Chapter 252 Becoming an Apprentice

Li San Niang, along with her father and second brother, exchanged undisguised glances in the main hall. This... such a sudden and huge surprise had hit them like a ton of bricks, leaving them momentarily at a loss for what to do.

Li San Niang wasn't the type to care about saving face; if she didn't take advantage of a good deal, she'd be struck by lightning.

Li San Niang got up and went to Doctor Liang, bowed deeply, and said, "Greetings, Master."

Old Doctor Liang was stunned for a moment, probably because he didn't expect Li San Niang to be so opportunistic.

Li Erxiong was a good helper, handing a teacup to Li Sanniang from the side. Li Sanniang kowtowed three times loudly, took the teacup from Li Erxiong, raised it to Doctor Liang and said, "Master, please have some tea."

Dr. Liang smiled and said, "Okay, okay, okay."

After Dr. Liang took a sip of the tea offered by Li San Niang, an annoyed voice called out "Master!" from behind him.

It was the same young boy from Shaoyang who had been completely bewildered. Now, seeing his master drink the tea offered by Li San Niang and seemingly about to take him on as a disciple, he finally spoke up with a hint of complaint towards Doctor Liang.

"Master, you clearly said when you accepted me as your last disciple!"

Shao Yang stood beside Doctor Liang, looking at him, but pointing at Li San Niang who was still kneeling on the ground, he continued to accuse Doctor Liang: "Now that I've taken this girl in, don't I become the senior brother? Didn't we agree that I would be the last disciple?"

"Oh, alright, Shaoyang, don't be angry. Now that you're the senior brother, you should act like one. Quickly help your junior sister up."

Shao Yang turned his head away in anger, not even glancing at Li San Niang.

Li San Niang wouldn't hold such a grudge against this young boy. Instead, she smiled and looked up, saying, "Master, I can get up by myself without your help, Junior Brother."

As she spoke, Li San Niang stood up on her own.

Li San Niang was overjoyed at becoming an apprentice, but Fang Chengxian, who had already been taken by Li Da Lang to stay in the guest room next door, still couldn't fall asleep.

After drinking the medicine prepared by Duoshou, Fang Chengxian, draped in a cloak, looked at the bright moon outside the window, feeling somewhat melancholy.

This was because after Fang Chengxian found out exactly how he had been poisoned during his six or seven years in the Fang family mansion, he moved with Duoshou from the Fang family mansion to a small estate outside Chang'an City.

That small estate was part of Fang Chengxian's deceased mother's dowry. The estate wasn't large, with a few tenant farmers, and it wasn't far from Chang'an City, only about half an hour's drive away.

Since moving to this small estate, Fang Chengxian has handed over all the business related to the Fang family to his stewards. Apart from the properties under his mother's name and the ones he has made up himself over the years, he has no intention of managing the Fang family's assets anymore.

However, several stewards still came to this small estate to consult Fang Chengxian.

With less than four months until Lunar New Year's Eve, Fang Chengxian flatly refused to answer the question about how to restock his shop: "Don't ask me about anything in the manor anymore, I'm sick."

The stewards, who were blocked from entering, dared not make decisions on their own. No matter how influential they were outside, they were ultimately just stewards of the Fang family, and that vast estate belonged to the Fang family.

Therefore, the stewards went to the Fang residence together to ask for instructions from the Fang father.

After hearing what the stewards said, Fang's father thought that Fang Chengxian was terminally ill and did not want to return to the manor for treatment, so he came directly to the small estate where Fang Chengxian was staying that very night.

When Fang Chengxian entered, his father was relieved to see him wearing a cloak and reading by lamplight.

After Duoshou had brewed the tea, the father and son sat down facing each other.

"Why did you decide to stay at this little estate? Were you bored living in the manor?"

Fang Chengxian remained silent.

Fang Chengxian realized that he had been petty. His father was his own father, and it was impossible for him to have allowed his concubine to poison him on purpose.

But when Fang Chengxian thought about those two proverbs, "A child without a mother is like a blade of grass, and a stepmother is like a stepfather," they really did make sense.

Regardless of whether Fang's father truly had deep feelings for his deceased wife, he was still concerned about Fang Chengxian, the eldest son, or perhaps he feared the considerable influence of Fang Chengxian's mother.

Or perhaps it was because after Emperor Wu came to power, Fang's father, for the sake of his own future, did not take a second wife. The two concubines that Fang's father took when Fang Chengxian was just over ten years old were only due to the urging and coercion of the old lady Fang.

Therefore, Fang Chengxian did not have a stepmother, but after learning the truth about his poisoning, he felt that he had a stepfather.

However, children are born with a love for their parents, and their affection for their parents is not something that can be easily let go.

Even people in their forties or fifties still yearn for their parents' love, let alone Fang Chengxian, who was just a young man.

So, looking at the caring gaze his father was giving him, Fang Chengxian really didn't know how to say it.

“Father, I will live on this estate from now on and will not return to the manor.”

After looking at Fang Chengxian's face, Fang's father reached out and touched his hand. Finding it warm, he took a sip of tea and said, "Is it because Gen'er (Fang Xiaolang) is disturbing your peace at home?"

I think it might be the medication Dr. Liang prescribed recently that's working. Your complexion looks much better than before, and your hands aren't so cold anymore.

The father and son chatted casually for a few more minutes. Seeing that Fang Chengxian was doing well, the father felt relieved.

That night, the father stayed in the guest room of this small estate. After all, the curfew had long passed, so he could not return to the city.

Although neither father nor son explicitly stated why Fang Chengxian was unwilling to continue managing the Fang family's businesses, Fang's father must have had his own reasons.

Then, on the second night, Fang Chengxian's small estate welcomed Fang's father again.

This time, however, the father arrived with a gloomy face. Once inside, he simply sat down and didn't say a word.

Fang Chengxian was just physically weak, but he was able to manage the Fang family's business so well. While it wasn't exactly a case of making a fortune every day, at least every year when the dozen or so managers came together to tally the accounts, there was always a considerable amount of money coming in.

Therefore, Fang Chengxian was very intelligent.

He realized that Fang's father must have already planned it out last night, but he just didn't say it to Fang Chengxian.

Over the years, the only person Fang Chengxian was close to was his servant Duoshou, and Duoshou never told Fang Chengxian that his father had come looking for him.

That means the father must have gotten the information from someone else.

"Father, you know everything."

The tone was certain; Fang Chengxian knew that his father must now know that it was his concubine who had poisoned him.

Mr. Fang nodded without saying anything.

Fang Chengxian had told himself yesterday morning that the Fang residence was no longer his home.

But today I saw that Fang's father didn't say a word, neither explaining nor denying nor confirming, just remaining silent, not giving me an explanation.

Fang Chengxian then truly realized that he had long since lost his home!

"Since it has already happened, I only have four or five years left to live."

I will never go back to the Fang family mansion, nor will I interfere with the family business. I will only keep what my mother left me and what I have saved up over the years.

Father, son, I won't make things difficult for the Fang family or for you, Father.

"Chengxian, you..."

Upon hearing Fang Chengxian's words, Fang's father felt a sharp pain in his heart.

Mr. Fang was truly surprised. Because of Fang Chengxian's behavior yesterday, he sensed something was amiss. So, before going on duty today, he went home and asked the head steward to investigate. He also asked the head guard to find a way to investigate within the mansion.

Although Fang Chengxian had not made a big show of investigating the poisoning incident, he had indeed asked Duoshou to find the old people left behind by his mother in the mansion and have these servants help him investigate.

If something has been done, there will definitely be traces left behind.

The head steward and the chief guard of the Fang family wielded considerable power within the household, so they were naturally quick to uncover the sordid affairs hidden behind the scenes.

After returning home from his shift today, Fang's father listened in his study as the head steward talked about how the concubine he had taken in, who had given birth to Fang Erlang (Gen'er), a healthy son, was able to bribe the second steward, many servants, and the cooks in the main kitchen to put harmful substances in Fang Chengxian's food. This caused Fang Chengxian's health to deteriorate over the years, and the poison had already penetrated his lungs.

Mr. Fang was in a real predicament.

"The steward and servants who are involved in the affair will not escape the death penalty for betraying their master, and the accomplices will also be punished."

...After all, Gen'er was her son, so let her stay in the family's Buddhist shrine and pray for Gen'er's well-being.

The family property was already divided between you and your second sister by your mother. My share was divided into three parts, which you, your second sister, and Gen'er will divide equally.

As for your grandmother's share, it's up to her; she can give it to whomever she wants.

Later, I'll have Lizhong (the head steward of the Fang family) bring you the contract.

"It's my fault, Father, but I still have the whole family to rely on. You can hate me, resent me, whatever you want, just don't forget to take care of yourself."

Fang Chengxian looked at the bright moon outside the window, and was urged by Duoshou: "My lord, it's time to sleep, it's already 9:00 PM."