Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1851 A Small Reward
"Your Highness, Lord Zhuge, we've done our best..." The older of the doctors couldn't help but say, "The young master and his wife have suffered a shock and are overwhelmed with grief; I'm afraid they won't be able to pull through..."

He carefully considered his words, retaining the phrase "preparing for his funeral," but it still angered Li Qiyou, who exclaimed, "Nonsense!"

King Yucheng, who was known for his kindness and gentleness, slammed down his teacup and glared at me angrily, "You think you can fool me with these words if you can't cure the Crown Prince and his wife?"

"Please calm your anger, Your Highness, we dare not..." Several doctors knelt down in unison, "It's just that the young master and his wife simply cannot withstand it..."

"Can't withstand what?" A sharp voice rang out as A-Wan rushed in. "What storms hasn't Miss Fang seen? How could she be defeated here? If you can't even diagnose a patient, get out of my way!"

Li Qiyou and Zhuge Yu both breathed a sigh of relief. The soldiers who had been chasing after Awan said sheepishly, "Your Highness, Lord Zhuge, this girl has the Empress's token. We really couldn't stop her..."

Li Qiyou raised his hand, signaling the soldiers and doctors to leave, leaving only Awan in the hall. "Miss Awan, how could you..."

He had barely opened his mouth when Awan interrupted him, saying, "I've been waiting here for two days; you've been far too slow."

She looked at him with disgust. Zhuge Yu coughed lightly, "The young master and his wife are seriously ill, so we had no choice..."

"I know, otherwise what would I be here for?" Awan said irritably, showing neither respect to Li Qiyou nor accepting Zhuge Yu's polite words.

Li Qiyou and Zhuge Yu exchanged a glance. Before they could say anything, Awan said, "Gentlemen, it's not that I'm being presumptuous, but I'm afraid that if it's too late, even a celestial being would have difficulty saving Miss Fang."

Li Qiyou's expression changed, and he then noticed the bloodstains on Awan's travel-worn body. "Miss Awan, are you injured?"

"It's alright, I won't die." Awan said coldly. Zhuge Yu quickly led the way for her, "Miss Awan, please follow me."

Awan walked hurriedly. Zhuge Yu observed her expression and asked, "Miss Awan, since you are here on the Empress's orders, why is it you and not Mr. Wen?"

Upon hearing the name Mr. Wen, A-Wan visibly paused. "Mr. Wen is very busy and doesn't have time."

"Really?" Zhuge Yu pressed, but Awan's expression turned cold. "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Zhuge. Mr. Wen is still alive."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Yu pursed his lips. Judging from A-Wan's tone, even if Wen Ya were alive, he probably wouldn't be in good health.

He had some understanding of the situation in the capital. After the Fang family fled the capital, Empress Fang Ziqin was walking on thin ice. There were many calls in the court to depose her, but Li Shengxuan remained noncommittal.

At this critical juncture, Awan took the Empress's token and waited at the border of Dajing, then barged into the delegation returning from Miluo...

"Lord Zhuge, please wait." Awan's voice pulled Zhuge Yu back to his senses. "When I am examining and treating patients, I do not like anyone to be around. Please forgive me, sir."

“Miss Awan, you flatter me.” Zhuge Yu took a step back and bowed, saying, “Please, Miss.”

Awan didn't even glance at Zhuge Yu before pushing open the door and slamming it shut. She leaned against the door and took a deep breath. The room was filled with the strong smell of herbs, but Awan seemed to have gained a brief respite. She calmed herself, walked to the bedside, and looked at Fang Zilan, who was pale and barely breathing.

"I've come." Awan looked down at the person on the bed. "Fang Zilan, I've traveled all this way through hardships, not to collect your corpse."

Yin Quanzhang was skeptical, but Fang Zilan gently shook the teacup in her hand and said with a deep look in her eyes, "Zixiu, Zhen Shi, they are just titles, I don't care at all. The only person I care about is one person."

“This is all your side of the story…” Yin Quanzhang couldn’t help but speak up, but Fang Zilan interrupted him, “Lord Yin, if you have never done anything for Prince Rong’an, it is understandable that you think I am talking nonsense. But you and Prince Rong’an are birds of a feather, and now you are acting like a guilty conscience.”

"You..." Yin Quanzhang's expression froze, and Fang Zilan raised the corners of her lips, "Lord Yin, in the past, if anyone would listen to me say so much, it would probably cost more than a thousand gold pieces. But I am in a good mood today, so I might as well tell you one more thing."

Yin Quanzhang asked instinctively, "What is it?"

"The massacre of the Xu family on New Year's Eve was my doing." Fang Zilan's smile deepened, but it also carried an indescribable sinister and terrifying quality. "As for why I did it, Lord Yin should know the reason very well."

Yin Quanzhang trembled uncontrollably. "What did you say?"

"His Majesty has decreed that Lord Xu be appointed as a secret envoy to investigate a corruption case in Jiangnan after the New Year." Fang Zilan deliberately lowered her voice and said meaningfully, "My young master is willing to protect you, Lord Yin, please don't be ungrateful."

Yin Quanzhang clenched his fist into a fist hidden in his sleeve. From the Lord of the Ghost Gate to the Young Master of the Ghost Gate, and then to my young master, Fang Zilan had changed her address three times in just a few sentences. Each one was more familiar and intimate than the last, as if each sentence was proclaiming that she and that mysterious young master did have a secret affair and that she was on the same side as him.

But if that's really the case, then who was the man in her room last night? It couldn't possibly be that young master who should be in the capital…

"Lord Yin, I have said all I need to say," Fang Zilan said, rising to her feet. "I hope you will take care of yourself."

"Miss Zhen, please wait." Yin Quanzhang hurriedly called out to Fang Zilan, his attitude much better than before. "I heard from Young Master Fang that the grand finale of this Spring Gathering is..."

"Lord Yin has finally gotten to the point." Fang Zilan chuckled, cutting off Yin Quanzhang's next words. "Since Lord Yin is so sincere in asking, I can't just stay silent."

She sat back down and said ambiguously, "Among the final treasure, there is indeed information that Lord Yin wants, but I wonder what Lord Yin can offer in exchange."

She said "can", not "know how", and Yin Quanzhang's expression turned serious. "Please give me some pointers, Miss Zhen."

"I wouldn't presume to offer advice. As long as Lord Yin knows, this business of mine isn't just for myself." Fang Zilan straightened her sleeves and said slowly, "As for the final treasure's value, that's not something I can decide alone."

Her implication was clear: whatever those three pieces of information about Da Bao were, they represented a deal that the Ghost Gate Prince, the influential figure in the capital, wanted to make with Yin Quanzhang. If he refused to cooperate or offer a price that satisfied him, his secrets could very well be exposed, leaving his fate uncertain and his future unpredictable.

As expected, Yin Quanzhang's expression changed upon hearing Fang Zilan's words, "If I don't..."