Chapter 16: Cao’s Father Brings a Group to Seize His Daughter

Fang Xunli listened to a few snippets of the crowd’s conversation and finally understood what had happened. Suppressing his surprise, he looked at his sister and pretended to scold her:

“These paintings are extremely valuable. You can’t just take them out so casually. Hurry up and put them away—let’s go home.”

Bi He and Hong Ye immediately began tidying up.

Qian Xueguan held a scroll titled Mist and Clouds Over Lin Mountain, clutching it like a child reluctant to part with their favorite toy. Only after Hong Ye gently reminded him did he reluctantly return it.

Fang Yuean tugged at his sleeve and said in her soft voice, “Sir, if you like looking at these paintings, you can come over often.”

The elderly scholar’s face lit up with delight. He nodded repeatedly, “You mean it? Then let’s make a promise!” He extended his pinky finger.

Fang Yuean stretched out her little hand, and they linked fingers, shaking them lightly.

As they parted, Qian Xueguan looked at Fang Xunli and smiled. “Young Fang, the old man will take you up on this offer.”

Fang Xunli smiled back. “Rest assured, Sir. Since you’ve made an agreement with Yuean, it will stand.”

Only then did the elder let out a hearty, gruff laugh.

Fang Yuean watched his retreating figure and thought to herself: He does look a bit like Qian Cong. I didn’t expect his descendant so many generations later to still be so enamored with painting.

Fang Yuean had once been deeply engrossed in painting in a past life, spending multiple lifetimes honing her craft to perfection.

The man named Qian Cong was someone she had met in one of those lifetimes, a gifted artist with immense talent.

The two of them often exchanged insights on painting techniques, and her private collection still included several pieces gifted to her by Qian Cong.

Huai Ze, her spiritual companion, sighed like an old man: Time flies. Who would’ve thought so much time has passed.

After boarding the carriage with Fang Yuean, Fang Xunli lowered his voice and asked, “Where did you get these paintings?”

He already knew how extraordinary his sister was but felt compelled to ask anyway.

Fang Yuean tilted her head, her eyes darting mischievously. “They were gifts from someone a long time ago.”

Whatever his sister said, Fang Xunli believed her without question.

“Then be sure to keep them somewhere safe afterward. Don’t let thieves set their sights on them.”

Fang Yuean nodded obediently.

Looking at his little sister, Fang Xunli’s eyes warmed with emotion.

He understood her intentions all too well.

His sister had gone to great lengths to clear the mud that Fang Xuze and Song Guangyan had thrown on his name.

“Shall we stop by Qixiangzhai later and buy some snacks and sweets you like?”

Fang Yuean tilted her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling. “Big brother, are you very happy today?”

“Of course.”

“Then can we play ‘big horse’ again today?” It was a game she had discovered the day before and found incredibly fun.

In her previous ninety-nine lives, Fang Yuean had never spent an entire lifetime with one family, living as an ordinary person.

This was the first time she had stayed with her birth family after becoming independent, and she found the experience rather enjoyable.

Fang Xunli felt his vision darken slightly as his hand instinctively rested on his knee. “Maybe in a couple of days.”

“Why?”

“The big horse needs to rest, or it’ll get too tired.”

“I don’t want the big horse to get tired.”

“Then when you ride the big horse, you can’t make it spin in circles nonstop, climb trees, or do frog jumps.”

Though Fang Xunli was a martial artist, even he couldn’t withstand the intensity of that kind of play.

“Why?” Fang Yuean asked curiously.

“Because real horses don’t do those things.”

“But you can do them, big brother. You’re amazing! You’re the most amazing big brother I’ve ever seen.” Fang Yuean hugged Fang Xunli around the neck.

Fang Xunli let out a helpless laugh.

At this rate, in a few more days, would he find himself completely outmaneuvered by his sister?

…

As the siblings’ conversation continued, the carriage rolled further away.

Meanwhile, Cao Ran, who had been watching the commotion, grew thoughtful. Remembering his plan from earlier that morning, he quietly made his way to the Song residence.

By the time he arrived, the sun was setting, and twilight was falling.

Cao Ran lingered near the back of the Song residence, scouting out the area. After ensuring no one was around, he found a suitable wall, planted his boot against it, and climbed over into the Residence.

Born into a family of military officers, Cao Ran had some skills, and scaling walls was no challenge for him.

After searching the yard for a while, he heard sounds coming from another Residence. Following the noise, he climbed another wall and cautiously peeked over.

What he saw made his eyes widen in shock.

Song Guangyan was gripping the leg of a stool and swinging it at his sister, who was sitting on the ground clutching her child protectively.

“You wretched woman! What kind of witchcraft are you using? Why isn’t the pain affecting you?!” Song Guangyan roared, putting all his strength into striking Lady Cao to vent his anger.

Lady Cao turned her head to dodge, and in that moment, Cao Ran caught sight of the large purple bruises on her face and the welts on her hands as she shielded her child’s head.

Cao Ran found it hard to breathe, his eyes red with fury.

The stool leg landed on Lady Cao, but Song Guangyan immediately clutched his own shoulder in pain and almost lost his balance.

Through the strands of disheveled hair covering her face, Lady Cao gazed at Song Guangyan’s pathetic state and let out a low, bitter laugh.

“Song Guangyan, even the heavens can’t stand you anymore. They’re helping me punish you—an utter coward who only knows how to hurt women and children! You and your father are worse than animals!”

Though Lady Cao knew some self-defense, she refrained from fighting back after the last time Song Guangyan had retaliated by throwing her child onto the ground, nearly killing her.

Since then, she had focused solely on shielding her child, leaving her unable to fight off Song Guangyan’s blows.

The sight of his sister’s injuries and Song Guangyan’s behavior filled Cao Ran with even more rage.

“I refuse to believe this!” Song Guangyan bellowed, striking her several more times.

Yet each time, pain coursed through his body instead, causing him to lose his balance and drop to one knee.

Cao Ran gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, nearly charging out. But seeing Song Guangyan’s strange reaction, he held himself back.

He couldn’t act impulsively.

This matter needed to be brought to their parents’ attention so they could demand justice for his sister.

He couldn’t risk alerting the enemy.

With that resolve, Cao Ran quietly climbed back down the wall and exited the way he came.

As night fell and families gathered for dinner, Cao’s father arrived at the Song residence, leading a large group of family members, servants, and burly maids armed with torches, all seething with anger.

Meanwhile, the third master of the Cao family, who worked at the Censorate, remained in his study, feverishly drafting an impeachment memorial.

He listened to the indignant voices of his daughter and daughter-in-law coming from the Residence, and his pen pressed heavier onto the paper.

At the gate of the Song residence, Father Cao called out gruffly.

The gatekeeper peeked out to see what was happening, and upon realizing the situation, immediately slammed the door shut and ran off into the Residence to report.

But after a long wait, no one from the Song family came out to inquire.

Father Cao clenched his fists, as large as sandbags, gritted his teeth, and bellowed:

“Cao family sons, take the door down!”

The younger generation of the Cao family shouted in unison, stepping forward from the crowd. Some dragged long axes, others held crowbars, resembling a pack of wolves poised to pounce as they ascended the stone steps.

Leading the charge, Cao Ran was the first to raise his axe and strike it hard against the red lacquered wooden door, making the door knocker rattle noisily.

The group hacked, chiseled, and pried with force. In just moments, with a loud crack, the wood splintered, and the heavy wooden door collapsed, hitting the ground with a resounding thud and stirring up a cloud of dust.

Following Cao Ran’s lead, the sound of numerous footsteps tread across the fallen door, marching into the Song residence and heading toward the rear Residence.

The young servants of the Song family had never witnessed such a mob, surging in with imposing momentum. Overwhelmed with fear, they hid wherever they could, not daring to step forward to block their path.

At the second gate, the Cao men made way as Lady Cao’s trusted matron led a group of over ten burly women forward. These women, broad and muscular, rolled up their sleeves as they walked.

Each of these matrons’ arms was as thick as the thighs of young servant girls.

The Song family’s maids and older servants, upon seeing this intimidating sight, immediately realized this was beyond their ability to handle. They froze in terror before hastily retreating, clearing the path. When asked for directions, none dared to refuse.

It wasn’t until the Cao household servants carried the injured and immobile Lady Cao out on their backs, with the child safely in their arms, that no member of the Song family dared show their face.

The incident caused an uproar.

By early the next morning, word had already spread widely. People spoke of how the seemingly mild-mannered and talented son of Minister Song, Song Guangyan, had been brutally abusing his wife for years and had even violently harmed his young daughter.

It was also said that Minister Song had been shielding his son, trying to cover up the truth.

Rumors began to circulate, suggesting that the death of Minister Song’s wife, Lady Yang, five years ago might not have been due to illness after all.