Looking into Fang Shuo's pure, clear eyes, Cheng Ji opened his mouth to speak but stopped, unable to bring himself to say it.
Fang Shuo had lost his mother when he was a child, and the Governor of Chaoyang had raised him single-handedly, acting as both father and mother. The bond between father and son was incredibly deep. Two years ago, when Fang Shuo wrote a simple doggerel poem, that old friend of his had even gone out of his way to send a letter to Yecheng just to brag about how promising his son was.
At the time, Cheng Ji had simply thought his friend had lost his mind.
Yet, there was no denying that the Governor of Chaoyang loved Fang Shuo dearly.
A parent's love plans far into the future.
Knowing his days were numbered, the Governor of Chaoyang was well aware that Fang Shuo lacked the capability to govern a city. If the boy remained in Chaoyang, those greedy, cunning merchants would devour him whole, leaving not even a splinter of bone.
Thus, his only choice was to send Fang Shuo to Yecheng.
“My boy, you had better read this yourself,” Cheng Ji sighed softly, handing over the letter of entrustment.
Taking the letter from Cheng Ji, Fang Shuo asked curiously, “Uncle Cheng, what does it say?”
As he spoke, he was already tearing open the envelope.
【Zhongming, I am gravely ill and my days are numbered. My only regret is leaving behind my young son, A'shuo. This child is naturally dull-witted and ignorant of the ways of the world. After I am gone, I fear he will suffer from hunger and cold, and endure the cold shoulder of others.
After much thought, you are the only one I can rely on. I am willing to bestow all of the Fang family's accumulated wealth upon you. I do not ask for my son to live in wealth and splendor, but only that his life be safe, that he has a hot meal to eat, and that he is spared from great humiliation...】
Tears fell one by one from Fang Shuo's eyes, splashing onto the letter. He hurriedly wiped them away with his sleeve, terrified of ruining the paper.
He folded the letter back up, crying and laughing at the same time.
“So when I left Chaoyang, my dad was already very sick. I don't even know when he died. I need to find a chance to go back to Chaoyang to arrange his funeral...”
“We were father and son after all, so I guess I'll reluctantly forgive him for leaving me behind to go off and enjoy himself...”
“...” Cheng Ji stared at Fang Shuo, assuming the boy was so devastated by the shock that he had started babbling nonsense.
“Chaoyang issued an obituary yesterday.”
He sighed, trying to comfort him. “A'shuo, mortals cannot escape birth, old age, sickness, and death. Do not be too grieved.”
Fang Shuo, however, put on a bright smile and comforted him in turn. “Uncle Cheng, I'm happy! Don't worry. My dad actually went to enjoy his blessings—he didn't really die!”
Cheng Ji's eyes filled with deep concern. “A'shuo, how about I go find Medical Official Hua to take a look at you?”
Fang Shuo finally realized that Cheng Ji had misunderstood. He quickly explained, “I'm not sick, nor am I talking nonsense. The Divine Lady said so herself! My dad is Immortal Lord Tiande of the Heavenly Palace. He only came to the mortal realm to undergo a tribulation. Once he dies, he can return to the heavens.”
“The Divine Lady also said that my dad is a good friend of hers, and that I only received her care because of him.”
“So that's how it is!” Cheng Ji's eyes widened slightly. “No wonder the Divine Lady treats you differently from everyone else!”
“Wait, that's not right.”
“Why did your father write this letter to me then?”
Fang Shuo thought about it and said with certainty, “I know! Storybooks also talk about immortal reincarnates undergoing tribulations. Apparently, they don't have any memories of the heavens while they are reincarnated. When my dad wrote the letter, he probably didn't know he was Immortal Lord Tiande yet!”
“That makes sense,” Cheng Ji nodded. “A'shuo, can your father still descend to the mortal realm to reunite with you then?”
A brief silence ensued.
Fang Shuo forced a smile. “The Divine Lady said that if he successfully passes the tribulation and ascends to the celestial realm, my dad will sever all mortal ties. He won't be coming back.”
From now on, he would be all alone.
Cheng Ji sighed, deeply moved.
“Try to look on the bright side.”
He patted Fang Shuo's shoulder again.
Fang Shuo sniffled. “Uncle Cheng, can you arrange a carriage to send me back to Chaoyang? My dad only has me as family in the mortal realm. I have to go back and see him off.”
Cheng Ji looked troubled and said tactfully, “I'm afraid I cannot make the decision on this matter. You must ask the Divine Lady.”
The Divine Lady had personally brought Fang Shuo to the academy. If Cheng Ji took it upon himself to send the boy away, he feared it would displease her.
...
Meanwhile.
In the bright, spacious hall.
Prayer mats stretched from the front desks all the way outside the threshold. The scholars and teachers sat in neat rows, each sitting perfectly upright, keeping their breathing extremely light and slow.
The Divine Lady sat elegantly on the foremost prayer mat.
Her wide sleeves draped down, pooling on the ground like fresh snow.
“Today, I preach the Dao here,” she said. “I hope you will keep it in your hearts and practice it in your steps. The Dao is not far from man; it is man who distances himself from the Dao. If you can turn back, the Dao is right before your eyes.”
With those words, she lightly spun the White Jade Lily of the Valley in her hand. The buds slowly bloomed, sending specks of golden light flying toward the crowd.
Everyone felt a gentle warmth wash over them.
Having used the White Jade Lily of the Valley's skill to grant them a touch of good fortune, Yun Shu stood up and walked toward the celestial carriage outside the courtyard, her silk shawl fluttering in the night breeze like clouds and mist.
Only then did the crowd wake as if from a dream, bowing their heads in unison.
“Thank you, Divine Lady, for preaching the Dao...”
As everyone watched the Divine Lady's celestial carriage prepare to depart.
Suddenly, the hurried, chaotic sound of footsteps echoed from the corner of the corridor, shattering the solemn silence.
“Divine Lady, please wait!”
The voice was clear and urgent.
Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a young master in fine brocade robes running hurriedly from the end of the corridor.
He was exceptionally handsome, with fair skin and lips as red as vermilion, making his noble background obvious at a single glance.
Shen Yu frowned.
Thinking it was some ignorant junior, he was about to stand up and have someone lead him away to avoid disturbing the Divine Lady.
However, he watched in shock as the celestial carriage actually descended from the sky, a familiar, ethereal voice drifting from behind the curtains.
“What is it?”
Just two simple words, yet they shook everyone present to the core.
Who was this person?
To actually make the Divine Lady halt for him?
A complex look flickered in Shen Yu's eyes. In the eyes of the other believers, he was the one the Divine Lady valued most.
Yet, he did not believe he was truly any different from anyone else in her eyes. He had self-awareness; he was merely slightly more clever than most and obedient enough, which was why the Divine Lady had noticed him and entrusted him with important tasks on several occasions.
But as for making the Divine Lady change her mind with just a single sentence? He could not do it, and neither could anyone else present.
At this thought, he watched the brocade-robed young master running over breathlessly, his hands unconsciously clenching and then loosening.
With Fang Shuo's intellect and lack of perception, it was naturally impossible for him to notice the suspicion of the surrounding crowd.
He looked up, gazing at the celestial carriage.
“Divine Lady, can I go back to Chaoyang first to arrange my dad's funeral before coming to Yecheng Academy to study?”
A brief silence fell.
The Divine Lady's voice drifted from behind the curtains once more. “In three days, I shall accompany you to Chaoyang.”
In the next second, the celestial carriage flew away from Yecheng Academy, leaving behind the shocked crowd and a disappointed Fang Shuo.
In three days, his dad's funeral would likely already be over.
Yun Shu sat inside the Floating Dream Celestial Litter, watching the dejected Fang Shuo through the surveillance screen, her expression unchanged.
Back when she had set the trap to send Fang Shuo to mine coal, she had already planned to use him as a pretext to go to Chaoyang legitimately. Naturally, she would not soften her heart at this critical juncture.
If Fang Shuo went to Chaoyang early and met with an accident, she would lose her chance to take Chaoyang without shedding a single drop of blood.
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