Chapter 235 Questioning
"Alright, you can rest here for half a day. I'll send someone to take you away tonight."
After saying this, Meng Xingyuan turned and left.
Choosing to send Guan Yi'an away at night was not only because Guan Yi'an needed to rest to recover his strength, but also to avoid attracting attention.
Based on his observations over the past few days, there should be no one guarding outside the mansion for the time being, but to be on the safe side, it would be safer to get rid of the person when it is dark and windy.
Meng Xingyuan sent two of his most trusted men to take Guan Yi'an hostage and leave through a side door in the middle of the night.
Guan Yi'an thought that once he left the Meng family mansion, he would regain his freedom. Even though he had lost his voice, he still had hands and feet and could still find a way to complain to the emperor and take revenge on the Meng family.
However, the two guards, who had been holding him captive all the way out of the capital, still showed no intention of letting him leave. It's unclear what instructions Meng Xingyuan gave, but the two men didn't say much, simply following him closely.
Two days later, Guan Yi'an finally realized that Meng Xingyuan was afraid he would break his promise, so he had these two people send him far away to ensure that he could not return to the capital in the short term.
Unfortunately, he was unable to speak and was no match for the enemy in terms of strength. He was guarded and escorted like a criminal all the way, and he didn't even know where he was going.
Only a burning resentment and anger grew stronger day by day, constantly seeking an opportunity to escape control.
Guan Yi'an was unaware that Meng Xingyuan had indeed saved his life, because the day after he left the capital, Jiang Lin, who had been ordered by Meng Lingge to hunt down Zheng Qingshan, finally arrived in the capital.
Zheng Qingshan was imprisoned by Meng Xingyuan shortly after arriving in the capital, so it was not easy to search for his whereabouts. However, Jiang Lin was the most powerful bodyguard by Wen Zhiming's side. Not only was he highly skilled in martial arts, but his ability to track down people was also unparalleled.
Jiang Lin quickly discovered that Zheng Qingshan was kidnapped after leaving a restaurant. Based on the description given by the restaurant staff, Jiang Lin deduced from the clothing and carriage that the kidnappers must have come from the Meng family.
Knowing that it was Meng Lingge's family who took Zheng Qingshan away, Jiang Lin originally wanted to return directly to the Northern Frontier battlefield to report back. However, remembering Meng Lingge's caution when she sent him to follow Zheng Qingshan, and her words that if he could not be captured alive, he should be killed, Jiang Lin decided to go and see Meng Xingyuan.
Meng Xingyuan has been keeping a low profile lately, rarely venturing out except for traveling between the palace and his residence.
The Meng residence was not a good place to discuss matters, and the imperial palace was even more off-limits. Jiang Lin could only intercept Meng Xingyuan on his way back from court.
It was still early when they saw a swordsman in black standing in front of the sedan chair. The guards were on high alert and shouted that it was an assassin.
Jiang Lin cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, trying his best to be obedient.
"Lord Meng, I am not an assassin. My master has something to tell you, and I hope you can speak to me in private."
Meng Xingyuan asked from inside the sedan chair, "Who is your master?"
"The Du family of Jiangnan."
Jiang Lin's masters are Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge, but he knows that Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge's names cannot be mentioned in the capital, so he has to use the name of Meng Lingge's maternal grandparents.
Upon hearing his reply, Meng Xingyuan, who was inside the sedan chair, immediately lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage. He then spoke to the guard.
"Wait here, I'll say a few words to him before I leave."
The guard warned, "My lord, you are in danger!"
"It's alright!" Meng Xingyuan said as he walked, "Don't follow me, I'll be right back."
He believed he had acted uprightly and sat honestly.
Even though he has done some less-than-honorable things, it shouldn't have come to the point of taking his life.
Meng Xingyuan followed Jiang Lin to a distance not far from the carriage, close enough that the guards could see them but not hear their conversation.
Just as Jiang Lin was about to ask about Zheng Qingshan, Meng Xingyuan spoke first: "Did Meng Lingge send you to find me? Tell me, what does she want this time?"
If the Du family of Jiangnan had something to do, they would definitely send a letter or come directly to the mansion. This person's behavior was suspicious and he knew about the Du family of Jiangnan. Meng Xingyuan immediately guessed that it must have been sent by his eldest daughter, Meng Lingge.
The Du family had already informed Meng Xingyuan in a letter about Meng Lingge's departure from the Du residence and the Emperor's dispatch of men to arrest her.
Therefore, he knew that Meng Lingge must be hiding somewhere and unable to show herself. He now felt a headache whenever he thought of this daughter, fearing that Meng Lingge would implicate the entire family and cause them to be punished by the Emperor.
Seeing that Meng Xingyuan had guessed who was behind him, but his tone was not very friendly, Jiang Lin thought for a moment and decided not to mention Meng Lingge's current identity, and nodded.
"Lord Meng guessed correctly. I was indeed sent by the eldest daughter of the Meng family. A few days ago, Lord Meng should have captured a man named Zheng Qingshan. This man is very dangerous. The eldest daughter was worried that he would bring harm to the Meng family, so she specially sent me to track him down. I wonder how Lord Meng dealt with him?"
Meng Xingyuan frowned almost imperceptibly.
Lingge has already written to him, warning him to be wary of this person. Why would he send someone to track him down to the capital? Does this mean he doesn't trust him?
"I have already dealt with this matter. Zheng Qingshan can no longer harm the Meng family. Tell Lingge not to return to the capital for the time being, and not to contact the Prince of Beijiang again. Then, she should abort the child in her womb as soon as possible. After the Emperor has pacified the Prince of Beijiang, I will find her a good marriage."
Jiang Lin secretly rejoiced that he hadn't told Meng Xingyuan that Meng Lingge was now with the King of the Northern Frontier. It turned out that Lord Meng didn't think much of his master.
They even tried to persuade the princess to abort her master's child.
Jiang Lin remained expressionless.
"I will convey Lord Meng's words. But this Zheng Qingshan is no ordinary person. If possible, I would like to trouble Lord Meng to hand him over to me so that I can give him to Miss Meng to deal with."
After Jiang Lin arrived in the capital, he only found out Zheng Qingshan's whereabouts, but there was still no news of Dong Qing. Jiang Lin suspected that Dong Qing might have already died at Zheng Qingshan's hands.
So, as Meng Lingge instructed, Zheng Qingshan had to be killed to avenge Dongqing.
Meng Xingyuan, however, was already extremely impatient.
In his view, Zheng Qingshan's matter was originally a problem created by Meng Lingge. It took him several days to finally resolve the matter perfectly, but the people sent by Meng Lingge kept asking questions and nagging, questioning his ability to handle things.
"As I said, this matter has been resolved. Now the Emperor is suspicious of the Meng family. Qingyu has become a prince's companion, and Xiyao has become the Emperor's concubine. If Lingge is truly thinking of the Meng family, then she should no longer interfere in anything concerning the Meng family. Go back and tell her that the most urgent matter is to deal with the Northern Frontier King's child. If she really wants to give birth, she should hide it well and make sure no one catches her. Otherwise, don't blame me, as her father, for not helping her in her time of need."
As he spoke, his voice involuntarily rose a couple of decibels, but when he saw the guard looking in their direction, he had to lower his voice again and frowned in warning.
Jiang Lin felt very uncomfortable, but this was Meng Lingge's father after all, and he couldn't afford to have a major conflict with him unless absolutely necessary.
Meng Xingyuan was unwilling to talk about Zheng Qingshan anymore, and there was nothing he could do but lower his head and let Meng Xingyuan leave in silence.
Jiang Lin stayed in the capital for an extra day, even sneaking into the Meng residence at night to look for Zheng Qingshan. Unfortunately, he didn't find him and alerted the guards in the residence. After using all his skills to escape, he had no choice but to embark on the journey back to the northern frontier.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
