Chapter 271 - 185: Eradicating the Roots
’Could it be? Could it be because of the poem Fang Yue wrote?’
Initially, Wen Tailai had some doubts about Fang Yue due to his messy handwriting. However, thanks to Hui Hengwu’s influence, he hadn’t disqualified Fang Yue outright, instead placing him among the alternate candidates.
But now, after learning about Wen Wanrou’s situation...
Wen Tailai couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt. ’Could it really be related to that Fang Yue?’
’Did she have a sudden breakthrough just from reading his poem?’
Wen Tailai found it hard to believe, but there seemed to be no other reasonable explanation.
After all, if Fang Yue was truly the author of those two poems, it was entirely possible he could produce other timeless masterpieces.
At this thought, Wen Tailai could have kicked himself.
’What a terrible shame that I didn’t get to see what Fang Yue wrote!’
A piece of writing that could allow Wen Wanrou to advance so far ahead of schedule—was there anyone in the Wen Family who wouldn’t want to see it?
With that, Wen Tailai rushed out the door.
~~~~~~
「An hour later.」
He arrived at a courtyard home in Xinyi Square and met with Widow Yu. "Wen Li, my niece, I hear you used to live in Da Liushu Village. Do you know the Fang Family? Fang Yue’s Family, that is."
Widow Yu had been wondering why Mr. Wen had suddenly visited, assuming it was about the marriage proposal.
’But to think he’d start by asking about Fang Yue’s Family!’
This only made Widow Yu even more curious.
Fang Yue might be talented, but his background was far too low. He couldn’t even compare to her own family, a declining collateral branch of the Wen Family.
’How could he have possibly caught Mr. Wen’s eye?’
"His family is living right here in Xinyi Square, not far from here. Come with me to pay them a visit today."
Wen Tailai was the sort of man who loved books more than life itself. Whenever a good poem or piece of prose appeared, he would forget to eat or sleep, utterly captivated.
Now that he’d encountered a work that might be a timeless masterpiece, how could he not be anxious to see it?
Unfortunately, he had already asked the Steward at Wenyuan Pavilion, only to learn that Wen Wanrou had taken the pages with her.
As a result, Wen Tailai was beside himself with impatience.
That was when he remembered that Fang Yue’s family lived in Xinyi Square within Earth City—an address he happened to know.
He also knew his niece was acquainted with them. Not wanting to show up unannounced, he had come here first to bring Widow Yu along.
"Ah, Third Uncle, what did you say? Fang Yue’s family lives here too?" Widow Yu covered her mouth, looking at Wen Tailai in shock and disbelief.
’So that means the person Nu saw the other day really was Fang Yue.’
’But how on earth did he get here? It took so much effort for our family to get the two of us here. We still haven’t seen any sign of the others who took a different route.’
’Which means, in a little while, I’ll be following my third uncle to see Fang Yue.’
At this thought, Widow Yu’s face immediately flushed red.
"Alright, there’s no time to waste. Let’s go." Wen Tailai didn’t notice the change in Widow Yu’s expression and immediately led her out the courtyard gate.
He was burning with impatience, unable to wait even a moment longer.
However, he was destined for disappointment this time.
He had thought there would be some manuscripts at Fang Yue’s home; after all, how could a scholar not have writings of his own?
But upon arriving at the Fang Family home and stating his purpose, Wen Tailai learned that the Fang Family had no idea Fang Yue could compose poetry or prose.
Furthermore, Fang Yue hardly had a habit of reading or writing at home. The books in the house had mostly been bought for Fang Cheng’s son, Little Tie Dan, to use for his studies.
Wen Tailai’s visit ended in disappointment.
Widow Yu, on the other hand, was delighted to stay. She chatted at length with Ms. Chen and even stayed for a meal before leaving.
After leaving the Fang Family’s home, Widow Yu grew annoyed with herself. ’If only I had believed Nu that day and searched a little longer,’ she thought, ’I might have seen Fang Yue.’
But now, she had missed her chance.
’Is there truly no fate between us?’
~~~~~~
「Time flew by, and in a blink, a month had passed.」
Fang Yue had traveled nearly ten thousand li to reach the border checkpoint of Guangfeng Prefecture.
The area was far more desolate than he remembered, and a grim tension hung in the air. Army patrols passed by frequently, and every checkpoint was heavily guarded by soldiers on high alert.
Looking at his surroundings, Fang Yue couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh.
’It seems Guangfeng Prefecture really is in turmoil,’ he thought. ’This is just a border checkpoint, yet security is already this tight. I’m afraid the situation inside the prefecture is even worse than before.’
’Anyway, my mission is just to guard that node for a while. It’s not a fight to the death. If things become impossible, I can act as the situation demands.’
With that thought, Fang Yue headed toward the checkpoint.
"Halt!"
Fang Yue had barely entered the checkpoint when several guards stopped him.
Fang Yue frowned slightly as he looked at the guards before him.
He didn’t say anything, though.
"Wanna pass? Ten taels for the man, twenty taels for the horse!"
One of the guards looked Fang Yue and the fine horse he was leading up and down, then demanded in a hostile tone.
Hearing this, Fang Yue almost laughed out of sheer anger. ’Charging for the man and horse separately? And the horse costs more than the man? What kind of logic is that?!’
’And the fee is outrageous! A price like that is just daylight robbery!’