Chapter 446: Chapter 430: Father and Son
Fang Chuning was bewildered. After that night in the Capital City, there had been almost no interactions between him and Xie Xun. When had he ever offended him? Why did Xie Xun treat him with such a bloodthirsty resolve, as if he intended to strike a fatal blow?
This resolve had nothing to do with political stance.
It seemed more like a personal vendetta.
"You are the Commander of Zhongzhou, and I am the Commander of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry. Sooner or later, we’re bound to cross swords on the battlefield. Now that you’ve stormed into my mansion alone, it’s a provocation. Let’s step outside and settle this with a duel—live or die, it’s up to fate. What do you say?" Xie Xun proposed solemnly.
The tea served in this mansion was a specialty from West State. Its pale red color resembled blood diluted in water, exuding a faint grassy aroma. Fang Chuning’s slender, porcelain-white fingers tapped lightly on the ceramic teacup, "To the death?"
"Yes!"
Fang Chuning chuckled softly, suddenly glancing towards the doorway. "Ting Feng, what do you think?"
Xie Xun’s expression shifted subtly. He quickly turned his head, only to find no one there. Fang Chuning had played a trick on him. Barely able to suppress his laughter, Fang Chuning teased, "Don’t chicken out now."
If he and Fang Chuning truly fought to the death today, regardless of who perished, war between the court and Ningzhou would erupt immediately.
"By the way, thank you for saving Junjun in Yangzhou back then." Fang Chuning reigned in his smile and said earnestly, "I owe you a favor. If you ever have a need, as long as it’s within my capability, I will repay you."
At that time, no one had anticipated how severe the epidemic in Yangzhou would become, nor that the city would be completely sealed off. That year, he was still struggling in Zhongzhou, unable to mobilize the army, and could only watch helplessly as General Chen Ming locked down the city gates, blocking the influx of refugees from Yangzhou and both riverbanks. By the time Zhongzhou received news and closed its gates, the epidemic had already spread within the city. He was busy fortifying the city and training troops, with almost no contact with his family, unaware that Fang Lingjun was trapped in Yangzhou City.
He had thought the Jiangnan garrison would quickly quell the chaos in Yangzhou. However, no major cities dared to deploy troops, all fearing that the epidemic would spread through their armies. That epidemic brought immense suffering to Zhongzhou as well—shortages of food and medicine alike—and he was overwhelmed. Only after stabilizing the epidemic in Zhongzhou did he learn of Fang Lingjun’s plight. By then, news of Xie Xun’s lone efforts in Yangzhou had also spread.
Later, regarding the Yangzhou incident, Fang Lingjun recounted everything in detail. If it hadn’t been for Xie Xun and Fengyu, she would have perished in Yangzhou, and countless others would have followed that year.
When word of this spread in the Capital City, it hit like a resounding slap across many faces. During that epidemic in Yangzhou, the court officials in the Capital City were all focused on self-preservation, hoarding grain and medicinal supplies. In the beginning, Lin Helin struggled desperately to gather resources. Xie Xun had faced similar difficulties, prompting him to draw his sword and seize the grain stores of the aristocratic clans.
Lin Helin had visited prominent families one by one, alternately threatening and coaxing, until he managed to collect enough supplies to send to Yangzhou just in time.
Later, when it was heard that Xie Xun had risked his own life to provide disaster relief in Yangzhou, the aristocrats were left utterly disgraced. The entire court fell into an awkward silence, unable to say a word.
"Fine. There’s something you can help me with—don’t interact with my Second Brother from now on." Xie Xun’s expression brightened, and without thinking, he put forth his request.
"Ah, that’s impossible," Fang Chuning rejected him outright.
"Liar!"
"Offer me something else!" Fang Chuning raised an eyebrow. "Wait, why can’t I see Ting Feng?"
"Second Brother and you have been close as brothers since childhood. Now that we’re on opposing sides, I don’t want him to be torn between us," Xie Xun emphasized the word ’brothers’ heavily.
"A needless worry. When has your Second Brother ever been torn?" Fang Chuning chuckled. "He would abandon me without hesitation. Have some confidence in yourself—no one is more important to him than you."
"You’re mocking me!" Xie Xun was displeased, sensing the irony in Fang Chuning’s words. Second Brother had once promised to take him hiking during the Mid-Autumn Festival, yet he never came, instead spending time with Fang Chuning.
Back then, at Xiyanshan, Second Brother had also chosen Fang Chuning to join him in the mountains, leaving him behind.
"Is your grudge against me because Ting Feng favors me, and you’re peeved to see it?" Fang Chuning revealed his understanding, amused by Xie Xun’s sulky attitude.
"You’re overthinking it. You?"
"The way you’re so agitated, I can’t help but think otherwise," Fang Chuning remarked cheerfully. "All right, the tea’s been drunk, and our conversation’s over. Where’s your brother? Take me to him. If you don’t, I’ll find him myself."
"Then go find him yourself!"
"Farewell!" Fang Chuning rose and left the main hall. Though it was his first time at the City Lord Mansion, he showed no fear of losing his way. Standing under the corridor, watching the snow fluttering down, he beckoned to a maid and asked with a smile, "Where is your Second Young Master?"
The maid, captivated by Fang Chuning’s smile, felt her heart flutter. "In the Plum Garden."
"Where’s the Plum Garden?"
"Over there..." The maid pointed ahead. "Pass through two Moon Gates, and you’ll see it."
"Thank you!" he replied courteously and began to stroll leisurely into the snow.
The Plum Garden was easy to find. A faint fragrance of plum blossoms lingered in the air, growing stronger as he approached. From a distance, Fang Chuning could see a grove of intertwined red and pink plum trees.
Under one of the plum trees, Xie Jue stood, watching as Ruyi built a snowman. The snowman was almost as tall as he was, and Ruyi enthusiastically adorned its head with two branches of plum blossoms.
A gust of wind howled past, sending clusters of plum blossoms cascading down, dusting him in a coat of pink and white. Xie Jue looked slightly distracted; he knew Fang Chuning and Fang Lingjun had arrived.
The last time they parted in Zhongzhou, their conversation had ended on an awkward note. Now that they were meeting again, he was unsure what to say.
Walking through the winding Nine-Bend Corridor, Fang Chuning caught sight of Xie Jue’s back. He also noticed a child in a bright red padded jacket playing with a snowman. Fang Chuning called out, "Ting Feng."
Xie Jue and Ruyi turned around at the same time. Fang Chuning smiled gently at Xie Jue, but when his gaze fell on Ruyi, that smile slowly froze on his face.