Chapter 470: Chapter 454: Crisis
Fang Lingjun also understood her unique status, so she rarely came to the front hall, always staying with Fengyu. When Fengyu was busy, she would go out with her attendants to explore the city. Today, she wanted to check on Fang Chuning’s injuries. After hearing that Fang Chuning and Xie Jue were in the front hall, she came over impulsively, only to overhear the matter of Xie Jue murdering someone and framing another.
"Junjun..." Fengyu’s expression turned flustered. She stepped beside Fang Lingjun, attempting to calm her, but also felt awkward—it was the first time she experienced a conflict between her stance and her emotions.
"Second Young Master, why?" Fang Lingjun asked insistently. "My brother killed Han Ziqi, and the news will reach Sannan. Sannan will mobilize its national strength to avenge the Princely Heir. Jiangnan will be plunged into chaos. Is this what you wanted?"
Xie Jue still had medicine covering his eyes and couldn’t see Fang Lingjun. Judging her position by sound, he turned toward Fang Lingjun and spoke lightly, "Miss Fang, whether Han Ziqi is dead, alive, or dies at someone’s hand, Sannan will march. Mobilizing an army for invasion is a matter of national significance; it won’t change because of one man’s death."
"If that’s the case, then you killed Han Ziqi. Why not admit it openly? Why frame my brother?"
"It’s not convenient to disclose!" Xie Jue’s expression remained indifferent.
Fang Lingjun was struck with rage and stormed out. Fengyu hurriedly chased after her. "Junjun, wait for me..."
Fengyu found Fang Lingjun in the plum grove. She was curled up under a plum tree, hugging herself, looking both aggrieved and self-reproachful. Fengyu crouched beside her, keeping her company. "Junjun, Second Brother doesn’t like to explain himself, and your brother agreed voluntarily. Don’t worry, alright? Second Brother wouldn’t really harm your brother."
"Of course, my brother agreed voluntarily. From childhood to now, anytime it involved Second Young Master, my brother has always been the first to step forward. Taking the blame for him? It’s nothing new." Fang Lingjun bit her lip, deeply saddened and indignant. "Why should he? He’s so cold and heartless toward my brother. Why should my brother bear this burden for him!!"
Fengyu looked at Fang Lingjun, feeling a strange familiarity. She believed Xie Xun had something to say on this matter too, and Xie Xun likely shared the same sentiment.
Why Fang Chuning?
"If only I hadn’t come to West State. If I hadn’t come begging, my brother wouldn’t have had to escort me here."
Fengyu took her hand, wrapping it warmly in her palms, gently stroking it. "Junjun, your brother came to the city with important affairs to handle, not just to escort you. Even if you hadn’t come, he still would have. Don’t blame yourself."
"Really?"
Fengyu chuckled lightly. "I’ll tell you about Sannan and the Beiman. Let’s start with Beiman. Why does Beiman frequently invade Ningzhou and aim to defeat Yanyang? Because they covet the splendid landscapes and vast resources of Yanyang. Beiman is a nomadic people living beyond the Sha Ling Tian Mountain, where the snow never melts year-round and winters are harsh. Their survival conditions are grueling; once winter arrives, their lives become unbearably difficult, so they desperately want to migrate to warmer, more resource-rich areas. Similarly, in Yanyang, where the Twelve States face bitter winters, countless civilians relocate south for better living conditions and return come spring. Beiman’s invasion of Yanyang, at its core, is driven by survival and resources. Although Beiman possesses abundant gold and ore, they lack sufficient food supplies. Since Yanyang cut off trade with them, this has been the root cause of Beiman’s invasion. As for Sannan? Sannan was territory separated by King Han when Yanyang fractured; it became independent amid political turmoil. At the time, the northern and northwestern regions were already engulfed in warfare, leaving the people destitute. The Yuwen Royal Family chose to de-escalate rather than initiate further conflict, hence allowing Sannan to separate. Sannan enjoys warm weather, eternal spring, a strong agrarian economy, and a wealthy, stable populace. A country with few people and scarce resources has no justification for launching invasions. Several years ago, during Beiman’s peace negotiations, Sannan increased its border defenses. This was primarily due to Beiman’s treaty with Marquis Zhenbei Mansion regarding military advance plans against Sannan. To Sannan, it was merely self-defense, not aggression. Now, because of Second Brother, the situation has become even more complex. Sannan’s likelihood of targeting the Twelve States is higher than that of attacking Jiangnan. Han Ziqi approached me under the pretense of business discussions, but it was merely a cover. If Sannan wages war, it will be against the Twelve States, not Jiangnan."
Fang Lingjun couldn’t fully understand the complicated political dynamics. "Then why did Second Young Master kill Han Ziqi?"
"Ever since the Marquis Mansion fell, Second Brother has undergone drastic changes. Of course, his emotions are restrained, so outsiders can’t perceive them. He absolutely refuses to be threatened again. When Han Ziqi first came to discuss business, Second Brother didn’t bear the intent to kill, but once Han Ziqi dared to openly threaten him, Second Brother wouldn’t let him return. Killing Han Ziqi was also a warning to Sannan." Fengyu had sensed this, which was why she discussed the plan to assassinate Han Ziqi with Xie Xun—she didn’t want Second Brother to stain his hands with more blood, especially since Han Ziqi was his cousin.
Yet unexpectedly, Second Brother couldn’t even wait a single night and ordered someone to take action.
"Why frame my brother?"
Fengyu laughed softly and said, "If Sannan wants to attack the Twelve States, they can’t do it alone. They would need to ally with Beiman for a coordinated strike. However, Ningzhou is under martial law, and Beiman and Sannan have difficulty communicating effectively. That leaves an alliance with the court. Han Ziqi and Yuwen Jing likely had already negotiated. The Grand Marshal stationed in Jiangnan certainly wouldn’t want Sannan to attack the Twelve States. But the Grand Marshal... being a Royalist, under pressure from Yuwen Jing, who knows what choices he might make. Second Brother now refuses to gamble on anyone’s mercy. So Fang Chuning killing Han Ziqi eliminates Sannan’s plan to partner with the court."
She hadn’t realized this at first and had only pieced it together after listening to Xie Jue’s reasoning.
On the surface, it looked like murder and blame-shifting, but in truth, it was a bloodless move to dissolve a looming war crisis. Even Han Ziqi himself couldn’t believe that Xie Jue would actually kill him—he underestimated the shadow left by the calamity Xie Jue endured in the Capital City.
"Won’t Sannan despise my brother and attack Jiangnan then?"
"I don’t know." The good and evil of human nature are decided in fleeting moments, but initiating a war is a grave matter. King of Sannan cannot act purely on impulse. If the plan was already set, he’ll wage war eventually. If he wasn’t planning to, Han Ziqi’s death won’t prompt him to march.
Fang Lingjun felt somewhat defeated. Since her brother had voluntarily taken the blame, he presumably knew what he was getting into. She should trust her brother.
"Junjun, don’t worry about these things, alright? Just eat, drink, and have fun in the city. If the sky falls, they’ll bear the weight of it." Fengyu comforted her.
"But Ayu, you’ve been helping Xie Xun all this time, not eating, drinking, or having fun. Back in the Capital, you primarily dealt with business matters. Now in West State, you’re so busy. Aren’t you tired?"
During her time in West State, Fang Lingjun felt that everyone seemed different. Second Young Master had changed, Xie Xun had changed too, but her interactions with them were few. Fengyu was the most noticeable—she had changed.
Once carefree and fond of indulgence, the Ayu of old had transformed into someone diligent and proactive—all because of one person.
"Tired!" Fengyu admitted, having always been a lazy sort. "But I’m willing to bear it—because it’s worth it."