Full House Spring

Chapter 80 That thief...

Fang Jingzhi was the first to come into contact with Xia Li and knew her personality better. After hearing what his eldest brother said, he said proudly: "My sister is naturally the best. She is smart and kind. In my heart, no one can compare to her!"

Fang Qizheng glanced at him and said calmly, "You are the one who is showing off again. Are you the only one who loves your sister?"

Fang Jingzhi didn't dare to argue with his brother, so he smiled tactfully and said, "It hurts. Such a good girl deserves to be held in our hands and cared for together."

Fang Qizhen smiled gently, his every move revealed his deep self-control and composure, he looked steady and down-to-earth.

After the father and daughter calmed down, he stepped forward and said, "Sister, don't cry anymore. I am your elder brother Fang Qizheng."

Xia Li quickly turned to look at him. Although his eyes were blurred with tears, his tall nose, well-defined face and eyes as bright as cold stars all showed his handsomeness. Xia Li praised with a nasal voice, "Brother is so handsome!"

Fang Qizheng smiled, exuding a scholarly air, and said in a gentle voice, "My sister is also very beautiful, as outstanding as our mother."

Xia Li burst into laughter. She wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and helped Fang Zongru sit down. She asked in confusion, "Why is father's hair and beard all white? He looks older than his peers."

If it were any other elder, Xia Li would never ask so bluntly. It was precisely because he was her own father that she was particularly concerned about him. Fang Zongru looked at his daughter with eyes full of love and care.

Fang Qizheng explained, "Father's hair turned white overnight after you went missing. He looks old now. It's probably because he was in a hurry to travel. He just didn't get enough rest. Don't worry. He will be back to normal in a few days."

Little did he know how much of a shock his light words would cause to Xia Li, and that his hair would turn white overnight. This shows how painful it was for him to lose his daughter. If she had not traveled through time, this family would have regretted it for the rest of their lives.

Xia Li couldn't help but her eyes turned red again. She never knew she loved to cry so much. Fang Zongru looked at her lovingly and said:

"Don't cry. People will grow old eventually. It's only a matter of time before your hair turns grey. Dad is in good health and can protect you for at least another twenty years."

Xia Li nodded gently and said softly, "Dad, you keep your word. I can only feel at ease if you support me."

Fang Zongru happily nodded in agreement. He could never get enough of looking at his daughter, and asked in a low voice about her situation over the years. Even though Fang Jingzhi had already mentioned some things in the letter, he still wanted to hear it from Xia Li herself.

To him, his daughter becoming a slave was nothing. He could accept any worst situation as long as she was alive. Now it was good enough. He could keep his daughter by his side and take care of her, plan a marriage for her, and prepare substantial assets for her. He would do whatever it took to ensure that she would have a worry-free life for the rest of her life.

Because her father and brother accepted her completely, Xia Li got along with them very calmly. Even though she had little experience getting along with male relatives, she still felt at ease. When the conversation was almost over, she asked Qiao He to bring hot water and personally helped her father to wash and dress.

Fang Zongru coordinated with his daughter's movements and said in a deep voice:

"Before I left, your mother was busy decorating your boudoir. She wanted to give you all the good things in the storehouse. Mother and daughter are connected by heart, and she is always thinking about you."

Xia Li gently wiped his father's hands and said softly, "When Dad gets better, we will set off to go home and not let Mom wait too long."

Fang Zongru also wanted his wife to see their daughter as soon as possible, so he said cheerfully, "I'll just look at you in disarray. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep. Let's walk slowly on the road. It shouldn't be a problem if we don't rush."

Fang Jingzhi interrupted and said, "My brother-in-law is going to be transferred to Jiaozhou as an official. We can go together. It will be easier to take care of him if there are more people on the road."

Fang Qizheng frowned subconsciously when he heard the word Jiaozhou. He exchanged glances with his father, and the two of them were unclear about what was going on. Fang Zongru lowered his eyes and saw his daughter's clueless look, so he said softly, "The court is unstable, so it would be a good idea for Shixiang to be sent out for a few years to gain experience. Minister Cao is far-sighted..."

Fang Jingzhi asked tentatively, "Father, can I also be sent out to a distant place like my brother-in-law? After all, being an editor in the Imperial Academy is not a very important position."

Before Fang Zongru could speak, Fang Qizheng said calmly, "There are still people in the Cao family who are officials in the court. Leaving Shixiang will not affect the overall situation. Can our family be the same?"

Fang Jingzhi's face drooped when he heard that. Fang Zongru patted his youngest son on the shoulder and said in a deep voice: "The emperor will definitely hold an imperial examination when he ascends the throne. I will let a few of the younger ones try it out this time, and then leave two of them to accompany you."

Although the Fang family has a family rule that prohibits taking concubines, it does not affect the prosperity of the family. The family members are united and all obey the orders of the family leader Fang Zongru.

Fang Jingzhi was easily satisfied, and he was happy to have his brothers as company. He cheered up and said, "Father, don't worry. I will take good care of the brothers in the clan. Aren't the students from the academy going to participate in this imperial examination?"

Fang Zongru said calmly: "Some people will go, but not many."

After all, all the top places in the last imperial examination were won by Dongli Academy, so they could not leave a way out for others. Fang Zongru was well versed in the way of survival, or it could be said that the Fang family understood the principle that the first bird to stick its head out gets shot, so they have been able to survive to this day.

Xia Li listened quietly as her father and brother talked. The more she listened, the more curious she became about the family. It seemed that none of the family members wanted to be officials, and unlike other scholars, they wanted to sell all their abilities to the imperial family. She did not ask, as some things she had to find the answers to herself.

Although Fang Zongru told his daughter that he was not tired, he had been traveling for such a long time and his body was not likely to be able to bear it. After lunch, he went back to his room to rest.

Xia Li took Shi Mi and Qiao He back to the east wing. When the door closed, Shi Mi couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder the real aristocratic families look down on the nobles. I finally understand what I have seen today."

Qiao He didn't read as many books as Shi Mi, so she asked curiously, "What did you understand, sister? I think the master and the eldest uncle are nothing special except that they are more literary and more casual in their dealings with others."

Xia Li sat in front of the dressing table. Shi Mi took off the heavy hairpin from her bun and chuckled:
"The prosperity of this aristocratic family comes from the unity of the clan members, which is passed down from generation to generation. How can the strength of this family be compared with that of a newly rich family? Although the master has resigned and returned home, if he really wants to do something, I am afraid that he will be supported by hundreds of people. In short, you just need to know that our girl is precious."

Xia Li is not obsessed with status and position now. What she likes is the harmonious and wonderful family atmosphere of the Fang family. She said in a light voice:

"Whether one is precious or not does not depend on one's birth, but on the love of one's family. Even a girl from a humble family who is cared for and loved by her father and brothers is just as precious."

Shi Mi smiled with her eyebrows curved, and sighed softly: "Young lady is worthy of being the descendant of the Fang family. This argument is similar to the temperament of the master."

Qiao He was confused by what she heard. She said helplessly, "It seems that I have to read more books, otherwise I won't understand what you are saying."

Xia Li never forces anyone. She said calmly, "Human energy is limited. It's rare to be able to do one thing well. You can study your cooking skills and read a book to kill time. There's no need to speak eloquently."

Shi Mi also agreed with this statement very much. She said with a smile: "We follow the young lady to Fang's house, just like entering the Hanlin Academy. As long as we are influenced by it, it will be of great benefit to us."

Xia Li's eyes were clear and transparent, and she said calmly: "The external glitz and hustle and bustle are all false. No matter where we are, it is rare for us to live a calm and comfortable life." Shi Mi suddenly realized what she said, and Qiao He said carelessly: "What the girl said makes sense. I just focus on making my dishes and being happy every day."

Compared to Fang Zongru's exhaustion, Fang Qizheng was in much better condition. He did not go back to his room to rest, but stayed in the study with his brothers.

Fang Qizheng sat upright at the head of the table, with a smile on his face that was both warm and deep. He asked in a cold voice, "When did that villain from the Kuang family appear beside my sister?"

Fang Jingzhi's face was slightly cold and hard as he said, "That thief is very scheming. He only said that my sister accidentally saved his life, and he thought that my sister looked very similar to my mother, so he came to tip off the girl."

Fang Qizheng looked at his brother, his eyes showing a bit of disdain, "You believed his words? Is it really just a coincidence?"

Fang Jingzhi had great respect for his elder brother. He frowned and said:
"That thief has been persistent for so many years, and has been visiting every year. I'm afraid he has sent many people to look for my sister. He must have found the clues first, and then came here to curry favor with us!"

Fang Qizheng raised the corners of his lips slightly, his eyes were unreadable, and he said:

"He brought my sister to us, so we have to remember him as a favor, but that's all. With his military background, he can't even touch my sister's hair."

Fang Qizheng's elegance emanates from his bones, and so does his coldness and indifference. Fang Jingzhi hesitated and said:

"The old villain of the Kuang family spent a lot of money to plot the marriage contract signed by my father, which is always a disaster. Although Kuang Chengrui is only a captain of Jiaozhou Guard now, this boy is definitely not an ordinary person. He has been thinking about his sister for so many years. Seeing that his sister has grown up to be so good, how could he give up easily?"

Fang Qizheng secretly hated his father for being so foolish back then, and asked indifferently: "Sister, have you ever had any contact with that thief?"

Fang Jingzhi shook his head and said calmly, "I issued a gag order, not allowing anyone to mention the Kuang family. My sister just thought that Kuang Chengrui was the son of a family friend, and he didn't say anything nonsense."

Fang Qizheng nodded slightly and said thoughtfully, "The social status of our two families is very different, and my sister has been living away from home for many years. The elders in the clan have discussed it and intend to let her marry a son-in-law and live a comfortable life at home. This marriage can only be called off."

Fang Jingzhi was overjoyed when he heard this, and said in a brisk voice: "The elders are really thoughtful. There are so many talented and virtuous students in the academy. Just let my sister pick one that suits her heart. I am really worried about her marrying out."

Although Fang Qizheng also thought so, he did not dare to take it lightly. He said in a deep voice: "Why would the thief from the Kuang family participate in the fight for the throne? Who is the person behind him?"

Fang Jingzhi shook his head in shame, "I haven't found any clues, and I don't know where he is right now. That thief is always cunning."

Fang Qizheng did not blame his younger brother. After all, Kuang Chengrui was taken to the battlefield to fight at the age of thirteen by Old Man Kuang. He was a man who had truly been baptized in blood. Old Man Kuang was a shrewd and wise man. If Kuang Chengrui's father had not died early, leaving a lack of successors, the Kuang family might have been able to move to a higher level.

Fang Qizheng straightened his clothes and said with a half-smile:

"No matter what, keep this a secret from my sister first, and prevent that thief from having any contact with her. We can deal with other things later."

Fang Jingzhi nodded in agreement and reminded him calmly: "Brother, be careful on the road, I'm afraid he will appear out of nowhere..."

Just as Qi Zheng was guessing that the fight for the throne was over and Kuang Chengrui should have rushed back to Jiaozhou Garrison, he did not let down his guard. However, despite all his precautions, he still couldn't prevent the villain from visiting him openly the next day.

When Fang Zongru heard the steward's report, he thought he had misheard. He turned around and saw that his eldest son had a gloomy face. He had to cough lightly, coax his daughter to leave, and then invite him in.

Although Xia Li didn't know why her father and brother reacted so strangely, she didn't think much about it. As soon as she left, Kuang Chengrui came over with steady steps.

The aura around him was like the chilly winter wind, cool yet powerful. When his eyes met Fang Qizheng's, he was like a sharp knife that could be unsheathed at any time.

Fang Qizheng seldom expresses his displeasure to others directly, but Kuang Chengrui is the only one who gets this honor.

Kuang Chengrui was sharp-minded and had seen through everything. He had no extra emotions and respectfully saluted Fang Zongru with his fists clasped.

"Your junior greets Uncle Fang. I heard that you came to the capital and came to pay your respects."

Fang Zongru raised his hand and said gently, "It's been a while since we last met. You seem to be more stable now. Did you get hurt during this mission?"

Kuang Chengrui said in a clear voice: "Thank you uncle for your concern. My nephew was not injured. Now that the matter is settled, I heard that uncle wanted to take my sister back to Laizhou, so I came to escort her."

Fang Qizheng couldn't hold back his anger and said unhappily, "Kuang Chengrui, don't go too far. Xia Li was just found back. What are your intentions?"

Kuang Chengrui looked at Fang Qizheng with a firm and cold gaze. He was like a lion defending its prey to the death. His words were concise and powerful: "The regime in the court has changed, and forces in various places are ready to make moves. There is no peace on the road."

He didn't say much, but every word he said couldn't conceal his inner strength and confidence. However, Fang Qizheng didn't buy it.

"Don't bother with us. We can hire more guards, and with Cao's brother-in-law accompanying us, we won't be afraid if we run into thieves."

Kuang Chengrui frowned, his eyes flashing with a cold light. He looked at Fang Zongru and said, "Uncle, the current situation is not as calm as it seems. If the Fang family is not careful and gets involved, it will be more trouble than it is worth."

These words were full of meaning, and Fang Zongru understood them clearly. He looked up and saw that he was strong and sturdy, with broad and straight shoulders. He exuded a strong sense of oppression without saying much. He ignored his eldest son's reluctant eyes and said in a low voice:

"Then I'll have to trouble you, nephew. My daughter has just been found, and I can't afford any mistakes. I will reward you handsomely when I return home!"

Kuang Chengrui nodded slightly and said in a deep voice: "Uncle, you are too polite. Protecting Xia Li is my life's responsibility."

He had a calm attitude and a resolute look. Although Fang Zongru admired his sharpness, he did not want his daughter to be taken away by him, so he said in a tough tone:
"My daughter has not yet adapted to her new identity. You can escort her, but please don't disturb her peace."

Some things don't need to be said too bluntly. It's hard to say what will happen in the future, but for now, Fang Zongru is not unable to suppress him.

(End of this chapter)