Kang’er covered his face, crying, “It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me. Even though you’re my master, you can’t wrongly accuse me.”
Lü Fang, his face cold, asked, “Do you dare to swear an oath?”
Kang’er hesitated, then knelt nearby and raised his hand to swear, “If I’ve hidden anything from you, Master, may heaven strike me down with five thunderbolts, and may I die a miserable death…”
Lü Fang stared at him for a moment, then helped him up. “As long as it wasn’t you, that’s good. Let’s go back.” After a thought, he took out some money. “Take this to buy some candy. Consider it my apology.”
Kang’er brightened up, forgetting his earlier grievance, and happily led Lü Fang’s horse. Seeing Kang’er’s carefree and cheerful demeanor, Lü Fang’s mood grew heavier. For Kang’er, as long as he hadn’t done it, he was uninvolved and could be happy. But what about himself? He hadn’t done it, that was certain, but what if his father had? If it truly was his father’s doing, he would have no face to see Mudan again. This thought filled him with anger. How could someone do such a thing, disregarding him completely? Was this meant to ensure that no one would ever trust him again?
Lü Fang angrily whipped his horse, wishing he could sprout wings and fly to confront Lü Chun immediately.
Lü Chun sat at his table, paper spread before him, pen in hand, yet he hadn’t written anything. Hearing the commotion outside, he sighed softly and turned to face the door, calmly watching the angry Lü Fang enter. “You’re back?”
Lü Fang’s face was flushed, his forehead sweaty. The overwhelming anger that had been churning in his chest ready to erupt suddenly cooled at the sight of Lü Chun’s composure. He replied flatly, “I’m back.”
Lü Chun pointed to a stool. “Sit. Have some water first.”
Lü Fang was in no mood for water. He stared into Lü Chun’s eyes and said slowly, “Fang Garden can no longer fulfill Jin Buyan’s order. They’re willing to transfer the business to you.”
Lü Chun, with his lifeless eyes, replied calmly, “Are you testing me?”
Test or not, that was the situation. Lü Fang, extremely frustrated, forced himself to continue, “In any case, she can’t fulfill the order. If it’s not our family, it’ll be the Cao family. You wouldn’t let Cao Wanrong have it, would you?”
Lü Chun knew his son well enough to see through him. He sneered, “You’ve already decided I did it, haven’t you? You’re asking me this just to confirm your suspicions. For a father and son to reach this point is truly disheartening.”
Lü Fang remained silent. After all, hadn’t Lü Chun conspired with Cao Wanrong to do such a dishonorable thing at the last Mudan exhibition? And if he could prevent people from selling rootstock to Mudan, what else might he be capable of?
Lü Chun spoke resentfully, “I may not approve of her, but you’re my son, do you understand? How could I bear to tarnish your reputation? You don’t listen to me, you go off mixing with her, and now look what’s happened. I had to feign illness just to get you to come home.”
As long as it wasn’t his father, Lü Fang felt an immense relief, a smile involuntarily spreading across his face. But thinking of recent events, he frowned again. “Then I’ve been framed. Father, you must help find the culprit this time. This person is a disgrace to our industry and can’t be allowed to continue.”
He still hoped that through this incident, Mudan and Lü Chun might reconcile their differences.
But his hopes were destined to be dashed. Lü Chun said flatly, “Doesn’t Madam He have powerful connections? Surely her husband will avenge her and clear your name. We needn’t involve ourselves. Stay out of it.” He was content to watch from the sidelines.
Hearing his father’s tone, Lü Fang suspected he knew something. He probed, “Did you know about this beforehand?”
Lü Chun remained silent, which was as good as an admission. He disliked Mudan intensely, and if someone wanted to harm her, he was happy to see it happen. Let the perpetrator and the victim fight it out themselves; what did it matter to him? If not for Lü Fang foolishly getting involved and being framed, he wouldn’t have bothered to be courteous to Mudan’s people.
Lü Fang glared at Lü Chun. “Who did it?”
Lü Chun replied irritably, “I’m not a god. How would I know who did it?”
Lü Fang was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Your heart is smaller than a needle’s eye. You knew someone was going to harm her, yet you stood by waiting to see her misfortune, and now you won’t reveal who it was. Are you happy to see others suffer? It’s shameful.” With that, he angrily pushed away the table in front of him and turned to leave.
“How dare you assume I know who it is?” Lü Chun raged, hurling an inkstone at Lü Fang. “She brought this upon herself! She doesn’t respect the guild or her elders, acting as if she’s the best in the world, all smug and trying to monopolize such a big business. How many people in the two capitals do you think can stand her? Do you think I’m the only one who can’t? Let me tell you, there are plenty who can’t stand her. Just based on that, I knew something would happen to her. Do you understand now? Stop messing around with her. Go to your room right now and don’t you dare leave!”
The fine inkstone left a dent in the brick floor, ink splattering everywhere. Lü Fang stopped and said coldly, “Messing around with her? Father, you’re a man in your sixties. You should mind your words. She’s a married woman of impeccable virtue. It doesn’t matter if you tarnish my reputation, but slandering hers is unconscionable. Aren’t you afraid of karmic retribution falling on me?” As he spoke, he grew increasingly distressed.
“You unfilial wretch! Say that again!” Lü Chun trembled with rage. This was his most cherished son, yet he dared to talk back and provoke him like this for some strange woman.
Seeing his father’s anger, Lü Fang felt a mix of fear and reluctance. After some thought, he steeled himself and said, “The consequences of your actions will fall on me to repay. Isn’t that karmic retribution on me?” Before he finished speaking, Lü Chun’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.
“Father! What’s wrong?” Lü Fang rushed forward to support Lü Chun, shouting, “Someone come quickly! Call for a doctor!”
After the ensuing chaos, it was late into the night by the time Lü Chun was settled. Lü Fang sat by his father’s bedside, filled with worry. Lü Chun hadn’t regained consciousness since fainting. The doctor had said he just needed some medicine to avoid further agitation, so why wasn’t he waking up?
He leaned close to Lü Chun’s ear and called softly, “Father? Father?”
Lü Chun showed no signs of life.
Lü Fang sighed heavily and sat nearby, lost in thought. After an unknown time, the lamp sputtered, startling him awake. He looked at Lü Chun, gritted his teeth, and quietly took out a hairpin. He then jabbed it into the sole of Lü Chun’s foot.
“Ouch!” Lü Chun awoke with a start, sitting up and cursing loudly, “Which short-lived…”
“Father, you’re better?” Lü Fang quickly hid the hairpin, looking at him excitedly. As he thought, his father had been faking.
Lü Chun was stunned for a moment before fully awakening. He angrily grabbed a nearby porcelain pillow and threw it at Lü Fang. “I’ll beat you to death, you unfilial, rebellious son! Are you trying to anger me to death? I’ve invested so much in you, and this is how you repay me?” As he spoke, he began to choke up.
Lü Fang remained silent and still, allowing the pillow to hit him. Lü Chun then scolded, “Are you a dead man? Can’t you dodge?” After all, this was his most beloved son.
… Both father and son fell silent, with only Lü Chun’s heavy breathing audible in the room. After a long while, Lü Chun spoke with difficulty, “A grown son can’t be controlled by his father. I can’t stop you. If you want to go, then go. But you must promise me one thing: marry the fifth daughter of the Liu family.”
Lü Fang was silent for a moment, then said, “I promise you.” He looked up at Lü Chun, showing a row of white teeth. “Father, you’re overthinking this. I see Madam He the same way I see Master Li. True friends are hard to find. I respect her character and admire her skills, nothing more.”
Lü Chun stared at him intently. “I hope that’s true. Remember what you’ve said.”
Lü Fang smiled slightly. “I will.”
As dawn broke, Lü Fang walked briskly towards the Jiang family villa by Qujiang Pool. He was going to find Jiang Changyang and tell him about this matter.
——*——*——*——
Shun’er perched in a tree, watching Xiao Ergou lying on his back on a haystack, sunbathing with his eyes closed. Xiao Ergou was young, not tall, with a slim build but long limbs. There was something familiar about him.
Shun’er had been watching Xiao Ergou for two full days, pondering this question without finding an answer. He sighed inaudibly, then chuckled to himself. Who did Xiao Ergou resemble? His build was just like Shun’er’s own. Why was he called Shun’er? Because of his agile, slim build, long limbs, and quick movements.
It seemed the other man was naturally suited for this line of work. But could someone raised in an ordinary family, who only started seeking work in his teens, easily learn to this level and freely enter and exit Fang Garden’s walls without alerting anyone? Shun’er privately thought it impossible. He had trained rigorously since childhood, never slacking off for a day, to reach his current level. Even acrobats and performers started training while their bones were still soft.
Looking at this man again, his family said he used to run errands for a candidate studying at a temple. When the candidate fell ill, he nursed him back to health patiently, earning a reward that allowed his family to eat meat for a month. But his lazy demeanor was more like that of a good-for-nothing loitering on the streets. Moreover, to commit such an act and still sunbathe so casually on a haystack, boldly eating meat, showed remarkable audacity.
But if not him, then who? Shun’er narrowed his eyes, sitting as still as a rock in the tree, watching Xiao Ergou intently. He trusted his instincts, which had saved his life and helped him many times over the years, rarely failing him.