Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1946 Relying on

"Why is the Crown Prince's wife looking at me like that?" Shang Zhongyi met Fang Zilan's gaze, and she stared at him steadily. "Does Young Master Shang have nothing else to say to me?"

"Yes." Shang Zhongyi nodded. "I heard that His Highness Prince Yucheng is going to Zhongling Temple to perform a religious ceremony for my uncle. I hope his trip will be safe and successful."

"What did you say?" Fang Zilan's expression turned cold, but Shang Zhongyi smiled. He was originally a handsome man with a broad forehead and a strong jaw, but for some reason, he now exuded an arrogant and domineering air. "Since His Highness Prince Yucheng wants to stay in the Southeast, I think this trip will allow him to get what he wants."

With each word he spoke, Fang Zilan's expression grew more somber, yet he remained oblivious, continuing, "I've also heard..."

He paused deliberately, "These past few days, there's been an extra coffin at the mortuary outside the city. The person inside doesn't seem quite dead yet. But once the coffin is nailed shut, can the person still live?"

Fang Zilan's eyes flashed with a fierce light. "Who's inside the coffin?"

"The Crown Prince's wife should know him." Shang Zhongyi's smile widened. "After all, she attended his brother's ghost marriage not long ago. Although she messed it up, there must be some connection between them..."

Before he could finish speaking, Fang Zilan turned to leave, but he called her back, "Princess Consort, you can only choose between life and death."

Fang Zilan stopped and listened as Shang Zhongyi said to himself, "But if I were you, I wouldn't choose either of you."

"Is it that you can't, or that you're incapable?" Fang Zilan suddenly turned around and took a step forward. "If the person Cheng Zhiming is talking about is you, then I'd like to see what you've got."

"You'll regret this, Your Highness's wife." Shang Zhongyi laughed, clearly implying that no one could do anything about him.

Fang Zilan didn't waste any more words with him and left quickly. Fang Zitong thought for a moment, then instructed Meng Tingyang to take Awan and Wang Shen back to the Fang family first, and then chased after them.

"Wait for me." Fang Zitong couldn't catch up and a layer of fine sweat appeared on her forehead. But she saw Fang Zilan slow down, so she quickly grabbed her sleeve and whispered in her ear, "If Shang Zhongyi is the culprit, you might as well give up now."

“Mr. Cheng, you’re beating around the bush, it seems you’re unwilling to say.” Fang Zilan stood up and straightened her sleeves. “In that case, there’s no use for me keeping you around.”

Cheng Zhiming's smile widened. "Lord Fang wants to kill me?"

"Why would I kill you?" Fang Zilan said, her expression hardening. "Although you are an insignificant pawn, I am not a monster who only knows how to kill."

Cheng Zhiming seemed to be deep in thought. "So, Lord Fang intends to hand me over to Mr. Xie?"

Fang Zilan curled her lips into a half-smile, "Mr. Cheng, are you missing your younger brother and can't wait to keep him company?"

Cheng Zhiming was stunned, unable to guess correctly. "Lord Fang, what exactly do you want to do?"

Fang Zilan looked down at Cheng Zhiming and said, "Although I don't have much wealth, I do own a few estates. Judging from Mr. Cheng's appearance, he should be more than capable of working as a laborer."

"What did you say..." Cheng Ziming stared at Fang Zilan in disbelief, seeing that she was still smiling. "What, Mr. Cheng is not satisfied?"

“You are humiliating me.” Cheng Zimo clenched his fists and stood up. “A scholar can be killed but not humiliated. You might as well kill me.”

Fang Zilan asked with interest, "Mr. Cheng, has anyone ever told you that you resemble someone?" Cheng Ziming knew he shouldn't be led by the nose by Fang Zilan at this moment, but he couldn't help but ask, "Who?"

“Mr. Zuo from Miluo,” Fang Zilan said quietly, “is indeed ambitious, but he is also a complete clown.”

"You..." Cheng Zhiming began to speak, but Fang Zilan interrupted him, "The best way to deal with people like you is not to eliminate them, but to ignore them. To live a life of frustration and unfulfilled ambitions is far more painful than taking your lives."

Cheng Zhiming lowered his head. "You know everything I did?"

"I don't know," Fang Zilan said frankly. "Even before entering this door today, I knew nothing about you. I was just curious why Dugu Linxiu thought you were important."

As she spoke, she glanced at Cheng Zhiming, who was secretly watching her, and said, "It's just that I'm better than you; I can judge people more accurately and guess more precisely."

Cheng Ziming met Fang Zilan's gaze head-on, his expression sinister. "I lost to you once, but I will never lose to you a second time."

"Lose to me?" Fang Zilan chuckled. "I've only been involved in this mess in the Southeast for a few months. When have you ever lost to me?"

"Lord Fang, you truly have a short memory," Cheng Zhiming gritted his teeth. "Back then, I was just a step away from the capital, yet I never imagined that a single remonstrance from you would plunge me into an abyss of no return..."

"Cheng Zhiming, before the Dark Arena gambling den, I didn't even know you existed." Fang Zilan frowned slightly. "Why would I mention you in my advice?"

Cheng Zhiming sneered, "When Lord Fang was the Duke of Yue and in charge of the Southeast Prefecture, how many people's futures did he ruin? I'm afraid he can't even remember them all."

Fang Zilan found it amusing. "Cheng Zhiming, I have always been responsible for my actions. I will never admit to something I didn't do."

"Lord Fang, do you dare say that it wasn't you who advised His Majesty to investigate the officials under Prince Rong'an back then?" Cheng Zhiming stepped forward, pressing him aggressively, "Or are you going to try to deny it?"

"You mean that?" Fang Zilan nodded indifferently. "That's right, it was my advice."

Cheng Zhiming seemed surprised that Fang Zilan would admit it so directly. He was speechless for a moment before saying, "Because of your advice, the entire Cheng family was thoroughly investigated. I was standing at the forefront of the storm, and inevitably fell into the abyss."

"Is that so?" Fang Zilan said in a cool voice, "I don't think your younger brother, Lord Cheng Zhiyan, seems to be implicated."

As if his sore spot had been touched, Cheng Zhiming glared angrily, "Lord Fang, my Cheng family has no grudge against you, why do you insist on destroying my entire family?"

“That’s not what I meant.” Fang Zilan’s expression was indifferent. “What I meant was that if you do something wrong, you should always accept the punishment.”

Cheng Zhiming's expression froze, and Fang Zilan continued speaking to herself, "Why I advised His Majesty back then, others may not know, but you must know. Even now, do you still think that what I did back then was nothing more than an act of power grab?"

She spoke in a light tone, but Cheng Zhiming felt a lump in his throat, unable to breathe, and could only mutter, "We have different positions, we're talking past each other, it's hard to work together."

“Cheng Zhiming, I’m talking to you about right and wrong, but you’re talking to me about the gains and losses of different positions.” Fang Zilan’s expression darkened. “In your heart, are pirates, plagues, and human lives merely stepping stones on your way to the capital?”

Cheng Zhiming chuckled, his tone tinged with self-mockery, "Lord Fang was born in the capital, how could he possibly understand someone like me who struggled with all my might to even reach your starting point? I paid the price, yet I suffered a crushing defeat, why should I?"