Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1887 Fulfilled
"Miss Awan, you just said that the formula for Wu Kui is in the hands of the Su family. Do you have any proof?" Xie Chen's voice suddenly rang out. Awan subconsciously shook her head. "I don't have any proof..."

“Without proof, it doesn’t count.” Xiahou Yunzhao interrupted Awan. “You were originally a physician in the former Duke of Yue’s mansion, and like her, you are a habitual liar.”

“I…” Awan wanted to argue, but Fang Zilan gave her a look and she immediately fell silent.

"Whether Wu Kui's poison is related to the Su family or not, we'll know once Lord Su Yun arrives and we ask him," Fang Zilan said calmly. "General Xiahou, why be so aggressive?"

Xiahou Yunzhao curled her lips into a half-smile, "Judging from the young master's wife's words, you intend to stand up for Miss Awan?"

"With Mr. Xie present in court, how can I be the one to make the decision?" Fang Zilan said, glancing at Xie Chen, clearly reminding him that as the presiding judge, he should not show favoritism.

Xie Chen glanced at Fang Zilan, then turned his gaze to Xiahou Yunzhao, asking the head of the Wu family, "Lord Wu, according to Madam Fu, the contraband drugs came from the Wu family. Is this true?"

The head of the Wu family lowered his head and spoke after a long while, "Although my Wu family is a prominent family in Lingnan, and does have some business in cordyceps, but..."

He didn't continue, but Xiahou Yunzhao, who was standing to the side, asked with a half-smile, "But what?"

“But that’s Lingnan! Even a fly can’t escape the Xiahou family’s notice. How could I possibly evade the Xiahou family’s control over some illegal drugs?” The Wu family head seemed more and more aggrieved as he spoke, and he knelt down on the ground with a thud. “Please, Mr. Xie, do me justice! You mustn’t wrong my Wu family for no reason!”

"Injustice?" Xiahou Yunzhao repeated the two words meaningfully, and said with a smile, "That's right, everything requires evidence. It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin."

"General Xiahou, what do you mean?" The head of the Wu family looked up at Xiahou Yunzhao and said angrily, "Don't try to slander my Wu family just because you have a private relationship with Mr. Xie!"

"Who do you take me for, Xiahou Yunzhao?" Xiahou Yunzhao said coldly, "If I hadn't caught the person who was illegally trading contraband drugs, why would I have entered the pass alone, disregarding the safety of the entire Xiahou family?"

"May I ask who General Xiahou has captured?" The head of the Wu family clenched his fists and roared at Xiahou Yunzhao, "That is Aying, my own sister, your lawfully wedded wife, head of the Xiahou family! If I don't risk my life to bring her back to the Wu family, General Xiahou will torture her into confessing, using her blood as bait, and the corpses of my entire Wu family as stepping stones, so that your Xiahou family can rise to prominence?"

Xiahou Yunzhao pursed her lips and said calmly, "Do I need to?"

However, the more nonchalant she appeared, the more the Wu family head pressed her for an answer. "General Xiahou, you've harbored resentment ever since Prince Rong'an overpowered you. Later, Fang Zilan forced you to relinquish your power and step down, taking away your title of Duke of Yue, which only fueled your resentment. If you had known this would happen, why did you surrender in the first place and even send Consort Yu to him..."

"Shut up." Xiahou Yunzhao looked down at the head of the Wu family and said, word by word, "Consort Yu is the birth mother of the current emperor. You are not worthy to mention her."

"I am not worthy?" The head of the Wu family sneered. "General Xiahou, if you and Xie Chen had not been so determined to surrender, how could the Baiyue region have fallen to this state? How could the Xiahou family have fallen to this state?"

"This is a matter for the Xiahou family, and it has nothing to do with you." Xiahou Yunzhao's face was ashen. "Now that Xie Chen is in court, I only have one question—does your Wu family admit to the crime of privately trading prohibited drugs?"

“I admit it.” The head of the Wu family nodded readily. “I was instructed by the Xiahou family to trade in prohibited drugs and sell Wu Kui to the steward of the Rong’an Prince’s mansion, which poisoned the Rong’an Prince’s life.”

Before he could finish speaking, an uproar erupted both inside and outside the hall. Xie Chen slammed his gavel and demanded loudly, "Why would the Xiahou family instruct you to do this?"

"Back then, when His Highness Prince Xiang proposed to the Fang family, the person he sought to marry was you." Fang Ziqin poured tea for Fang Zilan and said slowly, "This marriage was of great importance. If it had not been arranged, not only would the Fang family have been in dire straits, but His Highness Prince Xiang himself would have been in danger as well."

She sighed deeply and said softly, "I couldn't bear to part with you, so I'll marry in your place."

"Reluctant to part with it?" Fang Zilan repeated the word, feeling that there was a deeper meaning behind it.

“Yes, I can’t bear to part with him.” Fang Ziqin nodded, her eyes filled with complex emotions. “At that time, A-Jun was besieged by the Miluo people. When the news spread, everyone told me that he had died in battle.”

As she spoke, her voice became hoarse, "Before Ah Jun went to war, he made a promise to me that after defeating the Miluo people, he would return to the capital to marry me. So when I heard the news, I stood in front of Yanming Lake wearing a wedding dress that I had made myself."

"Elder sister, you..." Fang Zilan looked at Fang Ziqin in disbelief, but saw her nod firmly and say, "That moment was probably the only time in my life when I lived as Fang Ziqin."

Fang Zilan's voice trembled uncontrollably, but she still asked, "What happened next?"

"Later, His Highness Prince Xiang stopped me from committing suicide and proposed a deal." Fang Ziqin gently grasped Fang Zilan's hand holding the teacup. "I will marry him in your place, and he will guarantee the Fang family's prosperity for a hundred years."

"Why..." Fang Zilan's eyes reddened, but Fang Ziqin smiled, "Perhaps he was Ajun's best friend, perhaps Father is already struggling alone, perhaps you and I share some sisterly bond, but I just can't bear to part with him. It's just..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "I thought transactions were always more stable than feelings, but I never imagined it would end up like this."

"Everything that reaches its peak must decline, elder sister, there's no need to worry..." Fang Zilan's words of comfort were cut off by Fang Ziqin, "Lan'er, ask yourself honestly, do you believe this yourself? If you do, why did you risk your life to stop His Majesty from continuing the investigation?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Zilan clenched her other hand, hidden in her sleeve, into a fist. "Elder sister, the Fang family is not innocent, and even aristocratic families cannot withstand investigation. If His Majesty... if he remains obstinate, sooner or later he will become an enemy of the world, and the Great Capital..."

"Stubborn to the end?" Fang Ziqin interrupted Fang Zilan's next words noncommittally, "Even His Majesty is not afraid, so you are?"

“I…” Fang Zilan lowered her eyes and said, “I’m not afraid, it’s just…”

She didn't continue, but Fang Ziqin understood. She was worried that the powerful families would rise up against her, leading to a change of dynasty, renewed chaos, and internal and external troubles for the capital, with war raging on all sides...

Those who have fought in battles possess a sharper intuition than ordinary people, and her unease always comes true.

Fang Ziqin had no doubt about this, but if things continued like this, how many years could this superficial peace last?