Chapter 518

390. I'm just here to collect some clothes, you all continue

"Eh, where is the Little Mistress?"

Fang Fang Shengnan had just returned to the quiet courtyard and went to the kitchen to fetch a hot towel, bowing her head to wipe her face and damp hair.

During this, she looked around the courtyard and asked curiously.

Fang Fang Juxiu walked out of the room:

"That Xiao Niangzi Pei took her out shopping again."

"Shopping?"

Fang Fang Shengnan looked curiously at the overcast sky.

"It looks like it's about to rain; why go shopping today?"

Fang Fang Juxiu pondered:

"She'll probably be back before it rains. Let's wait a little longer."

Fang Fang Shengnan couldn't help but mutter:

"I don't know what that Xiao Niangzi Pei is thinking. Helping her lover raise his mistress is one thing, but to be so enthusiastic about helping, eating her food, using her things... If it were me, I couldn't stand it."

Fang Fang Juxiu said softly:

"A young lady would be jealous, but a mature lady wouldn't. You'll understand when you're older."

"How does Sister know so much?"

Fang Fang Juxiu shook her head and did not answer.

Fang Fang Shengnan's expression became increasingly curious. Seeming to think of something, her eyes lit up, but she immediately switched back to a serious face, leaned close to her sister, and whispered:

"Sister, tell me, is it true that Brother Magistrate Ouyang is just too strong in that regard, full of vigor, and truly conquered this Xiao Niangzi Pei, which is why she's so submissive? But, isn't it said that women at thirty are like wolves, at forty like tigers, and at fifty can absorb you just by sitting on the ground..."

"This Xiao Niangzi Pei is probably about the same. Is Brother Magistrate Ouyang, with his young and frail-looking body, really that fierce? Actually, Sister, I noticed this a long time ago. Do you know when? I definitely didn't see it wrong; last time he and the Little Mistress were secretly... Mmph, mmph, mmph."

Fang Fang Juxiu covered her sister's chattering mouth, curled her finger, and gave her a rap on the forehead.

"What nonsense are you spouting? If you gossip about the Little Mistress behind her back again, see if I don't tear your mouth off."

Fang Fang Shengnan's mouth remained stubborn: "It's true, it's just that you sleep too soundly, Sister..."

"Alright, let's talk about serious matters."

Fang Fang Juxiu waved her hand, helplessly holding her forehead:

"Were the items delivered?"

"Mm-hmm, they were delivered to that senior, but this Master Master Yizhi really doesn't like to talk."

Fang Fang Juxiu's gaze narrowed slightly:

"What do you know? That is likely the Zen sect's 'silent meditation.' Without attaining enlightenment, one cannot speak."

Fang Fang Shengnan's expression became even more curious, and she pressed:

"If Master Master Yizhi is so powerful, does he still need silent meditation to attain enlightenment? What kind of enlightenment? I see Master Master Yizhi explaining Zen and resolving doubts for lost guests every day; shouldn't he have already attained enlightenment?"

"It is hard to save oneself even while saving others; it has always been this way throughout history..." Fang Fang Juxiu shook her head: "Alright, stop guessing. These matters of high-level experts are not something we can fathom."

"Fine."

Fang Fang Shengnan touched her chin and muttered to herself:

"Sister, who do you think is more powerful, Master Master Yizhi or our old man? And if compared to the Second Xiao Niangzi, how many chances would he have..."

The more Fang Fang Juxiu heard, the higher her eyelids twitched, and she interrupted:

"Alright, stop letting your imagination run wild in broad daylight. Fang Shengnan, there is something suspicious in the Second Xiao Niangzi's reply today; did you notice it?"

"What's suspicious? I didn't understand a lot of it, like 'Dream Abyss'... Does Sister understand? Tell me, tell me quickly."

"I didn't understand it either, but that's not what I'm talking about."

Fang Fang Juxiu looked at the distant dark clouds, her brows knitting:

"The Second Xiao Niangzi urged the Little Mistress in the letter to break through her cultivation realm before the East Forest Great Buddha lands. What does this mean? Before the Great Buddha lands..."

"But shouldn't the Xiao Niangzi and the others be trying their best to stop the Great Buddha from landing, just like the interception at Star Lake last time? So why doesn't it say to break through before the Yunmeng Yunmeng Jian Ze's obstruction action?"

"Eh, that seems to make sense. What does the Second Xiao Niangzi mean by this..."

Fang Fang Juxiu suddenly held a finger to her lips:

"Shh, don't speak!"

"Wha..." Fang Fang Shengnan stopped, lowered her voice, and squeezed out two words: "... what's wrong?"

Fang Fang Juxiu had already crouched down, her palms spread out as if touching the ground, yet not quite touching it. She closed her eyes, as if sensing something.

Just as Fang Fang Shengnan was puzzled,

"Boom—"

A rolling sound of spring thunder came from the sky.

The two sisters couldn't help but look up.

Large patches of black clouds and the gray-blue sky began to drop sparse raindrops.

At first, it was one drop, two drops, then more and more.

Spring rain is like this; it gets heavier and heavier, unstoppable.

Fang Fang Shengnan, who was in the courtyard, immediately turned and hid under the eaves, discovering that her sister was still in the same spot.

"Sister, what exactly are you doing?"

Fang Fang Juxiu's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. She looked at the thunderstorm above her head, hesitated for a moment, then stood up and came under the eaves as well.

She frowned and said:

"The ground was trembling just now, as if a large number of troops were moving, not far from us... but I can't hear it anymore now."

"Could it be those constables patrolling the streets?"

Fang Fang Juxiu shook her head and did not speak.

Fang Fang Shengnan pondered for a moment, her eyes shining: "Sister, you even know this trick? You can detect movements on the ground?"

"Dad taught me."

"Dad really is an expert. But why didn't he teach me? Fine, he's hiding things, too biased. When we go back, see if I don't complain to Mom about him hiding private money..."

Fang Fang Juxiu couldn't help but look at Fang Fang Shengnan, who was waving her fists. She didn't tell her sister that when Dad taught her this trick, he warned her a thousand times to run away immediately, right away, and quickly if she ever heard such movements.

Because this was likely the sound that people in the Tiannan Jianghu least wanted to hear... the movement of a cavalry formation.

Just as Fang Fang Juxiu's brows were tightly locked and she was thinking rapidly.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

Fang Fang Juxiu turned her head in shock.

Fang Fang Shengnan, unaware of her sister's worry, asked bluntly: "Who is it? The gate isn't locked."

Fang Fang Juxiu wanted to cover her mouth, but it was already too late.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The person knocking was still knocking and did not push the gate open.

Fang Fang Juxiu frowned incessantly.

Fang Fang Shengnan exchanged a glance with her sister, took the initiative to step forward, and walked through the rain to the courtyard gate.

She opened the gate from the inside.

An unexpected figure appeared in the rain curtain at the entrance.

A middle-aged man with a square face wearing a squire's robe.

"Dad?"

"Dad!"

After Fang Fang Juxiu and Fang Fang Shengnan clearly saw the face of the person in the rain, they both exclaimed in surprise.

Fang Fang Yiwu, the head of the Prince Xunyang Fang family, stood alone outside the courtyard gate, empty-handed, his face stern.

His temples were wet, and his forehead was covered in water droplets; it was unclear whether he was soaked by the thunderstorm because he didn't bring an umbrella, or if it was his own sweat.

Fang Fang Shengnan immediately took two steps back, feeling a bit guilty:

"Dad, why are you here?"

Fang Fang Yiwu ignored her and walked into the courtyard with his head down.

Fang Fang Shengnan, prompted by a look from her sister who had quickly calmed down, turned and closed the courtyard gate tightly.

The father and two daughters arrived at the main hall.

Fang Fang Yiwu first looked around, then took a deep breath.

Before he could speak, Fang Fang Juxiu served a bowl of hot tea, lowering her head as she handed it over:

"Dad, you know everything. Did Master Master Yizhi tell you?"

Fang Fang Yiwu waved his large hand, and the tea fell to the ground with a "crash," shattering into pieces.

"Who let you steal my things and run out? And you dared to go find Master Master Yizhi! You didn't even tell me when you came back. Are you two girls tired of living?!"

Fang Fang Juxiu lowered her eyes and did not speak.

Fang Fang Shengnan was as silent as a cicada in winter, clutching the sword in her arms tightly.

Fang Fang Yiwu got angry just seeing the sword in his second daughter's arms, snatched it away, and was so angry he wanted to break it with his bare hands.

Fang Fang Juxiu spoke up at this moment: "Dad, this is the Little Mistress's courtyard. It's better if we don't smash things..."

Fang Fang Yiwu forcibly held back, his square face turning a liver-purple color:

"You, you! You've caused a huge disaster! Where is that Little Mistress? Where is she?"

Fang Fang Shengnan muttered in a low voice:

"Dad, don't be afraid. The Second Xiao Niangzi has made arrangements. The letter says that our Fang family can evacuate early. Before the Yunmeng Yunmeng Jian Ze and the righteous warriors of the Tiannan Tiannan Jianghu make their move, we can temporarily evacuate Prince Xunyang. Anyway, our family residence is in the suburbs, so we don't need to pass through the city gate checkpoints. We can leave at any time. When the time comes, we'll just say the whole family is going to Yangzhou for a trip..."

Fang Fang Yiwu was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage:

"Trip your head!"

After saying this, he held the sword he was gripping high and, in his anger, smashed it, scabbard and all, toward Fang Fang Shengnan's forehead.

The latter was so scared she stood frozen in place.

The Heroine Fang, who was usually bold and overflowing with a sense of justice in front of others, was like a mouse meeting a cat when facing Fang Fang Yiwu. Where was the sharpness she showed in front of Magistrate Ouyang Rong?

"Dad, calm your anger."

Fang Fang Yiwu found his hand stopped in mid-air. Turning his head, he saw Fang Fang Juxiu, who was beside him, had grabbed the scabbard, blocking it for her sister.

Fang Fang Juxiu pleaded for her, then lowered her voice and said:

"Dad, we have caused a huge disaster and might implicate you, but things have reached this point, and saying anything else is useless. There is no way back. And right now, my sister and I have accompanied the Little Mistress for so long; we are as good as accomplices. We can only continue to protect the Little Mistress, stand on the side of the Yunmeng Yunmeng Jian Ze, and walk this path to the end.

"And... and we have already received confirmation from the Second Xiao Niangzi. After this matter is over, my sister and I can directly enter the Yunmeng Yunmeng Jian Ze and become one-in-a-million Yue Maidens. The Yunmeng Yunmeng Jian Ze side has also promised that in the coming turmoil, they will protect our Fang family. Dad, this is the promise of the Yunmeng Yunmeng Jian Ze; you know its weight."

When Fang Fang Juxiu reached this point, under her old father's wide-eyed stare, she said calmly:

"Sometimes, a great disaster is also a great blessing. In peaceful times, the Yue Maidens are like dragons that see their heads but not their tails. Where would we get such an opportunity to join the Xiao Niangzi Yunmeng Yunmeng Yunmeng Jian Ze? Isn't this what we sisters dreamed of when you told us Tiannan Jianghu stories when we were little..."

"You, you two unfilial beasts..."

Before Fang Fang Yiwu could finish, Fang Fang Shengnan, who had been lowering her head to admit her guilt and accept the beating, suddenly pushed her sister's hand away.

She grabbed Fang Fang Yiwu's hand and pressed the cold scabbard against her own brow, using her palm to help him press down hard:

"Sister, move aside. Dad, hit me! Hit me! Beat me to death!"

Fang Fang Shengnan tilted her neck, tears welling in her eyes:

"Just pretend I was picked up, not born by you. Hurry up, hit me! Beat me to death! But don't touch Sister; she was dragged into this by me. Don't blame her; it's all my fault for inciting this.

"You've said since I was little how powerful the Xiao Niangzi Yunmeng Yunmeng Yunmeng Jian Ze is, how good the Yue Maidens are, and you even said how many miraculous pills are in the Xiao Niangzi Yunmeng Marsh. Don't think I don't know about Mom's illness! I was at the door that day and heard the doctor say it! The only medicine that can save her might be deep in the Xiao Niangzi Yunmeng Marsh."

Fang Fang Shengnan became more and more agitated as she spoke, stiffening her neck:

"I don't care if Dad is an expert, if you've retired from the Tiannan Jianghu, or washed your hands of it. But you clearly knew this, yet you didn't do anything. Sister and I are unfilial, we are the beasts you bore, but we are definitely not cowards! We have grown up and can make our own decisions. If you won't go get the medicine to save her, Sister and I will. We won't blame you, but don't be fierce to us!"

Fang Fang Yiwu's mouth hung open, his old face flushed red. He held the long sword high, but it never fell.

Fang Fang Shengnan tilted her head, closed her eyes, and shed tears, her head pressed against the scabbard, refusing to admit defeat or plead for mercy.

Fang Fang Juxiu lowered her head slightly, her expression also somewhat sorrowful. Every family has its own difficult scriptures to recite.

Just as the three of them were at a stalemate in the main hall.

Creak—!

Someone pushed the courtyard gate open directly and walked in.

"Who?" The three of them turned their heads instantly, their expressions showing astonishment.

Fang Fang Juxiu subconsciously called out: "Young Master Magistrate Ouyang?"

"Good afternoon." Magistrate Ouyang Rong put away his umbrella, placed the zither case he was holding on the counter at the entrance, and walked into the main hall with a leisurely pace.

Fang Fang Shengnan, whose eyes were red, turned around, facing away from Magistrate Ouyang Rong and the entrance, and secretly wiped away her tears.

Fang Fang Yiwu, who didn't know when he had put down his sword, stood with his hands behind his back. He looked around, first at his calm daughters, then at the leisurely Magistrate Ouyang Rong, and suddenly felt his mouth go dry.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong asked politely: "I hope I'm not disturbing the three of you."

The Fang sisters noticed that his expression was very calm.

Fang Fang Juxiu shook her head: "No... no."

Fang Fang Shengnan prepared to introduce him: "Right, Young Master Magistrate Ouyang, this is..."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong walked straight past them toward the clothes rack in the backyard, as if he didn't have time to listen, his tone polite:

"It's nothing major, you all continue. I was busy with a small matter nearby. I heard from Thirteen Xiao Niangzi that Sister Xiuniang didn't collect the clothes before she left. I remembered this, so I came back to collect them. I won't delay you; just pretend I don't exist. Hmm, where were you just now? Continue."

The Fang sisters were speechless. Can things like this continue? Once the emotions of an argument are interrupted, they can't be resumed.

Behind the two sisters, Fang Fang Yiwu lowered his head deeply, not looking at Magistrate Ouyang Rong.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong collected the clothes with a calm expression. Before the rain got heavier, he folded them one by one, put them in Sister Xiuniang's room, and only let out a breath after he stepped out the door.

It was as if he had completed an important task.

A moment later, without even looking at the three of them, he arrived at the courtyard gate, picked up the zither case again, and shook the water droplets off his umbrella, just as if the Fang father and daughter didn't exist.

The three people in the main hall couldn't help but look sideways. At this moment, Magistrate Ouyang Rong's retreating figure paused. Without turning his head, a somewhat cold sentence suddenly came:

"Remember, don't make Sister Xiuniang's courtyard dirty or messy. Thank you."

It was unknown who this sentence was meant for, but he left the courtyard.

Fang Fang Shengnan, who had originally thought Brother Magistrate Ouyang running back to collect clothes made him a good man, was suddenly furious: "Why treat us like three-year-olds?"

Fang Fang Juxiu also frowned as she looked at the retreating figure of this Young Master Magistrate Ouyang.

The two sisters didn't see their old father, who was usually awe-inspiring, shivering in place.

Fang Fang Yiwu bent down in a hurry, using his bare hands to clean up the sharp porcelain shards of the broken teacup on the ground, his hands covered in blood.

The Fang sisters looked sideways.

……

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