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After a moment of silence, Er Er put down the little dog and softly asked, “Sister, do you know how to tell stories?”
A story?
Fang Yuean thought for a moment—she had plenty of stories.
Lying back, she gathered her thoughts and began speaking slowly, “A long time ago, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gave birth to a little girl named Mai Ya.”
“Not long after she took human form, she met a fox demon and became friends with him. The fox demon told Mai Ya that being a king was the happiest thing in the world and that since she had the ability to be a king, she should become one.”
“So, she followed the fox demon to Beast Mountain, defeated the Beast King, and became the ruler.”
After a long pause, Er Er couldn’t help but ask, “And then?”
Fang Yuean blinked. “Then… Mai Ya just stayed as the ruler.”
Huai Ze let out a chuckle before continuing the story: “Then, the Beast King reported Mai Ya to the divine realm. The gods captured her and took her back to the divine realm for punishment, while the fox demon was taken back to Beast Mountain for retribution.”
Huai Ze deliberately left out the part where the gods discovered traces of demonic energy in Mai Ya.
“Shut up!” Fang Yuean angrily sat up, gritting her teeth as she glared at Huai Ze.
Huai Ze shrank his neck and quickly flew higher, perching on the beam of the room.
Fang Yuean patted Er Er’s head. “He’s talking nonsense, don’t listen to him.”
“But they all say that was a bad thing, so it shouldn’t have been done, right?”
Huai Ze couldn’t help but interject: “That fox demon was never truly good. You saw him as a friend, but he was only using you.”
“Fooled and still counting money for the trickster.”
Fang Yuean shot him a sharp glare, and Huai Ze immediately shut his mouth.
However, Er Er sat up and hugged Fang Yuean. “Mai Ya was just born—so small, with no one to teach her. It must have been hard for her to tell right from wrong.”
Fang Yuean’s eyelashes trembled slightly. She quickly pulled away from Er Er’s embrace, turned her back, and lay down. “I’m tired.”
Afternoon, in the main hall of Yunxiang Courtyard.
Qin Xuan watched as her two daughters sat around the low table, enjoying buttered abalone.
To appear sickly, she had applied some powder, making her complexion and lips look pale.
Hong Xiang, her cheeks flushed from the heat, hurried in. “Madam, a woman has arrived at the gate, claiming to have once been a concubine of the household.”
“She says that two days ago, Nanny Zhang revealed the truth to her—Second Master is not actually the Old Madam’s biological son. Instead, the Old Madam swapped her stillborn child with this woman’s baby, branding her as unlucky and driving her out of the household.”
Huai Ze was the first to react: [Nonsense!]
Fang Yuean momentarily paused her eating and glanced at Huai Ze: [It wasn’t about you—why are you so nervous?]
Huai Ze averted his gaze: [I… They must be lying.]
Fang Yuean licked the honey from the corner of her lips: [Obviously.]
Hong Xiang continued, “When she arrived, Second Master happened to be in the outer courtyard. He was the first to hear it and did not drive her away. Instead, he deliberately stalled the gatekeeper, preventing him from notifying us. By the time I received word, that woman was already causing a scene, drawing a crowd.”
“It seems Second Master has developed suspicions. When I returned, he had already sent people to bring the Old Madam and Nanny Zhang to the gate for a confrontation with the woman.”
Qin Xuan set down her porcelain spoon and dabbed her lips with a handkerchief, deep in thought.
Fang Kun wanted to sever ties with Old Madam Meng from the root, pretending to be unaware of everything to protect the reputation of the second branch.
But how did he manage to find such a woman on such short notice?
How could he guarantee her loyalty?
By the time Qin Xuan married into the household, all of Lord Fang’s concubines were gone—either dead or dismissed.
She had never met any of them.
There was no time for excessive speculation. Qin Xuan immediately gave orders: “His Majesty has summoned the marquis to the palace, surely to question him about this matter. Those two are the main culprits—until His Majesty gives an order, they must not be allowed to move freely.”
“Nanny Lei, send people to detain them and lock them away. As for the woman outside—get rid of her!”
Nanny Lei had already picked up on some of the implications in Hong Xiang’s words. She turned and ran out.
Yet, before even a cup of tea’s time had passed, a second-rank maid rushed in.
“Madam, the Old Madam and Nanny Zhang have both acknowledged the woman’s identity. Second Master has already brought her into the residence, awaiting the marquis’s return for confirmation.”
Qin Xuan, who had been fanning her daughters, paused slightly.
The speed of this was too quick.
As if everything had been prearranged, only needing a hasty performance before an audience.
This whole ordeal had unfolded in just over an hour.
Finding the right person, arranging the deception, and executing the plan—all within such a short time.
Shortly after, Nanny Lei returned. “Madam, we were too late.”
Qin Xuan waved her hand dismissively. “I suspected that the other side had at least half of this planned beforehand. That so-called concubine appearing out of nowhere is highly suspicious. Keep a close watch on her.”
That morning, after Fang Xunli had left her chambers, she had rested against the bed railing and considered various possibilities, predicting how the second branch might struggle. She had even made some preparations. But she had not expected this.
For such a serious matter, the second branch had swiftly found a trusted accomplice, colluding in what was essentially a deception against the emperor—shocking.
Going over everything again, a sudden realization struck Qin Xuan.
That woman might actually be her father-in-law’s former mistress.
Otherwise, how could they trust someone so completely unless they had known her for a long time and understood her well?
If that were the case, then Fang Kun, to protect himself, was willing to abandon his own mother while watching his father take this opportunity to bring his mistress back into the residence. Truly, there was nothing more to be said.
Less than half an hour later, the Dragon Shadow Guards arrived, taking Old Madam Meng, Nanny Zhang, and several of her trusted aides into custody.
Lord Fang returned from the palace at dusk, his expression utterly grim.
Not long after, an imperial eunuch arrived to deliver an edict.
Fang Yuean had been enjoying her dinner when she was abruptly dragged to the front courtyard to kneel, barely having swallowed her last bite.
The eunuch’s sharp voice read for a long time.
She caught a few crucial phrases:
Lord Fang had failed to manage his household, allowing chaos in the inner residence, which resulted in grave misdeeds.
Out of consideration for his advanced age and declining health, His Majesty decreed that the title would be passed directly to the legitimate eldest son, Fang Zhan.
The eunuch folded the imperial edict and handed it to Fang Xunli.
“Today’s decision is merely a preliminary judgment. His Majesty has ordered the Dragon Shadow Guards to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure justice for General Fang’s wife and daughters.”
The main branch of the Fang family bowed and expressed their gratitude.
The second branch members all turned pale, stiffly bowing in submission.
The eunuch continued, “As we investigate, the Dragon Shadow Guards may summon members of both branches for questioning. Until the case is closed, no one is permitted to leave the city without permission.”
Even long after the eunuch had left, the second branch remained in shock, unable to recover from the devastating blow.
Qin Xuan stood up, seeking out her father-in-law, Fang Jizu. She spoke coldly, “Father, since the title of Yongding Marquis now belongs to the eldest son, it is no longer appropriate for us to live with the second branch.”
“I ask that you arrange for their separation from the household.”