Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 292 Self-Preservation

“My father was indeed very good to my brother and me, and I acknowledge that.”

Huang Wanwan knew that her mother's poisoning had nothing to do with her father, but was entirely the work of her aunt. However, the reason why her aunt dared to be so audacious was because her father indulged her and showed no concern for her mother.

Huang Fan clenched his fist. "Then why are you targeting me like this? I believe I've treated you well, and I've basically fulfilled all your occasional capricious requests."

“I know that you have been resenting your father because of your mother. But as the head of the family, I have to think about the bigger picture, and there is nothing I can do about it.”

“I just want you to keep the promise your mother made before she died,” Huang Wanwan said. “Do you still place all your expectations on Huang Youde?” She looked incredulous.

Huang Fan didn't speak. He chose a place to sit down and remained silent for a long time. "No matter how bad he is, he's still my son. I can't abandon him."

"So what brings you here today?" Huang Wanwan asked, getting straight to the point.

Huang Fan stared at her for a long time, "You didn't even ask me if I had found out about the clove incense."

Huang Wanwan stiffened; she had indeed overlooked this matter. Since she already knew, why bother asking further?

"Is it a sin not to ask?"

"Did Liu Yuechu help you find out?" Huang Fan mentioned the Liu family for the first time tonight.

Huang Wanwan didn't know how to answer for a moment. "This is our family matter and has nothing to do with the Liu family. Father has no reason to blame Yue Niang."

"As expected..." Huang Fan didn't need to hear what his daughter said; he could tell her answer just by looking at her expression.

"So that person was also hidden for you by Liu Yuechu."

"who?"

Huang Wanwan knew that her tricks could not fool her father, so she quickly denied it, "I do know about Meng Changhuai, but I did not ask Yueniang to help me hide him. Besides, why would I hide him? He is just a doctor."

"Moreover, it wasn't Yue Niang who investigated this matter, but I stumbled upon it!" She recounted how Meng Changhuai gave incense to Liu Yuechu, and how Liu Yuechu then gifted it to Princess Chen.

“I also found out about his relationship with my aunt by accident. The person who really harmed my mother was my aunt.” Huang Wanwan didn’t know if her father knew, but she had a feeling that he should have known long ago. “Whether you believe it or not, that’s the truth. I don’t know what his relationship with my aunt was, or why he helped my aunt harm people.”

……

She talked on and on, revealing her innermost thoughts. But when she spoke of her mother's murder, her voice choked with emotion, "Perhaps my aunt did it all so that you could make Aunt Chun your legal wife as soon as possible, so that that family could become legitimate and fulfill Father's wish."

Huang Fan was taken aback.

He never expected his daughter to think that way!

But upon closer analysis, this line of thinking isn't entirely wrong, since Wanwan is unaware of her aunt's past...

“I can swear to God that this matter has nothing to do with me or Aunt Chun.” He could not characterize Ding Huangshi’s recklessness, nor could he tell his daughter about the foolishness she had committed.

Huang Wanwan looked at him, "So Father came here today to find out if that person was hidden by Yue Niang? Has he disappeared?"

Huang Fan did not answer, but instead got up and left.

As he walked to the entrance of Huang Wanwan's courtyard, he suddenly turned around and said, "Don't bring Yan Ge'er back yet. Let him continue to have fun outside."

After saying this, he left immediately.

Huang Wanwan was somewhat surprised; her father actually said such a thing?!

"What has happened these past two days?" She hasn't left the house since the princess returned.

Madam Zhuang inquired around the mansion and found out that "the atmosphere was indeed a bit strange, but after asking several people, no one knew anything. It seems that the master has some trouble with official business."

Huang Wanwan frowned in confusion. There was trouble with official business, so why did they suddenly bring up Meng Changhuai and ask if Yue Niang had hidden him?

She felt anxious and wanted to go to the princess's residence to find out what was going on.

But when she arrived at the door, the gatekeeper stopped her, saying, "The master forbids the young lady from wandering around. He will keep you at home."

Huang Wanwan was shocked. Her father wouldn't let her go out?

"What has Father been busy with lately? Do you know?" she asked the gatekeeper.

Those inside the residence might not know, but the gatekeepers, who greeted and saw off guests all day long, were well-informed.

The gatekeeper looked around before whispering in her ear, "The master and the county magistrate are trying to catch a spy, but they haven't been able to."

"A spy? What's his name?"

"Meng Changhuai".

……

Huang Wanwan was momentarily shocked. Meng Changhuai was actually a spy? A thought flashed through her mind: perhaps her father was looking for him to silence him…

Huang Wanwan didn't insist on leaving. She gave the gatekeeper some loose silver as a tip, saying, "I'm worried about my father. If you hear any news from him in the courtyard, just let me know."

The gatekeeper was naturally delighted and nodded repeatedly.

Huang Wanwan returned to the inner courtyard and burned paper money for her mother again. "No matter why he did it, the person who harmed you will definitely get his comeuppance. As long as he's willing to avenge you, I'll still acknowledge him as my father..."

At this point, Huang Fan turned the capital upside down and indeed found Fang Suozi involved.

When he led his men to the pawnshop, Fang Suozi was not surprised at all.

"How about we chat privately?" Fang Suozi said to Huang Fan. After all, Liu Yuechu's instructions involved the word "secret guards," and he couldn't just say it out loud.

“What is there to discuss privately? Meng Changhuai betrayed Daqi and is a spy for Daqi. You helped him escape and hide, which must be very suspicious!” County Magistrate Zhang Darui immediately rebuked.

Wei Gongming did not directly hand over the task to him, but instead set a trap, making Zhang Darui believe that he had seized the job, thus greatly increasing his desire to make a contribution.

“I spoke privately with Lord Huang, and I didn’t ask you anything. Besides, who do you think you are?” Fang Suozi was the big boss of many pawnshops in the capital and didn’t care about a mere county magistrate.

Besides, he has the backing of the Princess's Mansion, so he really doesn't care about such a minor official.

Zhang Darui was speechless and naturally dissatisfied.

He was an official transferred from another region to the capital, and he was unaware of the relationships between the various households in the city. But this man was so arrogant; could he perhaps be a close associate of some imperial relative?

He looked at Huang Fan, "Lord Huang, what do you think of this..."

Huang Fan frowned slightly. "You only need to tell me whether this person is in your hands or not?"

"No."

"Where?"

"Do you really want me to tell you in front of everyone?" Fang Suozi deliberately kept him in suspense.

“Lord Huang, I think his private conversation with you is suspicious. He wants to drag you into this. You shouldn’t talk to him alone. It would be safest if I accompanied you.” Zhang Darui couldn’t accept being excluded.

Huang Fan finally understood why Wei Gongming was so eager to get rid of this person.

“There’s nothing to hide, so why don’t you just say it to my face?” He looked at Fang Suozi. “As long as the matter has nothing to do with you, I will not wrong an innocent person.”

“What kind of good person is someone who runs a pawnshop shady business? If you don’t tell me, I’ll take you to the county government office. Things won’t be this comfortable then!” Zhang Darui scolded.

Fang Suozi scoffed, "You forced me to say this. It's true that I took the items from Changchun Hall, but Meng Changhuai isn't with me. He was taken away by the secret guards, and before they left, they told me not to make a fuss about it."

"I had to speak out in order to protect myself."

……