Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1722 Unspeakable
Fang Zilan didn't press further, only saying, "If there's anything you'd rather not tell others, that's fine too..."

“It’s not something that’s inconvenient to talk about.” Xiao Xuan’er subconsciously interrupted Fang Zilan and said in a low voice, “This matter is nothing more than a struggle between important people. The Liu family is caught in the middle and suffers as a result. That’s why quite a few people in the southeast know about it.”

Fang Zilan said "Oh," her face showing obvious curiosity.

"Before becoming one of the five great families of Lingnan, the Liu family was originally a general under the Xiahou family." Xiao Xuan'er explained in detail, "After the Baiyue Xia family submitted and changed their surname to Xiahou, in order to dispel Emperor Tai'an's concerns, they also recruited many people with other surnames, including many capable generals. The Liu family was one of them."

Fang Zilan frowned slightly, "But it seems to me now that the Liu family has not only severed ties with the Xiahou family, but they are even at odds with each other?"

“This all started with Liu Neng’s father,” Xiao Xuan’er explained. “Back when the Xiahou family was suppressing bandits, the Liu family was also at the forefront. But the situation changed when the Prince of Rong’an was enfeoffed to the southeast.”

She paused, "The bandits of Mangshan are known for their opportunism. It is said that in order to counter the Hong clan of Feiling Mountain, they were the first to pledge allegiance to the Prince of Rong'an. The Xiahou family is cautious, and there were bound to be some clashes during that period."

“The Liu family is not like the Xiahou family, which is not only among the nine great ministers but also has the support of the Imperial Concubine Yu in the palace,” Fang Zilan interjected. “Is that when the rift between the two families began?”

"Yes and no." Xiao Xuan'er lowered her eyes and said, "Liu Neng's father was loyal to the Xiahou family. He believed that the bandits had been harassing the people for a long time, and even with the secret support of the imperial relatives, they could not be ignored. As for Liu Neng, as you said, he knew better how to advance and retreat. He knew that once the Xiahou family broke ties with Prince Rong'an, his Liu family would be nothing more than pawns. Protecting himself was the best policy."

Fang Zilan was silent for a moment, "It's a pity that Liu Neng's father didn't listen to his advice, right?"

Xiao Xuan'er nodded. "It is said that Liu Neng's father once had a big argument with him, and he left the Liu family after leaving behind a painting."

"What painting?" Fang Zilan couldn't help but ask. Xiao Xuan'er shook her head. "I'm not really sure, I only know that it's related to Mangshan."

Fang Zilan had a guess in her mind, "And then what?"

"Later, Liu Neng's father took Liu Yong to Mangshan to suppress bandits, but apart from Liu Yong, no one in the entire army returned." Xiao Xuan'er pursed her lips. "No one knows what exactly happened in Mangshan. All that is known is that Liu Neng returned to the Liu family and became a wealthy and idle man, while Liu Yong became the new head of the Liu family. From then on, he stopped raising troops and fighting, and completely severed ties with the Xiahou family."

"I remember Lord Cheng once said that you have served in Suzhou Prefecture for twelve years, and you have worked diligently and conscientiously, with a clear conscience. Everything you have done has been for the sake of peace." Fang Zilan stared intently at the person before her. "Is that so?"

"Yes." Cheng Zhiyan didn't hesitate. Fang Zilan threw the letter down on the table in front of him. "May I ask, Lord Cheng, was it all for the sake of—peace—that you orchestrated and instigated the refugees to entangle and trap General Shen, causing him to be overwhelmed and several cities in Dajing to fall, leaving the people displaced?"

She spoke each sentence with increasing intensity, until the final words, "peace," were almost an interrogation.

"Your humble servant..." Cheng Zhiyan opened his mouth, but after a long while, he swallowed all his words of rebuttal and simply replied in a light tone, "Yes."

Fang Zilan's expression was stern. "Lord Cheng, I never imagined you would be so self-deceiving."

"Whether I am deceiving myself or not, does the Crown Prince's wife not know?" Cheng Zhiyan suddenly flicked his sleeve and said sternly, "The Crown Prince's wife should know better than anyone what the southeastern lands were like back then. That war was unbearable." Fang Zilan's face was ashen. "If we can't fight, should the people of Dajing be left to be slaughtered by the people of Miluo?"

Cheng Zhiyan subconsciously retorted, "All the people of Miluo want is the city and its gold and silver. If we give them those, we can ensure that more people can live in peace and security..."

"Is it just cities and gold and silver? To ensure that more people can live in peace and security?" Fang Zilan sneered. "Cheng Zhiyan, as the head of a prefecture, is this what you think?"

Cheng Zhiyan's expression froze for a moment, and Fang Zilan said sarcastically, "It's just that the flames of war haven't reached Suzhou Prefecture yet. Otherwise, I'm afraid Lord Cheng would have led the people to surrender?"

“Lady Crown Prince, you were able to fight then because His Majesty mobilized the entire capital,” Cheng Zhiyan said solemnly. “Otherwise…”

"Otherwise what?" Fang Zilan interrupted Cheng Zhiyan coldly. "Don't you understand why His Majesty is mobilizing the entire capital? Even if we can't afford to fight, we must fight that battle."

"You short-sighted and reckless warriors, how is this any different from draining the pond to catch all the fish?" Cheng Zhiyan said angrily. "If you hadn't insisted on war, how could the southeast have fallen into such a state of devastation? A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan..."

"Cheng Zhiyan, is this why you colluded with Mr. Zuo?" Fang Zilan was furious. Cheng Zhiyan nodded and said, "Yes, at least Mr. Zuo's method is feasible."

"Feasible?" Fang Zilan seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. "It's feasible for you, it's beneficial to Miluo with no harm, and it's extremely profitable for Murong Qing. Don't you understand?"

She coughed a few times as she got excited, “Paying tribute to Miluo is to weaken the power of Dajing to strengthen Miluo, not to mention secretly giving an extra 20% to the Prince Zhongzheng’s Mansion to reward Mr. Zuo for his mediation efforts.”

She paused, then said coldly, "Leaving aside the fact that the people of Miluo are eager for the capital to pay tribute and don't need that Zuo guy's mediation, just think about what kind of army Murong Qing could train with that 20% profit. Can't you imagine? Cheng Zhiyan, you've never been on the battlefield and don't know how to fight, so I won't say more to you. But can't you even do this most basic calculation?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhiyan was stunned, cold sweat pouring down his back, but he couldn't utter a single word.

"If we're talking about shortsightedness, then you're the real shortsighted one," Fang Zilan sneered. "Who would have thought that while the soldiers of Dajing were fighting valiantly in front, you people were thinking about how to stab them in the back?"

"This humble official didn't..." Cheng Zhiyan hurriedly denied, but Fang Zilan interrupted him, "Cheng Zhiyan, you know best what you've done all these years. Are you truly without remorse? In the dead of night, haven't you ever thought of one or two things, two or three people..."

"Shut up!" Cheng Zhiyan shouted with all his might, staggering a few steps and bumping into the bookshelf behind him. The books on the shelf fell down with a rustling sound, startling him and making him more awake than ever before.

Can you truly say you have a clear conscience?

"Cheng Zhiyan, if you still have a heart," Fang Zilan said, looking at the stunned Cheng Zhiyan, "we will make everything public when the court opens the day after tomorrow."