Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1738 Help
"Can't control them?" Fang Zilan snorted coldly. "Do you think I can be threatened by them? Those who want to leave can leave. But you and Miss Xiao must make it clear to them that if I hear any words I shouldn't hear outside the mansion in the future, they can forget about staying in the capital."

"Yes." Zheng Yan accepted the order and left. Bai Xiuniang said with tears in her eyes, "Lord Fang, please let me go. If I stay in your residence, I will only be a burden to you."

Fang Zilan pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

Seeing this, Awan cautiously said, "Lord Fang, although the people in our manor are a mixed bag with unclear stances, they were all provided by His Highness Prince Yucheng. If we drive them all out now, wouldn't that damage His Highness Prince Yucheng's reputation?"

“They asked to leave the manor on their own initiative, how can it be considered that I kicked them out?” Fang Zilan’s expression grew colder, and Awan had no choice but to remain silent.

“Even though it doesn’t affect His Highness Prince Yucheng’s reputation, the sudden departure of so many people makes it obvious to others that something has happened at the manor.” Mo Han said thoughtfully, “Letting them leave the manor is not a good idea. We need to come up with a suitable excuse.”

"No matter what excuse we use, it probably won't stop the rumors from spreading." Fang Zilan sighed softly. "I'll figure something out myself. You can all leave now."

Bai Xiuniang wanted to say something more, but Awan pulled her away, saying that if she didn't apply medicine soon, her wound might get worse.

Mo Han said she was going to the accounting office to help Miss Xiao and got up to leave. Cong Rong, on the other hand, didn't make a move for a long time.

"Does Miss Cong have something to say to me?" Fang Zilan looked at Cong Rong, but saw that she hesitated and did not speak.

Fang Zilan's expression softened slightly, and she said, "Now that it's just the two of us here, Miss Cong, please feel free to speak your mind."

“I…” Cong Rong bit her lip, and after a long while, she said, “I used to have a sister I knew who was sold to a wealthy family as a concubine. After the master of that family passed away, she… was driven insane…”

“Miss Cong, don’t be afraid. I will handle this matter properly.” Fang Zilan said earnestly, “I will not stand by and watch Miss Bai fall into a pit of fire.”

“That’s not what I meant…” Cong Rong said anxiously, her words tumbling out incoherently, “It’s not that I don’t trust Lord Fang, nor am I afraid… no, I am still somewhat afraid…”

“Miss Cong.” Fang Zilan interrupted Cong Rong’s words in a calm voice, walked up to her, bent down and took her hand, which was indeed ice-cold. “I’m here, don’t be afraid.”

Cong Rong took a deep breath to compose herself. "What I meant was that after my sister's father passed away, his first wife remarried."

Fang Zilan was stunned, and asked incredulously, "What did you say?"

“It’s true.” Cong Rong nodded firmly and said, “I heard that the first wife was very cunning. She had a lot of leverage over her husband’s family. Her husband’s family was blackmailed and dared not speak out, so she went far away and remarried someone else.”

Fang Zilan pondered for a moment and then asked, "What's your sister's name? Which official did she marry?"

Cong Rong promptly gave her name, and Fang Zilan nodded slightly, "Thank you for your guidance, Miss Cong."

Cong Rong seemed relieved. "I just suddenly remembered this. I'm glad I could help Lord Fang."

“Miss Cong…” Fang Zilan hesitated and said, “If you are afraid of being implicated, you might as well go and stay at the manor outside the city for a while.”

“I’m not afraid of being implicated!” Cong Rong hurriedly said, “Lord Fang, although I am a little afraid, it’s not because I’m afraid of being implicated. I’m just worried about you…” She paused, then laughed self-deprecatingly, “I became pregnant out of wedlock and then miscarried. I have no more scruples. Reputation is nothing to me.”

"Miss Cong, please don't think like that," Fang Zilan said in a gentle voice. "Reputation is something that people earn. I believe you will eventually get what you want."

As soon as the young man entered, he heard Fang Zilan say in a cold voice, "Disobeying military orders, you've got some nerve. How many heads do you have that I can chop off?"

"I..." The young man hung his head, trembling violently, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins bulged, and he suddenly knelt down in front of her, bowing his head and saying, "General, you are right to teach me a lesson. Please punish me!"

He spoke each word with obvious restraint, while Fang Zilan spoke more gently, “I know about General Shen’s sacrifice for his country. Please accept my condolences. From this moment on, I will take over Qiluo City, and everyone will be under my command.”

The young man's shoulders twitched, and he remained silent for a long while. Fang Zilan looked down at him and sighed softly, "I have something to ask you. Get up and answer me first."

Hearing this, the young man still showed no intention of getting up. Deputy General Cao stepped forward, intending to help him up, but saw him suddenly straighten up, his eyes bloodshot and glistening with tears. "I have a request, General, please grant it."

Fang Zilan raised an eyebrow and snorted coldly, "I haven't punished you yet, what do you want from me?"

The young man then carefully examined the person in front of him, and suddenly froze, "You are... Lord Fang?"

Fang Zilan was also taken aback, feeling that he looked somewhat familiar. "You're the deputy general next to General Shen, named Zhou..."

She was speechless for a moment, and the young man quickly interjected, "Zhou Lang, Lord Fang actually remembers me?"

“I have some recollection of it.” Fang Zilan nodded slightly. “Just now I saw that you were very good at organizing the troops. You must have been following General Shen for a long time. You should know better than anyone that military orders are as strict as mountains. Why are you still so reluctant to come back?”

Zhou Lang bit his lip hard, trying to calm himself down, then gritted his teeth and said, "Those bastards from Miluo, they stole General Shen's body!"

"What did you say?" A look of shock flashed across Fang Zilan's face. Deputy General Cao blurted out, "What are they doing snatching General Shen's body? They're disturbing the peace of the dead! They're utterly despicable!"

Fang Zilan had made up her mind. She composed herself and said solemnly, "You want to beg me to order the retrieval of General Shen's body?"

“Yes.” Zhou Lang nodded heavily. “I am willing to bear all the punishments. Even if Lord Fang wants my head, I will not hesitate. But before that, I beg Lord Fang to allow me to bring General Shen back.”

“What if I refuse?” Fang Zilan asked coldly. Zhou Lang looked up and stared intently at her. “Then I will have no choice but to take off this armor and go out of the city alone to take a gamble.”

"Nonsense." Fang Zilan's expression was inscrutable. "Do you now understand why the people of Miluo wanted to seize General Shen's body?"

Zhou Lang was not a confused person to begin with, and after her explanation, he immediately understood most of it. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, making him much more sober.

"Does the boss mean that the people of Miluo deliberately stole General Shen's body to force us to take it back?" Deputy General Cao's expression was grave. Fang Zilan pursed her lips. "Otherwise, do you think they meant well by wanting to give General Shen a proper burial?"