Don't ask where people go

Chapter 2009 Reliance
Most soldiers were not of noble birth; in their eyes, merit earned through real combat was far more important than bloodline or lineage. Even the guards in the courtyard were no exception.

Moreover, they were the guards of the Wei family, how could they allow someone to openly insult their patriarch—Duke Wei Mao of Wei?
With the military tally in hand, it's not difficult for Wei Yi to mobilize troops, but he simply cannot command troops to obey his orders.

Fang Zilan coldly watched the commotion in the courtyard, then pulled Awan back to the door.

Awan stared incredulously at the scene in the courtyard and said, "How brainless must someone be to say something like that in public? Is Lord Wei Yi some kind of idiot?"

"Not stupid," Fang Zilan commented. "He's more like a madman who can't get what he wants."

Awan pondered for a while before understanding her meaning, "You mean the title and rank of the Duke of Wei?"

Fang Zilan nodded, while Awan frowned and said, "But he is already the Minister of War, which is a very high official rank even among scions of aristocratic families."

"Human hearts are easily moved, and greed knows no bounds." Fang Zilan's eyes were filled with cold indifference. "In your eyes, the Minister of War is an important official in the court, but in Wei Yi's eyes, it's probably nothing to him."

Awan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "How could this be?"

“The Wei family has controlled the Ministry of War for a long time. Wei Yi is not only the eldest son of the late Duke of Wei, but also the most favored among the Wei family’s many children.” Fang Zilan said leisurely, “In his heart, the Duke of Wei should rightfully be him, let alone a mere Minister of War?”

"People are never satisfied," A-Wan clicked her tongue, then looked at Fang Zilan and said, "So what are we doing here? Watching a show?"

"Of course not." Fang Zilan shrugged. "The military tally is in Wei Yi's hands, and I want to take it."

Awan asked curiously, "It's all a mess, how are you going to get it over here?"

"So I'm waiting," Fang Zilan explained, watching Wei Yi weaving through the crowd. "I'm waiting for an opportunity to save Wei Yi."

"Leaving aside whether you can escape unscathed amidst the chaos of swords, you actually expect him to reciprocate by voluntarily handing over the military tally to you?" Awan exclaimed in shock, "Just now you said he was a madman..."

“There’s not much hope,” Fang Zilan sighed. “But there’s no other way now. Unless His Majesty issues a decree himself, how can Wei Yi possibly accept the truth?”

Awan looked worried and was about to say something when she heard a series of uniform clanging sounds of armor, followed by a loud female voice: "Imperial decree from the Empress!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Zilan and Awan were both taken aback. The Empress?

The gates of the Ministry of War were pushed open, and Qiu Shui, dressed in the court robes of a female official beside Fang Ziqin, held the imperial edict in her hands. She spoke with an air of authority, "By order of the Empress, Minister of War Wei Yi has abused his military command and seized control of the Ministry of War. He is to be temporarily imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's jail until His Majesty returns to the capital. Guards, take him away!"

After she finished speaking, the imperial guards behind her rushed forward, dispersed the soldiers in the courtyard, and brought Wei Yi out.

Wei Yi stared blankly, muttering, "How is this possible... I want to see His Majesty!"

"Whether His Majesty wants to see Lord Wei after he returns to the capital is another matter," Qiu Shui said sternly. "Lord Wei, you'd better think twice." "You..." Wei Yi wanted to say something, but before he could speak, he was dragged away by the imperial guards.

After the dust settled, Fang Zilan bowed respectfully to Qiu Shui and said, "Thank you, Miss Qiu Shui."

Qiu Shui quickly returned the greeting, saying, "Lord Fang, you flatter me. I was merely acting under orders. Lord Fang, please allow me a moment to speak."

Fang Zilan nodded slightly and walked with Qiu Shui to a secluded corner where no one was around. "I wonder what advice Miss Qiu Shui has for me?"

"I dare not presume to offer my advice to Lord Fang, but Her Majesty the Empress has entrusted me to convey a message to you." Qiu Shui's expression softened slightly. "Her Majesty the Empress said that in large, aristocratic families with many children, if the head of the family is capricious and biased, it is easy for a madman to emerge who will destroy himself and others. Her Majesty fears that Lord Fang may not take care of himself, hence this unnecessary effort. I hope Lord Fang will not take offense."

Fang Zilan remained silent for a long while before saying, "Does Her Majesty the Empress know about Lord Wei Yi's matter?"

"I understand." Qiu Shui nodded and said, "In the Wei family, Lord Wei Yi has been pampered since childhood and has had everything he wanted. It is understandable that he would lose his composure when suddenly everything was taken away from him."

"Cousin?" Fang Lihui hurriedly walked up to Fang Liren, only to see Fang Liren silently slap a piece of paper on his chest. Before he could even take a closer look at the paper, he heard Fang Liren say loudly, "Lihui, the Fang family is now in your hands."

"Cousin, what did you say?" He stared blankly at the person in front of him, the one who once valued the Fang family more than his own life, who had actually abandoned the Fang family, which he believed should be more important than anything else, with such a flimsy piece of paper.

Ignoring Fang Lihui's reaction, Fang Liren walked straight up to Fang Zilan and Zhuge Yu. "Lord Fang, Young Master Zhuge, I've thought it through. I want to go to Persia with Warners."

Before Fang Zilan and Zhuge Yu could say anything, Fang Lihui strode up to Fang Liren and threw the paper at him, shouting, "Fang Liren, are you crazy? Abandoning the Fang family for a woman?"

Fang Liren stood ramrod straight, letting the piece of paper fall to the ground without even blinking. "I have come here to bid farewell to you two gentlemen. You have helped me greatly, and I will never forget it."

Considering Fang Zilan and Zhuge Yu were present, Fang Lihui couldn't directly lash out. He gritted his teeth and growled, "Fang Liren, what are you doing?"

"What are you doing?" Fang Liren looked at Fang Lihui beside him, his expression relieved. "Lihui, the Fang family is now in your hands. You are more suitable than me for the position of head of the Fang family."

"Who cares?" Fang Lihui sneered. "Fang Liren, I don't need your charity."

“I’ve given everything for the Fang family. I’m exhausted.” Fang Liren’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes filled with an indescribable weariness and heaviness. “Now, I want to live for myself for once.”

"Good, good, truly excellent!" Fang Lihui clapped his hands with his folding fan, his applause bordering on resentment.

Seeing this, Fang Zilan was about to speak when Zhuge Yu grabbed her sleeve. He tugged at her sleeve, signaling her not to get involved and to let them resolve the matter themselves.

"Fang Liren, you want to leave the Fang family, is that it?" Fang Lihui gripped his folding fan tightly, his shoulders trembling slightly, revealing his anger. "You think you can just leave like that? There's no such easy way out. The Fang family gave you life and raised you. How much kindness have you received from the Fang family, and how much favor have you done for them? Today, we'll settle all the scores."

Fang Liren looked at Fang Lihui in front of him, who was in such a state of disarray that he had never seen before. He remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded and said, "Okay."