Chapter 20.2

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In the end, the two of them rode an ox cart. Along the way, Fan Changyu stopped by the tailor’s shop to pick up the winter clothes she had ordered for the family to wear during the New Year. She also bought a bag of malt candy for Changning, and they managed to return to their home in the west side of town before dark.

When they stopped by Aunt Zhao’s house to pick up Changning, Aunt Zhao informed her, “The county constables came by this afternoon. They said you need to go to the county office in three days for a trial. It seems they’ve finally decided to hear the case about Fan Da. After all this time, they’re finally reviewing it.”

Fan Changyu nodded, her expression hardening slightly. It’s about time.

Fan Changyu initially brushed it off, but Aunt Zhao, looking deeply concerned, said, “The message was delivered by one of Captain Wang’s constables, who let slip a bit of information. Apparently, Fan Da has been making frequent visits to the county magistrate’s secretary lately. And that secretary happens to be Butcher Guo’s uncle. You know, the same Butcher Guo who had a grudge against your father years ago. Originally, with you taking in a husband, the house and land should have been rightfully ruled in your favor. But now, with that secretary meddling, there’s a good chance they’ll try to split at least half of it with your uncle.”

Fan Changyu’s brow furrowed deeply. She hadn’t expected these two meddling troublemakers to team up. “How could they give half to Fan Da?”

Aunt Zhao sighed. “It’s all up to those officials and how they interpret the case. We common folk don’t know the intricacies of the law. Besides, with Fan Da cozying up to the magistrate’s secretary, even if you tried to hire a lawyer, who would dare take on your case and offend the secretary?”

Fan Changyu’s expression darkened as she considered Aunt Zhao’s words. This wasn’t just a matter of law; it was about influence and leverage in a world where the scales of justice tilted toward those with connections.

Fan Changyu immediately frowned.

Although the magistrate’s secretary didn’t hold an official title, he was effectively the second-in-command at the yamen, wielding significant influence. Adding to that, Butcher Guo’s old grudge against her father made it clear that she wouldn’t get a fair trial in three days.

Even if she wanted to find someone to intervene, no one could outrank the secretary without substantial authority. Her only option would be to appeal directly to the magistrate, but that was nothing short of a fool’s errand.

Not only did her family lack any connection to the magistrate, but there was also the matter of Song Yan. The magistrate was eager to take him as a son-in-law, and with her being Song Yan’s former fiancée, it would be a miracle if the magistrate didn’t deliberately make things harder for her.

Fan Changyu’s thoughts grew heavier, a storm cloud forming over her head. She turned to Aunt Zhao. “Do you know what exactly happened between Butcher Guo and my father? Why does he hold such a grudge?”

While Fan Changyu had always known that Butcher Guo disliked her family, she hadn’t known the reason behind it.

Aunt Zhao sighed heavily. “That was over ten years ago. Most of the shopkeepers on that street have changed since then, which is probably why no one’s ever mentioned it to you.”

Her expression grew more somber, as if preparing to recount a story that had been long buried.

“Back then, Butcher Guo was nothing more than a street thug,” Aunt Zhao began. “He extorted protection money from all the shopkeepers on the street. Anyone who didn’t pay up would have trouble stirred up by his gang of hooligans. When your father set up shop there, he refused to pay. The thugs tried to cause trouble, but instead, they were taught a harsh lesson by your father. Under questioning, they admitted Guo had sent them, and your father reported him to the authorities.”

“That county magistrate was a true beacon of justice. Not only did he have Guo flogged, but he also jailed him for over six months. From that day, the grudge between Guo and your family was set in stone. Now that the Guo family has a relative in the magistrate’s office as the secretary, and you’ve got a case to defend, you can bet he’ll use this opportunity to make things as difficult as possible for you.”

Hearing about this old feud, Fan Changyu felt even more trapped. With such history between their families, this situation seemed nearly impossible to resolve.

When she got home, her brows remained furrowed in thought. After dinner, and once Changning had gone to sleep, she sat alone by the firepit, poking absentmindedly at the ground with a stick burned halfway through. Her mind churned with potential solutions, but none seemed viable.

Beside her, the cage containing the gyrfalcon was also near the firepit. After an entire day of sitting in the smoky room, the bird’s feathers had taken on a dull gray hue, a far cry from their usual luster.

The main room was silent except for the occasional crack of sparks popping from the firepit. The gyrfalcon in its cage remained still and quiet, its round eyes darting back and forth, watching the two figures seated by the fire.

As another spark flew from the burning logs, Xie Zheng’s gaze lingered on Fan Changyu’s tightly furrowed brow, illuminated by the flickering flames. At last, he spoke. “Don’t worry too much…”

“I’m not worried,” Fan Changyu interrupted, tossing aside the half-burnt stick in her hand. Her voice was firm, resolute, though her expression betrayed a weighty seriousness. “I’ve already thought of a solution.”

Xie Zheng’s eyes lifted slightly, the lazy indifference in his gaze replaced by a sudden chill. “What solution?”

Is she planning to beg her ex-fiancé? he wondered, a cold knot forming in his chest. It seemed like the only viable option available to her.

After the events of the afternoon, Fan Changyu no longer regarded Xie Zheng as an outsider. Her fingers were interlocked tightly, and her lips were pressed into a near-straight line as she spoke. “If my parents could see what I’m planning, they’d probably be disappointed. I used to look down on this kind of behavior too… but now, I have no other choice.”

Xie Zheng suddenly didn’t want to hear any more. His cold phoenix eyes, reflecting the firelight and her silhouette, cut her off mid-sentence. “I’ll help you.”

Fan Changyu looked up, puzzled. “How?”

Xie Zheng said calmly, “Even if the officials are biased, they still have to base their ruling on the Dayin Code. The only way they can grant part of your property to your uncle after you’ve taken in a husband is by exploiting loopholes in the law. There are three days until the trial. I’ll go through the relevant sections of the Dayin Code with you, breaking it down bit by bit. When the time comes, you can argue your case yourself in court. No need for a lawyer.”

Fan Changyu was stunned by his apparent expertise in the law. At the same time, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt. “Will… will that actually work?”

Her tone was hesitant, but the glimmer of hope in her eyes was unmistakable.

Xie Zheng’s gaze, cold as shards of ice, swept over her, cutting to the quick. Without a shred of mercy, he said, “So your plan was to beg your ex-fiancé for help?”

Fan Changyu looked at him, utterly bewildered. “Why would I beg him for anything?”

Xie Zheng frowned. “Isn’t that the solution you were talking about?”

Fan Changyu hesitated for a moment, then said, “…I was planning to dress up as someone from the gambling hall the night before the trial and bag up my uncle.”

Xie Zheng: “…”

Feeling slightly awkward at confessing such a plan, she added, “I overheard Captain Wang mention that if my uncle doesn’t show up on the day of the trial, the case will be thrown out.”

Xie Zheng: “…”

He stared at her in silence, unsure whether to laugh or be exasperated.