Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1866 Solving the Problem
As if waking from a dream, Madam Fu turned to look at Fang Zilan, "You just said that you could avenge Mingyue?"

Fang Zilan was silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly, "If Madam Fu trusts me, I can..."

"I believe you," Madam Fu interrupted Fang Zilan, "What do you want?"

“Them.” Fang Zilan raised her sword and pointed at Fu Mingyue’s parents. “When Mr. Xie reopens the court, I need Madam Fu to tell you everything that happened today.”

Madam Fu was stunned for a long time. She knew very well that this move was tantamount to breaking with the Fu family. Her maternal family, the Wei family, was far away in the capital. The head of the family, Wei Mao, was a heartless and ungrateful person. He didn't care about Ouyang Wei's life, let alone her, who was married into the Fu family and had little influence.
If she were to sever ties with the Fu family now, she would find it impossible to move an inch in the future. But if she turned a blind eye, would Fu Mingyue, a living and breathing person, just be wasted like this?
"You can't do it," Fang Zilan said firmly, then laughed self-deprecatingly at the end. "That's true, who doesn't want to protect someone, and who can be without selfish motives?"

After she finished speaking, she helped Madam Fu to steady herself, and then left the Fu family without looking back.

However, as soon as she stepped out of the Fu family's house, she saw Meng Tingyang, who looked depressed. She ignored him, and he followed her for a street.

“Lady of the Heir Apparent…” Meng Tingyang began to speak, but Fang Zilan interrupted him, “You have not kept your promise to me.”

Her expression turned cold as she spoke, "Fu Mingyue is dead."

Meng Tingyang lowered his head and remained silent. Fang Zilan seemed to be deep in thought. "It seems you already knew. Then what are you doing here?"

"The Crown Prince ordered me..." Meng Tingyang had just opened his mouth when Fang Zilan interrupted him again, "You already knew about the Crown Prince's actions?"

Meng Tingyang's lips moved, making him appear even more guilty.

Fang Zilan finally understood the key to the matter and simply said, "I used the Silver Armor Army to find Lord Wen's body, while the Prince waited in the wings. After they found it, they would seize the body and hand it over to the other members of the Five Families of Lingnan, thus doing them a favor. As for someone wanting to kill Fu Mingyue, as the Prince's lackey, you would naturally sit idly by and not interfere, and you might even be an accomplice. Am I right?"

“Your Highness, if you are willing to face life and death, how do you know I am not?” Zhuge Yu stared at Fang Zilan intently. She paused for a moment, then said with a sigh of relief, “Very well.”

Seeing that Fang Zilan had relented, Zhuge Yu exchanged a glance with the servant and walked to the gate of the mansion without hesitation. Just as he reached out his hand, someone stepped in front of him to protect him. "Lord Zhuge, I am still alive, so there is no need for you to risk your life for the heir of my Zhongzheng Prince's Mansion."

It was Meng Tingyang. He glanced back at Fang Zilan, then opened the gate with the servant.

The moment the door swung open, the Fu residence fell silent. But in an instant, thousands of arrows rained down.

Fang Zilan had been waiting for this moment. Using the momentum, she moved with incredible speed, firing almost half of the arrows again. Screams echoed outside the mansion, and the servant seized the opportunity to dash out.

"Close the door!" Before Fang Zilan could finish speaking, Meng Tingyang slammed the door shut and bolted it, pulling Zhuge Yu back to her side.

When Meng Tingyang saw the blood seeping from Fang Zilan's shoulder, he exclaimed in alarm, "Princess Consort, you're injured..."

"It's not an injury, it's just that the old wound has reopened." Fang Zilan said, tearing off a piece of her sleeve and wrapping it tightly around her shoulder. "I'm fine, but Madam Fu..."

She glanced at Madam Fu and said, "Madam is injured, so it's best not to push yourself."

“I can still manage.” Madam Fu deliberately turned her back. Fang Zilan took out some medicine she carried with her and handed it to her. “If Madam doesn’t mind…” “You’re badly injured yourself, yet you still have the mind to worry about others.” Zhuge Yu interrupted Fang Zilan with rare rudeness. “Your injuries…”

“There’s no time to deal with it.” Fang Zilan’s face remained expressionless as she knocked away two more arrows with her backhand. “Once they recover, their attack will be even more ferocious than before. I have to hold out until reinforcements arrive.”

"Has the Crown Prince's wife forgotten me?" Meng Tingyang stood in front of Fang Zilan. "Meng Tingyang of the Loyal Prince's Mansion is willing to fight for the Crown Prince's wife."

“General Meng, you were entrusted by the Prince, so the Crown Prince is the one you are willing to risk your life to protect.” Fang Zilan was not appreciative. “I understand your concerns, but I don’t expect you to do anything for me.”

“Your Highness and Madam are mistaken.” Meng Tingyang did not back down an inch. “I am a member of the Zhongzheng Prince’s Mansion. Whether it is the Prince or Madam, they are people I will protect with my life.”

Fang Zilan was speechless. "Just for the sake of loyalty and integrity?"

Meng Tingyang said firmly, "As long as Madam is the wife of the heir of the Prince of Zhongzheng's Mansion, Meng Tingyang will protect Madam."

Given the urgency of the situation, Fang Zilan could no longer argue with Meng Tingyang, simply believing that having one more person to help meant a greater chance of survival.

"Please have your injuries treated, Your Highness's wife..." Meng Tingyang was interrupted by Fang Zilan before he could finish speaking, "I appreciate your kindness, but now is not the time."

After she finished speaking, she turned to look at Zhuge Yu and said, "Ayu, Lord Fu and Madam Fu are both injured. Take them into the hall, lock the doors and windows, and don't let them come out."

“But…” Zhuge Yu wanted to say something, but Fang Zilan stopped him. “Ayu, there’s still so much to be done. I will not lose my life so carelessly.”

"Alright, I believe you." Zhuge Yu nodded. "Princess Consort, please be very careful."

Fang Zilan curled her lips into a smile. "I understand." Then she turned her head away, focusing intently on dealing with the next round of attacks.

Meng Tingyang stood side by side with Fang Zilan, watching helplessly as blood seeped from her shoulder. His hand holding the sword trembled involuntarily. "This can't go on..."

"It has to be done, no matter what." Fang Zilan dodged Meng Tingyang's hand that was trying to take her sword. "General Meng, I know what I'm doing."

"Why?" Meng Tingyang heard a slight, almost imperceptible tremor in his own voice.

"Why what?" Fang Zilan was completely bewildered. "What is General Meng asking about?"

"Even if the southeastern region is thrown into chaos, it has nothing to do with the Crown Prince's wife..." Meng Tingyang was only halfway through his sentence when Fang Zilan said, "General Meng, what you're saying makes no sense. I'm also from the capital, how can it be unrelated to me?"

Meng Tingyang hesitated, but Fang Zilan said directly, "It's not only when something happens to you that you can say it's relevant."

"Has the Crown Prince's wife considered the consequences?" Meng Tingyang's tone became more urgent. Fang Zilan smiled slightly, "At most, she will die and her name will be forgotten. But General Meng, rest assured, before that happens, I will sever all ties with the Crown Prince and the entire Zhongzheng Prince's Mansion."

(End of this chapter)