Sure, here is the translated text:
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The report from outside reached the house, but the tranquility of the Fang Family residence remained unbroken.
In fact, everyone was already waiting in the courtyard in front of the main gate.
When Fang Chengyu entered the town, the Fang Family was still unaware, but as soon as he entered the county government, the entourage reported it.
Lady Fang was so excited that she nearly fainted.
The news came day by day, and she counted the days one by one, never expecting him to arrive these days.
"Mother, let's go to the county government to pick up our little brother," Fang Yunxiao cried joyously.
Concubine Yuan was ready to shout for someone to prepare the carriage.
"No," Lady Fang cried and stopped them, wiping her tears, and sat upright. "He went to the county government to help his grandmother. We will not cause trouble. We will wait for him at home."
The waiting time truly felt long.
Her son, who had never been away from her, had finally returned after being away from home for so long. He was at the county government not far away, less than an hour's journey from her side.
Lady Fang felt that this wait was even longer than the two months.
When she heard the voice outside the door saying that the young master had returned, Lady Fang felt like her life had reached its conclusion.
The servants on both sides cheered joyfully, and many ran to the gate.
Concubine Yuan and Fang Yunxiao were also about to rush to the gate to welcome him but seeing Lady Fang sitting still, they stopped, looking around happily.
It wasn't that Lady Fang didn't want to stand up to welcome him, she simply didn't have the strength to stand. She clutched the armrest, watching the gate.
A young boy appeared in her sight.
Lady Fang's tears immediately blurred her vision.
She didn't need to see clearly; she just knew it was her son.
He looked so much like his father when he was young.
She had already somewhat forgotten what her husband looked like, but seeing this figure, the memories came flooding back.
Back then, when her husband died, she endured the pregnancy alone until she safely gave birth. Looking at the child in the swaddle, she wondered countless times if he would grow up to be like his father.
Would he smile, hold his head up, crawl, and walk little by little as he grew up? Every day, she longed, imagined, and anticipated.
Then everything stopped abruptly in the child's fifth year.
All the hopes and expectations vanished. She no longer fantasized about what greatness he might achieve when he grew up or anticipated him bearing the family responsibilities. She had only one prayer: for him to live, for another day, two days, three days.
"Mother."
The boy's voice sounded in her ear.
Only then did Lady Fang see that Fang Chengyu was already standing in front of her.
"Lady, Lady," Concubine Yuan cried, reaching out to support her.
Fang Chengyu had already reached out to hold her arm and knelt down himself.
"Mother," he looked up at her and smiled. "I'm back."
The healthy, hopeful child with a future had returned.
Those joyful, idyllic days with the chessboard had returned.
Lady Fang reached out and hugged him, crying loudly.
"Chengyu, I'm sorry. I caused this when you were little," she cried.
After so many years, she finally could say this out loud.
Fang Yunxiao leaned against Concubine Yuan's arm, crying until she couldn't stand. Concubine Yuan patted her while tears ran down her own face.
The entire courtyard of maids and servants cried along with them.
Following behind Fang Chengyu since earlier, Old Lady Fang and Fang Yuxiu also stood at the door and couldn't help but cry again.
The Fang Mansion was filled with cries. At other times, anyone hearing this from the street might have thought this cursed family had lost another member, but not now.
"He is overcome with joy and tears."
"It truly deserves a cry. Even though it has nothing to do with me, I want to cry."
The onlookers outside said one after another.
But amid these joyful tears, a sharp voice rang out.
"Where is my Miss?"
Liu'er, who had somehow run out, collided with the crowd without finding Miss Jun.
The little maid wasn't crying. She turned her head, eyebrows raised, glaring sharply.
"Did you leave my Miss behind?"
The sorrowful atmosphere immediately dissipated, and looking at the charging Liu'er, the maids didn't dare to stop her. Fang Chengyu rose and released Lady Fang, turning to hold Liu'er's hand.
"No, I rushed back due to some urgent matters. She's taking her time to travel leisurely so as not to tire herself," he said with a smile.
Liu'er looked at him incredulously.
"Really?" she said.
Fang Chengyu took out a letter and handed it to her.
"This is a letter from your Miss to you," he said.
Liu'er stretched her hand hesitantly.
"Don't think of imitating my Miss's handwriting. I've studied and written with her," she said, speaking while opening the letter. "Use that bed with the green clover bedding, the curtains of lotus-fine gauze, pick flowers from the hothouse, fresh ones will do..."
She read, the worry and anger on her face dissipating, replaced by a blossoming smile.
"...I will probably arrive the day after you see the young master."
Seeing the last line, she held the paper, turned, and skipped away.
"Let's tidy up the room as per Miss's instructions."
She ran off, and the atmosphere here broke again.
"The young master is tired too. Quick, quick, let's go inside and talk," Concubine Yuan wiped her tears and smiled.
The sadness dispersed, leaving only joy. The family noisily went inside while the maids and servants cheerfully prepared for the welcoming banquet. Now, with just those at home, Old Lady Fang didn't hide the fact that Fang Chengyu had killed County Magistrate Li and shared it with everyone.
Lady Fang took a deep breath, her expression mixed with sadness and anger.
Fang Yunxiao wiped her tears as well.
"It really was too easy for him, dying so painlessly," Concubine Yuan said, wiping away tears with resentment.
Lady Fang reached out to hold Fang Chengyu's hand, her expression both relieved and cherished.
"You avenging your grandfather and father personally. They can rest in peace knowing this," she said.
"Yes, who would have thought our little brother would act so decisively," Fang Yunxiao said, "To dare kill in front of so many officials."
The explanation Fang Chengyu gave at the time was that the blood feud was unforgivable.
Being able to do that was no easy feat, after all, it was about killing someone.
Fang Chengyu smiled.
"Elder sister, life and death are things I am least afraid of and most courageous about," he said. "Don't forget, I'm the one closest to death."
First, sickness, waiting for death, then being bait on the road, waiting for death.
He sat in the carriage, outside was fighting, with blood splattering on the car window and curtain.
Although not a single blade touched him, it seemed each cut struck him.
He didn't hold a knife, but walking out from that blood-stained battlefield, he felt he had already killed countless people in his heart.
As night descended, the noise outside quieted down, but laughter occasionally broke through, from the running little maids.
"Hurry, hurry, the young master is giving out red envelopes himself."
A little maid shouted at the courtyard gate.
Fang Jinxiu sat by the window, her vacant eyes moving. Hearing these words startled her, and her eyes suddenly brightened.
Young master?
Chengyu?
She grabbed the window railing sharply.
"Who?" she shouted.
She hadn't spoken for a long time. Her voice was hoarse and stiff, very odd.
The little maids heard and turned around, faces hesitating as they looked at Fang Jinxiu by the window.
"The young master is back," one maid finally said, then no longer bothered, pulling the other one along, and ran off.
Chengyu is back?
So, that crying outside during the day was because Chengyu returned.
"How is he? How is he?" she asked, holding the window to stand, almost leaning out, urgently shouting.
But by then, the little maids had already run far, with nobody to respond to her.
Fang Jinxiu stepped down from the window.
Due to weakness, she fell to the ground, but strongly propped herself up.
Go and see, quickly go and see, how Chengyu is?
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Thanks to Zi Xing Qi Yue for the donation of He's Bi.
Thursday now (here's an author, not working hard, looking forward to the weekend, checking the time).
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