TNIBFT -Chapter 215 Fang Shenghu Returns to the City

Inside the study, wisps of smoke curled lazily from an intricately carved incense burner.

Click.

Qin Fengyi flipped through the papers, the faint rustle breaking the silence. Shangguan Ning knelt on the floor, not daring to raise her head. The room was utterly quiet.

Even Shangguan Ning, who had grown up alongside Qin Fengyi, felt an overwhelming pressure in her presence.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Qin Fengyi’s phoenix-like eyes lifted slightly as she looked down at Shangguan Ning. She casually placed the official documents on the desk and said in a calm voice, “The matters I asked you to investigate these past few days—any progress?”

“Yes.”

Shangguan Ning cupped her fists respectfully. “The Daliang military map in Your Majesty’s possession is identical to the one Chancellor Zuo presented to you back then.”

“Daliang’s Great General Ye Zhengyang… it was because of this matter that his entire family was executed. So Ye Tian…”

Shangguan Ning looked up at Qin Fengyi.

Qin Fengyi frowned slightly, her eyes a mix of emotions.

The death of Ye Tian’s family over the military map was clearly a conspiracy. There was more than one copy of the map, and whoever was behind this was using it as an opportunity to eradicate the Ye family.

“Keep investigating!”

Qin Fengyi continued, “You must find out the origins of these two maps. Where did each come from?”

“Clear the Ye family’s name!”

“Yes!” Shangguan Ning’s eyes flashed. She hadn’t expected that His Majesty would care so deeply about Ye Tian, even wishing to help restore the family’s honor.

Once the report was complete, the study fell silent again.

Qin Fengyi stared at the desk, lost in thought.

Shangguan Ning spoke respectfully, “Your Majesty, Sifang City is currently in turmoil. Rumors say the Daliang imperial envoy Gao Defu was killed by people from Dazhou…”

Before she could finish, Qin Fengyi raised a hand to interrupt, “No need to mention this matter any further.”

“Gao Defu is dead. Once Chancellor Zuo hears of this, there will surely be some reaction. I am ordering you to return to the capital immediately; there is a mission for you.”

“Yes!”

Shangguan Ning cupped her fists and accepted the order.

Qin Fengyi’s voice softened slightly, “Rise.”

“You’ve worked hard these past days.”

Shangguan Ning looked up instantly, her eyes bright as she met Qin Fengyi’s gaze. “It is all my duty.”

Recalling her assignments in Sifang City, her cheeks flushed. She lifted her robe and knelt again. “Your Majesty, I am guilty!”

“I should not have believed the villagers’ words and falsely accused Ye Tian. Living in Ye Tian’s hotpot shop these past days, I have come to understand his true character…”

“He patiently teaches the three princes, and they have all turned out exceptionally well. I… I…”

Shangguan Ning lowered her head, unsure how to explain further.

Qin Fengyi rose and walked over, helping Shangguan Ning to her feet. “I had already made up my mind regarding this matter.”

She sighed helplessly. “It’s just that Ye Tian refuses to leave with the children. In public, I cannot reveal that I am disguised as a man and admit I am the mother. Even if I did, Ye Tian has said that even a biological mother cannot take the children away.”

“The investigation into the Ye family must be accelerated. Clearing their name will also serve as a form of compensation for Ye Tian.”

Shangguan Ning bowed and withdrew.

Watching her retreating figure, Qin Fengyi still planned to find a chance in the next couple of days to lay everything out clearly.

With the ongoing chaos of war, it was safest for Ye Tian and the children to stay with her. For the sake of the children, she hoped Ye Tian would come to understand.

…

The morning was clear and bright.

By evening, the winds in Sifang City howled like wailing spirits.

The northern gales battered the doors and windows with constant clang and bang.

Inside the shop, after dinner, Ye Tian and the others had no entertainment planned for the night and spent the evening soaking their feet and chatting in the main hall.

Ye Yunting was diligently practicing large calligraphy characters.

Ye Shuangxue listened to one gossip, then another, her little mind full of question marks.

“Why do you say that this Master Meng killed Gao Defu?”

Yuan Heipang could never understand.

Why would someone from the Great Zhou, who had no familial ties with him, go out of their way to help him?

“Could it be that the first time we met, he already knew we were impostors?” Yuan Heipang’s eyes widened, a cold sweat breaking out along his spine.

Old Yang looked at him as if he were a fool.

No one in the hall spoke; everyone’s gaze turned to Ye Tian.

Ye Tian said, “Gao Defu was killed by Meng Yuquan today. That matter will no longer be brought up.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Ye Tian!”

Bang! Bang!

Bang!

The front door rattled violently. The familiar sound made Ye Shuangxue’s eyes light up. The little girl leapt from her chair, running toward the door in excitement. “Uncle Fang!”

“Uncle Fang is back!”

“It’s Uncle Fang!”

Ye Yunting also put down his brush, stood from his chair, and headed for the door. Ye Tian, too, stopped fussing with his wet feet and ran straight toward the entrance.

The door opened.

A northern wind swept in, carrying large snowflakes that stung their faces. Ye Tian squinted slightly. Fang Shenghu stood in the doorway, disheveled, his hair messy, face covered in stubble, his figure outlined by the snowstorm.

“Uncle Fang!”

“Uncle Fang!”

The two children surrounded Fang Shenghu, clinging to him tightly, each holding one of his large hands.

“Hey!” Fang Shenghu responded with a raspy voice. He looked up at Ye Tian, his weathered face warming as he saw Ye Tian hadn’t even bothered with shoes. Smiling, he said, “Another distinguished guest? On such a cold day, and you’re not even wearing shoes?”

“Come inside quickly, come inside!”

His face hardened as he reached out, trying to push Ye Tian inside.

Duan Qingshan stood at the doorway, craning his neck to look down the street.

Ye Tian noticed and turned to Fang Shenghu. “Brother Fang, Duan Yingying…”

Before Ye Tian could finish, a woman jumped down from the worn carriage. She was thin, her face sunken and gaunt. Duan Qingshan’s eyes froze on the unfamiliar woman, his fists clenching, his whole body tense.

Could this be his sister?

Why… why was she so frail?

She had been so cute as a child. What had Yingying gone through?

Everyone inside the house gathered at the door, their eyes on Duan Qingshan. Duan Yingying carried a small blue cloth bag on her shoulder, her head lowered, timid and barely daring to meet anyone’s gaze.

Not a single glance at him.

As she passed by, heading inside, Duan Qingshan could no longer contain himself. His voice trembled: “Yingying?”

The thin woman froze.

Her pale face turned toward Duan Qingshan at the doorway, her eyes blank and numb. She opened her mouth: “Y-You… you’re my brother?”

Tears streamed down her face.

More than ten years had passed.

Everything was unfamiliar, yet looking at a loved one before her, the strange yet familiar feeling overwhelmed her. Duan Qingshan’s eyes reddened as he nodded: “I’m your brother, Yingying. You’re Yingying. When we were children, you used to look at me just like this—I’ll never forget that gaze.”

“Brother!”

Duan Yingying burst into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

As if she needed to release all the grievances and longing accumulated over these many years.

“I thought I’d never see you again!”

“Brother…”

“Father and mother?”

Duan Yingying looked at him with tears in her eyes, hope shining in her face.

Everyone inside the house felt a deep pang of emotion. They all knew Duan Qingshan’s background; in this moment, there was little they could do except watch, helpless yet moved.