Seeing Fang Chongzheng's silence, Fang Zilan lowered her head to calm down, then looked over again and asked in a cold voice: "Mrs. Qinji... why did my mother die?"
"The former Concubine Shu has always wanted you to get engaged to King Yuning in order to consolidate her position and take over the remaining generals of the former dynasty for her own use." Fang Chongzheng ignored Li Shengxuan and said with reservations: "Qin Concubine The madam always refused to agree, and as time went by, the former concubine Shu lost her patience and began to have murderous thoughts."
Fang Zilan was doubtful. The former concubine Shu would not know where Baiye Temple was. Even if she controlled the ghost gate and acted arbitrarily, she would not be bold enough to openly commit murder in Baiye Temple.
She always felt that something must have happened in Baiye Temple back then, and that incident fueled the murderous intention of the former concubine Shu, forcing her to take action.
Fang Chongzheng met her suspicious gaze without any intention of avoiding it. Although judging from the situation, it was only a matter of time before the former concubine Shu took action against their mother and daughter, but there was still room for advancement and retreat to protect themselves. But Li Shengxuan's marriage proposal indeed forced the former concubine Shu to resort to any means, and the tragedy was irreversible.
He understands her temperament. If she clearly knows the cause and effect, she will inevitably be shaken. Even if she will not betray Dajing, she will not be as firm as before.
Fang Zilan suppressed the doubts in her heart and asked: "If this is the case, why did I enter the ghost gate? What happened to Chu Xiang's surrender?"
"The people from the Ghost Sect snatched you away after they killed Mrs. Qin Ji. In order to rescue you, Chu Xiang summoned the generals of the former dynasty who were living abroad. However, because there were many eyes and ears in the capital, he could only borrow the help of people from the Jianghu. ." Fang Chongzheng said quietly: "It's a pity that the former Shu Concubine was well prepared. They suffered heavy casualties in that battle, but they failed to bring you out. In desperation, Chu Xiang agreed to the former Shu Concubine's conditions, surrendered, and framed Rongan. King, in exchange for your peace.”
"A bunch of fools!" Fang Zilan cursed in a low voice, "So what if the ghost gate robs me, can you still kill me?"
"That's right." Fang Chongzheng said firmly, and Fang Zilan couldn't help but be stunned.
"Do you think that since you are the only orphan from the former dynasty, the underworld will not attack you?" Fang Chongzheng snorted coldly, "Then why did he die quietly in the north?"
Fang Zilan's expression froze, and Fang Chongzheng's hand holding the tea cup tightened a little, "At that time, there was already Princess Wuqing in Hong'an Pavilion. Do you think the ghost sect would like an obedient puppet or a real one?" Orphan from the previous dynasty?"
"I..." Fang Zilan opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.
"What's more, if you are not stupid, why would Zhen Mingxuan rather offend the Xiahou family than save your life?" Fang Chongzheng's tone revealed a hint of self-deprecation, and he suddenly mentioned Zhen Mingxuan, the owner of the Hidden Sword Villa who had been brutally wiped out, and even more Fang Zilan was so choked that she was completely speechless.
Fang Zilan pursed her lips and said after a long time: "I don't even remember." The words with a crying tone made people's hearts tremble.
She originally thought that her heart would be full of hatred, and she wanted to kill Ji Ningtian, hoping to eradicate the ghost gate and then be quick. But after hearing the whole story of that year, she only felt unspeakable sadness. At this moment, she finally understood why the original Fang Zilan wanted to die.
The erased past, the exploited identity, false feelings, countless lies... not everyone can bear this.
She still remembers the words "I don't want to" that she thought when she was struggling between life and death for the first time. It turns out that Fang Zilan did not want to marry and broke off the marriage just to clear her mother's name.
She once thought that her mother's status was low, so the Fang family did not allow her to enter the ancestral hall. Today we realize how ridiculous it is. How can the majestic Princess Pingnan enter the Fang family ancestral hall?
The clues in the intermittent memories are connected together to outline the outline of the truth. The original Fang Zilan must have known this a long time ago, so she had the impression that she wanted to end things with Guimen and Ji Ningtian...
From the beginning to the end, whether it is the original Fang Zilan or the current her, the reasons for supporting her are actually lies, and they are lies that will never become reality.
She dreams of figuring everything out one day and returning to the world before time travel. But now I am scarred and exhausted both physically and mentally, but there is no possibility of going back.
This lie must end.
Fang Chongzheng saw her face turned pale and couldn't help but said: "Now that you know everything, where will you go from now on..."
"I have my own plan, so I won't bother the Prime Minister." Fang Zilan abruptly interrupted Fang Chongzheng and stood up, "The Fang family has helped me a lot. If you need it in the future, just ask."
She paused as she spoke, "But if something happens to me, the Fang family doesn't have to help me, just let me fend for myself."
"Fang Zilan." Fang Chongzheng called her name and said calmly: "No matter what your life experience is or what you have experienced, you are now the Duke of Yue in Dajing. Don't be blinded by hatred, and you will regret it too late. That’s it.”
Is it too late to regret it? Fang Zilan felt a surge of sourness, blurring her eyes, but she still held back her tears.
The original Fang Zilan had already regretted, but now she regrets it is useless. From the day she set foot on this road, there was no turning back.
At the moment, she is the Duke of Yue in Dajing. She has established herself in the undercurrents and navigated through the chaos. It is her duty to guard the borders and protect the people. If you want to take the overall situation into consideration, you can't take action against Guimen and Ji Ningtian.
But one day, she will make Guimen and Ji Ningtian pay the price they deserve.
Fang Chongzheng watched Fang Zilan's figure disappear from sight, with mixed feelings in his heart. For the first time in his life, he didn't know whether what he did was right or wrong.
But I want to be clear in my heart. In a trance, King Pingnan, who was like the rising sun, smiled and said to him: "Chongzheng, since we don't know whether we will live or die, why not enjoy all the fun now? In this life, you just want to be clear in your heart."
It was an ordinary spring day. He and Prince Pingnan and his wife went to Baiye Temple to enjoy the flowers. Occasionally they talked about Buddhism and Taoism. Prince Pingnan and his wife both said they did not believe in gods and Buddhas, nor did they believe in the afterlife, but only in this life.
The afternoon sun shone on them like a pair of gilded statues of gods. But Fang Chongzheng knew that they were not, they were the most vivid people in the world, so wonderful that they were enviable.
However, they were like this, and they took orders to lead the troops southward the next day, never to return.
Afterwards, Princess Pingnan returned to Beijing alone and became one of the many devout believers of Baiye Temple.
Such a huge change seems like a compromise, more like despair. Even if there is even a slight possibility, I still hope to get the mercy of gods and Buddhas. How much suffering is hidden in it is unknown to others...
"Sir." The butler's voice brought Fang Chongzheng back from his thoughts. He calmed down and said quietly: "What's the matter?"
"New Year's Day will be here in a few days, my family..." Fang Chongzheng did not listen to the rest of the words. He was thinking that this New Year might not be easy.
