Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1785 Capital
"Elder sister, you..." Fang Zilan looked at Fang Ziqin in disbelief, but saw her nod firmly and say, "That moment was probably the only time in my life when I lived as Fang Ziqin."

Fang Zilan's voice trembled uncontrollably, but she still asked, "What happened next?"

"Later, His Highness Prince Xiang stopped me from committing suicide and proposed a deal." Fang Ziqin gently grasped Fang Zilan's hand holding the teacup. "I will marry him in your place, and he will guarantee the Fang family's prosperity for a hundred years."

"Why..." Fang Zilan's eyes reddened, but Fang Ziqin smiled, "Perhaps he was Ajun's best friend, perhaps Father is already struggling alone, perhaps you and I share some sisterly bond, but I just can't bear to part with him. It's just..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "I thought transactions were always more stable than feelings, but I never imagined it would end up like this."

"Everything that reaches its peak must decline, elder sister, there's no need to worry..." Fang Zilan's words of comfort were cut off by Fang Ziqin, "Lan'er, ask yourself honestly, do you believe this yourself? If you do, why did you risk your life to stop His Majesty from continuing the investigation?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Zilan clenched her other hand, hidden in her sleeve, into a fist. "Elder sister, the Fang family is not innocent, and even aristocratic families cannot withstand investigation. If His Majesty... if he remains obstinate, sooner or later he will become an enemy of the world, and the Great Capital..."

"Stubborn to the end?" Fang Ziqin interrupted Fang Zilan's next words noncommittally, "Even His Majesty is not afraid, so you are?"

“I…” Fang Zilan lowered her eyes and said, “I’m not afraid, it’s just…”

She didn't continue, but Fang Ziqin understood. She was worried that the powerful families would rise up against her, leading to a change of dynasty, renewed chaos, and internal and external troubles for the capital, with war raging on all sides...

Those who have fought in battles possess a sharper intuition than ordinary people, and her unease always comes true.

Fang Ziqin had no doubt about this, but if things continued like this, how many years could this superficial peace last?

"The Fang family is not afraid of reform and innovation." Fang Ziqin tightened her grip on Fang Zilan's hand, as if to reassure her, but also as to declare, "If a dynasty is to move forward without fail, change is inevitable. The Fang family can take the lead and is not afraid of being abandoned."

“But elder sister, the Fang family comes from a merchant family. Caught between His Majesty and the aristocratic families, we are destined to be pawns…” Fang Zilan opened her mouth, “If a pawn is only a pawn, then the Fang family will never be able to rise again.”

"But Lan'er, how long can you exchange your life for His Majesty's mercy?" Fang Ziqin's expression was inscrutable. "He is the Emperor of Dajing..."

"I know." Fang Zilan pursed her lips and said softly, "I asked him and I know the answer. Fortunately, I didn't marry him back then, otherwise, we would only be disgusted with each other now."

Fang Ziqin couldn't help but soften her tone, "Lan'er, he chose you once, which gave the Fang family a chance to breathe, you..."

“I understand, he can’t always choose me.” Fang Zilan said coldly, word by word: “Romantic feelings are just icing on the cake. It’s good to have them. If not, there’s no need to force it.”

Fang Ziqin released her grip and let out a long sigh of relief. "Now you know my answer."

She raised her head blankly. "Wasn't the business I had transferred to Lord Fang by you, Lord Lu Tang, to exonerate yourself?"

"Third Sister, you...you actually helped her frame me!" Lu Tang was shocked, but Huo San Niang laughed disdainfully. "I have no relation to Lord Fang, why would I help her frame you? Now that the evidence is overwhelming, we have no choice but to admit it. Or are you, Lord Lu Tang, planning to pin it all on me and make me take the blame?" "Third Sister, you know I won't..." Lu Tang hurriedly tried to explain, but Huo San Niang interrupted him coldly, "You won't, you won't confess with me, will you?"

Fang Zilan coldly watched the two people arguing back and forth in the courtroom, and said to Zhong Yao in the hall: "Lord Zhong, the two of them are implicating each other, I have nothing to say, please make the judgment, Lord Zhong."

"Lord Lu Tang, even if you come from a prestigious family and hold an official position, you cannot act recklessly in court," Zhong Yao said in a deep voice, exuding an air of authority. "The evidence is irrefutable; do you know your crime?"

Lu Tang ignored Zhong Yao's words and just stared blankly at Huo San Niang, seemingly not understanding why she was like this.

Huo Sanniang straightened up from her kneeling position and kowtowed deeply.

Then, she raised her head high and declared loudly, "Today, with Lord Zhong presiding over justice and Lord Fang, the lord of the Northern Border, present, I have nothing to hide. So many prominent families in Yanzhou are involved, and so many lives have been lost—all clearly stated in my confession. If anyone still refuses to admit it and attempts to cover it up with money and power, although I, a mere woman, cannot harm them in the slightest, justice resides in the hearts of the people. All those present and the common folk below can bear witness: I, Huo San Niang, will give my life in court today rather than let them go!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she crashed straight into a pillar on the side of the courtroom.

The bailiffs and Lu Tang beside her were too late to stop her; they could only watch helplessly as she crashed into a pillar, blood splattering in the courtroom, her life hanging by a thread.

"Third Sister!" Lu Tang staggered to her side, but she used her last bit of strength to shake him off. "Lord Fang, please..."

Hearing the voice, Fang Zilan squatted down beside her and held her hand, "I know, don't worry."

"Third Sister!" Lu Tang knelt beside her, tears streaming down his face, his voice hoarse with grief, "Why did you do this?"

"Lu Tang, now that I'm dead, I owe you nothing..." Huo Sanniang's voice was barely audible, but her eyes were brighter than ever before. "What you owe me, you'll never be able to repay in this lifetime..."

She breathed her last after uttering her last word, her eyes filled with tears but her lips curved in a smile, dying in the most extreme way in front of everyone.

The courtroom fell silent for a moment, but in no time the crowd below erupted in fervor, shouting for the guilty to be brought to justice.

The clamor was deafening, as if a pot had exploded, and the crowd was about to swarm into the courtroom.

Fang Zilan reached out and closed Huo Sanniang's eyes, slowly stood up, took a deep breath, and her solemn voice drowned out all the noise and commotion, reaching the ears of everyone present.

"Today, Huo Sanniang has risked her life to sue the powerful and influential people of Yanzhou, led by Lu Tang. I, Fang Zilan, as the Lord of the Northern Territory, guarantee that the guilty will be brought to justice and she will be given an explanation so that she can die in peace."

Her words, each one carrying immense weight, silenced the entire room, drawing all eyes to her, the somber-faced lord of the North.

After she finished speaking, she turned to Zhong Yao, who sat upright in the courtroom, and said in a deep voice, "Lord Zhong, pronounce the verdict."