Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1780 Burden
Murong Qing pursed his lips, about to say something more, when Fang Zilan said, "Isn't the young master going to see Fu Congnan's aunt from the Wei family? If not, I have other things to attend to."

“Yes, of course I’ll go,” Murong Qing quickly agreed, “but I…”

“Since the young master cannot enter the inner quarters, I will go in his place.” Fang Zilan said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Murong Qing did not expose her, but simply smiled and said, “Thank you for your trouble, Madam.”

“Your Highness, there’s no need for you to stand on ceremony with me.” Fang Zilan glanced at Murong Qing. “If Your Highness has the time, you might as well inquire for me about the current state of affairs in the capital.”

Murong Qing understood immediately. "What does Sister want to know—the state of the capital, or the state of the Empress?"

Fang Zilan did not answer, so Murong Qing said directly, "The Empress should be fine before the Dugu family's daughter enters the capital."

Fang Zilan composed herself. "After the Dugu family's daughter arrives in the capital, what does Her Majesty the Empress intend to do?"

Murong Qing said leisurely, "Since you care so much, why not make sure that the daughter of the Dugu family can never enter the capital?"

His tone was calm, but the murderous intent hidden in his words could not be concealed.

Hearing this, Meng Tingyang lowered his head even further and was about to take his leave when Fang Zilan stopped him, saying, "General Meng, what's the rush? Even if I were to visit Fu Congnan's aunt from the Wei family, it wouldn't be today."

"Yes," Meng Tingyang replied. Murong Qing said with dissatisfaction, "Sister, you haven't answered my question yet."

“Even if the Dugu family is gone, there are other powerful families such as the Su family, the Wang family, and the Wei family.” Fang Zilan said calmly, “There are so many wealthy families in Dajing, and Li Shengxuan will never be confined to just one. There is no family’s daughter that he absolutely must have.”

She paused for a moment, then said, "The Fang family was like this in the past, and so will other prominent families in the future."

Upon hearing this, Murong Qing's expression hardened. "Sister, I can't live without you."

"I know." Fang Zilan nodded without any surprise, but she kept the rest of her sentence to herself—but she didn't need anyone else.

After she finished speaking, she got up and left, but before she could return to her room, she heard that someone from the Xiahou family had come looking for her.

"Ye Yun of the Xiahou family greets Lady Zhongzheng, the wife of the heir apparent." Ye Yun bowed respectfully. Fang Zilan sized her up for a moment before saying, "Lieutenant Ye, there's no need for such formalities."

Ye Yun straightened up and asked in surprise, "The Crown Prince's wife actually recognizes me?"

"Who doesn't know that Lieutenant Ye is a capable lieutenant under General Xiahou?" Fang Zilan changed the subject, "I wonder what important matter the Xiahou family has sent Lieutenant Ye to see me about?"

“It’s not the Xiahou family looking for the Crown Prince’s wife, it’s Miss Awan.” Ye Yun said, handing over the medicine she was carrying. “Miss Awan asked me to deliver medicine to the Crown Prince’s wife.”

"Thank you for your trouble." Fang Zilan casually accepted the gift. "How is Patriarch Xiahou?"

Ye Yun bowed again, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. The patriarch's injuries have stabilized, and he should recover soon."

"Commander Ye, you're too kind." Fang Zilan exchanged a few pleasantries and then saw Ye Yun off at the post station. However, as soon as she returned, she saw Murong Qing standing on the corridor, looking at her.

"Is there anything else, Your Highness?" Fang Zilan walked over and stood outside the railing of the corridor. Murong Qing's gaze fell on the medicine Fang Zilan was carrying. "This medicine..."

He didn't finish his sentence. Fang Zilan raised her hand and waved it, "If the Xiahou family really wanted my life, they wouldn't need to go through all this trouble of poisoning me."

"That's not what I meant," Murong Qing shook her head and said, "I just want to know what illness my sister is suffering from, and why she always has medicine with her?"

"General Xiahou, spare his life!" Zhuge Yu shouted. Xiahou Yunzhao snorted coldly and did not answer. He still showed no mercy in his attack, but he was clearly holding back.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Fang Zilan could not make a move. However, these people alone were no match for Xiahou Yunzhao, and they were quickly captured one by one by her and her soldiers.

With the commotion subsided, everyone's attention turned to Mr. Liu and the old monk inside the hall. Li Qiyou was the first to ask, "You two..."

Before he could finish speaking, Mr. Liu suddenly knelt down on the ground, saying, "I am Liu from Canghai. I escorted the eminent monk of Zhongling Temple, Master Ranzhu, to surrender. I have successfully completed my mission..."

Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed and fell into a coma.

Li Qiyou hurriedly ordered someone to check on her, only to find Fang Zilan staring intently at the candle-burning master, her expression unreadable. He then suddenly realized something was amiss.

Zhongling Temple in Jiangnan is a renowned temple on par with Baiye Temple in the capital. Its abbot, Master Randeng, is a highly respected monk with a wide reputation. The master before us, whose Dharma name is Ranzhu, is presumably a fellow disciple of Master Randeng. Yet, he is being escorted into Suzhou Prefecture by a heavily injured martial artist, and is still being chased in court. Could it be that something has happened at Zhongling Temple...?

Zhuge Yu also realized the situation, but the moment he saw Fang Zilan's expression, he roughly understood the key point—Zhongling Temple was not in trouble, but like the Fang family, it was deeply mired in trouble and was not innocent.

Is this your way of breaking the deadlock? Zhuge Yu's eyes turned cold and ruthless as he looked at Fang Zilan. He was willing to cause chaos in Jiangnan just to protect the Fang family and Fang Lihui.
Fang Zilan vaguely guessed what was going on, but before she could speak, she saw Master Ranzhu bow and say, "Amitabha, this old monk is Ranzhu from Zhongling Temple. I greet Prince Yucheng."

After saying this, he took out a letter written in blood from his sleeve and presented it to Li Qiyou. "I have learned that Your Highness is investigating the case in the Southeast. This case may have started with the fire on the pleasure boat in Jiangnan, but it may not have ended with the death of Prince Rong'an."

His words, one by one, struck Fang Zilan's heart heavily. Even through the thin paper, the blood-written words were clearly visible, but she had no mind to decipher them; her mind was filled with only two words:
It’s over.

At the same time, Wan Jun, standing in front of Murong Qing, was also thinking about the same two words: "It's over."

Murong Qing looked at the pale-faced man and casually straightened his sleeves. "Mr. Wan, you're late."

“Your Highness…” Wan Jun opened his mouth, but Murong Qing cut him off, “If Madam wants justice, then I will give her justice. If Madam wants to protect the Fang family, then I will protect them for her.”

He paused for a moment, then said, "Please stay here until the case is concluded."

"Your Highness, do you even know what you're doing?" Wan Jun was furious. "You exchanged Zhongling Temple for the Fang family, did you even ask Lan'er..."

"Mr. Wan, I only have one question for you," Murong Qing interrupted Wan Jun without any politeness, "Is Zhongling Temple in Jiangnan truly innocent?"

Wan Jun felt cold sweat pouring down his forehead. "When did the young master find out...?"

"Since Zhongling Temple is not innocent, why talk about exchanging it for the Fang family?" Murong Qing smiled slightly. "If you want justice, then no one can escape. As for Zhongling Temple, as long as it satisfies Madam's wishes, what does it matter if it's destroyed?"