Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1861 Reason
"Please look, Madam." Madam Fu said, gently raising her chin to indicate that Fang Zilan should look at the side room.

Fang Zilan looked over and heard Madam Fu say, "The young master of the Fu family lives there. Before the New Year, I thought Fen'er couldn't take care of him, so I took the child from her."

She paused, "That child is only two years old and has not yet seen the dangers of the world. If he goes with the Fu family, it wouldn't be a bad thing."

Fang Zilan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly looked at Madam Fu, "The young master of the Fu family is also Madam's grandson..."

“It’s just in name only,” Madam Fu interrupted Fang Zilan. “I have no children, and I’m far from my homeland. It’s really meaningless for me to be all alone in this deep mansion.”

Fang Zilan pursed her lips, but before she could speak, Madam Fu asked, "Now, how much sincerity does the young master's wife feel?"

"Five points." Fang Zilan didn't hesitate at all. "If Madam is truly as cold-hearted as she says, why did her eyes redden when she mentioned Ouyang Wei earlier?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Fu chuckled to herself, but after a while, she choked up and said, "I feel sorry for my sister."

She looked up at the sky, murmuring as if in a daze, "Sister, do you see? What happened to the person who risked their life for you? Retribution...it's all retribution..."

Fang Zilan felt a chill run down her spine. "What did you say, Madam?"

"Do you know why Ouyang Wei was so cautious her whole life?" Madam Fu suddenly turned her head and stared intently at Fang Zilan, saying, "It's because before she even got married, her sisters in the family were embroiled in rumors and she was beaten to death."

Fang Zilan frowned, vaguely recalling that there was indeed such an old story in the Wei family. It was said that a Wei woman broke her engagement and had a secret rendezvous with a soldier. After being caught and brought back, she was beaten to death to uphold the family's honor.

So much time had passed that she had never taken it seriously, dismissing it as just one of the many unfounded rumors circulating within the Wei family. But now it seemed that it might not only be true, but the person involved's sister was right before her eyes.

"Is it just a rumor, or is it true..." Fang Zilan began to speak, but was interrupted by Madam Fu, "If it weren't for Ouyang Wei's denunciation, my sister..."

Before Madam Fu could finish speaking, she paused for a moment before continuing, "Ouyang Wei thinks that she can interfere in the marriages of us sisters just because she is the most favored legitimate daughter."

Upon hearing this, Fang Zilan had already guessed most of the truth. "Ouyang Wei's accusation was originally intended to help your sister, but it backfired."

"Does Madam Ouyang think that with the Wei family backing her up, what does it matter if a marriage is ruined?" Madam Fu said through gritted teeth. "But she never considered that even if the Wei family is unruly, they would never allow a daughter in the family to lose her reputation."

Fang Zilan hesitated, then withdrew her outstretched hand. "He has passed away. Please accept my condolences, Madam."

"Do you know what's most ridiculous?" Madam Fu looked at Fang Zilan, her lips curving into a smile, but her eyes reddened even more. "My sister risked her life, but still couldn't break off the engagement."

A look of surprise flashed across Fang Zilan's eyes, and she blurted out, "Was the one who was engaged to the Fu family back then Madam's sister?"

Madam Fu turned her head away, and after a long while, Fang Zilan heard her voice, "Madam, we women trapped in the inner quarters are all in the same boat, with no choice in our fate. You can let the entire Fu family die, but what use is it to me? Whether or not to let Xiahou Yunzhao know is my business." Fang Zilan interrupted Hong Tai, and seeing a flash of astonishment in his eyes, she couldn't help but laugh, "Such terrifying poisonous insects, and they come from Yue, I suppose Xiahou Yunzhao wouldn't be unaware of them. Knowing her nature, she certainly wouldn't ignore them if she found out."

She paused, then her smile widened. "What, is it hard to guess?"

“Since you can guess even if I don’t say it, there’s no need for me to say it.” Hong Tai’s expression turned cold, and Fang Zilan’s smile faded a bit. “Boss, there’s a completely different story between you telling me and me guessing.”

"Fang Zilan, you never intended to let me go." Hong Tai almost gritted his teeth. "Did you think that by using me, I could atone for my crimes, and that the court would forgive and forget?"

“I have relinquished my power and stepped down, so my word is no longer valid.” Fang Zilan neither admitted nor denied it. “But the King of Yucheng has the final say, so I am handing you over to him in the hope that you will repent and start anew.”

"Repent and start anew?" Hong Tai laughed as if he had heard something ridiculous. "Fang Zilan, do you even believe that yourself? I am a wanted criminal, deserving of a hundred deaths. No one will believe me, and no one will give me a chance..."

"I believe you." Fang Zilan interrupted Hong Tai's next words and said in a low voice, "I know what it feels like to want to give your life. I also know the torment of not being able to give it up."

She laughed self-deprecatingly. "I've asked myself many times, why wasn't it me who died?"

Zhen Mi'er turned her head away, and Hong Tai opened his mouth, "Fang Zilan..."

“No matter what, the one who is alive is me, and the one who is alive is you.” Fang Zilan pursed her lips, a resolute look appearing in her eyes. “Since we are alive, we cannot live in vain.”

For the first time in her life, she spoke her heart's words: "My parents wished for the eternal stability of our land, and my conquest of the four borders has fulfilled their wish. Mo Han wants to revise the laws and restore justice to the world, so I went to Jiangnan and Feiling Mountain to collect evidence of wrongdoing, which is not in vain for him. The Ghost Gate destroyed Chu Bin, and the people of the martial world took his life, so I will eradicate the Ghost Gate and cleanse the martial world."

"Lan'er, you..." Zhen Mi'er finally understood that what Zuiyue Tower sold to Cui Hai was not only the news of his beloved senior brother, but also a favor.

Fang Zilan's actions were aimed at the future. With Cui Hai as her pawn, the Huo family of the Blade Sect, Xiaojing Lake, Wuliang Palace... all the martial arts sects would be drawn into a game of grudges and favors.

From the moment the mountain bandits and outlaws killed the first江湖人 (jianghu person, a person of the martial arts world), these two sides were destined to never coexist peacefully. Like the black and white pieces on a chessboard, the conflict wouldn't end until one side was completely wiped out.

Zhen Mi'er felt a chill run through her body. What a brilliant tactic, what a scheme! When did Fang Zilan stop using herself as a pawn and start using everyone else as pawns?

No. Treating everyone as pawns is something only the player who moves the pieces can do.

It turns out that, at some point unnoticed by her, Fang Zilan, through a series of games, finally transcended the role of a pawn and became the one holding the pieces. However, Fang Zilan herself doesn't seem to have fully realized this yet…

"Then what do you want?" Hong Tai heard his own voice tremble almost imperceptibly, but he had no choice but to ask.