Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1800 Loss of Voice
"Lord Fang!" Shangguan Min rushed over anxiously, looking Fang Zilan up and down. "How are you? I heard on the way that you were ill. What happened?"

"It's nothing, just a recurrence of an old injury, an old problem." Fang Zilan waved her hand. "But what about you? Why did you suddenly come to the capital?"

“General Huangfu Lin was summoned to the capital, and General Huangfu Xin accompanied him, so I asked him to take me with him.” Shangguan Min relaxed, lowering her eyes as she said, “Since we parted at Qiluo City, I have been truly worried about you, Lord Fang, and Vice General Cao…”

Fang Zilan frowned. "Do Old Li and Deputy General Qin know that you're accompanying them to the capital?"

Shangguan Min remained silent, while Fang Zilan's face darkened. "Where is Huangfu Xin now? I'm going to find him."

"Lord Fang..." Shangguan Min tugged at Fang Zilan's sleeve, "It was my insistence that I come along, and my name is on the roster, so there won't be any problems..."

"I don't care how you got into the capital, nor do I care why your name is on the entourage list," Fang Zilan said coldly. "I only ask you, what are Huangfu Xin's intentions in bringing you to the capital? What if someone with ulterior motives uses this to their advantage? How will you handle that? Do you think the capital is some northern border region where someone can protect you in everything?"

She spoke too quickly, her breath caught in her throat, and she coughed violently.

"Boss, don't be anxious, let's talk slowly." Deputy General Cao quickly poured a cup of tea and handed it over.

Fang Zilan waved her hand but did not take it. She shook off Shangguan Min's hand and sat down in the main seat, clearly waiting for an explanation.

"Lord Fang, although I was the one who proposed this trip to the capital, General Huangfu Xin helped with all the procedures, which allowed me to come smoothly." Shangguan Min said carefully, word by word, "He and I have a very good personal relationship, and I believe he would not harm me."

Fang Zilan relaxed. "I met Huangfu Xin when I was in Qiluo City. He is the son of General Huangfu Lin, isn't that right?"

"Yes." Shangguan Min nodded. Fang Zilan raised her hand and gently frowned. "Huangfu Xin doesn't seem like a scheming person. Moreover, judging from his performance on the battlefield, he is one of the few calm and composed young generals. It's no exaggeration to say that he is steady and prudent."

Shangguan Min took the teacup from Deputy General Cao and respectfully presented it to Fang Zilan, saying, "Since you've praised me so highly, there must be no problem."

"What I'm trying to say is that even if there are problems with the procedures Huangfuxin went through for you, you probably wouldn't be able to tell." Fang Zilan glared at Shangguan Min with a hint of annoyance. "Don't blame me for not reminding you, no matter what kind of person Huangfuxin is or what your relationship is like, you can't completely trust him just because his surname is Huangfu."

"Why?" Shangguan Min watched as Fang Zilan took the teacup, took a small sip, and then said, "One's background has always determined one's stance, especially for noble families, who are often powerless to change their circumstances. It's not a good thing for you to get too close to me."

Shangguan Min remained silent. Fang Zilan sighed, "Forget it, don't think too much about it. Now that you're in my residence, the Huangfu family can't do anything to you. However..."

"What?" Shangguan Min pressed, but Fang Zilan did not answer him. Instead, she looked at Deputy General Cao and said, "Old Cao, there should be some old acquaintances among the soldiers patrolling the capital. Help me find out if there is anything unusual about the roster and corresponding ultimatum of the Huangfu family when they entered the city."

"Okay, I'll go right away." After agreeing, Deputy General Cao turned and left.

Looking at Vice General Cao's retreating figure, Shangguan Min lowered her voice slightly, "Lord Fang, have I caused you any trouble?"

Fang Zilan leaned back in the main seat and said calmly, "It's good that you know. Go and get me some paper and pen."

"What are you going to do?" Shangguan Min asked with a puzzled look. Fang Zilan said impatiently, "Write a letter to Old Li and ask him what he has taught you. You're so old, yet you've wasted your life. You're so naive and will be killed sooner or later."

Shangguan Min paused, then said awkwardly, "Deputy General Li taught me according to your previous instructions, Lord Fang. If you say he didn't teach me well..." "Don't try to drag me into your business," Fang Zilan interrupted him. "I'm not your master."

Shangguan Min gave a soft "oh," but before she could say anything more, A-Wan rushed in, "Fang Zilan, you said you were going to rest, why are you..."

She stopped abruptly halfway through her sentence. "Shangguan Min, what are you doing here?"

“Miss Awan, I…” Shangguan Min was about to speak when Fang Zilan interrupted her, “Before you two catch up, get me some paper and pen. I’m going to write a letter to Old Li and Lord Qi.”

Awan turned and called for the housekeeper to bring paper and pen. Fang Zilan wrote a letter while listening to the two chatting idly. After the ink dried, she was about to call the housekeeper in when Shangguan Min stopped her.

"No need for the hassle of carrier pigeons." Shangguan Min finished speaking and whistled. A hawk landed steadily on the window frame, head held high and chest puffed out, looking incredibly proud.

Awan stepped forward and reached out to tease him, but Shangguan Min said, "Be careful, he has a bad temper. It wouldn't be good if he pecked you."

Awan subconsciously withdrew her hand and asked curiously, "Shangguan Min, where did you get this eagle?"

"I raised it, isn't it great?" Shangguan Min waved his hand with a showy gesture, and the eagle landed on his shoulder.

Fang Zilan frowned. "Shangguan Min, when did you become in charge of raising military falcons? I had no idea."

"No," Shangguan Min explained, "I found this eagle, and I don't know why it started to bother me."

Fang Zilan sighed softly, "Shangguan Min, are you afraid that others won't know you are a descendant of the Desert Wolf King?"

Upon hearing this, Awan suddenly realized, "Speaking of which, apart from the need for military communication, I have never seen anyone in Dajing privately raising falcons."

Shangguan Min pursed her lips, not daring to speak. Fang Zilan raised her hand and said, "Send your eagle over here."

Shangguan Min made no move, and the eagle was also very vigilant. It spread its wings slightly and jumped onto his straight forearm, looking ready to strike at any moment.

"What's with your reaction?" Fang Zilan looked at the man and the eagle, finally fixing her gaze on the eagle, and threatened, "If you don't come over here, I'll pluck all your feathers."

The eagle seemed to understand and flew back to the window frame. If it weren't for Shangguan Min's sake, it probably would have fled immediately.

Shangguan Min looked at Fang Zilan with difficulty, and saw her say helplessly, "You won't let me ask the housekeeper to bring in the carrier pigeon, and your hawk has such a bad temper, how am I supposed to send the message?"

"So it was just to deliver a message." Shangguan Min muttered to herself, her expression relaxing as she presented the eagle to Fang Zilan.

Fang Zilan glared at the restless eagle and snorted coldly, "What else did you think it was?"

(End of this chapter)