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Fang Yuean only heard about the incident involving the Song family a day later, while accompanying her elder brother to the Imperial Academy. She overheard bits and pieces from the students there.
Today was the day of assessments, and fearing that Song Guangyan might harm her elder brother, she had decided to tag along. To her surprise, Song Guangyan had already been imprisoned.
She remarked to Huai Ze:
“The timing of this incident couldn’t be better. Now I don’t have to take your feathers, go undercover, and ensure Song Guangyan faces his just deserts myself.”
Huai Ze was puzzled. “This wasn’t part of his original fate. I wonder what you altered to trigger it.”
Then he suddenly realized something and immediately flew far away. “Don’t you dare get any ideas about my feathers!”
After all, he had only taken bird form—he didn’t shed feathers. If she needed them, they’d have to be plucked. Just the thought was enough to make him shudder.
At the entrance, a few people surrounded Cao Ran, voicing their indignation.
Cao Ran had taken leave the previous day, so they had only now managed to find him to discuss the matter.
One of them fumed, “The father and son of the Song family are truly despicable! And yet they think the Cao family is making a fuss over nothing, crying foul on their behalf!”
Another added, “The fists of the men of Jingguo should be wielded to fend off foreign enemies, not against their own wives and children! Such hypocrites, weaklings, and bullies—when facing an enemy nation, they’d probably wet their pants and betray their comrades, acting as lapdogs for the invaders.”
Someone else chimed in, “Well said! The Cao family has generations of military service to their name. How many of their ancestors spilled their blood on the battlefield? Master Cao and Second Master Cao have long been stationed at the southern borders, yet the women in their family have suffered such inhumane treatment. As those protected by their sacrifices, how can we not stand up and help demand justice?”
“If the court goes easy on him, we’re willing to join you in petitioning at the palace gates for a harsher sentence!”
The others voiced their agreement.
Cao Ran, moved, bowed deeply to them. “Thank you all for your support.”
As he straightened, his gaze landed on Fang Xunli in the crowd. He said a few words to the group before they dispersed, then walked toward Fang Xunli, though his eyes lingered on Fang Yuean.
Fang Xunli stepped forward, concerned. “Is everything going smoothly?”
He didn’t directly ask about Lady Cao’s condition, so he framed his question more generally.
Cao Ran hesitated for a moment, then replied with a touch of emotion in his voice, “To be honest, my sister is in a very bad condition.”
Fang Xunli carefully asked, “Is her injury severe?”
Cao Ran nodded and then looked at Fang Yuean. “That’s why my mother wanted me to ask—where did Aunt meet that ‘old immortal’? She hopes to find him to see if he can help treat my sister.”
Fang Yuean immediately asked Huai Ze, “So, according to the original fate, Lady Cao would have died?”
Huai Ze confirmed, “Yes. With new injuries compounding old ones, her internal organs are damaged. She wouldn’t have survived long.”
Fang Xunli, caught in a dilemma, wondered how to explain that the “old immortal” was merely a story his mother had concocted to pacify the second branch of the family.
Lady Cao’s recovery had been attributed to “immortal pills” supposedly fed to her by Yuean, but how could he reveal the truth now?
After some hesitation, Fang Yuean replied first, “I heard from my mother that the old immortal has already ascended.”
In Cao Ran’s ears, this meant the old immortal had passed away due to old age.
The light in his eyes dimmed bit by bit.
At that moment, Fang Yuean pulled out a small wooden figurine from somewhere and handed it to him.
“This is his likeness. Perhaps praying to it might help. My mother often does.”
Fang Xunli felt a bit embarrassed. His mother had no idea about this “immortal” statue.
Under normal circumstances, Cao Ran would have thought it was a joke meant to placate him, but at this moment, the Cao family was willing to try anything.
Naturally, he overlooked the fact that the “old immortal’s” likeness looked rather youthful.
He accepted the wooden statue with both hands, as if grasping a sliver of hope. “Thank you.”
Perched in a tree grooming his feathers, Huai Ze happened to glance over and was instantly shocked when he saw the carving. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
The statue, with its refined and youthful features, was none other than his immortal form.
Huai Ze panicked.
He was still a minor immortal and had no experience being worshipped by mortals or receiving incense offerings.
Nervously, he said, “I-I’m not ready yet. Take it back quickly. If they make wishes to me, I’m afraid I won’t be able to fulfill them.”
Besides, the wooden carving was something he had begged Fang Yuean to make for a long time before she finally agreed.
Fang Yuean reassured him, “There’s a first time for everything. Think of it as practice.”
Guessing what Huai Ze was thinking, she added, “After this lifetime, once I’ve finished altering my mother’s fate, I’ll have more time in the next. I’ll carve you a statue as tall as my elder brother.”
But Huai Ze wasn’t in the mood to listen. He flapped around her head in a panic, muttering,
“I can’t use celestial powers. If he prays to me to heal his sister, what can I do? She only has about ten days left in her life record.”
Feigning a stretch, Fang Yuean grabbed him in one quick motion. “Leave it to me. In the meantime, go listen to the details of the Song family incident for me.”
With that, she forcefully threw him away.
Fang Xunli crouched down. “Yuean, head back now. Your elder brother is about to enter the examination hall with Brother Cao.”
Fang Yuean nodded. “Elder Brother, if you score in the top ranks, I’ll reward you by buying ten sugar figurines for me.”
Fang Xunli smiled helplessly. “Alright, but children shouldn’t eat too much sugar.”
At least she didn’t ask to ride on his back again—Fang Xunli shuddered at the thought.
At the Fang residence.
Qin Xuan and Nanny Lei sat on opposite sides of a cool daybed, chatting while embroidering Fang Xunli’s red wedding robe for when he would take a bride.
Hong Xiang stood by with scissors in hand, stepping forward occasionally to snip threads as needed.
After a while, Qin Xuan glanced at the sun and asked, “Has Miaoyi woken up yet?”
Miaoyi’s confinement had ended today, yet she hadn’t come to see her.
In the past, the first thing Miaoyi would do upon waking was to seek her out.
This was the longest Miaoyi had ever stayed upset with her.
Hong Xiang hesitated before replying, “She’s awake, but she went to the old madam’s quarters.”
Qin Xuan’s embroidery slowed as she sighed softly. “Let it be.”
At that moment, a young maid entered the Residence holding an invitation.
Hong Xiang set down the scissors, accepted the invitation, and handed it to Qin Xuan.
It was no surprise that the Chen family had sent an invitation.
On the night of the reunion banquet, Qin Xuan had sent another anonymous letter to Madam Chen.
She figured that, after reading the letter and being filled with doubt from the banquet itself, Madam Chen would find a way to have Miaoyi visit the Chen household to test Madam Meng.
As expected, Madam Chen used the excuse of discussing the “old immortal” who cured people with miraculous methods to invite her and her three children to visit.
“Go inform the messenger that I will visit tomorrow, as stated in the invitation, at the end of the second hour.”
The young maid bowed and left.
After a moment of thought, Qin Xuan turned to Hong Xiang. “Tomorrow morning after we’re up, let the Fifth Miss know that I’m taking Yuean and Er’er out. Ask her if she wants to join us.”
Qin Xuan knew Miaoyi well. Given her current mood, forcing her to go would make her refuse outright.
But if she knew Yuean and Er’er were going, she’d certainly want to follow to see what they were up to.