Chapter 25: A Hard Chew

Fan Shan pondered for a moment. "King Xuanming is aloof and arrogant, never interacting with officials outside the military. How could he have set up a siege? Furthermore, King Xuanming has planned everything so meticulously, how could the main culprit escape?"

When he heard that the order to close the border was issued by King Xuanming, he had doubts in his heart, and what happened today made him even more certain.

Feng looked bewildered. "What does this have to do with this woman?"

Fan Shan sighed, his gaze passing through the window lattice, casting his gaze upon the clamor outside, "Someone in the court wants to protect the Imperial Preceptor..."

Feng's face was dazed.

The house fell into silence, while the sound of gongs was heard outside the house.

Fan Shan retracted his gaze. "The Su family is so confident, they must have a backup plan. Moreover, if Envoy Fang hadn't received any benefits, how could he have taken the risk of releasing the two Su family members from their important duties?"

When Fan Wenchang heard Fan Shan's tone, he started yelling, "Father, are you just going to let someone bully you? They've already come to my house. If I don't leave, how can I hold my head up high in front of others in the future?"

Fan Shan's face turned pale. "Who dares to bully you? You've brought this upon yourself! You've hit a wall today. If you still don't know how to restrain yourself, sooner or later, you'll strip me of my official uniform!"

Feng threw the cup and said, "You only know how to show off to my mother and me. If you have the guts, go let that guy outside in!"

If that person was willing to come in, would he make such a noise?

"It's unreasonable." Fan Shan's face changed completely. He said no more. He just told someone to keep an eye on the two of them, and then hurried out of the house.

It has to be said that although Fan Shan did not guess everything correctly, he did guess that there was another person involved.

But he could never have imagined that it would be Su Shengsheng who was provoking him outside the mansion at this moment.

Behind Su Shengsheng, circles of onlookers had gathered, all mocking the dandy son of the Fan family, who now had a day when he dared not go out.

Fan Shan went out in plain clothes and frowned when he saw Su Shengsheng sitting on the chair.

But he quickly calmed down and stepped forward, "Excuse me, young lady, why is there such a commotion outside my house?"

Su Shengsheng remained seated motionless. "Master Fan said he has the final say in the Fan family. I'd better wait for him to come out before I speak."

Fan Shan's face darkened, but he quickly regained his composure. "I've already locked up that unfilial son. Miss, if you have anything to say, just tell me."

He did not refer to himself by his official title, so Su Shengsheng knew that her plan had worked and this person did not want to be involved.

Having already made up her mind, she finally stood up and saluted, saying, "So it's Envoy Fan Yun. I'm honored to meet you, sir."

Fan Shan's expression eased slightly.

Even though people say that he is a gigolo, he has reached his current position through his own strength.

However, although he was cautious, his son was lawless, which gave him a lot of headaches.

People said behind his back that he was afraid of his wife, but in fact he just didn't want to be known as ungrateful.

Seeing a young woman with such an attitude today, he felt contempt for her.

But when he saw her stand up and salute with more respect, his expression relaxed.

"She's not here right now. The young lady just had a misunderstanding with my son. There's no need to involve her in other matters." Su Shengsheng said sincerely, "The current emperor is kind and has left a way out for the Su family. Furthermore, Lord Fang cares about the people and has exempted my grandfather and father from heavy military service."

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, "Who would have thought that upon arrival at the post, the noble young master would impose heavier labor. My grandfather could no longer bear the strain and fell ill."

Fan Shan was so shocked that he couldn't breathe.

But he knew that if he argued with the woman about the whole matter at this time, he would only fall into a trap, so he did not speak.

But who would have thought that Su Shengsheng's next words would make Fan Shan's eyes almost pop out.

"The Su family has traveled three thousand miles without any harm, and now, upon arriving at your precious land, they've caused a loss of life. Those who know say that this border crossing is without the imperial dragon energy, and that mortals here are left to fate. Those who don't know are afraid that it will tarnish your reputation, and that people will say that the Fan family has all the power here, and doesn't even care about the emperor's orders."

In short, if he admitted that it was his good son who ordered the guards in the mine and the exiled criminals to deliberately increase the labor of the Su family, it would mean that he did not take the current emperor seriously.

He also hinted in his words that the emperor is far away and the sky is high, and now in this natural barrier, the Fan family is the sky.

Even if the emperor left the Su family a way out, if the Su family did not pay the toll, nothing the emperor said would work.

He also said that a strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake, and secretly praised the Fan family to the highest level.

When Fan Shan heard this, his eyes turned black, and he felt angry and blocked.

However, the woman did not even give her son a chance to turn things around, saying that her rebellious son had said this in front of the scholar, and if he did not believe her, she would find someone to confront him on the spot.

"My son is ignorant and offended Old Master Su. It's also my fault for not educating him well. Please tell Mr. Su that I will discipline him strictly and let him rest assured and recuperate." Fan Shan had to pick up her words.

To go on, his Fan family excelled at this natural barrier.

Some of his colleagues were jealous of his rapid rise to prominence thanks to his wife's family. If his rivals knew about this, they would definitely report him.

Su Shengsheng had already made her point, so she decided to leave it at that. "With Lord Fan's words, I am relieved. My grandfather still needs to be taken care of at home, so I will take my leave first."

Looking at this little woman who threw all the dirty water on her rebellious son with just a few words, Fan Shan narrowed his eyes.

As expected of the granddaughter of the Emperor's teacher, her words are sharper than bones.

The crowd of onlookers were amazed by the sight and spread the story with great interest.

After walking out of the crowd, Qing Ning couldn't help herself any longer, "Miss, how did you know it would be this person?"

"Fan Shan is a man of great care. He may seem to indulge Fan Wenchang, but if something threatens his position, he will definitely intervene."

Su Shengsheng said calmly, "I'll first provoke him into not being able to make the decision. Fan Shan will take full responsibility for this matter in front of others to save face. I'll then force him to promise in public. If Fan Wenchang does something unlawful again, it will prove that he, Fan Shan, is a softie who can't control his wife or son. Do you think he'll rein in Fan Wenchang? That way, we can solve this problem once and for all."

Qing Ning was impressed when she heard this, but she still couldn't understand why he was so polite today, considering he was such a high-ranking official.

"People in this world are either after wealth or profit. Fan Shan endured every day in order to get promoted and marry a woman from a wealthy family. Do you think he would let his wife and children endure in order to keep his position?"

Qing Ning seemed to understand, nodded, and then shook her head.

Su Shengsheng sighed, "Of course he's not afraid of me, but the person behind me."

Hearing this, Zai Qing and Ning Yu were also confused, "But we don't have anyone behind us?"

Su Shengsheng chuckled, "But Fan Shan doesn't know?"

He would only think that since her Su family was so high-profile, there must be someone to protect them.

When he came to his senses, he realized that her Su family was just playing out the empty city plan again, but that was a matter for the future.

The current barrier is the natural barrier for the Su family to gain a firm foothold.

If everyone thinks that the Su family is a good bone to be eaten, then in this cannibalistic place, there will be nothing left.

"Let's go to the bookstore."