Chapter 185: Only Sincerity Is Not in Vain

He was mesmerized.

He would give up anything for her.

Even to the extent of speaking about sacrificing his entire family's lives.

Wasn't this similar to the play staged yesterday, where the ruler disregarded his kingdom for a woman?

"Our Fang Family has not had an easy path to this day, how could you do this?" Lady Fang said, unable to determine if she was more angry or disappointed.

His heart and eyes were full of her; youthful passion could be understood, spending money as well so, but to lose all reason and neglect everything?

Fang Chengyu looked at Lady Fang, unpanicked and composed.

"Mother, that's not how you should think about it," he said seriously. "Aren't our family's lives here because of her? If she's gone, wouldn't we be gone too? So, it is symbiosis, not abandonment for her sake."

Lady Fang looked at him.

Was that how it should be counted?

Should it be calculated this way?

She saved their lives, should they always repay endlessly?

"This isn't about repayment or debt, I think she is our family's lucky star; look, since she came, my illness has been cured, our enemies vanquished, Mother, she is tied to our fortunes and misfortunes, we must do everything possible to preserve her life, because that also means doing everything possible to preserve our own lives," Fang Chengyu continued earnestly.

Lady Fang looked at him momentarily.

"Don't use these high-sounding principles to confuse me. Can you say it's not because of her, that you don't love her?" she said.

Fang Chengyu nodded.

"Of course, I love her, Mother," he said, blushingly yet openly.

Lady Fang was at a loss for words.

"Then why did you voluntarily say that your marriage with her was fake?" she said.

"Because it was a fake marriage," Fang Chengyu said sincerely. "I really love her, so I let everyone know it was a fake marriage at first, then someday I will genuinely marry her."

That was his original thought.

Lady Fang looked at Fang Chengyu with mixed emotions.

"You..." she said.

Old Lady Fang, who had been silent all along, interrupted her.

"Enough, I understand," she said.

Both Lady Fang and Fang Chengyu looked towards her.

"Send the imperial decree to her," Old Lady Fang stood up and said.

Fang Chengyu beamed a smile, while Lady Fang seemed somewhat anxious.

"Mother," she said, disapprovingly.

"If it were you, would you give up the name 'Jiuling Hall'?" Old Lady Fang looked at her and asked.

Lady Fang was momentarily stunned.

"Just like our many years of hardship and difficulty, have you thought about giving up?" Old Lady Fang asked.

Lady Fang placed her hand on her heart, slightly melancholic.

"I have thought about it," she said.

At that time, more than once, she thought about just ending it all with Fang Chengyu by consuming poison, to be free from the tiredness and pain.

"But you didn't give up," Old Lady Fang said. "Why?"

Lady Fang slowly smiled.

"Because I wasn't willing to," she said.

"That's right, unwilling," Old Lady Fang said. "Why should we give in, why should we give up just because of a name?"

She gestured to Fang Chengyu.

"Go, take the imperial decree, place it in Jiuling Hall, heaven does not deceive, nor should people."

Fang Chengyu's eyes sparkled with joy; he smiled at Old Lady Fang and turned, rushing off jubilantly like a child.

Isn't this just like child's play?

Lady Fang had a complex expression.

"Like Chengyu said, there were no grudges before, but because of this name, grudges have formed. Now there's no other way," Old Lady Fang said, patting Lady Fang's hand. "No matter what Jiuling Hall is called, Jun Zhenzhen she is one of our family. If she's in trouble, we can't escape either. Saving her is saving ourselves, don't think about those trivial loves anymore."

Lady Fang felt somewhat helpless.

"But what if Chengyu's efforts go in vain?" she said.

Old Lady Fang laughed, clapping her hands.

As soon as the maidservant heard the command, she immediately gestured for the troupe to take the stage again and called for the other maids and servants to gather back.

"How can intentions be considered a waste?" Old Lady Fang laughed, "As long as it exists, it brings happiness, it is valuable, and only intentions that are not acted upon are truly sad. Our Chengyu isn't the type to dwell on trivial love affairs."

This was admitting that she herself was too caught up in trivial love affairs. Lady Fang suppressed a bitter smile, well, let it be.

"Mother, should we continue watching this play?" she asked, looking at the troupe waiting for instructions on stage.

"No," Old Lady Fang said, settling back into her chair, "let's switch to 'Dumu Pass.'"

The maidservants immediately echoed their agreement, relaying the change of plays to those on stage.

A burst of gongs and drums sounded from the stage.

"...under the moon shattered heroic courage, thinking of homeland returns the difficulties countless..."

"...I have no grudge with Marshal Wei, yet he inexplicably seeks to capture me. Why so?"

The melodious voice resonated throughout the garden of the stage, with laughter-filled maids running about in the distance.

In the autumnal Fang Family residence, there was not a hint of desolation, only festivity and joy.

And in Beiliu Town at the Ning Family's, it was also a festive late autumn.

This year's harvest was good, business at the family's shop was booming, and messages from Ning Yan in the capital hinted at further improvements. Moreover, with the major examinations drawing closer next year, it signified that Ning Yunzhao's name on the honor roll was also getting nearer.

It truly was a joyful and delightful season.

Young girls crowded into a room, sitting around eating roasted beans; the sisters-in-law of the Ning Family gathered around a table playing cards, servants buzzing around serving tea and snacks, laughter erupting from the house from time to time.

"...and here's something even funnier, have you heard about what Jun Zhenzhen did in the capital?" one of the women suddenly mentioned.

Previously, that name was taboo in Eldest Madam Ning's presence, but this time she spoke without receiving any gestures to stop.

"What has she done now?" Third Madam Ning asked with a half-smile, as she played her card.

"Well, she managed to incite Jinyiwei Thousand-Man Commander Lu and the Duke of Chengguo's heir to fight over her," the woman whispered.

Fourth Madam Ning chuckled and pinched her card.

"Look at what she can do, so powerful," she laughed.

"Fourth Madam might think this young lady looks ordinary, but some women, even if average looking, can attract others," the woman swiftly added, clucking her tongue, "It's really something; she actually managed to attract those two figures."

"What talent is that," scoffed Third Madam Ning disdainfully, "It's shameful; she's completely tarnished her father's reputation."

"If it's not some talent, those two men..." said Fourth Madam Ning with a quasi-smile, "they're just birds of a feather."

Although she didn't spell it out, everyone present understood her implication.

To the public, the Duke of Chengguo was a great hero for protecting the nation, and Heir Zhu a hero as well.

Yet for a bureaucratic family, their perspectives naturally differed.

The Duke of Chengguo was seen as overly power-hungry, and Heir Zhu arrogant and lawless.

Though different in nature, they weren't considered much better than Lu Yunqi, who was seen as a lackey.

Third Madam Ning laughed in agreement.

"That's right," she said. "Otherwise, why would she cling to our Yunzhao, who barely gave her a second glance?"

Eldest Madam Ning coughed lightly and set down her card.

"The children are all here; let's not discuss these messy affairs," she said.

The woman quickly smiled in agreement, laughingly adding,

"Our Tenth Noble Son is of another caliber entirely; after the New Year, we'll just wait for the good news."

Eldest Madam Ning smiled silently, laying down a card.

"Ah, Eldest Madam has won again," the woman leaned in and laughed, "***."

Third Madam Ning and Fourth Madam Ning each laid down their cards.

"Oh dear, eldest sister wins again."

"Eldest sister's luck is getting better and better."

"I can't stand it; I need to swap places with eldest sister."

Amid laughter, the atmosphere in the house grew even more joyful.

Eldest Madam Ning continued to smile amicably; she too felt her luck had been improving, likely since Jun Zhenzhen left Yangcheng.

Let her cause a stir in the capital and ruin her reputation; then she will no longer involve my son.

Her son, the very best, should remain untarnished.