Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1720 Recruitment
Fu Congnan broke out in a barely perceptible cold sweat. "Is the Crown Prince's wife referring to Prince Yucheng?"

Fang Zilan gave a cold laugh, "Otherwise, General Fu, who among the distinguished guests present today would you consider worthy of being addressed as a prince?"

Fu Congnan quickly bowed and said, "I will send someone to look for it right away. Please, Madam, return to the hall and wait for good news."

“No need. Your Highness is of noble status. I will search with General Fu.” Fang Zilan said, and before Fu Congnan could react, she instructed Awan, “Go back to the hall and tell Lord Zhuge, so that he won’t worry if he can’t find the person.”

"Yes." A-Wan responded and left. Fu Congnan didn't know whether to stop her or not, so he could only force a smile. "Princess's wife, this is my residence after all, and I'm more familiar with it. Looking for the Prince..."

"General Fu, are you trying to get rid of me?" Fang Zilan interrupted Fu Congnan, his smile growing increasingly stiff. "That's not what I meant, it's just..."

He paused, then quietly gestured to the soldiers behind him with his hands behind his back, and the hidden door suddenly closed.

"Miss Zhen, are you truly the young master's wife?" Fu Congnan still had a smile on his face, but it now carried a sinister, insincere undertone. "Or let me put it another way, are you truly Miss Fang the Third?"

Fang Zilan looked at Fu Congnan with a calm expression, "If I weren't Miss Fang, what would General Fu think I am?"

“Miss Zhen, a substitute marriage can’t be foolproof. If the Prince of Zhongzheng finds out that he didn’t marry Miss Fang, but someone else…” Fu Congnan trailed off, “Do you think the entire Prince of Zhongzheng’s mansion will let this go? Will the Fang family still have a way out?”

"What is General Fu saying? I can't understand a single word!" Fang Zilan's expression turned cold. "What do you mean by a substitute bride..."

“Miss Zhen, even if you deny it, it’s too late.” Fu Congnan laughed out loud as if he had heard a joke. “Back when His Majesty was still Prince Xiang, he asked Miss Fang for her hand in marriage. Their deep affection was the envy of everyone. How can he just stand by and watch her marry Prince Zhongzheng and live a life of widowhood?”

His eyes held an undisguised mockery. "I was wondering why the army was pressing on Lin City. Turns out it was to get you, Miss Zhen, to marry into the Prince of Zhongzheng's household. What a pity. Back then, you single-handedly stormed the Jiangnan camp for His Majesty, only to be sold to the people of Miluo in the end..."

"So that's how General Fu sees me." Fang Zilan curled her lips, but a layer of frost appeared in her eyes. "Since that's the case, then I might as well be frank with you. I am Fang Zilan, the third young lady of the Fang family. I was once the woman Li Shengxuan sought to marry, and I was also the one he sold into the Miluo River. I am here today for Fang Lihui."

After saying that, ignoring Fu Congnan's astonished expression, she pulled out the short knife hidden on her body and pointed it at his chest, "If you know what's good for you, hand over Fang Lihui. Otherwise, I don't mind turning your birthday into your death anniversary."

People are always reluctant to expose their shortcomings, so when Fang Zilan laid everything out, whether it was true or false, she had already won the battle in terms of momentum.

Moreover, Fang Zilan's words were not a lie; she has always been bold and responsible in her actions.

Hong Tai, hiding in the shadows, watched coldly, feeling inexplicably sad. She had finally come to this point and could only use herself as a bargaining chip.

"Miss Fang the Third?" Fu Congnan repeated the title with amusement. "The rumored, frail and delicate Miss Fang, who lives a secluded life in her boudoir?"

"It's true that I live a secluded life, but I may not be as frail as I seem." Fang Zilan didn't need to guess what Fu Congnan was thinking; in his mind, the Third Miss Fang and the Zhen family of Qianjinfang could not be the same person.

Whether it's true or false doesn't matter. What she needs to do right now is stall for time. Once Awan has gathered everyone and made a big scene, the chances of her taking Fang Lihui away will be much greater.

"Lord Fang?" The subordinate from the government office who knocked and entered saw Fang Zilan's absent-mindedness and his voice involuntarily rose a few decibels. "Lord Fang, I have finished compiling the land records you ordered me to do." After saying that, he respectfully placed the document on the table in front of Fang Zilan. "Please take a look, Lord Fang."

Fang Zilan took the document and skimmed through it before handing it back to her subordinate. "There's nothing wrong with it. You can just take it to Lord Song."

"Yes." The subordinate took the document but showed no intention of leaving.

Seeing this, Fang Zilan coughed lightly and asked, "Is there anything else?"

After a moment's hesitation, the subordinate finally spoke up: "Lord Fang, Lord Gu Yuan has left."

This wasn't the first time Fang Zilan had heard this news, but she was still stunned and blurted out, "When?"

“A month ago,” the subordinate said, lowering his eyes, “I heard that he was troubled by something, and his condition was already quite bad before he even arrived in Shanzhou.”

Fang Zilan composed herself and said, "I understand."

"Lord Fang, the journey from Shanzhou to the capital is long and arduous..." The subordinate was about to say something more when Fang Zilan interrupted him, "Do you have any dealings with Lord Gu Yuan?"

“I…” the subordinate turned his head away, “No.”

"Does the fox feel sorrow when the rabbit dies?" Fang Zilan's face was expressionless, and her voice was slightly lower.

The subordinate did not answer, but instead asked, "Isn't it Lord Fang? I've noticed that Lord Fang has been restless lately. Could it be that he already knew about Lord Gu Yuan's death?"

"It's cold and easy to feel tired. I'm just a little out of sorts, nothing to do with being restless," Fang Zilan said casually. However, her subordinate pressed on, "Lord Fang, you don't even...?"

"What?" Fang Zilan interrupted him, and said in a deep voice, "In the court, who doesn't get promoted or demoted? If you become resentful because of temporary weakness, how can you accomplish anything?"

She paused, then continued, "Besides, Lord Gu Yuan was demoted to Shanzhou because of his incompetence. You're doing your job properly in the government office, why are you so melancholic?"

"Me, wallowing in melancholy?" The subordinate seemed suddenly provoked, raising his voice: "Lord Fang, who doesn't know that the people revising the laws in the Ministry of Justice have changed again and again, all to pave the way for your cousin? Before it was Lord Gu Yuan, now it's Lord Pei Poming. Everyone who gets in his way has been eliminated one by one. You are at the height of your power, able to manipulate events at will. How could you possibly understand the feelings of us lowly officials who are working diligently and walking on thin ice?"

Fang Zilan stared silently at the person in front of her, making him feel uneasy. However, since he had already spoken, he could not take back his words and could only brace himself to meet her gaze.

"Whether it's Gu Yuan or Pei Poming, it's all His Majesty's will." Fang Zilan remained silent for a long time before saying softly, "If you feel it's unfair, then go and petition His Majesty. I don't need to argue with you about these things in the government office."

The subordinate opened his mouth but made no sound. So Fang Zilan said instead, "If you still have the ability, you might as well go and help Lord Song. He is short of manpower."