Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1972 Dazzling

"Master!" Awan skipped in. "Let me take over, you go and rest." She tried to push Wenya out, but Wenya shook his head and said, "It's alright, you've been on guard all night, I'll take over."

"It's alright, I'm young, I can handle it." A-Wan patted her chest proudly, while Wen Ya helplessly ruffled her hair. "You..."

"Oh, right," A-Wan suddenly interrupted Wen Ya as if remembering something, "Master, are you going to the palace today to report on the illness to His Majesty?"

Wen Ya paused for a moment, then subtly withdrew his hand. "Mm."

A single word, neither too heavy nor too light, made A-Wan's heart sink. She rarely lied to her master, but she never expected him to cooperate so readily.

"I'm entrusting Lord Fang to you." Wen Ya gave a few instructions and then left the Duke of Yue's mansion.

Awan breathed a sigh of relief, suppressing her anxiety, and secretly prayed that Mo Han and the others' scheme would work and that they could catch the person who poisoned her.

"Awan." Xiao Xuan'er walked in, her gaze falling on the table. Awan followed her gaze and saw the medicine bowl that Cong Rong had just brought. "Sister Xiao, do you suspect Sister Cong?"

"It's hard to say." Xiao Xuan'er shook her head and said with a composed expression, "Awan, if the news gets out, someone will definitely lose their composure. You must protect Lord Fang."

When Awan saw Fang Zilan return, she hurriedly came out to greet her, "You're finally back! I've been waiting for you for so long." Only then did she notice that Fang Zilan's hands were ice-cold, as if they had no warmth at all. "Look at your hands, they're so cold. Go back inside and warm them up."

Without a word, she pulled Fang Zilan back into the house, went straight into the inner room, handed her a hand warmer, and asked, "How are your injuries?"

"It's nothing." Fang Zilan shook her head blankly. Awan pulled open her sleeve, her brows furrowed. "What? I thought His Majesty kept you alone because he was kindly treating your injuries. Who knew it wasn't like that?"

"Is it out of kindness?" Fang Zilan repeated softly. Awan, busy tending to her wounds, didn't notice her thoughts and casually remarked, "Otherwise what? What would His Majesty do with you?"

"It's nothing." Fang Zilan shook her head, calmed herself down, and changed the subject. "Today is New Year's Eve, and there are few people in our household, so it's a bit deserted."

“Yes,” Awan echoed, her expression dissatisfying. “Last year, at least Shangguan Min helped me set off fireworks, Vice General Li cooked dumplings, and Vice General Cao hosted a banquet. I didn’t have to worry about these things. This year, however, only Vice General Cao is busy. I feel embarrassed to even take a break.”

As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to remember something and changed the subject, "It's strange, it's already the New Year, and we haven't received a single congratulatory letter from the Northern Border. It's understandable for others, but why haven't we heard from Vice General Li and Lord Qi either? It's really odd."

Upon hearing this, Fang Zilan suddenly remembered what Pei Xiaozhe had told her in the palace: there was a major corruption case in the Northern Border recently, and the person involved was Qi Yuming.

She was busy during the day and forgot about it, but now that Awan brought it up, she became aware of it.

Based on her understanding of Qi Yuming, she knew he would never do something like embezzlement or bribery; it seemed someone had framed him.

If it were merely a frame-up, given Qi Yuming's methods and his relationship with Zhong Yao, the matter should have been thoroughly investigated long ago, and it certainly wouldn't have escalated to the point of reaching the Emperor in the capital. Why has it become such a big fuss? Could it be that something has happened to Zhong Yao as well?
After bandaging Fang Zilan's wound, Awan waved her hand in front of her. "What are you thinking about?" "Nothing." She said solemnly, "Awan, go and quietly call Vice General Cao over, without attracting the attention of the others in the mansion."

Seeing how seriously she was taking it, Awan didn't dare to be negligent and immediately found an excuse to call Vice General Cao over.

As soon as Deputy General Cao entered the inner room, he saw Fang Zilan with a cold face. Puzzled, he heard her ask, "Has Old Li exchanged any letters with you recently?"

"No." Deputy General Cao shook his head. "The last communication was when the government was moved. Old Li sent a congratulatory letter to the capital, and then there was no more correspondence."

Fang Zilan remained silent, and Vice General Cao's heart skipped a beat. "Boss, could something have happened in the Northern Border?"

Hearing what Deputy General Cao said, Awan was also surprised. "Just now, His Majesty kept you here to talk about this matter?"

“No.” Fang Zilan’s voice deepened. “Today I heard in the palace that a major corruption case has recently occurred in the Northern Border, and the person involved is Qi Yuming…”

She had only spoken halfway when Deputy General Cao said urgently, "Lord Qi would never do such a thing!"

“How could I not know?” Fang Zilan sighed. “Qi Yuming was promoted by me, so this matter is most likely aimed at me.”

Awan asked doubtfully, "But even if this is aimed at you, a corruption case requires evidence of financial transactions. What leverage do you have in the Northern Territory that they can use against you..."

However, she stopped abruptly before she could finish speaking, and murmured at the end, "Could it be Huo San Niang's business?"

Her voice was very soft, yet every word reached Fang Zilan's ears. She instinctively asked, "What did you say?"

Awan's expression changed, and she said anxiously, "Didn't Fang Lihui send someone before the New Year? He said there were some problems with the business in the Northern Territory. At the time, the person stammered and couldn't give a clear answer, but I thought the Fang family had been doing business for so many years and always had a good reputation, so I didn't ask too many questions. Now that I think about it..."

She dared not say anything more. Fang Zilan listened to her words, her lips pressed into a straight line, her expression growing increasingly cold.

Her business in the Northern Territory originally belonged to Huo San Niang, but she later gave it all to Fang Li Hui in order to help Fang Li Ren leave the Fang family.

That explains everything. Some people with ulterior motives took advantage of her business to make a big fuss. While she was away from the North, they dragged everyone connected to her into the mess, making it impossible for her to remain unscathed. In the end, she was also dragged into the abyss.

But what role did Fang Lihui play in all of this? Was he a treacherous villain who helped the mastermind stab her in the back, or an innocent bystander who shared her fate?
Thinking this, Fang Zilan could no longer sit still and stood up, saying, "Old Cao, prepare the horses, let's go to the Fang family."

“Boss, it’s the New Year, and we’ve been so reckless…” Old Cao was about to say something when Fang Zilan’s gloomy expression silenced him. Just as he was about to prepare the horses, Awan called out to him, “Wait a minute.”

“Fang Zilan, listen to my advice.” Awan stopped in front of Fang Zilan and advised, “This matter has not yet involved you, so why take it upon yourself? Besides, today is New Year’s Eve, a wonderful day for family reunion. If you insist on making a scene at this time, you will surely incur people’s resentment.”