Chapter 356

The carriages of wealthy families were all equipped with coachmen. After dropping off the young masters and ladies at their destination, the coachmen would steer the carriages to the hitching posts, tie the reins securely, and then be free to move about.

At this time, the coachmen had just arrived at the area with the hitching posts and were tying up the reins one by one according to the order of arrival.

Jiang San, driving the carriage, followed closely behind the Fang family's carriage, keeping a barely perceptible distance between them while not leaving enough space for other clan's carriages to cut in line.

"Now is the time." Wen Zhiyun took out a silver needle coated with poison and aimed at the horse's hindquarters, flicking it forcefully.

Practicing how to stick needles and training precision were basic skills all doctors had to possess.

Although still young, he had gone through arduous training himself, his entire arm covered with small holes that had only faded away after two years.

Now, from five paces away, he could still strike the target accurately within a second.

The slender silver needle was thinner than a strand of hair. After it had pierced the horse at first, the animal didn't even feel any pain. Only when the numb and itchy feeling started to spread did the horse whinny and rear up, showing signs of going mad.

The coachman who was just about to tie the reins was given a fright and scurried away in panic.

"The timing is just right," Wen Zhiyun let out a breath. "The rest depends on you, Jiang San."

"Don't worry, young master," Jiang San grinned. Pretending to be terrified, he maneuvered the carriage to retreat, but reacted too slowly and collided solidly with the Fang family's carriage.

The young masters and ladies in the distance, who were on an outing, only heard the loud crash, followed by the miserable shrieks of the horse.

The nearby coachmen saw the collision jolt the carriage, causing a frail young master inside to be flung out accurately onto the grass, where he tumbled twice before lying motionless.

Cradled in his arms was a hot water bottle, which now spilled onto the cold ground. The hot water meeting the low temperature created wisps of white vapor.

"Big brother!" Wen Zhiyun cried out mournfully, giving several people at the banquet a fright. They didn't expect someone who looked so gentle could act so dramatically.

It seems his talent had been wasted previously.

"Young master!" Jiang San also yelled tragically. Flustered, he jumped down from the coachman's seat and, as he passed the Fang family horse's hindquarters, didn't forget to pull out the silver needle.

Seeing this, Chang Yan, who also had no choice but to tag along crying.

"Big brother, what's wrong?"

"Big brother, are you alright?" "What sin is this? You weren't even recovered from your last fall into the water, and now you're flung out again. Big brother, wake up! Don't frighten us."

The two young masters sobbed sorrowfully, enough to move those who heard them.

The young masters and ladies who were on an outing quickly gathered around. When they recognized it was Xu Mo, the previously unaware Qi siblings changed expression. Zhao Yuan, who was just at the right place at the right time, was stunned.

They rushed forward and helped pick up Xu Mo seven hands and eight feet. Seeing his pale complexion and feeble appearance, they were at a loss for words for a long time.

"Why is Brother Xu here?" Qi Huai was the first to speak up, questioning straight away.

Indeed, why would a sickly person be here?

Rubbing the corners of his eyes, Chang Yan said softly, "Big brother was suffocating for too long and wanted to go out to relax his mind, to see if he could get better."

With tears brimming his eyes, Wen Zhiyun said, "We didn't even think of going out. Just sitting in the carriage we would receive this kind of treatment?" What treatment?

Who did this?

There were almost no fools present. They instantly associated this with the conflict between Xu Mo and the Fang family over the general exam. Some bolder ones even directly looked towards Fang Yuan.

"Which family's carriage was that!" Zhao Yuan was so furious that he didn't even consider difference in status. "Must they drive Brother Xu to his end like this? He's already so ill, they have to insist on his death?"

As was well known, the carriages of prominent families all had their own unique insignia.

When the two carriages collided and jolted, not only was Xu Mo thrown out of the cabin, the Fang family insignia also fell onto the ground some distance away.

Dressed in black, Qi Yue picked it up and turned it over repeatedly in her palm for some time before flinging it disdainfully at everyone's feet.

The perpetrator was obvious.

Although they dared not slight the Fang family overtly due to its status, private discussion afterward was unavoidable. Even more unbearable were the looks they shot toward Fang Yuan, colored by all kinds of emotions.

Fang Yuan clenched his fists. After some time he finally said, "This is all a misunderstanding. The Fang family will do its utmost to provide medical treatment for Young Master Xu."

Say he was being hypocritical or that this was compensation after the fact, but at least he did something to stop the criticism from everyone present.

"As for the carriage collision incident, the Fang family will also certainly give Young Master Xu an explanation." Fang Yuan's tone grew steadily colder.

It looked like he planned to investigate this properly.

Wen Zhiyun, who had been wiping away tears, suddenly froze, somewhat at a loss.

Chang Yan lightly patted the back of his hand and stood up. "We believe Young Master Fang will give us an explanation and that, no matter what, the culprit will be found out."

He deliberately stressed a few words to point out that the Fang family very possibly would find a scapegoat.

"But my big brother is injured like this already. We don't feel assured leaving him in others' hands," he continued matter-of-factly. "So we ask Young Master Fang to allow us brothers to bring him home to prepare for the general exam in five days." Since things were said to this point, if the Fang family didn't agree, it would seem they wished for Xu Mo's downfall and hoped he wouldn't pass the exam.

With so many people present, Fang Yuan clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly at this awkward juncture. Just as he wavered over what to do, he suddenly remembered something. His composure regained, he said, "Since Young Master Xu has worked so hard for the exam, the Fang family can only accede to his wishes."

After speaking, he directed some servants to disperse the crowd and clear a path.

He watched as Jiang San carried Xu Mo back into the carriage, watched as the carriage swayed away. His eyes were filled with remorse the entire time, while his face was also full of sighs and helplessness.

"This Fang Yuan is somewhat capable," Chang Yan assessed.

Xu Mo, who had awoken from his feigned unconsciousness, also slowly sat up straight. "His last words implied that we did this on purpose."

Although public opinion in Fengjing would be affected, Fang Yuan's ability to think of counter arguments showed he was not mediocre.

"As long as they don't interfere with big brother's exam, everything will be fine," said Wen Zhiyun as he checked Xu Mo for injuries. "Big brother, did you get hurt when you were flung out? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

Xu Mo waved his hand. His jacket today was thick enough, padded with cotton front and back, so he was fine.

It was this Fang Yuan from the Fang family who required extra vigilance.

Upon returning to the small courtyard in the second wing of the residence, the anxiously waiting brother and sister finally felt relief wash over them when they saw Xu Mo whole. They let out long breaths they'd been holding.

"Should we just quietly wait from now on?" asked Jiang Sheng. "The Fang family won't come make trouble for us again, right?"

There was no way to guarantee this after getting to know someone like Fang Yuan.

If he was sufficiently sinister, he could potentially still send people to sabotage things in order to confirm Xu Mo's serious injuries.

Even if he didn't dare take action, an investigation was inevitable.

Unexpectedly, the next four days were exceptionally peaceful. Not only was there no sabotage or scheming, even the shadowy figures lurking outside vanished without a trace.

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and continued busying themselves warily.

Only Jiang Sheng vaguely felt someone watching them, especially as the exam day drew near. This feeling of being spied on became more and more obvious. Yet whenever she turned back for a look, there would be nothing.

Could it be the Fang family wanted to capture her to coerce big brother? Or the Liao family still couldn't get over the matter of the lychees and wanted to take out their anger on her?

Such unease was unbearable, but as long as big brother was fine, Jiang Sheng was willing to endure it.

She held it in until the fifth day.

The exam was tomorrow. No more complications could be feared now. Finally daring to stand at the entrance to the courtyard, she poured out all her dissatisfaction over the past period of time.

"Which f*cking bastard has been sneaking around? Got the guts to watch people but not the guts to show yourself, you shameless turtle son? This young auntie has been learning how to curse from second elder brother. If you've got the balls, come out and let me see which turtle grandson..."

Although just a young girl, she scolded others fiercely and sharply.

The person hidden in the dark laughed and cried in disbelief, loosening the long knife around his waist, and slowly walked out.

He was eight feet tall, stocky and sturdy, with sideburns on his cheeks. Without getting angry he was already intimidating. Under Jiang Sheng's astonished gaze, he slowly opened his mouth, "My dear daughter...I am your father."