Chapter 471: Chapter 455: Indebtedness
The City Lord Mansion remained calm, but chaos brewed within West State City. Dozens of people from Sannan clamored for Fang Chuning to repay blood with blood. Yet, Fang Chuning was not among the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry; he had come from Zhongzhou on business. The West State Government Office held no jurisdiction over him. Even if he confessed to the Sannan people, they could do nothing to him.
When Han Ziqi’s guard angrily unsheathed his sword to strike Fang Chuning, Nangong Heng’s soldiers stepped forward to intervene. One man came for trade and was killed; another for official business from Zhongzhou. If there were mishaps, it would be difficult to explain. Nangong Heng had no choice but to mediate between them. The Sannan people, naturally dissatisfied, angrily demanded that Fang Chuning pay the price. Fang Chuning, however, remained unperturbed, never denying his involvement in Han Ziqi’s death from start to finish. Watching this, the Sannan people recognized they could not kill Fang Chuning to avenge Han Ziqi. Left with no other recourse, they prepared to return home with the coffin. Before leaving, they repeatedly pleaded with Xie Xun and Fengyu to hand over Fang Chuning.
Xie Xun and Fengyu refused unequivocally, asserting they would not involve themselves in the feud between Sannan and the imperial court. They expressed regret over the failed business venture. The Sannan people stormed off in fury.
According to Fengyu’s plan, they were supposed to eradicate every Sannan person at Bei River, leaving no survivors. With Fang Chuning willingly shouldering the blame, there was no need for unnecessary slaughter.
Ultimately, the matter ended as Fang Chuning took the blame. The Sannan people failed in their attempt to kill him and departed with the coffin.
Xie Xun stood on the city gates, watching the Sannan people leave with the coffin. He instructed his men to secretly trail them. "Keep an eye on them," he commanded.
He wanted to prevent the Sannan people from launching a surprise attack.
"Understood!"
Two personal guards left the city, quietly tailing the funeral procession. West State City appeared calm once more, but within the City Lord Mansion, the tension was like the stillness before a storm.
For two consecutive days, Xie Jue applied medicine and underwent acupuncture three times a day. His vision finally returned. However, due to how Fang Chuning framed him for the murder, despite sleeping side by side, the two scarcely communicated. Their relationship resembled a flawless jade that had shattered—impossible to mend.
Once Xie Jue’s eyes recovered, Fang Chuning prepared to bid farewell and return to Zhongzhou.
Silence between them!
Every farewell they shared seemed shrouded in the smoke of conflict.
Fang Lingjun also planned to leave with Fang Chuning. Fengyu clung to her reluctantly, her heart aching deeply. "Why, Junjun? You made up your mind to stay in West State when you came."
"The Capital City suffocates me, so I fled. But West State is not my home either—it belongs to Ayu." Fang Lingjun had never been clearer than this moment. "I am the daughter of Fang Lian, the sister of Fang Chuning. When I was in Yangzhou, my father and I once discussed loyalty, duty, and positions. I quarreled with my father, but now, I understand that he was right. Ayu, this chaos cannot be avoided. You and I are caught in this storm, unable to choose otherwise. Once, you, I, my brother, and the Second Young Master were inseparable. Riding horses across Xiyanshan, youthful and high-spirited—those were my happiest days. But now, I can’t treat the bloodshed between all of you as childish play. Emotionally, I loathe Yuwen Jing from the depths of my soul. I saw with my own eyes how he killed the late emperor and framed the Marquis. I hope Xie Xun and the Second Young Master will avenge him. Yet standing in the way of their revenge are my father and brother. I cannot turn a blind eye. I’ve avoided this for three years. I shouldn’t keep burying my head in the sand. Ayu, my heart aches for my brother—I want to stay by his side. If even I leave, he will be truly left all alone."
"Junjun..." Fengyu’s reddened eyes filled with tears as she tightly embraced Fang Lingjun. "I’m sorry for letting you down."
"No, Ayu, you’ve done well!" Fang Lingjun lingered in the embrace. "You do what you must, and I’ll do what I must. That’s how it should be."
Fengyu understood that after this farewell, the next time she reunited with Fang Lingjun would be either in Zhongzhou or the Capital City.
She wanted to tell Fang Lingjun that if she stayed in West State, regardless of what happened, she would carry the burden for her entirely. But such promises now seemed hollow. Junjun had arrived in West State full of hope, and Fengyu couldn’t keep her here. Any promise would be meaningless now.
When Fang Lingjun approached Fang Chuning about leaving together, Fang Chuning smiled faintly. "Didn’t you say you liked West State City?"
"Well, I really like Zhongzhou too," Fang Lingjun replied playfully. "I just missed Fengyu. I came to West State to visit her. Brother, you can’t secretly leave on your own!"
"Alright, I’ll take you with me!" Fang Chuning gently patted her head, unwilling to let Fang Lingjun harbor any lingering resentment. He explained, "Xie Tingfeng killed Han Ziqi and framed me. This was a bloodless way to resolve the Sannan unrest. He did nothing wrong—don’t blame him."
"Brother, but if you hadn’t come to West State, who’d have helped him solve this?" Fang Lingjun countered sharply, sadness filling her voice.
"He would’ve sent word to Zhongzhou and let me take the blame," Fang Chuning chuckled. "I agreed to this."
"Brother!" Fang Lingjun lightly tapped his hand. "For his sake, you defied Father’s military orders and were almost beaten to death. Aside from treason, are you telling me you would willingly give him your life without a second thought if he asked? You don’t owe him anything."
"Junjun..."
"I don’t care, I’ll remember this for the rest of my life."
"Junjun, between Ting Feng and me, there has never been a question of who owes whom." Fang Chuning’s voice was gentle yet firm. "Ting Feng may have acted impulsively, but it was never his intention to harm me."