Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1947 Jackals
The second-in-command chuckled, "What does Miss Zixiu think we are?"

“Jackals.” Fang Zilan’s words were concise and to the point. The second-in-command’s smile froze for a moment, and he blurted out, “Why jackals?”

"Like jackals lurking in the shadows, in packs, waiting for their chance to strike." Fang Zilan took in the second-in-command's changing expression, her own gaze growing colder. "Don't you two look alike?"

Before she could finish speaking, she felt as if a pair of eerie green eyes were staring at her from above.

As dusk settled, the mountains became even darker, and being watched by a pair of eyes in the shadows only added to the discomfort.

Fang Zilan looked up and saw a banner painted with a wolf's head. The eyes she sensed were indeed wolf eyes. Painted with some unknown material, it shimmered with an eerie light, making it appear even more lifelike.

"Miss Zixiu's insight is truly admirable." The second-in-command followed Fang Zilan's gaze and said solemnly, "The jackal is our totem."

Upon hearing this, Fang Zilan's expression subtly changed. She quickly exchanged glances with Li Shengxuan, both of them sensing wariness in each other's eyes.

“In the capital, very few people worship the jackal as a totem,” Fang Zilan said casually. “On the contrary, the barbarians of the northern border are more fond of it.”

"Barbarians?" The second-in-command's tone was disdainful. Fang Zilan frowned upon hearing this and asked, "Am I wrong?"

"Just a defeated opponent, how can you compare them?" The second-in-command said arrogantly. Fang Zilan was puzzled; something about his words sounded off.

If it were her or Li Shengxuan referring to the northern barbarians as defeated enemies, it wouldn't feel out of place. However, when it came from the mouth of a bandit like the second-in-command, it sounded strangely odd.

"I never expected that there would be bandits who care about the affairs of the imperial court." Li Shengxuan suddenly spoke, but a strange voice answered him, "Why can't bandits care about the affairs of the imperial court?"

Not far away, torches were lit one after another, illuminating the speaker's face. On his handsome oval face, his eyebrows were sharp as knives, and his eyes were bright as stars, both piercing and beautiful.

Fang Zilan stared blankly at the speaker, "The leader of the Feiling Mountain bandits is a woman?"

"You really don't remember?" A hint of worry flashed in Li Shengxuan's eyes, and Fang Zilan couldn't help but ask, "What happened back then?"

“Back when I was sent to guard the imperial tombs outside the capital, one night, A-Jun rode out of the capital to find me. He said the situation was urgent. A friend of his had gotten into a conflict with the secret guards of the underground palace of the imperial city and was on the verge of death. He begged me to save him.” Li Shengxuan seemed to be lost in memories and said with a sense of loss, “I have known him for many years, but this is the first time I have seen him beg me like that. So I couldn’t care less about anything else.”

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Unfortunately, I spent the whole night trying to mediate, but I didn't even catch a glimpse of his friend. The next day, news spread that Zixiu had broken into the imperial palace at night, killed several guards, and then slipped away. You became famous overnight, but I was punished, demoted, had my salary reduced, and was confined to my residence for several months. If it weren't for Aunt Zhao's intercession, I'm afraid I would have been punished even more severely."

Upon hearing this, Fang Zilan coughed lightly and couldn't help but ask, "Who is A-Jun?"

“Zhuge Jun.” Li Shengxuan spoke quickly and softly, but Fang Zilan still heard him and asked in surprise, “He said I’m his friend?” “Now that I think about it, it must be that Sister Qin was worried about you, but couldn’t leave the manor, so she asked A-Jun to come find me.” Li Shengxuan didn’t answer Fang Zilan’s question directly, but instead said as if talking to himself, “She has always favored you younger sisters. If I had been in the manor at the time, she would have done anything…”

"Sister Qin..." Fang Zilan repeated the address softly, realizing that Li Shengxuan was referring to Fang Ziqin.

As the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family, Fang Ziqin was both resourceful and capable. Even before her marriage, she was revered as an elder sister figure among the children of prominent families in the capital. Those close to her fawned over her, while those with less close relationships treated her with awe. It was said that those of similar age, regardless of seniority, would all call her "Sister Qin."

Although Fang Ziqin is indeed a few months older than Li Shengxuan, I didn't expect him to call her Sister Qin, and Zhuge Jun... Master Liaoyuan?
Fang Zilan suddenly realized something. Fang Ziqin should have already married into the Xiang Prince's mansion, yet he sent a message to Zhuge Jun late at night for her sake. But with so many noble people in the capital, why him of all people?
And then there was Master Liaoyuan, who was always so calm and collected in the Lotus Palace, yet he spoke up in Fang Ziqin's defense when he overheard palace servants gossiping about her behind her back. At the time, she found it strange, but now it all makes sense…

"What are you thinking about?" Li Shengxuan's voice pulled Fang Zilan back to reality. She shook her head and said, "Nothing."

Seeing this, Li Shengxuan said thoughtfully, "You don't seem surprised."

“If one day you wake up and someone tells you that you are the daughter of the Prime Minister’s family, that you are an assassin, but not yourself,” Fang Zilan’s voice was tinged with bitterness, “after that, no matter what anyone says to you, you won’t be surprised.”

Li Shengxuan was stunned. "You...you don't just have amnesia?"

"Why do you ask that?" Fang Zilan's face was expressionless. Before Li Shengxuan could answer, she continued, "But it doesn't matter what others say. In the end, I decide what I want to do."

“This is the real you.” Li Shengxuan picked up the teapot from the table, poured two cups of tea, and handed one to Fang Zilan. “For those words you said, the Hong family can be protected, but the entire Feiling Mountain…”

“I know you don’t trust them, and neither do I.” Fang Zilan took the teacup, cutting off Li Shengxuan’s next words, “But I’m willing to vouch for them.”

Li Shengxuan said in a deep voice, "How do you intend to vouch for them?"

"If we can uncover the truth this time, are you truly capable of punishing everyone involved?" Fang Zilan countered with a question. Li Shengxuan remained silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Even if I can't now, later..."

“We’ll talk about the future later,” Fang Zilan interrupted Li Shengxuan. “I’m only concerned with the present. Since you have a sense of propriety and are willing to leave a way out for those involved, why can’t you leave a way out for them too?”

"How can they be compared to those in the imperial court?" Li Shengxuan lowered his voice, but couldn't suppress his underlying anger. "They're just bandits..."

"If any of them collude with people in the military, apart from the Hong siblings, I will have no objection to how you deal with them," Fang Zilan said, word by word. "But for the others, I hope they will live in seclusion in the mountains and never come out again."

Li Shengxuan took a deep breath, his hand holding the teacup tightening slightly. "If they can't do it..."

“If they can’t do it, I will kill them all myself, leaving none alive.” Fang Zilan said resolutely, “This matter started because of me, and it should end because of me.”