Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1869 Thoughts
"Lord Fang?" Ouyang Zirou rubbed her forehead, looking at the person in front of her with surprise.

"Zi Rou?" Fang Zilan was taken aback at first, then smiled and said, "Lord Ouyang, what brings you here?"

"Lord Fang, please don't tease me. Just call me Zirou." Ouyang Zirou waved her hand. "I'm off today, so I'm taking a walk around."

Fang Zilan looked at her thoughtfully and asked, "Zirou, you seem to have something on your mind?"

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Zirou sighed, "Since Lord Fang has asked, then I have nothing to hide. I heard that the Prefectural Governor's Office has imprisoned several servants of the Pei family and is even trying to demand Lord Pei Poming from the Pei family. At this critical juncture, Duke Jin has fallen ill, and I'm worried about Zi..."

She paused for a moment, then changed her words, saying, "I am worried about the Duchess of Jin, but I cannot visit her without permission, so I am in a bit of a dilemma."

“The Pei family…” Fang Zilan chuckled, and Ouyang Zirou pursed her lips. “I also heard that you, Lord Fang, submitted a memorial as well. Could it be…”

She abruptly stopped speaking, and Fang Zilan nodded slightly. "Yes, you guessed correctly."

"Is it really necessary to do it this way?" Ouyang Zirou pressed. "Is there no room for negotiation?"

“If someone offends me, I will retaliate.” Fang Zilan’s voice deepened, and a hint of murderous intent appeared on her face. “Zirou, I am not the kind of person who repays evil with kindness.”

Ouyang Zirou lowered her eyes and said, "I understand." After she finished speaking, she bowed and turned to leave.

Watching her retreating figure, Fang Zilan suddenly felt a sense of clarity. Her worries about Mo Han, just like Ouyang Zirou's worries about Fang Zitong, were ultimately of no real use.

Whether it's a den of tigers and wolves or a blessed land, you ultimately have to experience it yourself to know. What others say or do is mostly of no use.

All she could do was the same thing Mo Han did for her: accompany each other so that neither of them would be too lonely on this path.

As if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, Fang Zilan glanced at the Yue State Duke's Mansion not far away and slowly walked back. When she reached the gate, Mo Han had just seen Li Shengxuan off and was still standing outside, not having gone back.

"Sister Lan?" Mo Han turned her head and met Shang Zilan's gaze. "I'm back."

Mo Han was stunned for a moment, "You knew everything?"

"Know what?" Fang Zilan smiled, "Although if I wanted to eavesdrop, no one would find out, but I wouldn't do that to you."

“Since you’ve made up your mind, then I’ll be the first to accuse you.” A-Shi’s voice pulled Fang Zilan back to reality, but it startled her so much that her eyes widened. “No, A-Shi, you can’t…”

“I know how dangerous it is to be the first to accuse someone,” A-Shi interrupted Fang Zilan, speaking firmly, “but I can’t just stand by and watch you take the risk alone.”

“Ah Shi…” Fang Zilan opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but was interrupted by Ah Shi again, “Let me finish first, I’m afraid it will be too late later. We are currently in the Jiangnan camp, and it is unknown whether the evidence can be sent out, or even whether it can reach His Majesty’s hands. It is better for the two of us than for you alone. Besides, even if I don’t make the first accusation, they will not let me go.”

As he spoke, his gaze fell behind Fang Zilan. Yao Wu lifted the tent flap and entered. "Young lady, our general keeps his word. He's already had the army doctor treat this male prostitute. Shouldn't you explain yourself clearly?" "What's there to say to you?" Fang Zilan scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "You're not worthy to speak to me. Invite your general here..."

"Young lady, don't push your luck!" Yao Wu angrily interrupted Fang Zilan, only to see her curl her lips into a mocking smile. "Push your luck? When you were spewing filth and insulting the two of us, that was when you were pushing your luck. I was just giving you a taste of your own medicine."

"You..." Yao Wufu began, but Fang Zilan cut him off, "Of course, it's far from enough."

Yao Wu was completely enraged. Before he could make a move, he heard his commander's voice coming from outside the tent, "Yao Wu, I ordered you to invite that woman out to speak with me. What are you doing?"

Yao Wu's expression froze for a moment. Fang Zilan stood up, straightened her clothes, and walked straight past him without even bothering to glance at him.

"General, I've kept you waiting." Fang Zilan composed herself, her gaze sweeping over the stack of letters in the general's hand. Her heart sank, but her face remained impassive. "Since you, General, have kept your word, I naturally won't go back on mine either. If you want evidence, I'll get it now..."

"No need for that." The commander's expression turned cold, and he said with an air of authority, "I have already found the evidence."

After he finished speaking, he held up the letter in his hand and spread it in front of Fang Zilan. "Madam Zhen, you have the audacity to come to the Jiangnan camp and act so arrogantly after holding His Majesty hostage. You have quite the nerve."

Fang Zilan frowned slightly and quickly realized that either this commander was a crony of Yao Wu and his group, or he had been deceived and found false evidence to frame her.

I just didn't expect Yao Wu and his team to act so quickly...

Thinking of this, Fang Zilan turned her head slightly and glanced at Yao Wu behind her out of the corner of her eye. Sure enough, she saw a look of triumphant satisfaction on his face.

"Men, seize her!" the commander shouted. Fang Zilan held her plum blossom sword horizontally in front of her. "If you have the guts, then come forward and try."

The commander was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Fang Zilan to dare to resist. Taking advantage of this moment, she said loudly, "General, if I were to take His Majesty hostage, why would I go alone into the Jiangnan camp to deliver the imperial decree? Wouldn't that be courting death?"

"Who knows what you mountain bandits and outlaws are thinking?" Yao Wu suddenly retorted, and Fang Zilan scoffed, "Mountain bandits and outlaws? I wouldn't stoop to associating with them."

"If you hadn't colluded with her, how would you have known about Madam Yin's affairs?" another deputy general standing beside the commander questioned, the same one who had turned pale with guilt earlier.

Fang Zilan was too lazy to waste words with them and looked directly at the commander-in-chief, saying, "General, let me ask you one question: where did you get this so-called evidence? Or, who gave you this so-called evidence?"

"It's none of your business." The general said indifferently, "Tell me where His Majesty is right now, and I'll spare your life."

"As I just said, His Majesty is currently in the Drunken Moon Pavilion, listening to Lord Yin recount the truth." Before Fang Zilan could finish speaking, the commander said, "Yao Wu, go and muster the troops..."

"General, wait a moment." A flash of silver light, and Fang Zilan's plum blossom sword was already at the commander's neck. "Unauthorized movement is a major taboo in the army. Moreover, I have already conveyed His Majesty's decree that everyone in the Jiangnan camp must remain in the camp and not leave even a step. Do you intend to disobey orders?"

(End of this chapter)