Chapter 183

Rather than entrusting it to outsiders to send to Taohuadao, it was better to let Lu Chengfeng bring her back to Yunzhuang.

Once this thought arose, there was no further hesitation.

Thus, after more than a day's journey, Feng Heng was respectfully invited by Lu Chengfeng back to the old family home at Taihu.

Yet no sooner had they arrived than the chairs were still warm, when Huang Rong came looking for them.

This was certainly beyond Lu Chengfeng's expectations, and Feng Heng was equally caught off guard.

And now, facing her daughter's invitation, Feng Heng was even more at a loss.

Of course she wanted to be with her daughter, but she knew even better what kind of place Mantuo Shanzhuang was.

She also feared that once she went in, she would not be able to come out.

Huang Rong had never thought along those unpleasant lines, but Feng Heng always harbored a hidden worry in her heart.

Therefore, she hesitated, she wavered.

Huang Rong had fully expected Feng Heng to agree at once, and seeing her like this could not help but feel puzzled.

Her thoughts turning, brows knit in thought, she said: "Mother, are you afraid that stinky Daddy will come back and not be able to find you?"

"Hmph, that bad Daddy, he deserves to be made to worry a while—let's see if he still dares to abandon you for some unrelated woman!"

"Let's go! To Mantuo Shanzhuang, Rong'er has lots of good sisters there, we can all eat and play together, happily, and ignore Daddy! Let's worry him to death!"

Li Yuhu also chimed in on Huang Rong's behalf: "That's right, Auntie, our place is really lively! Once you go, you definitely won't want to leave."

Feng Heng: "..."

Isn't what I fear precisely that I won't be able to leave?

Ah Zhu and Ah Bi exchanged a glance, but neither spoke.

Because they thought of Li Qingluo.

The mere thought of Jiang Sishui's brazenness and audacity made both women's hearts tremble.

The events of that night were vivid in their minds, and they truly did not dare to speak up in persuasion, because they could not guarantee that Jiang Sishui would definitely not be interested in Feng Heng.

At the same time, Lu Chengfeng, who had been listening on the side, also roughly understood.

This little junior sister clearly did not like Mei Chaofeng!

In fact, Lu Chengfeng himself had been inexplicably implicated back then—how could he not also harbor resentment and hatred toward Mei Chaofeng?

Now seeing that Huang Rong's thoughts aligned with his own, he immediately felt even more affection for her.

To win Huang Rong's favor, he spoke up: "Master's wife, it is not that this disciple is unwilling to fulfill his filial duty; since the little junior sister is here, this disciple also does not dare to overstep his role. Please set your mind at ease and go, Master. When Master returns, this disciple will naturally explain it to him."

Feng Heng had already been barely holding on, and now being "stabbed again" by Lu Chengfeng, she immediately gave way.

She said helplessly: "Fine then, Rong'er, I'll go with you."

"Wonderful!" Huang Rong joyfully threw her arms around one of hers.

Feng Heng looked at the beaming Huang Rong and thought to herself: "I hope I'm just overthinking it. Even if he truly has other intentions, as long as I firmly refuse, given his doting love for Rong'er, he would never do anything to hurt us."

Thinking this, Feng Heng felt somewhat reassured.

In the future at Mantuo Shanzhuang, her daughter would be her backing and "protective umbrella."

Afterwards, the group lingered at Guiyun Zhuang for a while longer, then resolved to head back.

Before leaving, Huang Rong looked at Cheng Ying and said: "This sister, why don't you come with us?"

Cheng Ying shook her head, still wearing her usual cool and indifferent expression.

Huang Rong blinked: "You want to avoid him?"

Cheng Ying still shook her head.

Without waiting for Huang Rong to continue questioning, she said: "I'm not avoiding him, nor will I go looking for him."

"I don't dislike him, nor do I like him."

"Whether the diary copy exists or not, to me it is all something external."

"A beauty or a skeleton, longevity or not, I see no difference between them."

"I have no fixed abode. If one day I meet him again, that is fate; if I then come to know and love him, that is fate and destiny, and I would naturally be willing to follow him then."

"If I never meet him, or if I already have someone in my heart before meeting him, then there is no fate and no destiny, and there is even less to be said about it."

The women looked at each other in bewilderment.

Huang Rong saw her expression peaceful, her demeanor tranquil, like an orchid in an empty valley that could only be met by fate and not forced, and understood in her heart.

She smiled gracefully: "Alright then, we respect your choice. I hope that in the future we'll have the chance to be good sisters."

Cheng Ying smiled faintly: "May we meet again if fate allows."

"Farewell!"

The two parties waved and parted.

The small boat carried five people, drifting leisurely toward Mantuo Shanzhuang.

Along the way, with Ah Zhu and Ah Bi describing the beauties of Taihu, and the lively Li Yuhu chiming in on the side, it was naturally very lively.

This was quite different from the cold and quiet of Taohuadao, and gave Feng Heng a feeling of warmth and ease.

At last, Mantuo Shanzhuang came into distant view.

Yet the women's attention was all drawn to a large ship off to the side ahead.

And judging by that large ship's heading, it was unmistakably also headed for Mantuo Shanzhuang!.

"Sister Rong?"

Ah Bi instinctively looked at Huang Rong, waiting for her to decide.

Huang Rong was naturally curious by nature, and after estimating the distance to Mantuo Shanzhuang—already within ten li—she said: "Pull up alongside and have a look."

Ah Bi nodded, and together with Ah Zhu pulled the wooden oars; the small boat glided over lightly and nimbly.

The people on the large ship naturally noticed them as well. A graceful and elegant Young Master in white walked to the deck, facing them from afar.

Ah Zhu was highly skilled in the Disguise Art, with an extremely sharp eye for detail, and was best at catching the subtlest clues.

Her gaze swept once over the so-called Handsome Young Master of the Mortal World, then she said in a low voice, "It's a woman — dressed as a man."

Huang Rong added, "And she's someone the diary once mentioned in passing."

Apart from Feng Heng, the other three women understood at once that Huang Rong had learned this through the "Kunji Seal" again.

Which meant this person was also a holder of a diary copy.

While they were murmuring to each other, the two parties drew steadily closer. The "Young Master in White" snapped shut his folding fan, cupped his fist, and said, "I am Shangguan Haitang, paying my respects to the young ladies."

Shangguan Haitang?

Li Yuhu and the other three women thought it over carefully before recalling that this name had come up when Zhu Wushi was being written about — she seemed to be a character from the drama "Invincible," and her ending, if memory served, had not been a happy one.

So… did she come with the same purpose as Jin Lingzhi?

The women speculated among themselves.

Huang Rong used this moment to study Shangguan Haitang's appearance closely.

Lovely as peach and plum blossoms, elegant and graceful — even in male attire, she was unmistakably a striking beauty.

Hearing Shangguan Haitang's words, she said, "Miss Shangguan, have you come to Mantuo Shanzhuang?"

Miss Shangguan?

Seeing that her female identity had been seen through, Shangguan Haitang did not beat about the bush, and said frankly, "Haitang is here on my godfather's orders, to deliver a certain item."

"For him?"

"Yes."

Shangguan Haitang of course knew exactly who the "him" in Huang Rong's mouth referred to.

"Your godfather is…"

"The Iron-Blooded Divine Marquis of Great Ming."

"Zhu Wushi?"

Huang Rong secretly mused, "Could the thing Zhu Wushi is sending to Brother Sishui be the 'Art of Absorbing Power' and the 'Imperishable Golden Body Divine Art'?"

"It's been a month since the incident, yet his efficiency is really quite fast — it seems, just as in the story, this Iron-Blooded Zhu truly cares deeply about Su Xin."

Thinking that the two sacred manuals Jiang Sishui wanted might have arrived, Huang Rong was delighted, and hurriedly said, "Many thanks for your trouble, Miss Shangguan. Please come into the Shanzhuang so we may talk."

Shangguan Haitang gave a slight nod: "Ladies, after you."

Huang Rong nodded to Ah Zhu and Ah Bi, and the little boat picked up speed, heading toward Mantuo Shanzhuang.

The large ship followed closely behind.

Bai Feifei, who controlled the "Water-Controlling Pearl," silently observed the situation on this side. Seeing Huang Rong leading the way, she knew the visitor was a friend rather than a foe, and immediately set her mind at ease.

After the two ships reached the shore, Shangguan Haitang told the boatman to take the ship back.