The broken window, haphazardly patched with wooden boards, failed to keep out the howling wind that sounded like wailing ghosts. The flickering flames from the fire pit cast wavering shadows throughout the room.
After an eerie silence filled the air, Xie Zheng spoke: “I was overthinking it. Let’s proceed with your plan.”
Fan Changyu hastily shook her head. Earlier that day, when the money house collectors had sought her out for debt collection, he had witnessed it. If they went ahead with putting a sack over Fan Da’s head, he might think she was some kind of violent criminal.
She said somewhat awkwardly, “If there were any other way, I certainly wouldn’t take this risk. If we’re caught, we’ll end up in court again.”
Xie Zheng lowered his eyes, his pitch-black pupils reflecting the firelight without warmth. He suddenly said, “If you’re not afraid of trouble, dealing with Fan Da permanently would be simpler.”
His tone was cold and detached as if he hadn’t been the same person who had just offered to teach her law for a proper court case.
Fan Changyu immediately understood what he meant by “dealing with,” and goosebumps rose on her arms as she stared at him with wide almond eyes. “M-murder?”
Seeing her reaction, Xie Zheng’s thick eyelashes swept a shallow arc in the firelight as he turned his gaze toward the blazing fire. In a tone that didn’t sound at all like joking, he said, “I was just kidding.”
His voice was lazy and carried a hint of casualness.
If someone had wronged him to this extent, that person’s head would have long since been separated from their shoulders.
When he offered to teach her the Great Yin Code to help her, it was the best solution he could think of from her perspective. Though her temperament was stronger than he had anticipated, she still couldn’t be called ruthless.
As Fan Changyu’s suspicious gaze wandered over his handsome face, he half-raised his eyes, meeting her gaze directly. “Shall I teach you the Great Yin Code now?”
Fan Changyu immediately forgot about the embarrassment of being caught staring and nodded miserably with a frown.
She had disliked studying since childhood and got headaches just looking at characters. The fact that she could read at all was thanks to her mother forcing her to learn with a bamboo switch.
The writing materials were in the south room. Fan Changyu went to Xie Zheng’s room and turned up the oil lamp’s wick on the desk for better lighting.
Since there was no copy of the Great Yin Code in the house, Xie Zheng recited several articles for her to memorize.
This concerned whether she could keep her family property, so Fan Changyu focused with all her might on learning. However, whether due to the late hour or the sleep-inducing nature of legal texts, she soon found herself nodding off as she recited.
Xie Zheng sat in a bamboo chair nearby with his eyes closed, appearing to doze, but as if he had eyes on his forehead, he would lift his eyelids and rap his knuckles on the desk with a “tock-tock” whenever her head started bobbing like a pecking chicken.
Fan Changyu would jolt awake, clutching the papers while yawning repeatedly, struggling to keep her eyes open even as tears of exhaustion formed in the corners. She forced herself to continue reciting: “Article 17 of the Great Yin Code, Household Registry Section, Extinct Households Chapter: For extinct households, if there are sons, establish the eldest; if there are no sons, establish an heir…”
“If the household is extinct, how could there be sons to establish?” came a cold voice from beside her.
Fan Changyu shuddered at his voice like a student caught dozing during morning lessons. She forced herself awake and reviewed the law he had written, continuing with half-closed eyes: “For extinct households, an heir shall be chosen. If no heir is chosen, parents and siblings shall divide the property while providing for unmarried daughters. In cases of extinct households with adopted sons-in-law, the son-in-law cannot divide the property; it belongs to the daughter…”
Xie Zheng interjected at the right moment: “According to this law, your parents’ property should rightfully be yours entirely. However, with your grandparents still alive and ill, and your eldest uncle being idle, if they cite the Filial Piety Zhu Yu – Chapter of the Great Yin Code at the county court in three days, at least half of your parents’ property would have to go to your grandparents. Since your grandparents haven’t divided property with your eldest uncle, this money would ultimately end up in his hands.”
Fan Changyu’s drowsiness instantly vanished, replaced by irritation. She frowned and asked reluctantly, “What if I take in my grandparents to care for them?”
Xie Zheng glanced at her. “Are you close to them?”
Fan Changyu shook her head.
Even when her parents were alive, her family wasn’t close with her grandparents.
When her mother had difficulty giving birth to Changningg, she nearly died along with the child. The physician had barely saved them both but said she likely couldn’t conceive again.
The elderly couple had come to offer congratulations, holding the swaddled Changningg while repeatedly hinting that her mother had failed to give her father a son. They suggested adopting a boy from Fan Da’s family, saying it would provide support in their old age.
Her parents had ignored this suggestion, leading the elderly couple to spread rumors that her mother was jealous and unfilial, always whispering in her father’s ear and trying to end the Fan family line.
Her father had personally visited the old residence to address the matter, which finally quieted them down, but thereafter there was little contact. Only during festivals would her father bring them a piece of pork, but he never stayed for meals, leaving immediately after dropping off the gift.
Xie Zheng then said, “According to Article 11 of the Great Yin Code Supplement, Household, and Marriage Section, if you can find neighbors to testify that Fan Da is a gambling addict, you can manage the half that would go to your grandparents yourself.”
Fan Changyu, being straightforward by nature, struggled to understand such complexities. She asked in confusion, “How is that different from me supporting the elderly couple?”
Xie Zheng paused, rubbing his brow before patiently explaining: “If you take them in, you must support them. If you hold the money, whether to give it is your choice.”
Fan Changyu excitedly slapped the desk, “That’s brilliant! It’s a bit underhanded, but perfectly suited for Fan Da’s family! How do you know so much?”
Xie Zheng glanced at the desk that wobbled precariously from her slap, not doubting that with a bit more force, it would collapse right there.
His long fingers turned to the next page of the book on his knee, lying smoothly without a hint of discomfort: “When one travels extensively, one hears many interesting tales. There was a wealthy merchant’s daughter who married a man into her family, only to have relatives try to seize her property. She hired a famous local lawyer who suggested this very solution.”
Fan Changyu praised sincerely, “That lawyer was truly clever!”
Xie Zheng remained silent, though the corner of his mouth lifted imperceptibly.
Fan Changyu sheepishly glanced at him, “So… now that we have a plan, can I stop memorizing?”
Studying was truly headache-inducing for her; these abstruse laws were even more difficult than classical texts.
Xie Zheng said flatly, “If you can answer which specific law applies when they ask in court, then you can stop.”
Fan Changyu wanted to say that he could just accompany her to court, but remembering his leg injury and how he would have to kneel throughout the proceedings, which would likely worsen his condition, she swallowed her words.
Her face scrunched up like a steamed bun as she resigned herself to continue memorizing.
Xie Zheng casually flipped through the miscellaneous book in his hands, listening as her recitation changed from a mosquito-like buzz to intermittent mumbling, finally forcing him to look up.
By then, her exhausted head had already dropped to the desk, her breathing becoming slow and even.
Xie Zheng: “…”
He, the tutor, hadn’t even fallen asleep, yet the student had dozed off first.
It was his first time seeing her sleeping face up close. The candlelight cast long shadows from her eyelashes, a soft glow covered her fair cheeks, and her rouge lips were slightly pursed – altogether presenting a gentle appearance entirely different from her wakeful self.
However, even in sleep she seemed troubled, her brows slightly furrowed, with scattered hair falling across her face as if hiding a cloud of worry between her eyebrows.
Realizing he had been staring, Xie Zheng frowned and looked away. He was about to wake her and tell her to rest in her room when he heard her very faint sleep-talking: “Mother…”
It came with a nasal tone as if she were crying.
Xie Zheng frowned and looked at her again. Her head rested on her arm, pressing down several strands of black hair, making her face appear even smaller in the candlelight.
He had thought her thin before, but it had been overshadowed by her vibrant energy. Now, seeing her figure half-sprawled across the desk, he realized she wasn’t just thin, but rather fragile.
A strange, unfamiliar emotion suddenly arose in his chest, causing Xie Zheng to stare at her, his handsome brows furrowing even deeper.
…
At dawn, Fan Changyu woke as usual. The room was pitch black, and when she rose, both her arms and legs were numb.
As her memory of falling asleep returned, she realized she must have been sprawled on the desk. After lighting a fire stick, she barely illuminated the room.
The lamp oil on the desk had burned out, and as she prepared to find a candle, she turned to discover Xie Zheng had also fallen asleep nearby, pressing down on a section of her sleeve. She had to pull hard to free it.
The movement woke him, and she found herself facing those pitch-black, cold eyes. Fan Changyu froze momentarily, thinking to herself that his morning temper must be quite severe: “Did I disturb you?”
He looked at her, the ferocity in his eyes quickly fading, though his brows remained inexplicably furrowed, his fair face bearing a red mark where it had been pressed against the desk.
Fan Changyu said awkwardly, “You fell asleep reading too?”
He only gave a vague “mm” in response.
Fan Changyu said, “I’ll go find a candle.”
The fire stick wouldn’t last long and provided limited light.
However, as she stood up, her legs were still numb, and she suddenly toppled sideways.
There was a loud crash as both of them fell to the ground with their chairs, and the fire stick dropped and went out.
Fan Changyu’s limbs were bruised in several places, making her wince in pain. Realizing there was someone beneath her who must be in an even worse state, she quickly felt around to get up and help him: “Are you alright? Did I aggravate your wounds?”
“It’s fine,” he answered, though his tone suggested otherwise.
It wasn’t fine, as he remained bedridden for the next two days.
Fan Changyu suspected Xie Zheng was annoyed with her, as he had become noticeably colder these past two days, avoiding conversation and her presence whenever possible.
Even when they couldn’t avoid meeting, he either wouldn’t look at her or would face her with furrowed brows.
Though Fan Changyu had apologized, and he had verbally dismissed it, he continued to subtly distance himself from her.
Unable to understand why, she hesitated to ask him questions about the laws she was memorizing, even when she didn’t understand parts.
These past two days, she studied at home and reviewed the papers while free at the shop, finally memorizing most of it, and also found some neighbors to serve as witnesses.
On the morning of the court hearing, after considering Yan Zheng’s recent unusual behavior, she still went to the south room to say: “Since your handwriting is good, if you have time today, please draft the divorce papers. After I transfer my parents’ property, I’ll just need to sign them when I return. Once your injuries heal, you can go wherever you wish.”
He had made it clear from the start that he would leave once healed, and Fan Changyu could only guess that he feared she might go back on her word – transferring the property but refusing to fulfill her initial promise.
Giving him the divorce papers to write might help ease his mind.