Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1853
Fang Zilan curled her lips into an almost bewitching smile. "If it weren't for that, why would General Fu marry a daughter of the Dugu family and risk being despised and unable to gain popular support just to take over the Jiangnan camp?"

Fu Congnan remained silent, a silent acknowledgment. After a long while, he finally spoke, "May I speak in detail, Your Highness's wife?"

“General Fu, once the divorce is finalized, the Dugu family will definitely no longer care about your life or death. They might even take advantage of your misfortune and pin some crimes on you that are not yours.” Fang Zilan composed herself and said seriously, “This is our opportunity.”

Fu Congnan asked doubtfully, "How can this be considered an opportunity?"

"This case is being presided over by Xie Chen. Although he is impartial, he is, after all, entangled with the Xiahou family. The Xiahou family has also been implicated these past few days." Fang Zilan stared intently at Fu Congnan. "General Fu, what do you think of Xie Chen's actions?"

Fu Congnan wasn't stupid. Fang Zilan wouldn't bring up Xie Chen and the Xiahou family for no reason, so he thought for a moment and said, "Of course we must find a way to prove the Xiahou family's innocence. However..."

He didn't continue, and Fang Zilan interjected, "Proving innocence is not easy, but framing someone is much simpler. The assassin in court has not yet been identified, and I was also attacked at your Fu family's house. I have already reported this to Xie Chen."

Fu Congnan's eyes lit up, "The assassins who tried to assassinate the Crown Prince's wife all had eagle patterns on their chests..."

"How did General Fu find out?" Fang Zilan interrupted Fu Congnan, who suddenly realized he had misspoke. "I..."

Before he could even utter a word of explanation, Fang Zilan said, "It seems there's no need for you to bother. The Dugu family, having committed so many unrighteous acts, will surely bring about their own downfall."

"What the young master's wife says is true." Fu Congnan broke out in a cold sweat; he had almost let something slip. If Fang Zilan had seen through his scheme, the person behind it would likely eliminate him first, even before the Dugu family had a chance to act.

Fang Zilan had already made up her mind, but pretended not to care, and said directly: "General Fu, I have said everything I need to say. Whether you want to die with the Dugu family or write a divorce agreement to live alone is up to you."

Fu Congnan was still skeptical, and couldn't help but ask, "Princess Consort, why are you helping me?"

"Helping you is also helping myself." Fang Zilan leaned down. "How do you know I'm not the third young lady of the Fang family?"

Fu Congnan smiled and said, "That day, the Crown Prince's wife said that the third young lady of the Fang family and the Zhen family of Qianjinfang were the same person. Otherwise, His Majesty would not have gone to such lengths to ask for your hand in marriage back then. At that time, I was indeed fooled, but after thinking about it carefully, when His Majesty asked for the third young lady of the Fang family in his youth, Qianjinfang had not yet appeared."

"General Fu is quick-witted, but unfortunately..." Fang Zilan straightened up and said softly, "He underestimated His Majesty's judgment of people and his profound foresight."

Fu Congnan didn't hear what was said next and wanted to ask, but Fang Zilan changed the subject, "General Fu, now that you're getting a divorce, you're at a disadvantage. I'm afraid your children will all go to your wife's name. Have you thought this through?"

"It's alright," Fu Congnan said nonchalantly. "Since we have the Crown Prince's wife's help, in the future..."

"If the Dugu family is wiped out in the future, they will not escape death either." Fang Zilan said in a deep voice, "General Fu, your blood flows in their veins, are you really willing to do that?"

"What's there to be reluctant about?" Fu Congnan said boldly, "A true man's ambition is for a thousand autumns. As long as I have achievements to show for myself, what kind of woman can't I have? Why worry about not having a full house of children?"

"General Fu, you have high aspirations." Fang Zilan clenched her fist, her hand hidden in her sleeve, and said with a forced smile, "Speaking of which, I was assassinated at the Fu family's residence, that Fu family..."

"It's alright," Fu Congnan hurriedly said. "As long as we can give the young master's wife an explanation, their deaths are not a pity." "Second brother, what are you trying to say?" Xie Chen's expression remained calm. Xiahou Ze said quietly, "If that young master of Yancheng Manor is in cahoots with the bandits of Mangshan, would you turn a blind eye to him?"

Xie Chen did not answer. Xiahou Ze raised his hand and patted his shoulder. "Yancheng Manor has been kind to you in teaching and guiding you, and Zhaozhao also has a deep friendship with you. I am not asking you this because I want you to make a choice. I just hope that you will be impartial. After all, no matter how suspicious the Crown Prince's wife is, there is one thing she said that is true."

“If you are not impartial, the Southeast case cannot be investigated.” Xiahou Ze said this as if it were a matter of course, but Xie Chen felt a mix of emotions.

He initially agreed to get involved in the Southeast case for Xiahou Yunzhao's sake; frankly, it was his own selfish motive. But now, placed in the position of presiding judge, everyone expects him to be impartial. Can he truly deliver?

It was an unusual moment of hesitation for Xie Chen. He composed himself and went back to see Xiahou Qi.

"Mr. Xie, please feel free to speak your mind." Xiahou Qi was not surprised by Xie Chen's arrival. He said frankly, "I will tell you everything I know."

Xie Chen stared at Xiahou Qi for a long while, then suddenly asked, "Qi, how long have you been following Zhao Zhao?"

"Why do you ask that, Mr. Xie?" Xiahou Qi was taken aback, and Xie Chen then said, "I remember that ever since Ayan stayed by His Majesty's side, you have been following Zhaozhao."

“Yes, Aunt Zhao is family to me.” Xiahou Qi nodded. Xie Chen said calmly, “It’s strange, you children call Zhao Zhao ‘Aunt Zhao’ all the time, but you only call me Mr. Xie.”

Xiahou Qi quickly said, "Mr. Xie, please don't take it to heart. It's not that we don't consider you family, it's just..."

He pursed his lips. "Sir, you are exceptionally elegant, like a celestial being descended to earth. We are afraid that addressing you casually would offend you."

"You address Young Master Shang as such, is that how you address him?" Xie Chen picked up the teacup beside him and tapped it lightly on the table. The crisp sound startled Xiahou Qi. "I got used to it when I was studying at Yancheng Manor..."

"Is that so?" Xie Chen glanced at Xiahou Qi noncommittally. "Then are you aware that the young master you speak of is suspected of colluding with mountain bandits?"

“I don’t know.” Xiahou Qi shook his head violently. “I heard from the young master… Young Master Shang said that Wen Ran and Zi Xiu were very close, and that as long as Wen Ran was kept in sight, Zi Xiu could be caught. That’s why I…”

"The feud between the Xiahou family and Zixiu is no secret." Xie Chen interrupted Xiahou Qi's next words and said in a deep voice, "But that cannot be your reason for arresting Miss Awan."

"Mr. Xie, I didn't know that was Miss Awan who saved the master's life," Xiahou Qi argued. "If I had known, I would never have aided and abetted evil."

"You captured Miss Awan and lured Zixiu to the Shang family's villa, thinking you could capture her, but you never expected her to turn the tables and kill you." Xie Chen guessed roughly, "Those people in the front hall, were they all killed by Zixiu?"

Xiahou Qi exclaimed, "Mr. Xie's calculations are truly brilliant!"

Xie Chen's gaze deepened. "What's the deal with the bandits outside the villa?"