Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1756 Grass Grows
"Lord Wei heard that you've returned, sir, and sent me here." Cao Hong's face showed some worry. "Shangguan Min has been detained by them at the camp outside the capital."

"I know about this." Fang Zilan's expression was inscrutable. Cao Hong was stunned. "Boss, you know?"

Fang Zilan nodded, and Cao Hong scratched the back of his head. "There's one more thing, boss, do you know about it?"

"What's going on?" Fang Zilan couldn't help but frown. Cao Hong leaned closer to her and lowered his voice, saying, "I heard from some brothers in the camp that the people guarding Shangguan Min are taking a picture to him every day and interrogating him about what it means."

"What picture?" Fang Zilan's voice was very soft, but Cao Hong still heard it. He whispered, "Plum blossoms."

Fang Zilan clenched her fist, her hand hidden in her sleeve. She realized that the plum blossom pattern had been the one that had tricked Shangguan Min into going to the camp outside the capital. But when did he find out that the plum blossom was related to her?

Before she could think it through, another idea popped into her head. They had deceived Shangguan Min with the plum blossom pattern, but they didn't know what the pattern represented. This meant that Wei Changtai didn't know the connection between the plum blossom pattern and her; rather, someone who knew the inside story had told him…

The answer is obvious: Ji Ningtian. He was behind the scenes, orchestrating this near-farce rebellion.

No, his real purpose wasn't to rebel, but what would happen after he rebelled...

She dragged the Wei family into the mess and found someone to replace them, just like she had done to the Shangguan family before.

But she's already in the position of Duke of Yue. Does Ji Ningtian have other pawns he can use on the surface? Or does Ji Ningtian not want to replace the Wei family, but only values ​​the capital's outskirts camp under Wei Mao's control?
It's not impossible. In the heart of the capital, right under the emperor's nose, whoever controls the main camp in the suburbs holds absolute power.

However, given Li Shengxuan's and other noble families' wariness of her, even if the camp in the outskirts of the capital is no longer managed by Wei Mao, she may not necessarily take over...

Fang Lihui showed no embarrassment whatsoever, and simply smiled faintly and said, "Lord Fang guards the northern border, which is certainly not comparable to that of an ordinary woman."

Seeing that Fang Lihui refused to tell the truth, Fang Zilan shook her head, called to the two people behind her, and turned to leave.

Fang Lihui quickly followed, saying, "What Lord Fang said at the banquet today was quite interesting."

Fang Zilan still ignored Fang Lihui, who continued speaking to himself, "I thought Lord Fang was trying his best to facilitate this marriage, but I didn't expect him to undermine me."

"Didn't Young Master Fang settle things?" Fang Zilan asked in a cold tone. "I've long heard that seven-tenths of the world's business is in the hands of the Fang family. Seeing the Fang family today, I can see that their reputation is well-deserved."

"You flatter me, Lord Fang." Fang Lihui was not annoyed and just smiled. "The Fang family are all businessmen. As businessmen, we must calculate the gains and losses. I will not do business that loses money."

“You’re not losing out in this marriage.” Fang Zilan slowed her pace slightly, and Fang Lihui quickened his pace to walk alongside her. “I’m in the business of romance, so even if this marriage isn’t a loss for me, I still won’t be good enough for the Wang family.”

"Is this why you brought Fang Yuhan here?" Fang Zilan said noncommittally. "But you should know that a young master from a collateral branch is still not good enough for the Wang family."

"If I can't catch the eye of the Wang family, I'll be happy if I can catch the eye of the Wang family's daughter." Fang Lihui's phoenix eyes were smiling, and his smug look made Fang Zilan unable to help but pour cold water on him, "The person who spoke so nicely at the banquet just now was you, Young Master Fang."

“The Wang family has very strict family rules. My glib tongue is enough to make Lord Wang and Madam Wang disgusted.” Fang Lihui’s smile widened, like a night-blooming cereus blooming. “I’ll have to trouble Lord Fang with the rest of the matter.” “Young Master Fang is a bit too confident.” Fang Zilan stopped and raised her eyebrows slightly. “If I were Lord Wang, I would definitely choose you, not Fang Yuhan.”

"Oh?" Fang Lihui's eyebrows relaxed, his voice rising at the end, and he said with a playful tone, "I'd like to hear more details."

Fang Zilan said calmly, "During the day, Fang Yuhan spoke up for the two young ladies, and his words seemed sincere, but in reality, they were just a powerless rebuttal. Little did he know that others saw him as someone deeply entangled in the family affairs, nothing more. As someone involved in the situation, to be so unclear-headed is not a sign of kindness, but rather a self-righteous hypocrite."

She paused, then suddenly changed the subject, saying, "But you, Young Master Fang, are different. You are quick-witted and adaptable, and at such a young age, you can even read people's minds."

Upon hearing this, Fang Lihui's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly regained his carefree demeanor and leaned close to Fang Zilan, whispering, "You and Madam Wang did not witness what happened during the day."

Fang Zilan quickly took a step to distance herself from him and said coldly, "Young Master Fang, aren't you afraid I'll tell Lord Wang and Old Madam Wang?"

Fang Lihui covered his face with a folding fan and chuckled softly, “Of course I’m not afraid. Although I have little acquaintance with Lord Fang, I know that you are prudent and upright, and would never do anything hypocritical or self-righteous.”

Fang Zilan clenched her fists, thinking to herself, "What a Fang Lihui! He really has the habits of a meticulous businessman, returning her words verbatim."

She snorted coldly, "Who are Lord Wang and Madam Wang? Even I can see through them, do you think they wouldn't?"

"So what if they can see it? It's a pity they're not like you, Lord Fang." Fang Lihui chuckled. "A man like me is like a wild horse. They don't have the confidence to gamble with their precious daughters. But you, Lord Fang..."

He paused for a moment, then bent down and leaned closer to Fang Zilan, his lips brushing against her ear as he said, "You're even worse than me, so naturally you won't be afraid of me."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a dagger appeared beside his neck, ready to take his life at the slightest touch.

"Is Lord Fang angry?" Fang Lihui remained unfazed, his teasing expression unabated. Instead, he reached out and grasped Fang Zilan's wrist. "The way Lord Fang is acting now is just like my cousin with the same name."

"Is that so?" Fang Zilan shook off Fang Lihui's hand, put the dagger away and hid it in her sleeve, her expression even colder. "I heard that Prime Minister Fang has a daughter with the same name as me, also called Fang Zilan."

“Yes,” Fang Lihui nodded in agreement. “If it weren’t for Lan’s stubborn nature, I would like to marry her.”

Fang Zilan didn't say anything, and walked away without lingering.

Fang Lihui followed, saying, "I must say, Lord Fang does bear a striking resemblance to my Lan sister."

"Fang Lihui." Fang Zilan gripped the dagger in her sleeve, her voice tinged with suppressed anger. "Your Lan-mei may not kill, but I will."

"Lord Fang, are you willing to kill me?" Fang Lihui's eyes were clearly mocking. The next moment, a flash of silver light appeared in Fang Zilan's sleeve, and the dagger flew straight towards Fang Lihui.

(End of this chapter)