Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Qin Xuelian had dreamt of this many times over the past year. However, she never believed that this day would come.
“Zheng, Zhengzhi…” Qin Xuelian murmured to herself as she stood rooted to the ground.
On the second floor, Fang Houde couldn’t believe his eyes either. His face was contorted.
He too was rooted to his spot.
This was impossible.
“Zhengzhi is back?” Fang Houde clenched his fists instinctively, “No, you are not my son! My son does not look like this! Who are you? How dare you impersonate my son? Go, go away!”
Fang Houde roared.
Fang Zhengzhi watched Fang Houde quietly. His father had aged a lot over the past year.
“Father!”
“Go away!”
“Yes, go away! You are not our son, our son would never come back… please, just leave!” Qin Xuelian’s body was shaking. Her legs turned to jelly and she crumpled to the ground.
At that moment, a figure appeared in front of Qin Xuelian and helped her up. She couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Zhengzhi, my son!” Qin Xuelian hollered as she threw herself into that figure’s embrace, tears rolling freely down her cheeks.
“Where were you the past year? I missed you, I missed you so much…”
“Have you been eating well? Have you been hunted?”
“Zhengzhi, my son… you have come to visit me at last…”
She couldn’t hold back any longer. She hugged the figure tightly, not wanting to lose him ever again.
Fang Zhengzhi didn’t move, savoring every moment of that warmth. Tears welled up in his eyes. He had been waiting for this moment for far too long.
“Xuelian, let go of Zhengzhi! He still has time to leave, or else… or else…” Fang Houde’s tears rolled down his cheeks. However, he also knew that there were spies in the Northern Mountain Village.
“Father, mother, it’s fine! Nothing is going to happen!” Fang Zhengzhi raised his head. He knew what his father was thinking.
“What do you mean? How can it be fine? You are a wanted criminal! Everyone is looking for you! There are wanted posters all over Huai An County…”
“Dad, I know.”
“Then why aren’t you leaving? Go now! Right away! I will hold them back! Uncle Yang Ping will help me hold them back as well!”
“Father, I have already removed the eyes they placed here in the Northern Mountain Village!”
“What?! Even so… you can’t stay! They would have sent a message to Huai An County! You can’t stay here any longer! You have to go.” Fang Houde ignored Fang Zhengzhi’s words.
Fang Zhengzhi wanted to tell him that he had already shown himself in Huai An County. However, he knew that it would only cause Fang Houde to worry even more.
It was difficult for him to explain everything to Fang Houde.
“Mom, I’m hungry.” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Qin Xuelian.
“Okay, I will make something for you.” Qin Xuelian wiped the tears from her cheeks and prepared to lead Fang Zhengzhi inside.
“Xuelian!”
“Houde, I, I…”
“Xuelian, you can’t do this! You will only harm him!”
“Can’t we just have one meal together?” Qin Xuelian looked at Fang Houde, her eyes begging.
“Aish…” Fang Houde sighed but didn’t say anything.
He knew that Fang Zhengzhi must have eliminated all of the spies in the village. Else, they would have been here a long time ago.
Just as he thought about that, over 10 figures appeared at their gate.
They all wore black coats and had veils to cover their faces. Most importantly, they held an array of weapons in their hands.
“Uh oh! Son, go now!” Fang Houde’s expression changed.
“Father, these are my friends.”
“Friends?”
“Greetings Mr. and Mrs. Fang!” The figure bowed to Qin Xuelian and Fang Houde in unison.
“Erm…” Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian looked at each other. Then, they straightened their clothes. “Haha, since you are all Zhengzhi’s friends, please come in and have a seat. We don’t have much here but I hope it will be to your liking.”
“Uncle Fang, Auntie Fang, you are too kind. We will stand guard outside.” Su Jiu stepped forward and replied respectfully.
“Stand guard? No, we can’t accept that! Our guests will not stand outside, this…” Qin Xuelian began rambling.
“Eat with us.” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Su Jiu. He was not an arrogant person, and he knew his parents’ characters well.
“Thank you, Master!” The reply came in unison.
“Master?” Qin Xuelian and Fang Houde couldn’t believe their ears as they looked at Fang Zhengzhi.
Isn’t he a wanted criminal?
Wasn’t he crippled?
Why would he be their master?
“…” Fang Zhengzhi found it difficult to explain it to his parents. It was a good thing they didn’t ask any questions.
News of Fang Zhengzhi’s arrival spread like wildfire.
Zhang Yangping entered the house, huffing and puffing, the moment Fang Zhengzhi stepped through the door. “Zhengzhi, run, run quickly…”
There were countless other villagers who came in behind Zhang Yangping. Even the teachers and the students from the academy came over.
The only thing Fang Zhengzhi could say was, there wasn’t enough rice at home…
…
The Northern Mountain Village was bustling at night. Zhong Yangping has dozens of tables set up at the square.
However, what piqued the curiosity of the villagers was that none of the strangers showed up today.
It was a strange sight.
However, they knew that their absence was temporary.
They would be back.
“Zhengzhi, I have some silvers here. Bring it with you!”
“Yes Zhengzhi, we have some homegrown produce here. It’s pretty good! You can bring some with you and share them with your friends.”
“I have some silvers too.”
“Me too!”
All of the villagers came over to Zhengzhi after they finished their meal and offered him what they had.
“Uncle Li, Auntie Zhang, I don’t need them!”
“What do you mean? Zhengzhi, things are different now. You can use these things outside. You can’t just come back as and when you please. It is expensive to live outside! Just take it! Things are different now!” Zhang Yangping insisted.
“Yes yes, please take it!” The villagers urged.
“Uncle Yangping, I’m not leaving just yet, and I am not short on money.” Fang Zhengzhi smiled bitterly. He knew what they were thinking.
But he was really not short on money.
“You’re not leaving? What do you mean? You should leave now whilst it’s dark! You can leave via the road on Cang Ling Mountain! Don’t go by the main road!”
“I’m really not leaving!”
“Zhengzhi, don’t be willful. I know that you are powerful, but the Great Xia soldiers are a formidable force!”
“Exactly, Yangping is correct. We are all one family and we are not afraid to die. However, you have a lot of potential! You cannot just die like that!” The villagers advised.
Fang Zhengzhi was speechless.
He knew that there was no way of explaining the situation to them. To the villagers, the imperial courts were like heaven.
There was no way Fang Zhengzhi could survive!
“Go, go!”
“I’m not leaving!”
“Don’t be willful, go!”
“I’m not leaving!”
“…”
Fang Zhengzhi reiterated it multiple times. He didn’t know when the villagers left, but by the end of it, all he wanted to do was sleep.
Convincing the villagers was harder than fighting a war.
Nightfall.
The stars glittered in the sky.
Qin Xuelian sat next to Fang Zhengzhi and adjusted his blanket. Fang Houde stood behind her.
“Xuelian, how about we tie him up?”
“How dare you?! He is our son. If you lay a finger on him, I will fight it out with you!” Qin Xuelian retorted.
“But…”
“I will ask him to leave tomorrow morning! I will personally convince him to go!” Tears welled up in Qin Xuelian’s eyes.
She had waited for this day for more than a year. She had dreamt of it multiple times.
Her son was back. However, as a mother, she had no choice but to advise him to leave. No one could understand the pain she felt.
…
The night quietened down in the Northern Mountain Village.
However, Huai An County, the Five Northern Constabularies, and even Yan Capital were shocked by the news they received.
News of Fang Zhengzhi’s appearance in Huai An County had spread like wildfire.
Inside the Crown Prince’s residence, countless vases had been smashed. Then, countless hangers-on galloped out of the residence on their stallions.
Other than the Crown Prince…
King Duan, the Left Prime Minister, and the Stabilization Constabulary, all received the news at the same time.
“Fang Zhengzhi returned to Huai An County!”
“He went back to the Northern Mountain Village!”
This was powerful and unbelievable news. However, the whole Huai An County had witnessed Fang Zhengzhi’s return.
There was no way this news could be falsified.
“How dare he?!”
“Catch him!”
“We must not let him get away this time!”
Voices echoed through the capital.
Over the past year, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong had been able to consolidate his power. No one even came close.
Even King Duan had to step aside.
After all, the victory in the Southern Region and the death of Shan Ling had quelled the unrest there.
This credit, compounded by his position in court, ensured that countless officials declared their loyalty to him.
Lin Tianrong was more than happy to see this happen.
Everyone was certain that the Crown Prince was well on his way to becoming the Emperor one day!
…
…
Fang Zhengzhi didn’t leave the Northern Mountain Village despite all the ruckus. Despite all the advice he got from his parents and the villagers, he continued to enjoy himself.
He was at home here.
“I will leave after lunch!”
“Okay, I will leave after dinner. I promise.”
“It’s late. I’ll leave tomorrow morning, it’s fine, it’s fine…”
Fang Zhengzhi knew that there was no point in explaining. He would just procrastinate.
Dawn, three days later…
Zhang Yangping appeared at the gates of the Fang Residence. However, he was in much more of a hurry this time.
Fear and terror filled his face!
“Oh no, Zhengzhi, run quickly! There are many people here! They are from the army! The army is here! Leave via Cang Ling Mountain!” Zhang Yangping yelled as he panted.
The moment Zhang Yangping’s voice cut through the air…
A figure appeared in front of him. That was a lady in a black cloak and her body radiated an icy aura.
“Master is resting.” The lady looked at Zhang Yangping, her voice icy.
“I know, but… there are people hunting for him outside! I had people watching the area around the village, and I just received news that they are less than three miles out!” Zhang Yangping wanted to go around the lady, but there was no way he could do so.
“Mm, I got it.” The lady nodded.
“Then why aren’t you telling Zhengzhi to run?” Zhang Yangping was nervous.
“Master is resting.” The lady replied flatly.
“…” Zhang Yangping was speechless. He rolled his eyes, realizing that no amount of explanation was going to do any good. He took a step back, “Zhengzhi, there is an army coming for you! Run! Houde, Xuelian, wake him up! Do you want him to die?”