Chapter 48: Returning Your Bright Pearl

  When Xiao Fan recounted the incident of drunkenly hitting the Crown Prince with a bashful expression and a timid tone, Cao Yi had been maintaining an expression of shock for a very long time.

  Xiao Fan looked at him uneasily and said cautiously: "It's said that the royal family has an extraordinary demeanor, with a broad mind to tolerate everything under heaven. I suppose Your Highness won't bother with someone like me, a commoner?"

  Cao Yi's face stiffened, and upon hearing this, his facial muscles twitched involuntarily. In a hoarse voice, he said: "Uncommon demeanor? Hmph... Xiao brother, do you know what the imperial family's demeanor is built on? Millions of lives, rows of white bones, rivers of fresh blood..."

  "Cao big brother, don't scare me..."

  "Are you kidding me? Hmph! Because of Crown Prince Yi's sake, the current Emperor is extremely doting on the Grandson. Normally, he can't even bear to scold him with a harsh word, but you...you actually slapped his forehead countless times. If the Emperor finds out..."

  Xiao Fan broke out in a cold sweat and stuttered: "It can't be that serious, right?"

  Cao Yi looked at him deeply, sighed and said: "I really didn't expect it, you look so weak and refined, but you've done something so reckless. To be honest, you're more courageous than me..."

  Xiao Fang blushed and said: "Cao brother, you are overpraising me..."

  Xiao Fan's face quickly fell, now is not the time to listen to praise, and listening to Cao Yi's words, he doesn't seem to be praising himself either...

  "Cao Dage, what should I do?" Xiao Fan asked with a bitter face.

  Cao Yi pondered, "You just said that the imperial guards originally had their swords drawn to kill you, but were stopped by the crown prince. And then they left Jiangpu without harming a hair on your head?"

  "Right."

  "So, the Crown Prince didn't have the intention to kill you, otherwise, even if you had a hundred lives, they would have all been lost there. The Imperial Guards are all top-notch masters..."

  Xiao Fang suddenly realized, and then the obstruction was opened. It is said that those who are in power are confused, and this statement is indeed true. Zhu Yunwen did not kill me at that time, which means he had no intention of killing me, so it's unlikely he will kill me in the future. The history books didn't lie, Zhu Yunwen was a kind and tolerant emperor, such an emperor is not used to killing people. Years later, when the King of Yan rebelled against him, he even told Geng Bingwen, the general who had surrendered: "Don't kill my imperial uncle, so I won't bear the crime of murdering my uncle."

  He couldn't bear to kill him, so he just slapped him on the forehead a few times, thinking that it wouldn't be a big deal.

  Xiao Fan's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally put down.

  Cao Yi looked at Xiao Fan's tense and then relaxed expression, his eyes flashing with a few complex colors. The two fell silent for a while before Cao Yi spoke up: "Xiao brother, the thoughts of those in higher positions are unpredictable. You and I guessing wildly today won't be accurate either. Perhaps one day the Crown Prince will remember this matter again, and by then you'll be in big trouble..."

  "What does Big Brother Cao mean?"

  Cao Yi picked up the wine jug and took a big gulp of wine, wiping his mouth carelessly with the back of his hand. "I have a foolproof plan that will ensure your safety..."

  "What's going on?"

  Cao Yi smiled and pointed north, saying: "A man's ambition is in the world, you have been living in the Chen family for a long time, being a son-in-law under someone else's roof, this is not the way of a great man. I see that your thoughts are clever and your strategies are extraordinary, listen to my advice, leave the Chen family now and go north..."

  Xiao Fan's heart skipped a beat as he focused his attention on Cao Yi.

  Cao Yi seemed to ignore Xiao Fan's serious gaze and said directly: "Before I came to Jiangpu, you must have known that there are people behind me. Indeed, in the past, I was promoted by Prince Yan and followed him on several northern expeditions against the remnants of the Yuan dynasty, accumulating military achievements and rising to become a hundred-household general. Now, Prince Yan is firmly established in Youyan, guarding the northern border with tens of thousands of soldiers under his command, and many fierce generals..."

  Xiao Fan interrupted Cao Yi and said quietly: "Brother Cao's intention is to have me surrender to the King of Yan?"

  Cao Yi smiled and said: "That's right, a man born in the world should make achievements and establish a career with his own hands. Although there are many brave generals under the command of the King of Yan, there is a lack of wise strategists. Only Dao Yan can share the burden and worries for the King of Yan. Now that the emperor is wise and has been clearing up the universe for thirty years, but the remnants of the Yuan dynasty have not been eliminated, and they have frequently raided the borders in recent years, with many battles on the border. The King of Yan has been guarding Beiping under the imperial order to maintain the peace and stability of the Great Ming Empire. Now is the time when talents are sought after like thirst. If you surrender to the King of Yan, there will be great honors and achievements waiting for you to take. If you get the support of the King of Yan, within five or ten years, you will definitely be granted an official position and return home with honor, isn't that much better than being a mediocre son-in-law in the Chen family?"

  Xiao Fan listened quietly with a smile all over his face, but his eyelids jumped violently, almost imperceptibly.

  The remnants have not been eliminated, this is probably the grandiose surface reason. Now that Zhu Yuanzhang is still alive, the King of Yan dare not make too much noise, and can only use the name of eliminating the remnants to search for talents all over the world. What his true purpose is, others do not know, but Xiao Fan does not know?

  According to the true historical development, after Zhu Yuanzhang's death, the King of Yan eventually took over the prosperous country from his nephew Zhu Yunwen and secured the throne, creating a prosperous era that lasted for 22 years.

  Should I join him? Help him conquer the remaining Yuan forces, help him consolidate the north, and even help him plot to usurp the throne...

  Xiao Fan suddenly laughed, he was just an ordinary citizen, even if his true identity was a traverser, in this turbulent Ming Dynasty, could he really control the political situation? What qualifications did he have? Did having him join their side hold such great significance for them? In his previous life, Xiao Fan had already known that one should not overestimate oneself too much. This world had no real fools, and if someone was missing, the world would still turn, history would still move forward along its predetermined trajectory. This was not something that could be changed by a single person's power.

  "Brother Cao, I'm just a mediocre person with shallow knowledge and no extraordinary wisdom or bravery. Under the command of the King of Yan, everyone is talented and brave, how can they tolerate someone as ordinary as me? Let's put this matter aside for now..."

  Xiao Fan finally refused, he did not regret making such a decision. Everyone has their own fate, and it's best to go with the flow. He didn't like to deliberately do something, including fleeing to the State of Yan, which was also the case.

  Cao Yi stared deeply at Xiao Fang for a long time, his eyes filled with complexity. After a silence, Cao Yi finally smiled and said: "I've seen through you long ago, you're the kind of person who won't give up until you get what you want. Fine, if you don't want to go, then don't go. The northern climate is cold and dry, I'm afraid your weak body can't take it. If you change your mind one day, come find me again."

  Xiao Fan looked at him gratefully and said: "Little brother refused Cao's good intentions, will you blame me for not knowing how to behave?"

  Cao Yi's eyes widened, and he said boldly: "What do you take your elder brother for? Since we are brothers, we are family. Between brothers, whatever comes to mind is spoken, what's the fuss about being polite or not? Do you think I'm such an unreasonable person?"

  The two of them exchanged a glance and burst out laughing at the same time. They raised their cups to toast each other, and some unpleasantness dissipated into thin air.

  After drinking merrily, Xiao Fan bid farewell and left with a hint of intoxication.

  Cao Yi gazed at Xiao Fan's slightly staggering back, his eyes narrowing into a slit. After a long while, he suddenly sighed: "Still not ripe yet..."

  The word "fire" in the conversation also doesn't know whether it refers to Xiao Fan or the act of pulling Xiao Fan, or if there is another implication.

  He raised his wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp, Cao Yi furrowed his brow again, tapping the stone table thoughtfully: "The Crown Prince... what did he come to Jiangpu for?"

  Xiao Fan turned down Cao Yi and put his energy into managing the Drunken Immortal Building. Since he was in the position, he would plan for it. He knew that he was now the manager of the Drunken Immortal Building, although he was still working for Chen Si Liu, this was only temporary.

  When the dragon is in the abyss, what he needs is just an opportunity, an opportunity to fly high. Zhu Yuanzhang is still alive, but the world has already formed two camps - the vassal kings and the crown prince. No matter which side you stand on, it's not the best time now, this is also his main reason for refusing Cao Yi.

  Huang Zhi County was deprived of power, and the Drunken Immortal Building is now full of guests, with business booming. The two-zhang-square wooden stage in the main hall played a huge role, with storytellers, opera performers, and acrobats taking turns on stage, attracting batch after batch of customers. Every day was bustling like New Year's Eve, and of course, the silver coins in the guests' pockets flowed into Chen Six's wallet.

  Xiao Zhanggui felt relieved at the same time, but also had some faint worries.

  He is worried about someone else, not himself.

  A tavern owner who has yet to escape poverty, still desperately running on the road to a moderately prosperous life, suddenly turns around and finds that he is actually supporting a dependent.

  This made Xiao Zhang's shopkeeper indignant and resentful beyond words.

  The guest was an old Daoist priest with a personal Daoist name, Tai Xu.

  During the two days when Huang Zhi County and Cao Yi were competing in magic, the city was filled with rumors, the political situation was turbulent, and everyone was terrified. However, Tai Xuan disappeared during those two days. After the rumors subsided and the dust settled, Tai Xuan reappeared mysteriously. Moreover, after this reappearance, he stayed at the Drunken Immortal Building and didn't leave. Every day, he would hold his tattered flag and swindle people all over the world. At night, he would return to enjoy the delicious food of the Drunken Immortal Building's chef with a shameless face. After eating, he would lie down on two tables pushed together, humming a lewd tune as he fell asleep. His life was so comfortable that even Xiao Fan envied him.

  Xiao Fan felt that this wouldn't do, a monk who had renounced the world and was cultivating in such a comfortable and indulgent way was truly sinful, and the Three Pure Ones would not be pleased.

  Then on a cold night after closing, Xiao Zhang sat down beside Tai Xu, who was full and content, picking his teeth with his legs raised, and began to negotiate with him.

  The topic of negotiation is only one, how to make a monk who eats and drinks without creating value return from the wrong path.

  Tai Xū laughed a bit awkwardly, he also felt that this was not good, eating white rice without any purpose had gone on for too long. After all, he and Xiao Fan were neither relatives nor friends, so the other party had no obligation to support him.

  "Otherwise, I'll teach you martial arts. You can be my apprentice and I'll be your master. It's only natural..." Taixu said shamelessly.

  Xiao Fan sighed and said, "Dao Zhang, I don't object to learning martial arts, but it's better if I don't learn from you. After all these years, I think the only thing you're good at is talking..."

  "Don't underestimate me, my martial arts skills are not just bragging rights. Back in the day, how many people on Jianghu cried and begged to be my apprentice? I didn't even bother with them. As for today, if we're talking about martial arts rankings, only my senior fellow disciple Zhang Sanfeng is above me..."

  Xiao Fan waved his hand to interrupt Tai Xu's boasting: "Alright, let's not mention martial arts anymore. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. I think it's not a big deal for you to swindle people outside. How about this? I'll find you a job at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion..."

  Tai Xiao's eyes lit up: "What's going on?"

  "Your old line of work."

  The next day, the diners at Drunken Immortal Pavilion found that the main hall was slightly different from usual.

  While everyone was eating and drinking, an old Taoist priest with a shabby appearance and a suspicious look, similar to a beggar, smiled on his face and went from table to table asking: "Hey, want your fortune told? Free of charge, it's the new promotion activity of Drunken Immortal Building..."

  "Ah! This brother, I observe that your forehead is dark and your eyebrows are sinister. You have an ominous sign!"

  "Damn you! You're the one with bad luck, your whole family has bad luck!"

  "Brother, don't be angry, I'll draw a peach symbol for you for free. Not only can it ward off evil spirits, but also prevent pregnancy..."

  “…………”