Chapter 35: None But Me

Seeing that Fan Dayou still seemed somewhat incredulous, Master Kong sighed and said sternly:

"His Majesty says the Empress Dowager will absolutely not let you go this time!"

"Once, twice, but not a third time; you have already openly opposed the Empress Dowager several times. She will also hold you accountable for the downfall of Pan Yu!"

"And today, the Empress Dowager’s public praise of you, along with restoring your official position and rewarding you with a thousand gold pieces, is nothing but a signal that she is about to move against you."

Master Kong explained the analysis and plan Ning Chen had laid out in his letter. Finally, he looked with concern at the solemn-faced Fan Dayou:

"Dayou, you must consider this carefully. You were lucky enough to escape unscathed last time."

"But this time, it is very likely that you will die!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Dayou frowned, a flicker of hesitation crossing his eyes.

Master Kong sighed, looking at his favorite student with heartache, and said with deep emotion: "His Majesty said that you have already helped him a great deal. He is very grateful to you and will certainly not fail you."

"But this time is truly different from any previous occasion. You may not be able to survive it."

"His Majesty wants you to think it over carefully; after all, you have a family and children!"

"If you are unwilling, His Majesty understands. He suggests you resign your post immediately and leave the capital. When His Majesty personally takes the reins of government in the future, he will surely reappoint you!"

"But if you insist on accepting this mission, should anything go wrong, His Majesty will be unable to protect you. The most he could do is exhaust every means to ensure the lifelong safety of your wife and children!"

Seeing this, Fan Dayou looked at Master Kong with hesitation: "Master, I, I..."

Master Kong patted Fan Dayou on the shoulder: "Dayou, do not feel any burden. Follow your own heart; His Majesty and I respect your choice!"

Master Kong truly felt for his stubborn and simple-minded student. While Fan Dayou was perhaps a bit of a pedantic scholar and sometimes lacked flexibility or was slow to react, he was a man who lived by his word.

Looking across this world, how many others could match his integrity in speech and action?

For many years, Master Kong had always regarded him as his own child. This was why, in the past, Fan Dayou was the only one allowed to see him when he had secluded himself from the world.

After saying this, Master Kong fell silent, waiting quietly for Fan Dayou to make his decision. On this matter, all he could do was tell Fan Dayou the unvarnished truth; the rest was to fully respect Fan Dayou's own choice.

A long time passed.

Fan Dayou finally asked slowly: "Master, if I complete this mission, can the Imperial Guard truly be brought under His Majesty's control?"

Master Kong paused, then said: "I cannot be certain, but His Majesty and I have plotted for this for a long time!"

"The appointment of the Commander of the Imperial Guard is directly related to His Majesty’s subsequent plans!"

Suddenly, Fan Dayou threw back his head and laughed aloud:

"Since this mission is so important, it must naturally fall to me, Fan Dayou!"

Master Kong was stunned and tried to persuade him once more with earnest advice: "Dayou, this is no child's play. Even His Majesty cannot guarantee your safety. Moreover, you have already helped His Majesty many times; you cannot always be the one to take the risks..."

As he spoke, Fan Dayou restrained his laughter and looked deeply at Master Kong: "Master, the Great Ning is now like a withered bone in a tomb. The court is filled with foul air, the feudal lords in their fiefs harbor ulterior motives, powerful enemies abroad are watching like tigers, and the people within are living in misery."

"Though I am foolish, I cannot stand by and do nothing!"

"As you said, for a man like me, to encounter a future enlightened monarch like His Majesty during my lifetime is my greatest fortune!"

"Tell me, what is there left to hesitate about?"

Master Kong opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but all his words ultimately transformed into two gentle pats on Fan Dayou’s shoulder.

However, the look in his eyes as he gazed at Fan Dayou became incredibly complex: relief, pride, being moved, and deep concern...

After a long while, Master Kong finally uttered: "Go, Dayou. No matter what happens, you will always be my finest student. Rest assured, I will walk this path with you until the end..."

With that, he departed with firm resolve.

Not long after, in the Yangxin Palace.

Little Anzi looked at Ning Chen with concern: "Your Majesty, are you certain the Empress Dowager will move against Fan Dayou?"

Ning Chen nodded, his expression serious: "She certainly will! Because to her, this is an excellent opportunity!"

Little Anzi seemed half-understanding and asked again: "But this mission is so dangerous. You told Fan Dayou the truth; what if he refuses to accept it..."

Ning Chen wore a confident smile: "It is precisely because it is dangerous that I had to tell him the truth. I truly believe he will not give up, for he is a steadfast idealist!"

Little Anzi blinked, looking confused: "Idealist..."

Little Anzi did not understand, but seeing Ning Chen so confident, he did not pursue the matter further.

Instead, he asked: "But is that person truly reliable? What, what if..."

Ning Chen frowned slightly, pondering for a moment before beckoning with his small hand. Little Anzi immediately leaned in.

Ning Chen’s gaze turned suddenly sinister, and he said in a low voice: "If he dares to betray me, then let his entire clan perish along with me..."

At the same time, in the Fengyi Palace.

The Empress Dowager slowly lifted her teacup, took a light sip, and looked at Cao Dahai, who was kneeling before her. She said in a low voice: "Speak. To what extent were you involved in the crimes committed by Pan Yu?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Dahai hurriedly knocked his head heavily against the floor, trembling with fear: "Your Ladyship, I am wronged! At most, I only accepted some bribes!"

"As for killing, I have done it, but it was all under Pan Yu’s orders! You know that Pan Yu pressured us heavily; I dared not disobey him!"

"Your Ladyship, please rest assured. Although it was that scoundrel Pan Yu who promoted me, I know in my heart that were it not for you, he could never have promoted me no matter how much he wanted to!"

"So in my heart, you are my greatest benefactor..."

The Empress Dowager’s face remained expressionless as she interrupted him coldly: "Enough. You should know that such empty words are not enough for me to grant you the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard!"

Hearing this, Cao Dahai’s brows lifted. He stole an excited glance at the Empress Dowager and immediately bowed: "Whatever your orders are, Your Ladyship, I shall not hesitate even at the cost of my life!"

The Empress Dowager’s lips curled slightly as she produced a small list: "Go. You know what to do. If you fail to handle this well, bring your own head back to me!"

Cao Dahai received the order with excitement: "Yes, Your Ladyship! I will surely handle it beautifully!"

But just as he was about to leave, the Empress Dowager’s voice sounded again: "Also, keep a close watch on every move Yang Fei makes!"

Cao Dahai was startled, but he immediately realized what this meant. He knew clearly that this was the test of whether he could become the Commander of the Imperial Guard.

Not long after Cao Dahai left, Yang Fei also knelt before the Empress Dowager: "General Yang Fei, reporting to Your Ladyship!"

The Empress Dowager looked at the resolute-faced Yang Fei and said sternly: "Yang Fei, you are someone I personally promoted. Now that this business with Pan Yu has occurred, the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard is vacant. I intend for you to succeed him."

Yang Fei said: "Thank you, Your Ladyship. I will surely perform my duties with diligence and never fail your trust..."

As he spoke, the Empress Dowager suddenly interrupted: "I am aware of your loyalty and ability, but there are many in the court who support Cao Dahai for the succession. I am truly in a difficult position!"

Having said this, the Empress Dowager took out another small list: "Go. These people on the list were all implicated in Pan Yu’s case. Go and eliminate them to avoid further turmoil in the city!"

"As long as you handle this well, no one will be able to take the position of Commander of the Imperial Guard from you!"

Yang Fei nodded gratefully, but looking at the list, he frowned in confusion: "Fan... Fan Dayou..."

"Your Ladyship, didn't you just reward Master Fan? He, he..."

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, staring straight at Yang Fei as if trying to see through him, and said in a low voice:

"It is true this old scoundrel has merit, but his faults outweigh his contributions. Relying on his status as a leader of scholars, he has openly opposed me time and again, causing me to lose all face. Punishing him for disrespect is the least I could do!"

"Tell me, does such a person deserve to be eliminated?"

Yang Fei pondered for a moment and then said firmly: "To show disrespect to Your Ladyship is to show disrespect to the Great Ning. Even with merit, he cannot be spared!"

"I shall go and attend to it immediately!"

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction and continued: "Also, keep a close watch on Cao Dahai for me. That man was Pan Yu’s confidant. Although he severed ties with Pan Yu the moment trouble started, I still do not trust him!"

Yang Fei nodded firmly: "Yes, Your Ladyship!"

As she watched Yang Fei leave, the old nurse smiled and whispered: "Your Ladyship’s stratagem is truly brilliant!"

"It both tests the two of them and allows you to eliminate Fan Dayou and others who oppose you in the shadows. Later, you can simply claim it was the remnants of Pan Yu’s faction seeking revenge!"

"The key is that once they have done these things, it is equivalent to them submitting their letters of allegiance..."

The Empress Dowager smiled triumphantly: "Killing Fan Dayou and his ilk is only the beginning!"

"Since those rats hiding in the shadows dare to move against the people around me, it is time for me to begin a great reckoning..."