Chapter 208.1: Interrogating (Part 1)

“Shen Miao, is it that if I did not instruct people to call you, you will not come over at all?”

The atmosphere in the room got cold. His gaze was as sharp as knife and even though his face was pale, his visor was not weakened.

Shen Miao said, “You have really thought too much.”

“Do you have any matters that are concealed from me?” Xie Jing Xing asked.

Shen Miao shook her head, “No.” How to say it? In all fairness, this lifetime was completely differently from the previous one and Xie Jing Xing might not have anything to do with Mei Furen. However when Fu Ming and Wan Yu were implicated, she could not see this matter objectively and rationally.

If she did not have any affection for Xie Jing Xing, perhaps it would be much easier. The most fearful thing was that emotions complicate matters. Hate would not be hate, love would not be love and at the end it would breed countless of fears and one would not have any courage to face the issue in front.

Xie Jing Xing looked at her deeply and Shen Miao feared that her hidden thoughts could be seen and said, “Since your health is better, one should rest more. The night is long, sleep early after taking the medication.” She then stood up and turn around to leave.

“You just cannot wait to leave?” Xie Jing Xing’s voice was heard from behind and it seemed to consist of some invisible grievances, “One heard that these few days you have not come over to see me. However the first thing I thought when I opened my eyes was that you must be frightened.” His lips twitched as his eyes hang down, “It is me that imagined too much emotions.”

Shen Miao did not say anything and pushed the doors to walk out. After taking a few steps, she stopped.

Xie Jing Xing would definitely notice her adnormalities and with his level of sensitivity, if he discover it, then she would not be able to explain her secret. The matter of Chang Zai Qing was related to her family but this Li Mei and brother had never been encountered by her and they were Xie Jing Xing’s benefactors. It was because everyone in Long Ye knew about it, so nothing could happen to Li Mei and her brother as suspicion would be on her and it would also drag the residence of Prince Rui into the mud.

On the other hand, even though this would bring about a calamity, letting them live in this lifetime for an additional moment was a torture for Shen Miao thus she felt it was necessary to eradicate the enemies of her past lifetime. This was also related to Xie Jing Xing so Shen Miao felt that she had finally encounter her greatest problem after coming to Great Liang for this long.

Ba Jiao brought a bowl of medicine over and was startled when she saw Shen Miao, “Why did Furen come out so quickly? Why not accompany Master for a while?”

“There is no need.” Shen Miao said, “Take good care of him.” She then walked forward without turning her head back.

Two days later, Mo Qing brought the information that he had inquired to Shen Miao.

He said, “This pair of siblings are from Qin Province and is the children of a merchant family but they were adopted. This merchant family’s Furen died early and the Master died of illness not too long ago. Before his death, he told them that both of them were not his biological children thus after they have buried their adopted Father, they came to Long Ye in search of their family. However there was not much clues.”

“That is not possible.” Shen Miao stood up.

Mo Qing said, “One could only inquire this much information. This subordinate instructed people to inquire about it at Qin Province’s side and the entire neighborhood all knew of them and watch the siblings grow up.”

“Are you sure that Li Mei had never been to Ming Qi?” Unconsciously Shen Miao’s fingernails were buried into her palm.

“She had never gone for a trip and this was her first time leaving Qin Province.” Mo Qing said.

SHen Miao closed her eyes.

“These two days, Li Mei and Li Ke are at the Prince residence and they would occasionally go to Ji residence to talk with Ji Furen. Nothing else happened.”

Shen Miao asked, “Then have they seen His Highness?”

“That did not happen. Without being summoned, no one can see His Highness. Even a benefactor would not be able to do so.” Mo Qing answered.

“I understand. You can withdraw and continue monitoring this pair of siblings. Tell me immediately if there are any movements.” Shen Miao said.

Mo Qing complied and withdrew.

After Mo Qing left, Shen Miao sat back down on the chair and her gaze gradually became heavy.

Since Mo Qing inquired about it then it would not be wrong at all. However the information that was inquired was different with the past lifetime as she had suddenly changed from Ming Qi’s official’s daughter to Great Liang’s merchant’s children. This was indeed strange. It was either this pair of siblings was very good in concealing that their background was so clean that nothing was out of place.

As such, even if she was to tell Ji Furen that these two people had bad intentions, no one would believe her. Who would believe if a pair of merchant siblings that grew up in Qin Province came to Long Ye for the first time to search for relatives would harm the Prince residence?

She got up. She initially wanted to take a look at Xie Jing Xing but after thinking that Li Mei and brother were currently living in the same roof with the position of Xie Jing Xing’s benefactors and might possibily have a connection with Great Liang’s Imperial family in the last lifetime, she felt that it was difficult to face him.

At the end she did not take that step out.

*****

Wei Yang Palace.

After Empress Xian De heard the palace maid finish speaking, she finally gave a sigh of relief and there was a light smile on her expression, “Since one has woken up, it means that the danger has passed. Someone come and sent two of BenGong’s hundred years old ginseng to the Prince residence to booster one’s health.” Afterwards she suddenly thought of something and said, “Is the Emperor aware of the matter?”

“His Majesty is aware.” The palace maid said with a smile.

“Good. BenGong will talk to him about it.” After speaking, Empress Xian De started to get up.

But the palace maid spoke hesitantly, “His Majesty is currently at Her Ladyship Consort Jing… Most likely celebrating…”

Empress Xian De’s action paused before she smiled gently, “As such then BenGong do not need to go over.” However there was an undetectable trace of sadness.

“But Your Ladyship, this servant had heard previously heard of a matter when His Highness the Prince woke up and heard some Furen discussing and said that…”

“What did they say?”

“They said that WangFei of First Rank did not like the siblings that saved His Highness the Prince’s life and made things difficult. Perhaps it was due to the jealousy that the other party’s beauty was superior than her or perhaps did not wish His Highness the Prince to be saved…” When she spoke to the end, her voice gradually became weak, seemingly know that the words she spoke was treacherous.

“What nonsense.” Empress Xian De shouted, “How would WangFei not want His Highness the Prince to be saved?”

The palace maid was so scared that she did not dare to look up.

Empress Xian De calmed herself down after shouting out and said faintly, “They said that WangFei is jealous? BenGong felt that they are only benefactors but are able to make such big waves. This pair of siblings is not ordinary people.”

Wei Yang Palace gradually quieten down and no one spoke. Empress Xian De sat at the highest position and her gaze changed but she looked extremely lonely.

*****

For the past ten continuous days, Shen Miao kept to herself in the room to think carefully for a way that was the best of both worlds. However no matter how she thought, she could not be certain that there would not be future problems. Li Mei and brother appeared in this lifetime at such a juncture and placed them in such a sensitive position, it was like a barrier that Shen Miao could not move.

In these past ten days, she was deliberately avoided Xie Jing Xing. Because every time she faced Xie Jing Xing, her mind would be filled with countless of suspicions. If the Li Mei and brother in the past lifetime was related to Xie Jing Xing then Shen Miao did not know how to face Xie Jing Xing and feared that their husband and wife fate would also come to an end.

Because of Wan Yu and Fu Ming, she could not take it as though nothing had happen.

This morning when Shen Miao woke up, her expression was very ugly. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu could see that something was not right with her and asked a few times. Shen Miao only half-heartedly elaborated it but her heart was anxious and doubtful.

Last night she had dreamt an entire night of dreams. She dreamt of Kun Ning Palace of Ding capital and Wan Yu and Fu Ming was in front of here eating fruits and chatting leisurely. Just as they were speaking, blood started to flow from both Wan Yu’s and Fu Ming’s mouth. She panicky called for the Imperial Physician but the when she raised her head, she saw Mei Furen and Fu Xiu Yi walk over. Fu Xiu Yi instructed people to bind her and threw her and uncertain living or dead Wan Yu and Fu Ming in the palace and set a fire to burn Kun Ning Palace to the ground.

The raging fire swallowed Kun Ning Palace and quickly engulfed Wan Yu and Fu Ming. She screamed heart-rending but saw Mei Furen smiling lightly, “You have lost.”

Shen Miao suddenly woke up from the dream. The sun raised early during summer and it seemed to have the heat like when it was during noon that it made one’s eyes dazzle. Shen Miao had a cold sweat that drenched her entire body. However Wan Yu’s and Fu Ming’s desperate look filled her entire mind and made her so restless that she could not sit properly.

When she just exited the courtyard, she saw Li Mei who was heading out.

Li Mei saw Shen Miao and immediately stopped before giving her a bow.

Shen Miao’s eyes darken. Every time she met this female, she would have to do her best to restrain her killing intent. Especially the dream last night, it made her could not even restrain herself from reaching out to strangle the other party till death. Her fingernails were piercing her palms under her sleeves till it was slightly painful so that she would be somewhat clear minded.

Shen Miao took a look at Li Mei, “Young Lady Li, where are you going?” Her tone of voice was blunt and had an unfathomable meaning to it and it was something that one could not conceal at all.

Li Mei smiled, “His Highness just woke up and have summoned us siblings over. Second Younger Brother has went over first. This PingNu is about to rush over.” She then looked at Shen Miao somewhat ashamed, “One has troubled in the residence for many days and after seeing His Highness the Prince of First Rank, this PingNu plans to leave. Your Ladyship WangFei has taken care of us for a long time and one have not yet said a word of thanks.”

Shen Miao sneered in her heart. She had never instructed people to ‘take care’ of these two people so this should be Ji Furen’s idea. In addition the entire residence saw that they saved Xie Jing Xing’s life, thus they were even more polite to both of them.

“Why say words of leaving?” Shen Miao said indifferently, “We have yet to repay to you.”

Li Mei shook her head, “We are here to search for relatives and since His Highness has recovered, we should leave.”

The corners of Shen Miao’s lips pulled up but she did not bother to smile at all. She just could not believe that they were here to search for relatives. Who would know what they were here in Long Ye for?

Li Mei looked at Shen Miao and suddenly said, “Your Ladyship WangFei, is there something that PingNu has offended Your Ladyship with? Your Ladyship does not seem to like PingNu.”

At the end, these words were said. Shen Miao’s attitude towards Li Mei was the most obvious and could be seen from the very beginning. Towards Xie Jing Xing’s benefactors, other than the first encounter, Shen Miao had no longer seen her. Shen Miao’s action had always been gentle so it was not that she had forgotten but it was done intentionally. As to why she did so, it was confusing for others.

“I indeed do not like you.” Shen Miao’s chin raised up. She could succumb to her enemies like a snake but could not do it to Mei Furen. She wanted to express her hate directly. If it wasn’t because of the residence of Prince Rui or because she could not explain to Xie Jing Xing… She chuckled lightly, “Do you want to know why?”

Li Mei looked at her in confusion. That pair of flattering eyes were puzzled, as if they contained some truthfulness, vastly different from the scornfulness in Shen Miao’s memory.

“Instinct.” Shen Miao said coldly. Then she did not turn back as she walked pass Li Mei as she left with Jing Zhe and Gu Yu.

Li Mei stood at the same place for a while before shaking her head and leave.

Shen Miao stood from afar as she saw her back view with an icy expression.

Jing Zhe and Gu Yu dared not even speak a single word. They did not know why but they always felt that when Shen Miao faced this unfamiliar Mei Furen, she would become very scary. That kind of scariness… Was something that they had never experience with Shen Miao before.

“About to leave?” Shen Miao said to herself softly before saying coldly, “Could one leave?” She then turn around, “Call Mo Qing over for me.”