Chapter 9 On the Wine Shop Upper Floor

  The Fan family siblings chose a restaurant called "Yī Shí Jū", which is one of the most luxurious and high-end places in Kyoto, so every noon, there would be some wealthy officials, talented scholars, and beautiful women who come here to drink and chat. However, it's unknown where those scholars get their money from, or how those women are willing to show themselves off - anyway, the third floor is very clean and quiet, if you don't have the corresponding status, you absolutely can't go up there.

  Because everyone knows that the third floor of this Shi Ju, those who can sit at the table are all people with status, so there is hardly any conflict or contradiction. After all, Kyoto may be small, but the official scene is intricate and complex, who knows what kind of relationship they have behind their backs?

  The one who just refuted the "Fan Xian Di Tan Kan Wu Lun" is a true talent, surnamed He and named Zongwei. He has always been extremely talented and famous, and has received high praise from scholars in the capital, so he can't help but be a bit arrogant. A few days ago, He Zongwei was looking at that book "Dream of Red Mansions" at a friend's house. Although he was very dissatisfied with the meaning and didn't think the poetry in the book was anything special, he still greatly admired the author's meticulous work of tens of thousands of words.

  Today, having come to the wine house, after drinking three cups and two saucers of yellow wine, just at the moment when he was slightly drunk, he heard several young people in the next room who didn't know what they were talking about, speaking wildly about "Dream of Red Mansions". His anger rising, he suddenly spoke out these words.

  Just then, the three members of the Fan family had finished their meal and were chatting over tea. Upon hearing this remark, Fan Xianlan thought of his previous boast about Haikou and how the other person was criticizing Fan Xian, which also made him lose face, so he became furious. As a member of the noble Fan clan, he was used to being superior and swaggering in the streets, where would he tolerate the ridicule of these petty scholars? With a flick of his sleeve, he rushed into the grand hall on the third floor.

  Fan Xian thought to himself that it was better to keep a low profile since he had just arrived in the capital, and asked his sister with his eyes. Fan Ruoruo knew what he was thinking and smiled, shaking her head to indicate that Fan Siyan wouldn't go too far.

  In the past two years, Fan Siyan has grown older and become more sensible under Fan Ruoruo's guidance. The game of smashing and looting on the street has basically disappeared, so she can be so at ease.

  Fan Siyan rushed into the hall, his eyes accurately picking out He Zongwei from among the crowd. With a swaggering gait, he walked up to the scholar and snorted: "Was it you who said that just now?"

  "What's it to you?" He Zongwei had a dark complexion and prominent facial features, making him look somewhat ugly. Seeing someone rush out of the inner room, he knew his words had offended someone, but looking at this young nobleman's arrogant appearance, his blood boiled over, and he coldly said: "At such a young age, speaking without any manners, I don't know which family taught you."

  He Cai Zi, although having a wide social circle in the capital, had never met Fan Si Ren who was only twelve years old, so he was very bold.

  Fan Sichen had only prepared to scold for two sentences, but when he heard the words "education", he thought of his mother's daily scolding and was furious, shouting: "You rascal, whose family's waste are you!"

  He had already forgotten his sister's teachings at this time, and jumped up to slap that person in the face.

  He Zongwei never expected that in such a quiet and elegant place like Yishizhai, someone would dare to be so arrogant and domineering. In the brief moment, he retreated halfway, dodging this slap, but the green scarf on his head was torn apart, looking quite disheveled.

  Those who sat at the same table as He Zongwei were all famous talents, and there was also a dignified figure. Seeing this situation, he couldn't help but get very angry: "Under the bright sky, you dare to be so presumptuous, do you still have any regard for the law?"

  "What about the law?" Fan Siyan sneered, "I am the law." After saying this, he clenched his fists and pummeled He Zongwei's body relentlessly.

  Suddenly, a hand stretched out from beside and grasped Fan Siyan's slender wrist!

  Fan Siyan only felt that his wrist was clasped by a red-hot iron hoop, the pain piercing to the bone, and he involuntarily let out an "ah" of anguish, cursing: "Still not coming to help?"

  His guard intended to step forward and assist, but unexpectedly, a figure flashed by, and two palms were printed on his chest and abdomen, and he retreated in dismay!

  The one who grasped Fan Siyan's wrist was the guard of the man with a gloomy face on the table. The guard had an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were sharp and piercing, revealing that he was a master.

  "Take this kid away and don't disturb Brother Zongwei's pleasure." The gloomy-looking man ordered.

  That master waved his arm and Fan Sichen was thrown out like a little chick!

  Fan Xian originally thought that Fan Siyan would at most quarrel with someone for a few sentences, but unexpectedly, the situation had become so severe in the blink of an eye. However, thinking about his younger brother being overbearing and arrogant despite being young, although he seemed to have restrained himself recently, judging from earlier, he still couldn't shake off the air of a spoiled brat, so Fan Xian thought that letting him suffer a little wouldn't be a big deal.

  But he never expected that among his opponents, there was a master, and this master's move was so ruthless. This throw hid a hidden force, if not handled properly, it would end in broken bones and vomiting blood - even if Fan Siyan's behavior was unbearable, using such tactics on a twelve-year-old child was still excessive.

  Somehow, Fan Xian had already arrived at the door, his wrist shook, and he was already holding Fan Siyan's collar. Then, with a turn of momentum, his right hand twisted clockwise, letting Fan Siyan spin around in his hand.

  One circle, two circles, three circles... Fan Siyuan's body stopped spinning, his eyes wide open with a lingering sense of shock, as if he still didn't know what had happened.

  Fan Xian relaxed his grip, wryly smiling as he handed the still dazed Si Ruo over to Fan Ruoruo. He took a step forward, looking at the refined and reserved expert, and said in a gentle voice: "My younger brother was young and reckless, but you've gone too far with this heavy hand."

  The few people sitting at the same table as Nà Cái Zǐ snorted, not knowing how to respond, after all, what he said was reasonable. Only that young man with a gloomy face drank wine with a hint of arrogance, without even looking at Fàn Xián once.

  He Zhengyi adjusted his hat, feeling embarrassed and ashamed. Looking at the young man's handsome face in front of him, he suddenly felt a wave of anger, as if the other person's smile was extremely hateful. He gritted his teeth and said, "Such a stubborn and unruly youngster, slightly punishing him, what's wrong with that?"

  Fan Xian didn't respond, but instead smiled warmly and looked at the master, then took two steps forward. The master, who had been watching Fan Xian's wrist movement and circular dissipation of energy earlier, felt that this young nobleman was somewhat unfathomable, and slightly furrowed his brow, seemingly weakening, he retreated two steps in sync with Fan Xian's advancing footsteps.

  The two of them took a step back, and Fan Ruoruo's figure, covered in a veil, emerged from behind them.

  Fan Ruoruo was quite famous in the capital, and these people in the building had long heard of her great name. A few of them had even seen her from afar at a poetry gathering in the Duke's mansion, and some high-ranking officials' sons knew her. The crowd was shocked and bowed to her from a distance.

  The people at the table facing Fan Xian only then learned about the identity of the child who had caused trouble earlier and couldn't help but feel a little nervous. When He Zongwei saw Fan Ruoruo, however, his expression changed slightly, as if he wanted to say something.