Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1959 Gu Nian
"What did you say?" Fang Zilan's plum blossom sword shot straight at Honghe. Seeing this, Hongtai quickly stepped in front of Honghe to protect her. "Little beauty, my little He's temperament is unpredictable. Please put away your sword and ask her what happened..."

Fang Zilan showed no sign of stopping, so Hong Tai could only reach out and grasp the plum sword that was so close at hand, letting his palm be cut and bleed profusely, yet he remained as still as a mountain.

“Brother…” Honghe couldn’t help but shed tears. Hongtai glanced at her and said, “Little girl, tell the truth.”

“I won’t say! Whether it’s death or life, I won’t say a word.” Honghe shook her head heavily. “Brother, let them go, go as far away as possible, don’t…”

"Should we not associate with you mountain bandits and outlaws?" Fang Zilan interrupted Honghe coldly. "Miss Honghe, don't you think it's a little too late to push me away now?"

"It's not too late as long as you can leave safely." Honghe wiped away her tears, her face showing a resolute look. "The imperial army is on its way. Uncle Sun and the old Wolf Army couldn't stop them, and we siblings may not be able to either, but at least we can fight for your survival."

Hong Tai was stunned, as if looking at a stranger. "Xiao He, what are you talking about?"

Honghe stared intently at Fang Zilan and slowly said, "Or is it that... this time, Princess Wuqing chose Li Shengxuan and wants to use us siblings to curry favor?"

“Princess Wuqing?” Hongtai looked at Fang Zilan in disbelief. “Aren’t you Zixiu?”

“Zi Xiu, Princess Wu Qing, and the former Duke of Yue, Fang Zi Lan, are all her.” Hong He took a deep breath, her voice hoarse. “Brother, we have been deceived by Ji Ningtian for too many years. There is no turning back.”

Hong Tai's face initially showed shock, then relief, and finally calmness. "Xiao He, from the day we became outlaws, there was no turning back."

"Tell me where Awan is, and I'll spare your lives." Fang Zilan drew the plum sword from Hong Tai's hand and sheathed it. "Otherwise, I'll die with you."

"Little beauty, you just don't want to live anymore, why pretend to be so sentimental?" Hong Tai's eyes were filled with a smile, but he didn't lose any of his frivolity after learning Fang Zilan's identity.

Fang Zilan was stunned for a moment, then heard Hong Tai say again, "However, I particularly like the little beauty's deep affection. Even if she dies, it would be worth it."

“Since Your Majesty is unwilling to speak, I shall speak for Your Majesty.” Zhuge Yu stared intently at the emperor before him, took a deep breath, and said, “Xiahou Yunzhao relinquished her position as head of the family for Your Majesty for many years, and Your Majesty feels indebted to her. Fang Zilan’s current fearless and naive demeanor is exactly the same as Xiahou Yunzhao’s back then, so Your Majesty is wavering, isn’t that right?”

"Zhuge Yu, you are indeed incredibly intelligent, but the heart of an emperor is far more complex than you imagine." Li Shengxuan looked at the person in front of him with a leisurely air. "To me, Xiahou Yunzhao and Fang Zilan are nothing more than pawns. If they can be used by me, I will naturally keep them in my hands. But if they cannot, the pawns will naturally be discarded."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Yu's gaze towards Li Shengxuan held a more scrutinizing quality.

Even though Li Shengxuan didn't explicitly state the word "chess piece," Zhuge Yu could guess it. Appointing Fang Zilan was not simply a matter of appointing a capable woman.

The real purpose is simply to use outsiders as a trigger to incite panic among those involved.

With Fang Zilan in command, the two major families in the Northern Territory will certainly not stand idly by, and neither will let the matter rest openly nor covertly.

A single, easily manipulated piece—it won't disrupt the existing balance, yet it will alert the other pieces, making it perfect for breaking the equilibrium. But is the person behind it truly Li Shengxuan?
"Your Majesty is a man of principle, and I should not say more. However, Fang Zilan is merely a woman; no matter how capable she is, she will amount to nothing. Why must Your Majesty place the burden of peace on her shoulders?" Zhuge Yu retorted firmly. Li Shengxuan frowned slightly, his voice carrying an air of authority: "Are you doubting me?"

Zhuge Yu was silent for a moment. Before entering the palace, he did not understand why Li Shengxuan would trust Fang Zilan so much, entrusting the safety of the entire Northern Territory and even the capital to her alone.

Now he suddenly realized that the person this young emperor of Dajing trusted from beginning to end was not Fang Zilan, but himself.

Fang Zilan's journey was being watched by countless eyes, with the two great families of the Northern Border holding the line. The slightest misstep could cost her her life in the process of quelling the rebellion. However, even if she died, a woman leading the charge would stir up the hearts of men across the land. If even a prince as noble and privileged as Li Qiyou felt this way, what about others?
In the war in the north, Dajing will surely win.

This was Li Shengxuan's belief. It had nothing to do with who was in command, nor with the process of pacifying the northern border; it only concerned the result.

Zhuge Yu suddenly remembered what his grandfather had told Li Shengxuan before he returned to the capital when Li Shengxuan was still the Prince of Xiang.

Among the Li family, King Xiang will surely be the ruler of the world.

He couldn't understand that battlefields are full of reckless men, and that being good at fighting and governing the world are not the same thing.

King Xiang may have been more than capable in warfare, but once he entered the unfathomable waters of the capital, the countless ditches and bends were enough to drown him.

At that time, his grandfather asked him, "Do you know why the sea is so unpredictable, and why some people are still brave enough to brave the storms and waves?" At that time, he did not understand what this question had to do with the ascension of King Xiang, but now he understands.

Ordinary people take things one step at a time, wise people plan ahead, but Li Shengxuan has a long-term vision and everything is under his control. No matter how many variables there are, he is not afraid.

After all, those who have seen the ocean will not fear a small pool. No matter how deep the pool is, compared to the sea, it is nothing more than a pit. Just like a captain who lives and breathes the ocean, riding the waves, indestructible.

Thinking of this, Zhuge Yu nodded and said, "Zhuge Yu dares not." He said this, but his expression showed no sign of daring.

Li Shengxuan's expression softened slightly. "Since you dare not, then accept the punishment."

"Zhuge Yu, the second son of the Zhuge family, I hereby appoint you as the military advisor to Fang Zilan, and you will soon join the army on the expedition."

Before he could finish speaking, and before Zhuge Yu could say anything, Xiahou Zhang stepped forward first, saying, "Your Majesty, the Second Young Master Zhuge is frail and sickly; I'm afraid he won't be able to handle the demands of accompanying the army on the expedition."

Li Shengxuan's lips curled slightly. "Looking at him, can he be considered frail and sickly?"

Xiahou Zhang was taken aback. Come to think of it, last time at the Prince of Xiang's residence, Zhuge Yu would cough for a long time after saying only a few words, but this time his breathing was steady and he didn't cough once.

Xiahou Zhang looked steadily at Zhuge Yu, who smiled slightly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Zhuge Yu accepts the punishment."