Chapter 6: Imperial Ancestors Above

Fang Jinglong’s naturally imposing face instantly went blank, as though dark clouds had gathered over it. He stammered, “Does that mean… everything was sold… everything?”

This burly military man suddenly had tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. All at once, he fell to his knees with a loud thud and let out a wailing cry. “Unworthy descendants! I have shamed our ancestors!”

Fang Jinglong wept bitterly, repeatedly kowtowing and hitting his head on the ground while blaming himself aloud. Manager Yang, standing nearby, hurriedly helped the despairing Fang Jinglong to his feet.

Fang Jinglong sighed deeply and angrily said to Manager Yang, “When the Young Lord wanted to sell the land, why didn’t you write to consult me? Why… did you indulge him like this?”

Manager Yang replied in a grievance-filled tone, “After you went south, Master, the Young Lord became the head of the household. I did try to stop him, but I couldn’t. Besides, you had said earlier that as long as the Young Lord was happy, anything was fine. When you sent your letter, you also said the top priority was to treat the Young Lord’s illness—it’s a Brain Illness, and we mustn’t upset him, so we had to go along with everything…”

“Ah…” Fang Jinglong let out another long sigh, rendered speechless. Then he continued walking toward the main hall. Fang Jifan clicked his tongue and followed slowly, like a child who had done something wrong. He very much wanted to comfort his father but didn’t know how to start.

When they reached the main hall, Fang Jinglong was about to order, “Bring tea…”

But as he looked around,

he realized the redwood Official’s Hat Armchairs that had been in the hall were gone. The tea table and the calligraphy and paintings on the wall had also disappeared without a trace. Even the lamp stand had vanished into thin air.

What was placed here now…

was a willow wood table, clearly half-worn, and… two long benches.

Long benches…

The main hall of the Nanhe Bo Mansion had once been so grand; these lonely long benches looked particularly glaring.

Fang Jinglong stared blankly, but an attentive servant promptly brought tea. Except… it wasn’t served in a white porcelain Tea Cup, but… well… a large bowl. The clay bowl even had visible cracks—not because it was old, but due to flaws from firing low-quality pottery.

Fang Jinglong felt his vision darken and said subconsciously, “The… the tables and chairs were sold too?”

Manager Yang looked as if his mother had died. “Sol… sold…”

Fang Jinglong quickly used his hand to support himself as his body swayed. Once he steadied himself, rage surged in his heart. Suddenly, veins bulged on his forehead. He raised his hand and swung it hard toward Fang Jifan’s face.

That large palm traced a half-arc through the air. Fang Jifan instinctively closed his eyes, thinking to himself, It’s over, just let him hit me. To be fair, a scoundrel and wastrel like this—even I would want to slap myself every day in the mirror.

But just as the palm was about to strike Fang Jifan’s cheek, it abruptly stopped. The anger on Fang Jinglong’s face vanished, replaced by a pale, defeated look, like a rooster that had lost a fight. Tears welled in his eyes as he sighed and said, “Jifan, when your mother died, she repeatedly urged me to treat you well. All these years, I didn’t dare remarry or take a concubine, worried I’d fail your departed mother. You… ending up like this… cough…” He coughed violently, clutching his chest, and choked out, “It’s my fault, all my fault. You grew up without a mother. Never mind, never mind. As long as you’re safe and healthy, that’s what matters.”

He gave a bitter smile and shook his head. Suddenly, as if remembering something, his face tensed up again. He couldn’t help but ask, “My treasures… are they still here?”

As he spoke, he shot off like an arrow from a bow, rushing toward the study.

His treasures were the various jars, vases, and heirlooms stored in the study. Panting, he reached the study and his eyes went straight to where the curio shelf used to stand.

But who would have thought? Not only had the items on the curio shelf disappeared, even the curio shelf itself was gone.

Fang Jifan and Manager Yang hurriedly followed and found Fang Jinglong beating his chest and stamping his feet, wailing loud enough to shake the roof tiles. “Heavens! What sin have I committed to deserve this?!”

“Earl, please calm down.” Manager Yang stepped forward.

“Ancestors!” Fang Jinglong raised his hands to the sky and roared, “Unworthy descendants!”

Then Fang Jinglong’s vision went black, and he collapsed with a muffled thud.

Fang Jifan was so scared his face turned pale. Wasn’t his father a general? How could his ability to handle stress be so weak!

He quickly supported Fang Jinglong. Behind him, voices cried out in panic: “Oh no, oh no! The Earl has fainted! Quickly, fetch a doctor! Get a doctor!”

The Fang Family was thrown into chaos, like chickens flying and dogs jumping—utterly disorganized.

Fang Jifan took a deep breath. Seeing everyone flustered and helpless, he felt both guilty but had to pull himself together. With a firm voice, he said, “Manager Yang, you personally go and fetch the doctor. Deng Jian, go get a towel and wet it.”

Fang Jifan checked Fang Jinglong’s breathing—fortunately, it was still steady. His pulse was weak but not irregular, so Fang Jifan felt a bit relieved.

This damned wastrel… Fang Jifan didn’t know if he was cursing the original owner or himself.

Luckily, everyone in the mansion was in such a panic that they didn’t notice anything unusual about this Young Master Fang.

In the Warm Pavilion of the Forbidden City,

the Hongzhi Emperor had not been feeling well lately. However, he had always been diligent, so even when unwell, he dared not neglect state affairs.

Not long before, someone had reported that Nanhe Bo Fang Jinglong had returned triumphant from suppressing the chieftain rebellion in the Southwest and had entered the capital. He would soon come to the palace for an audience.

The Hongzhi Emperor’s face lit up with joy and excitement.

Leaning on a soft cushion, while waiting to summon Nanhe Bo, he held a copy of “On Identifying Treachery” in his hands. The Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao stood cautiously to the side, his face as red as liver.

Zhu Houzhao was the Hongzhi Emperor’s only son, and thus doted upon. Looking at the young Crown Prince before him, the Emperor’s eyes showed deep affection. “I heard that recently your tutors have been teaching you ‘On Identifying Treachery’ by Su Xun. Although this essay is somewhat harsh, it has its merits. Have you memorized it?”

“I… I have memorized it…” Zhu Houzhao kept his head lowered, not daring to look up at the Emperor.

As if fearing what would come next, the Hongzhi Emperor smiled and said, “In that case… recite it for me.”

Zhu Houzhao’s shifty eyes suddenly reddened. He stared fixedly at his boots and stammered, “Events… events have… have their inevitability… reason… reason…”

After struggling for a long time over “reason,” he couldn’t continue.

The Hongzhi Emperor leaned forward slightly, displeased. “You’ve studied for half a month and only memorized these five words? The tutors at the House of the Crown Prince have been teaching diligently, and you haven’t absorbed a single word?”

Zhu Houzhao hung his head. “Your Son and Servant knows he was wrong.”

The Emperor frowned, adopting a stern expression. “You are the Crown Prince. In the future, you will Inherit the Throne. If you do not study, how will you understand principles? Without understanding principles, how will you govern The World?”

Zhu Houzhao trembled with fear. “Your Son and Servant… Your Son and Servant…”

Seeing how frightened Zhu Houzhao looked, the Hongzhi Emperor’s heart softened. His stern gaze melted away, and he sighed. “Ah, you… you’ve been spoiled by your Empress Mother. From now on, don’t be like this. You must apply yourself to your studies.”

A sly glint flashed in Zhu Houzhao’s eyes. In the past, whenever his Imperial Father scolded him, if he acted afraid, his father would always relent. Today was no exception. He quickly said, “Your Son and Servant will remember.”

The Hongzhi Emperor smiled wryly and shook his head. “You…”

He wanted to scold him a few more times but couldn’t bring himself to speak. Instead, he turned to the eunuchs beside him and said, “Hasn’t Nanhe Bo arrived in the capital? Why hasn’t he come for an audience yet? I’ve been waiting here all along. Go to the Office of Transmission and hurry them up.”

“Yes.”