Chapter 256 I'm Too Hot
Mei Cheng'an glanced at Yun Zhilan, who was sitting with his head lowered, then turned his head to look at Fan Xian and said.
"My guess is that even though you didn't kill him, if he hadn't wanted to kill you, his two disciples wouldn't have rushed to Kyoto, and they wouldn't have died. He probably blamed you for the death of his beloved disciple."
"..."
Fan Xian opened his mouth wide.
"This, this can also be related to me? This is too outrageous!"
Mei Cheng was happy.
"It's okay, it's okay. It's nothing to blame you. Although he is a ninth-rank upper-rank, it would be easy for him to kill you, but he is here to apologize on behalf of Dongyi City. He will not attack you at this critical moment, don't worry."
"..."
Fan Xian's eyes were almost rolling to the sky.
After slamming the table, Fan Xian was about to stand up angrily.
"No, I have to go and have a good talk with him about this. I am a victim and I have to be responsible for the perpetrator. Is there anything more outrageous than this?"
Mei Chengan was happy to see it happen and did not say anything to stop it.
But Mei Cheng'an did not stop him, so Fan Xian gave up the idea of going to Yun Zhilan to argue, because a person appeared in front of him, Lan Xiang.
"Master Fan, the princess wants you to come over. She has something to say."
Fan Xian glanced at Mei Chengan and asked, what should I do? Should I go or not?
Mei Chengan spread his hands and said, "Look at me, I'm just wasting time. You can go if you want!"
Lanxiang thinks these two people might have problems with their brains. People are waiting for a reply here. Can you change the time for eye contact?
Hiss~ You are not going to say bad things about His Highness, are you? How dare you!
Just when she was trying to explore the meaning of the two people's eyes, she didn't expect that the eye contact between them had ended. Lanxiang thought to herself what a pity.
Fan Xian stood up and looked at her without saying anything. Lan Xiang turned and left, and Fan Xian followed behind her.
……
He went up to the platform and stood in front of the eldest princess's table. Without bowing or saying a word, Fan Xian just looked at her quietly.
The eldest princess smiled.
"Why are you standing so far away? Come closer."
Fan Xian looked a little impatient, but he still did as he was told.
The eldest princess looked at him with a smile.
"These past few days, I've been waiting for you to come and kill me. Why, there's no movement?"
Fan Xian curled the corners of his mouth.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I'll keep you posted anytime."
The eldest princess smiled like a flower and spoke softly.
"If you swear allegiance to me, I can marry Wan'er to you, give you the power of the inner treasury, and more!"
The charming voice did not sound alluring at all to Fan Xian's ears, and he sneered.
"Your Highness, I think you think too highly of yourself. Whether Wan'er will marry me or not, whether the inner treasury will be taken away from you and given to me, you..."
As Fan Xian spoke, he grinned and looked at the eldest princess with a playful look.
“Are you qualified to make that decision?”
The smile on the eldest princess' face disappeared for a moment, but soon reappeared, and her smile was more exaggerated than before.
"Hahaha, ah, you are really interesting. Um... you may not know that what I am best at is causing trouble."
Fan Xian sneered.
"Then open your eyes and wait and see!"
The eldest princess smiled and nodded.
"Okay, oh, by the way, don't forget to kill me. I'm waiting too. Don't make me wait too long."
Fan Xian shrugged.
"I didn't mean to kill you."
The eldest princess looked surprised.
"Oh? Are you scared?"
Fan Xian shook his head and spoke frankly.
"Your Highness loves power so much. Instead of killing you, it would be better to take away your power and drive you out of Kyoto. What do you think?"
The eldest princess' eyes lit up and she nodded in agreement.
"Not bad, not bad. Keep working hard. I look forward to that day."
Fan Xian looked at the princess expressionlessly for a moment, then slowly stood up, took a step back, bowed, and raised his voice.
"I will definitely live up to the expectations of the Princess!"
……
The two men exchanged words and fought with swords, but in the eyes of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince on both sides, the two men seemed to be having a very pleasant conversation.
Fan Xian's face could not be seen clearly because his body was turned to the side, but the princess kept smiling when she talked to him. It seemed like they were having a very pleasant conversation.
The second prince looked at the two people opposite him and took the initiative to talk to the crown prince.
"Hey, Fan Xian and my aunt seemed to be chatting happily. I wonder what they were talking about."
The prince looked straight ahead and replied calmly.
"What does this have to do with me?"
The second prince smiled and lowered his head to adjust his clothes.
"The prince wants to take Fan Xian in as his disciple, right?"
The prince rolled his eyes and remained silent.
The second prince had a sudden inspiration.
"Why don't we make a bet and see who Fan Xian will side with in the end, huh?"
The prince did not turn his head to look at him, but his eyes drifted to his side. He thought for a moment and then spoke.
"What are you gambling?"
"Take your life!"
The second prince replied casually, his tone was very casual, but the atmosphere suddenly turned cold and murderous.
When the prince heard this, his eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed them and did not respond.
The atmosphere was tense for a moment, and the second prince suddenly slapped himself lightly. Well, it would be more appropriate to use the word "push", without any force.
"It seems that the joke I made was not in accordance with etiquette. Your Highness, please forgive me!"
The Crown Prince suddenly tilted his head towards the Second Prince and responded to his previous proposal in a calm tone.
"Okay."
After saying that, he turned his head completely and looked at the Second Prince. The Second Prince met the Crown Prince's serious gaze and laughed dryly with a strange expression.
After looking at each other for a moment, he saw his gaze suddenly turn towards the palace entrance. The second prince also turned around and looked there. After taking a look, he narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself.
"Zhuang Mohan is here!"
……
This time, Mei Cheng'an finally saw with his own eyes what it was like for a teacher to all scholars in the world, a walking saint.
As soon as he stepped into the hall, all the officials except the royal family members stood up to greet him. Wherever he passed, everyone bowed to him, but he did not stand up. It was so exaggerated.
Zhuang Mohan held a scroll of calligraphy and painting on his right arm, walked steadily, and nodded frequently to both sides.
Mei Cheng'an also stood up. Although he had never formally participated in the imperial examination, he had read many scriptures annotated by Zhuang Mohan in the Qilin Hall.
He didn't consider him as his teacher, but he still respected the knowledgeable people from the bottom of his heart.
Looking at Zhuang Mohan from a distance, he lacks some of the aura of an immortal, is not thin enough, and is quite strong.
However, this familiar face has played many hermits, and his image as a master is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. It fits the character and did not distract him from the role.
……
Like Mei Chengan, Fan Xian was also looking at Zhuang Mohan. He was still beside the princess on the high platform.
"You have never met Mr. Zhuang?"
The eldest princess behind suddenly asked.
Fan Xian looked at Zhuang Mohan quietly without saying a word.
The eldest princess didn't care and continued talking to herself.
"Maybe it was fate that the Northern Qi Dynasty produced such a great literary master who has interpreted scriptures and annotated texts for decades and has written many books."
Looking at Zhuang Mohan from a distance, the princess said quietly.
"In some ways, he is more powerful than the emperor."
Fan Xian spoke.
"The inheritance of literature and Taoism is carried in one body, and the old man does not find it too heavy."
The eldest princess laughed.
"If scholars heard this, they would definitely scold you for not respecting the saints."
Fan Xian turned around and looked at her, saying in a bachelor's tone.
"How can I admit that I said this?"
The eldest princess did not dwell on the matter.
"I heard that some people have placed their hopes on you, hoping that you will eventually become a great writer."
Fan Xian thought about it and replied.
"Your Highness would not expect so."
The eldest princess smiled, glanced behind him and spoke.
"Okay, Mr. Zhuang is here, and it's time for the banquet to begin. You should return to your seat."
Fan Xian cupped his hands.
"My minister retire."
Putting down his hand, Fan Xian turned around and was about to leave, but the princess added another sentence.
"I gave you the chance, but you didn't want it."
Fan Xian paused, rolled his eyes silently, and walked off the stage.
……
When Zhuang Mohan passed by Mei Cheng'an, there was no melodramatic scene where he felt that Mei Cheng'an was not an ordinary person at first sight, looked at him differently, and had a friendly conversation with him, because he didn't know him at all.
He just nodded gently and walked away. Mei Cheng'an wished for it and sat down calmly.
When Zhuang Mohan stepped onto the steps to the platform, he happened to meet Fan Xian face to face.
Fan Xian took the initiative to stop and bowed to Zhuang Mohan according to etiquette.
Unexpectedly, Zhuang Mohan didn't even look at him, let alone respond, and went straight to the crown prince and the second prince on the other side.
Fan Xian's warm welcome was met with a cold shoulder, and he was unexpectedly met with surprise and embarrassment. He silently glanced at Zhuang Mohan's back, and with a sigh in his heart, he put down his hand and walked down the stairs to his seat.
Mei Cheng'an took a sip of wine from the glass and looked at Fan Xian with interest as he returned with an unhappy look on his face.
Before he could open his mouth to speak, Fan Xian's face had already turned red because of his look and he took the initiative to give him the middle finger.
"you shut up!"
"..."
Well, let’s have a drink.
Mei Chengan curled the corners of his mouth and swallowed the joking words. He blushed without saying anything. I'm so strong!
Zhuang Mohan finally took his seat, and everyone was present. The eunuch who was singing the ceremony outside the hall shouted loudly at the right time.
"Your Majesty has arrived~"
Everyone stood up again. Mei Cheng'an sighed and stood up helplessly.
In just a short while, I stood up and sat down several times. I was not allowed to drink. I hope this is the last time.
Leaving his seat, Mei Cheng'an walked to the middle aisle, stood facing north, and waited for His Majesty to appear.
Fan Xian, who was beside him, pulled his sleeve and asked in a low voice.
"Didn't the eunuch's voice come from the southern entrance of the palace? Why are we facing north?"
Mei Chengan was too lazy to explain and just pointed forward.
"See for yourself."
Fan Xian looked up.
The figure of Emperor Qing suddenly emerged from a side aisle, then he climbed onto the platform from the side and slowly sat down on the dragon throne.
After Emperor Qing took his seat safely, everyone except Fan Xian, including Mei Cheng'an, knelt on the ground and cheered.
"Long live my emperor! Long live!"
Fan Xian stood alone among the ministers and stood out. Under pressure, although he was not very willing, he still knelt down.
After shouting the last word, Fan Xian knelt down and kowtowed along with everyone else.
Emperor Qing glanced at his ministers and raised his right hand.
"Be flat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After all the ministers expressed their gratitude again, they stood up.
……
(End of this chapter)
