thefictionvixens Chapter 122 Fan Jian! Chen Pingping! Am I a fool?
Chapter 122 Fan Jian! Chen Pingping! Am I a fool?
Chapter 122 Fan Jian! Chen Pingping! Am I a fool?
Seven days later.
Kyoto, Imperial Study Room.
Emperor Qing sat on a soft couch by the window, with a report spread out on a low table in front of him.
After reading the last line, he raised his eyes and looked at Eunuch Hou, who was bowing below.
"In Chizhou, Li Yunrui has detained Jiang Fuhai?"
Eunuch Hou quickly replied, "Your Majesty, that's right. The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree returned to report that Her Highness the Princess wanted to form a maritime escort force and needed a general who understood naval warfare, so Jiang Fuhai was kept behind."
Emperor Qing's hand clenched slightly.
He had read the report.
Lai Mingcheng was assassinated, the prefect of Chizhou was escorted back to the capital, Jiang Fuhai was dismissed from his post, and then Li Yunrui took him away.
Every step was perfectly timed.
He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, and his clenched hands gradually loosened.
"So be it," he said calmly. "Let them seize it. At least they've opened a breach in the Jiangnan navy."
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With a forced smile, Eunuch Hou said, "Your Majesty is right. So, Your Majesty, what should we do next?"
Emperor Qing glanced at him.
"Issue an imperial decree ordering the Privy Council, the Ministry of War, and the Censorate to send personnel to inspect all naval camps in Jiangnan. Anyone found to be negligent, like those in the Chizhou camp, shall be dismissed and investigated."
Eunuch Hou bowed immediately: "Your Majesty is wise! This old servant will go and convey the decree right away."
He turned to leave.
"Send Chen Pingping and Fan Jian to the palace."
Eunuch Hou stopped and turned around: "Yes, Your Majesty."
He left the imperial study, his footsteps quickly disappearing into the corridor.
Emperor Qing leaned back on the soft couch, gazing at the shimmering lake not far from the window, his face expressionless.
Half an hour later.
Eunuch Hou pushed Chen Pingping's wheelchair to the door of the Imperial Study.
Fan Jian walked to the side, neither of them showing any emotion on their faces.
"Your Majesty," Eunuch Hou whispered from outside the door, "Dean Chen and Lord Fan have arrived."
Emperor Qing's voice came from inside: "Come in."
Eunuch Hou pushed open the door and pushed the wheelchair inside, with Fan Jian following behind.
The light in the imperial study was dim, and the windows were half-closed.
Emperor Qing sat on a soft couch, with a pile of memorials on the low table in front of him. He was holding one in his hand and looking down at it.
Grandpa Hou pushed the wheelchair to a suitable position and stepped aside to stand.
Chen Pingping, seated in a wheelchair, bowed respectfully and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Fan Jian stepped forward, knelt down, and bowed: "Your subject Fan Jian greets Your Majesty."
Emperor Qing did not look up.
He continued to look at the memorial in his hand, the pen tip moving slowly across the paper as if he were reviewing it.
The room fell silent.
Chen Pingping and Fan Jian exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of doubt in each other's eyes.
A few more breaths passed.
Fan Jian stood up on his own, walked to the soft couch, and asked softly, "What is Your Majesty busy with?"
Emperor Qing raised his eyes and said irritably, "You're reviewing memorials, didn't you see?"
Fan Jian smiled and said, "Your Majesty's diligence in governing and love for the people is a blessing for the people of Qing Kingdom."
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Emperor Qing rolled his eyes at him.
He put down the memorial in his hand and waved to Eunuch Hou: "You go out first, and don't let anyone near you."
Eunuch Hou bowed immediately: "This old servant obeys."
He walked out of the imperial study, gently closing the door behind him.
Only three people remained in the room.
Emperor Qing's gaze fell on Chen Pingping, then shifted to Fan Jian's face.
"Tell me," he said calmly, his voice devoid of emotion. "What are you two hiding from me?"
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Chen Pingping's heart sank.
His face didn't change much, but he kept his eyes down, as if he didn't understand what he was saying.
Fan Jian was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "Your Majesty, you know me well, how could I possibly hide anything from you?"
Emperor Qing then looked at Chen Pingping, and then at Fan Jian.
"Really not?"
Fan Jian answered decisively: "No."
This enraged Emperor Qing.
He sat up straight, slammed his hand on the low table, and with a "bang," the memorials on the table jumped.
"Fan Jian! Chen Pingping!" His voice suddenly rose, "How long are you going to keep this from me?!"
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"What's going on in Danzhou?!"
"Fan Jian, when did you get a bastard child?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Imperial Study became so quiet that the rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard outside the window.
Fan Jian's smile froze.
Chen Pingping's fingers moved slightly on the armrest of the wheelchair.
Neither of them spoke.
silence.
A dozen or so breaths felt like an eternity.
Looking at their expressions, Emperor Qing clenched his fists even tighter, his knuckles turning slightly white.
But slowly, his clenched hand loosened.
He sighed and leaned back into the soft couch.
"Sigh—" The voice was filled with weariness and an indescribable bitterness. "I understand, you doubt me. But have you ever considered that Qingmei—is my woman, and that child is my son?"
After saying that, he closed his eyes.
His face was filled with grief, and two tears streamed from the slits of his eyes, sliding down his cheeks.
Chen Pingping kept her head down, neither moving nor speaking.
Fan Jian stood by the soft couch, looking at the tears on Emperor Qing's face. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed his words back.
After a long pause, Fan Jiancai spoke, his voice somewhat dry: "Your Majesty, it's not that I doubt you. It's just that the fewer people who know about this, the better. If others find out that this child is still alive, the Temple will not let him go."
Emperor Qing slowly opened his eyes.
Tears still clung to his face as he looked at Fan Jian, his voice hoarse: "The 'others' you're referring to, does that include me?"
Fan Jian opened his mouth, wanting to argue that it wasn't true.
Emperor Qing didn't give him a chance and continued, "So, that child is Qingmei's child?"
His gaze fell on Chen Pingping.
Chen Pingping raised his eyes and met Emperor Qing's gaze.
After a few breaths, he slowly spoke: "Your Majesty guessed correctly. That child is indeed Miss's child. But Your Majesty can rest assured, Wu Zhu will always stay by the child's side to protect his safety."
Upon hearing Wu Zhu's name, Emperor Qing's hand tightened again.
His gaze shifted to Fan Jian, and there was something else in his eyes.
"Then the one who died that night," he said slowly, "was it your child?"
Fan Jian could no longer suppress the emotion on his face.
He lowered his head and said softly, "Yes."
The imperial study fell silent again.
Emperor Qing leaned back on the soft couch, looking at Fan Jian's lowered head for a long time.
"It was me—" his voice was hoarse, "I'm so sorry—"
This time, no one spoke.
The wind blowing in from the window made the pages of the memorials on the table turn.
A dozen or so breaths later, Emperor Qing opened his eyes and looked at Chen Pingping.
How many people know about this?
Chen Pingping cupped his hands and said, "Besides His Majesty, the two of us, and Wu Zhu, only the old lady knows. I've dealt with everyone else."
Emperor Qing nodded slightly.
He sat up straight, the grief on his face slowly fading, replaced by his usual dignified expression.
"This matter must not be known to a sixth person," he said solemnly. "From this moment on, this child is Fan Jian's illegitimate son."
Chen Pingping cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subject understands."
Fan Jian also looked up and nodded.
Emperor Qing waved his hand: "Alright, you may leave. I want to be alone."
Fan Jian bowed and turned to walk towards the door.
Chen Pingping turned her wheelchair and followed behind.
Eunuch Hou quickly pushed open the door and went out, pushing the wheelchair.
The door to the Imperial Study closed gently.
Emperor Qing sat on the soft couch, gazing out the window, his expression icy cold.