Chapter 424 - A Tangled Mess
Chapter 424 A Tangled Mess
The sky outside had lit up and Square Town came alive with stalls being set up and businesses being opened.
On the other hand, Huichun House, the place filled with evil, had gone to sleep once again.
The events of the night before had so many twists and turn that even Lin Mengya had not recovered from it.
She was especially perturbed by the fact that the owner of Huichun House claimed that she had let her go in order to return someone’s favor.
This made her feel even more strongly that things happening in the world were not always as simple as she imagined.
Within the small Square Town, her identity was like an exposed secret in the eyes of the owner of Huichun House.
She must not act recklessly from now on, otherwise, she would implicate the people around her.
As for Hongyu, she had after all helped Lin Mengya regardless.
For this reason, Lin Mengya did not wish to pursue the matter further. At the same time, she did not want to have anything to do with her anymore.
“Alright, thanks a lot. Let’s go, Sumei.”
Hongyu and Sumei had changed into clothes that common women wore.
Having lived a life of a courtesan for many years, she had saved up a considerable amount of silver, gold and expensive clothes.
Sumei had recovered from what happened and currently, she gazed at Hongyu and the other with bewildered and fearful eyes.
“No, I won’t go with you! Mister, Miss, I, Sumei, am a good girl from a good family. Let me remain by your side, please?”
Both Lin Mengya and Hongyu did not expect Sumei to get onto her knees to implore them with tears.
Hongyu’s pretty face turned pale in an instant, although she knew she would be too ashamed to see her parents and relatives given her circumstances, Sumei’s description of herself being a good girl from a good family had pierced her heart.
“Sumei, she is your blood sister.”
Lin Mengya was not in her best moods now and she was desperately in need of a quiet place to organize her helter-skelter thoughts.
Never did they expect Sumei to behave as if to follow them was the only way out for her as she knelt on the floor and cried her eyes out.
“This… Qingge… I…”
Hongyu felt hardpressed. Her intense feeling of inferiority stopped her from touching Sumei.
Lin Mengya’s mood could not be worse. She glanced coldly at Sumei and then strode away.
“As long as you’re willing, you may follow us.”
Lin Mengya did not turn her head after making the statement.
She would just help her to the end since she had started out saving her from Huichun House.
Back in the inn, Master Guo and his companions were eating their breakfast when Zhao Fei spotted Long Tianyu and his companion. Zhao Fei immediately broke out into an embarrassing smile and went forward to welcome them.
“That… Eldest Brother Yuan, I’m really sorry. I’ve drunk too much last night. It was only after I came back here that I realized that I’ve left you behind in Huichun House. I’m really sorry.”
Zhao Fei rubbed his palms together as he spoke and guilt was written all over his face.
What kind of place was Huichun House? It was a place that would swallow people whole like a demon.
Surely he would not have brought anyone there unless he was drunk.
For this reason, he was berated by Master Guo severely.
Fortunately, Long Tianyu had returned in one piece. However, Zhao Fei became perplexed and scratched his head when he saw Yuan Lin and a pretty young lady trailing behind him.
It was no wonder that Yuan Mei disappeared the moment they went into Huichun House. These two brothers indeed loved fooling around.
“It’s alright as long as you don’t visit such places again. Master Guo, sorry to have kept everyone waiting. I’m going to pack up right away so we can set out on journey as soon as possible.”
Lin Mengya did not wish to delay any longer. She bowed to Master Guo and was about to bring Xiu to her room on the second floor.
“There’s no hurry, your cousin is not back yet.”
Master Guo said as he continued smoking from the pouch, but he shifted his eyes onto Xiu.
Although Xiu had always kept a low profile, Master Guo remembered seeing her on a few occasions.
Therefore, he recognized that she was Dongfang Xu’s favorite niece at one glance.
Alas, finally it was his group of businessmen that had to take over this troublesome problem.
“Little brother, please go ahead to pack up while I have a little chat with Master Guo.”
A clever Xiu said as she smiled at Master Guo.
Although the two of them did not really know each other, she did not seem one bit fearful of him. She sat herself down at the same table as Master Guo and the two began staring at each other.
“Hrm, don’t be rude.”
Lin Mengya felt a little exhausted although what she had been through the night before was more shock than danger. However, she had a feeling that danger was everywhere in Square Town.
From Moqin’s words, she realized that the people in Huichun House already had their eyes on her the moment she entered the town.
On top of that, Huichun House was somehow related to White Dragon and Black Tiger.
She could tell from the way the owner of Huichun House and Hongyu expressed themselves, that, there were a number of people who wanted to get hold of her.
Perhaps her tracks had been watched by others for a long time. In this case, her journey ahead would be difficult and treacherous.
For some unknown reason, she kept feeling that she was like a bug that was caught and trapped in a spider web.
She felt that there was a constant repressive sensation coming from all directions.
However, she was unable to pinpoint where this feeling of repression was coming from. It was like a gnawing feeling of unease.
As long as she was able to find the medication and bring it back, the emperor would regain his health again. Then Long Tianyu and she would have earned themselves a protective talisman.
“You’re finally back, my little ancestor.”
When Baishao opened the door, she immediately pulled Lin Mengya into the room.
She looked Lin Mengya up and down, fearful that Lin Mengya was hurt in any way.
Seeing the dark circles around her maid’s eyes, Lin Mengya could tell that Baishao had not slept throughout the night.
In contrast with Moqin and Hongyu, her personal maids always brought warmth to her heart.
“I’m alright. I’m sorry, Baishao.”
Suddenly, Lin Mengya reached out and embraced Baishao as she apologized to Baishao in a whisper.
If not for her dangerous encounter the night before, she would not understand how selfish she had been on this journey.
“Why would you say that, Master. I don’t deserve your apology. Moreover, you haven’t done anything wrong. You have your business to attend to. I’m just your maid and I wasn’t of much help. All I could do was wait here for you to come back.”
Baishao gently spoke words of comfort as she patted Lin Mengya on her back lightly.
She blamed herself for being useless. If not for her incompetence, her master would not have to go through last night’s ordeal all by herself.
Keeping her eyes close, Lin Mengya felt utterly exhausted.
In retrospect, how many difficulties would she have overcome if not for the protection and company of Long Tianyu, Qinghu and the group of friends by her side?
“Alright, Master, wash your face quickly. Look at how exhausted you look. Where have you been last night?”
Baishao had been left behind in the inn by Lin Mengya but she knew very well that her master was only trying to protect her.
She was anxious, but she did not blame her master.
Her master, however, looked different today.
After washing up, Lin Mengya changed into a clean set of clothing. However, she was unable to get rid of the dark cloud in her heart.
Her usual smiley face was now overshadowed by dark clouds and this made Baishao uneasy as she was not used to it.
“Cousin, cousin, are you back?”
Lin Mengya had just finished packing and she was sitting at the table, frowning in deep thoughts.
It was at this moment that Qiu Yu dashed through the door into the room.
Lin Mengya raised her eyebrows and glanced at him, then she went back to drinking her tea without saying anything.
Qiu Yu was surprised by Lin Mengya’s indifference and coldness.
“What’s happened to your master?”
Qiu Yu had followed Lin Mengya around last night and saw her enter Huichun House. He was very anxious, seeing that she had not come out from Huichun House for the entire night.
What he did not expect was that he actually fell asleep laying on the roof of Huichun House.
He was lucky not to roll off the roof and die from the fall.
Early in the morning, he finally found the opportunity to sneak into Huichun House. By then, he realized that Lin Mengya could not be found in the whole of Huichun House.
It was then that he hurried back to the inn to check and confirm if Lin Mengya had returned.
Thank goodness it was a false alarm.
“Shush, stop asking. Please go back to your room to pack up, Lord Qiu. Master Guo had sent a message that we will be setting out on the journey soon.”
Baishao was still the person who knew Lin Mengya’s thoughts best.
She pushed Qiu Yu out of the room, leaving a quiet space for her master to be alone.
Despite being intelligent and having help from the advanced technology of the Shen Nung System, Lin Mengya could not figure out who exactly was the one who plotted against her.
Could it be the queen and the Crown Prince? The emperor’s condition had just begun to turn for the better. Moreover, the palace was only this big, it was impossible to completely seal off the information.
Earlier, the Crown Prince lost a number of his men because of the powerful high-ranking officials in court. He must be scrambling to deal with all these things happening in the Capital City. How could he still stretch to put his spies at this border town?
On top of that, there was the issue with Huichun House, the business with White Dragon and Black Tiger. Unless the Crown Prince was looking for trouble, why would he be involved in these businesses of striking fortune?
Moreover, if he really bit the bullet to be ruthless, how would it be possible for Long Tianyu to end up with a draw with him?
If it was not the command of the Crown Prince and the Queen, who could it be? Who else had she offended?
Nevertheless, it seemed that Huichun House merely wanted to capture her. As for the owner of Huichun House, he had released Lin Mengya on account of returning a favor.
It showed that they were not intent on taking her life.
She furrowed her eyebrows. For the first time ever, she felt her brain becoming a mess. She could not make sense of anything anymore.
Damn! What was the reason for all these?
Long Tianyu stood by the door as he looked hesitantly at a dejected Lin Mengya in the room.
He found out from Zhao Fei that he himself had been so bold to go after a dance hostess yesterday.
Even the heavens would know that he had never been interested in courtesans. Never would he expect himself to lose the sense of propriety after drinking a few cups of strong alcohol.
Although since young, he was used to his father, the emperor, having countless women circling him, he could not help feeling guilty before Lin Mengya.
He badly wanted to explain himself before Lin Mengya, but he was afraid that she would not believe him, just like she did not believe him yesterday.