After Pei Pening's concubine Ding surrendered, the truth soon came to light. The murder case of Duke Jun was investigated and pronounced, and later the case of wounding with an improved crossbow was also brought to trial. The culprits of the two cases, Lien Niang and Ouyang Zongrui, were both executed by Qiu Hou.
When Fang Zilan told Ouyang Zirou the news, she opened her mouth as if to say something, but then she remembered that her aphasia had not yet healed, so she grabbed the pen and paper on the case and quickly wrote a line:
"My brother...how did Ouyang Zongrui react?"
She crossed out the first two characters and replaced them with her name. Fang Zilan looked steadily at the faint ink marks and said softly: "He didn't have any reaction. He only said that the judgment was good."
Ouyang Zirou was stunned for a while after hearing this, and then she tightened her grip on the pen in her hand again. After thinking for a while, she wrote, "If I intercede for him, might he be saved from death?"
This time it was Fang Zilan's turn to be stunned, "You..."
"Exile, whipping...anything is fine, as long as it can save his life..."
Before the last stroke of the fate word was completed, Fang Zilan grabbed Ouyang Zirou's arm, "He wants you to die, and you still want him to live?"
After recovering from her hand injury, Ouyang Zirou began to practice writing. However, it was difficult to write so many words, and her hands shook involuntarily, but she still struggled hard.
Fang Zilan was afraid that she would be injured again, so she quickly let go of her arm, "I know that the head of the Ouyang family and his wife have passed away, and Ouyang Zongrui is the person you are closest to in the world, but..."
"No buts", the four words twisted like an insect crawling, but they reveal an undeniable determination.
Fang Zilan was silent, but Ouyang Zirou continued to write: "Please help me persuade General Huangfu to return to the north."
Her hands were shaking so much that every stroke became weaker and weaker, but she still managed to finish writing a sentence.
"Zi Rou, are you unwilling to follow Huangfu Xin to the North?" Fang Zilan frowned slightly, and was about to say something else when she saw Qiao Nian walking in and said, "Master Fang, my master's ambition is not to go to the North. useless."
"Master?" Fang Zilan looked at Qiao Nian and then at Ouyang Zirou, "When will you..."
She didn't continue, Qiao Nian explained: "Two days ago, master asked me if I would like to be her apprentice and follow her to build weapons and armaments. I agreed."
Fang Zilan frowned even more tightly, and Qiao Nian thought she didn't believe him, so she added: "Master Fang, although I haven't read any books and don't know many Chinese characters, I can understand the master's meaning by knowing sign language, and I'm very strong. Now that she's older, it won't be a problem to do anything like blacksmithing. I can do whatever the master can't do for her..."
She seemed to realize something mid-sentence, and changed her voice and said: "Just think of it as having an extra maid to serve tea and take care of others until Master recovers..."
Fang Zilan looked at Qiao Nian helplessly. Her voice became weaker and weaker, until she became silent and wring her fingers.
"Since you don't want to go to the north, it's okay to stay in the capital." Fang Zilan calmed down, but Qiao Nian waved her hand, "Master and I are not staying in the capital, we are going to Jiangnan."
"Jiangnan?" A look of surprise flashed in Fang Zilan's eyes. Qiao Nian nodded and said, "Master wants to ask a descendant of a certain master for advice."
Master Lu's descendants, Fang Zilan thought secretly in her heart, but did not say it out loud. She just said clearly: "It's okay. Zirou has aspirations in all directions. It would be a pity to stay in the capital. Taking this opportunity to walk around, maybe there will be some A different opportunity.”
As she spoke, she looked at Qiao Nian and handed over a golden plum blossom she had brought with her. "Miss Qiao, please take good care of Zi Rou. If you encounter any difficulties along the way, take this golden plum blossom with you." The pawn shop has been pawned.”
"This is..." Qiao Nian hesitated for a moment and did not take the golden plum blossom. "Since Brother Xu and his mother passed away, I have nothing to spend money on. Lord Fang, don't worry, I have money and can take care of you." Good Master."
Fang Zilan raised her lips and smiled, but did not take her hand back. Instead, Ouyang Zirou bowed and reached out to take the golden plum blossom in her palm.
However, Xu had written too many words just now. As soon as Ouyang Zirou picked up the golden plum blossom, she felt as if she had lost all strength. There was a clanging sound, and the golden plum blossoms rolled to the ground.
Qiao Nian quickly picked it up and presented it in front of Ouyang Zirou respectfully. Seeing this, Fang Zilan felt a little relieved.
Now that Ouyang Zirou is alone, it would be hard to feel at ease if she leaves the capital. But it was different with Qiao Nian by her side. Qiao Nian was also alone and carefree. She was simple-minded and acted recklessly, but she had a desperate spirit. If she followed her sincerely, she would probably take good care of her.
The most important thing is that Qiao Nian has never been involved in the court situation and has seen the evil people. It would be easier for Ouyang Zirou to face her than anyone else.
Thinking of this, Fang Zilan breathed a long sigh of relief, "Zi Rou, I'll go to Huangfu Xin's side and tell him that I will also write a letter to His Majesty for you to plead for Ouyang Zongrui. You can stay here in peace, and I will personally come to you after the New Year. I’ll take you and Miss Qiao out of Beijing.”
Hearing this, Ouyang Zirou shook her head, and Qiao Nian spoke for her: "Master Fang, my master means that we will leave in the next two days, and I won't bother Master Fang to see you off before the end of the year."
Fang Zilan pursed her lips and finally responded: "Okay. The world is vast, and when we meet again in the future, I won't see you off. I wish you both a smooth journey and everything goes well."
After she said that, she bowed, and Ouyang Zirou and Qiao Nian returned the bow, then turned and left.
Fang Zilan looked at their backs and felt sad for no reason. From now on, the huge capital city will become even more deserted without a lively and cheerful little girl.
"Sister Lan." Mo Han came in a hurry. The black circles under his eyes revealed his exhaustion. Fang Zilan only glanced at her and said, "Go and have a rest. We'll talk about it when you wake up."
"I heard everything Mr. Chu said." Mo Han took a step forward, stared at Fang Zilan closely and said, "The prime minister told you everything, right?"
While Fang Zilan secretly complained about Chu Bin, she avoided Mo Han's eyes calmly, "We'll talk about this later, you..."
Mo Han seemed to have not heard her words and thought to himself: "Sister Lan, Mr. Chu said that the last place she went was Miluo. I guess she went to see the high priest of Miluo. Something must have happened during that time. You and I That’s why I came here…”
Fang Zilan quickly realized that she was the original Fang Zilan in Mo Han's mouth, the original owner of her body, but she couldn't tell him why she wanted to see Miluo High Priest.
Chu Bin was quite tight-lipped about the poison.
Fang Zilan sighed, but Mo Han held her shoulders, as if she was dissatisfied with her distraction, "Sister Lan, let's go to Miluo to find out..."
Before he finished speaking, he stumbled. Fang Zilan grabbed his wrist and realized that the temperature was much higher than usual, "You have a fever?"
"I'm fine." Mo Han murmured to himself, and Fang Zilan's face was as dark as water. "It's just nonsense. Even if it's an oil lamp, there's no such way. I will go and tell His Majesty tomorrow that you will not be allowed to go to the Ministry of Punishment again."
