Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1838 In Vain
“Those five families in Lingnan are not easy to deal with.” Xie Chen sighed. Xiahou Yunzhao raised an eyebrow. “I just told Ye Yun that you could handle them. You’re not going to embarrass me so soon, are you?”

Xie Chen continued with a sigh, "The Xiahou family has spies sent by the five families of Lingnan in their household, many of whom are favored and arrogant..."

"Really?" Xiahou Yunzhao asked, feigning ignorance. "Why don't we have any in our residence?"

"Zhaozhao," Xie Chen called out helplessly, but his tone couldn't hide his amusement, "Who in our household do you want to know?"

"Someone as thoughtful as you..." Xiahou Yunzhao shook her head and said, "One of you is enough for the manor. I can't handle half a more than that."

Xie Chen smiled more, but did not follow Xiahou Yunzhao's words. He still spoke about the important matter, "If you want to go to the Wu family, I will go with you."

"No need." Xiahou Yunzhao composed herself. "Even if the Wu family is incredibly audacious, they wouldn't dare to do anything to me."

Xie Chen was about to say something more when Xiahou Yunzhao said, "The Wu family may not care about other people's lives, but they dare not be indifferent to my life."

Upon hearing this, Xie Chen said solemnly, "Zhao Zhao, are you willing to gamble your life for Xiahou Mingxun?"

“Why not?” Xiahou Yunzhao curled her lips. “Xiahou Mingxun has suffered a lot for the Xiahou family over the years. It’s nothing for me to risk my life for him.”

"Are you saying this as the person in charge of the Xiahou family..." Xie Chen paused deliberately, "or as Xiahou Mingxun's sister?"

"Is there a difference?" Xiahou Yunzhao's smile widened. "I am not only the true head of the Xiahou family, but also Xiahou Mingxun's older sister..."

"Zhao Zhao, you know what I'm asking." Xie Chen rarely interrupted Xiahou Yun Zhao, and he had never lost his composure like this before.

"Xie Chen, you probably know better than I what the situation is like in the capital right now," Xiahou Yunzhao suddenly changed the subject. "His throne seems secure, but in reality he is isolated and helpless. Of the nine great noble families, how many can truly be of use to him?"

“If you care about him, you shouldn’t do this for Xiahou Mingxun, or even for Wu Ying…” Xie Chen was interrupted by Xiahou Yunzhao before he could finish speaking, “I’m not doing this for him.”

As she spoke, her smile faded. "In my life, I don't owe many people. Ayu is one, and Xiahou Mingxun is another. If I can't repay these debts, I won't be able to close my eyes in peace."

"You're not the only one who owes Ayu," Xie Chen said, closing his eyes slightly, as if he couldn't bear to recall the past.

“Even if it’s just to repay Ayu, I will help him clean up the Southeast region completely.” A resolute look flashed in Xiahou Yunzhao’s eyes. “So, Xie Chen, you don’t need to worry about me. Just be impartial and handle this case well. Anyone who dares to stop you, I will eliminate that person.”

Fang Zilan took a deep breath, shook off Hong Tai's hand, and said coldly, "Does Fang Lihui intend to sever all ties with me? Or does he mean the entire Fang family is going to sever all ties with me?"

If the first half of her question was directed at Ah Shi, then the second half was clearly directed at Fang Chongzheng. However, she received no reply, not even a single word.

"Please have Miss Fang check." Ah Shi repeated, still maintaining the original posture, motionless like a puppet on strings.

"Why?" Fang Zilan took a step back and looked around at everyone present.

Fang Chongzheng's expression was extremely indifferent, making it impossible to fathom what he was thinking. Fang Zitong's red lips parted slightly, her fingers clenched tightly, forcing herself not to make a sound. As for A-Shi, she hadn't revealed a single emotion from beginning to end. Unable to get an answer, Fang Zilan's gaze finally fell on the wooden box, but only for a moment before returning to A-Shi. "A-Shi, you used me to escape the world of prostitution, you used me to enter the Fang family, now it's time to repay me, how about it?"

Ah Shi pursed her lips, "I will obey Miss Fang's orders."

“Take these back to the Northern Territory and decide how to dispose of them as you see fit. But…” Fang Zilan paused, then said resolutely, “Don’t ever appear before me again.”

A-Shi stared at Fang Zilan in disbelief, only to see her push the wooden box into her arms. "Since you've chosen the Fang family, then I don't need to choose you anymore."

“Fang Zilan…” Hong Tai wanted to say something, but Fang Zilan interrupted him before he could finish speaking, “I understand the Fang family’s intentions.”

As she spoke, she bowed to Fang Chongzheng, saying, "A married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl; from now on, I and the Fang family will go our separate ways..."

"Lan'er..." Fang Zitong finally couldn't help but speak, but Fang Zilan ignored her and finished the last half of her sentence, "We have nothing to do with each other anymore."

She turned and left after saying that, but Fang Chongzheng's voice came from behind her, "If you want justice, you can't protect Fang Lihui, do you understand?"

Fang Zilan stopped in her tracks, her heart filled with mixed emotions. How could she not understand?
The so-called fight for justice disregards social status and background. Whether one is a high-ranking official or a poor family, as long as one is guilty, one should be tried and punished without any favoritism.

However, after the death of Prince Rong'an, amidst a mountain of unresolved issues, everyone involved was unforgivable. Yet, for the sake of the nation's lasting stability, things could not be accomplished overnight; a gradual approach was necessary, and priorities had to be clearly defined.

In that case, why not spare Fang Lihui for the time being?
This was her selfish motive, hidden beneath her background in the Fang family. Only Fang Chongzheng could see through it, and once it was revealed, it could no longer be concealed.

Because she knew that Fang Lihui was just the beginning, not the end. He knew a great deal, and countless others were involved; this was not something he could accomplish alone.

She could roughly guess what role the Fang family played behind the scenes, even if she pretended to be deaf and dumb. Moreover, she had all the account books that Qianjinfang had found, so she couldn't deceive herself.

From tacit approval to indulgence, and then to covert assistance, the Fang family can hardly be called innocent.

"How much do you really know?" Fang Zilan turned around and stared intently at Fang Chongzheng. "Or are you actually the one pulling the strings?"

"I have been a merchant and an official. In the past dynasty and in the present, I have stirred up storms." Fang Chongzheng said, as if explaining, but also as if he were talking to himself, "Leading the Fang family to this day, I have no regrets in my heart."

"What a fine claim of having a clear conscience." Fang Zilan curled her lips into a smile, but her voice betrayed a hint of bitterness. "Have you ever regretted it, even for a moment?"

Before Fang Chongzheng could say anything, she pressed on, "Have you ever regretted adopting me?"

Is this how things have come to be between father and daughter?
Fang Zilan smiled bitterly to herself, but if she couldn't get an answer today, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to hold on.

She wasn't afraid of death or disgrace, only of all her efforts coming to naught. If she were to be shunned simply because she wasn't a member of the Fang family, then what she had done would be more than just a waste of time?