"Pfft — cough cough cough — who are you talking about? Who's here? "
Huang Song was enjoying his tea. When he heard his subordinate's message, he almost choked on the tea.
The subordinate could only bite the bullet and repeat it.
Early this morning, Yuan Chong, the lieutenant under Huang Song's command, was patrolling. They found a couple whose whereabouts were suspicious, so they simply arrested them for questioning. Among them, the man had a scholarly temperament. Although he was wearing shabby linen clothes, he was neither servile nor overbearing when he asked questions. Obviously, he was not an ordinary person. Once she asked, she was shocked. The couple was from Meng County, Cang Prefecture.
Yuan Chong thought he was a spy, but upon further investigation, he realized that the man was actually the eldest son of the Meng family, Meng Heng.
However —
Meng Heng smiled bitterly at Yuan Chong's suspicious gaze. "That was in the past. Now, I'm just a commoner without a surname."
Meng Heng was expelled from the Meng family, and his family name was removed.
Hearing this, Yuan Chong pulled out his knife and placed it on Meng Heng's neck. He said mockingly, "Old Meng's son, aren't you afraid of death?"
However, Meng Heng said, "My mother is the stepmother of Liu Xi, the governor of Liu Province. Liu Xi and I are cousins. Do you really dare to behead me?"
This relationship was Meng Heng's final trump card. He was also certain that Yuan Chong would not dare to kill him.
Although Huang Song and Jiang Pengji each had their own plans, they had not completely fallen out with each other yet.
Huang Song did not dare to kill Jiang Pengji's cousin, even if his identity had not been verified.
After coughing enough, Huang Song wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.
"Invite him over —"
After the subordinate left, Cheng Jing, who was handling official business, put down the things in his hands and asked, "That person was Meng Heng?"
Huang Song asked, "Youmo knows him?"
Cheng Jing said calmly, "Meng Heng and Jing were assessed in the same year. Originally, he was the best contender for the top three, but Meng Heng was influenced by his younger brother, Meng Liang. In the end, the examiner gave him a very low evaluation, which resulted in Meng Heng not even making it into the top hundred."
When Feng Jue heard the commotion, he also came over to intervene.
"Meng Heng is my brother's classmate. They have a good relationship," Feng Jue said with a smile. "If the person is really Meng Heng, Jue will recognize him."
In fact, both Feng Jue and Cheng Jing felt that the person who came was really Meng Heng.
This was a sensitive time. Who would dare to pretend to be a disciple of the Meng family in Huang Song's territory?
Was he not afraid of death?
The three of them didn't notice that when Nie Xun heard the news, his hand froze and he almost dropped his brush.
Fortunately, no one was paying attention to him. Nie Xun quickly adjusted his mentality and pretended that nothing had happened.
Meng Heng was led by a servant to Huang Song.
Huang Song had grown a beard and looked even more dignified and calm.
"Greetings, Haozhou Prefecture Overseer."
Meng Heng used the etiquette common people used to greet officials, but Huang Song was frightened and quickly stood up to stop him.
Huang Song laughed. "Lanting and I are like siblings. You are Lanting's cousin, so you are also my cousin. There is no need to be so formal."
Cheng Jing and the others sat behind the screen and watched.
When Meng Heng entered their line of sight, they confirmed his identity.
Although they had not seen each other for many years, Meng Heng's appearance had not changed much. He had only become more mature and easily recognizable.
Meng Heng smiled bitterly. "Even so, etiquette cannot be ignored."
Huang Song asked Meng Heng to sit on the lower right side and said hesitantly, "I have something to ask, but I don't know if I should ask —"
Meng Heng knew what he wanted to ask. He was doubting his intentions.
"Heng has been expelled from the ancestral hall by my father. Now that I have no home to return to, I want to seek refuge with Cousin Xi." At this point, there was nothing to be ashamed of. Meng Heng simply said everything, "However, I am short of money and my wife's health is heavy. It is chaotic outside, so the couple can't go too far. I heard that Cousin Xi is about to lead troops to Hede County, so Heng brought my wife here to wait — "
"Sister-in-law is pregnant?" Huang Song asked Yuan Chong with a stern face. "You brat, did you offend her?"
Yuan Chong was worried about Huang Song's safety, so he personally brought Meng Heng to see Huang Song.
Meng Heng revealed a faint smile. "Commandant Yuan is just enforcing the law. My wife is fine."
Huang Song could not let it go so easily.
He sent people to arrange a residence for Meng Heng and his wife. He also found an experienced midwife and a skilled doctor.
Huang Song saw Meng Heng's embarrassment and took the initiative to say, "Just stay here. If there is anything you need, send someone to tell me."
He had good intentions, so Meng Heng would not be ungrateful.
However, Meng Heng was clear that Huang Song was treating him so well because of Jiang Pengji. He was taking good care of him.
"Langjun, are we staying here?"
Meng Heng's wife held her belly with one hand and touched the pillar with the other. She looked up at the sky.
The sky was clear, and the golden sunlight shone on her body. It was very comfortable.
"We'll rest here for the time being —" Meng Heng looked at the silk and satins, clothes, and jewelry in the house, then looked at his wife's bare face. He helped her into the house. "Your clothes are old. Pick a few bolts of cloth to make some new clothes. Don't treat yourself badly."
His wife touched the material. The soft touch made her reluctant to move her hand away.
She had never used such good material in her life.
"They are all gifts from others. It's not good to use them. In this way, won't you owe everyone a favor?"
His wife resisted and forced herself to move her eyes away.
"I owe Cousin Xi. I'll repay you in the future." Meng Heng smiled as he picked up a golden bracelet made of twin-phoenix silk and put it on his wife's wrist. The golden color was far better than the one that had been pawned, and it was heavier. Because of the bracelet, his wife's wrist seemed even more slender and weak. "In the future, your husband will earn more for you. I will never let you and our child suffer any losses."
If it were not for Jiang Pengji, Huang Song would not have treated him so well.
Therefore, Meng Heng was very clear about whom he owed a favor.
His wife smiled. "I believe you."
It was a great honor for the butcher's daughter to marry the eldest son of the Meng's, but it was a great humiliation for Meng Heng.
Meng Heng felt that he had treated her unfairly, but she felt that she had wronged him.
No matter what, they were husband and wife. They would support each other for the rest of their lives.
At that moment, the maidservant reported from outside the paper door.
Meng Heng and his wife were stunned.
"This Nie Xun … Does my husband know you?"
His wife was surprised. They had just settled down here, and someone had brought his wife to visit.
Meng Heng was also puzzled, but he had also asked around. Nie Xun was a strategist that Huang Song relied heavily on. He could not be offended easily.
"I don't know him. He's Nie Xun's wife. Madam, please entertain him."
Then, he said to the maidservant, "Please wait in the hall, Mister Nie. I'll go over now."
Did Nie Xun visit on Huang Song's orders?
With such doubts, Meng Heng met Nie Xun for the first time.
The two looked at each other. They both felt a strange emotion rise from the bottom of their hearts.
Nie Xun did not observe Meng Heng carefully through the screen.
Now that they were face to face, he realized that Meng Heng did not have any similarities with him.
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