Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1719 Difficulties
Lord Liu's voice boomed, "Detaining Lord Fang was not my wish; I had my own compelling reasons!"

Upon hearing this, the people in the hall quickly made way for Lord Liu, who then knelt down in the center of the courtroom with a thud, appearing sincerely repentant. "It was all the Wu family head who said that the Xiahou family head is nearing his end, and at that time General Xiahou will be too preoccupied to care about anything else. As long as the Fang family doesn't step forward, the matter of the account books can be buried forever..."

"You're talking nonsense!" the Wu family patriarch roared in anger. "It's clearly you, you despicable, shameless, and treacherous villain, saying that one death from each family would be enough. Lord Fang refused, so you detained him..."

He realized he had misspoke as soon as the words left his mouth, but what's said is said, and it was too late to take them back.

"So, the head of the Wu family admits to hiring someone to kill?" Xiahou Yunzhao's face was ashen. "And Lord Liu, you also admit to detaining a high-ranking official?"

"General Xiahou, you are mistaken." Lord Liu looked up and said, "Lord Fang has long since resigned from his post. Now he has no official rank or title. Calling him 'Lord' is just to give him face."

"If you weren't afraid, why would you give Lord Fang face?" Xiahou Yunzhao pressed on, and Lord Liu's fierce side was revealed. "In the end, if General Xiahou hadn't gone too far, would the Wu family head and Madam Fu have taken such a risk?"

“Exactly,” the Wu family patriarch chimed in. “Even a fly flying out of the Southeast wouldn’t escape the Xiahou family’s notice. From the poisonous insect and herb business to the fire at Zuiyue Tower, the encroachment on Zhongling Temple’s land, the hiring of assassins, the corruption in Jiangnan, and the detention of high-ranking officials—General Xiahou, dare you say you’ve never been involved in any of these things? If we’re talking about admitting guilt, it’s your Xiahou family who are the real culprits!”

"The culprit?" Xiahou Yunzhao repeated the word, a smirk playing on her lips. "Although I wasn't involved, I'm not entirely ignorant. If you want me to plead guilty, you should at least provide some evidence."

As she spoke, her gaze swept over the people kneeling or standing in the courtroom: the head of the Wu family, Wu Ying, Lord Liu, and Madam Fu. Each and every one of them was a mastermind behind the scenes, yet they all pushed her out to be the instigator.

But only now did she realize that the mastermind behind it all might not be any specific person at all. Ultimately, it was the word "power" that, when placed in people's hearts, became a knife capable of any evil.

From General of Baiyue to Duke of Dajing, wasn't she also caught up in the power struggles? There were many times when she used power as a weapon.

If that's the case, if she were to use herself as bait, she might be able to lure out all those who are immersed in these sordid affairs. At that time, she might be able to fight for fairness and the truth.

"General Xiahou?" Xie Chen's voice pulled Xiahou Yunzhao back to reality. She looked up and met his calm eyes.

She knew that no matter what decision she made or what the outcome, it wouldn't shake Xie Chen's position as presiding judge. Since that was the case, what harm was there in giving Fang Zilan the fairness she wanted and turning Southeast China upside down completely?

“Now everyone has their own reasons, but no one dares to produce any substantial evidence.” Xiahou Yunzhao said in a deep voice, word by word, “If there is really evidence, I am willing to accept the charges and be temporarily detained.”

"General Xiahou..." Xie Chen and Li Qiyou spoke at the same time, but their thoughts were completely different.

However, in just a short while, Lord Liu and others were enough to seize upon the situation again, asking, "If you were truly innocent, why would you willingly be imprisoned?"

“I said, the premise is that there is evidence.” Xiahou Yunzhao looked down at Lord Liu condescendingly. “If you have evidence, then just produce it.”

“I have it.” Dugu Linxiu’s voice trembled slightly, yet its sharp tone drew everyone’s attention. “It’s in the ledger I gave to Mr. Xie earlier.” Fang Zilan couldn’t help but ask curiously, “What’s wrong with A-Yu?”

"Sister Lan has been having a lot of free time these days." Zhuge Yu's nonchalant remark made her laugh out loud. "Is Ayu sulking with me?"

"How dare I?" Zhuge Yu said, taking out a brocade box from his bosom and placing it neatly in front of her. "This is something the Sassanid family wants me to give you. If you ever need anything in the future, take this token to Persia to see the Sassanid family."

Fang Zilan casually picked up the brocade box, weighed it in her hand, and opened it. Inside was a gold-inlaid jade pendant, engraved with the Sassanid family crest.

She took it out, held it in her hand, and asked while playing with it, "How many times can this thing be used?"

"Only once." Zhuge Yu picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup of tea. "Sister Lan, you must keep this safe. It's like a life-saving charm."

"A life-saving charm?" Fang Zilan smiled and casually placed the pendant into the brocade box. "I prefer to call it Aladdin's lamp for making wishes."

"What is that?" Zhuge Yu asked with a puzzled expression, while Fang Zilan just smiled and said, "It's nothing, just a myth from my hometown, we're just joking around."

Although she spoke softly, her actions were meticulous. After carefully putting the brocade box away as it was, she looked at Zhuge Yu and said, "Now that things are settled here, A-Yu, you'll be returning to the capital in a couple of days, right?"

Zhuge Yu nodded. "It's time to go back. There are many things to do in the capital as the year draws to a close, and I can't escape them."

Seeing his serious expression, Fang Zilan couldn't help but ask, "Judging from A-Yu's appearance, is there something different about the end of this year compared to previous years?"

"His Majesty has been on the throne for over a year, and it's time for the Xiahou family to come to the capital." Zhuge Yu coughed softly. "I just don't know who from the Xiahou family will be coming to the capital."

Fang Zilan frowned. "Logically speaking, the nine high-ranking officials stationed outside the capital should come to the capital to report on their duties at the end of each year. However, it seems that we have never heard of the Xiahou family coming to the capital."

"Didn't Sister Lan also not go to the capital at the end of last year?" Zhuge Yu pointed out the obvious. Fang Zilan laughed helplessly, "I'm different. There are too many things to do in the Northern Border, so I can't leave."

Zhuge Yu understood and did not press further, but continued, "The Xiahou family has been to the capital before. The year Consort Yu passed away, Xiahou Yunzhao, the then head of the Xiahou family, came to the capital. It was also at that time that she stepped down as head of the family and passed the position to her younger brother, Xiahou Mingxun."

Fang Zilan interjected, "Is Consort Yu His Majesty's birth mother?"

Zhuge Yu did not mind her impolite behavior and nodded slightly, replying, "That's right. Later, when Emperor Tai'an fell seriously ill, Xiahou Mingxun came to the capital, and rumors spread that Emperor Tai'an had passed the throne to Emperor Ningshun, but left a secret edict instructing Emperor Ningshun to pass the throne to His Majesty after his death. This time, it is the third time the Xiahou family has come to the capital."

“No wonder A-Yu is so cautious; the Xiahou family really only comes to the capital for major events.” Fang Zilan relaxed, her tone slightly teasing. “Let’s guess who will be coming to the capital this time?”