Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1694 By Heart
Fang Zilan walked to the window and stood side by side with Fang Chongzheng. Looking out the window, she said softly, "He doesn't seem to be having an easy time."

“After today, many people will have a hard time.” Fang Chongzheng said meaningfully, but Fang Zilan had already looked away and curled her lips in a self-deprecating smile. “Whether it’s easy or not is none of my business anymore.”

Downstairs, A-Shi seemed to sense something and looked up, only to see Fang Zilan's thin back, frail as if cut from paper, no different from the graceful and languid young ladies of noble families, lacking the proud and unyielding spirit of the Duke of Yue.

Even he himself couldn't help but wonder, could he really have guessed wrong? Was the Duke of Yue, Fang Zilan, really dead, and now the one alive was the third young lady of the Fang family? Were they really not the same person?

Only after the gazes behind her disappeared did Fang Zilan straighten up. Fang Chongzheng looked at her thoughtfully, understanding dawning on him. She had practiced martial arts since childhood and served in the army for several years. Although she appeared frail, her heroic spirit and killing intent were not easily concealed. In the few days since returning to the Prime Minister's residence, she had mostly hunched over, looking like a sickly, frail person. But…

"Does Your Excellency have something to say to me?" Fang Zilan composed herself, reverting to her usual aloof demeanor.

“Ah, this is the child. You should recognize him.” Fang Chongzheng didn’t beat around the bush with Fang Zilan, and she nodded directly, saying, “I recognize him.”

“I heard from Li Hui that at the beginning of this year you handed over all the businesses under the Yue State Duke’s Mansion and the business in the Northern Territory to Ashi. He can be so perceptive, others will also notice.” Fang Chongzheng said seriously, “This is just the beginning, not the end.”

“I know.” Fang Zilan sighed softly. “If Prince Rong’an is not satisfied, he will probably kill all the Fang Zilans in the capital before he will be satisfied.”

“It’s not just Prince Rong’an who wants Fang Zilan dead,” Fang Chongzheng said, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. “If you’re willing, you might as well leave the capital. With the Fang family as your support, the world is vast and the martial arts world is boundless. You can follow your heart.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Zilan smiled faintly, "That sounds quite good."

“But you don’t want to, do you?” Fang Chongzheng gave the answer he expected. Fang Zilan hummed in agreement. “The people I care about are all in the capital. How could I leave the capital to live alone?”

Fang Chongzheng shook his head helplessly, "Have you thought it through?"

“Standing aside has never been my style.” Fang Zilan casually straightened her sleeves. “Besides, the Prime Minister himself said that someone might cause trouble for the Third Miss of the Prime Minister’s residence. At this critical juncture, if I, the Third Miss of the Prime Minister’s residence, were to rashly leave the capital, wouldn’t that just add trouble to the Fang family? I have never liked causing trouble for others.”

"Is that so?" Fang Chongzheng remained noncommittal. He naturally knew that Fang Zilan was telling the truth, but given her personality, she would always keep such words to herself. This was the first time she had spoken them so frankly.

“Although the case is from seven years ago, it’s a long time ago, but as long as you’re willing to investigate, you can always find something.” Fang Zilan picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. “However, there are some things that I, like you, don’t want to be brought up again.”

Fang Lihui picked up a brand-new teacup from the side, poured a cup of tea, and the surface of the tea in the cup swayed slightly as he swung his wrist. “Lord Fang has heard what A-shi said. Would you like to hear my side of the story?” Fang Zilan did not speak, which seemed to be her tacit agreement. Fang Lihui then continued on his own, “In the previous dynasty, the Fang family was indeed not a good merchant. It was common for them to set traps to force their rivals to their deaths and to bribe officials.”

As he spoke, his smile faded, and his expression became somewhat indifferent. "Later, my uncle, the prime minister, entered officialdom, and the Fang family accumulated wealth, which gradually improved their methods. Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long. The previous dynasty was in turmoil, and there was a lot of infighting within the Fang family. It wasn't until the change of dynasty that my uncle, the prime minister, was placed in the eye of the storm, and the Fang family became more subdued for fear of being implicated."

"At the height of the storm?" Fang Zilan couldn't help but ask. Fang Lihui brushed it off, "It was just because of the previous dynasty's affairs. I spoke up for someone. Although it wasn't a big deal, the elders of the Fang family were still worried, afraid that the past would be brought up again. As a result, the Fang family's business declined in those years. When my cousin Fang Liren succeeded as the head of the family, it was a mess."

Fang Zilan's fingers unconsciously rubbed against the cup. Fang Lihui sighed softly, "Seeing my cousin working so hard, I volunteered to go back to our family home in Jiangnan, hoping to take care of his business there. But when I got back, I discovered that the accounts had been tampered with, and the business was actually losing money."

He paused, then said quietly, "I schemed against the manager of Yan Hong Pavilion, forcing her to transfer Yan Hong Pavilion to me and rename it Qian Yan Pavilion. After that, I used the top courtesan of Qian Yan Pavilion to get in touch with the state government and do some underhanded business for the state government, which made up three or four tenths of the accounts of Jiangnan."

Fang Zilan caught the three or four points he mentioned and made a plan in her mind. She thought that the Fang family's financial hole was too big, so Fang Lihui had a crooked idea.

"Lord Fang must be thinking that I'll lose patience over time and want to find an opportunity to change prefectures and cultivate some obedient puppets to use for my own purposes, right?" Fang Lihui saw through Fang Zilan's thoughts, and she readily admitted, "That's right."

“If that’s the case, why don’t I set up a scheme to expose the deaths of those people involved in those shady businesses instead of setting fires and killing people?” Fang Lihui tightened his grip on the folding fan. “If I’m discovered, my life and fortune will be reduced to ashes.”

Fang Zilan understood and asked, "So the Jiangnan pleasure boat fire has nothing to do with you?"

“It’s both unrelated and related.” Fang Lihui said in a low voice, “I know all the kabuki actors who committed arson. Among them, the mastermind, Fuqu, is my lover.”

He closed his eyes, as if reminiscing or regretting, "When Fuqu entered Qianyan Pavilion, the manager told me that she would definitely be the next courtesan. However, Fuqu was strong-willed and would threaten suicide at the slightest provocation, so she suffered a lot. Therefore, the manager and I colluded to do her a favor and make her think that I was helping her."

He opened his eyes and looked at Ashi, saying, "You should be able to understand, just like how Lord Fang helped you back then."

Ashi pursed her lips. "You are different from Lord Fang."

“Indeed, Lord Fang’s help to you was genuine, while my help to Fuqu was feigned.” Fang Lihui’s tone was tinged with bitterness. “Later, the steward gave Fuqu to several officials in the prefecture, and I pretended to take the risk of bringing her out.”

"Young Master Fang is truly remarkable." Fang Zilan said sarcastically, "After this ordeal, Miss Fuqu will surely be devoted to you. Let alone arson and murder, she would be more than willing to have her heart cut out."