Chapter 177 Can't Tell Who's Who
Fan Xian did not doubt Wang Qinian's reasons and even thought they were very normal.
Now that all the doubts were gone, there was no more nonsense and the two of them immediately got up and left the Mei Mansion.
After the two left, Mei Cheng'an strolled off to have dinner, just in time.
Mei Cheng'an had no intention of intervening as the two were about to go the wrong way.
He received a message from Chen Pingping today. He would not mention the misunderstanding in the first half of the sentence, but he understood the meaning of the second half, which was that Chen Pingping said he should not directly intervene in the matter.
Chen Pingping was reminding him that if he intervened rashly, it might arouse the eldest princess's vigilance and hostility, and cause unnecessary trouble.
Although the eldest princess has committed many evil deeds, she is actually cooperating with Emperor Qing in many things and can be considered his political ally.
To some extent, Emperor Qing needed to use her evil to achieve his own political goals, so he indulged her so much.
The two sides have a tacit understanding in this regard, and it can be said that each gets what it needs.
Now that this case has been accidentally exposed, it is like the seller has shipped the goods, but the buyer has been robbed before he has received it, and it almost ruined the whole thing.
Chen Pingping knew all of this, but he cared about Fan Xian's safety, so while he thanked Mei Cheng'an for uncovering the case, he also said that Mei Cheng'an should not "directly" intervene in the case.
What he meant was that you shouldn't have interfered in this case, but since you helped Fan Xian, you could have intervened. However, you shouldn't have intervened directly. It would be better to intervene indirectly, otherwise it would easily get yourself into trouble.
The words sounded confusing, but Mei Chengan somehow understood the hidden meaning in Chen Pingping's words.
What made him laugh and cry was that although he understood the meaning of the words, it was really Chen Pingping who misunderstood the matter.
Chen Pingping obviously thought that taking the child brother to report the case was just a cover and he was the mastermind behind the scenes. However, he did not expect that the child brother was the mastermind in reporting the case and Mei Chengan was just cooperating.
That's why there is such an inexplicable misunderstanding. Although this misunderstanding does not do any harm to Mei Chengan at present, it doesn't have to be.
So in order to avoid this unnecessary misunderstanding from happening again, Mei Cheng'an decided not to interfere if possible.
It's just a detour and a waste of time. Just think of it as exercising and killing time, which is good, isn't it?
……
After Fan Xian and Wang Qinian left Mei Mansion, they first went back to their respective homes.
No matter how urgent it is, we still have to eat. Besides, we have to go out of the city to pursue the enemy, and no one can tell when we will be back. We have to tell our family so that they don't worry.
Fan Mansion.
After dinner, Fan Xian followed Fan Jian to the study.
Fan Jian went straight to the point.
"I've heard about what happened at the Adjutant General's Mansion. What are your plans next?"
Fan Xian spoke frankly.
"Go out of town and chase someone."
"Who?"
"Si Lili, the Northern Qi spy, the two swordsmen from the Supervisory Council betrayed her before they died, and she has already escaped from the city. If we want to find out who is behind this, she is the only clue left, so I plan to go out of the city to chase her."
"Do you know the art of tracking?"
"I don't understand, but there is someone who does. His name is Wang Qinian, he is also from the Overwatch Council and is a tracking master. He will go with me."
"My guards have special status and cannot leave the capital at will. I cannot send anyone to accompany you."
"Yes, the two of us are enough."
Fan Jian said something after a moment of silence.
"Be careful on the road and come back safe and sound!"
Fan Xian paused, bowed to Fan Jian, and walked out of the study.
Fan Ruoruo had been waiting outside the study for a long time. Fan Xian had mentioned the matter of leaving the city to her when he just returned home, but he didn't explain it clearly.
It was dinner time, and although Fan Ruoruo was anxious, she didn't dare to ask at the table. After finally finishing the meal, Fan Xian was called to the study by Fan Jian, so she followed him over.
Seeing Fan Xian coming out of the study, Fan Ruoruo hurried to greet him.
"Brother, are you two going out of town at this late hour? Isn't it unsafe?"
As things turned out, she had almost finished eavesdropping outside the study door.
Fan Xian stretched out his hand to signal her to speak more quietly, and glanced at the study. Fan Ruoruo immediately understood what he meant and shut up.
Fan Xian took Fan Ruoruo back to his own courtyard, and while choosing suitable clothes for tracking outside the city, he comforted Fan Ruoruo.
"Don't worry, we are two grown men, there is nothing unsafe about us. Don't you know how strong I am, your brother?"
Fan Ruoruo asked.
"When will you be back?"
Fan Xian couldn't help laughing.
"I have also asked Wang Qinian about this. Even the tracking master said it is hard to tell, so I have no idea. We will come back as soon as we catch Si Lili. We will not waste any time."
After choosing for a long time, he picked out a black tight-sleeved suit that looked like a night suit. He held it in front of him, tried it out, and asked Fan Ruoruo.
"What do you think of this outfit?"
Fan Ruoruo said after taking a look.
"It's fine. I look good in anything I wear."
Fan Xian nodded and threw his clothes on the bed.
"Okay, I'll listen to you. This is it."
Just as he was about to close the box, Fan Ruoruo stopped him, walked forward, rummaged through the box, and took out a thin black leather coat. She picked it up, took a look at it, and then handed it to Fan Xian.
"Brother, it's cold at night, put on this coat."
Fan Xian took it, looked at it, and threw it on the bed.
"You better be careful."
Fan Ruoruo smiled, then remembered something and asked.
"Brother, since you are leaving the city, why did you let Teng Zijing go back? Wouldn't it be better to take him with you?"
Fan Xian explained.
"His martial arts skills are OK, but his Qinggong skills are not good. After all, we are chasing someone this time. Bringing him along will slow us down. Okay, you should go back and have a rest. I need to change my clothes."
Fan Ruoruo nodded, thought for a moment and reminded him again before turning around and leaving.
"Brother! Be careful on the road." Fan Xian responded with a smile.
……
This is Wang Qinian's side.
Mrs. Wang had no objection to him going out of town to chase someone, nor did she have any objection to his uncertain return date, but she did have an objection to him not taking the money for all the trouble!
Wang Qinian spent a lot of time talking, saying that going into the city to chase someone was an official job, that Fan Xian, who was traveling with them, was his superior, and how important the person to be chased was, but none of these worked.
Mrs. Wang felt that this was not a reason not to take the money, and even suspected that he had taken it but kept it for himself.
This really scared Wang Qinian. Being misunderstood was not important. What was important was that he really had some private money hidden on him, and it would be terrible if it was discovered.
That could be fatal!
He hurriedly knelt down and started to explain himself, until he finally brought Mei Cheng'an up and said that it was Mei Cheng'an who ordered him to do it. Only then did Mrs. Wang reluctantly let him go.
After carrying the suitcase and bowing his head to exit the room, Wang Qinian finally had time to wipe the sweat off his forehead and let out a long sigh of relief.
……
After some hesitation on both sides, by the time Fan Xian changed his clothes and went out, and successfully reunited with Wang Qinian, it was already late at night.
"Why are you carrying a box? Don't you think it's in the way?"
Fan Xian pointed at the wooden box Wang Qinian was carrying and asked curiously.
Wang Qinian glanced down and smiled.
"It's okay, it's okay. There are tools in here for tracking. We'll need them along the way."
Fan Xian said "oh".
"Then if there's nothing else to do, let's get going!"
"go!"
After one stick of incense.
Looking at the closed city gate in front of them, they were both dumbfounded and looked at each other.
Fan Xian was puzzled.
"No, what's going on? Why is the city gate suddenly closed? If I remember correctly, the last time we went out of the city to Teng Zijing's house, wasn't the city gate open?"
Wang Qinian said.
"It was not time to close the city gates yet. The city gates are usually closed at midnight and opened at the beginning of the morning."
Fan Xian was even more puzzled.
"You know why you didn't tell me before?"
Wang Qinian said honestly.
"I haven't traveled at night for many years, and I forgot about it. I only remembered it when I saw the closed city gate."
"..."
Wang Qinian comforted him.
"It's alright, sir. Judging from the sky, it's not too long before we leave the city gate. It will be easier to track them after daybreak."
Fan Xian was speechless.
"So what do you do now? Just stand here and wait?"
Wang Qinian looked around and pointed to a shed.
"Sir, let's go sit over there and rest for a while."
What else could Fan Xian say? Just go. It's better than standing there stupidly on the road.
The two sat under the shed for a while. Fan Xian crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand. He felt very bored just waiting, so he thought silently of Lin Wan'er in his heart.
As I was thinking about it, something in my heart moved.
"Hey, Lao Wang, you just said it would be easier to track after daybreak, right?"
"Yes."
Fan Xian curled the corners of his mouth.
"That's perfect. I'm going to meet someone before the city gate opens."
"Forehead…"
Wang Qinian raised his head and glanced at the sky which was already turning blue.
"Sir, the day is about to dawn and the city gates will be opened soon. How about we do it first..."
Fan Xian interrupted directly and stood up.
"It's okay. It won't take a moment. I just want to talk to someone. It'll be quick."
Finished talking and left.
Wang Qinian looked at Fan Xian's back depressedly for a moment, then stood up and followed him.
Fan Xian was ultimately unable to meet Lin Wan'er, even though he had already arrived at the royal villa and entered the backyard.
Pushing the tightly closed door and window of the bedroom on the second floor, Fan Xian hesitated but finally gave up. Forcing his way in would make too much noise, not only disturbing Lin Wan'er's rest, but also easily attracting patrolling guards.
So Fan Xian came excitedly and left dejectedly, but he was not without gain. After returning empty-handed for the first time, he found paper and pen in Wang Qinian's box, left a note for Lin Wan'er, and wrote down everything he wanted to say on it.
After a lot of trouble, when the two arrived at the north gate again, it was already bright. Mei Cheng'an in the Mei Mansion had already gotten up and was yawning and doing morning exercises.
Outside the north gate.
Fan Xian was waiting for Wang Qinian with his hands behind his back, while Wang Qinian was asking the soldiers guarding the city gate for information.
After a while, Wang Qinian trotted up to Fan Xian.
"Sir, I asked, and they were on duty yesterday, and they saw with their own eyes that Si Lili left the city and headed north.
Soon after, several horses appeared, wearing bamboo hats and black clothes, the same as Si Lili's. It was impossible to tell who was who among them, and then..."
……
……
(End of this chapter)
