My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 31 Part 2

News of the You family’s misfortune spread quickly through the village.  

You Lingxiao’s right hand was shattered. Despite consulting several physicians in the city, recovery was impossible, the damage was permanent.  

You's mother blamed the You family for delaying the doctor’s visit, worsening his injury. She screamed that she would no longer shield the rest of the You family.  

The You family, seeing that their pooled funds for a city house had been stolen and hearing You's mother's outbursts, demanded she return their money.  

Propriety was tossed to the wind, the families quarreled openly, their angry voices echoing far and wide.

You's mother, like a madwoman, had several fierce fights with her sisters-in-law.  

The villagers were all too happy to watch the You family's dogs bite each other, saying that You Lingxiao was now suffering retribution for burning bridges and harming his benefactor, and that his ruined future was simply the heavens striking him down.  

[狗咬狗 (gǒu yǎo gǒu): lit. dogs biting dogs; fig. infighting or mutual destruction]  

[过河拆桥 (guò hé chāi qiáo): lit. to tear down the bridge after crossing the river; fig. to abandon those who helped you after achieving success]  

The turmoil refused to settle, and the commotion lasted for quite some time.  

You Lingxiao lay in bed day after day, taking medicine and having his dressings changed, disheveled and hollow-eyed. In just a few days, his face had sunken in, gaunt as a withered tree.  

He simply couldn’t believe that he had become a cripple overnight, as if it had all happened without warning.  

His right hand was ruined, which meant he could no longer write essays or sit for imperial examinations.  

Even with the scholarly title of a juren, even if an official post were to open up for him, as a cripple, he could never hold office.  

His path to an official career was utterly severed. Every time he thought of this, a piercing, suffocating pain gripped his chest.  

He had calculated everything, yet he had never foreseen that his future would be destroyed by becoming a cripple, not because he lacked diligence in studies or talent inferior to others.  

"Lingxiao, you must eat something. Your health is what matters most. Even if..."  

You's mother wept day and night, and after all the scuffles with the You family, she too looked sallow and exhausted. But compared to You Lingxiao on the bed, at least she could still walk and move.  

"No matter what, you are still a juren. If we manage things well, we can still live in wealth and honor."  

You Lingxiao swatted away the bowl of porridge brought to his lips: "What’s the point of living with this broken body?!"  

You's mother, startled by the spilled porridge, hurriedly took out a handkerchief to clean it up: "Lingxiao, if you die, then your mother might as well follow you!"  

"Mother, why me? Why did it have to be me?"  

You Lingxiao, his eyes bloodshot, demanded of You's mother: "Why did those bandits target me and not someone else? They were just commoners, I’m a juren!"  

"I even told them I was a juren, yet they still dared to maim me. Mother, do you think someone did this out of jealousy?"  

"Yes, it must be! It must be someone jealous of me!"  

As if he had found an outlet for his rage, You Lingxiao suddenly sat up in bed: "No, I must go find Lord Xue and demand justice!"  

You's mother looked at her son, who seemed to be in a daze, feeling both shocked and heartbroken.  

"Lingxiao, right now you should focus on recuperating."  

"No, I must seek Lord Xue to uphold justice for me!"  

You Lingxiao insisted on going to the city to report the matter to the authorities. Unable to dissuade him after several attempts, You's mother had no choice but to spend money to hire a carriage for the trip to the city.  

The mother and son didn't go to the prefectural yamen but headed straight to the Xue residence.  

The gatekeeper of the Xue residence was dozing off with his hands tucked in his sleeves. Startled by the sound of someone knocking, he opened his eyes and saw a haggard-looking mother and son at the door. Assuming they came to beg, he immediately scolded them: "Go away, go beg somewhere else! Don’t you see what kind of place this is?"  

"Xiao Wu, it’s me."  

Only when You Lingxiao spoke up did the gatekeeper recognize him.  

"So it’s You Juren! My apologies, this worthless eyesight of mine!"  

You Lingxiao had visited the Xue residence many times before, so the gatekeeper knew him well.  

But unlike the refined scholar of the past, today he looked pale as a ghost, with his arm in a sling. Even the most oblivious person could tell something had happened.  

"You Juren, what happened to you?"  

"An unfortunate incident. Could you kindly inform Lord Xue that we wish to see him?"  

The gatekeeper hurried inside to relay the message. Before long, only You Lingxiao was summoned to meet Lord Xue.  

You's mother was led to a guest room to wait. This was her first time in the Xue residence, and the sprawling estate - with its pavilions, towers, artificial hills, and flowing water, left her dazzled.  

The grandeur of the official’s mansion made her feel both awed and humbled, yet a sigh rose in her heart.  

"Good heavens! Lingxiao, what happened to you?"  

Xue Yansheng was already overwhelmed by the bandit unrest. When the gatekeeper reported the visit, he had initially refused to see anyone. But upon hearing that You Lingxiao had urgent business and recalling their past relationship, he eventually allowed him in.  

The sight of You Lingxiao’s ghastly pale face shocked Xue Yansheng.  

"Teacher, you must uphold justice for your student!"  

Upon seeing Xue Yansheng, You Lingxiao couldn’t even bother with formalities and immediately broke into tears:  

"On my way to the city, I suddenly fainted. When I woke up, not only had my money been stolen, but I was also beaten and left in the wilderness. If not for a kind-hearted passerby who brought me back, I would never have had the chance to repay your kindness, Teacher."  

Xue Yansheng’s expression darkened at these words:  

"You encountered bandits within our borders? How audacious! These outlaws dare to attack even unarmed scholars, utterly inhuman!"  

"I didn’t see the assailant’s face clearly, only a half-covered visage in my daze," You Lingxiao said. "It could have been bandits or someone hiring thugs, who knows? I beg you, Teacher, to seek justice for me!"  

"To dare lay hands on my student, I will certainly demand justice for you."  

Then Xue Yansheng looked at You Lingxiao’s arm: "How serious is your injury? Let the physician in my residence examine you. You’ve lost so much weight!"  

You Lingxiao hesitated slightly before replying:  

"Thank you for your concern, Teacher. My arm is not seriously injured, just dislocated. A physician has already treated it, and it should heal in a few days."  

Xue Yansheng’s brow twitched: "Very well. You must take care of your health above all else. Right now, the prefect is deeply troubled by the bandit unrest, and I must assist him fully. I will assign someone to look into your case separately, you won’t suffer this injustice in vain."  

"Go home and rest for now."