The next day.
In the顾 old general's courtyard.
In the main hall.
The 顾 old general sat at the head.
Beside him stood 顾 Kun, 顾 Yi, and 顾 Wen.
顾 Kun, dressed in court attire, looked as if he had just returned from court.
顾 Yi, clad in a blue robe, his face slightly pale from constant medication, stood nearby.
顾 Wen, in a luxurious brocade robe, wore an expression of curiosity.
Last night, the death of his mother, Madam Meng, seemed to have no effect on him.
Even the capture of his own sister, 顾 Mingyue, appeared to be of no importance to him.
To the other side of 顾 Ye Feng.
He was still dressed in purple, handsome and dashing.
In the center of the main hall.
Old Steward Wang was held down by two soldiers, kneeling on the ground.
The 顾 old general looked at him coldly, "Who exactly are you? What is your purpose in hiding by my side for so many years?"
The exposure of Old Steward Wang made the 顾 old general feel that the entire matter was far from simple.
However, after interrogating him all night, the old steward remained tight-lipped, saying nothing.
The 顾 old general was known for his temper. In the military camp, interrogating prisoners was usually handled by his grandson, 顾 Ye Feng.
But now, faced with the silent defiance of Old Steward Wang, the 顾 old general, enraged, slammed his hand onto the table and said in a deep voice, "Guards, drag this man out and beat him severely until he speaks."
Just as two soldiers were about to drag Old Steward Wang away, 顾 Qian Ying arrived with her personal maid, Lu Zhu.
"Grandfather, wait a moment."
顾 Qian Ying stopped the two soldiers and stood before Old Steward Wang, looking at him. "General Meng, or rather, I should call you former General Meng, am I correct?"
The old steward, who had been silently looking down, showed a slight change in expression upon hearing 顾 Qian Ying's words. He raised his head, looked at 顾 Qian Ying, and said in a cold, calm tone, "It seems you are indeed different in Nangong Mo's eyes. That's good, haha, very good."
顾 Qian Ying frowned as she watched the old steward laugh maniacally.
She didn't believe the old steward was happy for her when he said that. Instead, it felt more like he was testing Nangong Mo for someone.
Perhaps she was overthinking it.
What did it matter if she was different in Nangong Mo's eyes? Could Nangong Mo really give up everything he had for her?
"Former General Meng, if I'm not mistaken, your identity being exposed tonight was something you were forced into. Before your identity was revealed, you had prepared to commit suicide by poison.
The Man Yin powder is a first-class poison that grows year-round in the Southern Barbarian Kingdom. This poison is bitter and has a faint scent of cloves. You hid in this mansion for many years, often under Grandfather's nose. You rarely left the mansion over the years. The Southern Barbarian Kingdom is quite far from Yan Kingdom. I presume this poison was given to you by your master. Am I right?"
The old steward looked at 顾 Qian Ying with more contemplation.
He had been hiding in the 顾 mansion for many years and had never known that the eldest daughter of the 顾 family, whom he had watched grow up, was so exceptionally intelligent.
The old steward remained silent.
顾 Qian Ying continued nonchalantly, "It seems your master has abandoned you, this pawn. Former General Meng, you served your master with all your might, devoted your life to loyalty, and even didn't hesitate to train your own daughter into an excellent informant. Are you not resentful of such loyalty?"
The old steward remained silent.
顾 Qian Ying raised her hand slightly.
Lu Zhu immediately handed her a cup of prepared throat-soothing green leaf tea.
顾 Qian Ying took the teacup, took a sip, handed the teacup back to Lu Zhu, and then looked at the old steward. "Indeed, what good would resentment do? Your role, and even your daughter Madam Meng's role, were arranged by your master years ago. Every step you took these years was within your master's calculations, wasn't it?
However, you never expected that years later, I, this eldest daughter who never meddled in affairs and always followed the rules, would disrupt your plans.
So, you used Princess Xuan Ning's animosity towards me to try and kill me.
Of course, 顾 Mingyue's animosity towards me is no less than Princess Xuan Ning's.
But 顾 Mingyue is, after all, your biological granddaughter. You and Madam Meng naturally wouldn't bear to drag her into this.
However, man proposes, but heaven disposes. You, who initially didn't want to drag 顾 Mingyue into this, never expected 顾 Mingyue to jump into the pit herself.
So, you could only play along, waiting for 顾 Mingyue to trick Princess Xuan Ning into capturing me, and then make your move.
But 顾 Mingyue is simply too foolish. In using Princess Xuan Ning against me, there were too many flaws. Thus, you had to constantly 'patch up the loopholes' for her.
If I'm not mistaken, the village head that Princess Xuan Ning brought that day should have been your person. But for some reason, your person was replaced by someone else.
The village head I met that day, his master behind him, perhaps already suspected you and Madam Meng, or perhaps knew of your existence long ago.
Therefore, the village head used that day intentionally revealed some information to me after I asked him a few questions.
Afterward, 顾 Mingyue, fearing exposure, secretly tried to kill the village head. You naturally knew that the village head couldn't be left alive, so you went along with it and helped 顾 Mingyue. Since 顾 Mingyue doesn't know martial arts, the guards outside the door were all drugged by you.
And since 顾 Mingyue didn't kill the village head with a single blow, you poisoned the village head again after 顾 Mingyue left. Am I correct?"
"Hahaha."
At this moment, the old steward finally spoke. He laughed three times and looked at 顾 Qian Ying. "I never expected that this old man would be defeated by you, a mere girl. Hmph, even if you're right, what of it? You'll never get anything valuable from me. Hmph, never!"
At this moment, the 顾 old general stood up and walked over, pointing at the old steward and looking at 顾 Qian Ying. "Little Ying, who do you say this person is?"
"Meng Yi Kang!"
The 顾 old general's eyes widened in shock. "A remnant of the former dynasty, the old general of the Meng family, Meng Yi Kang."
顾 Qian Ying nodded.
The 顾 old general's gaze lingered on the old steward's face for a long time. After a moment, he spoke, "I never imagined that this mansion harbored a remnant of the former dynasty?"
"Then his daughter is..."
"Madam Meng, who died yesterday."
"How could it be her? But if she were a remnant of the former dynasty, she would bear the brand of 'slave.' How could she have hidden it without being discovered?"
顾 Qian Ying turned around. "As for that, there's no need to hide it. One only needs to please one person."
As she spoke, 顾 Qian Ying looked at 顾 Kun. "Isn't that right, Father?"
顾 Kun was startled. His expression became somewhat unnatural, and he immediately shouted at 顾 Qian Ying, "What nonsense are you talking about? Who is Madam Meng, and what were her intentions over the years? How would I know!"
Before 顾 Qian Ying could speak.
顾 Yi spoke first.
"Qian Ying, perhaps Father truly doesn't know Madam Meng's true identity. If Father knew... how could he not inform... Grandfather?"
"Cough, cough, cough."
After speaking, 顾 Yi coughed several times.
Beside him, 顾 Wen, listening to the conversation between 顾 Qian Ying and the old steward, was completely stunned.
顾 Qian Ying glanced at 顾 Yi without responding. Instead, she smiled at 顾 Kun. "Father, your act of feigning ignorance is truly brilliant?"
"How brilliant, let this king also hear!"