CHAPTER 479: CHAPTER 425 PEACE, THE TRUTH OF THE LIFE CHART

After Meng Qianqian and Chen Long arrived at Anji Hospital, they discovered that, apart from the citizens waiting nearby, numerous skilled fighters were lurking around the hospital—likely pre-arranged by the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

Chen Long remarked, "Even when Lu Yuan travels through the Capital City, he doesn’t have such an elaborate entourage."

Meng Qianqian replied, "Oh, that’s after you got to know him."

Chen Long asked quizzically, "What do you mean?"

Meng Qianqian chuckled, "When the Grand Commander travels, it’s much grander than the young lady of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion."

At that time, Lu Yuan was commanding the Jinyi Guards, killing without blinking, earning the reputation of a fearsome living demon.

When he officially traveled, it would create a commotion across several streets.

By the time Chen Long knew Lu Yuan, Lu Yuan was already embroiled in a struggle with Prime Minister Xun, and his behavior as a treacherous official had been tempered significantly.

Lost in thought, Chen Long muttered, "Treacherous official."

Meng Qianqian couldn’t hold back her laughter.

There are those who wear the guise of treacherous officials while working for the nation and its people.

And there are those who appear solemn and upright but are, in reality, blinded by greed and self-interest.

The saying "One cannot see through the heart of another" certainly holds merit.

Soon enough, the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion’s carriage arrived.

Disciples of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, along with guards from the Imperial City, surrounded and protected the carriage tightly. Meng Qianqian and Chen Long managed to catch a glimpse of two veiled women disembarking, escorted into the hospital.

The gates of the hospital were then heavily guarded.

"Young Lady! Please save my son!"

"Young Lady! I beg you, save me—"

Crowds of citizens surged forward like a tide, crashing against the hospital gates, seeking treatment and medicine.

Fortunately, the soldiers held firm; otherwise, the hospital’s threshold would have been trampled to ruins.

Meng Qianqian commented, "Quite the spectacle—it seems we won’t be meeting that young lady after all."

Chen Long offered seriously, "If you want to meet her, I can go bring her here for you."

Meng Qianqian shook her head and laughed, "I’m just curious, but not that curious. Let’s go find Tan’er and Wuyou. They should be at the back gate."

Chen Long missed an opportunity to prove himself in front of his younger sister, looking a bit wistful.

"Let’s go, Brother."

Meng Qianqian turned back and smiled.

Chen Long thought to himself: She called me brother; she must be in a good mood.

Chen Long rarely smiled, but he managed to pull the corners of his mouth upwards—that might count as a smile for him.

The two had just rounded to the back gate when they saw Tan’er dragging Shang Wuyou out.

Shang Wuyou looked thoroughly unwilling.

"Tan’er!"

Meng Qianqian called out to her with a smile.

"Sister!"

Tan’er immediately let go of Shang Wuyou’s hand and darted towards Meng Qianqian like a swallow returning to its nest.

Her head nestled against Meng Qianqian’s chest as she rubbed against it, saying, "Sister, I really missed you!"

Meng Qianqian patted her head, "I missed you too. How are you adjusting at the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion?"

"I’m getting used to it!"

There was braised pork!

Tan’er yawned, "It’s just that I have to wake up way too early."

Meng Qianqian pinched her cheek, "You’ve been working hard."

"I sure have. It’s been so tough." Tan’er griped while glaring back at Shang Wuyou, "Tonight I’m eating five bowls of braised pork!"

Shang Wuyou, dumbfounded, thought: It’s not my fault you’ve been working hard—why are you demanding braised pork from me?

Meng Qianqian had something to discuss with Shang Wuyou, so the group found an abandoned old house.

Tan’er sat on the steps, eating candied hawthorn sticks that Meng Qianqian had brought for her.

Chen Long remained vigilant.

With Chen Long around, Tan’er didn’t need to worry about the surroundings.

Meng Qianqian stared intently at Shang Wuyou, noticing the weariness in his expression. She guessed that he had already asked Gongsun Yanming about his lineage.

"How does it feel to return home?"

She asked.

Shang Wuyou’s lips moved slightly.

"Ah, so it doesn’t feel great, I see."

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly, "I’ve been in the Imperial City for quite some time, but I haven’t heard any news of the Young Master of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion going missing. All I’ve heard is that you were accompanying Changle in Lingshan to recuperate from illness. Curious, isn’t it? Even though their own son and daughter are missing, they still manage to climb the social ladder, make money, and marry off a daughter. Did Gongsun Yanming tell you that the marriage between Gongsun Liuying and Prince Jian was meant to cover up your and Changle’s disappearance?

"Did he also say they didn’t announce your disappearance publicly because they feared other enemies might target you both?

"Did they shift the blame onto Chen Long and the Loulan people, while utterly refusing to mention anything about the Governor Mansion?"

Each of Meng Qianqian’s words was like a blade, cutting open the most brutal truths.

If Shang Wuyou didn’t know she hadn’t been to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, he’d almost suspect she had witnessed the conversations in the study herself.

Meng Qianqian took in Shang Wuyou’s shock fully, realizing her conjecture was correct. She said earnestly, "What they’re trying to hide isn’t just the fact that the Governor Mansion was involved. It’s that they colluded with Prime Minister Xun to harm the Shang Family.

"There are pieces of information they know but wouldn’t dare explore with you. Because once they dig deeper, the truth gets unearthed, and who knows which word might betray their intentions?"

Lu Yuan is no longer a treacherous official. He has long reconciled with the Miao King. How could the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion not be aware of such matters?

Not only are they aware, but they probably know more than anyone else.

Meng Qianqian hadn’t forgotten the traitor in Miaojiang—who said the traitor only cooperated with Prime Minister Xun? Was it not possible that the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion had also conspired with them long ago?

She could only hint at certain things.

The truth was right in front of them.

She couldn’t wake someone pretending to be asleep, so all she could do was hope Shang Wuyou would realize the truth soon and stop falling for the Pavilion’s schemes.

"Oh, by the way, a pigeon courier from Witch Mountain brought a message written by Changle for you."

Meng Qianqian took a rolled-up note out of her Brocade Bag and handed it to Shang Wuyou.

Shang Wuyou carefully unfolded it. The note was small, containing only two simple characters: "Safe."

It was both Changle’s way of telling him she was safe and her exhortation that he should remain safe as well.

The telepathic bond between the twins—no matter how far apart—could manifest in moments like this.

He clutched the note tightly, "If... hypothetically speaking, would you let Changle come home?"

Meng Qianqian responded calmly, "Changle is free. I brought her to Witch Mountain to help her recover. Wherever she wants to go in the future, I won’t stop her."

"What about me?"

Shang Wuyou asked.

"The same goes for you."

After saying that, Meng Qianqian turned and walked away.

"Wuyou, this is my last time speaking to you about your heritage. If you insist on siding with the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, I won’t force you. However, I am determined to take revenge on the Pavilion. You are the son of my second uncle and aunt; I might not kill you, but I definitely won’t try to redeem you anymore."

Shang Wuyou stared at her slightly frail-looking back, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions.

He told himself she was employing a strategy of retreating to advance.

But why did his heart ache so much?

-

Chen Long saw Meng Qianqian emerge from the house and handed her a box of Osmanthus Cake.

The old matron had said before: The sister loves Osmanthus Cake; comfort her with it when she’s upset.

Meng Qianqian asked, "Brother, do you think second uncle and aunt will blame me for what I’ve done?"

Chen Long replied, "Everyone has their own fate. If he refuses to wake up, then he only has himself to blame."

Meng Qianqian suddenly clutched her chest.

Chen Long hurriedly asked, "What’s wrong?"

Meng Qianqian paused for a moment and responded, "It’s nothing. I just suddenly felt a flutter in my heart."

Chen Long frowned, "A flutter in your heart?"

Meng Qianqian said, "Probably nothing serious."

Chen Long recalled something and asked, "Do you remember the serious illness you had when you were seven?"

Meng Qianqian shook her head, "I’ve forgotten much of the past."

Chen Long reminisced, "That year, the Shang Family and Thousand Mechanism Pavilion had yet to break ties. Xiao Rong’er gave birth prematurely, and the doctors were helpless. Though Mother had already left the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, when Gongsun Yanming came begging for her to save his wife, Mother still went. You followed Mother to the Pavilion and stayed there for three days and nights. Gongsun Liuying was safely born, and I heard you even held her right after she was born."

Meng Qianqian was surprised, "Turns out I knew her long ago, and I even held her."

Chen Long continued, "You fell ill after returning. Mother said you were just exhausted, but for some reason, it took you half a year to recover, and during that time, you frequently had bouts of heart fluttering."

Chen Long added, "Gongsun Liuying was a premature baby and should’ve been difficult to raise, yet she grew healthier by the day, while you grew thinner and weaker."

Meng Qianqian smiled faintly, "Didn’t I recover well later?"

Chen Long paused for a moment and said, "When you were born, someone determined your Life Chart saying you’d live a long life. But you—"

Meng Qianqian said lightly, "But I died in my twenties."

Having lived a second life, she could now face her previous death with tranquillity.

Mentioning it no longer brought sadness.

But it was different for Chen Long.

He didn’t believe in fate before. But ever since his sister’s rebirth—and since the journey to Witch Mountain—he felt he’d grasped some profound truths.

He couldn’t articulate it, but he sensed things previously imperceptible.

Meng Qianqian noticed Chen Long deep in thought and smiled, saying, "Brother, let’s head back."

Chen Long snapped out of it, "Alright."

Meng Qianqian said to Tan’er, "Tan’er, we’ll leave first. Stay at the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion for a few more days. I’ll come get you soon."

Tan’er responded with cheeks puffed, "Got it!"