Chapter Twenty-Four Conspiracy

  The master of the Fang family, Fang Lei, had only two sons. The elder son was Fang Zhengyan, born to his previous deceased wife. As for Fang Zhengyuan, he was born to his current wife. In his youth, Fang Lei was a man of great appearance and wealth, a talented individual. Ning Mingxia, the younger sister of the lord of Xiao Yue City, Ning Lingtian, happened to meet Fang Lei and fell in love with him at first sight. She went back to find her brother Ning Lingtian and insisted on marrying Fang Lei, despite knowing he was already married. Ning Lingtian had no choice but to send someone to the Fang family to propose the marriage. Fang Lei was reluctant, but under pressure from the city lord, he agreed. At that time, he already had a wife, Liu, and they had a son together, Fang Zhengyan.

  Although Fang Lei was extremely unwilling, Ning Mingxia still married into the Fang family. However, a new problem arose - the lord of this city was actually the Emperor of this land, and his status was extremely noble. How could his sister be a concubine? Fortunately, Fang Lei cherished his relationship with his wife deeply and did not divorce Liu Shi, instead recognizing Ning Mingxia as the main wife in the household, while Liu Shi, the original legitimate wife, had to yield and take a lower position.

  But Ning Mingxia always felt that Liu was in the way, thinking he was obstructing her and her husband. It's laughable that this snake-like woman wouldn't even think about how she herself had inserted herself between the couple, and now she's complaining that Liu is in the way. Having been treated with utmost respect for many years, Ning Mingxia had long since developed a haughty and arrogant temperament.

  It was during a visit to her parents' home that Liu died at the hands of bandits. Fang Ting also knew the reason, but he had no evidence and did not dare to provoke Ning Mingxia, so he could only secretly grieve and cry, and protect his eldest son Fang Zhengyan well, lest he die like his mother at the hands of this vicious woman.

  Later, Ning Mingxia gave birth to Fang Zhengyuan. Fang Ting became even more cautious and eventually had no choice but to send the young Fang Zhengyan out to manage the shops, which saved him from being harmed. As for Fang Zhengyuan, he enjoyed wealth and glory within Xiao Yue City. His uncle, Ning Lingtian, having no children of his own, treated this nephew like a biological son, and with his mother's indulgence, Fang Zhengyuan became even more reckless and tyrannical, doing as he pleased every day, seeking flowers and asking for willows.

  Because of the Fang family's relationship with the city master, Fang Zhengyuan can do whatever he wants in this Xiao Yue City without anyone daring to provoke him. Whenever he sees a pretty girl, he goes up and teases her, and if she meets his fancy, he orders someone to take her home, doing as he pleases, really being a big scourge of the city.

  Fang Zhengyan has long been mature and composed after all these years of experience. He also vaguely knew about the things that happened to his mother when he was young, and in recent years, his father had been worried about his own safety. He didn't hate his father, only hated Ning Mingxia, but because he was weak and couldn't confront him directly, he could only take it out on this half-brother of theirs.

  Then Fang Zhengyan continued to design him several times, and it was ridiculous that this young master was completely unaware of it. Each time, he got into some trouble, and in the past, he had teased some ordinary commoner girls, but due to the influence of the Fang family and the city lord, they would just pay some money and let it go. However, recently, Fang Zhengyan suddenly changed his taste and started teasing the young ladies of various families. It was strange to say that even though the daughters of large households only went out once a month, this rogue could still manage to bump into them. This made Fang Zhengyan himself feel somewhat surprised, but despite the surprise, when he saw beautiful young women, he still had to tease them. As a result, he offended many people, and the various wealthy families joined forces to report him to the city lord. Ning Lingtian was also extremely headache-inducing, never expecting that his nephew had already reached this point.

  Although Ning Lingtian was the city master, the combined forces of those who came to report grievances were not to be underestimated. He had no choice but to call Fang Zhengyuan over and teach him a lesson. Fang Ting had long been worried about this son, although he had been forced to marry Ning Mingxia back then, this son was his own flesh and blood. Usually, it was his mother and uncle who were afraid of offending him, so they couldn't discipline him. This time, taking the risk of setting fire to his own backyard, he severely beat him up, also making himself a strict father for once.

  It was unexpected that Fang Zheng had already gone beyond redemption, and in just three days, he brought back another woman from outside. What everyone didn't expect was that this woman turned out to be the daughter of the Zhang family. By the time Fang Ting found out, it was too late, as the situation had already become irreversible. This news made Fang Ting almost faint, thinking "You ungrateful son, why did you have to provoke the Zhang family? The Zhangs are extremely influential in Yan Rong country and have good relations with many high-ranking officials, even the city lord has to show them respect. You actually dared to mess with them, this is truly making me want to cry without tears."

  In a hurry, the Zhang family's precious daughter was sent back by herself, and Ning Lingtian was informed of the matter. This thing is no longer manageable for Fang Zhong. Since your uncle dotes on you so much, let him handle it. Ning Lingtian received the news and was stunned, knowing that this kid could cause trouble, but didn't expect to bring such a huge disaster upon himself, and couldn't help but lament in his heart, yet still went with a stiff upper lip.

  The Zhang family was in an uproar, and Ning Lingtian had also been scratched by the old ancestor of the Zhang family several times. With a face full of bloodstains, he ran to the Fang family to discuss countermeasures. Fang Zhengyuan was also at his wit's end, looking at him like that. Fang Ting hated him so much that she wanted to abandon him, but after all, he was her own son, and there was no way out. She had to secretly send him out of the city to go with Li Zhuang to various villages outside the city to set up a market stall. Meanwhile, she and Ning Lingtian went to the Zhang family to discuss whether they could marry their daughter into the Fang family, so that both families would save face. However, Fang Zhengyuan must not be allowed to stay in the city. If he caused any more trouble, it would be troublesome.

  Fang Zhengyuan reluctantly followed Li Zhu to the outskirts of the city, but unexpectedly met Ma Ling'er. Compared to the beautiful and lovely Ma Ling'er, Zhang's family's precious daughter was like a piece of dirt. This made Fang Zhengyuan's thoughts lively again. In fact, Fang Zhengyan also admired his half-brother, who was considered one of the best among the wealthy young masters, and was able to stir up trouble throughout the city, with several families surrounding him, yet he still had such thoughts.

  But the better it is, now he just needs to push a little bit from behind, and he will surely die without a place to bury his body. Thinking of this, Fang Zhengyan's eyes flowed with a hint of sinister light, but what he didn't think of was that it was precisely this scheme of his that shouldn't have involved Gan Ping, which triggered the shocking blood case that shook Yan Rong country.

  At this time, Li Zhuang was discussing with Fang Zhengyan, and after listening to Li Zhuang's plan, he couldn't help but take a deep breath and asked: "Is this making a big deal out of nothing? I just want that little girl from the Ma family, but if you do it this way...?" Li Zhuang smiled slyly and said: "Second Master, if you want that little girl, it's not possible to do it any other way. Think about it, now the old master is having a headache because of your affair with the Zhang family. If someone from the Ma family comes knocking on the door, then you'll really be done for. What if this rumor reaches the ears of the Zhang family and they refuse to agree to the marriage?"

  "If she doesn't agree, then so be it. I don't even think highly of the daughter from that family. With Ma Ling'er around, that's enough. Tsk, tsk, that young lady is quite beautiful," Fang Zhengyuan said, his eyes glazing over as he walked away. Li Zhuanggui looked at him with disdain, thinking to himself, "This country bumpkin doesn't understand anything. If it weren't for his good family background, who knows how many times he would have been killed off already."

  But he had to explain to the rustic in front of him: "How can that be? If the Zhang family doesn't agree to this marriage, the two families will fall out, and then you, young master, will be in danger." Upon hearing this, Fang Zhengyu thought carefully about it, and indeed, that was the situation. He wasn't a fool either, of course he knew how powerful the Zhang family's influence was. If they offended the Zhangs, he wouldn't even dare to step out of his house for the rest of his life, lest he be killed the moment he stepped out the door.

  He took a deep breath and said, "But the matter you mentioned is not trivial. How about this? Tomorrow, you go to offer the betrothal gift first. Maybe when he sees these valuables, Old Master Ma will change his mind. If it doesn't work..." He pondered for a moment, "Then there's only one way to do it. Are you absolutely sure?"

  Li Zhuang answered hastily: "Of course, it's absolutely foolproof. The place where Ma Jia Ji is located is remote and the nearest village is tens of miles away. There are many ferocious beasts on the mountain, and when they smell blood, they will come to feast. Even if a god came, he would think that the village was attacked by ferocious beasts." What a vicious plan to wipe out an entire family! Li Zhuang's heart is indeed black enough, and for his own career, he actually calculated nearly a thousand lives in Ma Jia Ji into it.

  "Then you go to the appointment tomorrow, and see what that old horse head means. If he still doesn't agree, then there's nothing else to do." Fang Zhengyuan said helplessly. "Alright, I'll go prepare. But this person is..." "Wait, let me tell Knife Scar Wolf, and have them listen to your command." Hearing this, Li Zhuanggui turned around with satisfaction and left.

  Dāo Bāo Láng is the leader of Fang Zheng Yuan's guard, because this nephew always provokes some disputes, Ning Ling Tian allocated thirty people from his own city defense team to Fang Zheng Yuan's hands to protect him. Many of the city defense team members are Jianghu heroes recruited by Ning Ling Tian, among whom there are murderers and arsonists. When they heard that they were going to Fang Zheng Yuan, a young master with a bad reputation, twenty original Jianghu villains rushed over happily, which can be said to be birds of a feather. In recent years, Fang Zheng Yuan has lost all his conscience and done all kinds of evil things, among which they have made contributions. Now they are going to wipe the butt for this prodigal son again.

  The next morning, Old Horse Head heard a commotion outside. Just as he was wondering what it was, Ma Yangzong, the gatekeeper, stumbled in, panting and shouting: "Second Uncle, Second Uncle, quickly go take a look, village entrance, village entrance!!" He couldn't catch his breath and could only gasp for air, unable to speak. Old Horse Head was alarmed and hastily grabbed Ma Yangzong's collar, repeatedly asking: "What's going on at the village entrance? Speak!" This grab caused Ma Yangzong, who was already struggling to breathe, to roll back his eyes. Old Horse Head quickly let go and didn't bother with him anymore, directly putting on his shoes and rushing towards the village entrance.

  At this time, the big gate at the village entrance had not yet opened, but inside the gate was already crowded with onlookers. Old Horse drove away a few young men who had run to the top of the gate tower to watch the commotion and stood on the tower looking outwards. At one glance, he couldn't help but be shocked.