Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1913 Protection
There is only one Fang family in the capital, but there are several Fang residences.

The residences of the Prime Minister's family and the merchant family were separated by only a wall, both located in the east of the city, yet they displayed different gates. Although they were essentially one family, their paths diverged: one served in the imperial court, while the other went into business.

When Fang Zilan rode her horse past the Fang family residence of the Prime Minister, she couldn't help but stop for a moment.

Through the door and wall, she could vaguely see the top corner of the innermost pavilion. She knew that was Baoxiu Pavilion, her former boudoir.

"Boss?" Deputy General Cao called out to her tentatively, only to see her dismount and walk through the snow. "The Fang residence is not far ahead. Let's walk there."

She offered an explanation, but it was unclear whether she was explaining it to Deputy General Cao or speaking it to herself.

"Alright." Deputy General Cao reined in his horse and followed behind Fang Zilan, the two of them heading towards the Fang residence together.

As dawn broke, the night watchmen had just left the streets. At this hour, few people were out and about, making the place somewhat deserted.

The two arrived at the gate of the Fang residence, only to find it tightly closed. So, Deputy General Cao stepped forward and knocked on the door.

After the servant guarding the Fang residence opened the gate, Fang Zilan directly stated her purpose, but the servant said, "Lord Fang, your timing is really unfortunate. My young master went back to his ancestral home in Jiangnan to celebrate the New Year a few days ago and is not in the capital."

Fang Zilan paused for a moment, then left the Fang family with Deputy General Cao.

After the two returned to the manor, Awan approached them and asked, "So, what did Fang Lihui say?" After Vice General Cao explained the situation to her, all three fell silent.

After a long silence, it was Deputy General Cao who broke the silence first, "Boss, what do we do now?"

Fang Zilan did not answer, but simply walked back to the inner room.

Deputy General Cao looked at Awan, and heard her say, "Let her be alone and have some peace and quiet."

Fang Zilan sat at the table, took out the token symbolizing the status of the nine high-ranking officials, and ran her fingers over the patterns on it. What came to mind was what Li Shengxuan had said to her that day: "I am your support. You just need to move forward."

However, the person who said such things later said something that made her feel wronged after the New Year's opera.

Are you feeling wronged?
Actually, she wasn't aggrieved at all; on the contrary, she felt a strong determination to move forward and make everyone afraid to underestimate her.

However, if anything were to happen to the people of the North now, she would feel truly wronged.

These iron-willed men who guard the borders and defend the frontiers, amidst the vast world of war and conquest, should not have been drawn into the murky waters of power struggles.

If anyone dares to harm the people of the Northern Border in an attempt to eliminate her, she will not let that person get away with it, no matter who they are.

Once a Duke of the Northern Kingdom, always a protector of the heart.

From the moment she took that position, she understood the weight of the word "responsibility." Fang Zilan's expression was as cold as ice, and the cruel killing intent in her eyes was tinged with a resolute determination.

She will not move unless the enemy makes a move, but she will not sit idly by and wait for death; she will make sure to teach them a lesson.

When the Empress Dowager in Yuzhang Palace heard the news that Fang Zilan had come to request an audience, she couldn't help but laugh. "I thought she was quite capable, but it turns out she's just someone who knows how to read the wind. After that performance at the New Year's opera, she probably knew that the Emperor couldn't protect her, so she came to beg me for help. How interesting."

The people around the Empress Dowager were very perceptive and immediately ordered that Fang Zilan be brought in.

When Fang Zilan entered the Jade Palace, she saw the Empress Dowager sitting high and mighty in the main seat, putting on airs.

She bowed respectfully, and after paying her respects, she stated her purpose directly without waiting for the Empress Dowager to speak: "I have come today to ask the Empress Dowager to show leniency and spare the people of the Northern Border."

Her words startled even the Empress Dowager. "What do you mean by that, Lord Fang? What do the people of the Northern Border have to do with me? Why don't you go and beg the Emperor, but instead come to me? Don't you think you've got the priorities backward?"

"I've heard that the petition from the people of the Northern Border was presented to His Majesty by the Empress Dowager." Fang Zilan stood ramrod straight in the center of the hall. "Those in the inner palace are not allowed to interfere in politics. The Empress Dowager's roundabout approach is truly ingenious, isn't it?"

Such blunt and direct words displeased the Empress Dowager. Over the years, who hadn't been respectful and courteous to her? This was the first time she had been questioned like this, having her behind-the-scenes tactics laid bare.

Since things had come to this point, the Empress Dowager saw no need to put on airs anymore. She snorted coldly and said, "Since Lord Fang is clear about this, he should know that I have no intention of letting the people of the Northern Border go. Why waste your time?"

"Since the founding of the Great Capital, the people of the Northern Border have defended the borders against the Jurchens without ever making a mistake. Now that the Jurchens have been defeated and the great threat to the Northern Border has been eliminated, everyone has been framed." Fang Zilan paused, her expression solemn. "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked. Isn't the Empress Dowager afraid that this action will chill the hearts of the soldiers in the four border regions?"

"Disheartening?" The Empress Dowager chuckled. "If anyone is disheartened, it is the Emperor. What does it have to do with me?"

“That’s true.” Fang Zilan nodded in agreement. “In the end, it was His Majesty who issued the decree to deal with it, so it has nothing to do with the Empress Dowager.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned slightly. "Lord Fang, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"I know perfectly well why the Empress Dowager is targeting the people of the Northern Territory. She just wants to drag me down with her and crush me." Fang Zilan straightened her sleeves and said casually, "I can die. But I cannot let the people of the Northern Territory die."

The Empress Dowager carefully examined the person in front of her. She stood tall and straight like a pine tree, without the slightest panic or hesitation. It was as if life and death were nothing more than a trivial matter to be laughed off. Her composure was unlike that of a delicate young girl.

"Regarding this case in the Northern Border, everyone says that Protector Qi is corrupt and accepts bribes, the deputy general in the army occupies land and bullies the people, and Lord Zhong is implicated in the affair due to favoritism and cover-ups. But having served as officials in the Northern Border for so many years, can the Wang and Huangfu families really absolve themselves of all responsibility?" Fang Zilan's expression was indifferent, yet carried a hint of judgmental severity. "Since we're going to investigate, let's investigate everything thoroughly. I will request His Majesty's decree to have a high-ranking official from outside the Northern Border conduct the investigation. Once the matter is clear, those who deserve punishment will not escape."

"What did you say?" Seemingly not expecting her to say such a thing, the Empress Dowager's expression changed almost imperceptibly. "How dare you..."

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Fang Zilan coldly interrupted the Empress Dowager. "I just wonder, are Lord Zhong, Protector Qi, and the deputy generals in the army cleaner, or are the Wang and Huangfu families more innocent?"

The Empress Dowager suddenly stood up and looked down at her condescendingly. "Once an investigation is launched, let alone whether the Wang and Huangfu families can escape, how will you fare?"

This method, which would kill a thousand enemies but also lose eight hundred of your own, actually came from the mouth of a high-ranking official who had risked his life on the battlefield. The Empress Dowager found it absurd and laughable, yet she also felt a lingering fear, because she knew it was not a joke.