Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1739 Troublemaking
"Where is the person who hurt you now?" Fang Zilan pressed. Awan pursed her lips, trying to evade the question, "You've just woken up, don't worry about these things, it's too much trouble."

“I can ignore other people’s business.” Fang Zilan slowly sat up straight. “But I’m determined to take care of your business.”

Awan sighed heavily, as if resigned to her fate. "The young master has taken the person from the Xiahou family, but he hasn't dealt with them yet. He said he'll hand them over to me, or wait until you wake up before making a decision."

Fang Zilan pondered for a moment and made up her mind, "Was it a member of the Wu family who hurt you?"

“Yes.” Awan was silent for a moment. “I don’t know what to do. She stabbed me twice, but I don’t want to stab her twice.”

Fang Zilan remained noncommittal, only asking, "Do you want to let her go?"

"I don't want to." Awan said without hesitation, "Even if it was an accident, she still hurt me."

"Then we can deal with it after you've thought it through." Fang Zilan was unexpectedly easy to talk to, which left Awan somewhat at a loss. "Didn't you say you were going to take charge? Is this how you're going to take charge?"

"What I mean by 'managing' is that within my capabilities, you can make the decision," Fang Zilan said calmly. "The person the Wu family sends to take action is undoubtedly a pawn that can be discarded, and the same is true for me. But if this can help you think clearly about how to consider your own feelings, it is far more meaningful than taking her life."

Awan frowned, seemingly understanding but not quite, and said, "I don't understand, what does it mean to consider one's own feelings?"

"To put it bluntly, it means putting yourself first in everything." Fang Zilan looked steadily at Awan. "You were injured, but you still used all your strength to heal me. That means you put me first."

Awan couldn't help but argue, "There are priorities. My injuries are minor, but if I don't save you, you'll die..."

“Awan, General Xiahou has abandoned me, and so can you.” Fang Zilan said, word by word, “You know better than anyone what path I am on. If one day I cannot save you, you need not save me.”

Hearing this, Awan finally realized what was happening and angrily said, "What kind of time is this? You still want to push me away?"

“It’s at times like this that I have to push you away,” Fang Zilan said softly. “I don’t have long to live, so I’m willing to risk everything, but you are different.”

“What’s the difference?” Awan stood up, looking down at Fang Zilan. “You think you’re going to die soon, but who knows what will happen tomorrow? What if a way to cure you is found? Maybe you can live to be a hundred, while I…”

She paused, then continued, "I mean, in case something unexpected happens, I might even die a violent death..."

"Enough." Fang Zilan's face was ashen, but Awan persisted, "Let me finish. Nobody can say for sure these things. What if you outlive me?"

Fang Zilan remained silent for a long while before saying, "I understand what you mean. However, I still hope you put yourself first in everything." "Your father gave me the painting you left behind in exchange for the safety of your Liu family." Xiahou Yunzhao's expression was calm, but Liu Neng's face changed. "You mean Father knew all along..."

“Yes.” Xiahou Yunzhao interrupted Liu Neng. “Your father knew long ago that going to Mangshan was a perilous journey, but even so, he had no choice but to go.”

Liu Neng clenched his fists, "That map of Mangshan..."

“I gave it to your father,” Xiahou Yunzhao said frankly. “Your father gave me a gift, so I should return the favor, even if the Xiahou family had already received the gift your father gave me.”

"What do you mean?" Liu Neng was completely confused and couldn't help but ask. Xiahou Yunzhao glanced at him and said, "You hid the words 'a strong army perishes' in that painting, intending to advise your father to protect himself. But he has been fighting for most of his life, doesn't he understand this principle? He gave the painting to my Xiahou family, doesn't he know that my Xiahou family is also well aware of this?"

As she spoke, her gaze swept over Liu Neng and Liu Yong, “Your father and uncle—General Liu—he knew how to keep a low profile, and he knew that living a long life by staying in one place was possible, but he was unwilling to do so. It’s a pity that none of you nephews and nieces could understand his thoughts, otherwise he wouldn’t have come to me for help.”

“Even when my father begged you, you didn’t agree.” Liu Neng’s eyes were red, but Xiahou Yunzhao composed herself. “If I hadn’t agreed, how could your Liu family have lived in such wealth and luxury until today?”

She paused, then said, "Or do you think that by pushing your own sister out, they'll let your Liu family off the hook?"

Liu Neng remained silent, and seeing this, Xiahou Yunzhao continued, "Back then, your father took Liu Yong to Mangshan Mountain, where they found the villa where Rong'an Prince's nephew was hiding. They broke through the Qimen Dunjia (a magical formation) in the villa and found the missing innocent woman. However, they never expected that the other party would be so ruthless. After being discovered, they killed her to silence her. Of all the people in the villa, only Liu Yong survived. He was used as a bargaining chip to blackmail you, who was in charge of the Liu family at the time."

“That’s right.” Liu Neng nodded. “I thought my father and the others were still alive, which is why I agreed to their conditions.”

“I know.” Xiahou Yunzhao nodded slightly. “This was originally part of my plan with your father. If his entire army is wiped out, I will petition His Majesty to posthumously honor the Liu family. This way, they will take notice of you, the successor to the Liu family head. As long as we can infiltrate their ranks, whether we gather evidence or uproot them, it will be much easier than it is now.”

As if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, Liu Neng shivered violently. "You mean, I destroyed everything that Father and you planned?"

Xiahou Yunzhao remained noncommittal, only saying, "After they used you to do things back then, I looked for you several times, but you avoided me. I knew then that this path was closed. But I have never broken my promise. No matter what your Liu family did, I turned a blind eye."

"Until my Liu family becomes completely part of them..." Liu Neng gritted his teeth, "you want to wipe out my Liu family, is that it?"

“Liu Neng, people choose their own paths. You’ve chosen to be an accomplice to evil, but the Xiahou family is different.” Xiahou Yunzhao’s eyes were clear, while Liu Neng’s face twisted in anger. “Yes, your Xiahou family is arrogant and superior. Consort Yu can do whatever she wants in the palace, and Prince Xiang is the ruler of the capital. Who would dare to make things difficult for your Xiahou family?”

He coughed twice as he got emotional, "But what is my Liu family? Are we pawns of your Xiahou family, or just a game piece in your aristocratic power struggles? When have I ever had a choice? If I don't agree to their conditions, will the Liu family have any way to survive?"

His voice grew deeper and deeper as he spoke, and at the end it even carried a hint of sorrow. "And you, saying that even though my Liu family has lived a life of wealth and honor to this day, do you expect my Liu family to be grateful to your Xiahou family?"