Chapter 1086 – Another Storm Arises (Part 2)
“Lord——”
Meng Heng was about to bow when Jiang Pengji interrupted him.
“There are no outsiders around, so you don’t need to use honorifics, Cousin Heng.”
Meng Heng shook his head seriously, saying, “Etiquette must not be cast aside. Even though I am your cousin, I cannot act presumptuously.”
No matter how close their relationship was, it couldn’t withstand negligence and disrespect in small matters. Meng Heng wanted today’s intimacy not to turn into tomorrow’s ‘rudeness.’
Jiang Pengji secretly rolled her eyes and sighed, “Cousin Heng, you’re great at everything, but your cautious personality is a bit too much.”
Meng Heng said nothing; this cautiousness and adherence to etiquette were ingrained in him and could not be changed overnight. If he hadn’t been so meticulous and careful, he probably wouldn’t have made it this far in life.
Jiang Pengji casually grabbed the table surface, leaning most of her body against it, and nonchalantly asked, “What does Cousin Heng want to know?”
Meng Heng was definitely not here for formal business; it was mostly related to the dungeon incident.
“I’m very happy that Cousin Heng still chooses to trust me,” Jiang Pengji smiled. If Meng Heng had any grievances, he could have asked Nie Xun, but he didn’t, instead waiting for Meng Zhan’s funeral to end. “Since Cousin Heng treats me with sincerity, I can’t deceive you either.”
Meng Heng sat upright, appearing as unyielding as a bamboo in the wind and rain. That resilience and integrity were exactly what Jiang Pengji admired.
“Nie Chengyun—he, he is the hidden gem of the Meng Clan outside?”
Meng Heng had already guessed that Nie Xun was related by blood to him but hadn’t guessed that he was his biological younger brother.
Jiang Pengji sighed, “This is a rather complex story. Cousin Heng might not know that Meng Liang is not the child of your concubine mother.”
“What?” Meng Heng’s eyes widened in shock.
Jiang Pengji explained, “Back then, the concubine mother and Meng Zhan’s mistress were both pregnant at the same time, and they almost gave birth simultaneously. To avoid dishonoring the mistress’s child, Meng Zhan tacitly allowed a swap between legitimate and illegitimate children. The true child of the concubine mother was exchanged away, and within days, he was ‘stillborn.’ The housemaid hurriedly buried the infant, but fortunately was dug up by passing servants and was sold to Zhong Zhao—”
Meng Heng’s clenched fists trembled; in that moment, he was nearly speechless.
“Nie, Nie Xun—he is that child?”
No wonder—
Meng Zhan, Meng Liang, and the mistress seemed like a family, but Meng Heng had always wondered why his father let the second son be raised by a noble concubine—
The crux of the matter was here!
“I think the concubine mother didn’t want your situation in the Meng family to be more difficult, so she didn’t tell you about these old matters,” Jiang Pengji took a sip of smooth wine. The mild alcoholic taste spread in her mouth, slightly bitter, “At first, I didn’t recognize Nie Xun’s identity; I just felt his profile resembled someone, but couldn’t recall who it was. Later, I heard that Nie Xun was especially close and caring toward you, and he came to Dongqing to seek his family—only then was I able to confirm his identity. He is truly Meng Liang!”
Meng Heng shook his head.
“No—Nie Xun is Nie Xun. How could the name Meng Liang tarnish him?”
Receiving too much information in a short time made it hard for Meng Heng to stay calm.
“Since the Lord already knew Nie Xun’s identity, does this mean the dungeon incident was also part of your intentions?”
Jiang Pengji smirked.
“Cousin Heng, are you feeling cold-hearted, suspecting I intentionally pushed you into a deadly situation?”
Meng Heng weakly shook his head, looking like all his energy had been drained.
“The Lord is exceptionally skilled in martial arts, and the distance was not far. You merely watched from the sidelines, showing you had confidence in it. The Meng Clan’s leader suddenly erupted; such a move cannot be controlled by outsiders—Cousin Heng is just unsure: In your calculations, did you want me to kill the Meng Clan’s leader?”
Jiang Pengji furrowed her brows, “Make you kill him? That would be no different from personally ending your life!”
Meng Heng was different from Nie Xun. If Meng Heng accidentally killed Meng Zhan, he could potentially suffer a lifetime of depression.
“Did the Lord want to ruin Nie Xun?”
“Cousin Heng, are you feeling soft-hearted?”
“People are not grass or trees; who can be without feelings?”
Meng Heng did not deny it.
He truly had a good impression of Nie Xun; the young man resembled his mother, which added a touch of closeness.
Suddenly hearing that he was his biological brother, Meng Heng was both surprised and delighted, and for a moment, he truly couldn’t harden his heart.
Meng Heng’s lips moved, his eyes filled with complexity and struggle.
Though there wasn’t a deep brotherhood, to directly ruin the other person right off the bat wasn’t something Meng Heng could do.
Jiang Pengji laughed disdainfully, “Nie Chengyun is not Cousin Heng; he has a heart far colder than your appearance suggests. A man who is a father yet does not raise his child, to Nie Zhan, he is not just a father, but an arch-enemy. He has given advice to Bo Gao time and again, continuously bringing troubles to me. This dungeon incident, which can settle my feud with Meng Zhan, and serve as a warning to Nie Xun, serves multiple purposes. I do this without regret. If I truly owe an apology to someone, it’s to Cousin Heng… He is still your father, no matter how bad he is.”
Is it only permitted for Nie Xun to plot against her, while she can’t scheme against Nie Xun?
Moreover, Jiang Pengji’s true goal was to ensure Meng Zhan dies with resentment; Nie Xun was merely a side bonus.
Meng Heng dared not agree!
Meng Zhan’s actions were no longer just personal grievances; he had touched upon national righteousness, enough to drag the entire Meng Clan into an inescapable abyss. Even if there remained a flicker of father-son feelings in Meng Heng’s heart, he wouldn’t lose his head to plead for Meng Zhan.
The Lord being willing to be honest with him was already a precious trust.
Jiang Pengji didn’t press him; she knew Meng Heng would figure it out.
After a while, Meng Heng said, “Lord, then what about the previous arrangements—”
Originally meant to drive a wedge between Huang Song and Nie Xun, using Nie Xun as a breakthrough point to cause internal strife, making them discordant.
However, with this incident—
“Naturally, it must continue, but I’m not a heartless person. If Cousin Heng is unwilling, I won’t force you.”
Meng Heng shook his head; he brought up this matter not to quit halfway.
“This matter is still best handled by Heng; it’s the most prudent. Since the Lord has entrusted me with this responsibility, I naturally will repay the nation with it.”
Meng Heng wasn’t foolish either; the struggle among feudal lords was not child’s play; a single mistake could lead to total loss.
Thanks to Feng Jin and Feng Jue’s discord, what did he have to do with Nie Xun?
Meng Heng’s side was resolved, but Nie Xun’s troubles were just beginning.
That day after the dungeon incident, Feng Jue had shared his suspicions with Huang Song.
Huang Song was dumbfounded.
“You mean—Chengyun hails from the Meng Clan, and he’s Meng Heng’s biological brother? Why would he keep such an important thing hidden?”
“More or less.”
If Nie Xun was unaware, that would be fine, but Yuan Xin had informed Huang Song that Nie Xun referred to Meng Heng as ‘Elder Brother’!
Connecting this with Nie Xun’s reactions in the dungeon, it was clear he had known all along yet chose to hide it and not disclose it.
What was he scheming?
“Chengyun has found his family; Song would be happy for him. Why hide it so much?”
The more he thought, the more uncomfortable Huang Song felt.
Feng Jue said, “Lord, this matter is of great significance, so please investigate thoroughly before drawing conclusions.”
Feng Jue’s persuasion naturally reached Huang Song, but he felt uneasy in his heart.
