Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1788 Answer
"Ouyang Juncheng, come here." Madam Ouyang heard her own voice trembling uncontrollably.

Ouyang Juncheng walked to Madam Ouyang's side, only to see her stand up, draw the sword that the head of the Ouyang family had hung on the wall, and point the tip of the sword directly at him.

“Mother, you…” Ouyang Juncheng stared at Madam Ouyang in disbelief. She stopped her sword in front of his chest. “Ouyang Juncheng, I want you to promise me one thing: you will be the next head of the Ouyang family.”

Before Ouyang Juncheng could react, he heard Ouyang Zongrui shout, "Mother, how could you treat me like this?"

"Guards, take him away and send him to the ancestral hall!" Before Madam Ouyang could finish speaking, the Wei family's personal guards, who had followed her from the camp outside the capital, stepped forward, seized Ouyang Zongrui, and took him away.

Ouyang Juncheng remained silent. Madam Ouyang snorted coldly, "There are no outsiders here, so you don't need to put on an act in front of me. Zong Rui threatened your wife's life to force you to give up the position of family head, but you refused. Are you going to tell me that you have no desire for the position of family head?"

“I…” Ouyang Juncheng opened his mouth, but did not speak.

"As long as you promise me that you will take good care of Rou'er, you will be the next head of the family." As Madam Ouyang spoke, she moved the sword forward an inch, piercing Ouyang Juncheng's outer robe.

Ouyang Juncheng's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he nodded hurriedly, saying, "Mother, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Zirou. Even if you don't say it, I will..."

"I said take good care of her, not just spare Rou'er's life," Madam Ouyang said coldly. "Don't try to fool me."

“Mother, you are overthinking it. If I cannot take good care of my sister Zirou, may I be utterly disgraced and die a horrible death, and may my descendants also suffer a terrible end.” Ouyang Juncheng made this vow with extreme ferocity, which even surprised Madam Ouyang, who eventually sheathed her sword.

"Go ahead." Madam Ouyang raised her hand, gesturing to Ouyang Juncheng, and said, "Go to the ancestral hall and see if all the clan elders have arrived. If they have, send someone to inform me."

"Is that so?" Fang Zilan said with a half-smile, "If you had a choice now, sir, between my life and finding out the truth, what would you choose?"

Li Shengxuan remained silent, while Fang Zilan continued speaking to herself, "Only once the truth is uncovered can you completely eradicate the bandits and outlaws, rectify the court and the country, and realize the peaceful and prosperous era that you and I agreed upon."

She became rather unnatural towards the end, but she still finished speaking. Li Shengxuan remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Just when Fang Zilan was not expecting Li Shengxuan to answer her, she suddenly heard his voice, "At this moment, I choose you."

“You…” Fang Zilan stared blankly at the person so close to her. His implication was clear: if he were not the Emperor of Dajing, but just Li Shengxuan, he would have chosen her.

"I'm sorry." Li Shengxuan lowered his eyes, but Fang Zilan smiled to herself. "There's no need to apologize. I know your identity is not something you can decide, but I know even better what choices I've made."

Li Shengxuan felt a mix of emotions and couldn't help but look at Fang Zilan. She saw that the corners of her mouth were raised, but her eyes were red. "After Mo Han and Chu Bin left, there are not many people in this world who hope that I am safe and healthy. So, whether it is true or not, even if it is only for this moment, I will remember it."

“Merely remembering is not enough to guarantee your safety and health.” Li Shengxuan stared intently at Fang Zilan, saying each word clearly, “Have you really not considered using Fang Lihui? The Fang family spring festival will proceed as scheduled, and Yin Quanzhang will definitely show up…”

"Enough." Fang Zilan's face was as cold as ice. "I don't want the Fang family to get involved, and you shouldn't even think about using Fang Lihui."

“But if the Fang family was originally involved, this could be an opportunity.” Li Shengxuan spoke cryptically, and Fang Zilan understood, but still pretended not to understand. “What opportunity?” Li Shengxuan simply spoke frankly, “An opportunity to clear her name of the crime of colluding with mountain bandits and outlaws.”

A hint of shock flashed in Fang Zilan's eyes. It wasn't that she hadn't thought about it, but the fact that something that should have been led by Fang Lihui or herself and completed without anyone knowing made it all the more significant when it came from Li Shengxuan's mouth.

It was like a get-out-of-jail-free card; the emperor of the Great Capital was willing to turn a blind eye to the Fang family's actions, and even personally protect them. As long as it didn't come to light, they would never give anyone grounds for criticism.

"Why..." Fang Zilan couldn't help but ask. Li Shengxuan's expression was gentle. "Perhaps it's because I love you so much that I love everything about you. Or perhaps, with me, you will always have special privileges."

His feelings, without any concealment, were laid bare before Fang Zilan, leaving her unable to refuse, yet also unable to accept them.

Because she knew that the present moment was fleeting, and that one day he would return to Qiankun Palace.

At that time, he was still the emperor of Dajing, worshipped by all the people. She, on the other hand, was still juggling several identities, mingling in the darkness, and walking on the edge of a knife.

Two people like this cannot come together simply based on their feelings.

Even so, Fang Zilan still heard her own voice, "It would be impolite to refuse."

If they are destined to only have this moment, then why shouldn't she follow her heart and indulge herself once in a while?

Life is long anyway, and there are too many mistakes, missed opportunities, and lost things to regret. But if I didn't have this moment with him, I would always feel regret.

Li Shengxuan stared intently at the person before him, as if trying to etch her into his heart. Finally, they smiled at each other, and he said calmly, "It seems you've made up your mind."

"Madam, you must take care of your health." The old woman squatted down and said softly, "With the head of the family gone, Madam will have to take charge of the overall situation. You must not collapse at this time."

"I know." Madam Ouyang's sobs gradually subsided. She wiped away her tears, slowly stood up, walked back to the bedside, and traced the features of the Ouyang family head with her fingers, outlining his contours.

Finally, she leaned down and whispered in the ear of the Ouyang family head, "I will come to be with you after I have dealt with all of this."

After she finished speaking, she straightened up, her face still wet with tears, but her expression was completely different from before. She quickly tidied herself up, changed into a plain dress, and wore a silk flower in her hair, looking every bit like a widow.

Inside the Ouyang family ancestral hall, a group of elders sat in full, with younger members standing beside and behind them. Ouyang Zongrui was being held captive and forced to kneel on the ground facing the ancestral tablets, with Ouyang Juncheng standing beside him.

When Madam Ouyang entered the ancestral hall, the elders present were initially surprised by her attire. However, after she stood still, they all stood up with solemn expressions and listened as she said, word by word, "Patriarch Ouyang, you have seen your ancestors and their souls have returned to heaven and earth."

(End of this chapter)