Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1801 Annihilation
Zhuge Yu knocked on the door, and after Awan responded and agreed, he pushed the door open and entered.

Seeing the person lying peacefully on the bed, he felt a little relieved and said softly, "Miss Awan has been keeping watch all night. Why don't you go and rest? I'll have someone else keep watch."

Awan shook her head, looking quite tired. "I'm used to it. As long as it's Lord Fang, she might be seriously injured and unconscious for several days at any time. When her condition stabilizes, I can just take a nap. It's fine."

"Miss Awan, you've worked hard." Zhuge Yu placed the breakfast he was carrying on the table. "I've left breakfast here. Remember to eat it when you have time, Miss Awan."

"Thank you for your help, Young Master Zhuge." As if suddenly remembering something, Awan got up, walked to the desk, picked up her pen and wrote down her thoughts. She then handed the writing to Zhuge Yu. "This is my prescription. I would appreciate it if you could help me get the medicine and bring it over after it is decocted at noon."

"I'll go right away." Zhuge Yu glanced at the prescription in his hand. "If Miss Awan has any other instructions, please send someone to find me." With that, he took the prescription and left.

At the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), Zhuge Yu came to deliver medicine and brought a plate of cakes with him.

As Awan was serving the medicine, she glanced at the pastries next to her. The round pastries were carved with several adorable rabbits, and a few osmanthus flowers could be faintly seen among the soft and glutinous outer skin. They were actually mooncakes.

Seeing the mooncake, Awan's expression was initially a little strange, but then she said knowingly, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Zhuge Yu nodded, "I saw that Miss Awan was staying by Sister Lan's side the whole time, and she seemed to have forgotten what day it was. So I asked the kitchen to make some mooncakes and bring them over, so that we can celebrate the festival."

"Young Master Zhuge is so kind." Awan said to Zhuge Yu while feeding Fang Zilan medicine. "Speaking of which, Lord Fang really has no luck with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Last year, he was on his way to the Northern Border, and this year he was seriously injured and unconscious. I don't know when he will be able to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival in peace."

Her words sounded bitter, but her tone remained as lively and playful as ever. However, to Zhuge Yu, they carried a hint of helplessness and resignation.

Fang Ziqin was holding a hand warmer and sitting on the veranda enjoying the scenery. After Qiu Shui led Fang Zilan to her, she dismissed the others and invited Fang Zilan to sit next to her.

Fang Zilan hesitated for a moment before standing by the railing not far from Fang Ziqin. She didn't say much, just smiled and asked, "Does Lord Fang know why I invited you here?"

"I don't know." Fang Zilan shook her head. Fang Ziqin straightened her sleeves. "You did a good job with Liren. You deserve the Fang family's thanks."

"Your Majesty is too kind. Young Master Fang Liren has already personally thanked me." Although Fang Zilan answered readily, she couldn't help but be suspicious, wondering what Fang Ziqin was really up to.

“It’s different.” Fang Ziqin put down the incense burner in her hand and gently rubbed her hands together. “Liren has left the Fang family, but with Lord Fang’s investment, the entanglement with the Fang family can no longer be severed.” Fang Zilan snorted lightly and said noncommittally, “Her Majesty the Empress has been living in the palace for a long time, so she is well-informed.”

Fang Ziqin still wore a faint smile and said softly, "Today you defeated Xiahou Yunzhao, and tomorrow this news will spread throughout the world. In less than two years, you have destroyed a powerful clan, replaced two high-ranking officials, and broken the balance of power among the nine high-ranking officials. Do you think the Empress Dowager and the other high-ranking officials will sit idly by and let you become the only one in power?"

Fang Zilan's expression turned cold, clearly showing her wariness. "What exactly does Your Majesty the Empress want to say?"

"What I want to say is that, if you're willing, the Fang family can help you." Fang Ziqin stood up and walked to her. "The higher you climb, the colder it gets. You're in a position second only to the emperor, and you're teetering on the edge. Today, Prince Yucheng, instigated by the Empress Dowager, has pushed you into the limelight; tomorrow, other nobles will join forces to try and kill you. If no one is backing you up, how far can you go alone?"

Instead of answering, Fang Zilan asked, "How does Your Majesty know that Prince Yucheng was instigated by the Empress Dowager?"

Fang Ziqin covered her face and chuckled softly, "Weren't you also wondering why Prince Yucheng would step forward? When I went to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager today, Prince Yucheng happened to be there as well. The Empress Dowager praised you highly, saying that you are far superior to Xiahou Yunzhao, and even told Prince Yucheng that you saved his life, so she would strongly recommend you to the Emperor as a reward."

Fang Ziqin paused for a moment, then continued, "Prince Yucheng is upright and simple-minded, and he trusts his grandmother implicitly. But little does he know that the Empress Dowager's actions are not helping you, but harming you. The higher you climb, the harder you fall, especially since you are all alone and have no one to rely on. You have only seen a small part of the deep waters of the Great Capital court, even after so long in the Northern Territory. There is not a single good person in the entire court; they are all ruthless characters who will devour people without spitting out the bones. You alone cannot last long."

"Since Your Majesty speaks of danger, then you must know that the Fang family is no easy opponent. Or perhaps Your Majesty has been relying on the Fang family for too long and has become confused? Do you think everyone is as fearless as you, having something to rely on?" Fang Zilan's lips curled slightly, her smile tinged with helplessness. "I was originally penniless, and now that I've climbed up, I'm not afraid of falling to my death. I appreciate Your Majesty's kindness, but since His Majesty is now behind me, I don't need anyone else to support me."

"With the borders still unsettled, the generals and commanders cannot be at ease." Zhuge Yu sighed softly, "If the seas were calm and the rivers were peaceful, and the world were at peace, then naturally every festival would be a time of reunion and joy."

“Young Master Zhuge is a man with the world in his heart, which is different from me.” Awan placed the medicine bowl in her hand by the bedside, took out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, and wiped the medicine stains from the corner of Fang Zilan’s mouth. “As long as I can manage my own little plot of land and live a peaceful life, that’s enough. Who rules the world or what the scenery is like in the four borders is none of my business.”

Zhuge Yu stared intently at Awan, his expression dark and unreadable. "Although Miss Awan's words are not wrong, if everyone thought like you, I'm afraid the world would be in chaos."

"Therefore, I am neither a young master from a noble family like Zhuge Gongzi, who plans and puts the world first, nor a border general like my Lord Fang, who leads by example and sacrifices himself for others. I am destined to be just an ordinary commoner."

Awan curled the corners of her lips, her expression revealing an indescribable sense of pride. "I'll do as much as I'm capable of. I just need to do my job well. Even if I can't become a healer, I can at least save a few lives."

"Indeed." Zhuge Yu smiled with relief, still looking as serene as a painting. "If everyone in the world did their job as well as Miss Awan, the world wouldn't be so bad."

(End of this chapter)