Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1757 Commentary
"I have nothing more to say to you." Fang Zilan said with her back to Fang Chongzheng. "After your name is removed from the family register, just have someone inform me."

“Lan’er, you and your mother have never been on the Fang family genealogy.” Fang Chongzheng’s voice was deep, but Fang Zilan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “I should have thought of that sooner.”

She laughed self-deprecatingly, "In that case, there's nothing more for me to say to you. May the Fang family prosper in the future, and may Lord Fang be well."

"Lan'er, there's something I need to tell you." Fang Chongzheng leaned against the doorframe. "At least, I can't let you know it from someone else."

Seeing this, Xiao Xuan'er quietly left. Fang Zilan didn't say anything, and Fang Chongzheng walked straight in and closed the door.

"It's better to say it all at once, lest there be no other chance later." Fang Zilan sat at the table, with Fang Chongzheng sitting opposite her. "I will propose the matter of exchanging prisoners for death to His Majesty, and the person from the Ghost Gate is also aware of it."

Fang Zilan remained outwardly calm, but her heart was already in turmoil. "Why tell me this at this critical juncture?"

“If the world suspects that the Crown Prince’s wife is Zixiu, you still have a way to deal with it,” Fang Chongzheng said quietly. “But if someone suspects that the Third Miss of the Fang family is the former Duke of Yue, then it’s not just your problem.”

"Are you saying all this to protect me, or to protect the Fang family?" Fang Zilan stared intently at Fang Chongzheng. "If it's the former, there's no need for it. If it's the latter, my name has never been on the Fang family's genealogy. No matter who I am—the former Duke of Yue, Zixiu, or the wife of the heir apparent—it has nothing to do with the Fang family. I believe you have a thousand ways to completely sever ties with me."

Fang Chongzheng ignored Fang Zilan's reaction and continued speaking to himself, "The first part of the proposal is to exchange prisoners for death. The second part is to ask Mr. Su Heng to return to the capital, and for the Fang family to leave the capital and never return."

"So you wanted to leave the capital back then." Fang Zilan clenched her fist, her hand hidden in her sleeve. "Who would have thought that the old man's death would prevent you from fulfilling your wish?"

Fang Chongzheng remained silent for a long while before saying, "Switching prisoners for each other is fraught with risks, and then there was the sudden death of Mr. Su Heng. All of these things are related to the Ghost Gate. Even so, His Majesty still protected you. Why do you think that is?"

Fang Zilan's lips moved, but no sound came out.

"You know perfectly well what's going on, but you refuse to admit it?" Fang Chongzheng sighed. "The fire at Zuiyue Tower and the Hong Clan of Feiling Mountain—His Majesty didn't pursue any of it. It's not that he didn't care; it's just that he chose you."

"The substitution of prisoners for death was His Majesty's intention from beginning to end. I was the one who should have died, but you all wanted me to live." Fang Zilan remained unmoved. "After the old man passed away, I killed the Ten Kings of Hell to avenge him, which can be considered as fulfilling the bond between master and disciple."

She paused, "Furthermore, regarding the fire at Zuiyue Tower and the Hong family of Feiling Mountain, His Majesty did not pursue the matter not because of me, but because he dared not. He dared not investigate thoroughly, so he used me as a pretext."

Fang Chongzheng hesitated, but Fang Zilan continued, "His Majesty's so-called choice of me is nothing but a smokescreen. It may fool the world, but can it fool you?"

"Since you know this, why do you still linger in the southeast?" Fang Chongzheng frowned slightly, while Fang Zilan curled her lips. "You advised me before, and I know that even if I fight to the death and make a scene in front of His Majesty, I can't cause any major upheaval."

"Not only that," Fang Chongzheng interjected, "but there's an even greater possibility that you've completely angered His Majesty, and then, let alone saying it's the truth, you..."

He didn't finish his sentence, and Fang Zilan's smile widened. "I will die, that's inevitable. Everyone in the world will die, and every day we live is a journey towards death."

Fang Chongzheng wanted to say something more, but Fang Zilan interrupted him, saying, "If it can bring the truth to light and bring justice to all the deceased, then my death is nothing."

“But what if you don’t make it to that day…” Fang Chongzheng slammed his hand on the table, his chest heaving. Fang Zilan was stunned. In her limited memory, she seemed to have never seen Fang Chongzheng so distraught.

So she composed herself and said, word by word, "You once told me—the night is long, I can take my time. If I really can't make it and collapse in the long night, then please walk to dawn for me."

"Fang Zilan." From childhood to adulthood, Fang Chongzheng rarely called Fang Zilan by her full name. He suppressed his emotions and watched her stand up and then kneel in front of him. "I can never repay the kindness of raising me in this life. If there is an afterlife, I hope you will never meet me again."

Fang Zilan scrutinized Li Shengxuan, as if trying to discern something from his expression, but aside from his sincerity, she could see nothing else.

She remained silent for a while, then changed the subject and said in a low voice, "I heard that the Empress Dowager is leaving the capital."

Li Shengxuan smiled and nodded, "After the Lantern Festival, the Empress Dowager will take Pei Xuanchang to live permanently in the imperial palace outside the capital."

After the Lantern Festival? Fang Zilan was stunned. So fast, it hasn't even been the first month of the lunar calendar yet. It seems that very few people will go to Yuzhang Palace to pay their respects this year.

Seeing that she didn't react, Li Shengxuan couldn't help but ask, "What are you thinking about?"

"It's nothing." Fang Zilan's expression was ambiguous. "I just feel that Pei Xuanchang is still too young and is not the best candidate to succeed as the head of the family."

“Indeed,” Li Shengxuan said calmly. “However, Pei Xiaozhe is not up to the task, and besides, I would rather trust the Empress Dowager than him.”

"Believe?" Fang Zilan repeated the word, and Li Shengxuan nodded slightly and said, "Prince Yucheng was raised by the Empress Dowager."

Fang Zilan immediately understood that Li Shengxuan's so-called belief was actually his belief in the Empress Dowager's ability to educate children. After all, if she could raise Li Qiyou, she could also raise Pei Xuanchang well.

Thinking of this, she smiled and said, "Your Majesty truly knows how to recognize and utilize talent."

Li Shengxuan also smiled and said, "Since you've put it that way, when will Mo Han be able to take up his post in the Ministry of Justice?"

Fang Zilan's expression suddenly turned cold. "What did Your Majesty say?"

"I am very satisfied with the new law revised by Mo Han, and it will be officially implemented after the New Year." Li Shengxuan said solemnly, "Mo Han is the most suitable person to implement it."

“Although Mo Han is talented, he is only worthy of the title of guest minister.” Fang Zilan said coldly, “He does not have the ability to implement the new laws now, and he will not have it in the future.”

“That statement is too absolute,” Li Shengxuan said solemnly. “Skills are acquired through practice, not innate. Even you were not born the Duke of Yue.”

“Now that I have assumed the title of Duke of Yue, I will not fail to live up to it,” Fang Zilan said, her face as calm as still water. “But Mo Han is different.”

Li Shengxuan frowned and said, "What's different about Mo Han? I can grant him an official position just as easily."