Chapter Fifty-One: The Imperial Grandson Returns

  Xiao Fan wanted to cry but had no tears.

  What's meant to come will come, those who go out to mix will eventually have to pay back, it was only a matter of time before you knew, how could hitting the crown prince not be a big deal? Does the national machine of the Zhu family dynasty eat dry rice?

  Xiao Fan thought of running away at this moment, he didn't want to stupidly stick out his head and let Zhu Yunwen chop it off, that would be too humiliating. As a four-haves traverser with ideals, culture, taste, and predictive ability, although he couldn't dominate the world, he also couldn't be weak enough to be killed by others. His purpose in crossing over wasn't to get slaughtered.

  "Lord Cao, take care! I'll slip out of the city for a while to avoid trouble. The green hills will remain unchanged, and the clear waters..."

  "It's too late!" Cao Yi anxiously interrupted Xiao Fan's nonsense, saying in a deep voice: "The Taizi Temple has almost arrived, the officials and soldiers of the Left Army Commander's Mansion have already occupied the four cities, and the entire Jiangpu is clear and clean. The people are not allowed to move around, you want to leave the city now, unless you have the ability to remove the officials and soldiers guarding the city gate..."

  Xiao Fan's face turned green: "...... I just patted him a few times on the back of his head, he wants to kill me and it's easy to send a few top-notch inner guards, why bother using the imperial guard to personally come all the way to kill me? A group of people came out from the capital, with great fanfare, just to kill me, a mere wine shop owner, do I have such a great sin?"

  Cao Yi's face turned a few shades stranger: "The imperial grandson used the imperial carriage, left the capital and rushed for an hour on the road, just to kill you? This is unprecedented, it's strange, I reckon he might not be here to kill you..."

  Xiao Fan's eyes lit up like he had grasped a lifesaving straw, and he asked hastily, "Really? Then what was it for?"

  Cao Yi shook his head and said: "The thoughts of those in higher positions, Cao dare not rashly guess..."

  He patted Xiao Fan's shoulder and said in a low voice, "Whether it's good fortune or bad luck, if it's bad luck, you can't escape. You should still wait at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, don't run around randomly. I'll go with Huang Zhixian to the East City Gate to meet the prince... If Prince Ta Sun really intends to kill you, he won't do it on the spot. He will definitely take you to the Tian Prison in the capital first and wait for execution. At that time, I'll think of a way to ensure your safety..."

  Cao Yi finished speaking and led the yamen runners away in a hurry.

  Xiao Fan's face turned pale, his whole body trembling, and his eyes became dull and numb.

  Death was getting closer and closer to him, so close that it made him tremble. He was just an ordinary person, without the courage to face death with equanimity. When faced with death, he was no different from ordinary people, equally afraid, equally fearful.

  Imperial power, what a terrible term, combining violence and dominance, those who obey it are comforted, while those who resist it are slaughtered.

  However, Xiao Fan was still different from ordinary people. Even if he died, he would not willingly stretch out his neck to be executed.

  Standing in the hall for a moment, Xiao Fan suddenly turned around and entered the kitchen, pulled out a sharp knife from the chopping board, lifted his shirt and hid it at his waist.

  His usual gentle and elegant appearance was completely gone, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, his clear and spirited eyes were filled with bloodshot, he had made up his mind that if Zhu Yunwen really wanted to take him down, he would draw his sword and kill this crown prince, even if it meant dying together.

  Xiao Fan appears refined and elegant, but in his bones flows the blood of a ruthless man. Don't forget, he was a robber in his past life. Someone who dares to do such high-risk work certainly doesn't have a small heart. When it's time to risk everything, he will put everything on the line.

  When no one can be relied on, mutual destruction is also a way of resistance.

  Looking at Xiao Fan's calm expression again, Chen Ying'er on the side had already been shocked.

  She found herself knowing too little about this man, when did he get to know the current Crown Prince? Moreover, from County Magistrate Cao's tone, it seemed that he had also offended the Crown Prince quite seriously, and a great disaster was imminent.

  "It's not the time to dig deep, Chen Ying'er bit her silver teeth and trembled: "Xiao Fan, you...you'd better hide first, after the officials leave, I'll take you out of the city..."

  Xiao Fan's heart was moved, and he shook his head slightly: "I can't leave. If I leave, the government soldiers won't be able to catch anyone, and your Chen family will suffer. Even County Magistrate Cao will be implicated."

  Chen Ying'er was stunned, yes, Xiao Fan was right, as everyone knew, he was the son-in-law of the Chen family. If he ran away, his parents, younger brother, and even she herself would definitely be implicated. Although they had nothing to do with this matter, under imperial power, who would reason with them?

  Looking at Xiao Fan's calm and handsome face, Chen Ying'er burst into tears, her silver teeth clenched, and finally made up her mind: "Never mind, you hide first, those officials won't implicate innocent people, at most they'll just take us to the dungeon for a while, it'll be fine soon..."

  Xiao Fan's heart was increasingly moved, the originally cold and indifferent woman, at this time, however, had such courage, which made him somewhat unexpected, able to make such a decision, it seemed that his weight in her heart was not just an unmarried husband of parental orders, but indeed occupied a very important position.

  Xiao Fan chuckled and shook his head with a calm expression.

  Chen Ying'er was anxious and stamped her foot, saying: "At this time, you can still laugh, you...you're really infuriating!"

  Xiao Fan laughed and said, "I just suddenly thought of your father. Since I took over the Drunken Immortal Pavilion as a son-in-law, the Chen family has been in turmoil. The trouble I've caused has escalated each time, if this time your father knew that I had offended the current Crown Prince, I wonder what kind of expression he would have..."

  The east city gate of Jiangpu County, the ancient and simple iron wood door was tightly guarded by dozens of Jin Yiwei officers. Huang Zhixian and Cao Xiancheng had long been kneeling on both sides of the city gate, behind them were the officials and guards of the yamen, a group of people trembling with fear waiting for the arrival of the Crown Prince's procession.

  Two incense sticks later, on the official road in the east, a vast amount of dust rose into the sky. At the front was a dragon flag with six faces and four golden claws, followed by a yellow flag in the middle, a green flag to the left front, a red flag to the right front, a black flag to the left rear, and a white flag to the right rear. Each flag had six soldiers holding bows and crossbows, dressed in colors matching their respective flags. Behind the chariots were swordsmen, halberdiers, and men carrying bone-shaped objects, each with four people. Further behind them were ceremonial objects such as red silk parasols, round fans, square fans, and green silk square fans, all carried by embroidered-uniformed officers. The flags and parasols covered the sky and blocked out the sun, as hundreds of people marched towards the city gate in a grand procession.

  Even before arriving at the city gate, the heavy imperial majesty had already pressed down on the crowd waiting to welcome him at the entrance. From Huang Zhongxian onwards, everyone was deeply shocked by this aura of power. The crowd knelt in the dust, their heads touching the ground, not daring to move slightly, as if even breathing had become difficult.

  As soon as the procession arrived at the city gate, Huang Zhixian immediately kowtowed to the carriage of the Crown Prince and said loudly: "Your humble servant, Huang Ruide, Magistrate of Jiangpu County, leads his colleagues from the Jiangpu County government to pay respects and welcome Your Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince. May you live for a thousand years!"

  All officials kowtowed and shouted in unison: "Long live the Crown Prince!"

  The grand carriage was filled with music and laughter, but when passing by Huang Zhi County, it stopped for a moment. A clear and cold voice came from inside: "Head to Drunken Immortal Pavilion."

  Then the carriage went straight into the city and headed south.

  Huang Zhi County knelt on the ground, his expression stunned, and then he looked at Cao Yi with a thoughtful gaze.

  Cao Yi didn't say a word, and closely followed the carriage, standing up straight with a solemn expression at the very end of the procession, walking neither quickly nor slowly.

  The entrance of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion had already been surrounded by layers of Imperial Guards in brocade uniforms, and Xiao Fan and others knelt on the ground, anxiously waiting for the arrival of the Crown Prince's procession.

  Lao Cai and a group of shop assistants knelt behind Xiao Fan, their faces pale, their bodies trembling all over. Even the four or five Qinglou girls who had come to Tui Xian Lou to sell wine were scared out of their wits, their beauty lost. They hadn't expected that selling wine would also be a matter of life and death. Who had they provoked? What had they done wrong? Why were they surrounded by government soldiers?

  Chen Ying'er also knelt on Xiao Fan's left side, looking at him with a sorrowful face, her expression extremely sad, tears constantly falling down.

  The fear did not last long, soon the Long Whip Street was quiet, the copper gong opened the way, and Zhu Yunwen's sedan chair arrived at the gate of Zui Xian Lou.

  A golden carriage stopped right in front of Xiao Fan, a burly general knelt down in front of the carriage with his head bowed. Xiao Fan hung his head low and only saw a pair of dark yellow brocade boots stepping on the general's back, getting off the carriage and slowly walking to his front.

  "Humble commoner Xiao Fan pays his respects to His Imperial Highness the Grandson of Heaven, may the Grandson live for a thousand years——"

  Regardless of guilt or innocence, let's get the formalities out of the way first. So, Xiao Fan took the lead and loudly shouted.

  "Hmph! Xiao Fan, look up at me!" a voice with a hint of smile said in a pretended stern tone.

  Xiao Fan's face was trembling, and he slowly lifted his head, only to see Zhu Yunwen wearing a bright yellow dragon robe with four claws, smiling at him.

  "Xiao Fan, I'm telling you now, I am the Grandson of the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty, the direct descendant of the Hongwu Emperor. Humph! How dare you not believe me? What makes you think you can doubt me?"

  Xiao Fan's body trembled, and he kowtowed on the ground, trembling with fear: "The crown prince is majestic and awe-inspiring, with a dragon-like stride and tiger-like steps. He truly has the appearance of a future emperor of the great Ming dynasty! I, a humble commoner, have eyes but no pearls, and my crime deserves ten thousand deaths!"

  Zhu Yunhe heard this and got angry, stamping his foot: "Hmph! That majestic appearance was ruined by you! You know you should die, now I'm asking you, how do you plan to settle the score for slapping my forehead?"

  "Commoner... I'm terrified!" Xiao Fan's face turned pale.

  "I remembered it now, you scolded me as a jinxed kid, how should this account be settled?"

  "Ordinary people... are terrified!" Xiao Fan wiped his sweat.

  "You once splashed me with a whole face of tea water..."

  "Grassroots... terrified!" Xiao Fan wiped away his unending sweat...

  "You also said that the drunken immortal's grandson and dogs are not allowed to enter..."

  Xiao Fan didn't even bother to respond to his words.

  Zhu Yunwen blinked strangely and said, "Why aren't you afraid?"

  Xiao Fan sighed and said: "This humble commoner's crimes are deep, beheading or execution is fine, after all a dead pig isn't afraid of boiling water..."

  "Haha……" Zhu Yunfeng laughed loudly, seeing his followers and Huang Zhixian looking at him with strange expressions. He immediately suppressed his smile, put on a serious face and said: "Xiao Fan, do you know that offending the Crown Prince is punishable by death?"

  "The common people know their crimes." Xiao Fan bowed his head in admission of guilt, but one hand seemed to casually stretch towards the back of his waist. As soon as Zhu Yunwen gave the order to seize him, he planned to fight it out with Zhu Yunwen. The two were only a few feet apart, and he was confident that he could smoothly stab him with a knife.

  Zhu Yunwen was still unaware of the killing intent that had quietly approached him, and he said in a low voice: "Since you're about to die, tell me, what unfulfilled wishes do you have before your death? Considering you treated me to a meal, I'll grant them for you."

  Xiao Fan's hand, which was reaching for his waist, paused, and he looked up at Zhu Yunwen with some surprise. Could it be that even if one were to be beheaded, they could still fulfill their heart's desire? Was the law of the Ming Dynasty so humane?

  At a glance, he saw Zhu Yunwen smiling at him with a mischievous glint in his eyes. The kind expression made Xiao Fan stop all his movements, just for that young face full of smiles, warm and radiant, like the warm sunshine on this winter afternoon.

  The twists and turns of life often depend on a single thought, the hand that held the knife stopped, and Xiao Fan's fate was completely changed from then on. This one thought even affected the fate of an ancient nation, affecting the rise and fall of a dynasty.

  The knife hidden at his waist was never drawn.

  Xiao Fan smiled, a relaxed smile spreading across his face.

  "What wish can be made?"

  Zhu Yunwen nodded and smiled: "Anything is fine."

  Xiao Fan blinked: "Can a commoner be buried with the deceased?"

  Zhu Yunwen said with a strange tone: "Who do you want to bury with you?"

  Xiao Fan raised his hand and pointed at Huang Zhi County, who was kneeling not far away: "Him."

  Huang Zhi County was so frightened that he trembled all over, and crawling on the ground, he said with a crying voice: "Your Highness, I am innocent..."

  Zhu Yun's eyes widened for a moment, and then he burst out laughing: "I didn't expect you to be even more absurd than me..."

  Then Zhu Yunwen said with a stern face: "Alright, since you are still somewhat loyal, I will pardon your crime of offending the Crown Prince. Xiao Fan, now do you believe that I am the true Crown Prince and not an imposter?"

  "The grass people firmly believe!"

  "Are you scared?"

  "Your Highness is mighty, I am but a humble subject..."

  Zhu Yunhe smiled complacently and said loudly, "Hmph! Knowing fear is good. I came today to make you fear... Come, prepare the carriage to return to the capital!"

  After finishing speaking, Zhu Yun stepped onto the carriage without looking back, and the entire procession of hundreds of people turned around and left, soon disappearing from everyone's sight.

  Xiao Fan suddenly raised his head and stared at Cao Yi, both of their faces were filled with confusion.

  "Is... it just going to end like this?" Xiao Fan muttered.

  Cao Yi remained kneeling on the ground, scratching his head in great confusion: "What did the Crown Prince come for? Was it just to scare me a few times and then be done with it?"

  Xiao Fan said discontentedly: "I feel like you're not satisfied with me, Your Highness Taishun. It seems like you're particularly displeased?"

  Cao Yi regretfully smacked his lips and said, "If the Crown Prince really beheaded you, then Huang Zhixian would have followed you to your grave, saving me a lot of trouble..."

  Xiao Fan: "………"