Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1808 Pursuit
"I'd like to ask you about someone, Master," Fang Zilan said without any hesitation. "Does the Master know Miss Du Ruohan of the Du family?"

“I know.” Master Ranzhu raised his hand, and Fang Zilan understood immediately, talking as they walked.

"The Du family has been officials for generations and was originally a prominent family in the southeast." Master Ranzhu said slowly, "At its peak, the Du family was no less powerful than the Zhuge family."

"What goes up must come down." Fang Zilan remained noncommittal. Master Ranzhu glanced at her and said, "The Crown Prince's wife is right, that is indeed the case."

"Later, with the change of dynasties and the ascension of Emperor Tai'an, the Du family gradually declined." Master Ranzhu spoke casually, prompting Fang Zilan to press further, "Why did they decline?"

“The Crown Prince’s wife was born into the Fang family in the capital, so such situations must be quite common.” Master Ranzhu said meaningfully, “In this world, countless families rise and fall every day. If we were to ask why, I’m afraid even if we exhausted all the writing brushes in the world, we would not be able to record them all clearly.”

“But since the Du family can be compared to the Zhuge family, its decline must not be due to any trivial reason.” Fang Zilan stopped in her tracks. “Master, do you not want to say, or are you unable to say?”

Master Ranzhu did not stop. "Amitabha, if the Crown Prince's wife really wants to know, she should investigate it herself. After all, the truth told by others is always biased."

“Even if the master were willing to tell me, I might not believe him.” Fang Zilan looked at Master Ranzhu’s back. “However, the fact that the master is unwilling to tell me now makes him seem guilty.”

She paused deliberately, "I suspect the decline of the Du family is related to the current case in the Southeast?"

"Cleverness can be a double-edged sword." Master Ranzhu suddenly turned around. "Lady Crown Prince, everything in excess is as bad as deficiency."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master." Fang Zilan bowed to Master Ranzhu, watching his figure disappear while she remained standing in the same spot.

"You're injured, why aren't you resting properly instead of wandering around?" Li Qiyou's voice came from behind Fang Zilan. She didn't turn around. "Your Highness, there's no need to worry. My injury is nothing serious."

“You…” Li Qiyou walked to Fang Zilan’s side, but she cut him off as soon as he opened his mouth, “Lord Zhuge came to visit me yesterday.”

“I know.” Li Qiyou nodded. Fang Zilan looked at him. “Your Highness doesn’t seem surprised that Lord Zhuge will appear at Zhongling Temple?”

Although it was a question, her tone was very firm. Li Qiyou was silent for a while before saying, "Lord Zhuge advised me before that I should not go to Zhongling Temple to perform the ritual for Prince Rong'an."

"I really... didn't need to save you." Fang Zilan gritted her teeth, but Wen Ran suddenly smiled, "Thank you, Zixiu, who is skilled in martial arts and kind-hearted."

He gasped for breath several times while speaking, but it stirred up Fang Zilan's long-faded memories, making her feel as if she had returned to many years ago.

Zi Xiu, acting on the orders of the Ghost Gate Prince, rescued Wen Ran, who was traveling in place of his brother, and his Wen family's goods. "The prince asked me to ensure the safe delivery of these goods. What do I care about your life or death?"

Wen Ran pleaded and begged, even risking his own life to protect her, until Zi Xiu finally softened and sighed, "If I had known this would happen, I should have kept the goods and not the people."

At that time, Wen Ran was just like that, her breath was weak but her smile was bright, and she said the exact same sentence.

Afterwards, Zi Xiu, who was besieged by martial arts practitioners after leaving Cangjian Manor, met Wen Ran who came to her rescue. He said that he had no choice but to send a message from the Ghost Gate and that he could not afford to offend the Xiahou family. However, he still accompanied her all the way, despite the loss of his business and serious injuries, until someone from the Ghost Gate came to meet him.

When you think about it carefully, it's a friendship that's been through thick and thin.

Thinking of this, Fang Zilan looked up at the sky—it was getting dark, the perfect time to set off fireworks. "Wen Ran, since you invited me to the ceremony, I should at least give you a gift." Fang Zilan heard her own voice, as if she had made up her mind.

“You…” Wen Ran looked up at Fang Zilan, but before she could utter a sound, a loud “bang” was heard, and brilliant fireworks bloomed in the sky. Purple branches stretched across the clouds, ending in a beautiful plum blossom.

Upon hearing the sound, everyone looked up in unison. "That's... Zi Xiu's symbol?"

"How is it? Does it look good?" Fang Zilan tilted her head, her face calm, while Wen Ran's face was full of shock. "Why..."

“I only have three of these fireworks, and I used to treasure them terribly.” Fang Zilan said, laughing self-deprecatingly. “Later I realized that it wasn’t that I treasured them, but that there are very few people in the world worth setting off these fireworks for.”

She paused, then lowered her voice, "The first one was for King Yama, this one is for you."

"Is it worth it?" Wen Ran's expression was inscrutable. Fang Zilan tightened her grip on the plum sword. "Leaving aside the past, just consider this: you have not revealed my identity today. For this reason, I am willing to temporarily refrain from pursuing the truth."

“Once things settle down…” Wen Ran couldn’t help but interject, and Fang Zilan continued, “I will still pursue the matter. But right now, survival is more important.”

After saying that, she stopped looking at Wen Ran and raised her voice to Xie Chen, saying, "Mr. Xie, since you came prepared, how long are you going to hide?"

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Mingxun pursed his lips and subconsciously glanced at Xie Chen, "Brother-in-law..."

"Whether the Xiahou family will intervene is another matter." It was Awan who spoke, her brows furrowed. "Zixiu, in the past, when you set off fireworks, the Ghost Gate would come to your aid, but now if you set off fireworks, even more people will come to kill you."

"That's exactly what I want," Fang Zilan said coldly, "so I don't have to drag them out one by one and kill them."

"Are you crazy?" Awan suddenly stood up. "Wasn't the battle at Zhongling Temple enough? If it happened again, how could you possibly survive?"

“Your Highness, there’s no need to worry.” Fang Zilan casually twirled her sword. “Even if it’s just for you, I will fight my way out.”

"What did you say?" Awan suddenly realized, her body trembling. "You mean only you..."

She didn't continue speaking. Meng Tingyang, who was standing beside her, took her arm and said to Fang Zilan, "I am willing to lend Miss Zixiu a hand."

Fang Zilan shook her head. "If the Xiahou family doesn't dare to make a move, then the Zhongzheng Prince's Mansion is even less likely to do so. Do you understand?"

“But…” Meng Tingyang’s eyes reddened, “If something happens to you, how will I explain it to the Crown Prince?”

Fang Zilan remained silent for a while before saying, "I can't guarantee anything, but I will do everything I can to survive."

The remaining masked men in the courtyard were all on the verge of death. Xiahou Mingxun and Ye Yun had retreated to Xie Chen's side. Fang Zilan looked at the black figure that had suddenly appeared on the roof and stood in front of everyone, sword in hand.

A fierce battle was about to break out, but a gentle voice rang out at an inopportune moment, "It's not impossible for Miss Zixiu not to fight with all her might."