Don't ask where people go

Chapter 2001 Cooperation
Li Qiyou raised his hand and frowned. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Fang Zilan remained noncommittal, only asking, "Was Your Highness's premonition accurate?"

Li Qiyou opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Fang Zilan waved her hand and said, "Whether it's approved or not doesn't matter. Anyway, if the prince stays in the southeast and gets stuck in the case, it won't be a good thing."

She turned to leave after saying that, but Li Qiyou instinctively called out to her, "Where are you going?"

"Where else could I go this late? Of course, I'd go back to the Fang family." Fang Zilan said matter-of-factly, but in the next moment she disappeared and hid back in the shadows.

Seeing this, Li Qiyou straightened his sleeves, walked to the door, and looked at the panting servant, "Your Highness..."

"What's the matter with such a panic?" Li Qiyou asked sternly, while the servant looked aggrieved. "Your Highness, the man refused to leave no matter what we said, and even said that if you don't see him, he'll..."

He didn't continue, and Li Qiyou pressed him calmly, "So what about him?"

"They're just refusing to leave the doorway." The servant stamped his feet anxiously, saying, "It seems like the people coming are determined to make a scene known to everyone; they're already shouting at the door."

Li Qiyou remained silent, while the servant said indignantly, "Your Highness, the merchants of Yancheng Manor are clearly bullying you. Should I go and invite Mr. Xie over?"

"It's not like children are arguing, why do we need an adult to judge?" Li Qiyou sighed. "Fine, let's just invite them in."

“But…” the servant hesitated, but Li Qiyou’s expression turned cold. “Hurry up and go. Are you going to wait for someone to come and wake up everyone on the street?”

"Yes." The servant responded and left. Fang Zilan came out again. "Your Highness's premonition was indeed accurate. It seems that the Shang family is not planning to let this go peacefully."

“Shang Zhongyi is, after all, the young master of Yancheng Manor. It’s only natural that the Shang family wouldn’t want things to end peacefully.” Li Qiyou looked weary. Fang Zilan stared at him intently. “Does Your Highness also believe that Shang Zhongyi is truly dead?”

Li Qiyou was stunned for a moment, "What do you mean? The coroner from the prefectural government has already examined the body, and the news has spread..."

"The body was burned beyond recognition, and apart from the jade pendant found, there are no other objects that can prove its identity." Fang Zilan interrupted Li Qiyou without any politeness. "On what basis does the merchant family believe that the body is Shang Zhongyi?"

“Mr. Xie also said…” Li Qiyou started to speak, but then realized something was wrong and stopped abruptly.

Fang Zilan snorted coldly, "Your Highness, did Mr. Xie ever say that the person who died was Shang Zhongyi?"

Li Qiyou shook his head thoughtfully, "They never mentioned it. The news from the government office only said that someone died in the fire, but as for who exactly died..."

He didn't continue, and Fang Zilan interjected, "The government has never revealed the identity of the deceased, but now the news of Shang Zhongyi's death is all over the city, and even the Shang family has come to our door. Doesn't Your Highness find this strange?"

"You mean someone deliberately leaked the news that the deceased in the fire at the government office was Shang Zhongyi..." Li Qiyou hesitated, "But Mr. Xie has never denied it, seemingly tacitly acknowledging that the news is true?"

“Perhaps Mr. Xie hasn’t yet identified the deceased, so it’s difficult to dispel rumors.” Fang Zilan’s expression was inscrutable. Li Qiyou looked at her and hesitated, “The Shang family is about to come in, you…”

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will be careful and make sure I don't cause you any trouble." After saying this, Fang Zilan disappeared without a trace before the servant led the person in.

"Amitabha." The monk sweeping at the entrance bowed to Fang Zilan and asked, "May I ask why you have come, benefactor?"

"Offer incense." Fang Zilan gripped the plum blossom sword in her hand. The monk subconsciously took two steps back. "Since you've come to offer incense, why not show your true face?" "Those who have seen my true face are all dead." Fang Zilan said calmly, "Master, are you sure you want me to show you my true face?"

The monk gasped. Fang Zilan said to herself, "Someone invited me to come here to offer incense. If you are willing to give me some guidance, you might as well point me to a Buddhist hall."

“Amitabha Buddha, there was indeed a donor offering incense at the temple before your arrival,” the monk said hesitantly. “However…”

He didn't continue, but Fang Zilan interjected, "Master, please rest assured, I will not let the temple be stained with blood."

The monk tightened his grip on the broom. Fang Zilan glanced at him and said, "Master, these hands don't look like the hands used for copying scriptures and sweeping..."

“Esteemed benefactor, the person you are looking for is in the Buddhist hall in the back.” The monk interrupted Fang Zilan, but she didn’t seem to care. “Thank you, Master.”

After she finished speaking, she left on her own. The monk watched her figure disappear from sight, then threw the broom aside and turned to close the temple door.

The commotion behind her did not escape Fang Zilan's ears. She ignored it, raised her hand and pushed the door of the Buddhist hall, but it did not budge and was locked tightly.

The person inside heard the noise and came to the door, asking in a low voice, "Who is it?"

The woman's voice sounded very familiar. Fang Zilan didn't even need to recognize it before blurting out, "Du Ruohan, is that you?"

Du Ruohan, inside the door, was stunned for a moment, "You are..."

"I didn't expect Miss Du to forget me so quickly after we parted at Zhongling Temple." Fang Zilan teased, "Speaking of which, we've only met at temples, which shows we have a deep connection with Buddhism."

"It seems this isn't a good match." Du Ruohan's voice was tinged with a strange bitterness. Fang Zilan smiled and said, "Miss Du, please step aside for a moment. I'll open the door."

Upon hearing this, Du Ruohan retreated to the Buddha statue. Then, with a loud crash, Fang Zilan cut the chains on the door and pushed the door open to enter.

"Why is Miss Du here?" Fang Zilan casually closed the door. Du Ruohan didn't answer but asked in return, "And why are you here?"

"The Fu family wants to see me, and they've arranged to meet here." Fang Zilan approached slowly, while Du Ruohan's hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched into a fist. "The Fu family also invited you. Why?"

Fang Zilan stopped and stared intently at Du Ruohan. "Do you know Miss Mingyue from the Fu family?"

“That’s natural…” Du Ruohan began to speak, but then realized something. “You came here for Mingyue?”

“Miss Du, if the Fu family wants to lure you into a trap, they should invite me. Why invite you?” Fang Zilan’s expression hardened. “Are you also involved in that ghost marriage between the Wen and Fu families?”

“I…” Du Ruohan hesitated, “Mingyue and I both knew that the ghost marriage was not a good thing, so she did not invite me, and I did not go.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Zilan's heart stirred. "Has Miss Fu Mingyue ever entrusted you with anything for safekeeping?"

"What do you mean?" Du Ruohan frowned. Fang Zilan explained, "Wen Ran's dying wish was to find Mingyue. And if she did leave something behind, but the Fu family couldn't find it, then it makes sense for us to be here at the same time."