The Fang Mansion after nightfall.
Fang Youzhen practiced martial arts in the courtyard, and after bathing, she thought about the incident where Bai Zhi’er had been bullied.
So she took the initiative to go to her father’s main house, wanting to hear her father’s opinion on the Master.
However, just as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw her father, General Fang, walking out of the study with a guest who appeared to be a housekeeper.
The housekeeper smiled ingratiatingly, clasping his hands in respect: "General Fang, this old servant will return and convey the message to our master."
Fang Youzhen frowned, recognizing the other party.
This was the housekeeper of her betrothal family, the Wang Family.
The Great General Fang Qian had a square face and was never frivolous with words and smiles.
At this moment, his brow was furrowed with heavy thoughts.
Fang Qian also clasped his hands slightly: "Thank you for your effort."
The housekeeper immediately waved his hands: "General, you’re too kind. Not to mention that your daughter and our young master are a perfect match made by heaven."
"Speaking of General’s desire to save your mother, our master deeply understands and supports it. Our master says, we are all one family, so General, please do not stand on ceremony."
"Once our master is prepared, he will surely send all the medicinal materials that General Fang needs."
Fang Qian’s jawline tightened, and he solemnly clasped his fists: "Please convey my gratitude to Lord Wang."
The housekeeper took his leave with a smile.
As he passed by Fang Youzhen, the housekeeper respectfully saluted.
Fang Youzhen never had a good impression of the Wang family.
She stiffly nodded her head.
After the housekeeper left, Fang Youzhen asked Fang Qian: "Father, what have you entrusted to the Wang family?"
Without any outsiders present, Fang Qian shed his imposing demeanor, his eyes and brows revealing profound fatigue.
He sighed heavily: "Youzhen, I’m afraid your grandmother is not going to make it."
"What!?" Fang Youzhen was stunned.
Her grandmother was old, and her illness had been recurrent and gradually worsening over the past three months.
Now she was so weak that she couldn’t eat a single bite, surviving on ginseng soup.
Even so, when Fang Youzhen visited her yesterday, her grandmother could still sit up and talk to her a little.
Fang Qian painfully pressed his fingers against his temples.
"This morning, the doctor told me that regular ginseng soup is almost useless. If we want your grandmother to hold on, we need centennial ginseng."
"The Wang family has a private medicinal garden where they planted some centennial ginseng from elsewhere."
"They have six centennial ginsengs now that they can give us to save lives."
Fang Youzhen frowned in confusion: "The Wang family has always been mercenary, would they really give it away for nothing?"
Fang Qian shook his head with a bitter smile.
This was the most distressing part for him.
"The Wang family wants half of the land deeds of Mingyang Academy."
Fang Youzhen was shocked and angry: "This is preposterous! The Wang and Gao families are distant relatives; they must be asking on behalf of the Master."
"Father, you must think carefully. The Emperor has only ascended the throne recently, the backgrounds of the court officials are complex, and they have intricate ties with the former dynasty."
"As the only academy that can recommend officials to the court, now that you are overseeing it, they do not dare to act too recklessly."
"If it truly falls completely into the hands of the Wang and Gao families, then the court will just be under their control in the future!"
"Considering their usual conduct, would there still be any good officials by then?"
These two families are like wolves and will surround and devour the Emperor, who is like a tiger!
Fang Youzhen, though young, saw the situation clearly.
Now, the court officials were mired in corruption and chaos.
The Emperor could hardly manage to deal with them one by one, even by executing them.
If the Wang and Gao families truly call the shots in the future, will the people still have good days?
The newly stabilized nation could fall into chaos once more?