Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1806 Collusion
Fang Zilan tossed some loose silver coins onto the table, interrupting the waiter, "Alright, I know. Come back when the food is served. Don't bother coming back unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Alright!" The waiter promptly took the money and disappeared in a flash.

Fang Zilan looked out the window and sighed, "The scenery is nice." Just as she was about to look away, she heard a startled cry, "Let go of me!"

Fang Zilan almost thought she had misheard. She stood up and looked over. The girl was dressed in a pale yellow dress, her furrowed brows showing obvious impatience. She scolded sharply, "How can you be so shameless in broad daylight? Aren't you afraid I'll break your arms and legs?"

Mo Han had obviously heard the familiar voice as well. She walked over to Fang Zilan and looked towards the bustling crowd. "Miss Awan?"

"Why is she back?" Fang Zilan sighed, rubbing her forehead. Mo Han muttered to herself, "If Miss Awan is back, then what about Miss Xiao and Miss Cong..."

He didn't finish his sentence, and Fang Zilan's expression hardened. "Even if they come back, I can send them away again."

Before she could finish speaking, another voice came from below, "You brat, you won't listen to reason, so grab her and take her back!"

Fang Zilan's face turned cold. Before Mo Han could say anything, she jumped out of the window and landed steadily next to Awan amidst the gasps of the crowd.

"You dare touch anyone from the Duke of Yue's mansion?" Fang Zilan's face was as cold as ice, and the people opposite her were all shocked. "The Duke of Yue's mansion?"

"Lord Fang, what are you doing here..." Awan looked at the person who stepped forward and blocked her way in disbelief. She didn't answer her question, but just glanced at her to make sure she was alright. Then she met the scrutinizing gazes of the group. "Which mansion are you from? How dare you be so bold?"

The men exchanged bewildered glances, and one of them, with a forced smile, said, "Lord Fang, it's all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding..."

"What misunderstanding?" Awan angrily tugged at Fang Zilan's sleeve. "Lord Fang, Sister Cong has been kidnapped by them!"

Fang Zilan was startled, and her expression grew even colder. The group exchanged glances and were about to disperse when she shouted, "Zheng Yan, don't let any of them escape."

Only then did they notice Zheng Yan standing behind them, one in front of the other, with Fang Zilan behind him; they had no chance of escape.

Just as the group was in a panic, Fang Zilan had already grabbed one of them by the neck. "Tell me, who ordered you to kidnap Cong Rong, and where is she now?"

The others were filled with terror. Everyone in the capital knew about Fang Zilan's actions. If they angered her, she might kill them all in the street.

Immediately, someone knelt down and begged for mercy, "Lord Fang, please have mercy! We...we are from the Pei family..."

"Duke Jin?" Fang Zilan raised an eyebrow, but the person kneeling on the ground shook his head vigorously. "No, it's Lord Pei Poming..."

His voice was very soft, but Fang Zilan still heard it clearly. She shook off the person in her hand and said coldly, "Lead the way."

"Lord Fang, we know we were wrong!" The group knelt down and kowtowed, but Fang Zilan remained unmoved. "You refuse to lead the way, are you waiting for me to go and confront the Duke of Jin?"

Before the group could react, Fang Zilan called out to Zheng Yan, "Go to the Jingzhao Yin's residence and invite Lord Xu to go to the Duke of Jin's residence together."

Zhuge Yu snorted coldly, "Just because you don't do it today doesn't mean you won't do it in the future. Once the people behind you stand against the Great Capital, will you still have a choice?" As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Zilan felt as if something in her heart had shattered and scattered all over the ground.

Zhuge Yu is right; she is deceiving herself.

She always thought that once she had carved out her own place, she could live a peaceful and stable life, but she knew very well that this was just an illusion.

Why did Ji Ningtian want her to become someone Li Shengxuan could rely on? It was so that one day she would turn against him and deliver a fatal blow to Li Shengxuan.

The higher she climbs, the more ruthless she will be in harming Li Shengxuan and damaging Dajing in the future.

However, if she gave up, she would be the one to die. If she wanted to live, she could only selfishly anticipate the outcome and climb upwards by any means necessary, suffering yet remaining clear-headed.

"Regardless of what Young Master Zhuge thinks, Fang Zilan only seeks to have a clear conscience." Fang Zilan spoke each word earnestly, but Zhuge Yu sneered, his expression unusually mocking. "If you're stubborn, no one can say anything. But you can deceive others, but deceiving yourself is another matter. Ever since the Shangguan Jing incident, you've had no innocence to speak of, let alone a clear conscience."

His words were piercing and to the core. She remained silent, feeling that whatever she said would sound like an excuse.

"Fine, do as you please." Zhuge Yu stood up, his expression cold. "I want to see what fate awaits you, Fang Zilan."

"No matter what, if I fall into Young Master Zhuge's ingenious trap, I will not have the slightest complaint." Fang Zilan stood up and looked directly into his eyes. "But if the situation is reversed and Young Master Zhuge falls into my hands, I will risk my life to ensure Young Master Zhuge's safety."

She left after she finished speaking. Zhuge Yu watched her retreating figure with a complex expression, a mixture of wariness and ruthlessness, as well as an indescribable pity and reluctance, unsure whether it was for her or for himself.

He couldn't help but laugh at himself. We are all people who have no control over our own lives. Who can be anyone's savior?

Those who are on the opposite side always have only one ending.

She's always so hypocritical and self-deceiving; how long can she keep up the deception?
On the other side, Fang Zilan walked down the stairs of the inn, her mind heavy with worries. She felt as if someone had stuffed a mouthful of cotton into her mouth, not too heavy, but not too light, yet it made her feel suffocated.

If Zhuge Yu's prediction is correct, Li Shengxuan really wants her to take over the Xiahou family's power position. Ji Ningtian must be very satisfied. However, she can't be happy. Li Shengxuan doesn't treat her very well, but he's not bad either.

She knew very well how difficult it was for women to hold power in this era. Even a famous general like Xiahou Yunzhao could not escape gossip behind her back, let alone someone like her with an unknown background.

But Li Shengxuan elevated her to a high position. Whether you call her a sitting duck or the target of everyone's criticism, the result is that she stands on the mountaintop, looking down on everything.

She thought the road ahead would be fraught with difficulties, but she never expected to walk so steadily and confidently in front of Li Shengxuan.

She knew of Zhuge Yu's flawless strategies, and she was unwilling and dared not doubt them. After arriving in the capital, she might find herself surrounded by inescapable traps and ambushes, with both open and covert attacks impossible to defend against.

But for the last bit of trust Li Shengxuan had in her, for the sake of Ji Ningtian who held her life in his hands, and for her own sake, even if it meant facing a deadly path, she was determined to go through fire and water.

After all, if we don't try, who knows where the way out will be?