The third branch of the Wang family had a son who was chronically ill since childhood. They invited dozens of renowned doctors who all predicted that he was unlikely to live past his twentieth year. He was now thirteen. Though he should have been a handsome, elegant youth, his complexion was wan and sickly, his body tormented by illness. However, his words were like thunder, striking Zheng Ruqian squarely between the eyes.
"You, you, you..." Zheng Ruqian's mouth opened in shock for a long while before closing again. "What nonsense are you spouting? This is the Wang family!"
How dare someone try to make trouble here?
"I know this is the Wang family," the youth said nonchalantly with a laugh. "I also know why you're here at the Wang residence."
Cold sweat beaded on Zheng Ruqian's back again as he stared intensely at the sickly heir to the third branch, probing and calculating.
"My name is Wang Fufeng," the boy said lightly. "It's just as you guessed - my family felt I was as weak as a willow in the wind, so they named me Fufeng."
"I am wracked with illness and likely to die young, but I also know the Wang family is in chaotic disarray." A flash of pain passed through Wang Fufeng's eyes. "Everyone is vying for power without a thought for this family. They have all forgotten grandfather's teachings - they've forgotten that the 'Wang' name is the root of their prosperity."
Whether it was Lady Sun or the Wang family's illegitimate sons, they all wanted control over the Wang clan, yet not one of them wished to make the Wangs stronger or more respected in the city.
Their vision was narrow and short-sighted. They forgot grandfather's instructions, mad with greed and even willing to kill each other for fame and fortune.
Wang Fufeng's pale face flushed slightly with agitation. He let out a long breath, steadying himself before continuing, "I don't have many years left to live, nor reason to plot against you. I painstakingly gathered this evidence - you're welcome to verify it yourself if you don't believe me."
With that, he produced a stack of papers from his sleeve and handed them over.
Zheng Ruqian hesitated a moment.
He could vaguely hear the chaos in the Wang residence, yet the youth before him emanated a timeless serenity. His illness was plainly evident, but his gaze was firm with resolve.
Zheng Ruqian reached out and accepted the papers, unable to resist asking, "If you ruin the Suns, aren't you just helping the second branch?"
The third branch's heir was sickly, while the second branch's Wang Mingyu was hale and hearty. It was clear to any discerning eye who would inherit control of the family.
But Wang Fufeng shook his head solemnly. "No, I'm not helping the second branch."
"I simply don't want outsiders interfering in the Wang family's affairs."
Having said his piece, he left weakly without lingering.
Zheng Ruqian tucked the stack of papers into his robe, listened a while longer to the ruckus, then decided to take his leave as well. Fortunately no one tried to stop him.
Stepping out past the imposing gates of the Wang residence, Zheng Ruqian was about to walk home when a carriage pulled up before him.
The slow-witted driver, Jiang San, grinned foolishly. "Second young master, please get in."
"What are you doing here?" Zheng Ruqian asked, somewhat surprised, but nimbly jumped onto the carriage.
When he lifted the curtain, he froze in shock.
Inside sat one, two, three, four, five people - older and younger brothers and sisters packed tightly together.
The most composed was Xu Mo, who gave a faint smile.
Despite being in the carriage, Fang Heng still wore his scholar's cap.
Wen Zhiyun clutched a small medicine box, anxiously looking left and right.
Chang Yan leaned against his fourth elder brother, his face rather pale.
Only little Jiang Sheng was still sweet and cheerful as ever. "Second brother, we've come to get you! Third brother said if you cried for help inside the Wang residence, we'd rush right in to rescue you."
Even if it exposed their identities and forced them to flee, they would never abandon Zheng Ruqian alone. This was what it meant to be family.
Zheng Ruqian's nose turned a little sour, but he still remembered what had just happened. After squeezing in next to Xu Mo, he recounted everything about Wang Fufeng and took out the bundle of papers tucked in his robe.
"It's all here."
Xu Mo was the first to reach for them. Seeing the elegant curled flower small script, he couldn't help but sigh in admiration, "What an astute mind, and delicate brush strokes."
It's said one's calligraphy reflects the person. Those who favor wild, unfettered cursiveness have passionate natures, while the delicate and soft prefer small script.
Curled flower small script was usually favored by secluded ladies - seldom did men appreciate it, yet this writing was utterly devoid of feminine frailty.
Just from these words, Xu Mo felt well-disposed towards Wang Fufeng.
After reading the contents of the papers, his admiration turned to silence, brows knitted with hints of sorrow.
Seeing this, the others also lowered their heads to read. Soon, they were all solemn and mute.
They already knew Lady Sun was vicious in her pursuit of control over the family, but they hadn't expected her Sun family origins were even worse.
Lady Sun's younger brother - the same Sun Yu who sought to be the next magistrate of Anyang county - had over a dozen lives on his hands.
Back when he was a county magistrate down south, he coveted a small jade mine belonging to a local official's family. After repeated threats and enticements failed, he actually bought black gunpowder and blew up the mine, killing that family's eldest son. The elderly parents were devastated with grief and soon passed away.
The jade mine naturally fell into Sun Yu's hands.
That wasn't the end of it. After obtaining the mine, he then coveted that official's beautiful young widow. Under pretense of caring for her, he forcibly abducted her back to the Sun residence.
When the widow resisted, he threatened harm to her natal family of seven or eight members, leaving her no choice but to weep silently as his concubine, bearing him children to this day.
Tragically, the whole time this woman never knew that after she left, Sun Yu had viciously massacred her entire family when her eldest brother threatened to expose him.
In the end, he wrapped up the case by ruling it a mere "accident", erasing two once happy families with that one word.
And now, Sun Yu actually still sought to be the next magistrate of Anyang county.
Xu Mo's eyes turned red with fury, and he accidentally slapped Zheng Ruqian's thigh. "He absolutely cannot be allowed to take up the post of Anyang county magistrate."
If it was personal vendetta before, now it was grievance on behalf of the common people.
This kind of lawless, insatiably greedy man would only bring wailing misery to Anyang. Just like that nameless little county where injustice went unredressed and suffering unalleviated.
Wang Fufeng had not only gathered evidence of Sun Yu's crimes against the populace, but also recorded how the next magistrate worked tirelessly to regain the people's trust in officials, even coughing blood from overwork.
"It takes so many years for a corrupt official to destroy the people's faith, and even longer to restore the trust between officials and commoners, to return the county to how it was before," Fang Heng said bitterly.
Chang Yan stared blankly, eyes moist with grief and helplessness.
After a long while, Xu Mo gently dabbed his eyes and solemnly instructed, "Jiang San, notify Jiang Yi and Jiang Er to investigate whether Sun Yu's actions are true."
Jiang San acknowledged the order.
"We can also approach Sun Yu's...concubine," Zheng Ruqian suggested, still wincing and rubbing his thigh. "She lives in the city."
If Wang Fufeng's investigation proved accurate, they would indeed need to gain this widow's support and testimony.
But who should approach her?
Xu Mo looked at Zheng Ruqian, who looked at Fang Heng, who looked at Wen Zhiyun, who looked at Chang Yan.
Chang Yan raised his eyes to the carriage roof.
Though they were only eighty or ninety years old, they were still men. There were proprieties between men and women, and they were of different generations.
After pondering it over, only little sister Jiang Sheng licking her lips and staring longingly at the candied haw berries outside was appropriate.
