Chapter 458 - A Pleasant Surprise
Chapter 458 A Pleasant Surprise
Lin Mengya leaned on the top of the wall and her eyes took in everything in the courtyard of the farmhouse.
The squarish little courtyard was neat and tidy.
However, since a group of men had already left, there were only a handful of men patrolling the farmhouse in the courtyard.
After careful observation, Lin Mengya realized that although there were not many men, there were two highly skilled men in martial arts among them.
If she guessed correctly, Hongyu ought to have been locked up in one of the rooms in the farmhouse.
It was because there were two men seated outside the room.
Lin Mengya had wanted to wipe out all those men and save Hongyu by the way.
However, she suddenly thought of a better idea.
“Long Tianyu, could you instruct your men to lure those men away? I want to go in and speak to Hongyu,” Lin Mengya whispered to Long Tianyu.
Long Tianyu nodded. He first made sure Lin Mengya was positioned at a spot where no one could see her easily, then he proceeded to give instructions to his men.
In a while, Lin Mengya could hear some movements in the courtyard.
After a little commotion, the courtyard gradually quietened down.
Lin Mengya emerged cautiously from her hiding place. By now, there was only one person left in the courtyard.
Nevertheless, this man was leaning on the gate and appeared to be watching the situation outside the courtyard.
“My men had lured those men away. They should be able to hold them up for another hour.”
Long Tianyu sneaked up from behind quietly in the dark and whispered into Lin Mengya’s ears.
“Good, that should be enough. Could you also settle that one man in the courtyard?”
While Lin Mengya was speaking, that man who had been looking out through the gate, had by now turned around and went into the courtyard.
However, there was an urgent expression on his face. He walked briskly and soon reached the room where Lin Mengya had been eyeing.
Just when those large, dark hands of the man came into contact with the door of the room, he felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck. Thereafter, he lost all strength and fell to the floor.
“Plop!” He fell down heavily.
Hongyu, who was in the room, was anxious to pass a message to Princess Yu.
It was at this moment that she heard a commotion outside.
From the noise outside, it seemed that someone hiding had been found out.
Hongyu had a brainwave. She leaned against the door cautiously. Could she run away if there was no one guarding her outside?
When the noise outside had died down and all was quiet again, Hongyu opened the door immediately.
Her eyes widened and she stared at what was before her eyes.
“Your Highness, the princess… how come you’re here?”
Lin Mengya glanced coldly at the burly man paralyzed on the floor.
The man had the face of a scum. Without further ado, Long Tianyu dragged him away elsewhere.
Lin Mengya could not even be bothered what Long Tianyu was going to do to him.
Gazing at Hongyu’s surprised expression in her eyes, Lin Mengya nodded gently to her and entered the room which was obviously a store room for firewood.
“We are running short of time, so I’ll just cut short my explanation. I’m here to save you, but there’s no need to be touched. I’m just making use of you to lure the instigator behind your sister’s back. If you’re willing, I’ll bring you away with me.”
Lin Mengya’s voice was indifferent and monotonous.
Moreover, she indeed intended to make use of Hongyu. She had never denied this fact.
Little did she know that the intent in Hongyu’s heart had transformed completely.
Or one could say that Lin Mengya’s truthful attitude allowed Hongyu to understand her sincerity and preciousness.
“Are you trying to say these men had been sent by my sister?”
Hongyu had caught on to Lin Mengya’s message. Given her intelligence, she had known this long ago.
However, she had been trying to convince herself otherwise all this time.
Now that Lin Mengya had confirmed her belief through her words, there was no way Hongyu could deny it but be resigned to fate.
To her surprise, she was not upset over it. On the contrary, she felt a burden lifted.
“Yes, I’ve sent someone to follow her, but they lost her. However, I’m certain that these men here are somehow linked to your sister. If you want to proceed with a confrontation, I’m willing to be your witness.”
From their conversation, Hongyu knew that the situation was a foregone conclusion by now.
All feelings of grief and sorrow had dispersed at this moment.
Despite her kinship with Sumei, the impulsive feeling in Hongyu had cooled after all that happened.
She had thought that she had found her kin. Never would she imagine that she had, in reality, found a vicious enemy.
“That’s not necessary. I believe she won’t admit it even if I confront her. Moreover, you don’t have to get me out of here. You are the one person that I’m most indebted to in my entire life. I’ll remain here to atone for my sins.”
Lin Mengya would never have expected Hongyu to be so cool about this.
It appeared that she had underestimated Hongyu.
Thinking from another perspective, could Hongyu know some insider information that Lin Mengya did not know?
“Why? It’s so dangerous here. Moreover, I’ve told you that you don’t owe me anything now. Let’s forget about all the grievances between us. If you’re merely feeling that you have done me wrong, rest assured that you don’t need to feel that way anymore.”
Her words sounded too noble and kind.
This was the kind of person Lin Mengya really was. Even if she was making use of someone to achieve her objective, she would not choose to deceive that person but be direct with her.
Lies did not last. Only if the person was a willing party would they reap the best outcome.
She would not deny that she was despicable, but who, wanting to survive in this world, had never been despicable?
“It’s not really because I feel indebted to you, but I just wish that I could return you a favor. After all, I’ve utterly offended you. Given your status and popularity, you just had to say it and I’ll survive. Similarly, you just have to conceive the intent, and I would live miserably. While I wish I could help you, I would also be helping myself if I did.”
Hongyu was no longer blinded by kinship. With a clear mind, she was able to see the situation clearly.
Every word she said now was spoken right from her heart.
She did not wish to continue living like a fool, neither did she want to be tossed aside after being made use of by others.
In this case, her only choice was to become an appendage to a person who was more powerful, thereby making a niche for herself.
Compared to that queer investigator, Princess Yu was by far the best choice.
This was the reason she volunteered to stay by Princess Yu to serve her.
Lin Mengya cast a doubtful look at Hongyu. She was not sure yet what was on Hongyu’s mind.
One moment, she was willing to sacrifice everything for sister; but in the other moment, she seemed so clear-minded and determined to serve Lin Mengya.
After hesitating for a moment, Lin Mengya finally said with a somber tone.
“Are you serious about what you said?”
Hongyu looked at her with earnestness and nodded.
Although she knew she was taking a great risk, she also knew that this was a far greater opportunity not to be missed.
It was worth the risk.
“Alright then, but you’ve to tell me what you know. Firstly, I can complement what you do, and secondly, I’ve to make preparation on my part.”
Lin Mengya made a promise to Hongyu without any hesitation. In fact, this was what she planned to do right from the beginning.
What Lin Mengya did not expect was that Hongyu had taken the initiative to raise this without her nudging.
This was indeed a pleasant surprise. However, she needed to be even more cautious and vigilant.
Acting like a gentleman before being nasty. It was always right to be more careful.
Thereafter, Hongyu told her everything she heard.
This included the investigator’s plans as well as Hongyu’s own analysis of the situation.
A smile appeared at the corner of Lin Mengya’s mouth after she heard what Hongyu said.
How dare this investigator make use of Hongyu and Sumei to deny Lin Mengya’s identity.
Moreover, she could hardly believe that the investigator was working alone without anyone directing him behind his back. It would be impossible for Sumei alone to shake her status and identity.
“You may proceed to go with their plan, but when it’s time to accuse me, don’t point me out, neither accuse Sumei. I suppose you’re only a smoke bomb to them. At that time, just find an excuse to say that you would only be able to recognize who is whom with a closeup. Then, you will look at me for indication.”
Lin Mengya had immediately seen through the enemy’s intention.
The enemy was certainly using another to kill, moreover, he was trying to kill two birds with one stone.
She had had this premonition that the people behind Sumei would someone be involved in the election of the chief elder of the Pavilion of Herbs.
By now, she was 70% to 80% sure that this was the case.
“Alright, I’ll do according to what you say.”
Hongyu understood that if she were to do so, she would most likely be killed there and then.
However, what was the big deal? If she had the courage to follow Lin Mengya’s instructions, even if Lin Mengya did not trust her, she would be seen as being on Lin Mengya’s side.
Lately, she had clearly figured out Lin Mengya’s temperament. She might appear to be sly and temperamental, but she was definitely a person who knew clearly whom to show gratitude and against whom to feel resentment.
For example, in the matter concerning Sumei, Lin Mengya had countless opportunities to kill the sisters, but she eventually let them off.
Hongyu did not think she could survive until now otherwise.
Long Tianyu appeared in the courtyard once again.
However, he did not enter the room but merely exchange a look with Lin Mengya. He stood in the courtyard and surveyed the surrounding with high vigilance and coldness in his eyes.
Lin Mengya knew very well that any further delay meant that those men might return any time.
By then, it would be very difficult for them to get away without being found out.
Lin Mengya gave Hongyu her final instructions, such as not to give herself away, then she left, closing the door behind her and leaving the place exactly as it was before.
In the courtyard, Long Tianyu exchanged looks with Lin Mengya, put his arms around her slim waist, and leaped out of the little courtyard.
Just when all signs of their visit had disappeared from the courtyard, torches began to lit up outside.
Those men who tried to run after the intruders had returned empty-handed.
Hongyu was sitting calmly on a heap of hay in the room. After Lin Mengya’s acknowledgment, Hongyu seemed to receive some form of affirmation and reassurance.
All of a sudden, an excitement rose in her heart from the thought of taking revenge on these people. Since they did not treat her as a human being, she wondered if they would be outraged when she backbite them in the future.