Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1990 Breach of Contract
“I can find you a substitute…” Murong Qing began to speak, but Fang Zilan interrupted her, “Awan can’t.”

"I know." Murong Qing looked helpless. "I just want to know, do you have a substitute in mind?"

“I believe the Crown Prince will make proper arrangements.” Fang Zilan deftly evaded the question, but Murong Qing pressed on, “Have you considered Miss Awan? She came here on the Empress’s orders; if she hadn’t come to the capital with us…”

He didn't continue, but Fang Zilan interjected, "You want Awan to come to the capital with you?"

“Yes.” Murong Qing nodded. “Even if Awan did not impersonate the Crown Prince’s wife, as a physician with a mission, she still needs to accompany him to the capital.”

“I understand.” Fang Zilan’s expression was inscrutable. “I will explain things to Awan. As for whether she wants to come to the capital with you, it is entirely up to her. If she does not wish to, you are not allowed to force her.”

"Alright." Murong Qing readily agreed, then changed the subject as if she had remembered something, "General Meng has found those silver-armored soldiers who went to search for Lord Wen's body for you."

Fang Zilan knew perfectly well that Murong Qing had tampered with things, but she didn't expose him. She let him say, "After all, I was the one who brought them out of Miluo. Whether they are dead or alive, there should be an explanation."

"Is the young master blaming me?" Fang Zilan looked at Murong Qing innocently. He shook his head. "Of course not. When it comes to leading troops, my sister is more capable than me."

He called out to his sister again, appearing harmless and frail. "However, they ultimately made a mistake while doing things for my sister. Just in case, it's best if they stay with me, so that no one will feel resentful and cause trouble for my sister."

"Whatever Your Highness says goes," Fang Zilan shrugged indifferently. "But what I've got, I won't easily return. Do you understand, Your Highness?"

“Understood. Since I have already promised my sister that I would use that half of the token that commands the Silver Armor Army as a token, I will never go back on my word.” Murong Qing nodded slightly. At the same time, as the carriage slowed down, he changed the subject and said, “We are about to arrive at the Fang family's residence. I will not accompany my sister inside.”

“The young master is about to enter the capital, so he must be making preparations.” Fang Zilan continued Murong Qing’s words. He was silent for a moment, then said, “I have already sent letters to His Highness Prince Yucheng and Lord Zhuge, but I don’t know which one of them will respond.”

Fang Zilan remained silent. When Li Qiyou requested to escort Princess Dejia to her wedding, she had guessed that he had come because of the chaos in the southeast, intending to clean up the mess for Prince Rong'an and even inherit his mantle.

Zhuge Yu's decision to stay was more of an unavoidable accident—after all, Pei Xiaozhe, Su Yun, and Dugu Ming, the most outstanding young talents from powerful families, were all detained in the southeast. One more of him would not make a difference.

However... the Zhuge family holds a special position in the court, and Zhuge Yu's grandfather would not allow him to stay. Even if she ordered the Silver Armor Army to kill and silence all traces of the Zhuge family coming from the capital, it would probably be difficult to deceive everyone.

The emperor's orders come first, so it's likely that Zhuge Yu will accompany Murong Qing to the capital. As for Li Qiyou...

Now that the Dugu family has been dragged into this mess, if Li Qiyou stays, he'll suffer greatly, let alone regain public support and restore order. Since it's pointless, would he still stay?

“Sister, have you ever considered that even if Prince Yucheng exposes Prince Rong’an’s remains in court, it won’t affect the Southeast Case?” Murong Qing calmly picked up a teacup and poured a cup of tea for Fang Zilan. “After all, he also has the surname Li and is a member of the royal family of Dajing. He will never testify against Prince Rong’an.”

He paused, then continued, "In that case, whatever others say will be seen as slander." Fang Zilan remained silent, so Murong Qing continued on his own, "Perhaps Prince Yucheng already realized that even if he produced Prince Rong'an's remains, it would be futile, which is why he has been hesitant to act..."

"Does the young master know something?" Fang Zilan interrupted Murong Qing, looking at him almost scrutinizingly. "Or does the young master have a way to get Prince Yucheng to produce Prince Rong'an's remains?"

"Is the remains of Prince Rong'an enough for you, sister?" Murong Qing met Fang Zilan's gaze and saw her expression turn cold. "Your Highness should know what I mean. It's not difficult to make the remains of Prince Rong'an appear before the public. The difficult part is who will produce them."

“Sister, whether this matter is difficult or not, neither of us should get involved.” Murong Qing composed herself. “Or rather, the Zhongzheng Prince’s Mansion in Miluo should not be involved at all.”

Fang Zilan's expression softened slightly. "Your Highness's words have a hidden meaning. Do you think someone should be involved?"

Instead of answering, Murong Qing asked, "Sister, who do you think is the right person?"

Fang Zilan said in a deep voice, "If Your Highness already has someone in mind, you might as well say so directly. Why beat around the bush with me?"

"The young master of Yancheng Manor is dead, right here in the yamen where Mr. Xie is hearing the case." Murong Qing abruptly changed the subject. "This matter has spread like wildfire, and I suppose the merchants have also heard the news."

Fang Zilan's brows were frosty, and her voice carried a chill. "Does the young master mean that I should use the Shang family to force Prince Yucheng to hand over Prince Rong'an's remains?"

"Shang Zhongyi is dead, the Shang family will definitely demand an explanation from Mr. Xie." Murong Qing's face remained expressionless, but her eyes clearly showed schadenfreude. "Sister, guess who the Shang family will ask to back them up and help them get justice and this explanation?"

Fang Zilan didn't speak, but the three words "King Yucheng" were clearly imprinted in her mind and wouldn't leave.

“Prince Yucheng is the most suitable candidate.” Murong Qing seemed to be answering his own question, or as if he was saying it specifically to Fang Zilan. “The Shang family and the Rong’an Prince’s Mansion are related, so it is most appropriate for them to take the lead.”

Fang Zilan stared intently at Murong Qing, "What makes you so confident that the Shang family would force Prince Yucheng to produce Prince Rong'an's remains, instead of helping to bury him and cover up their past crimes?"

“Because Prince Rong’an is dead,” Murong Qing said quietly. “Only the living have the right to speak, and this is the best opportunity for the Shang family.”

His words struck Fang Zilan like a thunderbolt—if that were the case, the possibility that Shang Zhongyi had faked his death would almost certainly be confirmed.

"You..." Fang Zilan opened her mouth, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes, but Murong Qing saw it clearly. He curled his lips, "Why is Sister looking at me like that?"

Fang Zilan suppressed her unease. Murong Qing seemed to see through her thoughts and asked directly, "Sister, do you want to ask me if all of this has anything to do with me?"

Fang Zilan pursed her lips, while Murong Qing's smile widened. "If I said it was unrelated, would you believe me, sister?"