The eldest son was named Cheng Yun, hoping he would inherit his father’s good fortune. However, Fang Cheng Yun was unlucky, falling from the second floor of a restaurant and breaking his right leg, requiring months of bed rest and uncertain future mobility.
Lying in bed, Fang Cheng Yun found his fall suspicious. When he had been holding the railing, his second and fourth brothers were fine, but the section of railing he held suddenly broke, causing his uncontrolled fall.
The restaurant’s railing was thicker than an arm – how could it suddenly rot? More suspiciously, only the section he was holding had decayed. His fourth brother was right beside him – could he have tampered with it?
The fourth brother was born to his stepmother Xue, possibly competing for inheritance or harboring resentment. Being half-brothers, he might have reasons to harm Fang Cheng Yun.
When Fang Wen Da came to visit, Fang Cheng Yun directly accused him of false kindness. Angry, Fang Wen Da was about to leave but tripped on a round stool, hitting his head on the table edge and fainting. Fang Han Zhu, who came with him to visit his injured brother, tried to help but was also pulled down, hitting her head and feeling dizzy.
Yu Yi and Meng Qing arrived at this moment.
Meng Qing, with Fang Wen Da’s memories, knew the railing’s collapse had nothing to do with him, but convincing Fang Cheng Yun would not be easy.
The room’s atmosphere was tense. Qin Shi, who had been silent during their dispute, saw Meng Qing holding his head and leaning on the table, and thought he was putting on an act. She said sarcastically, “Fourth Brother fell so hard. Maybe we should call a doctor?”
Meng Qing touched the back of his head, hissing in pain, “It’s swollen. But didn’t Big Brother say I’m fine and don’t need a doctor?”
“
Qin Shi looked somewhat embarrassed, “He’s not a doctor. Just because he says you’re fine doesn’t mean you are.”
Yu Yi, now Fang Han Zhu, was fourteen and the family’s only daughter. Fang Fu Gui, who had her late in life, doted on her, which was evident even in her name. Thus, she was direct and spoke her mind. Yu Yi, maintaining this character, said, “Sister-in-law, you know verbal statements can’t be taken as fact. Whether Fourth Brother did anything wrong can’t be decided just by your say-so. Even the authorities require witness and physical evidence when solving cases.”
Qin Shi was left speechless, regretting her hasty words.
Yu Yi continued in a softer tone, “Actually, Big Brother and Sister-in-law, you know Fourth Brother’s character. He’s not the type to do something underhanded. You’re truly wronging him.”
Fang Chengyun thought to himself, who could tell from the surface what kind of person would secretly cause trouble? People’s hearts are hidden behind their bellies; even blood siblings might not necessarily harbor good intentions. He just didn’t know whether she actually knew the inside story.
He pondered that the best approach would be to send Fang Wendao back and keep Han Zhu to question her thoroughly. She was young and straightforward, not likely to hide things easily.
Yu Yi wanted to persuade further.
Fang Chengyun was thinking about how to get Fang Wendao to leave first, leaving Han Zhu behind. Just then, someone called from outside the door: “Big Brother.”
With this call, Fang Jiaye, the second young master of the Fang family, entered through the doorway.
Fang Xingyie entered and saw Yu Yi and Meng Qing, slightly surprised. He asked, “Wendao, Han Zhu, what a coincidence that you’re here to visit big brother?”
Meng Qing responded, “Yes.”
Fang Chengyun on the bed let out a cold snort.
Chapter 105: Old Husband, Young Wife (2)
Fang Xingyie heard Fang Chengyun’s “hmph” and hurriedly walked to the bedside, asking with concern, “Big Brother? Are your wounds hurting?”
Fang Chengyun coldly glanced at Meng Qing, “My leg doesn’t hurt, but I’m feeling very irritated.”
Although Fang Xingyie didn’t know the previous circumstances, seeing the cold-faced couple and the awkward-looking siblings sitting at the table, and noticing the servants all silent and tense, he understood they must have had a dispute. He smiled and advised, “We’re all family, let’s talk things through nicely.”
With Fang Xingyie’s arrival, the room’s atmosphere softened somewhat, though some tension remained.
After chatting for a while and leaving some items, Fang Xingyie said to Fang Chengyun, “Big Brother, rest well. Xingyie and the fourth brother won’t disturb your recovery.” He stood up and told Meng Qing, “Fourth Brother, let’s go.”
Fang Xingyie then led Meng Qing out. After they’d been gone for a while, Fang Chengyun asked Yu Yi, “Do you know what the fourth brother has been busy with these days?”
Yu Yi, knowing he wanted to inquire, recalled recent events, “Fourth Brother has been studying at home every day, barely responding when spoken to, and would even chase people away if they talked too much.”
Fang Chengyun knew his fourth brother was focused on preparing for next year’s county exam and rarely went out. So when they had come to find him for drinks the other day, he hadn’t thought much of it. But now, lying in bed with time to reflect, he found the matter strange.
He asked again, “Han Zhu, did you know in advance about Wendao inviting me to the Tianxiang Tower for a meal?”
Yu Yi shook her head, “No, that day Han Zhu was pestering mother to teach her a set of martial arts, but mother refused.”
Meng Qing sighed, “This is not something that will be forgotten after the fact. I’m afraid my elder brother will resent Wen Da for the rest of his life. No, Wen Da must go and explain this to Father. If Father also blames Wen Da, that would be truly unfair.”
Fang Xingye advised, “Father is fair-minded and won’t wrongly accuse you without reason. If you go and explain, it might make you look guilty. Let me persuade the elder brother instead, so he won’t blame you anymore.”
Meng Qing agreed and returned to Fang Wen Da’s residence. Shortly after, Yu Yi arrived. Standing outside Fang Wen Da’s door, she suddenly remembered something and turned to her maidservant, “Xiang Lan, Fourth Brother just bumped his head. Go ask Mother for some bruise-reducing ointment.”
Xiang Lan responded and hurried away.
Seeing Yu Yi enter the room, Meng Qing found a reason to send Fang Bao to fetch something, getting him to leave. Both Yu Yi and Meng Qing had traveled into other people’s bodies, and there were several pairs of eyes watching in Fang Cheng Yun’s room earlier, so nothing could have appeared out of thin air. Now that they were alone, they called Lin Bai to bring the terminal.
You should leave the dangerous tasks to me,” Yu Yi replied with a confident smile.
Meng Qing replied, “Be careful, and let me know if anything happens.”
In the distance, the sound of thunder rumbled, signaling the approach of a storm. Yu Yi looked outside and noticed the darkening skies. “It looks like we might have rain soon,” she commented.
Meng Qing nodded. “Yes, a storm is coming. We better wrap things up here.”
After finishing the scan, Yu Yi retracted the terminal and put the device back on her arm. “Alright, you should get some rest,” she said as she helped Meng Qing make himself comfortable.
Meng Qing yawned. “I might take a quick nap before I head out for the evening.”
Yu Yi smiled and turned to leave the room, reassuring him, “Just rest easy. I’ll keep watch.”
With that, she stepped out and closed the door gently behind her.
You wouldn’t have thought of going to Tianxiang House to investigate on your own. It’s more like I’m pushing you to investigate.”
At this moment, Yu Yi heard footsteps outside and stopped talking. Meng Qing also returned to sit by the table.
Three people entered. Leading was a beautiful woman with graceful steps – Xue Si Niang, followed by Chun Qiao and Xiang Lan.
