Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1769 Revealed
"King Yu Ning truly lives up to his title as the master of the Ghost Gate; his methods are unpredictable and awe-inspiring." Fang Chongzheng's expression remained indifferent, but his sarcastic remarks betrayed his true feelings.

"Is the Prime Minister in a hurry?" Ji Ningtian raised his hand, and Wu Qing, who was standing nearby, immediately poured Fang Chongzheng a cup of tea.

Fang Chongzheng didn't even look at it, and Ji Ningtian wasn't annoyed. "As long as the Third Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion stays in her secluded chambers, what does it matter to the Prime Minister whether the Duke of Yue, Fang Zilan, lives or dies?"

"Why does Your Highness ask a question you already know the answer to?" Fang Chongzheng's voice seemed indistinct through the rising steam of the tea, yet every word struck the heart. "Without her, Your Highness, even if you were to start a rebellion in the future, it would be illegitimate and without justification."

Upon hearing this, Ji Ningtian's hand, hidden in his sleeve, suddenly clenched into a fist. "What do you mean by that, Prime Minister?"

“Your Highness knows perfectly well, why should I say more?” Fang Chongzheng said, leaning back slightly. “This tea is good, but unfortunately it’s been overcooked and has lost its aroma. It’s better not to drink it.”

"Prime Minister, even if she dies, it was the path she chose herself." Ji Ningtian's gaze was deep. "What can you do about it?"

"There's nothing I can do." Fang Chongzheng calmly straightened his sleeves. "I have never interfered in her past, and I will not interfere in the future. As Your Highness said, everything was her choice."

He paused, his voice sharpening, "But no matter what she chooses, as long as she asks, the Fang family will lend a helping hand."

Offering assistance? Ji Ningtian scoffed, "Prime Minister, are you perhaps overestimating the Fang family..."

“Your Highness.” Fang Chongzheng interrupted Ji Ningtian, his tone as if he were talking about the most mundane matter, “If Your Highness doesn’t care about the Fang family, why go to such lengths to erase her memory, even using Gu poison?”

Ji Ningtian's expression hardened, but Fang Chongzheng continued speaking to himself, "Everything in the world can be bought and sold, and the constant flow of trade is the way of commerce. This principle applies to all countries. Others may not know what Gu poison is, but do you think the Fang family, who have monopolized all the business in the world, would not know?"

“Even if the Fang family knew, they wouldn’t easily reveal a single word,” Ji Ningtian said coldly. “Who would believe such a thing if it got out?”

Su Yun clenched his fists and finally stepped forward, "Su Yun of the Su family wants to report my father."

He spoke those few words with all his might, his whole body trembling slightly, yet he still kept his spine straight.

Fang Zilan looked at Su Yun, her heart filled with mixed emotions. The truth he told her was similar to her guess: the murder of Su Yuexi's family was inextricably linked to his father.

Furthermore, the almost annual disappearances in the southeast are also related to the Su family. A pharmaceutical company always needs test subjects.

"The source of the plague back then, the fisherman who got sick," Fang Zilan heard her own voice, as if she couldn't control herself, and asked, "Is it related to the Su family?"

“It’s irrelevant.” Su Yun pursed her lips. “But after the plague back then, the Su family found many refugees…”

He didn't finish his sentence, but the answer was obvious.

Fang Zilan's face turned pale, and she said coldly, "The Yun family and other medical families did not keep the treatment method to themselves back then. If it's for..."

“No.” Su Yun abruptly interrupted Fang Zilan, shaking his head and saying, “The Su family is not here for a cure.”

Fang Zilan froze, unable to ask any more questions. The person who asked for her was Awan.

"If it's not for a cure, then what is it for?" Awan gritted her teeth and said, "It's a plague! Do you know how many people died back then?" "I'm sorry," Su Yun blurted out subconsciously, without even knowing why he was apologizing. He hadn't been involved and knew nothing of the details.

That apology might simply be because his surname is Su. Having borne the burden of his family's name, he cannot remain untainted.

"Awan, that's enough." Fang Zilan couldn't help but stop Awan. "Lord Su knows nothing."

“But…” A-Wan opened her mouth, but couldn’t utter a single word. She didn’t want to say that Su Yun was innocent, but she didn’t think Su Yun was guilty either.

She still remembers that whenever her master mentioned the Su family, he would say that although their methods were extreme, their medical skills were unmatched, and if they could be passed down to future generations, they would surely benefit people.

How can medical expertise built on the sacrifice of human lives be used to benefit people?
She doesn't understand, and she doesn't want to understand.

Just like those lifeless medicine puppets in the Gate of Hell, they only made her feel like an executioner, not a healer.

Fang Zilan reached out and pulled Awan to her side, gently embracing her. Before she could say anything, she heard Su Yuexi's name again.

She couldn't help but look over, and there lay quietly in Su Yun's palm the jade pendant that should have belonged to Su Yuexi.

It couldn't be hidden any longer.

Lin Jian stepped forward as a witness and truthfully recounted what exactly happened in Linjia Village back then. He didn't hide anything, from Su Yuexi to Xiahou Yan.

Although Awan knew there was more to the story than met the eye when Fang Zilan burned down Linjia Village, she was still deeply moved and unable to calm down for a long time after hearing the story.

"So what the Duke of Yue said back then, that Miss Xiahou died of the plague, was all a lie?" Li Qiyou's voice trembled slightly, though he was asking about Lin Jian, his gaze remained fixed on Fang Zilan.

Lin Jian lowered his head and said decisively, "Yes."

A single word was enough to cause a huge uproar. Back then, Fang Zilan entered Linjia Village alone, and in the hearts of the people in the southeast, she was like a god.

But now, the surviving eyewitnesses have recounted their experiences, and behind their seemingly righteous words lies nothing but lies, which no one can accept.

Like a statue, after years of wear and tear, its surface loses its luster, revealing its inner decay and emptiness. With a crash, it collapses and shatters into pieces.

"Miss Awan, is what Chief Escort Lin said true?" Li Qiyou's lips moved as he asked again, "Was what the former Duke of Yue said about Miss Xiahou dying of the plague all a lie?"

Awan bit her lip tightly, glancing repeatedly at Fang Zilan, but she couldn't discern anything from her. All she could see on her face was a numb calm.

"Even if the Duke of Xianyue lied about the deaths of Miss Su and Miss Xiahou, so what?" Awan said, as if she had nothing to lose, word by word: "It was the Duke of Xianyue who went deep into the epidemic area, fearless of death, and vowed to live and die with the people of the southeast."

She paused, then raised her voice and said, "The late Duke Yue lied to protect the reputations of Miss Su and Miss Xiahou, just as I am doing today."

As she spoke, she broke free from Fang Zilan's hand and walked to the center of the hall. "Just because someone dies doesn't mean others should gossip about them. Or are you saying that because of such a trivial lie, you believe that everything the late Duke of Yue did back then was false?"