The door was closed, and Manager Gao also stood outside the room.
There was no point in leaving now, and he didn't dare leave, so he simply stood watchfully and vigilantly at the doorway.
"Mother, you scared me to death." Fang Chengyu patted his chest, the fear not yet faded from his ivory-like face, "These words mustn't be spoken."
Lady Fang's expression remained unchanged, and she snorted coldly.
"What's there that can't be spoken? Since the deed is done, are we still afraid to speak?" she said.
Fang Chengyu laughed, shaking Lady Fang's arm.
"Mother, how did you know?" he asked.
"Young Master, perhaps you have forgotten, before you managed De Sheng Chang, it was I..." Lady Fang pointed at herself, her face stern, "... it was I who ran it tirelessly for over a decade. Your mother has stayed at home watching plays for less than a year and hasn't gone senile yet."
Fang Chengyu laughed heartily, leaning his head on Lady Fang's shoulder.
"Mother, you're truly remarkable," he said.
Lady Fang pushed him away with her hand.
"I always thought I was the remarkable one," she said, looking at Fang Chengyu, "But now looking at you all, I realize the truly remarkable ones are you."
Fang Chengyu giggled.
"Chengyu, stop playing dumb, do you know what you're doing?" Lady Fang said intently.
Fang Chengyu stopped laughing and nodded seriously.
"When the country is in crisis, one should contribute whichever way they can," he said, "One can't just stand by and watch."
Lady Fang sneered.
"Didn't you say these are two business deals? Then what are you getting in return for contributing money and effort?" she asked.
"Act according to conscience, expecting no return," Fang Chengyu stated.
"Don't give me that noble rhetoric," Lady Fang said, "When treating your illness, terms were agreed upon and a transaction made beforehand. How could she, someone who never leaves empty-handed, do something expecting no return?"
Fang Chengyu laughed again.
"Mother, how is Jun Miss a thief?" he said.
Lady Fang looked at him.
"Chengyu, you are not foolish, neither am I. Now, what she's after is substantial," she said, looking towards the door, "Manager Gao."
Manager Gao responded by pushing the door open and poking his head in.
"Madam, I'm here keeping guard," he said in a low voice.
"Do you remember the first time you met Miss Jun, what she inquired about?" Lady Fang asked.
Manager Gao was slightly stunned.
Of course, Lady Fang knew the answer; she just wanted him to repeat it.
"She asked about the capital, about Prince Huai," he said in a low voice.
Lady Fang turned to Fang Chengyu.
"I also hoped it was a casual question," she said, "But I'm afraid others won't think so."
She exhaled.
"Right now, many people still don't know the Heir's Wife is her. All these matters fall upon Duke of Chengguo. Duke Cheng serves the dynasty loyally, and people won't think much, but what about when her identity is revealed?"
Fang Chengyu smiled.
"Miss Jun saves the world and the people, she can heal people, and the country," he said.
Lady Fang also smiled slightly.
"Chengyu, her reach extends too far," she said, "And both our family and the Duke of Cheng's family, are monitored openly and in secret by the dynasty—wealth, power, soldiers—and we've captured such a large public sentiment and gained so much fame. What are the three types of people in our three families trying to do?"
"Mother, this is unfair," Fang Chengyu said seriously, "These things can be done by others, but no one else does them. Only she took the risk, spent the money, achieved this fame and public sentiment, these are due to her, we shouldn't suspect her like this."
"Whether we can suspect her or not, isn't for us to decide." Lady Fang said, looking at Fang Chengyu, "To hold a jade and be guilty, think it over carefully, you all."
Manager Gao quickly opened the door, bowed to Lady Fang.
Lady Fang stepped out, looking at the bright spring sunlight.
"She really means to take over the whole Fang Family," she shook her head and smiled bitterly.
Watching Lady Fang leave, Fang Chengyu puffed his cheeks and exhaled.
"Let's proceed according to Chengyu's arrangements," he said, as if nothing had happened, continuing the earlier topic with added emphasis, "No matter the arrangement."
Manager Gao agreed.
"Spend all those four hundred thousand taels," Fang Chengyu waved lightly, easily.
Manager Gao hesitated for a moment.
"You can't spend that much," he said.
"With money, no one ever complains about having too much. A bit more is better, as the saying goes, warm words aren't as good as more money," Fang Chengyu said.
Indeed, Manager Gao smiled and agreed, but then hesitated again.
"What about Lady Fang's side..." he asked in a low voice.
"That's Jun Miss's money, no need to tell Lady Fang," Fang Chengyu said.
That's also acceptable, Manager Gao looked at Fang Chengyu with admiration, bowed, and retreated.
Fang Chengyu was left alone in the courtyard. He did not turn and enter the room; he stood under the corridor looking at the sky.
"Top the sky," he suddenly said.
But when he said these words, his face bore none of the earlier panic.
"As long as she wishes, top, then top it."
.............................
At the end of March and the beginning of April, outside Dingzhou City was a sea of people. After half a month of document exchanges, and three decrees delivered, it was finally the day the Duke of Chengguo was to march into the capital for an audience.
The sound of horns blared continuously, and teams of government soldiers started advancing, long spears forested, and banners waving, a sight of overpowering pressure looking from atop the walls.
A stir arose beneath the city gates, drawing the attention of those on the wall. They saw the Duke of Cheng approaching, surrounded by numerous officials and generals from Hebei Road.
Upon seeing the Duke's arrival, the crowd erupted in cheers.
Amidst the excitement, there was also reluctance to bid farewell.
"Duke, you must return."
"Duke, please don't go."
Numerous citizens raised the baskets in their hands, presenting their best travel provisions.
The bustling crowd kept the order-maintaining soldiers busy, barely managing to hold things back.
The usually calm Duke of Cheng showed a bit of emotion, riding forward a few steps, saluting the crowd around him.
This action caused another uproar among the crowd.
Watching this scene, the officials and generals from Hebei Road behind the Duke had complex expressions.
On one hand, they envied the Duke's prestige among the people, and on the other, they lamented that such a scenario might not happen again after this departure.
Amidst their wandering thoughts, the Duke turned to them.
"Not long ago, some of you said a certain thing to me," he suddenly said.
The officials and generals immediately stood at attention, curious about what was said. They couldn't recall it themselves.
"They said, 'As long as the Duke is present, we fear nothing,'" the Duke said.
Someone must have said this—everyone here would say so, the officials thought.
This was an undeniable fact.
"That's incorrect," the Duke said, "Regardless of whether I'm here, you must remain unafraid. Your fearlessness shouldn't stem from me standing in front but should rather be due to them."
He gestured around, and the officials looked where the Duke pointed.
The crowd consisted of people from all corners, many having traveled for days just for this farewell glance.
"Because they stand behind you," the Duke said, "View you as parents, as heaven and earth. Those who are parents shall not fear."
All the officials present answered in unison.
These words quickly spread, intensifying the crowd's excitement, and the marching formation erupted into a unanimous response.
"Fearless!"
"Fearless!"
"Fearless!"
Outside Dingzhou City, the scene suddenly boiled like oil detonated with water.
Marching in the formation, Lei Zhonglian unconsciously straightened his back, his hands trembling slightly on the reins.
"It's all just stirring people up," Eighteenth Jin's cold voice sounded from the side.
Lei Zhonglian glanced at him.
"If people's hearts can be stirred, it means they're still human," he said, "Better than having no heart at all."
Eighteenth Jin sneered and stopped paying attention to him.
"Why don't you let your Jinyiwei rescue you?" Lei Zhonglian asked.
After staying in Dingzhou City for so long, it was impossible to hide people like Eighteenth Jin any longer. The Jinyiwei from Dingzhou had already approached, but Eighteenth Jin didn't cause any disturbance and remained with the Qingshan Army.
"My mission is to follow Miss Jun; my mission has always been smooth, how can we speak of needing rescue?" Eighteenth Jin said.
Lei Zhonglian smiled.
"Because Miss Jun has left," he said.
Eighteenth Jin's expression dramatically changed, and as his body moved, Lei Zhonglian already had a long spear pointed at him, with the accompanying soldiers instantly converging around them.
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