The Fang family of the Prime Minister's Mansion welcomed a rare visitor today. Fang Chongzheng was in a daze when the housekeeper came to report. He and Mr. Zhuge had not seen each other for more than ten years.
Since Mr. Zhuge left the court, the two of them have had no interaction. Now I suddenly came to visit...
What should come will eventually come. Fang Chongzheng straightened his clothes and went to the front hall with the housekeeper to meet Mr. Zhuge.
After the two met, there were not many polite words. Although people who have been in court for a long time like them are used to seeing their goals broken into pieces and testing each other with subtext, it is obvious that neither of them wants to do this today.
After finishing the cup of tea, Fang Chongzheng dismissed the people serving in the hall and said quietly: "Why did Mr. Zhuge do this? You might as well tell him directly."
Mr. Zhuge's expression was dark and unclear, and he slowly said: "Mr. Fang, do you know Mr. Fang, the Duke of Yue Kingdom?"
"I know you." He answered without any hesitation, and Mr. Zhuge asked again, "Does Mr. Fang know Fang Zilan?"
This time Fang Chongzheng was silent for a moment and then said: "We know him."
"Sure enough, it's you." Mr. Zhuge seemed to be relieved, "Why did you do this?"
Fang Chongzheng's expression was as calm as water, "She is my daughter, why does Mr. Zhuge think I would do this?"
Mr. Zhuge's expression was stagnant. In the past, he only suspected that Fang Zilan was an orphan from the previous dynasty, but did not think of her and the third lady of the prime minister's house. Unexpectedly, Fang Chongzheng admitted it generously.
"What is she going to do?" Mr. Zhuge's voice was a little colder. "Is it your instruction?"
"When children grow up, they will always have their own thoughts and actions. I think Mr. Zhuge knows better than me." Fang Chongzheng said calmly: "I have nothing to teach you."
Master Zhuge said calmly: "Master Fang, are you determined to fight for her to the end?"
Fang Chongzheng's expression remained unchanged, but his words were more calm and authoritative, "Mr. Zhuge, I have three daughters, two of whom are unable to control themselves. If I can't do anything for the only one left, How can she be worthy of being a father if she holds on to the end?"
"If it weren't for her, how could your two daughters be helpless?" Mr. Zhuge said with a chill on his face, "I'm here today to ask you to tell the truth. Who is she?"
Every word he spoke was very serious, with the intention of calling for punishment, and suddenly the hall was tense.
Fang Chongzheng lowered his eyebrows and lowered his eyes. He took the tea cup on the table and took a sip. After relaxing for a while, he said quietly: "If Mr. Zhuge is asking about the little girl Fang Zilan, then it is a redundant question. If Zhuge The boss is asking about Lady Zilan, the Duke of Yue. I can only say that I know her. As for her identity and background, I don’t know anything about her. All I know is that she serves the country and the people, and she still fulfills her duties even though she is injured. So and so , actually arousing suspicion from others."
Before he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall became tense again. Mr. Zhuge couldn't help but clenched his fingers, but didn't say a word.
Seeing this, Fang Chongzheng paused and continued: "Let's not talk about the court, let's talk about the battle in the four borders. If it weren't for the Duke of Yue, how could there be peace in the northern border today? Mr. Zhuge forgot that the northern border was ruined. how many people?"
Lord Zhuge took a deep breath, how could he forget? His son and daughter-in-law were all buried in the north. He knows better than anyone how much blood his Zhuge lineage has poured into the Northern Territory. If calculated carefully, it is probably comparable to the Shangguan clan in the Northern Territory.
But he never wanted to count.
If you eat the king's salary, you will be shattered for this country. Even if there is only one person left in the Zhuge family, he still wants to protect the country and the people and seek a prosperous world.
Therefore, it was only after he suspected Fang Zilan that he truly understood A Yu's hesitation and contradiction. This suspicion arises from guarding, but the person who doubts is also doing the same thing, which is unsettling.
After most of his life, he would occasionally ask himself, does one's background really matter? It can be seen that after the gloom of the dynasty change and the family dispute, it is difficult for him to convince himself.
Thinking of this, he sighed and said: "Mr. Fang, there are not many old people left in the capital. After Mr. Su passed away three years ago, I am afraid that we are the only two. Now that things have happened, you have not even Are you not willing to tell me a word of truth?"
"Whether I say it or not, what difference does it make to Mr. Zhuge?" Fang Chongzheng breathed a long sigh of relief, as if he had taken off the mask he had been wearing, his expression became a little more vivid, and there was emotion in his eyes, " They’re so similar, aren’t they?”
He finally relaxed because he knew exactly who he was facing. Even if you can hide it for a while, you can't deceive it for the rest of your life. Mr. Zhuge will find out the truth one day.
If we wait until that day, Mr. Zhuge may be even more suspicious of Fang Zilan's ulterior motives. Instead of doing this, it's better to give him a reassurance with half-truths.
As expected, Mr. Zhuge had a clear face, but there was a hint of hesitation in his eyes. Based on his understanding of Fang Chongzheng, if it was related to the previous dynasty, he would not say anything even if it was for the sake of the Fang family. It's really surprising that he opened his mouth so easily today.
"I know that Mr. Zhuge's loss just now was just a means to find out the truth." Fang Chongzheng said meaningfully: "But I would rather believe that there is sincerity in it."
Mr. Zhuge subconsciously let go of his clenched fingers. Fang Chongzheng looked in his eyes, "After all, even in the past, there are always one or two people who understand the righteousness..."
"How can they be compared?" Mr. Zhuge suddenly interrupted him, his tone was a little excited, "He is the God of Killing. If it is related to him, it will be a major event that will turn the mountains and rivers into discoloration and the world will be turned upside down. Don't you know?"
"I believe her." Fang Chongzheng looked straight into Mr. Zhuge's eyes without fear, "Just like I believe in the God of Death you talk about, I believe in her."
Master Zhuge stared blankly at the person in front of him, as if he saw through him the young man Fang Chongzheng who stood in front of the old palace of the former court and spoke for General Pingnan, the general of Zhenbei, many years ago.
Many years have passed, and everyone thought that the once vigorous tiger and lion had lost its temperament and became unpredictable. However, they did not know that he was still the same as before, but that he had hidden his sharp edge, not that he had no temperament at all.
If someone tests him, he will still show his claws and claws, he is still a fierce tiger and lion, majestic and will not give in an inch.
But……
"Believe?" Mr. Zhuge repeated the word and said calmly: "If I remember correctly, your belief back then only resulted in continuous war."
Like a pebble thrown into the sea, Mr. Zhuge's words that almost exposed the scars did not make Fang Chongzheng lose his composure. On the contrary, he smiled and asked, "So what?"
Mr. Zhuge's expression changed slightly, he left a word of "take care of yourself" and walked away.
Fang Chongzheng looked at his back, and the smile on his face faded a little. The General Zhenbei and King Pingnan back then...
Everyone thought that he was defeated by Xia Yunzhao, and his generals were lost one after another. In the end, he could not stand up to him, and ended up dying in the deep sea across the earth.
The eager Jin people came upon hearing the news. At the critical moment, an unknown general suddenly appeared from the Qi family in the north and guarded the northern territory. If not, how could the Li family be able to secure the world? If the golden cavalry steps on it, there will only be a scene of broken mountains and rivers.
Then the general of the Qi family died suddenly overnight before Li's imperial decree of reward arrived, and he had to be buried with a generous burial and a posthumous name.
Later, the Qi family declined, and the once unknown general was gradually forgotten. General Zhenbei, King Pingnan, was given the title of former dynasty and became a hero in the storybook. The lady whose music was famous all over the world was no longer known to anyone. She had a disfigured face and entered the Prime Minister's Mansion with a baby in her arms...
Fang Chongzheng slowly closed his eyes and allowed the past to reappear like a revolving lantern. What the world knows is only one-sided. In that case, why care?
