The Decay of the High Officials and the Noble Elite!

Ji Xuanyuan rose to his feet and paced back and forth around the room. "It's not impossible... but I've been afraid of Imperial Father since I was little... Um, can't I go to Crown Prince Brother? He's the heir apparent, after all."

Xiao Fan understood. He didn't dare bring it up because he was afraid of getting beaten, right? Xiao Fan had already filled in the scene of loving father and filial son in his head.

Xiao Fan shook his head. "I'm afraid that won't do. His Majesty is His Majesty, and the Crown Prince is the Crown Prince. The Shadow Pivot Court is loyal to His Majesty, not the Crown Prince. You can only mention it to His Majesty. Otherwise, you would be harming both the Crown Prince and yourself."

Those words truly frightened Ji Xuanyuan. "Is it that serious?"

Xiao Fan explained, "The Shadow Pivot Court answers directly to the Emperor. It is an exceptionally special institution. I imagine His Majesty is quite opposed to imperial princes meddling in it, whether that prince is the Crown Prince or Your Highness."

"If you go to the Crown Prince, then in His Majesty's eyes, it will look like you are trying to form a faction and meddle in the Shadow Pivot Court. That would violate a grave taboo."

Ji Xuanyuan seemed to reach some understanding. "Then why are you telling me to seek out Imperial Father? Wouldn't recommending you to enter the Shadow Pivot Court to him also count as trying to meddle in it?"

At that, Xiao Fan merely smiled. "What I mean is, you only need to use the Nine Provinces Martial Tournament to tell His Majesty that I am a guard in your residence. His Majesty will naturally have me enter the Shadow Pivot Court."

That left Ji Xuanyuan even more confused. He scratched the back of his head. "And why is that?"

"If His Majesty learns that your residence has a guard like this, wouldn't he find a way to keep a close eye on him?" Xiao Fan smiled soundlessly.

Sometimes, being brought in to work was not necessarily because they valued your talent. It might simply be more convenient for them to keep you under surveillance and control.

Of course, Xiao Fan did not put it too bluntly. He merely touched on it like a dragonfly skimming the water, speaking lightly. As for whether this young master could understand, that depended on his comprehension.

Ji Xuanyuan half understood, half didn't. His head just felt a little itchy... as if the door to a new world was slowly opening before him...

"Fine. I don't really understand it, but I trust you! We'll do as you say." In the end, Ji Xuanyuan gave up thinking.

Once the matter was settled, Xiao Fan took the blackened fragment of jade pendant from his robes. "For some reason, this jade pendant shattered on its own last night..."

He then roughly described what had happened the previous night, omitting certain details in the process—such as the golden scales on his chest.

Ji Xuanyuan picked up the fragment, but he could not make heads or tails of it either. "Suspected Night Erosion? How could this be... This is no trifling matter. We must report it to the Bureau of Celestial Observation at once!"

"No hurry... I suspect this matter may be connected to the Bureau of Celestial Observation." Xiao Fan's voice was grave.

After thinking for a moment, Ji Xuanyuan nodded lightly. "How about this? I'll first find someone trustworthy to take a look. Then we can decide whether to report it to the Bureau of Celestial Observation."

"Your Highness is wise!" Xiao Fan then asked, "Could the person you mean be Lord Li Mingyuan, whom we encountered at the city gates that day?"

Ji Xuanyuan nodded. "That's right. Li Mingyuan is an upright man and can be trusted. If you encounter any strange or evil matters in the future, you may seek him out as well. He knows you belong to me, so he will naturally help."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Xiao Fan clasped his fists in salute, thinking that this young master was unexpectedly reliable. After all, he was an imperial prince. No matter what, he still had some connections.

Clack!

The study door was pushed open, and Princess Lingxi walked in on her own, entirely without ceremony...

"I've finished reading it! Fifth Brother, do you have any other storybooks? Hurry and bring them out." Princess Lingxi set the storybook from earlier on the table and held out her hand expectantly.

Ji Xuanyuan spread his hands. "I only brought this one. Where would I get any others?"

At that moment, Xiao Fan picked up the storybook from the table and casually flipped through a few pages. "Does Your Highness like storybooks?"

The moment he said that, Lingxi's face reddened. She hurriedly snatched the book back and hugged it to her chest. "W-What about it? Can't I?"

Xiao Fan smiled faintly. "What a coincidence. I also write a few storybooks in my spare time."

"Really?!" Princess Lingxi's lovely eyes shifted, and anticipation sparkled in her large, watery gaze.

It was not only her—even Ji Xuanyuan was rather surprised. "You're a martial artist, yet you can write storybooks too?"

What was wrong with martial artists? Couldn't martial artists write storybooks? Xiao Fan grumbled inwardly.

In the public's stereotypical view, crude martial men were nothing but a bunch of uncultured louts. Never mind writing storybooks—it was hard to say whether they could even read.

Xiao Fan followed the thread of conversation. "I am untalented, but I happen to be writing a storybook recently. If Your Highness does not mind, I can send it to you when I have the time, to relieve your boredom."

The more connections, the better! Every connection he could forge was one worth forging. At a critical moment, one might even save his life.

"Alright, alright! Hua'er, give him the token for entering the palace." Princess Lingxi agreed readily.

However, the maid Hua'er was unwilling. She leaned close to Lingxi's ear and whispered, "Princess, you mustn't. We don't know this fellow's background. What if he harbors sinister intentions? Wouldn't that put Your Highness in danger?"

At those words, Lingxi became uncertain as well and fell into a dilemma. But she had already said it aloud, and it would be beneath her dignity to go back on her word in public.

With a martial artist's keen senses, Xiao Fan heard Hua'er's whispered words clearly. He simply took the initiative to offer Lingxi a way out.

"How about this? When I have the time, I'll give the storybook to the Fifth Prince, and he can pass it on to Your Highness."

"As for your token, I am but a humble martial man and dare not accept it. Please withdraw your order, Your Highness!"

Princess Lingxi promptly went down the slope he had provided. "Ahem... well... that makes some sense. This princess permits it."

Before long, the sky darkened. Princess Lingxi could not stay for too long and returned to the palace... though before leaving, she did not forget to urge him to write faster.

After bidding Ji Xuanyuan farewell, Xiao Fan also left Cloud Rest Courtyard and headed home.

The night was dark and the wind was high. Above the heavenly canopy, the afterglow of the Sacred Flame gave off a faint pearly-white radiance, protecting the capital from the encroachment of Night Erosion.

As Xiao Fan walked along Everpeace Street in the southern district, he could not help recalling the strange events of the previous night, lingering fear still in his heart.

Everpeace Street was one of the capital's most prosperous streets, known as the capital's street that never slept.

After nightfall, the most eye-catching building on the entire street was none other than the number one "night venue" in the southern city, Melodious Sound Pavilion.

The "nightlife scene" of ancient times had its own unwritten rules. Though all were places of pleasure, they still ranked high and low, noble and base.

From refined to lowly, they were divided into courtesans' houses, entertainment quarters, and brothels.

Among them, courtesans' houses were further split into first, second, and third class. Though all were courtesans' houses, the quality of service between different grades was worlds apart.

Melodious Sound Pavilion belonged to the first class, and was even among the finest of the first class. It was exceedingly renowned, ranking in the top three throughout the entire capital!

As he approached the brightly lit three-story pavilion, the sounds of warbling beauties, zithers, flutes, and music flowed endlessly into his ears.

Xiao Fan's expression was icy as he stood outside this realm of romance and desire, his gaze full of criticism.

"Since I'm already here, I might as well see for myself the decadent life of these high officials and nobles!"

Just as he was thinking this, a burly, bearded man emerged from the corner by the entrance and blocked his path.

"You good-for-nothing brat! Not going home in the middle of the night—so you really were in a place of pleasure like this!" The speaker was none other than Xiao Fan's father, Xiao Wu!

Xiao Fan was instantly dumbfounded...

"Dad?"