Update! Update! Really couldn’t hold out any longer, so didn’t post at midnight. Sorry, sorry.
Second Master Fan immediately recovered from his earlier panic. With his worries set down, his whole person unconsciously became smug again. He had never accomplished anything for Her Ladyship Liangdi before. He really hoped this would be the first matter, so that Her Ladyship Liangdi could see that he was no worse than his elder brother, compared to that third brother…
Speaking of Third Brother, Third Master Fan, stirred up a belly full of resentment in Second Master Fan. He truly detested this name to the extreme. Just a son born of a concubine, yet Father held him up as if he were something special. Wasn’t it just that he had passed the imperial examination and become an official? If he wanted to take the exam, he could pass too! Besides, so what if he didn’t pass? He was Her Ladyship Liangdi’s blood brother, a legitimate son. Everything the Fan family had should be his. He didn’t need to be so cautiously ambitious like Third Brother.
Fan San mustered his courage to tug at Second Master Fan’s sleeve and remind him: “Doesn’t this brocade pouch say you still need a token? This token is important—without the token, even if you find the person, they won’t acknowledge you. In this humble one’s view, you must go in person. If you go yourself, you’ll have peace of mind, won’t you? Madam guaranteed this matter before the master…”
Second Master Fan listened with a belly full of impatience. But just as he was about to lose his temper, he stopped himself. Fan San was right—this matter still required him to go in person. This time, Mother had given a guarantee to Father. Otherwise, this assignment wouldn’t have fallen to him. He still had to do his utmost to handle the matter well, so Mother could hold her head high before Father when he returned.
He made up his mind, waved his hand to indicate he understood, and then instructed Fan San: “Then you go, quickly go prepare the horses. We’ll leave tomorrow… no, no, no, we should depart tonight, leave tonight.”
Fan San finally breathed a sigh of relief. This master had finally shown clear thinking for once. If they waited until tomorrow when Lai Chenglong reacted, though they were hiding in the neighboring county, they would still be in danger of exposure. Better to depart tonight, find the person Her Ladyship Liangdi mentioned, find them and convey the instructions, to avoid complications as the night wore on.
Second Master Fan had a disposition where once he thought of something, he had to do it. Since he had decided to travel by night, he naturally abandoned his beauty, packed his things, and left the city overnight with Fan San and others—fortunately, due to the battle in Yangquan, the two neighboring counties had also been affected and were quite chaotic. They didn’t expend much effort to leave the city and head straight for the mountains.
They traveled urgently. Second Master Fan actually maintained his composure and didn’t cause any trouble midway, which made Fan San recite Buddha’s name several times in his heart. When he saw from afar the temple standing among the mountains, his eyes brightened.
Second Master Fan had fully expected to meet an enlightened monk—wasn’t it said to be from Master Yuanhui’s faction? There were several high monks of accomplished cultivation in Huangjue Temple. But what he saw was a child. He couldn’t help but stand dumbfounded at the door, looking at Fan San, then at the young monk sitting cross-legged on the prayer cushion, and asked hesitantly, “You’re the one in charge here?”
He fully hoped the young monk would say no. After all, this young monk was clearly young, and didn’t look at all like someone in charge. But contrary to his expectations, the young monk arranged his wide robes, stood up, faced him with hands pressed together, recited Buddha’s name, and nodded.
Second Master Fan’s face immediately showed disappointment. He looked at Sannan somewhat listlessly, crossed his legs, and sat down somewhat carelessly in a chair to the side. Lifting his chin, he asked him: “Now that our plan to harm the Crown Grandson through Ma Yuantong’s hands has failed, what other methods do you have?”
The young monk Sannan didn’t mind his rudeness and disrespect. He still unhurriedly sat cross-legged on the prayer cushion again, reached out to accept the tea handed by a monk beside him, took a sip, and only then looked toward Second Master Fan: “Although the Crown Grandson’s poison has been cured, having been poisoned so severely and delayed for so long, he’ll need to recuperate for a while. Yangquan is rebuilding from devastation, having just experienced a battle—it’s not suitable for his recovery. Lai Chenglong and the Prince Consort will definitely suggest he move to Jinzhong. On this stretch of road, we can strike.”
The young monk spoke very clearly, not hiding or concealing anything at all, unlike ordinary monks who spoke in clouds and mist. Second Master Fan understood and couldn’t help but laugh. He braced his hands on his knees and gave an interested exclamation, asking him: “But he has Imperial Guards at his side, and elite soldiers guarding him. It won’t be that easy to strike, will it?”
He had heard that the martial monks of Huangjue Temple were no less formidable than those of Shaolin Temple, but compared to the Imperial Guards, he really didn’t know how they measured up. Could these monks really have the ability to be worth a hundred men each?
“We also have informants on their side.” Sannan smiled at Second Master Fan, not at all bothered by his skepticism. He reached out to take a map and spread it open, pointing it out to Second Master Fan: “There are three roads from Yangquan to Jinzhong—one is the official road, two are small roads. We’ve already walked all three of these roads on site and know where setting an ambush would be most secure. When the time comes, as soon as our insider sends word, we can make arrangements.”
Second Master Fan stretched his neck to look at the map. Indeed, it was covered with markings. He pointed somewhat curiously at one of the marks and asked Sannan: “What does this mean?” He looked at the terrain and asked again: “Are you planning to charge down like this and confront the Imperial Guards’ people directly?”
What he was pointing at was the road beside the official road, a road that had been blocked by heavy snow for a while during winter. Sannan smiled and shook his head, pointing at that mark and laughing softly: “No need for people.”
No need for people? Second Master Fan looked at him in astonishment. Seeing Fan San also looked confused, he couldn’t help but pursue the question: “If you don’t need people, then how do you kill?”
“If they take this road, we won’t need to move a single person. This mountain was drenched by rain and snow all last winter. Some days ago, there was already one landslide. We’ll wait a bit longer, wait for the informant at the Crown Grandson’s side to send word. If the Crown Grandson really takes this road… we’ll tamper a bit with the mine tunnels in this mountain, and the mountain will collapse. Never mind the Imperial Guards—not even a mosquito could fly out.” Sannan’s face was full of smiles. He had been waiting for this day for a long time. His master’s unfulfilled wish—he must complete it for him. Originally, Master didn’t have to die. If it weren’t for the Crown Grandson persuading Chief Minister Chang and Cen Biliang to speak those words in the great hall, if it weren’t for Chief Minister Chang and Cen Biliang’s words stirring up those foolish students into such fervor, causing such a great incident…