Chapter 344: Do You Know the Proper Boundaries Between Men and Women?

Chapter 344: Do You Know the Proper Boundaries Between Men and Women?

Faced with irrefutable evidence, Yang Zheming had no choice but to confess.

After his divorce from Fan Pingfang, cowed by Yu Yonghuai's authority, he gained nothing and couldn’t benefit at all.

The more he thought about it, the more resentful he became. He planned to set the main courtyard on fire at night, hoping to make it seem like the fire was caused by Fan Pingfang’s negligence, so he could demand compensation from her for the house.

Yang Zheming bowed repeatedly to the magistrate: "Your Honor, I never meant to harm anyone... It was Pei Qin who incited me!"

Pei Qin, standing beside him, turned pale in shock: "Husband!"

Yang’s mother suddenly caught on and quickly testified: "Yes, Your Honor, it was all Pei Qin, that wretched woman, who provoked and incited him!"

Pei Qin, furious and her eyes red with anger, retorted: "I’m carrying your Yang family’s heir! And this is how you treat me?!"

Fan Pingfang watched coldly as the three of them tore into each other, nearly coming to blows in the courtroom, and could only sneer.

At the same time, she made up her mind completely.

Rather than wasting her life in such a meaningless place, she decided to explore a wider world.

...

Fan Pingfang returned to Mapo County with Xingxing and Huai Geer.

She left her personal matron at the Yang family to help register and handle the remaining dowry, as she couldn’t stand to stay in that wretched place a moment longer.

Xingxing hugged Fan Pingfang sincerely and said, "Sister Fan, I wish you a life of freedom and happiness ahead."

Fan Pingfang hugged her back and smiled gently, "I certainly will."

Xingxing then reluctantly got into the carriage and returned to the Liu family with Huai Geer.

Previously, the Yujia family’s estate had been looted by the people from Lin Yang Marquis’s estate. As the Yujia family planned to move to the capital, they slowly began packing their belongings.

Over the years, the Yujia family had added many maids. Most of the original maids with two-character names had married. Although they still worked for the Yujia family, they naturally put their own families first and couldn’t follow them to the capital.

For example, Shuangyun, after being freed by the Yujia family, married a family in the county town and now has both a son and a daughter, living a very comfortable life.

The Yujia family continued to employ these maids and servants who couldn’t follow them to the capital, to help look after the courtyard in Nantuo Village.

Shuangyun and others readily agreed.

The Yujia family treated their servants very well, and in return, the servants were loyal to the Yujia family.

As for the Yujia family’s business, which had always supported the villagers of Nantuo Village, even though the Yujia family was moving to the capital, their business remained. Bai Ge’er had arranged the business in this area properly, and the villagers of Nantuo Village could still benefit from the Yujia family’s discounted prices, for which they were all grateful.

On the day the Yujia family left Mapo County, the villagers of Nantuo Village gathered near the Liu family’s villa to bid them farewell.

"Safe journey!"

"Come back home when you have the chance!"

"Take care!"

Amid the villagers’ farewells, the Yujia family’s convoy of over ten carriages set off, stretching out like a long dragon, heading towards the capital.

However, as they left Mapo County, three carriages with green curtains were waiting by the main road.

When the Yujia convoy came into view, the coachman was thrilled and called out to the occupant of the carriage, "Miss, the Yujia convoy is here."

The occupant of the carriage stepped out.

At the same time, Xingxing and the others noticed three carriages that seemed to be deliberately waiting by the roadside.

Just as they were puzzling over it, they saw who had emerged from the carriage—none other than Fan Pingfang and her siblings.

Fan Pingfang cradled Ling Jier in her arms, her smile radiant as she waved to the Yujia convoy.

Xingxing hastily signaled the convoy to halt and jumped out of her carriage: "Sister Fan, are you here to see us off?"

"No," Fan Pingfang replied with a smile, her expression more relaxed than it had been in a long time. "I have a request to make. Take me and Ling Jier to the capital with you. I’ve thought it over—the world is vast and full of opportunities. Rather than being cooped up at home, I’d rather take Ling Jier out to see it. Aren’t you heading to the capital? Your convoy is escorted by General Yu’s soldiers. Mind if we tag along? We’re also going to the capital."

Xingxing’s eyes widened in surprise.

Fan Pingfang teased, "What, not welcoming me?"

Xingxing shook her head vigorously: "Of course not, of course not!" She smiled sincerely. "Sister Fan, since you’ve decided to go to the capital, come with us!"

Given the deep ties between the Yujia and the Fan family, bringing Fan Pingfang and Ling Jier along would be no trouble at all.

Fan Pingfang smiled and, still holding Ling Jier, bowed slightly to Xingxing: "Xingxing… I truly, deeply thank you."

Xingxing’s dimples appeared as she grinned. "Don’t mention it! You’ve helped us so much in the past."

She then turned to Fan Xingru, who stood nearby. "Brother Fan, are you coming too?"

Fan Xingru’s eyes were slightly red, and he forced a smile. "What are you talking about? I’m all my parents have left. If I leave too, wouldn’t they be beside themselves with worry?"

He suddenly turned away, quickly wiping a tear, then turned back to Xingxing. "Xingxing, I haven’t thanked you yet. My sister has always been strong-willed, and she hasn’t breathed a word about the recent upheaval in the Yang family. If she hadn’t suddenly divorced and returned home yesterday, my parents and I wouldn’t have known a thing… Thank you for freeing her from that prison. Now she wants to take Ling Jier and go to the capital with you, so let her go."

Fan Xingru gave Xingxing a quick hug.

Huai Geer and the older boys, all on horseback, frowned at the sight.

Fan Xingru, you idiot, have you no decency!

How old are you, and you still dare to hug our sister!

Do you have any sense of propriety!

Fan Pingfang smiled faintly and patted Fan Xingru’s arm. "Alright, that’s enough. I heard Yang Zheming got fifty lashes yesterday and was barely alive when he was carted home. I feel a sense of justice… You look after our parents at home, and I’ll take Ling Jier out to see the world first."

Fan Xingru nodded, tears in his eyes.

Thus, the Yujia convoy now included three more carriages with green curtains and continued its journey toward the capital.

High on a mountain, at a vantage point with a sweeping view, Wei Shiyan stood on a rock, watching the convoy snake its way toward the capital. He remained there until the convoy disappeared into the distant woods, then leaped down, sword in hand, to practice his swordplay.

…It’s just a few years, it’ll fly by.

…

Inside the Yujia carriages, the atmosphere was lively.

The older boys were all on horseback outside, while Mian Ge’er and Xu Ge’er, the younger ones, rode in a separate carriage with their nanny.

The carriages were stocked with toys to keep the kids amused, and now with the addition of the one-year-old Ling Jier, the three little ones could play with a cloth tiger for hours.

Fan Pingfang sat nearby, her eyes brimming with warmth and joy.