Under One Person: Starting from the Inheritance of Gods

Chapter 390 This woman is insane!

"Oh dear, my young master Fan, you'd better kneel down right now!" Eunuch Hou reminded him in a very low voice.

"Should I kneel, Your Majesty?"

Fan Xian remained standing in the same spot, looking at Emperor Qing with a complicated expression.

"Do you want to kneel?"

Fan Xian stood tall and said directly, "I don't want to!"

Emperor Qing smiled slightly, without raising his head, but he understood what was going on. This Fan Xian was just like Ye Qingmei: "If you don't want to, then don't kneel!"

Fan Xian stood with his head bowed, his fingertips slightly cold. The languid man before him was the supreme ruler of the world, his biological father, and also the murderer of his mother.

It felt as if countless thin threads were tangling and pulling inside his chest, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

At this moment, Emperor Qing finally put down his vermilion brush, raised his eyes to look at him, and asked, "Is your injury healed?"

Those three simple words sent a shiver down Fan Xian's spine. He couldn't tell whether they were concerned or a test, so he could only respectfully reply, "Thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune, I am now out of danger."

"Hongfu?"

Emperor Qing suddenly chuckled and casually tossed the memorial onto the table. "I know how serious your injuries were back then. To recover in just over ten days, that can't be that simple, can it?"

Fan Xian's back stiffened. The Nine Yang Divine Skill was a secret manual left behind by Meng Fan. Emperor Qing's mention of it now was clearly a veiled reference.

"Your Majesty, the martial art I practice is a family tradition, which may have remarkable effects on healing injuries." He deliberately emphasized the words "family tradition."

The candlelight inside the hall crackled and popped.

Emperor Qing's gaze was like a knife, scraping across Fan Xian's face inch by inch. Didn't he know the true effects of his domineering true energy? It was already good enough if it didn't cause injury, let alone heal it…

Ye Qingmei held back some things from him; that domineering true energy truly had a healing effect.

"You speak to me with such restraint."

Emperor Qing suddenly leaned forward, "Could it be that you are afraid of me?"

Fan Xian looked up and met those unfathomable eyes. He saw a barely perceptible flicker in Emperor Qing's eyes, which seemed to be both concern and scrutiny.

"Your Majesty's imperial power is awe-inspiring, and it is only right that I show it respect," Fan Xian replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Emperor Qing suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the empty palace: "What a quick-witted lad!"

The laughter stopped abruptly, and he changed the subject, "I heard that when you were in Danzhou, you met that poet?"

Fan Xian's heart pounded. Emperor Qing was clearly testing whether Meng Fan was related to the cultivation technique he was practicing.

"Though I am unruly, I admire the literary talent of the Immortal of Poetry." He steadied his voice, "but I wonder if there is anything wrong with that Immortal of Poetry?"

"Ha, he's a Grandmaster!"

Emperor Qing's gaze suddenly sharpened like a hawk's, but softened slightly when it fell upon Fan Xian's pale face: "Never mind."

He leaned back on the couch. "You have saved the emperor. What reward do you wish for?"

This sudden turn of events startled Fan Xian. He had clearly seen the murderous intent that had flashed in Emperor Qing's eyes just now, but now it had transformed into such a casual inquiry.

Fan Xian lowered his head and replied, "The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen. Serving the country loyally is my duty, and I dare not ask for any reward."

"Duty?"

Emperor Qing was taken aback.

Fan Xian lowered his head even further, "Yes!"

"What a fine example of being dutiful!"

Emperor Qing sighed and said, "The difficulty lies in the two words: 'the ruler is a ruler, the minister is a minister, the father is a father, and the son is a son.'"

"It seems you intend to refuse my reward?"

Fan Xian suddenly raised his head and said, "I come from the countryside and am uncouth. I'm afraid I won't go far in this court, so I don't want to get involved."

Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze.

Emperor Qing narrowed his eyes, which gradually transformed into a complex emotion, finally turning into a sigh: "You are just as stubborn as your mother."

These words were like a blunt knife, piercing Fan Xian's heart. He could no longer maintain his composure: "Does Your Majesty know my mother?"

Emperor Qing did not answer immediately. He got up and walked to the window. The sunlight gilded him, but it could not penetrate his deep eyes.

"Ye Qingmei..."

Emperor Qing uttered the name softly, as if savoring a distant memory, "If she were alive today, she would be very pleased to see you all grown up."

Fan Xian trembled, unsure whether from anger or grief. He clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms, a bitter feeling welling up inside him: "It probably will!"

Emperor Qing turned around and suddenly reached out to pat Fan Xian on the shoulder. This unexpected gesture of intimacy stunned both of them.

"I hereby appoint you as Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Report to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices tomorrow." Emperor Qing withdrew his hand, his tone returning to its usual indifference. "Since you are going to marry a princess, you should have a respectable position."

Fan Xian stared blankly at the extremely contradictory man before him. He clearly felt a momentary tenderness, yet he also knew perfectly well that the man was ruthless and cold-hearted.

"Your subject...accepts the decree." Fan Xian bowed deeply, burying his eyes full of hatred and confusion into the shadows.

The sound of a night watchman's drum came from outside the hall. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting long shadows of the father and son, yet they remained separated by an insurmountable dividing line between light and darkness.

Fan Xian slowly backed away.

When Fan Xian walked out of the palace, he seemed to sigh and say, "His Majesty's kindness and might are truly unpredictable. I was so scared that my back was soaked with sweat."

Eunuch Hou wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and gasped, "My young master Fan, from the very first word you uttered, I've been sweating non-stop."

"From now on, you'd better watch what you say!"

Fan Xian was clearly distracted, and replied with a double entendre, "Yes, yes, we should indeed be careful. Let's go!"

Afterwards, Fan Xian met Aunt Liu, who was waiting outside, and then, led by Aunt Liu, he visited the concubines in the inner palace, as well as the Empress Dowager and others.

The ladies were relatively easy to get along with, just like in the original story.

First, I went to see Consort Yi, who was the birth mother of the Third Prince and the cousin of Consort Liu. Going to see her first would help to get things started.

Afterwards, she went to see the Second Prince's birth mother, Consort Shu. Although she was harsh, she was obsessed with reading and cherished talented men.

When Fan Xian entered Consort Shu's palace, he found that the room was full of bookshelves, filled with books collected from all over the country. Even when Consort Shu saw him, she was holding a book in her hand and refused to put it down.

Like a homebody who is completely absorbed in books, she was difficult to deal with, but Fan Xian managed to fool her with a few lines of poetry from his past life, and Consort Shu even praised Fan Xian for his great talent.

It is comparable to the "Poet Immortal".

Fan Xian felt ashamed upon hearing this. He wondered what was wrong with his fellow villager's head. The poems were entirely his own creations, while he himself was just a copycat.

Immediately afterwards, he went to see the eldest prince's birth mother and was warmly entertained—well, the kind of hospitality where you eat until you're sick of it.

Finally, he went to see the Empress Dowager. However, the Empress Dowager had been frequently awakened by thunder and gunshots in the middle of the night these past few days and had no energy to see Fan Xian. Therefore, she instructed Hong Sixiang to convey the order to refuse to see him.

Fan Xian was happy to have some free time and intended to leave the palace directly, but he was stopped halfway by a palace maid from Guangxin Palace. "Does the Eldest Princess want to see me?"

The palace maid bowed and said, "Yes, please, Young Master Fan, take a step forward!"

Fan Xian and Aunt Liu exchanged a glance.

Fan Xian had no choice. After all, Princess Li Yunrui was Lin Wan'er's birth mother, and he would have to see her sooner or later. Now that she had sent someone to invite him, he certainly couldn't refuse.

Aunt Liu originally wanted to go with Fan Xian, but was stopped by a palace maid: "The Princess only invited Young Master Fan."

"Then, Xian'er... what about me?"

Fan Xian knew what the other party was worried about, so he said to Aunt Liu, "Then Aunt, you should go back to the manor first. I will explain to my father."

Aunt Liu nodded before leaving.

Following the palace maid, Fan Xian finally arrived at Guangxin Palace after several transfers.

Gazing at the deep, dark gates of Guangxin Palace, Fan Xian inexplicably thought of a saying from his past life: "To block someone's money is like killing their parents."

After he and Lin Wan'er get married, he will take over the Imperial Treasury, which is tantamount to blocking the Princess's path to wealth. The contradictions and conflicts involved are not so easy to resolve.

Especially his adoptive father, Fan Jian, always seemed a little hesitant when mentioning the Eldest Princess, which made Fan Xian even more wary of Princess Li Yunrui.

As Fan Xian was pondering, a palace maid who looked to be in her early twenties appeared at the door and gave Fan Xian a slight bow.

This palace maid had long, thin eyebrows with a needle between them, and her eyes were cold and sharp, like a knife cutting into flesh, making people feel extremely uncomfortable.

Fortunately, he remained very polite in his speech and gestures, and respectfully invited Fan Xian into the palace.

However, Fan Xian always felt that the other party was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to bite him at any moment.

A chill permeated the Guangxin Palace. Even in broad daylight, the palace gates were not closed. Standing outside, one could see the dormant plum blossoms, the summer-weary orchids, the evergreen bamboo, and the unopened chrysanthemums growing inside.

Inside the palace, many white veils could be seen fluttering gently.

In short, the atmosphere was very gloomy.

It was so cold that you couldn't help but shiver.

Behind the layers of gauze curtains was a low bed, where a woman in a long black dress lay, her chin resting on one arm, her waist exuding a natural charm, her eyebrows and eyes beautiful, yet her expression was timid and endearing.

Li Yunrui was around thirty years old. Her hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with gold hair ornaments. She had an oval face, as beautiful as a peach blossom, and possessed a captivating charm. She was tall and slender, and her large, watery eyes conveyed a faint sense of aloofness.

At this moment, in stark contrast to the long black dress, Princess Li Yunrui inadvertently revealed her extremely fair skin.

White, very white, damn white!

It looks like a white jade statue.

At this moment, Fan Xian had only one word in his mind: "white". His straight black hair, which was naturally scattered on the couch, was long and thick, but what stood out the most was not these features, but his pair of large, round breasts.

Fan Xian turned around. This body was still just a teenager. Although he had a good temperament, how could he withstand this?
"I didn't know the Princess was still resting, so I'll be leaving now!" Fan Xian apologized and tried to leave.

Li Yunrui seemed quite pleased with Fan Xian's reaction, and deliberately said in a lazy voice, "Since you're here, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Sit down and talk to me."

Fan Xian hesitated for a moment, then finally bowed and said, "Your Highness has given the order, and I dare not disobey."

He deliberately chose a chair furthest from the bed, lowered his gaze, and stared only at the tips of his shoes.

The incense in Guangxin Palace was so sweet it made people dizzy, mixed with the faint fragrance emanating from the Princess, forcing Fan Xian to secretly circulate his inner energy to stay awake.

"What, you're afraid to look at me?" Li Yunrui chuckled, his voice like poison laced with honey.

Fan Xian's heart skipped a beat, and he forced a smile: "Your Highness, I dare not be disrespectful. I apologize for making you laugh."

The gauze curtains moved without wind, and Li Yunrui had sat up at some point. Her bare feet touched the cold floor tiles, and her black skirt slid down like water, revealing her slender ankles.

"Wan'er is my most beloved child," she suddenly said, her voice tinged with genuine tenderness, "but someone just wants to take her away from me!"

"Your subject dares not," Fan Xian hurriedly stood up.

"sit down."

Li Yunrui walked slowly closer, his fingertips lightly brushing against Fan Xian's shoulder. "Do you know? Your eyebrows and eyes look just like someone I know."

These words made Fan Xian freeze.

He suddenly looked up and met Li Yunrui's face, which was inches away from his own. A strange expression appeared on that stunningly beautiful face, as if it were a mixture of nostalgia and hatred.

"Whom is Your Highness referring to?"

Li Yunrui did not answer, but instead traced his eyebrows and eyes with her fingertips, her sharp fingertips only an inch away from Fan Xian's pupils.

"Those eyes... that's the same look that man used when he looked at His Majesty, at Chen Pingping, and at your father, Fan Jian..."

"I really want to gouge out those eyes and soak them in the glass bottle she made, so I can admire them properly!"

Her voice trailed off, finally settling into a helpless sigh: "What a pity, beauty is often short-lived. She died, and it was a good thing she died, a truly tragic death. Heh, hahaha!"

Li Yunrui laughed unrestrainedly, completely disregarding Fan Xian's presence.

Fan Xian resisted the urge to push her away.

The oppressive feeling emanating from Li Yunrui made it difficult for him to breathe. What was even more terrifying was that he sensed a familiar yet different feeling within this oppressive feeling.

Sure enough, none of the members of the royal family are easy to get along with.

Father, you've misled me. How can this be considered gentle and kind as you described?

This woman is clearly insane!

"If Your Highness has nothing else, I shall take my leave!"

"No hurries?"

Li Yunrui's expression suddenly changed, and he retreated back onto the couch with a cold smile. "I heard that His Majesty has appointed you to the position of Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices?"

Fan Xian secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes."

"A mere eighth-rank official, is he worthy of my daughter?" A hint of sarcasm flashed in Li Yunrui's eyes.

Fan Xian adopted a respectful demeanor towards Emperor Qing and said, "This is His Majesty's decree, and as a subject, I dare not disobey it."

"You want to use His Majesty to intimidate me?"

"Don't dare!"

Li Yunrui stared intently at him, then suddenly smiled coldly: "I will not marry Wan'er to you, especially since your eyes and brows are so similar to that person's."

"I hope that when we meet again, you will still be alive and well!"

When Fan Xian walked out of Guangxin Palace, his back was soaked with cold sweat. The sunlight shone on him, but it could not dispel the chill that had seeped into his bones.

(End of this chapter)