Fan Xian took a deep breath, and allowed the powerful zhenqi in his body to begin slowly circulating. His clothes began to ripple, and the ruyi scepter fastened to his waist, a gift from the Empress, began to flash. He looked coldly at the bailiffs of the 13 offices who surrounded him. He knew that today was not going to go as he had planned. As his opponents had dared not to allow the Prime Minister and his father to save face, and had indeed ordered people to beat him with staves. It was certainly simpler than using torture!
He took two steps forward, and kicked the two staves to pieces. He looked coldly at the two officials who tried to remain calm, and knew that he had made a huge mistake: he had forgotten about that madwoman, far away in her fiefdom of Xinyang. But he wasn't sure whether Han Zhiwei was involved in all that, and whether it was the Crown Prince who had been angered by his behavior, or the Empress who had learned of some terrifying things.
