Chapter 66: The Hongwu Emperor Summons Him

  My acquaintance with Cao Yi was quite accidental, with a bit of fate.

  If it weren't for Chen Ning, the prodigal son of the Chen family, offending Cao Yi back then, the Chen family would have been destroyed by now. Probably, Xiao Fan and Cao Yi wouldn't even know each other yet, let alone call each other brothers.

  Cao Yi is a straightforward and generous person, with a strong sense of brotherhood. He has a bold and uninhibited personality, shaped by his military background, which makes Xiao Fan feel very comfortable around him. Being with someone like Cao Yi doesn't feel tiring, as you don't need to rack your brains trying to decipher the meaning behind every word he says. When Cao Yi speaks, he always gets straight to the point, without beating around the bush. If he says he'll keep Xiao Fan safe, it's not just an empty courtesy, but a promise from one man to another. In comparison, Xiao Fan feels rather hypocritical - whenever he sees a young and beautiful woman, his eyes would stare at her shamelessly, yet his expression remains stern and disapproving, as if he's above such desires. This kind of behavior is not good, not honest, not gentlemanly... but it does feel exciting.

  Cao Yi suddenly pulled out a wine jug from somewhere, and Xiao Fan's face immediately turned bitter. He threw a pleading glance at Tai Xu, who was not far away. Tai Xu looked dispirited, seemingly still recovering from the flour incident. Seeing Xiao Fan looking at him, he callously turned his head away.

  This heartless old man! I'll quit and won't be his apprentice anymore when I get back!

  Cao Yi poured two large bowls of wine, clinking them together with Xiao Fan before downing the contents in one gulp. He smacked his lips and let out a satisfied sigh.

  The two of them tacitly avoided mentioning fleeing to the State of Yan again. What Cao Yi wanted to say now was something else, a very troublesome matter.

  The situation above has changed, and the memorial requesting Huang Rui's transfer was intercepted...

  Xiao Fan was taken aback and exclaimed: "Why did you stop me?"

  It is indeed surprising that the King of Yan attaches great importance to Jiangpu County, after all, it is a barrier on the west side of the capital, and its geographical location is very important. It should be taken down without leaving any remaining forces.

  Cao Yi let out a cold snort and said, "The original letter appointing Huang Rui De had already been submitted to the Ministry of Officials, and the officials there had also given their approval. All that was left was for it to be presented to the Emperor for his review and stamp of approval, but then something unexpected happened..."

  "What's wrong?"

  Cao Yi sneered: "The official letter has just arrived at the Ministry of Justice, and it happens to be intercepted by Huang Shilang of the Ministry of Rites."

  "What's going on? The Ministry of Rites' deputy minister intercepts the Ministry of Personnel's official letter?"

  Cao Yi sighed and said, "Huang Shilang has the emperor's favor, so it's not surprising that he intercepted the official letter from the Ministry of Officials. Huang Zhixian is still not giving up, this old guy is not a simple lamp, recently he has been frequently traveling to the capital, and has been in close contact with Huang Guan, the right servant of the current dynasty's Rites Department, it's likely that Huang Ruide made an effort behind the scenes to intercept the memorial."

  Huang Guan? The first great talent of the Ming Dynasty to win three top honors in a row?

  Xiao Xiao was slightly surprised, this Lord Huang is indeed a true talent. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, there have been more than ten imperial examinations, and tens of thousands of scholars have emerged, but only one person has achieved the feat of being ranked first in all three levels of examination. Later, when the Prince of Yan rebelled, Huang Guan went to various places outside the capital to urge the troops to come to Beijing to defend the emperor. When his boat reached Luojiaji in Anqing, he learned that the Prince of Yan had already occupied Ying Tian and ascended to the throne. Knowing that all was lost, Huang Guan threw himself into the river and died, a truly loyal minister.

  How did Huang Zhi County get mixed up with Huang Guan?

  "What a big official is the Vice Minister of Rites?"

  Cao Yi slowly stretched out two fingers and said: "Second rank."

  Xiao Fan's gaze towards Cao Yi was immediately filled with sympathy: "A second-grade official wants to deal with you, an eighth-grade official. Brother Cao, it's better for you to quickly shoot a message arrow to ask the King of Yan for help..."

  Cao Yi shook his head, looking at Xiao Fan with a sly smile: "I have the King of Yan behind me, Huang Guan can't touch me. The current emperor only trusts his own flesh and blood, especially wary of external officials interfering in the affairs of the imperial family. How dare Huang Guan move against me? As a close minister to the Emperor, he is most familiar with the Emperor's temperament..."

  Xiao Fang suddenly felt relieved, her eyes darted to the side, and she gave Cao Yi a scolding glance: "Brother Cao, you're so bad, scaring me..."

  Cao Yi slowly said: "I haven't finished speaking, Huang Guan can't move me, but... for a second-grade official to move a small citizen like me is not difficult..."

  Xiao Fang's face immediately turned green: "What does it mean?"

  "The Jiangpu government is in chaos, and the county magistrate has been usurped by the county lieutenant. This is truly a rare event throughout history, but unfortunately, it cannot be spoken of in official circles. Huang Ruide dare not make a fuss about it to the Ministry of Officials, or his career would be ruined. Fortunately, he has a fellow graduate and friend, the Right Vice Minister of the Board of Rites, Huang Daci. Huang Guanzhong has always been wary of the feudal princes, how could he let the screen of the capital fall into the hands of Prince Yan? However, Prince Yan has been stationed in Beiping, repeatedly conquering the remnants of the Yuan dynasty, and achieving great merits, earning the trust of the emperor. Huang Guanzhong knows he can't handle me, but... haha, he may not be able to handle me, but handling you, a commoner with no achievements or background, is not difficult."

  "Huang Guan, how to put it, is still a pretty straightforward person, just too pedantic. I don't know what kind of wind Huang Ruide blew into his ear, but now he has a deep grudge against you. He thinks that the Jiangpu government's situation became so chaotic because of you - superiors not acting like superiors, subordinates not acting like subordinates... Of course, it's not wrong for him to think this way, isn't it all your doing? You've manipulated both me and Huang Ruide..."

  Xiao Fan made a bitter face and said pitifully: "Cao brother, it has nothing to do with me..."

  Cao Yi burst out laughing and said, "There's no use telling me this, go tell Huang Guan instead. Huang Guan is a stubborn person, in his eyes, you're just a commoner who doesn't farm or read books, has no achievements or fame, yet you're involved in the power struggle at the yamen, which is not staying within your bounds. To him, you're just a troublemaker. Now the whole of Jiangpu knows that Huang Zhi County was stripped of his power by me, and they also know that this matter has something to do with you. Huang Guan wants to use you as a test to see my reaction. If I don't dare to stand up for you, everyone in Jiangpu will think I'm weak and afraid of trouble, can't even protect the people under me, and the officials at the yamen will be disheartened. That way, Huang Zhi County can take back his power without a fight! Haha, what a clever move to shake the mountain and shock the tiger!"

  Xiao Fan sighed and said: "But you can't help me get out of this predicament, right?"

  Cao Yi's face was clouded with worry as he said, "That's right, the officialdom is treacherous. As a low-ranking eighth-grade county magistrate, if I were to argue with the current second-grade attendant minister on your behalf, that would be considered a subordinate offending his superior. Huang Guanzhong would have an excuse then. He's not just some useless Huang Zhixian; he's someone who is wary of Prince Yan, but doesn't fear him. If I were to clash with him, he could openly and honorably accuse me of a crime. Even if Prince Yan found out, there's nothing he could say about it."

  Xiao Fan asked curiously: "How did you know so much?"

  Cao Yi smiled deeply: "In the high-ranking officials' households in the capital, there are many attendants and followers. If one or two of these lower servants accidentally overhear something and then accidentally let it slip out, that's also quite normal..."

  Xiao Fan's heart suddenly tightened, and the King of Yan had actually set up spies in various high-ranking officials' mansions in the capital?

  Opportunities only favor those who are prepared, no wonder the King of Yan was able to successfully usurp the throne after several years. Although he was far away in Beiping, he had put in a lot of effort into understanding the imperial court in the capital...

  There is such a deep-hearted uncle, how can Zhu Yunwen compete with him? If I were Zhu Yunwen, the final outcome would probably be to burn myself to death in anger and frustration. The old man is dead! That damn fourth uncle has an external hanging...

  Cao Yi furrowed his brow and sighed, "Next year's imperial examination will begin at the start of spring. The Ministry of Rites is in charge of the imperial examination, and Huang Guan has already received an edict from the Emperor to inspect the examination halls in Jiangnan and concurrently oversee the governance of various local officials. This is a special imperial appointment. His first stop on his inspection tour of Jiangnan will be Jiangpu. I reckon he's already fabricated all your crimes. If I were to vouch for you, both of us would end up in prison, and even Prince Yan wouldn't be able to save us. If I don't vouch for you, I'll lose the hearts of the people. With Huang Guan putting pressure on me from above, Magistrate Huang will definitely regain power. Once he has power, with Huang Guan backing him, it would be easy for him to deal with me. Dammit! This officialdom is not a place for humans, you can't advance, you can't retreat. I'd rather go back to Beiping and fight the Tartars, one sword, one spear, either you die or I die, how wonderful!"

  Cao Yi slammed his hand on the table and then picked up his wine bowl, downing it in one gulp.

  Xiao Fan was heartbroken. In the history of Ming Dynasty, there were many outstanding figures, and Huang Guan was one of the people he admired most. Not only was he talented, but also had a strong sense of justice. When Jianwen was usurped, he would rather die for his country than serve a traitor as his lord. Such a person truly deserved to be called a famous minister of his generation. Xiao Fan had always idolized him.

  Now the idol hates his fans, and the fans are heartbroken...

  Cao Yi took another sip of wine and comforted him, saying: "However, you shouldn't worry too much. Fortunately, you know the Crown Prince Taishun. I may not be able to protect you, but the Crown Prince definitely can. If you are imprisoned, I believe the Crown Prince will risk his life to rescue you..."

  Xiao Fang let out a sigh of relief, if he was fine, then Cao Yi would be fine too, this was a causal relationship.

  "Who knows, Cao Yi continued: '... just afraid that Huang Guan is too jealous of evil, after taking you down, he will cut your head off on the spot. At that time, Taishun can only hold your head and cry...' "

  Xiao Fan's face immediately turned green again.

  "Cao's words are really unpredictable and fluctuating..."

  Xiao Fan's heart was getting heavier and heavier, it seemed that Huang Guan really wanted to deal with him. It just depended on how much he hated himself or how much he guarded against the vassal king. Because in his eyes, Xiao Fan was a despicable commoner who colluded with the vassal king. Killing Cao Yi might require some consideration of the consequences, but killing someone like Xiao Fan wouldn't need much thought.

  Of course, Xiao Fan wouldn't think that Huang Guan would ask for an edict in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, find a pretext to inspect the imperial examination system and rectify official corruption, and then deliberately come to Jiangpu to cut himself off. He's not arrogant enough for that. But the first stop on their inspection tour just happened to be Jiangpu, what does this imply? It implies that they were going to take care of him along the way, and after taking care of him, they would do whatever they needed to do...

  Alas, the sorrow of being a small person...

  The two of them exchanged a glance and found each other's eyes filled with bitterness.

  A figure flashed outside the courtyard, and the old house servant who served Cao Yi returned. He was carrying two jars of wine in his hands, apparently going out to fetch wine for Cao Yi.

  The old servant walked up to Cao Yi's side and said respectfully, "Master, I went out to buy wine for you and found that there are many strangers lurking around the outside of the official residence today. Although they are wearing casual clothes, I can tell that they all have a military air about them, and several of them appear to be experts. Master, look..."

  Cao Yi's face turned red with rage as he shouted: "Damn it, this government inn only has me living here, who dares to send someone to spy on me?"

  Xiao Fan hastily said: "Cao big brother, something is wrong! Look at this situation, you are probably already being shuanggui..."

  Cao Yibei suddenly became furious, slamming the table and shouting: "Who dares! I haven't broken any laws, I haven't oppressed the people, who dares...huh? What's this 'double regulation'?"

  "Shuanggui is a very characteristic term..." Xiao Fan patiently explained to Cao Yi.

  The two were talking when the old family servant seemed to sense something. He jerked his head back and then he saw Tai Xu.

  Tai Yu pulled the little beggar girl back and took two steps forward. He changed his usual playful and mischievous expression, becoming extremely solemn. The two old men stood still, about four or five steps apart.

  The two stood facing each other, staring at each other, for a long time. Suddenly, both of their eyelids twitched several times, and the veins on their temples bulged out, throbbing violently. The atmosphere in the courtyard was instantly filled with tension.

  Xiao Fan and Cao Yi, who were talking in the courtyard, suddenly felt a chill at the same time, and then they looked at the two old men in shock.

  Tai Xū and Lǎo Jiā's servant remained standing opposite each other, both silent, but the robes they wore puffed up like balloons, their hair and beards stood on end, their eyes locked in a fierce stare, the air seemed to solidify, making it hard to breathe, and their hearts were racing.

  Cao Yi widened his eyes and asked Xiao Fan, "What is this old Taoist priest to you?"

  "Cough... He's my master, I just happened to worship him when I was idle. Actually, I'm not very familiar with him either... That old house servant, is he really your servant?"

  "Cough... actually, I don't know him that well. Before I took office in Jiangpu, Prince Yanwang sent him to serve me..."

  Xiao Fan understood that this old housekeeper seemed to be an expert, and the King of Yan had sent him to serve Cao Wei openly, but secretly to protect Cao Wei's safety, or... it could also be said that he was monitoring Cao Wei. This is like when a general leads his troops on an expedition, the emperor always sends a supervisor to the army.

  Yan Wang is a man who considers everything in his actions, now even Xiao Fan can't help but suspect that he has opened an external hang-up...

  Two old men stood silently, gazing at each other, the sharp murderous aura in their eyes seeming to collide in mid-air, sparking crackling sparks...

  Goodbye.

  Xiao Fan couldn't help but say: "I always feel like they're like a pair of old lovers who've been separated for many years, just look at the way they gaze at each other, it's so infatuated..."

  Turning his head towards Cao Yi, Xiao Fan attempted to seek resonance: "What do you think?"

  Cao Yi frowned and stared at the two old men, his words were more objective: "This... is really hard to say, it's common for people to have a good relationship with Longyang, but it's extremely rare for someone of Old Cheng's age to have such a good relationship..."

  Two people were gossiping baselessly on one side, and the two old men standing opposite each other in the middle of the courtyard made a move.

  Tai Xū suddenly laughed loudly, his snow-white beard slightly trembling. After laughing twice, he said in a deep voice: "A master?"

  The old servant also looked up at the sky and smiled: "It's all the same."

  With a gentle wave of his Taoist robe's large sleeve, he displayed an air of an extraordinary master. With a carefree and elegant tone, he said: "I am from the Wudang Sect. Today, I see that your skills are profound. My heart is delighted at the prospect of a hunt. Why don't we engage in a friendly exchange instead?"

  The old servant looked at Cao Yi with a stunned expression, hesitated for a moment, and said: "As you wish, but... my master is here, I don't dare to violate the harmony in front of him. How about we go to the side room to discuss this further?"

  "It doesn't matter, anywhere is fine!"

  Then, in front of Xiao Fan, Xiao Qi Nu and Cao Yi, Tai Xu and Lao Jia Pu entered the wing room with a smile.

  The two men were calm and composed, walking with ease, displaying a demeanor of an extraordinary martial arts master.

  Xiao Fan suddenly felt his heart beating faster, from Tai Xu's demeanor just now, it can be seen that the master he worshiped might really be a game-playing, worldly and unorthodox but extremely skilled martial arts eccentric. Could it be... I've really picked up a treasure? In that case, I'll have to follow him well in the future and learn some skills from him, after all, he's an extraordinary expert...

  The two of them entered the wing room on the left side of the courtyard, and then with a "bang", the door to the wing room was tightly shut.

  Cao Yi finally came to his senses, exclaiming in surprise: "Every day by my side serving tea and pouring wine, I always thought he was just an old servant, didn't expect... damn it! He's actually a master..."

  Xiao Fan also bitterly smiled and said: "I, like you, have been deceived. I always thought that the master we were following was a deceitful old man who only knew how to swindle food and drink, but it turns out he was actually hiding his true abilities..."

  He glanced at the tightly closed door of the house and asked anxiously, "Hey, won't those two get into trouble?"

  Cao Yi waved his hand indifferently: "What's the big deal? These two are just exchanging blows, at most they'll lose a hand or foot, it's not that easy to die..."

  Before the words had fallen, a loud crash was heard from inside the wing room. Xiao Fang was startled and his whole body shook, his eyes wide with fear as he stared at the wing room.

  Cao Yi comforted him as if nothing was wrong: "Nothing, nothing, let's continue our conversation. What did you mean by 'double rules' just now?"

  Xiao Fan's mind wandered as he said, "Double rules are just going to the designated location at the designated time, and then the two of them will fight... Ah, what if they really get into trouble? What if someone gets killed?"

  Just as he was saying this, there was a loud crash, and then the door of the wing room opened.

  He walked out with a disheveled hair, his Taoist robe was torn into strips, fluttering in the wind, revealing his thin and pale arms, standing still in the cold wind, looking like an old man who had just been humiliated.

  "Master! Are you alright?" Xiao Fan rushed forward in a swift arrow step, calling out in a sorrowful voice.

  He was stunned for a moment, then turned his head to look at the side house, suddenly burst out laughing, took a deep breath, and said viciously: "Indeed a master! His grandma's infinite life Buddha! Not only can't I beat him with my fists!"

  After finishing speaking, Tai Yu pushed Xiao Fan away and stumbled out of the government inn.

  Xiao Fan's eyes widened in shock, his mind was shaken, and stars of admiration sparkled in his eyes as he respectfully saw Tai Xu leave.

  Immediately afterwards, Cao Yi's old family servant also walked out of the side room.

  Cao Yi also hastily went up and asked: "How are you? Are you okay?"

  The old servant's clothes were very tidy, and upon hearing this, he slowly shook his head. As soon as he opened his mouth, a thread of fresh blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

  Xiao Fan couldn't help but admire Tai Xu even more. The old man's move was ruthless, and judging from the look of things, Lao Jia's servant must have suffered an internal injury.

  "Are you all right? I'll call a doctor for you..." Cao Yi was getting anxious.

  The old servant shook his head, gazing at the government office gate with a scowl, his voice hoarse with anger: "How despicable! Spitting in my face and using such shameless tactics as sending a monkey to steal peaches..."

  Xiao Fang hurriedly lowered her head and looked for a gap in the ground...

  At this moment when he was at a loss for words, suddenly there came the sound of hurried footsteps from outside the government hostel.

  Xiao Fan and Cao Yi Fei exchanged a quick glance, their expressions suddenly becoming serious.

  The little beggar girl slowly walked to Xiao Fan's side, quietly pulling on Xiao Fan's sleeve. Xiao Fan turned his head and smiled reassuringly at her. The little beggar girl also gave him a faint smile, but her expression was unusually calm.

  Soon, a team of Jin Yiwei in flying fish attire appeared in the corridor of the government office. The one at the forefront looked very familiar, and Xiao Fan vaguely remembered seeing him often accompanying Zhu Yunwen.

  The brocade-clad imperial guards did not make any hostile moves, stopping a few steps away from Xiao Fan and the others. The leader took two steps forward, looked at Xiao Fan, and solemnly said in a deep voice: "There is an imperial edict, Xiao Fan, receive the decree."

  Xiao Fangling was stunned, feeling as if his brain had exploded, and suddenly became a blank slate. The Sacred Edict? How did Zhu Yuanzhang know him? That was a ruthless king who killed people... He wouldn't issue an order to behead him, would he? He didn't even know the guy, and hadn't offended him in any way...

  The man in front smiled slightly and reminded him in a gentle voice: "Xiao Fan, just kneel down to listen to the sacred decree."

  Cao Yi hastily pulled on Xiao Fan's sleeve, seeing that Xiao Fan was still standing motionless. He then lifted his foot and kicked the back of Xiao Fan's knee, causing him to kneel down with a thud. Cao Yi followed suit and knelt behind Xiao Fan. The little beggar girl had initially been expressionless, but upon seeing Xiao Fan kneel down, she also knelt beside him.

  The leading brocade-clad imperial guard spoke in a deep voice: "By order of His Majesty, Xiao Fan from Jiangpu County is to depart immediately for the capital, enter the palace and pay respects to the Emperor. For now, he is excused from the usual rituals of the Ministry of Rites; he is allowed to wear casual attire to show his reverence for the imperial presence. Any minor lapses in etiquette will be forgiven by Me."

  After finishing reading the imperial edict, Jin Yi looked at Xiao Fan with a flash of smile in his eyes, but said in a deep voice: "Xiao Fan, kneel down to thank the emperor's grace."

  Xiao Fan stood up straight and bowed his head, shouting: "Your humble subject kowtows to thank Your Majesty for ten thousand years of life, ten thousand years of life, and ten million years of life!"

  Suppressing the excitement and tension in his heart, Xiao Fan did not dare to delay any further as the imperial edict required him to "set out immediately". He only had time to ask Cao Yi to help send the little beggar girl back to the Mountain God Temple, and instructed the little beggar girl not to run around, but to wait for him at the temple. Then Xiao Fan followed the brocade-clad Imperial Guards out of the official inn's gate, setting off towards the capital to rush to the Tianfu Palace.

  As Xiao Fan's figure disappeared at the gate, Cao Yi's eyes revealed a hint of complexity, and he let out a melancholic sigh.

  The old servant resumed his usual wooden and indifferent expression, staring silently at the door. Unintentionally, a flash of gloomy gaze flickered by.

  The little beggar girl turned back in time, and the eyes of the old servant at home were caught by her. The little beggar girl lowered her eyelids, kicking the small stones under her feet with a nonchalant expression, jumping up and down, with an innocent and lively appearance.