He drank the water in his teacup in one gulp and said slowly, "My father was a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, in charge of the Hanlin Academy's paper, writing brushes, ink, books, and storerooms."
Once, the imperial court presented a batch of painting paper as tribute, which happened to coincide with my birthday. My father wanted to give me some, but he was caught red-handed by Lord Yan.
My father said that at the time he felt like the sky had fallen. Officials who embezzled public funds would be punished with a beating at best, and beheading at worst, neither of which the Liu Household could afford.
"My father pleaded with Lord Yan, hoping he would turn a blind eye, especially since stealing tribute paper wasn't unheard of. But Lord Yan wouldn't let it go, insisting on making an example of someone else."
Liu Kangjian clutched his chest, gasping for breath, before continuing.
"Just when my father was in despair, Lord Yan asked him to help him deliver a book. If the matter was handled well, not only would he receive money, but he could also take as much tribute paper from the Hanlin Academy as he wanted, and he would help cover for him."
Cough cough cough... Liu Kangjian couldn't stop coughing, the coughing making his cheeks turn red. He took a deep breath and said, "There must be something fishy going on. My father isn't stupid, but he has no choice. They have leverage over him, so he can only bite the bullet and agree."
It wasn't until he delivered a rubbing of an ancient book to the Pure Joy Pavilion and handed it to Zither Master Wu that he realized his life was ruined, and his life was now completely in Yan Shuan's hands... cough cough cough...
Meng Anci picked up the kettle and filled it with water for him, watching him take a big gulp before asking, "And then? How did it end up killing someone?"
Liu Kangjian glanced at him and sighed, "Everything was fine until Zither Master Wu demanded a 50/50 split. Father couldn't decide that, so Yan Shuan had to step in personally."
That's when the two of them couldn't reach an agreement, and Zither Master Wu was Yan Shuan to death by Yan Shuan. In the chaos, the ancient book rubbings were torn up, and the pages fell into the house. You all know what happened next."
Meng Anci continued, "Because I copied the rubbing, I was the first to take the blame. Yan Shuan didn't expect me to get away with it. Seeing that Lord Pang was getting closer and closer to the truth, he was afraid of being exposed, so he sent Lord Liu to take the blame. Isn't that right?"
Liu Kangjian looked at him with eyes full of envy, "No wonder Father always praises your intelligence. After you entered the Hanlin Academy, he often mentioned you at home. Although he didn't say it explicitly, I could tell that he greatly admired you. He often said that if I were Kangjian, I would definitely be able to serve in the same court as him, and I would certainly not be inferior to you."
Liu Kangjian's eyes reddened slightly. " Yan Shuan said that as long as my father confessed, he would give my family a large sum of money and find me the best doctor. But as soon as my father confessed, Yan Shuan reneged on his promise and even sent people to warn us that if we dared to say anything out of line, he would kill us. My family was not well-off to begin with, and the imperial search left us with nothing but a skeleton. My mother had no choice but to swallow her pride and go to the Anzhi Hall to ask for a doctor."
Meng Anci slightly; what Liu Kangjian said was pretty much what she had guessed.
" Liu Kangjian, if everything you say is true, I guarantee your father won't die. But you must testify for me. Do you dare?"
"I dare..." Liu Kangjian stood up, supporting himself on the table, "With my broken body and shattered home, what wouldn't I dare?"
"Okay... I believe you, and I hope you won't lie to me," Meng Anci said, getting up and opening the door to see Meng Anzhi standing under the eaves, basking in the sun.
"Sister, I want to take the Liu Household mother and son home."
"Okay..." Meng Anzhi responded calmly.
The night Liu Household son were taken away by Meng Anci, Yan Shuan received the news. He didn't expect the Liu Household to dare to betray him, and he didn't expect Meng Anci was so young, to dare to go against him.
Yan Shuan sat in his study, his fingers lightly tapping the table. The men he sent should have succeeded.
Now, let's see how he deals with Meng Anci.
So what if he's just a mere top scholar who's become Su Wenqian's student? What storms hasn't Yan Shuan weathered in all these years in the court?
As for that woman Lady Jin, so what if she knows the Fu Household and Lu Chi? She's just using her money to curry favor with a few powerful families. He simply doesn't believe that those aristocratic Aristocratic Clan would oppose him for the sake of a mere merchant's daughter.
Inside the Anzhi Hall.
Old Madam Liu and Liu Kangjian stood under the eaves, watching Jin Shanyao tremble. If they had known this girl was mentally unstable, they would never have come along.
Now things are alright... Old Madam Liu is holding her son's hand tightly; it's good to be able to go to the underworld with him!
While she was struggling with her Celestial Person turmoil, Jin Shanyao was still shouting. She extended a finger and beckoned to the assassin, yelling, "Come here!"
The assassin sneered, "Give me back my past, you idiot!" He raised his arm, revealing a hidden dart inside, and... Liu Kangjian... the arrow shot out.
Before she could think, Old Madam Liu hugged her son tightly. However, the pain didn't come. She turned her head trembling and saw Doctor Meng holding a short arrow, staring coldly at the assassin.
Meanwhile, the so-called aunt of hers, Shopkeeper Jin, still had her arm raised in mid-air, beckoning with her finger and shouting, "Come here..."
Old Madam Liu's vision went black. Good heavens! She'd never seen such an indifferent parent. What time was it? They were still shouting... Clearly, it wasn't her they were going to kill.
The assassin thought he was seeing things; how could someone react so quickly? Unconvinced, he raised his hidden dart again, aiming for Old Madam Liu's chest... whoosh... another arrow.
Old Madam Liu's heart stopped, and she watched helplessly as the short arrow approached her. Just when she thought she was about to King of Hell, the arrowhead stopped steadily in mid-air.
Meng Anci caught the short arrow expressionlessly and snapped it in two right in front of the assassin.
Old Madam Liu had a bad feeling. She hurriedly looked at Jin Shanyao and saw her standing on the stone bench with one foot on her hip and the other pointing at the assassin's nose while cursing.
"The person was right there, and you couldn't kill him... You cowardly wimp... You're not even as good as my rat."
Old Madam Liu's vision blurred, "Aunt Meng Household, I've come seeking refuge, not to be a target! This is outrageous!!!"
Looking at the assassin again, he was clearly enraged. He turned his arm and waved it directly at the Jin Shanyao, "You gossipy woman, I'll kill you..."
After saying that, he fired three arrows in quick succession.
"What the heck... how come you just kill whoever you want? You don't have a fixed target..." Jin Shanyao deftly dodged three arrows, looking at the assassin with a puzzled expression.
Don't the books say that assassins only target one person? That doesn't make sense.
Old Madam Liu secretly patted her son's hand, signaling him with her eyes not to be afraid, this time the target has changed!! Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, a cold arrow shot out from the sky, heading straight for Liu Kangjian.
Old Madam Liu's eyes widened in horror. She hurriedly tried to pull her son away, but to her surprise, Doctor Meng caught the arrow with his bare hands. Old Madam Liu rushed to check her hands and found them completely unharmed, without even being scratched or bleeding.
She couldn't resist pinching Meng Anzhi's arm, " Doctor Meng, what great arm strength..."