Chapter 020: Evan’s Visit (Part 2)

“Very good! Quite bold!” Du Fan laughed. “Let him go… I’m curious to see what else he has to say!”
Hundreds of guards retreated as ordered, but this time they didn’t leave the hall—they stood around, watching Evan coldly.
Evan scrambled to his feet and said to Du Fan, “Lord Du Fan… I have another gift for you. I believe that after receiving this gift, you will change your mind… and no longer want to kill me.”
Du Fan glanced at the wooden box and asked, “Is it this?”
“Yes, it is!” A hint of pride flashed in Evan’s eyes. He quickly walked to the table, opened the box, untied the silk covering it, and presented it to Du Fan. “Lord Du Fan, please take a look! This is my third gift today!”
Du Fan shifted his gaze slightly. After a quick look, his eyes twitched slightly. Moments later, he took the wooden box, didn’t look at it closely, and threw it behind him. With a “crack,” the box turned into ice crystals in an instant.
Seeing Du Fan’s action, a hint of surprise appeared in Evan’s eyes. But at that moment, Du Fan was preoccupied and didn’t notice.
After a while, Du Fan took a deep breath and said, “All of you, step back. I need to talk to Viscount Evan… Someone, bring tea!”
The guards left, and the servants brought fresh red tea.
Du Fan casually found a chair and sat down. After signaling Evan to sit as well, he frowned slightly and said, “This truly is a great gift!”
Evan appeared to be very calculating. He smiled casually, revealing an enigmatic expression, before saying, “Lord Du Fan… Are you satisfied with this gift?”
Du Fan glanced at Evan but said nothing more. He no longer had the impatience of the past; the qualities of calmness and ruthlessness had long been mastered by him.
He smiled slowly, took a few sips of tea, then said indifferently, “If I weren’t satisfied, would you still be sitting here?”
Evan’s smile froze. After a moment, he said bitterly, “You’re right, my lord… You’re absolutely right…”
Du Fan stared at Evan. After seeing him take a sip of tea, he said calmly, “Well then, my dear Viscount Evan, it seems you can now tell me… how much you actually know.”

Evan shook his head and said softly, “I don’t know as much as Lord Du Fan imagines…”
“And this head…”
“The King of the Night?” Evan smiled. “It’s quite funny actually. These days, I’ve been sending people to keep an eye on Lord Du Fan, hoping to find an opportunity to apologize in person… But today, my men reported that Lord Du Fan was attacked, and the assassin had fled… As Lord Du Fan must know, I’ve been able to build such a large business because of my various tactics, both open and hidden. After being seriously injured at Lord Du Fan’s hands, this King of the Night tried to escape but was caught by my men… I personally beheaded him to express my nearly infinite respect.”
Du Fan smiled slightly. He certainly didn’t think this “King of the Night” would fall so easily into the hands of Viscount Evan… But anyway, since the head was now delivered, did that mean Viscount Evan also had a background beyond his imagination?
He knew that by bringing it himself, he was likely to lose his life, yet he still came. Such a person was either utterly foolish or extremely confident. Unfortunately, Viscount Evan didn’t seem like an utter fool at all.
Someone like him surely had a formidable background. He didn’t hold any deep grudges against him, but if killing him meant forming a deadly enemy, that would be…
Thinking of this, Du Fan finally exhaled. He made up his mind instantly and simply said with a smile, “In that case, thank you, Lord Evan… Anyway, since you’ve killed this man, you’ve naturally solved a huge problem for me… As a reward, if your involvement in the coup is exposed, I will surely intercede on your behalf.”
Evan smiled and said, “Then I thank you, Lord Du Fan.”
Du Fan smiled faintly and replied, “You’re too kind.”
Evan smiled slightly and said softly, “Lord Du Fan was made a duke before he turned twenty. Throughout the empire’s thousand-year history, though there may have been others like him, none have ever come before him… As the saying goes, great heroes emerge in youth—Lord Du Fan’s future is boundless… I, Evan, am never wrong in judging people.”

Du Fan sneered inwardly. Hmph, an unlimited future… He was already a duke now; if his prospects continued to grow without limits, even this supreme position might be at stake… This Lord Evan really knew how to strike at the heart of things!
With these thoughts, Du Fan gave Evan a deep look before saying, “Lord Viscount Evan, you’re being too polite.”
Evan simply shook his head and after a moment, spoke softly, “Lord Du Fan… I’ve brought these three gifts today. I wonder if you’re satisfied?”
Du Fan glanced at Evan.
At this point, Du Fan naturally understood that Evan’s visit today was definitely not just to say a few words… There must be other purposes…
In fact, Du Fan even suspected that most of what had happened to him at the slave market was arranged by this Lord Evan…
But thinking of the relationship between Princess Nina and that human-shaped pig, it didn’t seem that close…
Let’s see what he has to say next.
Thinking of this, Du Fan smiled lightly and said, “I won’t comment on the first two gifts from Lord Evan, but as for the third one… I’m very satisfied. You’ve gone to such trouble to see me, risking being killed by me—surely it’s not for such a trivial matter. I, Du Fan, am not one to beat around the bush. Just tell me your purpose.”
Seeing that Du Fan no longer showed the anger from before and instead seemed somewhat polite, Evan realized that the head he had given must have worked. He couldn’t help but sneer inwardly…
As long as there were interests and backing, any deep hatred would fade—such were humans…
He smiled slowly, reaching out to touch his finely groomed mustache… It had to be said that this gesture was extremely sleazy and cunning…
Then he put on a calm expression and said slowly, “I wonder, Lord Duke Du Fan… once you’re granted a title in the future… which place will you choose?”
Du Fan frowned slightly but didn’t say much, continuing to listen.
“Whether you’ve already decided on a target or not… I think I should give you some advice here…”
After a moment, Du Fan smiled faintly and said, “Lord Evan, are you joking? Although my promotion to a title is a certainty… it’s still Prince Fischer who will decide which fiefland belongs to me, right? Even if I wanted a certain place, Prince Fischer might not approve.”

“Really?” Viscount Evan stared at Du Fan intently. “But in my opinion… given that Duke Du Fan has achieved such an extraordinary feat this time… it seems unlikely that Prince Fischer would allow you to choose your fiefland personally, right?”
Du Fan smiled. “To be able to achieve such a great feat, I owe it to your careful arrangements.”
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Evan’s face, but he quickly said, “Lord Du Fan… then let’s not consider other possibilities for now. Just think about one scenario… if Prince Fischer allowed you to choose your fiefland personally, where would you choose it?”
Hm? He was so concerned about where I wanted to choose it?
Du Fan couldn’t help but examine Viscount Evan closely. If anyone else had asked him that question, he wouldn’t have been surprised, but it was him…
After taking a few closer looks, he found that Evan’s expression remained unchanged, with only a lecherous smile, as if he had already predicted his answer.
But how could Du Fan let him see through his thoughts so easily? After hesitating for a moment, he said, “Well… in that case, I would choose a province adjacent to the original Green family’s fiefland.”
Evan was slightly stunned, but soon he smiled faintly and said, “Lord Du Fan, you’re joking… Imperial law stipulates that families with two fieflands cannot have them adjacent to each other… Are you trying to take advantage of my ignorance of the law?”
“Is that so?” Du Fan smiled. “Then… I’ll choose one in the Northern Lands.”
Book 27: Nobility Appointments in the Imperial Capital