eously."Didn't you say I was going to marry into a wealthy family and become a mistress These hands mustn't get rough from hard work!""It's you who want me to soar to new heights, to become a phoenix...To deal with some elderly, weak, women and children, Yuan Buyu wouldn't have to make too much of a fuss.

He simply waited for a time when the emperor was away, then sent a few assassins to deal with those women and children. Those people would certainly have more than enough to handle it.

Five assassins crept forward under the cover of a moonless night. The entire Jinshui Manor was pitch black. Fang Jinxiu, along with Yuanshi Mu and Yulian, had already taken refuge in the cellar.

Now all she could do was trust Zhao Xingzhou and the guards at home.

Zhao Yunni sat beside, without uttering a word since they entered the cellar. Fang Jinshi paused for a moment, then walked over and sat beside her.

"Clouds and mist."

She had told Zhao Yunni about the decision to have Zhao Xingzhou stand up for their family against Yuan Buyu outside. Zhao Yunni not only didn't object, but kept saying that it was what Xiao Jiu should do.

She took a deep breath.

"If we manage to get through this safely, I'll erase all past grievances with Zhao Xingzhou and set him free."

"At that time, whether you stay or leave, I have no opinion."

Zhao Yunni looked up, "Actually, it's not necessary."

"I understand Xiao Jiu's feelings for you better than anyone else. Even if you never look back at him, he won't leave."

His silly younger brother, back then, countless women threw themselves at him, wanting to marry him and be with him. He didn't even look at them the same way. Not even the most beautiful women moved him.

Before, she only treated her brother as a younger sibling and prioritized the family business above all else, showing no interest in romantic relationships.

Only now do I truly understand, he wasn't without the capacity to love, he had already given his heart to someone else, and it can no longer be retrieved.

It just so happens that the person the younger brother likes is already someone else's wife, and there's no place for him in her heart.

Zhao Yun was so distressed for her younger brother. She looked at Fang Jinxiu, her eyes wanting to speak but holding back. Several times she felt an urge to tell him what was in her heart.

She wasn't trying to repay favors in kind, she just wanted to give her younger brother a chance.

Fang Jinxiu knew she had something to say. Yuan Buyu's people were outside, and Zhao Xingzhou could die at any moment.

The moment Fang Jinshu thought about how Zhao Yuni was risking her life to protect her family, she couldn't ignore Zhao Yuni's gaze.

The responsibility of protecting the children should have fallen to Zongyu, but that damn bastard disappeared without a trace. He was supposed to be coming back and yet he's still lagging behind.

Even if they all died here today, what would it matter when Zongyu returns

A man who can't protect his children is not worth having around.

Just say what you want to say.

Zhao Yunni raised her head in surprise. Fang Jinshi was sitting beside her, and she even poured her a glass of water.

"Yun Ni, your thoughts are almost written all over your face. You're holding something back, and your eyebrows are practically knotted together."

Zhao Yunni felt a little embarrassed, and she quickly relaxed her furrowed brows unconsciously.

"I, I'm just..."

She was afraid that Fang Jinshu would be angry if she said it out loud.

"Fine, if you don't want to say I won't press you."

Fang Jinshu smiled and prepared to stand up, Zhao Yuni mustered her courage and held down her wrist. She went along with it and sat back down.

"Jin, Jinxiu, back then, Xiao Jiu took advantage of your amnesia and told you that you were married to him. He even kept you at home for so long because he was wrong."

But he truly has feelings for you.

"Over these years, you've expanded the Jinshiu Mountain Villa in Xizhou and helped Magistrate Pan shelter and assist disaster victims. Little Jiu has always been secretly helping you."

"Haven't you noticed that anything the Jinshui Mountain Villa needs just happens to appear nearby"

And refugees can also easily find Jinxiu Mountain Villa.

The Jinshiu Mountain Villa is rich in resources. Other places in Xizhou probably envy your land, and there are people who have their eyes on the villa.

"But the manor has never encountered any formidable enemies. As for you, there hasn't even been a bad rumor about you, allowing your reputation as a living Bodhisattva to spread smoothly throughout Xizhou."

Fang Jinxiu's complexion had long become serious following Zhao Yunni's words.

Of course she had thought about it, and even sent people to investigate, but came up empty-handed.

Once, she even joked with Pan Zhi'an, saying that even Heaven was helping her build momentum. In just three years, Jinxiu Mountain Villa had developed at an astonishing pace, becoming the most sacred and inviolable place in the hearts of the people of Xizhou.

To put it hyperbolically, if Fang Jinshu turned around and declared herself king right now, she could easily rule Xizhou as a native emperor.

Absolutely unanimous.

"Before, didn't you ask why the Zhao family was left with only me and Little Nine, and why we ended up like this"

You're so smart, you should have guessed it.

"Xiao Jiu, in order to atone for his sins, squandered all of his family's wealth."e before would be enough to keep this person in check, but it seems they only stayed quiet for less than two months before stirring up trouble again.However, there is something fishy about this.If we...