Chapter 605: Impersonating Their Identities
Chapter 605: Chapter 605: Impersonating Their Identities
The night was long, and Miss Ren’s husband had yet to awaken.
While talking with her, Shen Ningning learned the whole story.
This Miss Ren was indeed Ren Pengyi’s eldest daughter, born to his first wife. Her name was Ren Liuyue.
Unfortunately, while she was still in her mother’s womb, Ren Pengyi had brought home his pregnant mistress.
Not long after giving birth, his first wife died of depression, driven to it by Ren Pengyi’s blatant favoritism toward his mistress.
She left behind her daughter, Ren Liuyue, who was not even a year old.
Less than half a year after his first wife’s death, Ren Pengyi eagerly made his mistress his official wife, taking her as his second.
When Ren Liuyue’s maternal grandparents found out, they feared their daughter’s only child would be mistreated, so they took her away under the pretext of helping her recuperate.
Now, Ren Liuyue was over sixteen. For more than a decade, her father, Governor Ren, had never once shown her any concern.
It was always Ren Liuyue who, at her grandparents’ behest, wrote letters to her father to pay her respects during holidays and festivals.
Even when her maternal grandparents passed away, Governor Ren showed no intention of bringing Ren Liuyue back home.
Later, when Ren Liuyue married her tutor, Governor Ren, upon hearing the news, didn’t offer a single word of blessing. Instead, he wrote a letter scolding her for marrying beneath her station and bringing shame upon him.
Ren Liuyue was naturally furious, so for a full year after her marriage, she cut off all contact with her father.
Recently, Governor Ren had suddenly sent a group of servants to bring her and her husband to Ling Mountain City.
Not only did they give Ren Liuyue no chance to refuse, but the group was also extremely insistent. They claimed it was the governor’s wish for her to bring all her belongings and meet with him in Ling Mountain City as soon as possible.
Hearing this, Shen Ningning’s delicate brows furrowed in confusion. "A father who hasn’t contacted you in years and has such a cold relationship with you... why would he suddenly summon you?"
Ren Liuyue nodded. "That’s what I thought, too. But the servants told me my father was gravely ill and that’s why he wanted to see me."
With that, her suspicions were allayed. She and her husband packed their things and left with the servants that very night.
Shen Ningning and the others already knew what happened next.
The servants traveled late into the night. Under the pretext of letting the horses rest and graze, they drew their swords and tried to end the lives of Ren Liuyue and her husband!
"Thankfully, you two benefactors arrived in time. Otherwise, we would have lost our lives," Ren Liuyue said, wiping away her tears.
Seeing her utter heartbreak, Shen Ningning could completely understand how she felt.
’When she left home, she must have truly believed her father was on his deathbed, right?’
Ren Liuyue had set out with the filial piety of seeing her father one last time, never imagining he was the one sending her to her death.
"I heard you speculate just now that those servants might have been trying to kill you on your stepmother’s orders," Mo Lingwei said suddenly, his tone detached and cool. "But if you think about it, that might not be the whole story. Even if it was your stepmother’s doing, your father must have tacitly approved it."
How could Ren Liuyue not understand this?
And so, she cried even more sorrowfully.
"I’ll never go back. Once my husband wakes up, we’ll leave and go as far away as possible. Even if Ren Pengyi dies, it will have nothing to do with me."
Shen Ningning’s eyes darted thoughtfully. She tugged on Mo Lingwei’s sleeve. "Brother, come outside. I have something to tell you."
The two went out into the courtyard. Shen Ningning glanced back inside, where Ren Liuyue was slumped over her husband’s side, weeping inconsolably.
"What is it?" Mo Lingwei asked.
Shen Ningning pursed her pink lips. "What she said should be true."
Mo Lingwei nodded. "I know. My Hidden Guards already found the bundle they dropped nearby. Some of the items inside, including a jade slip, prove she isn’t lying. Otherwise, I would have already had the Hidden Guards make their move."
Shen Ningning mused, "This Ren Pengyi summons his daughter back, then tacitly allows his servants to assassinate her on the way. It’s a very strange move. Almost redundant."
"You’re right. There’s almost no reason for him to do this. If he wanted to harm Ren Liuyue, he would have done it years ago. After ignoring his daughter for so long, to suddenly want her dead... it’s bizarre no matter how you look at it."
"It must be related to him suddenly locking down the city," Shen Ningning said with certainty.
In the dark night, under the faint blue moonlight, the young girl’s eyes shone as brightly as shattered stars.
She looked at Mo Lingwei. "I have a bold idea, but I’m afraid you won’t agree, Brother."
Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow. "You’ve already called it ’bold,’ so why would I agree? However, I did say that on this trip, I’ll follow your lead. Whatever you say, goes. I’ll cooperate and won’t stand in your way."
He trusted Shen Ningning’s judgment.
Hearing this, a smile graced the young girl’s face. "Really? Then I’ll say it. I want to take Ren Liuyue’s place and return to the Ren Family."
Mo Lingwei’s expression changed instantly. "Take her place? That’s not right. It’s too dangerous. No matter how absurd and heartless Ren Pengyi is, how could he not recognize his own daughter?"
"I’m betting he definitely won’t recognize her. You heard what Ren Liuyue just said. She was taken away by her grandparents before she was even a year old. For all these years, Ren Pengyi never initiated contact; she was the one writing to him. How would a father like that know what his neglected daughter even looks like? He doesn’t know her at all. To him, she’s no different from a stranger."
As Shen Ningning finished, her full, lovely face glowed with a hint of confidence.
"Taking Ren Liuyue’s place and infiltrating the Ren Family has countless benefits for us. First, we won’t have to reveal our true identities. As the Crown Prince, it’s too dangerous for you with the border in such turmoil. Second, we’ll have the advantage of proximity, making it easier to find out why Ren Pengyi locked down the border."
Mo Lingwei was nearly convinced, but a trace of hesitation still lingered on his brow.
"It’s just," he paused, "if Ren Pengyi wants Ren Liuyue dead, it would be too dangerous for you to live under the same roof as him."
"That may be true, but I think he expected to get rid of his daughter on her way back. He never thought she would return ’safely.’ If he truly has an earth-shattering secret to hide, he probably won’t make another move against ’Ren Liuyue’ right away."
Mo Lingwei’s thin lips pressed into a firm line. "It’s too dangerous for you to go alone."
Shen Ningning blinked her round eyes. "I never said I was going alone. Aren’t you coming with me?"
"Me?"
"Yes. Since I’m going to impersonate Ren Liuyue, Ren Pengyi will naturally know she has a husband. You’ll be in charge of playing her husband."
Mo Lingwei’s narrow eyes suddenly widened. He was stunned for a moment, then immediately said, "You should have said so earlier. I agree with your decision."
Shen Ningning pouted. "I said all that just now, and you wouldn’t budge."
Mo Lingwei smiled, lifting his head slightly. "Because with me there to accompany you, it will naturally be less dangerous. But are you planning to tell Ren Liuyue about this?"
Shen Ningning nodded. "I’ll go talk to her. I’m not worried she’ll refuse. It’s clear she’s completely disillusioned with and hates her own father."
She turned to go back inside when Mo Lingwei thought of something. "You go talk to her. I have something to take care of."