Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1714 Commander-in-Chief
"Commander Fu said that Princess Erya and her extra maid both have flower tattoos on their arms?" Fang Zilan frowned slightly. "The Di and Rong tribes have a common custom of tattooing, so even if it's just a flower, it's nothing..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Or do you recognize what kind of flower it is?"

“If Commander Fu is sure he hasn’t made a mistake…” Zheng Yan pursed his lips and spoke again after a while, “As far as I know, it is an auspicious flower.”

"Auspicious flower?" Fang Zilan asked疑惑地, "What kind of flower is that?"

"The flower of blessing in the legends of the Di Rong tribe." The one who answered her was Xiao Xuan'er, who said in a deep voice, "However, this flower has disappeared for more than a hundred years."

Fang Zilan was taken aback, then looked at Zheng Yan and asked, "The auspicious flower disappeared for over a hundred years, so how did you recognize it, Zheng Yan?"

Zheng Yan lowered his eyes and remained silent. Xiao Xuan'er thought for a moment and then said, "Lord Fang, there is no need to make things difficult for General Zheng. If I am not mistaken, General Zheng must have learned this from the Duke of Wei."

"I..." Zheng Yan hesitated for a moment before finally explaining, "I didn't learn about it from the Duke of Wei. It was just that the Wei family's personal guards mentioned this design when they got their tattoos done, and I overheard it. I was curious because they were so secretive about it, so I secretly investigated and eventually found out what the auspicious flower was."

Wei Ang, a member of the Wei clan's personal guard? Fang Zilan then remembered that Wei Ang's birth mother was a barbarian female slave. Could she actually be a Di Rong person?
"Fang Zilan!" Awan skipped in, "I heard the Di Rong delegation arrived in the capital ahead of schedule..." She stopped and then noticed Xiao Xuan'er and Zheng Yan, and couldn't help but gasp, "Are you having a meeting?"

“It’s alright, you can listen to this as well.” Fang Zilan composed herself, and Awan’s eyes widened suddenly. “What can I listen to?”

"It's about flowers and plants." Fang Zilan raised her chin, signaling Zheng Yan to continue, so he continued, "The auspicious flower is the sacred flower of the Di Rong tribe, and only the elders of the Wu clan who protect the tribe can have this pattern tattooed on them."

Fang Zilan frowned. "Who is Elder Wu?"

“I don’t know about that.” Zheng Yan shook his head. Xiao Xuan’er continued, “Among the Di Rong tribes, there is a clan of Wu people. It is said that they are proficient in witchcraft, medicine, and witchcraft. They can not only heal the dead and restore flesh to bones, but also predict good and bad fortune. Therefore, they have been regarded as honored guests by the leaders of the Di Rong tribes throughout the generations and have protected the Di Rong tribes for generations.”

"So powerful, it sounds comparable to the Yin-Yang School of Miluo." Fang Zilan casually remarked, but in reality, she had vaguely sensed something was wrong when she heard about Gu techniques.

"Lord Fang was right. The Di Rong Wu clan did indeed have dealings with the Miluo Yin-Yang School." Xiao Xuan'er explained in detail, "A hundred years ago, the mother of the last high priest of Miluo was a member of the Di Rong Wu clan."

"What did you say?" A look of disbelief flashed in Fang Zilan's eyes. Xiao Xuan'er's voice lowered a few decibels. "There are rumors that the young master of the Yin Yang School tricked the witch woman in order to use her bloodline to give birth to the strongest high priest in Miluo. It's hard to tell if this rumor is true or false, but the emperor of Miluo at the time did indeed use the young master of the Yin Yang School to send troops against the Di Rong tribe."

“I’ve read about that battle in the book. The Di Rong tribe suffered heavy losses.” Fang Zilan’s expression was dark and unreadable. “After that, the Di Rong tribe fought with Miluo for a hundred years. During that time, there were close battles and assassinations. Even when Dajing was first established and went to war with Miluo, the Di Rong tribe surrendered to it. They would rather have all their people become knives than live with Miluo.”

Zhuge Yu asked directly, "How confident are you, Sister Lan, in tomorrow's battle?" "Fifty percent," Fang Zilan said, sitting down in front of Zhuge Yu. "After all, we're using the pretense of replacing someone, so we have to make the whole thing work. I'll either be kidnapped or beaten and dragged away. It won't be easy for me to escape unscathed."

Zhuge Yu looked at Fang Zilan, whose expression clearly showed hesitation and unease, which added a hint of worry to his own heart. "Sister Lan is afraid that the kidnappers will go back on their word and refuse to release Warner?"

“Whether I release her or not isn’t the issue.” She sighed softly. “As long as I can see Warners, I’ll find a way to bring her back. But what I’m afraid of is not being able to see Warners at all tomorrow, that would be terrible.”

"If we don't see Warner tomorrow, what does Sister Lan intend to do?" Zhuge Yu stared at the person in front of her, feeling her unease growing stronger.

A resolute glint flashed in Fang Zilan's eyes, "Then we have no choice but to venture into the lion's den, to kill anyone who gets in our way, until we rescue Warners."

"Such a bold and reckless act is far too risky." Zhuge Yu shook his head in disapproval, but Fang Zilan smiled and asked, "Is A-Yu worried about me?"

Zhuge Yu did not answer Fang Zilan's question, nor did she seem to care. She continued speaking to herself, "I remember that Young Master Zhuge was one of those people who were deeply suspicious of me. Even though I fought with all my might and narrowly escaped death in the Northern War, Young Master Zhuge never truly trusted me. Why is he now worried about my life and death?"

She subtly changed her form of address, her expression hardening slightly. "If I were to die, Young Master Zhuge and His Majesty would surely be relieved, wouldn't they?"

"Times change, and people change too," Zhuge Yu said softly, his clear eyes becoming much deeper. "Lord Fang possesses extraordinary courage and skill, and his actions are truly admirable. Before any evidence is available, I choose to trust Lord Fang. However…"

He paused for a moment, then said, "For a woman like Lady Fang, this is perhaps a bit too much."

Fang Zilan chuckled softly, her smile tinged with bitterness and helplessness, but even more so with unwavering determination. "Young Master Zhuge comes from a prestigious family and is used to a life of ease, never having to exert much effort. But I am different. If I don't fight with all my might, I might not even be able to survive."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Yu was stunned. Only then did he realize that he, too, was one of those who harbored prejudice.

This world is not fair to everyone. Some people can live a life of luxury because of their birth, while others have to do everything they can just to have enough to eat and wear.

Fang Zilan, standing before him as a woman in the high position of the Lord of the Northern Territory, was tantamount to walking on a knife's edge.

Countless eyes were watching her from behind, and she was constantly on the defensive, facing both open and hidden attacks. She didn't have the confidence to be invincible, yet she carved out her own place with every sword and blade.

“There’s one more thing, I…” Fang Zilan’s voice pulled Zhuge Yu back to reality. He looked at the person in front of him who looked hesitant and wanted to say something, and said, “Sister Lan, please speak your mind. I will do anything I can to help you.”