Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1299 Care

Fang Zilan took out the book from her bosom, unfolded only a corner, and showed it to Master Ranzhu, "Master, you have a good eye."

Although it was only a corner, it was enough for Master Ranzhu to see the name "Hong" on it. He was stunned for a while, then he understood and said, "It seems that the Crown Prince's wife and I have chosen something different."

"No." Fang Zilan shook her head. "Since I didn't choose the Zhuge family, I naturally won't choose the Hong family either."

A hint of suspicion flashed across Master Ranzhu's eyes. "Then why are the Crown Prince's wife and I looking at this land deed?"

"I have burned all the land deeds and account books in Zhongling Temple." Fang Zilan said calmly, "The past will be written off by our Fang family."

Master Ranzhu's eyes fell on the document in Fang Zilan's hand, "If it has been completely destroyed, the Crown Prince's wife shouldn't have kept this document."

"I left this document because these days bandits are no match for officials." Fang Zilan's expression turned cold. "I don't favor anyone. I just want the Hong family to protect themselves."

"Leave a handle to protect yourself? This method of the Crown Prince's wife is really new." Master Ranzhu said meaningfully: "I wonder what is the relationship between the Crown Prince's wife and the Hong family?"

Fang Zilan curled her lips and said, "We are both descendants of the previous dynasty. If I say that we have nothing to do with each other, will you believe me, Master?"

"Of course not." Master Ranzhu looked at Fang Zilan steadily, "But for the Fang family's self-preservation, the wife of the prince should not have said this to me..."

"If I were to protect myself, I shouldn't have come to see the master today." Fang Zilan interrupted Master Ranzhu's words and said coldly, "Things have come to this point. Even if Master Randeng passes away, the Zhuge family can't protect the Zhongling Temple..."

"What did the wife of the prince say?" Master Ranzhu looked at Fang Zilan in astonishment, and said in disbelief: "Senior Brother... passed away?"

Fang Zilan nodded slightly, "Please accept my condolences, Master."

No one spoke for a while. After a long while, Master Ranzhu spoke again, but his expression was indescribably dejected. "What does the Crown Prince's wife want to do by forcing the people of Zhongling Temple to this point?"

Fang Zilan pursed her lips and said, "With just a few words, Master thinks I am the culprit?"

"I'm afraid that in the heart of the prince's wife, she still feels that she is innocent." Master Ranzhu's words were obviously sarcastic. Fang Zilan did not refute, but just said: "I never feel that I am innocent."

She paused, "I just know better than anyone that everything has a price."

"But the price paid by the entire Zhongling Temple has nothing to do with Master Randeng. Why should he pay with his life?" The person who spoke was Mr. Liu. He clenched his fists, looking indignant.

"Master Randeng is the abbot of a temple. All matters in the temple, big or small, are related to him. How can he be excused?" Fang Zilan lowered his voice, with a hint of questioning in it.

"My senior brother has passed away. Madam Crown Prince, there is no need to provoke me with words." Master Ranzhu lowered his eyes and said, "The fame of Zhongling Temple is the result of my senior brother's life's hard work. Now that he is gone, I..."

"In your heart, so-called reputation is so important?" Fang Zilan said sternly, "More important than the law, more important than fairness, and more important than human life?" "Zhongling Temple has never killed a single person." Master Ranzhu's face was as gloomy as water, "Madam, please don't accuse me of anything."

"Master, you know whether it has been harmful or not. There is no need for me to list them in detail." Fang Zilan snorted coldly, "What I want to talk to you about is the future of Zhongling Temple."

"The Ministry of Works in Dajing is not short of you." Madam Ouyang's face turned colder. "Or do you also want to serve as an official in the court as a woman, like Lord Fang or General Xiahou?"

"Why not?" Ouyang Zirou asked back. Madam Ouyang's face became even colder. "Look at the two of them. One is injured and walking on thin ice, and the other is left behind in Baiyue without even a single child. Do you want to be like this?"

"I..." Ouyang Zirou said stubbornly, "I'm not as powerful as them, so the price I pay won't be that high."

"You also know that there is a price to pay." Madam Ouyang's eyes showed some inexplicable emotions, "Lord Fang has achieved what he has today through her hard work, you can't compare to her. Let's talk about General Xiahou, she was born in a military family, her father was the general who protected the country of Baiyue, if he hadn't died early, how could he have watched a woman like her put on armor and go to the battlefield?"

"Mother..." Ouyang Zirou was interrupted by Madam Ouyang as soon as she opened her mouth, "Zirou, your father and I are still alive. The Ouyang family doesn't need a girl like you to support it."

"Mother!" Ouyang Zirou stood up suddenly. "Even if I get an official position, I will not shake the position of the Ouyang family, and I will not compete with my brother for the position of the head of the family. Why is it not okay?"

"You..." Madam Ouyang's voice trembled with anger, "If the Ouyang family wants a girl like you to work in the government, how can you have the face to join the nine ministers? Wouldn't it be a joke for others to see?"

As she spoke, she suddenly started to cough. The nanny beside her helped her to calm down and said, "Don't be angry, Madam. The young lady is just bewildered for a while. It will be fine once she figures it out."

"By the time she figures it out... it will be too late." Madam Ouyang took a breath and continued, "If you continue like this, your father will probably give the position of family head to that kid Ouyang Juncheng."

"How is it possible?" Ouyang Zirou sat back down. "Even if my brother is mediocre, he is still the only son of my father and mother. It is impossible for my father to..."

"Impossible what?" Madam Ouyang said sternly, "You also know that your brother is mediocre in talent, while Ouyang Juncheng is not only talented, but also married the daughter of the Wang family. With the help of the Wang family, he has suppressed your brother in the past two years."

Ouyang Zirou's face was full of disbelief. Madam Ouyang lowered her voice a little, "Your father was already hesitant, and now there are rumors that your brother is the next head of the family. This is enough to make him upset. If you cause trouble again at this critical juncture and anger him, let alone the position of head of the family, I'm afraid he won't want to see the three of us again."

Ouyang Zirou's expression was gloomy and unclear. Madam Ouyang held her hand and said, "Zirou, I don't want your brother to fight for the position of the head of the family. But if we don't fight for it, how will the three of us, mother and son, survive in the Ouyang family for the rest of our lives? Have you ever thought about it?"

"I understand." Ouyang Zirou said slowly, "I'll go find my father right now. He can punish me or punish me as he pleases."

"No need." Madam Ouyang tightened her grip on her hand. "Zi Rou, you just have to promise me that from now on, you won't leave the house unless necessary, and just wait for your marriage."

"Wait for marriage?" Ouyang Zirou asked in surprise, "Who should I marry?"

Madam Ouyang's expression softened a little, "General Huangfu Lin proposed to your father years ago, saying that his general Huangfu Xin fell in love with you at first sight in Qiluo City."