Chapter 396: Chapter 384 Father and Daughter
When Zhang Lingzheng said that this matter should be made known to the entire world, Xie Xun felt it was unnecessary. He wasn’t seeking fame anyway. When his Second Brother spoke of it, he dared not say too much.
"The crisis in Yangzhou has passed. Now, it’s time to tackle the Twelve Prefectures. Stay vigilant; the Twelve Prefectures will be another tough battle. Let’s get through this winter."
Xie Xun nodded slightly. "By the way, Second Brother, Lin Cheng is dead!"
Yangzhou, Prefectural Government.
Li Yong’s mistake brought disaster to Yangzhou. However, it can’t entirely be blamed on him—whether he acted out of vanity or sincere intent to rescue people, his original motive was good. Later, he coordinated with Xie Xun to govern Yangzhou, which could also be considered meritorious. Zhang Boju stepped in and decided to remove Li Yong from his position, sparing his life. A new Yangzhou Prefect would be dispatched by the Cabinet. For now, Zhang Boju would temporarily assume the post.
Marshal Fang and ten thousand Jiangnan troops were still staying in Yangzhou City for the New Year, fearing that the plague might spread to various parts of Yanyang. Yangzhou’s city gates remained closed as the plague had been completely controlled, with no new cases occurring. They were merely waiting for the complete recovery of infected patients before reopening the gates.
Zhang Lingzheng took meticulous notes on all symptoms of the plague, the corresponding remedies, and preventive measures for unaffected commoners, compiling the information into a book. He dispatched copies to major prefectures and counties in Yanyang, including the Twelve Prefectures. The Imperial Physicians had arrived in time, and this plague ended up being exceptionally well-contained.
Fang Lingjun’s maternal grandmother’s family fled Yangzhou and had yet to return. Fang Lingjun and the Marshal were residing in the grandmother’s mansion. Fang Lingjun had been ailing day in and day out, prompting worry from the Marshal that she might have contracted the plague. She was isolated and monitored daily by assigned physicians taking her pulse. It turned out she was merely low in spirits and hadn’t caught the plague. The Marshal knew his daughter’s heart was full of resentment, but being a man unaccustomed to coaxing children, their relationship remained strained.
If it were Fang Chuning, he would’ve already enforced martial discipline, administered beatings, and punishment. But Fang Lingjun was different; the Marshal had doted on her from a young age and had never laid a hand on her.
When Zhang Boju arrived, Marshal Fang and Fang Lingjun were having breakfast in silence, a father and daughter competing to see who could be more taciturn.
Zhang Boju, as an old friend with an exceptionally close bond to Fang Chuning, had grown up visiting Fang Chuning’s house frequently. However, he was most fearful of encountering Marshal Fang, someone he had feared since his childhood days.
"Marshal, I scoured the plague zones but couldn’t find Lin Cheng. I asked Li Yong, and on the night of the chaos, Lin Cheng led a squad to find Mr. Su. After that, no one has seen him."
"If he’s missing, keep searching for him. Why bother asking me!" Marshal Fang had no concern for Lin Cheng’s whereabouts. The affairs of a minor weren’t worth his effort. Yuwen Jing had sent his own confidant to Jiangnan, clearly not for disaster relief.
Zhang Boju’s heart raced. "I’m merely here to ask Junjun."
Fang Lingjun lowered her gaze. "I don’t know."
Zhang Boju had been inseparable from Fang Chuning since childhood. Fang Chuning didn’t like Lin Cheng, so he too disliked Lin Cheng. Now that they were colleagues in the court, Lin Cheng—who was a mere puppet for the emperor—had become even more despised. As the eldest son of a noble clan and future family head, Zhang Boju’s status and identity were a notch above Lin Cheng’s, and he had rarely interacted with him. Yet Lin Cheng, after his sudden rise, imposed strict measures on their circle of noble heirs, frequently invoking his position as Commander-in-Chief with oppressive airs. Now in control of troops in the Imperial City and beyond, Lin Cheng held real power in his hands, forcing people to tread carefully around him. In the Capital, Lin Cheng was undoubtedly enjoying his moment of triumph.
It was evident to all that Lin Cheng had deliberately made it hard for them.
After all, they—the heirs of noble clans—had ostracized him from childhood.
But to be fair, clans naturally band together out of necessity, not shared ideals. Their alienation from Lin Cheng owed partly to Fang Chuning and largely to Lin Cheng’s arrogance.
Still, Lin Cheng was sent by the Yuwen Family. Whatever his fate, there had to be an outcome.
Zhang Boju said, "Li Yong mentioned that on that night, Lin Cheng led a small squad to find Mr. Su. You, Mr. Su, and Fengyu were all together that night. That entire squad vanished—Junjun, are you absolutely certain you didn’t see him?"
"Didn’t see him. Sick of this endless questioning! Yangzhou City lost tens of thousands of lives. Who knows if he’s dead or not? That night of the chaos, we met Little Marquis at the dock and later went to the State Mansion. Didn’t see him. He might’ve caught the plague and died."
Fang Lingjun furrowed her brow, adding irritably, "People like that, dead is dead. Why does Big Brother Zhang care so much?"
"I don’t care about him. It’s just that the Emperor assigned him to Yangzhou. Whether alive or dead, there’s gotta be an answer for the record."
Fang Lingjun sneered, "He’s not some divine emperor. Given the mass plague deaths, if he succumbed to illness, it’d be no surprise, right?"
Zhang Boju thought to himself, if Lin Cheng couldn’t be located, they’d have no choice but to report it that way.
After all, he hadn’t come down to Jiangnan just to find Lin Cheng.
"Then I won’t disturb the Marshal and Junjun any longer."
Zhang Boju hurriedly excused himself, still intimidated by the Marshal’s imposing presence. He was nothing like Marquis Zhenbei; everything about him, from appearance to demeanor, screamed one thing: "Compassion doesn’t command troops." Truly a fearsome Great General.
"Xie Xun killed Lin Cheng, didn’t he?" The Marshal asked Fang Lingjun.
"Don’t know, didn’t see."
"Father isn’t concerned with how Lin Cheng died or who killed him. No need for you to feel tense." Marshal Fang sighed. "Junjun, how long do you plan on being at odds with your father?"
"Why does Father always protect Yuwen Jing?"
"He’s the rightful emperor. Your mother has enjoyed imperial favor for decades, the Fang Family has thrived in wealth for over a century, all thanks to the trust and support of the Yuwen Royal Family. We benefitted from the Yuwen Royal Family’s grace, were born of a noble lineage, spared the hardships of displacement, and lived atop the clouds in luxury. We must therefore devote ourselves fully and serve loyally until death. Junjun, during your time stranded in Yangzhou, when you visited the plague zones, did you see girls your age? Living in hunger and destitution, clothed in rags, stricken by illness with no hope but death. And you? You’ve been raised in splendor and wealth, unacquainted with suffering, never knowing the price of grain. One gown of yours could feed an entire commoner family for a year. Born to the Imperial Family, you’ve enjoyed ample provision yet failed to repay their grace—that’s unjust. To raise rebellion—that’s disloyal. Do you want to be someone who is disloyal and unjust?"
"But Father, Yuwen Jing is not a good emperor; he slaughters the innocent and murders all righteous officials..."
"That’s his problem!" The Marshal replied sternly. "If he fails to rule as an emperor, it is for his ministers to advise and admonish him, even to the point of death, but never to rise in rebellion. Your father has received imperial favor and cannot act with betrayal and disloyalty."
"Father, then shouldn’t I, harboring rebellion in my heart, offer my flesh as repayment to mother and give up my life as penance?"
"Offering flesh to repay parents and stripping bones to repay fathers is nothing but impulsive theatrics. You’ve lived 16 years in comfort, receiving care and enjoying life—has it all vanished in an instant?" The Marshal said solemnly. "Xie Xun has his reasons for rebellion, and the Fang Family has ours for loyalty to the Imperial Family. There’s no absolute right or wrong."
"That’s blind loyalty!" Junjun cried, her eyes reddened. "If one day, Yuwen Jing kills Mother, Brother, and me, will you still cloak yourself in noble honors and say you served until death?"
"Why make such assumptions? The Fang Family is not the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, and Yuwen Jing wouldn’t kill you."
"No one foresaw Yuwen Jing ordering the death of Marquis Zhenbei. Life is unpredictable, Father. I don’t understand politics and can’t grasp your concept of loyalty; I can only wish you’ll accomplish your desires. It seems that your daughter cannot live and yet not follow your path." Fang Lingjun stood and said, "Daughter will take her leave. Please enjoy your meal, Father."