Chapter 25: Uncovering the Conspiracy

“The young master’s husband is the one they call Fang Xian, also known as Mister Fang. His medical skills are extraordinary—not only did he detoxify the old chief, he cured Big Ox’s wife’s blindness, and even brought your Brother Tianming’s sister-in-law and nephew back from the brink of death.

A month or two ago, one morning as I was carrying some vegetables to the market to exchange for food, I was suddenly seized by a coughing fit and nearly lost my breath. As luck would have it, the young mistress and her husband were having breakfast at the market, and he saved me. You must always remember to repay such great kindness.” Aunt Zhou exhorted her son.

“Mother, I won’t forget,” Zhou Dadan nodded. Like Big Ox and Second Ox, he was deeply filial.

“Good. Now, both Big Ox and Second Ox are deeply grateful to him; Second Ox is already serving by his side. You should find a time to thank him personally, and if he’s willing to keep you, you can stay and serve him as well,” Aunt Zhou advised.

“Alright, I’ll do as you say. Mother, I brought some things back. In a bit, I’ll take some to Big Ox’s house and pay my respects to Auntie too.” Zhou Dadan helped his mother inside as he spoke.

“Yes, while you’ve been away, your aunt often came to keep me company. Big Ox and his wife also helped me with chores now and then. When they returned from hunting with Fang Xian, they shared a rabbit with us and brought a bowl after it was cooked. We should thank them properly,” Aunt Zhou said kindly, always setting an example for her son.

...

Huang Yuantao was troubled, his mind full of doubts, and with Huang Shuhua sitting silently beside him, neither eating nor drinking, lost in thought, he had little appetite for food or drink himself.

“Second Brother, we’ve been on the road for over half a month without a proper rest. I can’t keep you company for long today. Another day, I’ll invite you and eldest brother to my place so the three of us can enjoy ourselves together.” After barely half an hour, Huang Yuantao stood up to take his leave.

“I understand. Go home and rest well today. As for Brother Wei, will he be staying with you or somewhere else?” Zhou Boxiong asked, turning to Wei Qi’an.

“He can stay in my courtyard; there’s plenty of room for one more, and it’ll be more convenient for meals,” Huang Yuantao replied after a moment’s thought.

He took his son, Huang Shuhua, and the pale-faced Wei Qi’an back to his own house, where his wife and their eight-year-old daughter and three-year-old son were already waiting at the door.

“Master’s home. Shuhua, too.” Huang Yuantao’s wife was his second wife, much younger than him, and had given him a son and a daughter, but her relationship with Huang Shuhua was only lukewarm.

Huang Shuhua, still dazed, ignored her, went straight to his own room, and shut the door, lost in his thoughts.

“Brother Wei, please have a seat in the hall,” Huang Yuantao said with a sigh, knowing how deeply his son was wounded by Ye Hongxiu’s marriage, yet powerless to help. He put it aside for the moment and invited Wei Qi’an to sit and talk.

“Prepare the room in the east wing; Brother Wei will be staying with us from now on.” After a few steps, he turned and instructed his wife.

Afterward, the two men went into the hall. The maids brought tea, and Huang Yuantao called his wife and the two maids over. “How exactly did this Fang Xian infiltrate the stronghold? Tell me in detail everything that happened in the three months I was away. You two listen as well—if the mistress leaves anything out, make sure to add it.”

His wife nodded and began recounting the story from the old chief’s ambush and poisoning, through Fang Xian’s timely intervention, and all the events since. The two maids, who spent more time outside and heard much from the stronghold, occasionally supplemented her account.

“Third Chief, everyone in the stronghold now says the young master’s husband is a miracle doctor—he and the young mistress are a perfect match, a marriage of talent and beauty. Everyone believes she’s found a good man,” one maid concluded with obvious admiration.

“Alright, you may go,” Huang Yuantao dismissed his wife and the maids, exchanging a long, silent look with Wei Qi’an.

“Huang, you said the stronghold’s situation was simple, but it seems far from it now,” Wei Qi’an remarked.

“Indeed. Originally, the three of us old brothers made all the decisions. But in just three months, this young man has won everyone’s hearts. He truly is remarkable,” Huang Yuantao replied.

“To dispel the Five Poisons Sect’s deadly toxin, heal blindness of over a decade, and bring a woman and child back from death in childbirth—he must be a man of great talent. Huang, there are only two paths now: either clear up the misunderstanding and persuade him to pledge himself to the Ninth Prince, or find a way to eliminate him and prevent future trouble,” Wei Qi’an advised.

“Then I’ll ask your help to plan his removal,” Huang Yuantao said after some thought. “He’s already influencing our eldest brother and Hongxiu, and many of the stronghold’s core members. If he stays, he may ruin the Ninth Prince’s cause.”

“If you’re resolved to remove him, the first step is to destroy his reputation or brand him a spy, sow discord between him and the stronghold, and force him either to leave or to be sent away—then we can use our outside contacts to finish the matter,” Wei Qi’an suggested.

“Exactly. His martial skills are formidable, and he could cure the Five Poisons Sect’s toxin—we can claim he’s one of their disciples. At the same time, have our people outside the stronghold bring in a Five Poisons Sect disciple to stir up trouble and leave evidence pointing to him, so that he can never clear his name,” Huang Yuantao plotted.

“And you can also have your people spread rumors in the stronghold, say he’s plotting to seize control of Qingyun Stronghold. Even if some don’t believe it, once the rumors spread, it will harm him,” Wei Qi’an added.

The two men discussed their plan at length, refining the details. In the end, Wei Qi’an wrote out their arrangements, which were sent outside with a carrier pigeon brought secretly by his followers.

...

A sharp cry pierced the air.

Fang Xian and Ye Hongxiu had barely rested when they heard the call of a young falcon outside the window. Fang Xian rose, opened the window, and the young falcon flew in, clutching a white bird in its talons.

“It’s a carrier pigeon,” Ye Hongxiu immediately saw the small tube tied to its leg and retrieved the slip of paper inside.

“Offering a large reward for a Five Poisons Sect disciple to wait outside Qingyun Stronghold,” Fang Xian read the single sentence and began to guess at the sender’s intentions.

“It seems there really is a traitor in the stronghold. But from the tone, it doesn’t sound like collusion with the Five Poisons Sect, more like someone wants to use them to stir up trouble. Could they be planning to poison the stronghold?” Ye Hongxiu speculated.

“This pigeon flew out from Third Uncle’s courtyard. If not him, then it must be the guest he brought today. Let’s go see Father,” Fang Xian said, having learned the pigeon’s origin from the falcon.

“Third Uncle wouldn’t betray the family or the stronghold, but as for the man he brought, we don’t know his background. Let the pigeon go—we know what’s happening and can quietly increase our vigilance. Put someone on that guest and don’t let him roam freely,” Ye Qingyun decided after some thought.

“Father, though Third Uncle would never betray you or the stronghold, we must be wary—what if he’s deceived? I won’t attend the meeting this afternoon; Hongxiu can fill me in later. I’ll be training in the camp. Also, there are already several strong masters exposed in the stronghold. If anyone else breaks through to the top rank, I’ll ask them to keep it secret for now—only you and I should know, just in case,” Fang Xian said.

“Very well, remind them and say it’s my wish. I’ll see what Third Uncle is up to and look into the man he brought back, to uncover his intentions,” Ye Qingyun replied.