Chapter 234 Poisonous Mute

Meng Mansion.

Guan Yi'an has been detained at the Meng residence for nearly ten days.

During those ten days, the guards beat him almost every day, forcing him to reveal his reasons for plotting against the Meng family.

At first, Guan Yi'an bit his lip and didn't speak. Anyway, the guards' punches and kicks were not a serious punishment for him. As long as they didn't hit his face, he could withstand a lot of beatings.

After a few days, he noticed that Meng Xingyuan's gaze was becoming increasingly dangerous, and he realized that he had made a big mistake.

Now that Meng Xingyuan knows he's going to the palace to complain, he can't deny it. The more he stays silent, the more Meng Xingyuan will feel there's a hidden truth behind it.

He would be in even greater danger.

Having figured this out, Guan Yi'an pretended the next day that he couldn't stand being beaten anymore and admitted that he did intend to go to the palace to complain because he had a small conflict with Meng Lingge in Jiangnan and was harboring resentment and wanted to take revenge.

Upon hearing this, Meng Xingyuan's hostility towards him indeed lessened somewhat, but he was still not entirely at ease, so he ordered his men to continue beating him for a few more days. During these days, Guan Yi'an persisted in this statement and began to show weakness and plead for mercy.

He knew that Meng Xingyuan was too easily swayed; otherwise, he wouldn't have married his eldest daughter, Meng Lingge, to him after Meng Xingyuan repeatedly asked for her hand in marriage and said a few nice words.

Meng Xingyuan is now almost convinced of him. If he puts in a little more effort, he will be able to escape from the Meng family mansion.

Hearing familiar footsteps approaching the torture chamber, Guan Yi'an's previously weak groans immediately turned pitiful and hoarse.

"I've said everything I needed to say, please spare me. If you spare me, I'll never come to the capital again... Ah, it hurts so much! I'm a wanderer, I only have one relative in this world. Although I harbor evil intentions and desire revenge, it's mostly for the reward money. Only with the reward money can I find my little sister. I know I was wrong, please let me go..."

Meng Xingyuan has kept him imprisoned for so long; he must have already investigated his background and whereabouts thoroughly. Fortunately, his face belongs to Zheng Qingshan, so he can investigate Zheng Qingshan's background and whereabouts at will.

Not only are they not afraid of being investigated, but their background is also extremely pitiful and lamentable.

He spoke with great emotion, fully expressing Zheng Qingshan's tragic helplessness, almost completely immersing himself in the situation.

Meng Xingyuan, standing outside the door, felt a pang of sadness and sympathy upon hearing this.

Guan Yi'an's guess was correct.

During the time Meng Xingyuan had kept him imprisoned, he had already sent people to thoroughly investigate Zheng Qingshan.

Meng Xingyuan already knew when he entered the princess's residence, when he went to Jiangnan, that he had a lost younger sister, when he returned to the capital, and who he met after returning to the capital.

The findings were largely consistent with what Guan Yi'an had said after being tortured, which undoubtedly deepened Meng Xingyuan's trust in him.

Although Meng Lingge's letter mentioned that this person was dangerous, and Princess Qiongxiao's letter to him even suggested that he eliminate the threat completely, Meng Xingyuan still couldn't bring himself to take this person's life.

In his view, this young man lost his parents at a young age and sold his body to serve Princess Qiongxiao when he was a teenager. He had been saving money to find his lost sister. He could indeed be described as having a wandering life and being all alone.

Although he acted out of greed and harbored malice, his crime did not warrant death.

However, the Emperor is now suspicious of the Meng family. This man knows that Meng Lingge is pregnant with the child of the Northern Frontier King. If he is released, it feels like a potential threat.

Meng Xingyuan had been hesitating for two days about whether to release him or not.

Now that Guan Yi'an has taken the initiative to say that he will not return to the capital, it has undoubtedly caused Meng Xingyuan's balance to tilt slightly again.

He stepped out from the corner and looked at Guan Yi'an hanging on the rack.

Meng Xingyuan had warned his men to only teach the other side a lesson and not to damage their internal organs or limbs.

So, although Guan Yi'an looked battered and pitiful with bruises all over his body, they were actually just superficial injuries that would heal after a few days of rest and applying medicine.

However, after ten days of continuous whipping and beatings, the pain and torment were unbearable for most people, so Guan Yi'an's screams were understandable.

"Are you really never going to the capital again?"

Guan Yi'an nodded weakly, looking pitiful, and said, "Please let me go, I'll never dare to come again, I'll leave right away..."

Meng Xingyuan nodded and advised, "A gentleman loves wealth, but he acquires it in a proper way. I've heard that you've studied for a few years, so you should know this principle. Now the court is beset by internal and external troubles, and the emperor is very suspicious. Even if you go up to him and expose this matter, you may not get the better of him."

Guan Yi'an agreed, "I know, I'm not going, I really am not going. I'm going to another place to find my sister, and I'll never come to the capital again."

Meng Xingyuan ordered his men to put Guan Yi'an down and personally poured him a glass of water.

"It's good that you understand. If this had happened to any other official, they would have killed you to cover it up. But I, Meng Xingyuan, have never had a wronged person die under my command. You harbored evil intentions, but you haven't committed any serious crimes yet, so I'll give you another chance. These ten days of confinement and beatings will be considered to atone for your crime of trying to harm my entire household. I will send someone to escort you out of the capital. If you reform your ways in the future, you might still have a chance to make a name for yourself and find your family."

Guan Yi'an listened to his words of comfort and knew that Meng Xingyuan had decided to let him go. He was excited inside, but outwardly he complied and took the glass of water and drank it all in one gulp.

"Thank you...ah..."

He tried to say a few words of thanks, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't utter a complete sentence.

Guan Yi'an pointed at Meng Xingyuan in shock, her eyes filled with horror.

When did this old man become so vicious and treacherous?

Meng Xingyuan looked at him and said in a low voice, "Don't be afraid. This medicine has only temporarily damaged your throat. It should recover in about a year or two. Don't blame me either. This matter involves more than a hundred people in my Meng family, so I have to treat it with caution. I will have my men prepare a hundred taels of silver for you, enough for you to live comfortably for several years. Consider it my compensation to you."

A year and a half later, Lingge's children were almost all born. Given the current situation, the Emperor and the King of Northern Frontier should have already determined who was in power by then, so there would be no need to worry about this person going to the Emperor to complain again.

This was a win-win solution that Meng Xingyuan had racked his brains to come up with.

Originally, he wanted to get some medicine to make the person lose their memory, but the pharmacy couldn't make such medicine, so he had to settle for second best and first poison the person's voice.

Meng Xingyuan went to great lengths to prevent future troubles without taking any lives.

Upon hearing this, Guan Yi'an secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but what surged up next was a deep-seated hatred.

This old man spouts nonsense about morality and righteousness, hurts his voice, prevents him from filing a lawsuit, and still expects him to be grateful. He's just a hypocrite!

Guan Yi'an gritted his teeth in hatred, but on the surface he tried his best to endure it, putting on a pitiful face of helpless acceptance.