turning her jade-like earlobes bright red.

She recalled her reflection in the bronze mirror before her departure: her eyes smudged with rouge, her lips dotted with vermilion. At the time, she had only thought it was a necessary disguise, but now it seemed to mock her naivety.

"It seems Miss Ye has already figured it out."

Meng Fan's low chuckle slithered into my ear like a venomous snake, "This outfit has saved me a lot of trouble."

His fingertips slid down, hooking the ribbon of the light gauze around her neck. Ye Ling'er suddenly closed her eyes, her eyelashes casting broken shadows on her pale cheeks.

(The action pauses here; what happens next is left to the reader's imagination!)
Cough cough, actually it really stopped.

Meng Fan's villainous expression suddenly vanished, and he withdrew his finger, gesturing for the Black and White Impermanence to leave.

Ye Ling'er opened her eyes tremblingly, unable to believe that the other party had let her go so easily.

Meng Fan looked down at Ye Ling'er and said with a smile, "Let's make a deal. I can heal your father's injuries, but what can you give in return?"

Ye Ling'er looked up abruptly, the humiliation in her eyes still lingering, now mixed with a hint of surprise and doubt. Her fingers, gripping the edge of the thin veil, turned slightly white, and her voice was filled with wariness and hesitation: "You...can you really cure my father?"

Meng Fan casually poured himself a glass of wine, the liquid gleaming amber in the moonlight: "The tendons and bones in my palms are shattered like sand, and my Qi Sea is damaged. Ordinary doctors are helpless, but for me, it's just a piece of cake."

Ye Ling'er's chest heaved violently. She stared intently at Meng Fan, trying to find any trace of mockery on his face, but his eyes only held amusement, as if she were just a bird caught in his palm.

"What do you want?" Her voice was dry, and her nails dug deeply into her palms.

Meng Fan chuckled and tapped the rim of his glass lightly with his fingertips: "Miss Ye has trespassed on my territory, so she should pay some price."

His gaze swept over her tense body, and he said slowly, "How about this, you stay on the pleasure boat and be my maid for three months. I'm short of someone to serve tea and water."

"You!" Ye Ling'er's face flushed red instantly, and her eyes were filled with rage.

"Don't worry, it's just serving tea and water, I won't make you do anything else." Meng Fan said with a half-smile. "Of course, if you don't want to, you can leave now."

Ye Ling'er's chest heaved violently as her father's pale face flashed through her mind. She bit her lip tightly until she tasted blood, then squeezed out a single word through her teeth: "Okay."

Meng Fan nodded in satisfaction and casually tossed her an outer robe: "Put this on. Miss Ye doesn't look like a maid at all."

Ye Ling'er took the outer robe, her fingers trembling slightly. She knew she had stepped into a dangerous vortex, but for her father's sake, she had no other choice.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, casting her shadow long, very long.

Please don't misunderstand, Meng Fan is not a bad person.

He was just having a bit of fun and taking the opportunity to set up a scheme with Ye Zhong.

(End of this chapter)