Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1703 Taking Control
"Lord Fang..." Qian Qian, the chief judge of the Ministry of Justice, had just opened his mouth when Fang Zilan asked, "Why is Lord Wu leaving the Ministry of Justice at this hour?"

"This..." Qian Qian hesitated for a long time before saying, "It seems Lord Pei has something to summon me..."

"Lord Pei Poming?" Fang Zilan interrupted Qian Qian coldly, and he nodded hastily, "Indeed."

Fang Zilan's expression grew even colder. "If Lord Pei isn't in the Ministry of Justice, where is he?"

"Lord Pei has been unwell recently and is on leave at his residence." Qian Qian was sweating profusely. Fang Zilan glanced at him sideways and said, "Why are you the one answering me? Where is the Minister of Justice?"

"The Minister went to the Ministry of Personnel to find Lord Zhuge, and thus entrusted this matter to me." Qian Qian's voice trembled slightly. Fang Zilan stared at him and said, "Lord Wu was transferred from my prefecture to your Ministry of Justice. Now that he has died here, it's not unreasonable for me to demand an explanation, is it?"

“Not unreasonable.” Qian Qian responded quickly, and Fang Zilan nodded slightly. “Alright, in that case, if your Ministry of Justice cannot give me an explanation within three days, I will personally go to the Emperor to demand it.”

"Lord Fang, isn't three days too tight?" Before Qian Qian could finish speaking, Fang Zilan had already turned and left, leaving him standing there dejected.

As the chief official of the Ministry of Justice, Qian Qian naturally knew that this matter was of utmost importance. In just a few months, there had been several murders in the capital, all of whom were powerful and influential people. Yet, the Prefectural Governor of the Capital Prefecture could not find anything, and the Ministry of Justice remained silent in fear.

Who would have thought that simply remaining law-abiding wouldn't keep the murderer away? Now, the killer has not only targeted the Ministry of Justice, a place of justice, but has also murdered a Ministry official in broad daylight. If word gets out…

Qian Qian dared not think any further. He and Zou Hongqi, the Minister of Justice, both belonged to the Dugu faction and were of one mind with the Empress Dowager. Logically speaking, the Dugu family dominated the western border and had no cowards among their subordinates. However, the capital was ultimately a safe and secure place, and when faced with a crisis, he was always somewhat afraid.

Moreover, with Yue Guogong Fang Zilan on one side and Jin Guogong Pei Jinqing's younger brother on the other, it was impossible to offend either side. The Jingzhao Prefecture was also unreliable, so ultimately only the Ministry of Justice could take responsibility.

Qian Qian sighed for a long time. He had already felt Fang Zilan's oppressive aura just now. If he couldn't give her a satisfactory answer in three days, he was afraid that she would tear down the Ministry of Justice.

But if Duke Pei Jinqing were to openly go to the Pei residence to question Pei Poming, would he still be alive to leave?
Thinking of this, Qian Qian looked at the people from the Jingzhao Prefecture beside him and saw the same fear on their faces. He felt an even bigger headache coming on. If their Ministry of Justice and the Jingzhao Prefecture were to argue, it wouldn't be possible to get a resolution even in thirty days, let alone three.

Murong Qing hesitated before speaking, "Sister, will you stay with me for a while?"

For some reason, Fang Zilan always felt that Murong Qing's voice contained an indescribable grievance, and the soft sobbing sounded as if he had just been crying.

Seeing that Fang Zilan didn't react, Murong Qing cautiously asked, "Just for a little while, is that alright?"

Fang Zilan sighed deeply, completely losing her temper. She often wondered, with Murong Qing's almost split personality, which one was the real him?
"What is the young master up to?" Although Fang Zilan didn't say anything nice, she still stepped inside, casually pulled over a futon, and sat down next to Murong Qing.

Murong Qing straightened up and looked Fang Zilan in the eye, saying, "Sister, have you met my mother?"

Fang Zilan nodded. "I've met him."

“My mother is in poor health, unable to bear children, and not long for marriage. She was not the best candidate for the position of Princess Zhongzheng.” Murong Qing’s expression was inscrutable. “However, my father likes her and will not marry anyone but my mother.”

Fang Zilan tilted her head slightly, "Young Master, with the ancestral tablets before us, do you really intend to speak of the Prince and Princess in this way?" Murong Qing ignored Fang Zilan's words and continued, "It must be that Mother's temperament is most compatible with Father's. Upright and resolute, she is the most deserving person in this world to be called loyal and upright."

Fang Zilan said noncommittally, "Just an hour ago, the young master told me—'Too much strength is easily broken.' How come he has suddenly changed his mind?"

"In this life, I will never be like my father, sacrificing everything for the so-called loyalty and righteousness." Murong Qing's voice was filled with a gritted teeth. "From now on, I will protect the Loyal and Righteous Prince's Mansion."

Looking at the young man before her, Fang Zilan suddenly wanted to say to him, "Could you please stop risking your life?" The entire Zhongzheng Prince's Mansion only hoped for his safety, nothing more...

But she found that she simply couldn't bring herself to say it.

Some people are destined to fight for their lives.

Just like a few years ago, when she first arrived in this world, if someone had told her not to fight, but to obediently let others manipulate her, she definitely wouldn't have accepted it. So, what right did she have to advise Murong Qing to let go?

“But I’m afraid…” Murong Qing’s voice was much lower, almost inaudible, “I’m afraid it will be too late.”

Fang Zilan blurted out, "What do you mean it's too late?"

"Mother, I can't hold on any longer." Murong Qing turned her back and covered her face with her sleeve. "I'm afraid I won't even be able to see her one last time."

"No, I won't." Fang Zilan reached out her hand, but stopped in mid-air. The more she wavered, the more she had to remind herself not to be soft-hearted.

"The day after tomorrow... we must set off, in case..." Murong Qing sobbed, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Fang Zilan's hand finally landed on Murong Qing's shoulder. "There won't be any unforeseen circumstances. Next year, I will go with you back to Miluo to visit our family."

It wasn't that she was being unreasonable; she simply didn't want to be used as a tool anymore. Murong Qing's words were nothing more than an attempt to buy time. Although his hostage status in Dajing was a foregone conclusion, the longer it dragged on, the more unforeseen the consequences might be.
If she couldn't resist Murong Qing's pleas and spoke up for him, some people would inevitably think she was siding with outsiders and only caring about her husband's family.

Regardless of what others think of her, Fang Ziqin, far away in the capital's inner palace, is likely to be the subject of gossip. Even the Fang family, who have already left the capital, may be accused of having ulterior motives.

Public opinion can melt metal, and accumulated slander can destroy a family. She had seen this kind of thing far too many times, and she absolutely could not let it happen to the Fang family.

But... Princess Chen, the wife of the Prince of Zhongzheng, certainly looked like she didn't have much time left. If what Murong Qing said was true...

Fang Zilan didn't dare to think any further. Murong Qing turned around and grabbed her arm. "Sister, I'm really scared..."

He murmured the same phrase repeatedly, and Fang Zilan then noticed that his temperature was much higher than usual; he had a fever. She wondered if it was from the day's events or from crying so much…

“Sister…” Murong Qing cried, holding tightly to Fang Zilan’s arm. Before she could think, her body reacted first, “I’ll take you back.”