Do you have something more to say?
I suppose you want to say a few words.
What else is there to say? By the sound of it, do they still need to leave the room?
The officials and Clan Leader Lin frowned slightly, but they still took a few gracious steps back.
Regardless of what the Young Master had to say, Old Lady Fang wasn't an impulsive youth. After all the storms she had weathered, she knew what could and what couldn't be done. Fang Chengyu believed Old Lady Fang had proper judgment.
"What do you want to say? Are you also going to accuse me of being heartless and unrighteous?" Old Lady Fang said in a hoarse voice.
Fang Chengyu laughed and shook his head.
"Grandmother isn't like that," he said. "I'm speaking about something I hadn't finished saying just now."
Just now?
"Grandmother, do you remember why I killed Li Changhong in the cell?" Fang Chengyu repeated.
Oh, that...
Old Lady Fang sighed in her heart, somewhat puzzled. She had already made it clear, yet Chengyu still asked.
Besides, this matter shouldn't be of any necessary concern at the moment.
"Chengyu, I will tell you about it, but not right now," she said.
Fang Chengyu shook his head, interrupting her.
"No, Grandmother, you are mistaken," he said. "I didn't act just because you commanded the killing; I had made a promise to him."
A promise? What promise?
Old Lady Fang was startled.
"I asked him at that time to tell me one thing, whether everything he had done to the Fang Family was of his own volition or if someone else had instructed him," Fang Chengyu said. "I promised him a swift end as long as he answered yes or no."
There's someone behind the scenes? Old Lady Fang's face was a picture of shock.
Fang Chengyu looked at her.
"Then Li Changhong's gaze darted around, and suddenly, he went mad," he said. "He was about to shout out the words you didn't allow him to, and obviously, he knew well that he shouldn't shout them out. He also knew that our Fang Family wouldn't let him, or else he wouldn't have been so cautious yet fearless over the years."
Old Lady Fang fell silent for a moment.
Yes, because that matter was both the Fang Family's honor guard and shackle.
They couldn't speak of it, nor could they allow others to.
If Li Changhong knew this secret, he surely understood he couldn't speak of it.
"So what are you suggesting?" Old Lady Fang looked at Fang Chengyu in disbelief.
Fang Chengyu nodded.
"He was desperate to die, either because he knew death was inevitable and had nowhere to turn, or because he had received a signal from someone else to die. Regardless of the reason, his reaction clearly answered my question, so I fulfilled my promise to end his suffering," he said. "Liu'er mentioned that Miss Jun said something was amiss only after seeing a group of officials passing by. I guess she probably noticed the same thing I had speculated, which might be why Li Changhong suddenly became so desperate to die in his cell."
Upon hearing these words, Old Lady Fang's previously trembling body suddenly stiffened, and this time, she truly fell backward.
Fang Chengyu alone couldn't catch her, but Fang Jinxiu rushed over to help, allowing Old Lady Fang to sit down on the ground instead of falling flat.
Clan Leader Lin and the surrounding officials also jumped in fright and hurried forward a few steps.
"Grandmother," Fang Chengyu and Fang Jinxiu called out together, their voices choked and anxious.
"You should speak properly. At this moment, do you want to scare Grandmother to death?" Fang Jinxiu glared at Fang Chengyu and shouted.
Old Lady Fang was a strong person, which was why she managed to hold up the family all by herself after her husband, son, and grandson all encountered misfortune.
But she was of such an advanced age, after all.
Fang Chengyu wore a face full of apology and guilt.
"Grandmother," he said hoarsely, touching Old Lady Fang's chest, "don't panic—it may be that I've guessed wrong."
Old Lady Fang had not fainted nor was she shaking anymore, but her originally pale face had turned ashen, and her eyes dim and lifeless.
"You haven't guessed wrong," her voice was deep, "I often say I've guessed wrong too, that your grandfather's death was just an accident, without conspiracy, your father's death also an accident, not a scheme. Thus, not guessing or thinking about it, yet these conspiracies and traps never end, they're endless and relentless."
She said these words and closed her eyes, tears sliding from the corners.
"I don't understand why," she murmured.
"I did it only for myself."
She thought of what the girl had said when she offered to cure Fang Chengyu.
Could all their efforts really lead to this outcome?
They had lived with such effort, striving to change their miserable fate, and finally, everything had started to change, they finally saw hope—their great vengeance was exacted, their enemies had been struck down, and their family members had escaped disaster. And this was less than half a day ago; how could things have suddenly changed again?
Old Lady Fang felt sorrow and anger for Jun Zhenzhen, as well as for herself.
Hadn't their enemies already been struck down?
Why was there another incident?
Just how many people were coveting the Fang Family in the shadows? Why wouldn't the heavens leave them be?
"Grandmother, don't worry, cousin is always clever—she will surely protect herself," Fang Chengyu said, "It hasn't been long, she must be alright. I'll find her as quickly as possible."
With those words, he helped Old Lady Fang into the carriage.
"Grandmother, you go back first, let me handle this."
Old Lady Fang held his hand, her lifeless eyes regaining a bit of sharpness.
"No, you can't do this alone," she said, her voice tinged with sorrow and anger, "Zhenzhen is in this situation because of us. She cured your illness, and surely must have become a thorn in our enemies' eyes. They seek to destroy our Fang Family; they destroyed your grandfather, killed your father, hurt you, and now they want to destroy her."
As she spoke, her expression turned from grief and anger to ferocity.
By what right! By what right!
By what right do you try to ruin my Fang Family, and how can you ruin my Fang Family.
What had the Fang Family ever done wrong? We have been faithful and diligent, earnest and conscientious, never committing crimes or bullying others with power, yet we end up with our house destroyed, our people gone, our lineage cut short.
What meaning is there in the faith I've kept, the righteousness I've defended?
Old Lady Fang straightened her body, holding onto Fang Chengyu's arm.
"Someone come," her voice was calm, "bring my walking stick."
Walking stick?
Why need a walking stick if not returning home by carriage at this moment?
Clan Leader Lin and the officials frowned in confusion.
Fang Chengyu himself had no particular recollection of this walking stick of Old Lady Fang's.
Although Old Lady Fang was elderly, her body had always been robust, whether truly robust or not, she would never appear weak in front of others, much less use a walking stick.
Perhaps the walking stick was also a symbol, signifying Old Lady Fang's determination that despite the continuous blows she had suffered, despite growing older, she could still stand firm, ready to face the hardships to come.
Fang Chengyu affirmed her request.
At this time, the Fang residence too was brightly lit, with everyone standing around in an atmosphere of nervous tension.
Lady Fang sat in the hall, the news that Miss Jun and Registrar Lin had not been found had also been relayed, and her expression was full of worry.
If it had been before, Miss Jun could have gone missing, or even died, and she would have felt nothing.
But now, this Jun Zhenzhen was the one who had saved her son.