La luna brilla intensamente sobre las montañas desiertas y las flores llenan el cielo

Capítulo 78

57

57. The Long couple, each with their own agendas...

Feng Ning didn't have any particularly threatening tricks, but Long San was easily swayed by her style because he knew she was capable of making herself sick by overeating. So Long San gave in, went to the kitchen, and brought back a small piece of honey-filled jujube cake to fill Feng Ning's stomach.

After finishing the sweet jujube cake, Feng Ning's happiness lasted only a short while before her resentment grew even stronger. She tentatively asked, "Long San, this piece is too small; I can't taste anything. Would you like another piece?"

Just as she expected, Long San's face hardened, giving her a "you wish" look before remaining silent. Feng Ning pouted and buried herself in the blankets. She had her own wild ideas, but unfortunately, no one was cooperating with her. The sweet taste of the jujube cake still lingered on her tongue, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She suddenly threw off the blankets, clenched her fist, and shouted, "I want revenge! I'm going to beat those bastards to death!"

Long San's eyebrows twitched. He wondered what those assassins would think if they knew that the hatred for being forbidden to eat was greater than the hatred for being injured.

Despite her rant, Feng Ning didn't cause any real trouble. As an injured person, she was quite pragmatic. During this period, she obediently stayed in bed to recuperate under the supervision of Master Long. Fortunately, Master Long saw that she had eaten without stomach pain, so he didn't skimp on her food rations. Feng Ning was finally able to eat three full meals a day.

A full stomach makes one energetic, and Feng Ning's recovery speed secretly amazed Shi Yulang. Long San, on the other hand, seemed preoccupied these days, and Feng Zhuojun was intentionally or unintentionally avoiding his daughter. He was at his wit's end; after recovering, Feng Ning was unusually inquisitive and talkative. He felt uneasy, fearing that he wouldn't be able to withstand Feng Ning's probing questions and would reveal the secret of her past. If she knew that her father had wronged her mother and caused her death, he feared she would harbor resentment towards him. Furthermore, if Feng Ning knew that she had been abandoned by her own mother, she would likely be heartbroken. This was why he and Qiao Li had kept it a secret for so many years.

Because of this, Feng Zhuojun questioned Long San: "Any news about those who tried to assassinate Fengfeng? What about A Ling? After she left a note and kidnapped people, why has there been no further movement?"

"Perhaps they realized we had accomplices on our side, and since they couldn't gain anything, they hid and waited for the next opportunity." Long San glanced at Feng Zhuojun indifferently: "Didn't my father-in-law himself have people investigate? He should know that what I said is true."

Feng Zhuojun felt somewhat embarrassed. Although Long San had said he would handle the matter, he didn't quite trust him, so he had secretly found someone else to investigate. He hadn't expected Long San to know about it. Logically, since Feng Feng's birth mother had harmed her, it was perfectly legitimate for him, as one of the parties involved, to intervene. However, for some reason, although Long San was gentle and easy to talk to, he seemed to imply that he couldn't refuse him. Feng Zhuojun didn't dare say anything to his face, but secretly he had someone investigate the same matter. Now that Long San had pointed it out, Feng Zhuojun felt his face flush with shame.

Feng Zhuojun coughed twice and said, "I was thinking that having more people would make the investigation faster. After all, it's a family secret, and I don't want anything to happen to Fengfeng again."

Long San nodded: "Father-in-law is right, but the other side is well hidden. Neither of us can find any useful clues. The enemy is in the open while we are in the dark, so we should not stay here for long. Now that Feng'er's injuries have healed a bit, we should move to another place."

Feng Zhuojun said, "Alright, now that we know who the culprit is, there's no need to entrust the treasure hunt to outsiders, right? It would be better if we resolved this matter ourselves as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Long San glanced at him. Feng Zhuojun turned his gaze away and explained softly, "It's not that my daughter isn't important. With these two things combined, I truly feel exhausted. I haven't been eating or sleeping well these past few days. I don't know what sins my Feng family has committed, but one grudge after another has been added to the list. If I can't get to the truth, I will be letting down my parents, letting down Aling and Ali, and letting down Fengfeng..."

Long San remained silent, while Feng Zhuojun said, "I was thinking that if we could quickly find out what the treasure is, that would be best. If not, I... I'll entrust this matter to you and Fengfeng, and I'll go to the Xia Kingdom myself..."

Before he could speak, he heard Feng Ning's voice from the doorway: "Father is going to Xia Kingdom? What for? I want to go too."

Long San and Feng Zhuojun were both startled and turned to stare at Feng Ning. Feng Ning, holding a tray, looked at their expressions and asked curiously, "What are you doing, acting like you've seen a ghost?"

Long San and Feng Zhuojun exchanged a glance, quickly feigning composure. Feng Ning's eyes darted around, and she put down the two bowls of soup she was holding, asking, "Is there a secret?"

"No," the two men answered quickly.

"Are you hiding something from me?"

"No." This time, Feng Zhuojun answered quickly, but Long San pulled Feng Ning over and flicked her forehead: "Why are you running around instead of taking care of your injuries?"

Feng Ning chuckled: "My injuries are almost healed. I was thinking that you guys have worked hard these past few days, so I specially made some soup. But as soon as I got here, I heard you guys talking about going to Xia Kingdom."

“The poison you were given originated from the Xia Kingdom, so my father-in-law said to go there and take a look; maybe we'll find some clues.” Long San pulled Feng Ning down to sit and handed a bowl of the soup she had brought to Feng Zhuojun.

Feng Zhuojun, having received the hint, nodded hurriedly and said, "That's right. Heart-Suffocating Grass is not common in Xiao Kingdom, but it is found in Xia Kingdom. I plan to go and take a look after the treasure hunt is over, and I will definitely find those guys."

“I’m going too.” Feng Ning waved her arm. “I’m going to beat them to a pulp myself.”

"You can't go." Feng Zhuojun was startled. If Feng Ning went, everything would be exposed. As soon as he finished speaking, he realized that his reaction was too strong and might arouse suspicion. He added, "I mean, you're not fully recovered, so it's best not to run around. If anything happens, your father and son-in-law will handle it."

Feng Ning looked at Feng Zhuojun suspiciously, then finally said "Oh" and nodded: "Father, don't be in a hurry, I'm just giving a suggestion." She pushed Long San and Feng Zhuojun's bowls and said with a smile: "You two drink quickly."

Long San rubbed her head, secretly on guard. This precious girl was always a doer; if she thought of something, she would do it. Why would she offer suggestions or advice?

Feng Ning, however, showed no sign of guilt. She remained calm and asked Feng Zhuojun, "Father, you used to live in the Xia Kingdom, didn't you?"

Feng Zhuojun was taken aback again, glanced at Long San subconsciously, then pondered for a moment and nodded in reply: "My father spent some time in Xia Kingdom when he was young."

"And what about Mother?"

"Uh, she... too." Feng Zhuojun shoveled soup into his mouth, answering vaguely.

"Why are you asking so many questions? Let your father enjoy his soup." Long San stepped in to rescue his father-in-law.

“Oh, Father, have some soup.” Feng Ning obediently replied, then said, “Long San, so Father and Mother both lived in Xia Kingdom. No wonder I can understand Xia Kingdom language.”

Feng Zhuojun choked on his soup, coughing several times. Feng Ning quickly got up and patted his back, saying, "Father, drink slowly." Feng Zhuojun nodded hastily, caught his breath, and put the bowl aside. He secretly glanced at Long San, who was calmly drinking his soup. He had his doubts but dared not speak them.

Feng Ning sat down, propped her chin up, looked at the two of them, and asked, "Father, besides the Long family, where else have I been? Have we made any enemies? I vaguely remember someone choking me, I was almost strangled to death, I was very scared, Father, do you remember this?"

Feng Zhuojun was stunned: "You were choked?" He turned pale with anxiety: "Do you remember when this happened?"

“That’s why I asked, because I don’t remember,” Feng Ning said. “I think the answer to this series of events might lie in my lost memories. If we can find the cause of these scattered events, the truth might be revealed.”

Feng Zhuojun was stunned for a moment. Feng Ning stared at him and urged, "Father, do you remember this? For example, where you took me and who we met? I remember a place with a lake and sand. Oh, and I remember there was a melon field behind the house. Was it behind our house in Huzhou?"

Long San lowered his head, gripping the soup spoon tightly. Feng Zhuojun stared in disbelief, and after a long while, he finally said, "Fengfeng, your father neglected you before and didn't take good care of you. I don't remember any of these things. Your mother took care of you more before. I'll ask your mother about it later." As he spoke, a look of sadness appeared on his face: "I'm so sorry..."

Feng Ning was somewhat surprised by Feng Zhuojun's reaction and was wondering how to respond when Feng Zhuojun hurriedly said, "Father remembered that he has something to do and has to go out. You should take good care of your injuries and not think too much. Getting well is the most important thing."

Feng Zhuojun hurriedly fled the house. Feng Ning stared at the door for a long time, then turned to Long San, who had been silent all along, and said, "Long San, you figured it out too, didn't you?"

"What did you see?"

“Father has a secret.” Feng Ning was quite certain of this.

“Feng’er, everyone has secrets. Your father is genuinely good to you. If he doesn’t want to tell you, don’t blame him.”

Feng Ning pouted and asked, "What you said makes sense, but his reaction is strange. Do you know the inside story?"

"If he were keeping it from you, would he have told me?" Long San asked rhetorically.

Feng Ning pondered for a while, then said unhappily, "I dislike it most when people keep things from me."