Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1728 Arrival
"Please, Madam." Fang Zilan hadn't taken two steps when a maid from the back courtyard led her into Madam Fu's room.

After exchanging greetings and taking their seats, Fang Zilan carefully examined the woman and suddenly noticed that Madam Fu bore a striking resemblance to Ouyang Weishi, whom she had met before.

Could it be that Madam Fu and Lady Ouyang are sisters? Fang Zilan wondered, when she heard Madam Fu speak up: "Madam, I heard that Lord Zhuge came to the manor on the orders of His Highness Prince Yucheng. I wonder whose orders you are on?"

Instead of answering, Fang Zilan asked, "Madam, whose orders do you think I'm acting on?"

"Madam, now that you've married into the Zhongzheng Prince's Mansion in Miluo, you have nothing to do with the capital anymore," Madam Fu said sarcastically. "Why bother with all this trouble? Be careful not to get yourself into trouble."

Fang Zilan was not annoyed. "Judging from Madam Fu's words, you must also think that I came on the orders of Prince Yucheng?"

Madam Fu remained silent, but her posture clearly conveyed the message, "Isn't that right?" Seeing this, Fang Zilan said directly, "His Highness Prince Yucheng did not ask me to do anything; it was I who came to ask Madam a question."

Madam Fu chuckled, "What the Crown Prince's wife said is quite interesting. You and I are just women confined to our inner chambers. What could His Highness Prince Yucheng possibly ask of you?"

"Madam Fu, I've come today only to ask you one question." Fang Zilan raised her hand and furrowed her brow, saying impatiently, "Will the Wei family interfere in Fu Congnan's case?"

"The Crown Prince's wife overestimates me," Madam Fu shook her head. "How would I know what Lady Wei thinks?"

Fang Zilan stared intently at Madam Fu for a long while before saying, "It seems Madam is unwilling to tell me the truth. In that case, I won't waste my time. From now on, the fate of the Fu family..."

She deliberately dragged out her words, and Madam Fu sneered, "What, does the Crown Prince's wife really have the power to decide the life and death of the entire Fu family? Even if His Highness Prince Yucheng listens to you, he can't do something as simple as confiscating your property and exterminating your entire clan..."

"Whether the Fu family lives or dies, I don't know what His Highness Prince Yucheng thinks," Fang Zilan interrupted Madam Fu, saying each word clearly, "but I want the entire Fu family to die."

"What a big mouth you have, Madam!" Madam Fu slammed her hand on the table, causing the teacups on it to rattle and make a crisp sound, as if she shared the same displeasure as her mistress.

“The Fang family has always been protective of its own, and I am the worst of them all.” Fang Zilan curled her lips, but there was no smile in her eyes, and her tone was chilling. “Fu Congnan seriously injured my cousin Li Hui, so I will not let him off the hook.”

Madam Fu blurted out instinctively, "That's Fu Congnan's business. What does it have to do with the entire Fu family?"

“My cousin Li Hui has lost his hands and feet and will be bedridden for the rest of his life.” Fang Zilan tapped the table lightly with her fingers and said leisurely, “How can a mere Fu Congnan afford to compensate for such a loss?”

"Do you think you can just say whatever you want?" Madam Fu glared angrily. "Now that your father is no longer an official in the capital, and the Empress in the palace is just a figurehead, you think you can..."

“That’s right. Me, a mere heir’s wife,” Fang Zilan said, finishing the sentence for Madam Fu. “Madam Fu, whether you believe it or not, I have the power to wipe out the entire Fu family. Unless…”

Fang Zilan paused, and Madam Fu couldn't help but press, "Unless what?"

“Unless the Wei family intervenes.” Fang Zilan casually picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, and said, “Out of respect for the Wei family head—Lord Wei Ang—I can guarantee the safety of your entire family.” “The title of ‘Number One in the World’ was originally given by Zixiu herself.” Xiao Xuan’er stared at Fang Zilan and said, word by word, “But the more people who die by her sword, the more weight the title of ‘Number One in the World’ carries, and over time it will become a reality.”

"She's just going against common sense," Fang Zilan said calmly. "When you first enter the martial world, no one will believe what you say, but it's faster than testing each other and then having others draw conclusions."

"Because people tend to have preconceived notions?" Xiao Xuan'er couldn't help but ask. Fang Zilan nodded. "That's roughly the idea, but Zixiu is different."

“Zi Xiu’s difference lies in her absolute strength.” Xiao Xuan’er’s voice was a few decibels lower, and Fang Zilan hummed in agreement. “With the preconceived notion and absolute strength, even if she’s not the best in the world, no one will question it.”

She sighed after she finished speaking, "Unfortunately, the imperial court is not the martial arts world, and the Crown Prince's wife is not Zixiu. Zixiu says everything for herself. But the Crown Prince's wife says everything she can't control."

"The Crown Prince's wife's every word and action, as seen by others, will lead them to speculate whether it's for the Fang family or the Prince Zhongzheng's mansion." Xiao Xuan'er pursed her lips. "Even so, does the Crown Prince's wife still want to stay and wait for the outcome?"

"I don't have much time left. If I don't live to see this ending, I won't be able to die in peace." Fang Zilan said earnestly, "As long as I know the purpose of my words and actions, what do I care what others think?"

"I understand." Xiao Xuan'er nodded slightly. "When Madam Hu and Lord Mo Yang arrive, would the young master's wife like to meet them?"

"I won't see her." Fang Zilan said resolutely, "The one who had dealings with the Mo family was the former Duke of Yue. Now that she's gone, there's no need for the Mo family to see her again."

“I know that the young master’s wife does not want to have anything to do with the Mo family, but…” Xiao Xuan’er hesitated for a moment and said, “These two from the Mo family are probably up to no good. Please be careful, young master’s wife.”

“I know.” Fang Zilan nodded and said, “No matter what, Mo Han died because of me. If the Mo family comes after me because of this, I am not afraid.”

Xiao Xuan'er seemed to want to comfort Fang Zilan, but after thinking for a while, she finally managed to say, "Madam, the death of Young Master Mo is not your fault."

"How could you not blame me?" Fang Zilan laughed self-deprecatingly. Xiao Xuan'er opened her mouth, but ultimately no sound came out.

For some reason, Madam Hu and Mo Yang's journey here was exceptionally smooth; no one came forward to stop them, nor did anyone try to sabotage them.

The excessive quiet was unsettling, but Xiao Xuan'er didn't tell Fang Zilan all of this, because she selfishly didn't want her to be sad again.

She had witnessed the deep bond between Mo Han and Fang Zilan, siblings. Then Mo Han died, and the blow to Fang Zilan was greater than to anyone else. She didn't know how the Mo family viewed the matter, but she knew Fang Zilan would have preferred to be the one who died.

After that fire at the Xu family's residence, not only did everyone in the world fear her, but she also feared it. Without any scruples, Fang Zilan was probably capable of anything.

She didn't know where this court hearing would go, but she knew that even though Fang Zilan was just the wife of the heir, she had the power to change the outcome. Observing the situation quietly now was simply a way of giving these people another chance.