amaotonovel Chapter 999 Game
Chapter 999 Game
Qin Yanping and the Crown Prince came up with some ideas for Wang Gong, but implementing them would be quite difficult.
This isn't something that happened overnight.
The Lantern Festival had arrived, and Fang Nanzhi finally put down her book in the afternoon, feeling confident and ready to go out and have fun that evening. Her mood brightened considerably.
The only thing that bothered her was the memorial submitted by Physician Xing; her second uncle said that the court had not yet made a decision.
Fang Nanzhi felt that the imperial court was somewhat inefficient.
However, the fire hasn't reached her yet.
She happily went to find Zheng Wanru, promising to bring her a lantern when she returned that evening, and even asked her what kind she liked.
Zheng Wanru thought about it carefully: "Do you have butterfly lamps?"
“There should be some, let me look for it for you,” Fang Nanzhi said.
Zheng Wanru smiled and nodded, then took a letter from the table and gave it to her.
"My parents wrote to me that the divorce is finalized."
Fang Nanzhi took the letter and read through a few lines.
The divorce between the two families has become such a big deal that the local gentry have all heard about it. Thanks to the efforts of Zheng Wanru's maternal grandfather's family, the public opinion surrounding the Li family has turned against them.
Later, when the elders of the Li clan arrived and learned the whole story, they took it upon themselves to directly recognize the validity of the divorce agreement written by Li Mingxi.
I heard that the clan elders privately met with Li Mingxi and indirectly criticized him. They scolded him for being irresponsible at his age, always listening to his mother, lacking manliness, having wasted his education, being blindly filial, and failing to protect his wife and children, letting an old woman...
Li Mingxi didn't refute a single word, but after hearing those words, Old Madam Li fell ill from anger.
The elders, however, still wouldn't let her go.
Under the guise of visiting the sick, they gave him a stern warning: if he wanted to control the Li family members, they would have to wait until all the old folks were dead; and if he continued to damage the Li family's reputation, they shouldn't blame them for asking the clan leader to intervene and divorce their deceased cousin.
The clan elders showed no mercy to Madam Li, who was genuinely frightened.
Zheng Wanru's dowry was handed over smoothly, and Li Mingxi's private property was also transferred smoothly. In addition, the clan elders decided that Zheng Wanru, who had suffered greatly and lost her child, would receive some property as compensation.
Throughout the entire process, Madam Li didn't cause a single problem.
Later, Li Mingxi attended to the ailing emperor for three days and then said he wanted to return to the capital to take up his post. The old lady did not dare to stop him.
Fang Nanzhi smiled slightly, seemingly satisfied with the result.
"I have to thank you, Zhizhi. If it weren't for you, things probably wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
Zheng Wanru said earnestly.
It turned out that her maternal grandparents had invited the elders of the Li clan to come over, hoping to find a way to uphold justice.
Unexpectedly, once they arrived, they were exceptionally kind and friendly to her parents.
Later, her uncle found out that it was an elder of the Li clan who somehow knew that she was now living in General Fang's mansion.
I know that she and Fang Nanzhi are close friends.
Because of this, Li did not want to offend the General's Mansion.
The main reason is that the Chen family's old case before the New Year dealt a heavy blow to the aristocratic families. Although General Fang has offended many people, the aristocratic families must be secretly trying to kill them.
But without complete certainty, they dared not act, fearing a repeat of past mistakes.
In short, General Fang's mansion suddenly became a place that no one dared to provoke.
Li was not trying to curry favor with the Fang family, but rather she didn't want to get involved or have any conflict.
Fang Nanzhi scratched her head: "Hehe, then repay this kindness with your body."
Zheng Wanru chuckled: "Sure."
After the two joked around for a while, Zheng Wanru said, "My parents want to sell the property they have acquired, exchange the money for gold and silver, and go back to the prefectural city to buy me new property."
"Once they're done with their work, they'll be heading to the capital. They'll thank you in person then."
Fang Nanzhi waved her hand: "No need for that. There's no need to be so polite between us."
Zheng Wanru smiled but didn't say anything.
She should thank Zhizhi; if it weren't for her, her health wouldn't have recovered so quickly, and the divorce wouldn't have been so easy.
Fang Nanzhi didn't stay long before leaving.
Since she was the one who invited Qingyan to parade through the streets, she was the one in charge and should go to the palace gate to greet him; that would be the proper thing to do.
Fang Tong, who had just returned from a stroll with his wife and was watching his daughter get into the carriage, casually asked her about it. He learned that she and Qing Yan had gone to see the lanterns.
Fang Tong's face immediately darkened: "Don't go, Zhizhi. Tonight, your father will cook for you and make a lantern."
Fang Nanzhi's expression was somewhat complicated: "Dad, the lanterns on the street are even more beautiful."
This is her first time celebrating the Lantern Festival in Beijing, and she's really looking forward to it.
Fang Tong racked his brains: "Zhizhi, you've grown up now. Your mother isn't in a good mood and needs you to keep her company."
Carrying the jewelry box, Qian Fengping, beaming with pride: ...
Fang Nanzhi saw it too, and she scratched her head: "Dad, what's wrong?"
Don't want her to go out? That's a really lame excuse.
"Nothing much, it's just that there are a lot of people on the street today, and some people are taking pictures of beggars." Fang Tong quickly came up with another reason.
He wouldn't tell his daughter about the Crown Prince's sinister intentions, or that she hadn't meant anything by it and shouldn't overthink it.
Fang Nanzhi nodded this time.
"But Father, if I go out to play with the Crown Prince, who would dare to trick me in front of him?"
Is the crown prince a vegetarian, or are the guards vegetarian?
Fang Tong knew he couldn't persuade her, so he squeezed onto the carriage and decided to go with his daughter.
Fang Nanzhi had no objection, but she felt that her father was too clingy.
As his father got into the car, his expression shifted like a color wheel, changing from sinister to bitter to angry.
It gave her goosebumps.
She asked cautiously, "Dad, is something on your mind?"
Fang Tong gritted his teeth: "No."
He wanted to beat up Qingyan, but if he hit the Crown Prince, he feared for his life.
He wanted to tell his daughter that men and women should not be too close and that she should play with the Crown Prince less, but his daughter was different. He hadn't stopped her from going hiking with Xiang Wencai and his group of boys before.
We can't just keep the Crown Prince at arm's length, can we?
Sigh, how did his daughter grow up to be targeted by someone else's pig?
It makes him feel sad when he thinks about it. He worked so hard to raise the cabbages, hoping they would grow well, but the wild boars outside were so mean, always trying to gnaw on the cabbages.
Fang Nanzhi noticed that her father had an expression of heartbreak, as if he was about to cry, for some reason.
She quickly reached out, hugged her father, and patted his back.
"Dad, don't be afraid. I will always be your daughter. I don't like anyone else to be my dad. You are the best dad in my heart."
Fang Nanzhi gently comforted her.
She had clearly misunderstood; her brother's previous abnormal behavior was because he was afraid her father wouldn't like him.
Now that her father is acting strangely towards her, he probably has similar thoughts.
For a moment, Fang Nanzhi wondered if men's emotions were more fragile? Or was it related to age?
Does one become sensitive at a certain age?
Fang Tong felt even more wronged as his daughter treated him like a child.
Although his daughter had misunderstood, he was still upset.
He sniffled, but didn't explain: "Zhizhi, your father is in pain. You can't forget your father after you have a husband."
"How could that be? In the future, I will need Father's permission to find a husband. Even after we get married, he will have to listen to Father."
Fang Nanzhi didn't know how the topic had veered off here, but she just casually tried to coax people.
The fragile copper made me feel instantly better.
Yes, no matter how much the Crown Prince worries, it's all in vain. As long as Zhizhi doesn't waver and he doesn't give in, it's not a problem.
Fang Tong was in a great mood. Seeing him like this, Fang Nanzhi was even more convinced that her father had just had a "relapse" just like her brother.
Just as the carriage arrived at the palace gate, the crown prince "just happened" to come out.
"Your Highness, over here!" Fang Nanzhi pulled back the carriage curtain and waved to him.
The Crown Prince nodded slightly.
He wasn't riding a horse today, so he naturally got into Fang Nanzhi's carriage.
The imperial guards at the palace gates tried their best to keep their eyes straight ahead, but their hearts were bursting with joy.
So, Your Highness arrived half an hour ago and is standing inside the palace gate, neither coming out nor turning back. Is he waiting for someone to pick him up?
God knows how uneasy they were, being watched by the Crown Prince for half an hour.
Everyone had to stand straighter than ever before, and they were all terrified.
Once Qingyan got into the car, he wasn't surprised to see Fang Tong in the car and greeted him naturally.
"Uncle Fang."
Fang Tong twitched the corner of his mouth, and the next second, "plop," he knelt down directly in the carriage.
"This humble official pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."
This unexpected gift caught even the usually confident Qingyan off guard.
Fang Nanzhi hesitated for a moment. Her father had already knelt down, so should she...?
Before she could kneel, Qingyan had already helped Fang Tong up.
"Uncle Fang, if you act like this, you'll become too distant from me."
“I know that because of my status, my uncle will be reluctant to associate with me.”
“But in my heart, my uncle is different. When I was at my lowest point, seeing my uncle’s family happy together made me feel that there was still light in the world.”
"So, Uncle, could you still treat me like a normal junior?"
Qingyan lowered his eyes slightly, as if trying to hide his sadness and disappointment. This made him look rather pitiful.
Fang Tong almost felt sorry for him, but after regaining his senses, he spat!
What is there about the Crown Prince that makes him deserving of pity?
How could a grown man resort to seductive tricks?
He regained consciousness, but Fang Nanzhi did not.
"Dad, we're just going out to have fun today. You're being too polite. Qingyan will feel uncomfortable."
Fang Tong looked at his daughter, then at the Crown Prince.
Thinking about what my daughter just said, that after we get married, my son-in-law should listen to her, it all sounds like a pie in the sky.
No, he can't give up like this.
Fang Tong's hands trembled twice, and he looked at the Crown Prince with a fawning expression: "Yes, Your Highness, I'm sorry for spoiling the mood."
Then he sat closer to his daughter, lowered his voice, and whispered in her ear.
“Daughter, I didn’t mean it. You know I’m timid. I get scared when I see noble people like the Emperor and the Crown Prince.”
The former bully of Mushan Village has created a persona of being a coward.
Fang Nanzhi felt something was off, but before she could react, her father continued.
“Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. You don’t know, I’ve been in the capital for half a year and I’ve already heard that the emperor has beheaded a lot of officials… I’m scared.”
The emperor kills people all the time, so the crown prince, being the emperor's own son, must follow suit.
Fang Nanzhi was immediately drawn in and realized that her father's words made sense.
Her father used to be a ruthless scoundrel, and his opponents were just small-time thugs. But royals are people who really want to kill you, so it's normal for her to be afraid.
She held her father's hand and gently comforted him, "Father, don't be afraid. His Majesty and the others are killing bad people. They won't kill innocent people indiscriminately."
Qingyan silently watched the father and daughter whispering to each other.
The carriage is so small, how could he not hear what we're whispering about?
Uncle Fang did it on purpose.
As for being timid and afraid, that's utter nonsense. They've already provoked him directly, so what's there to be afraid of?
Qingyan felt helpless, but he had to keep a straight face and pretend he hadn't heard anything.
The carriage stopped when it reached the main street.
It was nearing evening, and although it was still light, the streets were already bustling with people.
Various vendors set up stalls on both sides of the street, which can be considered a small act of consideration from the imperial court for the people. On ordinary days, it is not allowed to set up stalls on the main street at will.
The aroma of food and the shouts of people create a vivid picture of everyday life.
Fang Nanzhi was in a great mood. Following the aroma, she unconsciously stopped at a stall selling fried vegetable dumplings and sniffed.
Fang Tong and Qing Yan followed closely beside her. There were too many people on the street, and they were really afraid that they would get separated if they weren't careful.
As for the guards, they were all on high alert, determined to protect the Lord.
"Three, please." Qingyan glanced at the vegetable dumplings from the stall owner. They had been deep-fried, and the whole process was fairly clean. The stall owner seemed particular about his appearance; even his fingernails were clean.
"Alright, one for two coins, three for six coins."
The stall owner called out.
With a "sizzle," three vegetable dumplings were picked up and put into the pot.
Oil splattered everywhere, but the stall owner was used to it and wasn't burned. Fang Nanzhi, on the other hand, took a step back.
"Boss, these vegetable dumplings are all vegetarian, why do you still charge two coins?" Fang Tong thought the stall owner was cunning.
The stall owner chuckled, "Look at what you're saying, isn't this a waste of oil? Besides, during the holidays, the prices of rice, flour, and cooking oil in the capital have all gone up. This is just a small business for me."
But in his heart he was thinking, looking at the three people's clothes, all of which were made of silk and they even wore jade ornaments. Would such people think that two coins were too expensive?
That's really quite rare.
Qingyan reached out, and a guard brought him a money bag, but Fang Nanzhi stopped him.
“It’s settled, it’s on me.” She took out six copper coins from her handbag.
The stall owner happily accepted the vegetables, and once they were cooked, he wrapped them in oil paper and handed them out.
The three of them, each holding a fried vegetable dumpling, slowly walked into the street.
The filling for these vegetable dumplings is alright, but after a few bites, they become too greasy.
Seeing his daughter frown, Fang Tong took the half-eaten fried vegetable dumpling from her.
"Dad, eat now. You can eat what you like later if your stomach is empty."
Fang Nanzhi nodded happily.
Qingyan's eyes flickered slightly. To be honest, he had never seen a father who doted on his daughter so much.
It's not that all fathers in the world are sexist, but some fathers who love their daughters also act like fathers.
There seems to be an invisible barrier between father and daughter, which helps maintain the father's authority.
Uncle Fang didn't mind any of this at all; he was very open about his doting on Zhizhi and didn't hide it.
Only in this way can a girl develop a confident and lively personality.
After finishing the greasy fried vegetable dumplings, Qingyan began to introduce the Lantern Festival in the capital.
"Wanbaolou has the best view on this street. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, enjoying the lanterns from a high place has a unique charm."
"In the center of the street stands a lighthouse erected by the imperial court, the tallest of all. The lamp at the spire is the finest work of the palace craftsmen, and every year there are fierce competitions to win it."
"Some wealthy families will give out glutinous rice balls tonight, free of charge, and they have all kinds of flavors."
Fang Nanzhi listened with great interest.
"Wow! That sounds interesting, I want to play it too."