Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1821 Exchange
Fang Zilan went forward to check and found that the stones next to the artificial hill had been moved. So she tried to push them, and the artificial hill opened up a crack.

A secret passage appeared before her, and she cautiously stepped inside. However, the passage seemed endless. She didn't know how long she walked, but she felt increasingly cold, and her legs began to feel weak.

Just when she was about to give up, some light gradually appeared in the distance. She could vaguely see figures, so she stood close to the stone wall and observed them in secret.

"Hurry up." The man's voice was urgent. Fang Zilan took a deep breath and walked towards him.

The man felt a chill run down his spine. Before he could react, a sword appeared beside his neck.

"Miss Zixiu?" The man turned around in disbelief and saw Fang Zilan standing behind him. "You know my name, but you didn't introduce yourself. Don't you think that's impolite?"

"Miss Zixiu, didn't you just say that announcing your name would be unnecessary?" the man said with a smirk. "I thought you and General Dugu had already left."

“Dugu Ming has indeed left.” Fang Zilan nodded. “Otherwise, if he saw you kill so many of his men, he would definitely fight you to the death.”

"Who are you?" The man looked at Fang Zilan with a puzzled expression. "Miss Zixiu, I don't understand what you're saying?"

"You can kill Dugu Ming's men, but you might not be able to kill me." Fang Zilan flicked her wrist, and a bloody gash appeared on the man's neck. "Miss Zixiu is joking. How could I kill someone?"

"Is that so?" Fang Zilan raised an eyebrow. "You can't kill, but you know how to use others as pawns. Am I right, Mangshan's strategist?"

The man was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Miss Zixiu, you are quite remarkable. When did you discover my true identity?"

"I thought the strategist of Mangshan was your cousin, Lord Liu." Fang Zilan clicked her tongue, and the man's smile froze on his face. "You tricked me?"

Fang Zilan ignored the man's reaction and said to herself, "If you are the strategist of Mangshan, then Dugu Ming's actions make sense."

"Oh?" the man said with interest. "I'd like to hear the details."

"I've been to the Western Frontier and know that bandits roam freely outside Xiguan City. Some say the Dugu family is instigating the bandits, while others say the Dugu family is in cahoots with the bandits," Fang Zilan said quietly. "I wonder if any of those bandits are from the Mangshan Mountains?"

"Miss Zixiu, what answer do you hope to hear?" The man composed himself. "If I say no, you will inevitably have doubts. If I say yes, it will confirm the Dugu family's crime of colluding with bandits."

Fang Zilan said calmly, "If you say so, then Dugu Ming cannot be considered to have framed someone."

"What did you say?" The man seemed completely taken aback by Fang Zilan's words. "Could it be that what Dugu Ming said is true, and you came here for the Dugu family?"

"If some of the bandits outside Xiguan City were from Mangshan, then as Mangshan's strategist, it wouldn't be difficult for you to bring in one or two members of the Dugu family," Fang Zilan said, emphasizing each word. "Therefore, it wasn't an accident that Dugu Ming found their bodies in your backyard, and no one framed him, but..."

She paused deliberately, "As soon as he found out, you killed his men to silence them. There are probably more unspeakable secrets behind this."

"Miss Zixiu, it seems you do indeed have a bias towards the Dugu family." The man sneered, "You're willing to fabricate stories to clear the Dugu family's name, it's just a pity."

Everyone watched as Dugu Linxiu walked to the gambling table, put down an account book, and said, "These are my chips."

The maid looked troubled. "My lord, your chips..."

She didn't continue, and Fang Zilan naturally chimed in, "I'm afraid there aren't two hundred and twenty thousand taels." Dugu Linxiu stared intently at Fang Zilan, "As for the rest, I'd like to ask this... Miss Zhen for a loan." She paused, clearly having considered it for a long time.

Fang Zilan shrugged. "As you can see, I've staked all my money in there."

"What I want to borrow is not money," Dugu Linxiu said, enunciating each word clearly. "It's the ledger."

Fang Zilan's expression hardened. "What makes you think I'd lend it to you?"

“You once told me that you didn’t want to see such a prestigious family destroyed by treacherous schemes.” Dugu Linxiu said seriously, but Fang Zilan did not respond.

“I will not lose.” Dugu Linxiu pursed her lips. “After this game is over, I will hand over all the ledgers to you as interest.”

“Not losing and being certain of winning are two different things.” Fang Zilan glanced at the ledger on the gambling table. “If you are not certain of winning, then I have no reason to help you.”

Dugu Linxiu bit her lip tightly. "I must win this game. If I lose, I will die with regret." As she said this, a flame seemed to burn in her eyes, burning with an indomitable ambition.

Fang Zilan gave Dugu Linxiu a deep look, then said to the maid, "Take back my 100,000 taels."

“My lord, once the chips are on the table, there’s no reason to take them back,” the maid said, giving a wink to the man beside her.

However, before they could make a move, Fang Zilan said, "When I say withdraw, I mean withdraw from this game, not leave the table."

The maid was taken aback. "What do you mean by that, sir?"

“What I mean is…” Fang Zilan took out another ledger and placed it next to the 100,000 taels of silver notes, “These are all bets on Dugu Linxiuying.”

Seeing this, the boy in the south private room and the woman in the east private room turned around and went back to their private rooms. The maid and the man exchanged a glance, and only after they came out of the private room again did they say, "If the other guests have no objections, this game can begin."

“My master has no objection.” The boy waved his hand, but the woman said, “My master said that if Madam Zhen of Qianjinfang wants to gamble like this, the stakes must be increased.”

Fang Zilan seemed to have expected this, and unusually good-naturedly asked, "What does your master want?"

“That one.” The woman’s gaze fell on someone behind Fang Zilan. “Wan Jun, Mr. Wan.”

Before she could finish speaking, Fang Zilan curled her lips and said, "Was I not clear enough just now, or is your master tired of living?"

“Mr. Wan was originally just a bargaining chip for my master…” The woman clenched her fists, and her bold words were cut off by Fang Zilan as soon as they left her mouth. “If what you say is true, then what was the last round?”

The woman then realized her mistake, but it was too late. She could only bite the bullet and say, "Madam Zhen, since you have chosen to enter the game, you have no choice. If you do not agree, this game will not begin."

Dugu Linxiu's expression changed slightly. Wan Jun reached out and placed his hand on Fang Zilan's shoulder, quietly pressing her down. "I believe in you. It doesn't matter if you become a bargaining chip."

"I don't want to." Fang Zilan glanced at him, and Wan Jun met her gaze, speechless for a moment.

Even if she could win, she would never use Wan Jun as a bargaining chip.