Chapter 1032 – Each Person’s Scheme (Part Eight)
“Ugh—cough cough—who did you say? Who’s here?”
Huang Song was blissfully sipping his tea when he almost choked it down his lungs after hearing the report from his subordinate.
The subordinate could only grit his teeth and repeat.
Earlier this morning, Yuan Chong, a lieutenant under Huang Song, was on patrol with his troops when they found a couple whose actions looked suspicious, so they decided to apprehend them for questioning. The man, with an air of elegance, despite wearing somewhat shabby coarse linen garments, was neither submissive nor arrogant during the interrogation—clearly not an ordinary person. When asked, it turned out to be quite a shock: this couple hails from Cangzhou, Meng County—
Yuan Chong first thought they might be spies, but upon further digging, he discovered the man was actually Meng Heng, the Eldest Legitimate Son of the Meng Clan.
However—
Faced with Yuan Chong’s skeptical gaze, Meng Heng forced a smile. “That was in the past; now, I’m just a commoner without even a surname.”
Meng Heng had been excluded from the Meng Clan and lost his surname.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Chong drew his sword and pointed it at Meng Heng’s neck, taunting, “The son of that old thief Meng, aren’t you afraid of dying here?”
Yet Meng Heng replied, “My mother is the stepmother of Liu Xi from Liu Residence; Liu Xi and I are cousins. Do you really dare to strike?”
This relationship was Meng Heng’s last card; he was certain Yuan Chong wouldn’t dare to kill him.
Although Huang Song and Jiang Pengji each had their schemes, they hadn’t completely torn off the mask just yet.
Huang Song wouldn’t dare to kill Jiang Pengji’s cousin, even if that identity wasn’t verified.
After enough coughing, Huang Song wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“Bring him in—”
The subordinate retreated, and Cheng Jing, who had been handling paperwork, set it aside to ask, “That’s Meng Heng, right?”
Huang Song asked, “Do you know him?”
Cheng Jing calmly replied, “Meng Heng was in the same evaluation year as me, originally a top contender for the top three. However, influenced by his brother Meng Liang, the examiners rated his character so poorly that he didn’t even make the top hundred—”
Feng Jue overheard the commotion and decided to intervene.
“Meng Heng was a classmate of my elder brother; they’ve maintained a good relationship,” Feng Jue said with a smile. “If it really is Meng Heng, I can recognize him.”
In fact, both Feng Jue and Cheng Jing believed it to be Meng Heng.
At such a sensitive moment, who would dare impersonate a member of the Meng Clan on Huang Song’s territory?
They must be fearless.
The three didn’t notice that Nie Xun, meanwhile, had heard the news, his brush pausing mid-stroke, almost dropping it.
Luckily, no one else noticed him, and Nie Xun quickly composed himself, pretending nothing was amiss.
Led by a servant, Meng Heng met Huang Song.
Huang Song, now sporting a beard, looked increasingly dignified and composed.
“The commoner pays his respects to Governor Huangzhou.”
Meng Heng used the etiquette of commoners before officials, which startled Huang Song. He quickly stood up to block him.
Huang Song laughed, “I am like a sibling with Lan Ting; you’re his cousin, which makes you my cousin as well. No need for such formalities.”
Cheng Jing and the others watched from behind the screen.
When Meng Heng came into their view, they confirmed his identity.
Though years had passed, Meng Heng hadn’t changed much in appearance; he looked more mature, making him easily recognizable.
Meng Heng forced a smile. “Even so, we cannot neglect propriety.”
Huang Song had Meng Heng sit at the lower right seat, hesitating as he said, “I have one question, if I may—”
Meng Heng knew what he was about to ask: Was Huang Song suspicious of his intentions?
“I’ve been removed from the family ancestral hall, left homeless, and wanted to seek refuge with my cousin Yi.” At this point, Meng Heng had nothing to be ashamed of, so he laid it all out plainly. “However, I am short on funds, and my wife’s condition is delicate. With the chaos outside, we could not travel far. I heard my cousin Yi was going to lead troops to Hede County, so I came here to wait—”
“Your wife is expecting?” Huang Song’s tone turned serious, as he shot a glare at Yuan Chong. “Did you not treat her with courtesy?”
Worried for Huang Song’s safety, Yuan Chong had personally brought Meng Heng to meet him.
Meng Heng offered a faint smile. “Lieutenant Yuan was merely enforcing the law; my wife is unscathed.”
Huang Song wouldn’t let it go that easily.
He arranged for Meng Heng and his wife to have accommodations and found a skilled midwife and doctor for them.
Noticing Meng Heng’s predicament, Huang Song offered, “Stay as long as you need. If there’s anything lacking, just let me know.”
With such genuine kindness, Meng Heng understood it was due to Jiang Pengji’s favor that he was treated so well.
“My Lady, we are staying here?”
Meng Heng’s wife rested a hand on her belly while gazing at the sky through the corridor columns.
The sky was a bright shade of blue, and the warm golden sunlight felt delightful against her skin.
“We’ll rest here for now—” Meng Heng glanced at the fine silks and garments in the room, then at his wife’s plain appearance, guiding her inside, “Your clothes are worn. Choose some good fabric to make a few new garments; don’t shortchange yourself.”
His wife touched the fabric, reluctant to move her hand away from the soft texture.
In her life, she’d never used such good-quality clothing material.
“All of these were gifts; it feels rude to use them—wouldn’t that put you in someone else’s debt?”
She hesitated, forcing herself to look away.
“The debt owed to Cousin Yi will be repaid later,” Meng Heng smiled, taking a beautiful double phoenix gold bracelet and putting it on her wrist. The sparkling gold far more exquisite than the one she lost, its weight more substantial; against her slim wrist, the bracelet made her hand look even more delicate. “From now on—I’ll earn more and more for you—I’ll make sure you and our child will never suffer a bit—”
If it weren’t for Jiang Pengji’s favor, Huang Song wouldn’t have treated him so generously.
Thus, Meng Heng was perfectly aware of who he owed.
His wife smiled, “I believe you.”
The daughter of a butcher marrying the Eldest Legitimate Son of the Meng Clan was a tremendous honor for her, but a significant humiliation for Meng Heng.
He felt he had wronged her, while she felt she had wronged him.
Regardless, they were now husband and wife, destined to carry through life together.
At that moment, a maidservant reported outside the paper door.
Meng Heng and his wife were startled—
“This Nie Xun—do you know him, my husband?”
His wife wondered aloud how a visitor might come to see them so soon after their arrival.
Meng Heng was puzzled too, though he had heard of Nie Xun as a key strategist for Huang Song; he couldn’t afford to offend him.
“I don’t know—please invite Mr. Nie in; I’ll be right over.”
Having Nie Xun visit—was this directed by Huang Song?
Holding this query in his mind, Meng Heng finally encountered Nie Xun.
The two locked eyes across the room, each feeling a strange emotion surging within.
Earlier, from behind the screen, Nie Xun hadn’t observed Meng Heng closely.
Now, face to face, he realized there was nothing they shared in common.
Were they truly biological brothers?
