Chapter 282: Chapter 254: This Time It’s Really Going Home
The assassin’s pupils constricted sharply, and his body involuntarily leaned back. But how could the guards allow him any retreat? Just as he leaned back, his back was immediately met with blades.
"Why aren’t you speaking?" Fu Zhen stared at him intently, "Even if you’re from the North, it’s not a matter that will cost your life. Are you so afraid of revealing your origins?"
The assassin’s eyes were sharp like an eagle’s, and he pressed his lips tighter together.
Fu Zhen sneered, "So that’s indeed what it means."
After saying this, she was silent for a moment, then gestured to the guards.
Yang Tong and the others dragged this assassin away.
Pei Zhan said, "Xu Yin speaks authentic Tanzhou dialect, yet as his close aide, this person is from the North.
"Is it the background of the people around him that’s questionable, or is there something wrong with Xu Yin himself? Someone as suspicious as he is would only make someone a confidant if they were thoroughly known."
Isn’t that true?
Fu Zhen glanced in the direction where the assassin was dragged away, her brows knitted tightly.
She already found Xu Yin odd, and now it made even less sense. His deepest contact with the North was the few years he spent in the Northwest camp with Liang Ning. During that time, he indeed interacted with many Northerners, but they were always together. How did Liang Ning not know that Xu collected people who could become his close guards?
In other words, he shouldn’t have had the opportunity to recruit such a group of people!
Moreover, there was another strange man by his side with the surname Lian.
How exactly did Xu Yin gather such a group of people?
Why would these people be so loyal to him?
Why is it so coincidental that these guards, deeply tied to his life, are all Northerners?
"Doesn’t anyone wonder if Xu Yin’s hometown is really void of people?"
At this point, Pei Zhan looked at her, seemingly unintentionally.
Fu Zhen returned his gaze, retracted her foot from the stool, and stood straight, "He claims he’s alone, but why not investigate a bit further?"
Previously, Xu Yin had said his hometown was emptied, his entire family perished in the chaos of war, and only then did he drift along to the Northwest.
At that time, he didn’t show a hint of suspicion, and indeed he spoke Tanzhou dialect well, so Fu Zhen naturally didn’t pursue it. Now, with more doubts arising, there’s certainly a need for investigation.
"Alright then."
Pei Zhan immediately summoned a guard inside, "Go and inquire about Xu Yin’s publicly recorded ancestral home, and once you find it, go verify it immediately."
While he instructed, Fu Zhen walked out of the courtyard, only to bump into Liang Xuan sitting on the doorstep, bragging with the guards.
She walked over and grabbed his ear, "You little rascal, you’ve learned to play spy, following and hanging around with me just to send messages to others?"
Liang Xuan covered his ear, "Why do all of you like pinching my ear? I’m just a child, aren’t you ashamed to bully me like this?"
Fu Zhen couldn’t be bothered to banter with him, dragging him directly to the carriage outside, "Going to your house! If I don’t see your mother spank you until you’re swollen today, I’m not coming back!"
As Pei Zhan came outside, the carriage had just left. Seeing this, Guo Song suggested urgently, "General, shall we chase after them? We might as well be thicker-skinned about it!"
Pei Zhan looked at himself and said, "I’ll go back first to bathe and change."
He was still wearing armor, having sweated during the parade and exercises; how could he meet anyone like this?
Fu Zhen held onto Liang Xuan, heading directly towards the Liang Mansion.
As she turned into a familiar alley, her thoughts drifted away from Liang Xuan completely.
The last time she came here was the night Liang Ning awoke from the inferno, transforming into Fu Zhen.
The sorrow she felt that night paralleled the excitement she felt now.
Actually, Liang Chen and Su Xinger had long urged her to return to the Liang family and officially accept their invitation, so she could come and go freely in the future.
In the Liang family’s eyes, whether as Miss Fu or as the General’s wife, the titles were just superficial. She was Liang Ning, a true member of the Liang family, a part returned to them after being lost.
They eagerly awaited her return, wishing nothing more than for her to resume her place among them, at least behind closed doors, even if she couldn’t openly assume the title of Miss Liang outside.
They had even planned to refurbish the courtyard where she initially lived, so she would have a place to stay during future visits.
But Liang Ning had never fulfilled the invitation.
Ultimately, it was fear of returning home.
Returning to the Liang family, returning to the identity of Liang Ning, meant memories would flood back, be they good or bad, overwhelming her.
She considered herself carefree. Even though Xu Yin had wronged her, she focused on revenge as a goal, without allowing hatred to consume her, nor letting it impede her progress.
But people aren’t plants; confronting past, tender yet bloody experiences laid bare before her again, she was a little reluctant to revisit them.
Today’s pretense of dragging Liang Xuan here led her to burst into this alley; though she felt a sense of satisfaction, standing in front of the door, her heart still pounded in her chest.
"Aunt Wu, don’t be nervous. You know everyone in our family. Even my grandmother and second grandmother are kind, and they’re not at home. Just relax, okay?"
Liang Xuan patted her hand back comfortingly.
The lad easily forgot that Fu Zhen had brought him back for his mother to spank him!
For the sake of his filial piety, Fu Zhen let him down when the door opened.
Since it was planned for later in the afternoon, the prepared reception ceremony hadn’t been fully utilized. Yet, inside and outside, water had been sprinkled, a carpet laid at the door, and the courtyard was meticulously decorated with lanterns.
Fu Zhen had just glanced around when the doorman, originally thinking it was Liang Xuan returning alone with a carriage after a night out, was startled to see the exceptionally beautiful noblewoman beside him. Though young, she carried extraordinary poise, and her attire was similar to the clothing worn by the General’s wife. He was caught off guard!
Last night, Liang Xuan stayed at the Pei’s, and though they hadn’t met Pei Zhan’s wife, they had heard so much about her, it was almost tiresome!
With someone so beautiful and nobly dressed accompanying Liang Xuan back, who else could she be if not the General’s wife?
He hurried over, "I am guilty! I did not know the General’s wife was visiting, and neither greeted you from afar nor informed our Great General and his wife. It’s my fault!"
Fu Zhen glanced at him and chuckled, "Uncle He, are your legs still well?"