Chapter 14: The Crisis of the Rongguo Mansion

  On the way back, Lao Yezi didn't ride a horse, but instead walked slowly with Fang Yilai, looking at Fang Yilai's injuries all over his body. Fang Xuanling asked with concern: "Jun'er, does it hurt?"

  "Dad, don't worry, I'm fine, this little injury is nothing, it's just a superficial wound, I'll be okay after resting for two days." Fang Yiai endured the burning pain on his back and didn't want to let his father worry about him.

  "Jun Er, don't you blame your father?"

  "Father, what are you saying? Are you saying that we should let Chang Sun Gan off?" Fang Yi'ai asked with a smile, supporting Fang Xuanling.

  "Hehe, that's what I meant. Originally, we could have beaten up Zhangsun Wuji to vent your anger, but Father let him off." Fang Xuanling patted Fang Yuyao's hand affectionately.

  "Father, even if we punish Longsun Ran this time, what's the point? Besides leaving a bad reputation for revenge, what else can be gained? It's better to do nothing. This way, in the future, when Longsun Wu wants to deal with our family, the Emperor will also have some sympathy." Fang Yu Ai never blamed his father, just like he said earlier, punishing Longsun Ran would not bring any benefits and would leave a bad impression on Li Shimin's heart. It's better to be more magnanimous. Fang Xuanling smiled and nodded in agreement, saying with relief: "Jun Er, you've really grown up. Don't worry, your father won't let you suffer this loss in vain."

  After returning to the House, Lu saw that Fang Ya's body was full of injuries and asked with tears in her eyes: "Jun Er, what happened? Who did this?" Fang Ya held Lu's hand and smiled: "Mother, don't cry. If you cry, I'll want to cry too. Don't worry, I just got into a fight with someone else. They're all superficial wounds."

  "You can't just let your mother worry a bit?" Lu Shi smiled and lightly patted Fang Yuai, not knowing that she had touched Fang Yuai's sore spot. Suddenly, Fang Yuai was in pain, gritting his teeth and scowling. Lu Shi panicked and scolded: "Look at you still being arrogant, Jun'er, come inside first, I'll help you apply some medicine." Under Lu Shi's urging, Fang Yuai took off his top and lay on the bed with his back exposed. Lu Shi slowly applied the red medicine, looking at the bloody marks on Fang Yuai's back made her heart ache, tears streaming down her face as she said to Fang Xuanling: "Husband, I don't care what you think, but I don't want anything to happen to my son." Fang Xuanling sighed, although he and Fang Yuai hadn't said anything, Lu Shi had already guessed most of it. Because in Chang'an City, apart from a few families with power, no one dared to lay hands on the second young master of the Fang family.

  After applying the medicine, Fang Yu Zhi also returned. Seeing that the atmosphere was not quite right, he tactfully didn't ask much and waited until Lu Shi left before leading Fang Yu Ai and Fang Yu Zhi to the study. Fang Yu Zhi helped Fang Yu Ai sit down on a chair and sat beside him, frowning as he asked: "Second brother, is it Long Sun Mian who did this?" Fang Yu Zhi had guessed that it was the Long Sun family from the start; an ordinary fight wouldn't be so vicious. Looking at the bruise on Fang Yu Ai's neck, he knew that the other party had gone all out. Apart from the Long Sun family, Fang Yu Zhi couldn't think of anyone else who would have such great audacity.

  "Big brother, apart from the people of Zhangsun's family, who else could it be?" Fang Yi gave a wry smile, he hated Zhangsun Wuji but was powerless to do anything about it.

  "Father, this eldest grandson is really too lawless! We must report this to the Emperor. My second brother cannot suffer injustice!" Fang Yi Zhi slammed his hand on the table in extreme anger. He had watched Fang Yi Ai grow up from childhood to adulthood and had never seen his younger brother suffer such a severe injury. This time, he was beaten so badly that if not for his strength, he would have lost half his life.

  "Jie'er, I know you're angry and so am I as your father. But what do you want me to say to the Emperor? Later on, if Zhangsun Wuji just says something like 'young and arrogant', it will be enough to get by, and the Emperor won't think much of it, he'll just consider it a youthful dispute. Moreover, Jun'er beat up Zhangsun Ruo quite badly." Fang Xuanling sighed, although he was a noble prime minister, he couldn't even protect his own son.

  "Father, don't mind this matter, I think it's not that simple, and maybe this thing isn't directed at me!" Fang Yiai said with a furrowed brow after some thought.

  "Second brother, we know this matter isn't directed at you, it's definitely aimed at Father. Is there any other explanation?" Fang Yi Zhi looked puzzled, and Fang Xuan Ling furrowed his brow and smiled: "Jun Er, tell us your thoughts!"

  "Father, this matter must have been personally instructed by Long Sun Wuji himself, and the purpose is to deal with you. Father, think carefully, if I were beaten half to death, what would your reaction be?" Fang Yiai asked lightly, he knew that things wouldn't be so simple when Long Sun Wuji suddenly appeared at the Golden Armor Guard's yamen.

  "Jun Er, are you saying that this time it was Changsun Wuji who personally gave the order?" Fang Xuanling's expression changed slightly this time. Originally, he had thought that Changsun Rang simply wanted to deal with Fang Yu'er and incidentally vent some anger on behalf of Changsun Wuji, but after hearing Fang Yu'er's words, things seemed not to be so simple.

  "Father, at first I thought it was just Changsun Yan's personal behavior, but when Changsun Wuji appeared, I knew this matter had something to do with him. Because I carefully observed that the servants brought by Changsun Yan never left, even if someone went to inform Changsun Wuji, he wouldn't have been able to appear at the Golden Armor Guard so quickly. There's only one explanation: Changsun Wuji was nearby at the time." Fang Yiai gritted her teeth and spoke with extreme hatred, "Moreover, when they attacked, those servants kept aiming for my vital points. I could feel that they wanted me dead. If it were just Changsun Yan, he wouldn't have had the guts to make a move on the street. Later, after thinking carefully, I realized this must be Changsun Wuji's idea. His goal was to take my life. As long as something happens to me, Father will likely lose half his life too. The saddest thing in this world is for an old man with white hair to send off a young person with black hair."

  After Fang Yuanying's narration, Fang Xuanling also understood and was somewhat frightened. With a gloomy face, he said: "Jun'er, what you said is not wrong, I now understand too. What a ruthless plan! If something happens to you, your father will be heartbroken to death, and it's possible that I'll lose my life as well. Hehe, Longsun Fuzi, do you really hate me so much?"

  After listening to Fang Xuanling's explanation, Fang Yizhi finally understood what was going on, even if he was slow-witted. He gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "Father, this Longsun fellow is trying to make our House of Fang extinct."

  "Haha, since Longsun Wuji is like this, do we need to be afraid of him in the House of Fang?" Fang Xuanling has now also adjusted his mood and restored the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty's prime minister. He said to his two sons who were sitting: "Jie'er, Jun'er, from now on you must be careful when going out. Since Longsun old thief had a first time, he will dare to do it again. I understand him too well, just like he understands me. Your father has no other weaknesses, and the weakness is you two. Longsun Wuji's eyes are indeed venomous."

  "Dad, don't worry, my second brother and I will be more careful from now on. I really didn't expect Longsun Wuji to be so ruthless." Fang Yizhi said with some lingering fear in his heart, and Fang Yiai also felt a bit uncomfortable. Fang Xuanling smiled and shook his head, saying: "Jie'er, since you've entered the official circle, you need to learn to adapt slowly. Although Longsun Wuji was a bit excessive this time, we can't say anything about it. You just need to protect yourselves well, and I believe the Emperor will understand. It's just that he doesn't want to blame Longsun Wuji because of Empress Longsun's face, but if he goes too far, the Emperor won't tolerate him, even if Empress Longsun and Princess Chang Le try to speak up for him."

  "Father, I want to learn martial arts. I don't want to entrust the fate of our family to your majesty's benevolence." Fang Yuai did not quite agree with his father's words. He would rather suffer more hardships than entrust his fate to others. Fang Xuanling sighed, this was the difference between his two sons, one weak and one strong. But this was also what Fang Xuanling hoped to see, as long as they could unite as brothers, they would definitely make the Fang family continue to prosper.

  Fang Xuanling nodded and said, "Jie'er, send Jun'er back to rest. Tomorrow you go to the academy to ask for a leave of absence on his behalf, let him rest for two days." Fang Yizhi nodded and accompanied Fang Y'ai out of the room. The two brothers came outside, and Fang Yizhi sighed and said, "Second brother, it's big brother's incompetence, but you can rest assured that in the future, big brother will definitely fight for justice on your behalf."

  "Big brother, why say such things? Although I was injured this time, but Changsun Wanjie is even more miserable. And this matter has also given us a wake-up call. In that case, it's actually a good thing," Fang Yiai comforted with a smile. He also knew about Fang Yizhi's helplessness. At present, Fang Yizhi was just a small official in the Ministry of Rites and had no right to speak. "Big brother, maybe we are all insignificant now, but as long as we brothers work together, one day we can occupy a place in this great Tang Dynasty, just like our father, and become famous for generations!"

  "Ah, Second Brother is right, when brothers unite their strength can break through metal!" Fang Yi Zhi's heart surged with emotion after hearing Fang Yi Ai's words, and a heroic spirit arose within him. Fang Yi Zhi patted Fang Yi Ai on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Second Brother, let's not talk about this for now. You should go rest first, and don't need to attend school tomorrow. Just stay home and take a good rest, so Father and Mother won't worry."

  After leaving Father's yard, Fang Yi'ai and Fang Yi'zhi parted ways. Fang Yi'ai knew his situation and didn't need his brother to see him off, so he walked back to his own small yard alone. Linglong stood at the door and saw Fang Yi'ai's tattered clothes and scars, her eyes immediately turned red, she ran to Fang Yi'ai's side and supported him, asking: "Second young master, what happened? Who beat you?"

  "Linglong, don't cry, Second Young Master went to practice his martial arts today, but unfortunately, he didn't quite master it and ended up like this." Fang Yiai saw that Linglong's tears were about to fall and quickly grabbed her hand, jokingly saying: "Second Young Master, you don't have to comfort me, just look at your body, it's obvious you've been beaten. Second Young Master, promise me, from now on, don't easily engage in physical altercations with others, okay?"

  Fang Yi'ai looked at the delicate face of Linglong, silently sighed and smiled slightly: "Alright, Second Young Master promises you, from now on he will not easily raise his hand again."

  "Uh, Second Master, why don't you go back inside and take off your top first?" Ling said in a crisp voice.

  Fang Yi Ai lay on the bed, quietly enjoying herself under Ling Long's service, listening to Ling Long's non-stop muttering voice. Fang Yi Ai felt very happy and at this moment, Ling Long was like a fairy, so noble and different from others.