Yan Fengnian, who had rushed back to Anyang Prefecture overnight, headed straight for the Yan residence the moment the city gates opened.
Half an hour later, before Meng Hechuan had even left for his duties at the magistrate's office, Yan Fengnian arrived for a clandestine visit through the back door, clutching an exquisite mahogany box.
Meng Hechuan, who was currently having breakfast, listened to his servant's report. After a moment's reflection, he said, "Invite him into the main hall for tea. I will be there shortly."
Sitting nearby, Meng Xiaozhe spoke up hesitantly, "Father, Yan Fengnian has come to see you at such an hour and even used the back door to avoid being seen. It must be for his son's sake. Do you still intend to see him?"
Meng Hechuan set down his chopsticks and rinsed his mouth with tea. "The Yan family is one of the top merchant families in Anyang Prefecture. They have donated a great deal of silver to the imperial court over the years. I cannot release Yan Baoyi, but I must show the man some respect."
"If Anyang Prefecture suffers another disaster in the future, or if funds need to be raised for a war in the north, we will still need to rely on the Yan family."
Meng Xiaozhe’s brows rose slightly in a frown. "Yan Baoyi is Yan Fengnian's only son. After what has happened, will he still be willing to donate?"
Meng Hechuan replied with righteous conviction, "Commoners do not fight with officials. Yan Fengnian hasn't spent years in business being a fool; he knows what is important."
Watching his father's departing figure, Madam Meng, who was sitting nearby, spoke to comfort him. "Don't worry, your father has been an official for many years; he knows how to handle things."
Guo Yiyao sat quietly, silently placing a goose-fat bun into Meng Xiaozhe's bowl. "Eat it before it gets cold."
Meng Xiaozhe looked at his wife tenderly and took a bite of the bun.
Madam Meng felt relieved seeing the young couple getting along so well. Her son would return to the capital for his studies after the New Year, and this time, with his wife accompanying him, there would finally be someone attentive to care for him.
Yan Fengnian sat restlessly in the guest chair in the main hall, his eyes fixed urgently on the doorway. When he saw Meng Hechuan approach, he hurried to his feet to salute.
"This humble subject pays his respects to Lord Meng."
Meng Hechuan nodded in response. "Master Yan, there is no need for such formalities."
Before Meng Hechuan could even sit down, Yan Fengnian dropped to his knees before him.
His knees hit the bluestone floor with a heavy thud that sounded painful.
"My Lord, I know my son has committed a grave error, but he is my only son. I rely on him to carry on my family line. I beg you to spare his life—strip him of his scholarly titles if you must, but please do not exile him."
The servant kneeling behind him saw Yan Fengnian reach out and immediately handed over the box.
Yan Fengnian opened the lid, his expression grief-stricken and his voice full of pleading.
"If your Lordship agrees, I am willing to donate all two hundred thousand taels of silver notes in this box to the prefecture office."
A thick stack of five-hundred-tael notes was piled inside the box.
Two hundred thousand taels—that was equivalent to the entire tax revenue of Anyang Prefecture for the previous year.
No matter how firm Meng Hechuan's resolve was, his heart skipped a beat at the mention of such a sum, and a restless heat surged in his chest.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip, then reached out to close the lid, pushing Yan Fengnian's hand away.
"Yan Baoyi hired thugs to injure people. He used a blade and nearly took a life. No matter how much silver you donate, I cannot grant your request."
Yan Fengnian was instantly plunged into despair, tears streaming down his aged face.
He held the box and kowtowed repeatedly to Meng Hechuan. "My Lord, after all, no lives were lost. My son is still young, and it was all due to my lack of discipline. Please, My Lord, think of a way. My Yan family cannot be left without an heir!"
Meng Hechuan blurted out, "You are only in your early forties; you can still have another child."
Yan Fengnian froze in shock.
Meng Hechuan continued, "It is not that I am unwilling to help you, but the imperial court has laws. How can a crime be settled privately through donations?"
"The Ji, Hu, and Song families are not the type to let things go quietly. If I do not judge this case according to the law, someone will surely file a complaint against me."
A glimmer of hope flickered in Yan Fengnian's eyes as he asked urgently, "If the three victims are willing to drop the charges, would my son be alright?"
Meng Hechuan's expression tightened. "The verdict has been passed. The Anyang Commissioner of Education has already stripped Yan Baoyi of his scholarly status. There is no room for reversal in this case."
The box slipped from Yan Fengnian's hands, and silver notes scattered across the floor.
A few of them landed on Meng Hechuan's official robes, looking strikingly eyesore in contrast.
Yan Fengnian had to be supported by others as he left the Meng residence. Upon returning home, he collapsed and lost consciousness.
He had gone a day and a night without sleep to rush back in the freezing winter. Had it not been for the sheer will to save his son, he would have collapsed long ago.
Physician Gu arrived carrying his medicine chest.
"The patient is suffering from a surge of internal heat due to extreme agitation, coupled with a severe cold. I will prescribe a dose of medicine to bring down the high fever first, otherwise, his mind might be damaged by the heat."
Master Yan's wife covered her eyes with a handkerchief. She had been crying since Yan Baoyi was taken away. Her eyes were red, swollen, and stinging; she felt as if she were going blind.
"Physician Gu, you must heal my husband quickly. My son is still in prison!"
Physician Gu's salt-and-pepper eyebrows twitched as he silently turned to write the prescription.
The news of Yan Baoyi hiring thugs to injure people had spread throughout Anyang Prefecture. The verdict was final. Did the Yan family still think they could save him?
It was already evening when Yan Fengnian woke up.
Yi'er's mother rushed to the bedside, wailing, "Master, you're finally awake! News just came from the prefecture office that Yi'er is to be exiled tomorrow morning. You must think of something!"
Yan Fengnian could barely catch his breath upon hearing this. He stared blankly at the ceiling beams, his heart as cold as dead ashes.
"What can I do? Lord Meng wouldn't budge even for two hundred thousand taels. Yi'er cannot be saved."
