Chapter 239 – Spitting Blood (8)
That friend furrowed his brows and stepped forward, gently persuading, “Governor Meng, please bear your sorrow with grace. Do not be too heartbroken.”
However, the pain of losing a son at middle age—such a familial tragedy could hardly be consoled by a few light words!
Meng Zhan placed both hands on the edge of the coffin, his fingers trembling visibly; from gripping too hard, the tips of his fingers turned an ashen white.
Seeing his bulging veins and darkened complexion, the friend ceased speaking, merely sighing softly as he stepped aside.
Clearly, what Meng Zhan needed now wasn’t dry consolation from others but a quiet space to collect himself and cope with this sudden, immense blow… Yet, it seemed Meng Zhan was not in the mood for solitude; he only wanted to uncover the truth behind Meng Liang’s death.
His perfectly healthy son, albeit with a few minor flaws and small mischiefs—so what?
The Meng Clan had been illustrious since the founding of the previous dynasty, thriving to this day, rich enough to shield Meng Liang from any mishap.
Had he known that sending him to the capital for safety would lead to such an end, he would have borne the pressure himself, keeping him under his wing.
Now look what happened: his young son had already traversed the road to the Yellow Springs, leaving him, the old father, to suffer the heartbreak of sending a black-haired son to the grave!
Ultimately, Meng Zhan was a man; he was somewhat stronger than the beloved concubine beside him, who was crying bitterly.
After spitting blood several times, his hate-filled mind barely managed to regain a sliver of rationality.
“Bring them here… I want to ask… who had the gall to harm my Liang-er so cruelly!”
With that, Meng Zhan’s eyes reddened, his forehead veins bulging; he no longer resembled the gentle and refined person he used to be, aged by at least twenty years in a moment. The friend beside him found himself in a quandary, neither able to leave nor stay, forcing himself to minimize his presence.
Before long, the Escort Group Leader had awkwardly collapsed to his knees before Meng Liang’s coffin, his face, scruffy and tear-streaked.
“It was the treacherous Meng Hunyun who killed the Second Young Master! He… he fooled the master…”
The Escort Group Leader’s heart was heavy with anxiety; fear loomed over him like a cloud, as if Meng Zhan might leap up at any moment and cut off his head.
Meng Zhan coldly sneered, his expression sinister and vicious. “Speak! Detail every little thing! Meng Hunyun… heh…”
At this, the friend sighed inwardly; it was the first time he had seen Meng Zhan exhibit such a fierce expression, full of malice—a sight that felt disconcerting considering he had just lost his beloved son.
The Escort Group Leader silently clenched his fists; his life depended on this moment.
Steeling himself, he pulled out the narrative he had been shaping for over a month, emphasizing Meng Hunyun’s treachery, painting the scene of discovering the body, portraying himself as loyal, yet alas, the enemy was cunning, forcing him to retrieve Meng Liang’s corpse.
“…Master, you must seek justice for the Second Young Master!” The Escort Group Leader, prostrated on the ground and weeping, his cries mixed with snot. Normally, Meng Zhan would have kicked him for such display, but this time he could earn some sympathy points to secure his own life. “…I just managed to bring back Second Young Master’s body, only to find… he was drained of blood and died…”
Once these words left his mouth, Meng Zhan felt another wave of intense pain in his chest. His right hand gripped his left shirt tightly, his jaw clenched, lips turning purple.
Just as he seemed on the verge of losing consciousness, Meng Zhan displayed remarkable willpower and regained his composure, his gaze icy.
“You say… the Second Young Master was bled dry by Meng Hunyun?”
Those words dripped from his clenched teeth.
No wonder Liang-er’s corpse appeared with that purplish hue; though some parts had decayed, the body was certainly abnormal compared to an average person’s.
“Yes!” The Escort Group Leader nodded with difficulty, tears flowing unabated. “I failed to guard the Second Young Master well. Please allow me to avenge him… Once the vengeance is fulfilled, I will certainly take my own life and ensure the Second Young Master is well cared for in the afterlife…”
Meng Zhan’s chest rose and fell rapidly, while the beloved concubine expertly supported him, lifting her hand to help him breathe easier.
After a long while, so long that the Escort Group Leader thought he was doomed, Meng Zhan’s cold voice reached his ears—undoubtedly his reprieve!
“Forget it… With such loyalty, if Liang-er knows of this in the netherworld, he will surely feel comforted…”
Meng Zhan uttered these words begrudgingly, glancing rigidly at the friend beside him, stating, “I must avenge Liang-er! As a true scion of the Meng Clan, the Cangzhou Meng Clan name, how could it be humiliated by such wretches! If I do not kill this man, I shall not remain human!”
At this moment, the Escort Group Leader seemed to recall something, realizing that Meng Zhan’s fury could be stoked even more.
After all, he was Meng Zhan’s subordinate; he knew him well. The fact that Meng Zhan could maintain his composure and spare his life was only due to the presence of others, preventing him from fully unleashing his true nature… Once that friend had finished mourning and departed, his fortunes would likely change for the worse.
Thus, the Escort Group Leader plotted.
With a pitiful expression, he took out a blue bundle from his pocket and unwrapped it.
Meng Zhan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, asking, “What is this?”
The Escort Group Leader replied, “This is the damning evidence of the thief’s humiliation of the Meng Clan and mockery of my subordinates…”
Meng Zhan snatched it away, meticulously examining every piece of coarse cloth, and the more he looked, the more violently his hands trembled.
Finally, he unfolded the largest piece of coarse cloth, with dragon and phoenix characters inscribed in dried blood, now darkened and giving off a nauseating stench. Meng Zhan’s beloved concubine tried to lean closer for a look, but was driven back by the foul odor.
【Those who break their word are but mangy dogs of the Meng Clan…】
Upon seeing this opening, Meng Zhan felt his cheeks grow pale, as if someone had slapped him fiercely a hundred times.
【…The Meng Clan wishes to use Meng certain as a raft, disgrace my wife and daughters, forcing them to suffer shame even in death…】
Meng Zhan’s heart trembled; he could hardly believe that Meng Hunyun, a brute, could see through his true intentions so clearly.
His trembling hands held onto the coarse cloth as he hurriedly continued reading.
【…If you want to set foot on the first day, don’t blame Meng for going all the way to the fifteenth. If Meng Liang does not die, how can I face…】
A wave of intense pain surged through Meng Zhan’s heart, his forehead veins bulging, a tremendous headache as if the world were violently shaking.
Pfft—
Another mouthful of blood spewed forth, as the crowd gasped in shock. Meng Zhan’s complexion turned ashen, collapsing to the ground, the coarse cloth falling limply beside him.
In just one day, he had spat blood several times.
His fundamental strength was compromised, and he wouldn’t last long.
The friend rushed forward to support Meng Zhan’s limp body, gently urging the servants to summon the physician, moving Meng Zhan indoors.
