Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1840 Struggle
"I was completely unaware of the assassination attempt in the hall," Master Ranzhu said, lowering his eyes. "I imagine the Crown Prince's wife saw it all clearly in the hall. The person behind it all intended to shift the blame."

“Master, your talents have truly been wasted in Zhongling Temple.” Fang Zilan stared intently at the person before her. “In your opinion, who instigated the assassination attempt in the hall?”

“Amitabha, Your Highness’s wife is too kind. This old monk is unworthy of such praise.” Master Ranzhu said neither humbly nor arrogantly, “Your Highness’s wife, have you ever heard of the Five Families of Lingnan?”

"I've heard a little about it." Fang Zilan said, glancing at Mr. Liu beside her. He remained silent as if he hadn't heard anything, so she continued, "Does the master mean that the five families from Lingnan were the masterminds behind the assassination attempt in the hall?"

Master Burning Candle remained noncommittal, saying, "I have never said that."

“I’ve never believed that either.” Fang Zilan curled her lips. “The five families of Lingnan have always lived in the Baiyue region. Not to mention that they don’t have close ties with the interior, just the fact that they could plan such an assassination in the hall and keep it completely hidden from the Xiahou family is simply…”

“As difficult as climbing to heaven, right?” Master Ranzhu chimed in. Seeing Fang Zilan nod, he said, “It was indeed not easy for the five families of Lingnan to deceive the Xiahou family under their very noses, but that was in the past.”

Fang Zilan's expression turned serious. "What do you mean by that, Master?"

"The daughter of the Wu family married the head of the Xiahou family. I imagine the Crown Prince's wife has heard of this." After Master Ranzhu finished speaking, without waiting for Fang Zilan's reply, he continued, "Is the Crown Prince's wife aware that more than half of the generals of the Xiahou family have marriage ties with the five families of Lingnan?"

"What?" Fang Zilan was stunned. Seeing this, Master Ranzhu was not surprised at all. He simply said slowly, "In the Baiyue region, apart from the Xiahou family, the five families in Lingnan are the most prominent. Marriage has always been about matching social status. The reason why the Crown Prince's wife is from a high-ranking family should be clearer to others than others."

Fang Zilan pursed her lips. "I've heard that Yancheng Manor gathers scions of prominent families from all over the world. How can it not be considered illustrious?"

"Yancheng Manor is ultimately just an academy, a place for scions of noble families to gain prestige, not a place to stay for long." Master Ranzhu sneered, "Princess Consort, don't overestimate the Xiahou family and Yancheng Manor, and underestimate the five families of Lingnan."

“Alright, even if what the master said is true…” Fang Zilan deliberately paused, “then, in the assassination attempt in the hall, to whom did the five families of Lingnan intend to shift the blame? The Zhuge family, or the Dugu family?”

She emphasized her last sentence, but Master Ranzhu remained unmoved and asked in return, "Who does the Crown Prince's wife think it is?"

Fang Zilan did not answer, but quietly looked at Master Ranzhu. After a while, she looked away and turned to Mr. Liu, saying, "Just now you asked me whether Huo Chun'er, the heroine of the Sword Sect, was alive or dead..."

She didn't finish her sentence, and Mr. Liu quickly bowed and said, "Please inform the Crown Prince's wife."

“Mr. Liu, I am a member of the Fang family.” Fang Zilan smiled slightly and said, “If you want to buy information from me, you will have to pay a price.”

Mr. Liu was stunned for a moment, then realized what she meant, "The Crown Prince's wife means..."

“That day outside the court, I saw that Mr. Liu was badly injured.” Fang Zilan said meaningfully, “Surrounded by so many assassins, he still managed to survive. I don’t know if it was good luck or something else.”

"I was fortunate to have General Xiahou that day; she intervened in time, otherwise I would have been dead," Mr. Liu hurriedly explained, but Fang Zilan laughed out loud. "I haven't said anything yet, why are you in such a hurry, Mr. Liu?"

Mr. Liu opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Fang Zilan said, "It's quite a coincidence, just before General Xiahou made his move, I saw Mr. Liu push one of the assassins away..."

"Madam, what exactly are you trying to say?" Mr. Liu couldn't help but interrupt Fang Zilan, who was still smiling. "I'm just curious, Mr. Liu, you had a weapon in hand, yet you did nothing when you encountered the assassin, as if you already knew General Xiahou would make a move." "There are innocent civilians outside the courtroom. How could I easily draw my weapon?" Mr. Liu's voice grew softer and softer, clearly lacking confidence.

So Fang Zilan simply said, "Mr. Liu, you know what I want to ask. As long as you are willing to tell me, I will tell you whether Huo Chun'er is alive or dead."

"I don't know," Mr. Liu said stubbornly, looking as if he would rather die than admit defeat.

Fang Zilan seemed to be deep in thought. "In that case, I'm sorry to have bothered you. I'll take my leave."

"Reinforcements have arrived." Fang Zilan's voice was very soft, as if it would be carried away by the wind at any moment, but A-Shi still heard it clearly.

“Then we…” A Shi hesitated, but Fang Zilan turned around and went in the opposite direction, “We’re going to Feiling Mountain.”

Ah Shi vaguely realized, "The second-in-command of Feiling Mountain came for you? You..."

"Don't ask, Ah-ye." Fang Zilan's voice trembled slightly, which made Ah-ye soften her tone. "No matter where you go or what you do, I'll be on your side."

Fang Zilan pursed her lips and ultimately said nothing more, but hurried to Feiling Mountain.

When Wan Jun and the others saw Fang Zilan covered in blood at the foot of Feiling Mountain, it was as if they had returned to several years ago, when the seriously injured girl pointed her sword at him and said that she would take responsibility for her own actions and would never implicate others, even if it cost her her life.

So many years have passed in the blink of an eye.

"Are you injured?" Just as Fang Zilan reined in her horse, Wan Jun arrived as expected. He took A Shi from her and then supported her with one hand. "Mi'er is waiting for you on the mountain."

Fang Zilan ignored Wan Jun's words, subtly avoiding his hand, and asked, "You all knew all along, didn't you?"

Hearing this, Wan Jun sighed and said softly, "Lan'er, now is not the time to talk about these things..."

"When would be appropriate?" Fang Zilan gritted her teeth and said, "Would it be appropriate when everyone dies because of me?"

Wan Jun froze, while Fang Zilan's face twisted in rage. "Why did you tell the Second Master who I am? Do you know that I'd rather he face the law than die trying to save me?"

“Lan’er, this was his own choice…” Wan Jun’s rebuttal was cut short by Fang Zilan, “What do you mean, ‘own choice’? If I weren’t their daughter, if I weren’t the person you all love, how could the Second Master, the Chu family father and son, or even the Hidden Sword Manor and the Myriad Flower Manor back then…”

She choked back tears and couldn't continue, turning to leave. Wan Jun reached out and grabbed her sleeve. "Lan'er, from beginning to end, we were doing it willingly..."

"You're doing this willingly, but did you ask me if I could accept it?" Fang Zilan shook off Wan Jun's hand and roared hysterically, "I'd rather be the one who dies!"