novelraw Chapter 1900 Visiting Relatives
Chapter 1900 Visiting Relatives
Chapter 1900 Visiting Relatives
Fang Zilan pondered for a moment and said, "When Yin Quanzhang enters Zuiyue Tower, you should have the manager announce that the grand prize is not just Qianjinfang, but three."
"So fast?" Fang Lihui was stunned for a moment. Fang Zilan said calmly, "We can't let the stove we finally got going cool down. We need to keep adding firewood and fueling the fire."
As she pondered, she said, "After announcing the number of items, you should have the staff in the building spread some rumors, saying that they overheard our conversation or that they bribed Mingxiang to find out that the information is related to the treasure."
“Treasure? No…” Fang Lihui had barely opened his mouth when Fang Zilan pressed her index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture. “The reason a secret is a secret is that no one knows what it is until it is revealed.”
Her voice was soft, yet it possessed a seductive power: "Treasure, leverage... whatever Young Master Fang orders his servants to say, as long as part of it is true enough, that's fine."
Fang Lihui listened intently and couldn't help but ask, "Does Miss Zhen have any suggestions?"
"A scandal would be best," Fang Zilan said casually. "Take Young Master Fang as an example. Do you think the world wants to know about your life of luxury and wealth, or about the sordid secrets behind your business dealings?"
Upon hearing this, Fang Lihui coughed lightly, "Miss Zhen, my reputation isn't very good to begin with..."
"Playboys and young philanderers, we've heard all that before, it's nothing new." Fang Zilan curled her lips into a half-smile and said, "But if news spread that the splendor of Zuiyue Tower today was all because Young Master Fang murdered someone for money, do you think the world would be even more curious?"
Fang Lihui's face paled slightly. Fang Zilan poured him a cup of tea and placed it in front of him. "Whether it's public opinion or people's hearts, as long as we can stir them up to their highest point, everything else will go smoothly."
As she spoke, she lightly tapped the rim of the cup with her fingers. "When you're standing at the forefront of a storm, it's easier to give someone a push. I think Young Master Fang understands this principle very well."
Fang Lihui pursed his lips, and Li Shengxuan, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Are you willing to fabricate lies just to stand in the eye of the storm?"
“This is the fastest way.” Fang Zilan withdrew her hand and said casually, “Fairness and justice take time. Not only is the process tortuous, but even if we put in a lot of effort, few people have the patience to listen or watch. As long as the result is good and what we want, that’s enough.”
"Patriarch Wu, you sent men to assassinate Patriarch Xiahou, but the attempt failed, and you also had Lord Liu detain my father-in-law." Murong Qing continued, "Now that everything has been exposed, do you still want to deny it?"
"What did you say, Your Highness?" The head of the Wu family was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant. "You're framing me! When did I order Lord Liu to detain Lord Fang? I didn't!"
"Whether it is true or not, please invite Lord Liu to the court. We will find out in a single debate." Murong Qing's expression was stern. Xie Chen remained silent for a moment, knowing that he was deliberately stirring up trouble, but he was in a difficult position and finally ordered someone to invite Lord Liu to come.
The courtroom quickly became crowded with people. Lord Liu stood in a corner, unassuming in appearance but with a booming voice, "Mr. Xie, detaining Lord Fang was not my intention; I had my own compelling reasons!"
Upon hearing this, the people in the hall quickly made way for Lord Liu, who then knelt down in the center of the courtroom with a thud, appearing sincerely repentant. "It was all the Wu family head who said that the Xiahou family head is nearing his end, and at that time General Xiahou will be too preoccupied to care about anything else. As long as the Fang family doesn't step forward, the matter of the account books can be buried forever..."
"You're talking nonsense!" the Wu family head cursed angrily. "It's clearly you, you despicable, shameless, and treacherous villain, saying that one death per family is enough. Lord Fang was unwilling, so you detained him..." He realized his mistake as soon as the words left his mouth, but it was too late to take them back.
"So, the head of the Wu family admits to hiring someone to kill?" Xiahou Yunzhao's face was ashen. "And Lord Liu, you also admit to detaining a high-ranking official?"
"General Xiahou, you are mistaken." Lord Liu looked up and said, "Lord Fang has long since resigned from his post. Now he has no official rank or title. Calling him 'Lord' is just to give him face."
"If you weren't afraid, why would you give Lord Fang face?" Xiahou Yunzhao pressed on, and Lord Liu's fierce side was revealed. "In the end, if General Xiahou hadn't gone too far, would the Wu family head and Madam Fu have taken such a risk?"
“Exactly,” the Wu family patriarch chimed in. “Even a fly flying out of the Southeast wouldn’t escape the Xiahou family’s notice. From the poisonous insect and herb business to the fire at Zuiyue Tower, the encroachment on Zhongling Temple’s land, the hiring of assassins, the corruption in Jiangnan, and the detention of high-ranking officials—General Xiahou, dare you say you’ve never been involved in any of these things? If we’re talking about admitting guilt, it’s your Xiahou family who are the real culprits!”
"The culprit?" Xiahou Yunzhao repeated the word, a smirk playing on her lips. "Although I wasn't involved, I'm not entirely ignorant. If you want me to plead guilty, you should at least provide some evidence."
As she spoke, her gaze swept over the people kneeling or standing in the courtroom: the head of the Wu family, Wu Ying, Lord Liu, and Madam Fu. Each and every one of them was a mastermind behind the scenes, yet they all pushed her out to be the instigator.
But only now did she realize that the mastermind behind it all might not be any specific person at all. Ultimately, it was the word "power" that, when placed in people's hearts, became a knife capable of any evil.
From General of Baiyue to Duke of Dajing, wasn't she also caught up in the power struggles? There were many times when she used power as a weapon.
If that's the case, if she were to use herself as bait, she might be able to lure out all those who are immersed in these sordid affairs. At that time, she might be able to fight for fairness and the truth.
"General Xiahou?" Xie Chen's voice pulled Xiahou Yunzhao back to reality. She looked up and met his calm eyes.
She knew that no matter what decision she made or what the outcome, it wouldn't shake Xie Chen's position as presiding judge. Since that was the case, what harm was there in giving Fang Zilan the fairness she wanted and turning Southeast China upside down completely?
“Now everyone has their own reasons, but no one dares to produce any substantial evidence.” Xiahou Yunzhao said in a deep voice, word by word, “If there is really evidence, I am willing to accept the charges and be temporarily detained.”
"General Xiahou..." Xie Chen and Li Qiyou spoke at the same time, but their thoughts were completely different.
However, in just a short while, Lord Liu and others were enough to seize upon the situation again, asking, "If you were truly innocent, why would you willingly be imprisoned?"
“I said, the premise is that there is evidence.” Xiahou Yunzhao looked down at Lord Liu condescendingly. “If you have evidence, then just produce it.”
“I have it.” Dugu Linxiu’s voice trembled slightly, yet it was so sharp that it drew everyone’s attention. “It’s in the ledger I gave to Mr. Xie earlier.”