Chapter 1038 – Meng Heng Returns Home
Nie Xun left in anger, and the atmosphere in Huang Song’s tent was a bit awkward and dull.
Yuan Xin’s anger didn’t subside; his bushy beard couldn’t mask the sneer and ridicule on his face.
Nie Xun’s beauty was too striking, and with the prevailing trend of masculinity, Yuan Xin always felt that Nie Xun was not upright and harbored no good feelings for him.
Moreover, the most important point—after Nie Xun came under Huang Song, his merits did not match his favored status.
He was merely being looked upon highly due to his ties as Mr. Yuanjing’s son-in-law—
Yuan Xin was a bit of a crude brute; he admired Cheng Jing and Feng Jue because these two gentlemen truly had great talent, helping Huang Song pacify Haozhou and even spreading their influence to other areas, making them real contributors. In comparison, Nie Xun seemed a bit off the mark.
If Nie Xun were just an ordinary strategist, Yuan Xin’s dislike wouldn’t be so deep.
Unfortunately, Nie Xun’s minimal achievements were overshadowed by the preference he received, making Yuan Xin’s frustrations run wild.
“Hmph—what a temper—”
Yuan Xin snorted, downing the wine in his cup, his frustrations growing with every thought.
Thinking that this wasn’t enough, he went straight to the wine barrel, gulping down excessively.
His actions drew attention from others; Yuan Chong, seated nearby, softly advised, “Clan uncle, during these critical times, the Lord still needs the help of various strategists. If you contradict Military Advisor Nie now, won’t you put the Lord in an awkward position?”
Yuan Xin slammed down his cup.
“What has that got to do with me?” Yuan Xin said defiantly, “It’s merely a few words towards him, and he takes it to heart?”
Seriously, what’s with all this melodrama?
Yuan Xin said what he felt, but he didn’t insult Nie Xun; how could Nie Xun give him such a cold shoulder?
With this train of thought, Yuan Xin’s anger flared even more.
“Clan uncle, it’s not that simple.”
Yuan Xin had good combat skills, but his straightforward and brash personality meant he spoke only for his own amusement without considering the context.
His previous jests about Nie Xun were merely due to his inner thoughts, there was little malice intended.
Yet, in Nie Xun’s ears, his words were filled with malice; who wouldn’t be offended?
With one side being a crucial general and a family elder, while the other was a favored strategist, it was indeed difficult for Huang Song to navigate.
Yuan Chong wanted to say more, but Huang Song couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Enough!”
Huang Song’s thin anger immediately subdued Yuan Xin, who awkwardly bowed his head to drink, no longer daring to lash out.
As the banquet concluded, Feng Jue and Cheng Jing left one after the other, along with the other strategists and military leaders dispersing.
Cheng Jing quickly sped up to catch up with the departing Feng Jue.
“From my understanding of Liu Xi, she is not someone who indulges in beauty as a flaw—”
Feng Jue was not surprised by Cheng Jing’s appearance. He replied in a low voice, “She is indeed not that. Not only isn’t she that, but she has schemes that rival those who delve into strategies. During the northern border campaign, my second brother stayed in Wanzhou. Yet now, she brings both him and Meng Hunyun along—what could her true intentions be?”
Seeing his long-lost brother Feng Jin at the banquet, Feng Jue maintained a calm façade while his heart was in turmoil.
Meng Hunyun was once a school officer in Cangzhou Meng County; the Cangzhou Meng Clan caused him to lose his wife and daughter, so Jiang Pengji’s bringing along Meng Hunyun was reasonable.
But—
What was her purpose in bringing along Feng Jin?
Feng Jue didn’t dare to think too deeply.
In fact, both Feng Jue and Cheng Jing were overthinking Jiang Pengji’s cunningness. If she were that ruthless, wouldn’t she pull Cheng Cheng and Cheng Yuan along too?
Cheng Cheng was Cheng Jing’s nephew, and Cheng Yuan was Cheng Jing’s grandnephew.
Cheng Jing furrowed his brow, “Cheng Yun is a member of Zhong Zhao; he has never been to Dongqing before, making it impossible for him to have any relations with Liu Xi.”
Feng Jue lowered his gaze, “Don’t forget, although Cheng Yun is from Zhong Zhao, his ancestral lineage traces back to Dongqing.”
Nie Xun’s search for relatives was hardly a secret.
Cheng Jing’s brow twitched violently.
“What you mean is—Cheng Yun might have some connection to Liu Xi? If that’s the case, why would Cheng Yun keep it from us?”
They could confirm that Liu Xi and Nie Xun were meeting for the first time.
If there was any blood relationship, it wouldn’t make sense for Liu Xi to know while Nie Xun didn’t.
“Not exactly—don’t forget, Mr. Yuanjing is Cheng Yun’s father-in-law, and he is currently in Liu Xi’s territory as a teacher—” Feng Jue added coldly, “Tsk—no matter what she’s cooking up, we need to stay alert.”
Jiang Pengji acted on her whims; although Huang Song allied with her, the alliance was merely verbal and lacked deep interests entwined. Without certain interests intertwined as a guarantee, such alliances are too fragile—like a mirage, easily shattered.
Jiang Pengji “teasing” Nie Xun at the banquet raised alarms among Huang Song’s strategists, while the military leaders were still bewildered.
As the instigator, Jiang Pengji hadn’t moved further, seeming genuinely enamored.
She had no time for Nie Xun now because she received an unexpected invitation—
“Cousin Heng, it has been years since we last met, and you’ve become even more refined!”
Jiang Pengji looked at Meng Heng, and to be precise, this was the second time she had seen him since her arrival.
Considering her cousin’s experiences, Jiang Pengji felt a genuine sympathy.
Sympathy aside, if he stood on the opposing side, she wouldn’t show mercy.
Meng Heng sat down, his posture tall and upright, elegant like bamboo, with a commanding presence.
Hearing Jiang Pengji address him this way, he forced a smile and directly stated, “Is cousin Xi wondering why I am here?”
Jiang Pengji replied, “I am indeed a bit puzzled. Cousin Heng, you are not from Cangzhou; how come you—”
As Meng Heng lifted his head, she clearly noticed the persistent whip marks on his face, especially the deep scar on his left eyelid.
“As a son, one should not rashly criticize their elders. But my father’s actions indeed contravene natural justice, and I only seek to compensate for a fraction of it.”
Meng Heng stood up from his seat, heavily walking to the center of the hall, and deeply bowed to Jiang Pengji.
Jiang Pengji raised her brows, “Cousin Heng, you—”
Never did she expect this cousin would actually jump to her side.
What on earth had Meng Zhan done to provoke such anger that he forced the gentle and upright Meng Heng to such a drastic stance?
“I hope cousin Xi will grant me this,” Meng Heng bowed deeply again.
Jiang Pengji would naturally not deny him.
Meng Heng’s arrival was like divine assistance.
Not to mention talent, as a scion of the Meng Clan, although unpopular, his knowledge of Cangzhou was beyond others.
If Meng Zhan knew Meng Heng had sided with her, she wondered if his old face could handle that?
“Cousin Heng, please rise quickly; your actions are too much for me.”
Jiang Pengji stood and helped the bowing Meng Heng up, with an air of deep sibling affection.
She inquired with genuine curiosity, “However, I am very curious—Cousin Heng being a scion of the Meng Clan, why would you—”
Meng Heng’s expression darkened, “This matter is hard to explain, and revealing it would only be a family disgrace, lest it tarnish the Lord’s ears.”
