Later, when he brought down Shen Zhong, Zhan Doudou had also helped him considerably and had mentioned that it had something to do with Zhou Cheng.
Fan Xian knew perfectly well that Zhan Doudou and Haitang Duoduo had helped him largely for their own purposes and interests.
But no matter how many ways he put it, Zhou Cheng was still inextricably involved.
The help from those two amounted to two favors.
Added to the earlier one-even without counting Ku He taking Fan Ruoruo as his disciple-he owed Zhou Cheng three whole favors.
"I'll naturally repay the favors." Fan Xian weighed his words, hoping to take this opportunity to clear up more of his doubts. "I just wonder what exactly your relationship is with that young emperor of Northern Qi and the Northern Qi Holy Maiden, Your Highness?"
He paused, then added, "I keep public and private matters separate. I acknowledge the favors I owe. But if you sold out Qing's interests and secretly colluded with Northern Qi's imperial family to put me in your debt, I won't acknowledge those."
He raised his head and looked Zhou Cheng straight in the eye. He badly wanted to know how Zhou Cheng, a prince who ordinarily found it difficult to leave the Capital and had neither businesses nor money under his control, had managed to establish contact with Northern Qi's imperial family.
"You certainly are direct!"
Zhou Cheng laughed.
Since returning to the Capital, Fan Xian had clearly grown bolder in facing him.
In the past, he would have investigated in secret, never asking so bluntly.
It seemed that after confirming he was Emperor Qing's illegitimate son, his mindset had changed considerably as well.
At the very least, he was more confident than before.
"Rest assured, my dealings with Northern Qi haven't sold