To Qin Xuelian, she had seen this scene countless times in her dreams over the past year. However, she did not believe that this scene would actually happen.
"Zheng, Zheng 'er …" Qin Xuelian murmured softly as she stood rooted to the ground.
Fang Houde was also rooted to the ground. His face, which had been washed by the passage of time, had a sour expression that a man should not have.
He did not believe it either.
Because, this was impossible.
"Zheng 'er is back?" Fang Houde subconsciously clenched his fist after being stunned for a moment. "No, you are not Zheng 'er, my Zheng' er does not look like you, who are you? How dare you impersonate my Zheng 'er, scram, scram! "
Fang Houde's voice was close to a roar.
Fang Zhengzhi looked quietly at Fang Houde, who was in the shed on the second floor. After not seeing him for more than a year, his father in this world had really aged a lot.
"Father!"
"Hurry up and leave!"
"Yes, hurry up and leave, you are not my Zheng 'er, my Zheng' er will not come back … I'm begging you, hurry up and leave!" Qin Xuelian also reacted at this moment. Her body trembled violently as her legs gave way and she fell to the ground.
At this moment, a figure appeared in front of Qin Xuelian and supported her body. That pair of real hands made Qin Xuelian unable to bear the pain in her heart any longer.
"Zheng 'er, my Zheng' er!" As Qin Xuelian shouted, she hugged the figure in her arms. Tears rolled down her cheeks like a curtain of rain.
"Where have you been for the past year? Mother missed you, I really missed you …"
"Did you eat well outside? Were you being chased by anyone? "
"Zheng 'er, my Zheng' er … you are finally back to see Mother …"
After being suppressed for a long time, Qin Xuelian could no longer hold back her emotions. Her pair of delicate hands tightly hugged the figure in her arms. She hugged him very, very tightly …
Fang Zhengzhi didn't move. He just silently felt the warmth that he hadn't felt for a long time. Tears welled up in his eyes. He had also waited for this moment for too long.
"Xuelian, let go of Zheng 'er. It's not too late to leave now, or else … or else …" Fang Houde's eyes welled up with tears when he saw this. However, he knew that many people in the Northern Mountain Village were watching.
"Dad, Mum, it's okay, it's really okay!" Fang Zhengzhi slowly raised his head. He knew what his father was thinking.
"What do you mean nothing? How could you be fine? You're a wanted criminal now, and the whole empire is looking for you. There are posters of you everywhere in Huai An County... "
"Father, I know."
"Why aren't you leaving? Leave now, leave immediately. Father will stop them for you. Your Uncle Yangping and the others will also stop them for you. Leave quickly! "
"Father, I have removed all the spies in the Northern Mountain Village!"
"What?! You... that won't do either. They must have already sent a signal to Huai An County. You can't stay in the Northern Mountain Village any longer. You have to leave now. "Fang Houde ignored Fang Zhengzhi.
Fang Zhengzhi wanted to say that he had already appeared in Huai An County, but he knew that it would only make Fang Houde more worried.
As such, it was difficult for him to explain everything to Fang Houde.
"Mum, I'm hungry." Fang Zhengzhi looked at Qin Xuelian.
"Okay, I'll make you something to eat now." Qin Xuelian wiped her tears and pulled Fang Zhengzhi into the house.
"Xuelian!"
"Houde, I, I..."
"Xuelian, you can't do this, you're harming Zheng 'er!"
"Just one meal? Can't I just have one meal?" Qin Xuelian looked at Fang Houde with a pleading look in her eyes. This was a plea from a mother.
"Sigh …" Fang Houde heaved a heavy sigh and didn't say anything else.
Even he knew that Fang Zhengzhi was telling the truth about removing the spies. Otherwise, those people would have come out a long time ago.
Just as he was thinking about this, a dozen figures appeared at the entrance of the courtyard.
Every figure was wearing a black conical bamboo hat, and the veil hanging down from the bamboo hat concealed their appearances. Most importantly, they were holding various kinds of weapons in their hands.
"Oh no, Zheng 'er, run!" Fang Houde's expression changed when he saw this.
"Dad, these are my friends."
"Friends?"
"Greetings Uncle Fang, Auntie Fang!" At this moment, more than ten figures bowed to Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian in unison.
"This..." Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian looked at each other. Then, they adjusted their clothes and said, "Haha, since you are Zheng 'er's friends, please come in and have a seat. We don't have anything good to entertain you in the village, we only have some wild animals. I wonder if you can get used to it?"
"Uncle Fang, Auntie Fang, you're too kind. We'll just wait outside." Su Jiu stepped forward and smiled politely.
"Wait outside? How can we do that? How can we stand outside when our guests are here, this... "Qin Xuelian panicked when she heard this.
"Let's eat together." Fang Zhengzhi looked at Su Jiu. He had never been a person who thought highly of himself. Furthermore, he knew his parents' personalities.
"Thank you, master!" The dozen figures replied in unison.
"Master?" Qin Xuelian and Fang Houde looked at the dozen figures outside, then at Fang Zhengzhi, their faces filled with disbelief.
Wasn't their son a fugitive?
Furthermore, rumor had it that his cultivation had been destroyed.
Why was he still a master?
"..." Fang Zhengzhi found it hard to explain all of this to Fang Houde and Qin Xuelian. However, with so many outsiders around, they did not probe further.
The news of Fang Zhengzhi's return to the village had also spread.
Village Chief Zhang Yangping ran out the moment Fang Zhengzhi stepped into the hut. He panted as he shouted, "Zhengzhi, run, run..."
Behind Zhang Yangping were a few of his sons and countless villagers. Even the dozens of teachers from the academy were present.
Fang Zhengzhi could only sigh when he saw this. There was not enough food at home.
…
Tonight was a busy night for the Northern Mountain Village. Under Village Chief Zhang Yangping's orders, dozens of tables of all sizes were set up in the square.
However, what made the Northern Mountain Villagers curious was that none of the strangers who were scattered around the Northern Mountain Village had appeared today.
It was a magical scene.
However, no matter how magical it was, they knew that this was only temporary.
What was meant to come would eventually come.
"Zhengzhi, I have some silver here. Take it with you, don't think it's too little!"
"Oh yes, Zhengzhi, I have some local produce. Your second uncle made it himself. It tastes good, bring it with you and your friends."
"I have some silver too."
"Me too!"
All of the villagers came to Fang Zhengzhi after they finished their meals. All of them began to reach for their belongings.
"Uncle Li, Auntie Zhang, I don't want it!"
"How can you not want it? Zhengzhi, your situation is different now. You can use these things outside the Northern Mountain Village. You can't go back to the Northern Mountain Village just because you want to. You have to spend a lot of money outside. Take it, we are different now! "Zhang Yangping looked at Fang Zhengzhi and said sternly.
"Yes, yes, take it!" The group of villagers nodded one after another.
"Uncle Yangping, I am not leaving now. Furthermore, I do not lack silver." Fang Zhengzhi smiled bitterly. He knew what they were thinking.
But when it came to money, he really wasn't too worried.
"Not leaving? How can you not leave? Leave now, while it's dark. Leave through the small path on Cang Ling Mountain, don't take the main road! "
"I really am not leaving!"
"Zhengzhi, don't be stubborn. Uncle Yangping knows that you are capable. However, the army of the Imperial Court is not to be trifled with!"
"Yes, yes, the village chief is right. Zhengzhi, we are all farmers and we are not afraid of death. However, you have a bright future ahead of you. Now that you have become their worshipper, you can't just die like this!" A group of villagers also tried to persuade him.
Fang Zhengzhi was speechless.
He knew that no matter how he tried to explain to them, it would be useless. In the eyes of the Northern Mountain Village, the Imperial Court was the true Heaven.
The Heaven that could not be defied!
"Let's go, let's go!"
"I am not leaving!"
"Don't be stubborn, let's go!"
"I am not leaving!"
"..."
Fang Zhengzhi did not know how many times he had said that he would not leave. He did not know when the villagers left. All he knew was that he was tired and wanted to have a good sleep.
Persuading the villagers to leave was harder than fighting a battle.
Night fell.
The stars shone brightly.
Qin Xuelian sat by Fang Zhengzhi's bed and carefully tidied his blanket. Fang Houde stood behind her with a worried look on his face.
"Xuelian, why don't we tie him up?"
"How dare you! This is my son! If you dare to tie him up, I will fight you to the death! "Qin Xuelian put on a strong front when she heard this.
"But..."
"When the sun rises tomorrow, I'll ask him to leave. I'll personally persuade him to leave!" Qin Xuelian's eyes welled up with tears again.
She had waited for more than a year, hoped for more than a year, dreamed for more than a year.
Her son was finally back. However, as his mother, all she could do was to persuade her son to leave. Who could understand her pain?
…
The night in the Northern Mountain Village slowly quietened down.
However, Huai An County, the Northern Lands Five Constabularies, and even the Flame Capital City were shaken.
Fang Zhengzhi's appearance in Huai An County was like a huge explosion, spreading in all directions.
In the Flame Capital City, countless vases were broken in the Eastern Palace Crown Prince's residence. Following that, countless hanger-ons rushed out of the residence on horseback.
Except for the Eastern Palace.
King Duan's Residence, the Left Minister's Residence, and the Country Protector Constabulary all received the news at the same time.
"Fang Zhengzhi is back in Huai An County!"
"And he even went to the Northern Mountain Village!"
The impact of this news was huge. To them, this news was unbelievable. However, the entire Huai An County had seen it.
How could it be fake?
"How dare he!"
"Arrest him!"
"This time, we can't let him escape."
Their voices reverberated throughout Flame Capital City, expressing their stance.
After all, ever since Crown Prince Lin Tianrong returned to the capital a year ago, his influence in the imperial court had skyrocketed.
Even King Duan, who was able to go up against the Crown Prince a year ago, had no choice but to retreat.
After all, the Southern Region had achieved an unprecedented victory. Furthermore, the death of the Crown Prince, Shan Ling, meant that the Southern Region's crisis had been resolved.
Such a meritorious service, coupled with the Crown Prince's status, caused countless courtiers to express their stance and reveal their "loyalty" in advance.
The Crown Prince was naturally happy to see this happen.
The establishment of the military, the various constabularies, and the officials were even more certain that the Crown Prince would soon become the ruler of the world!
…
…
While the entire empire was in turmoil, Fang Zhengzhi did not leave the Northern Mountain Village. He continued to enjoy Qin Xuelian's, Fang Houde's, Zhang Yangping's and the other villagers' advice from morning till night.
Of course, the more he enjoyed it, the more he got used to it.
"Alright, I'll leave after lunch!"
"Alright, wait for me to finish dinner. I'll definitely leave after dinner."
"It's already so late? You can leave tomorrow morning, it's fine … "
Fang Zhengzhi knew that there was no point in trying to explain, so he tried to stall for time. No matter how much he urged or tried to persuade him, he could only stall for time.
Three days later, the sun was shining brightly.
Zhang Yangping's figure appeared at the entrance of the Fang Clan's courtyard. However, compared to usual, Zhang Yangping's expression today was clearly much more anxious.
Or rather, it was a form of fear, a fear that came from the depths of his heart!
"Oh no, Zhengzhi, run, there are people coming, there are so many of them. It's the army, the army is here. Hurry, leave Cang Ling Mountain!" Zhang Yangping shouted as he panted.
As soon as Zhang Yangping's voice fell.
A figure appeared in front of Zhang Yangping. It was a lady wearing a black bamboo hat, her body exuding an icy aura.
"Master is resting." The lady said icily as she looked at Zhang Yangping.
"I know, but … there are really people outside. I have sent people to monitor the situation within five miles of the village entrance. Now that the news has reached here, I'm afraid they are more than three miles away!" Zhang Yangping looked at the lady. He wanted to go around her, but he realized that he could not. As such, he could only explain.
"Mm, I understand." The lady nodded.
"Then why aren't you telling Zhengzhi to run?" Zhang Yangping was anxious.
"Master is resting." The lady replied coldly.
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