Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1862 Cut off
“You…” Lin Jian clenched his fists and slowly sat down opposite Fang Zilan. “You really are…”

"In this world, besides the late Duke Yue himself, who else could know about your ten-year pact with him?" Fang Zilan interrupted Lin Jian, slamming the plum blossom sword onto the table. "Even if you don't recognize me, you should at least recognize this sword, right?"

"You're not dead?" Lin Jian's voice trembled slightly. Fang Zilan nodded slightly. "I'm not dead, but I couldn't keep our ten-year promise. I didn't kill Prince Rong'an."

She gave a self-deprecating laugh, "In fact, I don't want him to die like this."

"If you didn't kill Prince Rong'an, then who did..." Lin Jian stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

Fang Zilan poured a cup of tea and handed it to Lin Jian, saying, "As expected, Prince Rong'an did not die of illness."

"Are you trying to trick me?" Lin Jian didn't take the teacup, so Fang Zilan casually placed it on the table. "There are many people in the world who wish Rong'an Prince were dead, but not many who have the ability to know the inside story. So I think you should be the one closest to the truth."

Lin Jian's expression hardened. "How do you know I know the inside story?"

“Prince Rong’an is ruthless. Those who know about his evil deeds are almost all dead.” Fang Zilan’s expression was calm, but her eyes could not hide the killing intent. “Now, the only people who know what happened in Linjia Village back then are you and me.”

"What are you trying to say?" Lin Jian looked wary. Fang Zilan raised an eyebrow. "Even with Wang Shenyun and Qinghan secretly protecting you, it won't be easy for you to live comfortably in Rong'an Prince's territory, let alone make a living as a镖师 (bodyguard/escort).

She looked Lin Jian up and down, "But I see you not only living a good life, but living quite well."

"I..." Lin Jian hesitated, but Fang Zilan said meaningfully, "Murdering a member of the royal family is a capital offense. You should know that."

Lin Jian was stunned for a moment, "But you promised..."

“I did agree,” Fang Zilan interrupted Lin Jian coldly, “but I agreed to be executed in the fullest extent of the law.”

"What..." Lin Jian stared at Fang Zilan in disbelief. Her face was frosty. "If it's just about abusing the law and killing someone, what can't I do? Do I need to make a ten-year agreement with you?"

Lin Jian broke out in a cold sweat. Seeing this, Fang Zilan continued speaking to herself, "The Rong'an Prince has only been dead for a few months, and the southeast is already in chaos. Mountain bandits and outlaws are rampant, officials are no longer officials, and civilians are no longer civilians. Even the newly established Jiangnan Grand Camp has been drawn into it. Is this what you wanted?"

"I'm not..." Lin Jian retorted, but his voice lacked conviction. Only now did he finally realize that the person before him was indeed Fang Zilan. And he had indeed been deceived, becoming an executioner once again.

“At that time, everyone said you killed Princess Rong’an, your family was raided, and you were imprisoned…” Lin Jian lowered his head. “I really had no other choice.”

Fang Zilan snorted coldly, "Is that when they came to you?"

Xiahou Yunzhao crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, "Please don't overdo it, Your Highness, or you'll only harm the Fang family."

"Come out?" Fang Zilan repeated the word. "In General Xiahou's opinion, what does 'come out' mean?"

"Has the Crown Prince's wife ever seen a swamp?" Xiahou Yunzhao suddenly changed the subject. Fang Zilan was puzzled, but still shook her head. "Never seen one."

“The ancient lands of Baiyue are mostly mountains and forests, and within those forests are many swamps. Once you’re trapped, it’s not easy to survive,” Xiahou Yunzhao said quietly. “Being able to crawl out of the swamp, even if you’re covered in filth, is better than dying in it. What do you think, Your Highness?” “It’s not that you can escape unscathed just by crawling out,” Fang Zilan said, each word revealing an indescribable ruthlessness. “Some people have already perished in it.”

“Those who perish there do not want their companions to perish with them.” Xiahou Yunzhao sighed. “They hope their companions will come out and see the world beyond the mountains and forests for them.”

Fang Zilan remained silent and turned to leave, but was stopped by Xiahou Yunzhao. "Madam, I am not demanding the lives of the Xiahou family from you because I do not want to be blinded by hatred and deny what you have done. But if you are trapped by hatred and are so desperate to pursue so-called justice, I will not help you."

"I don't need anyone's help." Fang Zilan didn't turn around. "Things have come to this point. General Xiahou, you should think carefully: can your Xiahou family escape this calamity?"

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Yunzhao snorted coldly, "Stubborn to the end."

Fang Zilan heard this but ignored it and left the government prison on her own.

On the contrary, Wu Ying, who had just been imprisoned, happened to hear Fang Zilan's last words and suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

If the Xiahou family is doomed, even if she isn't the mastermind, she'll still be an accomplice. Will Xiahou Mingxun forgive her?

No, she doesn't need anyone's forgiveness. From the Wu family to the Xiahou family, she was nothing more than a decoration.

However, she couldn't help but ask, "Sister, are you angry with me?"

There was no sound from next door for a long time. Wu Ying bit her lip tightly, leaned against the wall as if she had lost all her strength, and slid down involuntarily.

"What's it to blame you for?" Xiahou Yunzhao's voice was calm and undisturbed. "It's only natural for a woman to care about her family. I can't blame you for doing this for the Wu family."

"Then what about my husband..." Wu Ying didn't finish her question. Xiahou Yunzhao followed her voice to the wall and sat down.

“Mingxun has only risked his life twice in his life. Once was for the Xiahou family, and for me.” Xiahou Yunzhao paused, “and the other time was for you.”

Wu Ying opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She heard Xiahou Yunzhao say to himself, "I know very well what the Wu family's intentions were in sending you to the Xiahou family, and Mingxun knows it too. But even so, once he's moved, he's moved, and he doesn't care what others say."

Upon hearing this, Wu Ying's eyes reddened, and she raised her hand to cover her mouth to keep herself from crying out loud.

“Mingxun won’t blame you,” Xiahou Yunzhao said firmly. “He will only blame himself for not protecting you and leaving you caught in the middle between the Xiahou family and the Wu family.”

As she spoke, she reached out and touched the wall tiles, as if trying to comfort the person opposite her through them. "I won't say anything like 'if there is an afterlife,' but even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, I hope Mingxun is an ordinary person who can stay with you forever."

“Sister…” Wu Ying heard her own voice trembling violently, but she still tried to remain calm. “If my husband were not the head of the Xiahou family, I would never have married him.”

“If that’s really the case, please tell Mingxun yourself.” Xiahou Yunzhao clenched her fist. “As the head of the Xiahou family, he shouldn’t be held back by a woman he can never embrace.”