Don't ask where people go

Chapter 2005 Variables
“Since Wen Ya was able to send you petals of the poisonous flower, it seems he wasn’t without a backup plan,” Fang Zilan comforted her. “When you left the capital, didn’t you think he was going to die? Now he’s not only alive, but he can also pass on messages to you.”

"What kind of message is this..." Awan muttered, then realized something and her eyes lit up, "Could there be something else in that envelope?"

“I tore the envelope open in front of you and the prince.” Fang Zilan shrugged. “You saw it with your own eyes; there was nothing inside except flower petals.”

"But you accepted the envelope," Awan persisted. "Did you figure something out?"

"Did you notice that the inside of the envelope feels a little different?" Fang Zilan took out the envelope, and Awan took it and examined it carefully. "It is indeed different; it's smoother than regular paper."

As she spoke, she walked to the table, lit a candle, and carefully burned the inside of the envelope with the flame. The paper curled up, but nothing was revealed.

"What's going on?" Fang Zilan leaned closer and clicked her tongue. "You two, master and disciple, really have no chemistry whatsoever."

Awan raised an eyebrow. "What's the rush? I'm not done yet."

Fang Zilan didn't speak, watching as Awan found the crumpled petals from somewhere and applied the remaining juice to them.

The paper unfolded again, revealing a few lines of writing. Although not very clear, with effort, one could still make out what was written.

“Your hand…” Fang Zilan’s attention was entirely focused on Awan’s swollen hand, “You didn’t get your hand like this in front of the young master just now…”

“It’s alright. The sap from these flower petals doesn’t work with the medicine applied to the inside of the envelope,” Awan interrupted Fang Zilan. “My hand only looks bad; it’s actually fine.”

"Your master is quite ruthless," Fang Zilan sighed softly, "willing to let you suffer so much."

“What kind of hardship is this?” Awan shook her head. “When I was studying medicine, and when you were practicing martial arts, the hardships you endured were far greater than this.”

“What’s so great about enduring hardship?” Fang Zilan chuckled. Awan unfolded the inside of the envelope in front of her. “Alright, these are the messages my master sent.”

“It’s all names.” Fang Zilan frowned, while Awan skimmed through the list. “You asked me to send a list to the capital before, and now my master is returning the favor?”

“It’s not returning it.” Fang Zilan’s expression became more serious. Awan was puzzled. “Then what is it?”

Fang Zilan explained, "The list your master passed on is exactly the same as the one I asked you to give to the young master."

"Judging from what Mr. Xie is saying, the Du family pawnshop doesn't do ordinary pawnshop business." Fang Zilan picked up her teacup again and drank it all in one gulp. "Then may I ask, Mr. Xie, what kind of business does the Du family pawnshop do?"

"Interpersonal relationships and power transactions are all unseen businesses." Xie Chen didn't hide anything, which made Fang Zilan pause for a moment. She put down her teacup and stared at him intently. "Mr. Xie, have you ever done business with the Du family pawnshop?"

“Never.” Xie Chen shook his head. “As a member of the Fang family, the young master’s wife should know better than I do the costs behind business. Besides, the Du family pawnshop only accepts dead loans.”

"Is that so?" Fang Zilan remained noncommittal, her gaze falling on the jade talisman. "What do you think, Mr. Xie, if I were to pawn this jade talisman at the Du family pawnshop?" Xie Chen's expression turned grave. "Is the young master's wife trying to take advantage of someone in distress?"

"Mr. Xie, do you think I'm taking advantage of someone in their time of need?" Fang Zilan reached for the jade talisman, playing with it as she spoke, "Miss Du?"

"The Du family pawnshop's key is lost, and Miss Du, as the person in charge, cannot escape responsibility." Xie Chen said calmly, "If the young master's wife returns the key at this time, Miss Du will owe you a favor."

"I don't care much about the Du family's favor." Fang Zilan casually waved the jade talisman in her hand. "I'm just a little curious, will Miss Du be able to live to see the day this jade talisman is returned?"

Xie Chen's expression hardened. "Since the young mistress has no intention of returning the keys to the Du family pawnshop, what is she doing now?"

"I just had some free time, so I chatted with Mr. Xie for a bit." Fang Zilan said, her expression becoming slightly more serious. "I once saw a jade pendant on Shang Zhongyi, and the pattern on this jade talisman is exactly the same."

Xie Chen remained silent, his fingers hidden in his sleeves rubbing together repeatedly for a while before he finally said, "Princess Consort, what exactly do you want to say?"

"It seems Mr. Xie is also aware of this matter." Fang Zilan's expression was calm, as if she was not surprised at all. "I wonder if Mr. Xie would be willing to tell me what this pattern means?"

Xie Chen didn't speak, and Fang Zilan didn't press him for answers. She simply poured herself a cup of tea and took a small sip.

Seeing this, Xie Chen's eyes darkened, but Fang Zilan seemed oblivious, continuing to sip her tea. When the cup was empty, she put it down and said coldly, "It seems Mr. Xie is unwilling to tell me."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Mr. Xie, General Xiahou is still in prison. Even if you try to delay, the case will eventually be closed."

“Zhao Zhao, she…” Xie Chen opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Fang Zilan, “She is not innocent. General Xiahou himself admitted in court that he was guilty of harboring a criminal. Does Mr. Xie intend to be punished as an equal to her?”

"Is the Fang family innocent?" Xie Chen's hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched into a fist. "You, the Crown Prince's wife..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Fang Zilan knew exactly what he meant by the second half, so she said directly, "Mr. Xie, neither of us are heartless people. I can't stand by and watch the Fang family end up destroyed, and I'm sure you wouldn't stand by and watch General Xiahou lose his life either. In that case, let's use other people's lives to make up for it. What do you think?"

"You want to use Shang Zhongyi's life to pay for it?" Although it was a question, Xie Chen spoke with absolute certainty. Fang Zilan nodded, "Shang Zhongyi is not innocent. Blood debts must be repaid in blood."

“Shang Zhongyi is not alone; he has Yancheng Manor behind him.” Xie Chen seemed to have relented, but Fang Zilan did not follow up on his words. “Mr. Xie also has a close relationship with Yancheng Manor.”

Xie Chen said quietly, "It's not just me."

"What did Mr. Xie say?" Fang Zilan pretended not to understand. Xie Chen glanced at her and said, "I'm not the only one with close ties to Yancheng Manor."

"So Mr. Xie is worried about severing ties with Yancheng Villa?" Fang Zilan said thoughtfully. "That's easy to handle. Yancheng Villa is Yancheng Villa, and a merchant is a merchant. They can't be confused."

Xie Chen frowned slightly, but before he could say anything, Fang Zilan said, "The world can do without merchants, but it cannot do without Yancheng Manor. I think Mr. Xie can tell which is more important, and so can His Majesty."