Wan Huameng's incoherent confession exhausted the remaining vitality in him. He stood on the edge of the birdcage and slowly squatted down, returning to the posture when Zhao Mian came, with his arms around his knees, his back against the gold thread, and his head buried in his knees.
"I'm so tired and sleepy." Wan Huameng's eyelids were so heavy that he couldn't open them anymore. He hugged himself tightly. His long hair was corroded into two pieces because of the toxic gold wire. The remaining hair fell at his feet. "I don't want to talk anymore."
Wei Zhenfeng frowned, and Zhao Mian could sense his impatience.
Zhao Mian could understand. After all, they had been listening to Wan Huameng talk for a long time, but all they heard were their guesses, with almost no useful information.
Wan Huameng was talking nonstop at the beginning, but he felt "so tired and sleepy" when the matter of the Western Xia relics was mentioned. Is he really unaware of it, or is he deliberately avoiding the question
It is true that Wan Huameng is a madman, but he is not a fool. Even if he is a fool, Lu Wang behind him is no pushover.
Zhao Mian, Rong Tang and others had discussed the location of Gu Ruzhang's hidden treasure. Gu Ruzhang would put the clues, or tell whom, if he was sure that Xixia would fall.
Xixia territory and Xixia people are undoubtedly the easiest answers to think of, but they are also the easiest targets for Beiyuan to target. Dongling is a relatively safe place, and Beiyuan must be cautious if he wants to find people or things in Dongling. Just like himself and Wei Zhenfeng, how many incidents they caused in Dongling for their investigation.
If we were to ask where Gu Ruzhang was most familiar with in Dongling, it would naturally be Nangong Mountain, which he had to visit often.
Wan Huameng just said that he built the bamboo forest for Gu Ruzhang.
Zhao Mian recalled everything in the bamboo forest. It was quiet and cold, and it really matched the integrity and impression that Gu Ruzhang had given him, except for one place.
"One last question." Zhao Mian asked before Wan Huameng fell asleep, "Did you build the hot spring in the bamboo forest for him too?"
Upon hearing this, Wei Zhenfeng glanced sideways at Zhao Mian.
"I like to use other people's faces. But he said," Wan Huameng whispered, as if talking in a dream, "He said he wouldn't do it if it wasn't my own face..."
So that's why, no wonder the hot spring has the effect of dissolving disguise. According to Wan Huameng, although he built the hot spring, Gu Ruzhang also had some ideas in it.
Wan Huameng's voice became smaller and smaller. After he finished the last word, he closed his eyes. No matter what others said, he would not speak again.
Fu An, who had been waiting quietly for a long time, said at the right moment: "Have you two finished your questions? Then please go back."
When the few people left, the rows of torches on the wall went out, leaving Wanhua Meng with only the endless darkness.
Perhaps because of this, he was able to get a good night's sleep.
Zhao Mian wanted to go back to the bamboo forest for a detailed investigation, but unfortunately he didn't bring enough people today, and Wei Zhenfeng was with him, so he had to go back to the Nanjing Embassy for the time being.
While in the carriage, Wei Zhenfeng asked him, "If the clue of Wanhua Meng is broken, what are you going to do next?"
Zhao Mian said calmly: "Go find other clues."
"If you want to use Gu Ruzhang's Prime Minister's Seal to lure the snake out of its hole, I have to remind you." Wei Zhenfeng said, "The people in the Imperial City Bureau have some brains."
Zhao Mian said: "What we want is that they have brains."
Sometimes, smart people are much easier to deal with than stupid people. Stupid people are the most troublesome because they don't follow routines and act illogically.
Moreover, the clue of Wanhua Dream may not be cut off.
Zhao Mian lay dormant for two days, and there was no special movement from Wei Zhenfeng. Late at night on the third day, he brought Bai Yu, Shen Buci and other experts to Nangong Mountain again.
The guards at Nangong Mountain thought that Prince Nanjing was here to see Wan Huameng, and were about to take him to the underground palace, but Zhao Mian said, "You can leave now, and don't worry about us."
This was the most confidential place in the capital of Dongling State, the residence of a country's imperial master. But now, a foreigner and his men were allowed to come and go freely, as if they were strolling in their own back garden. How ironic.
If Nanjing were to fall into such a situation one day, he would probably not be able to face the world anymore.
Zhao Mian came to Yanyueju and opened the secret passage leading to the bamboo forest. The familiar scene appeared before his eyes again.
More than half a month had passed since the incident, and Zhao Mian had been trying to avoid recalling the events of that day. State affairs were so busy that he didn't have the leisure to reminisce.
But now that he was back at the scene and heard the sound of the hot spring water flowing, he couldn't help but have some... inexplicable images in his mind. While he ordered himself to shut up, he was glad that after tonight, this hot spring that had witnessed his two shameful moments would completely disappear from the world.
"Light a few more lamps," Zhao Mian ordered, "drain the water and find the spring."
Everyone rolled up their sleeves and prepared to get to work, when a figure outside the organization suddenly appeared in the night. Just seeing the familiar outline, Zhao Mian began to feel blocked in the heart.
"Good evening, Your Highness." Wei Zhenfeng casually put on his coat and yawned, "Why are you not sleeping so late at night? What bad things are you planning to do?"
Zhao Mian: “…”
Wei Zhenfeng had the same idea as him.
Although they were from two different countries, Wei Zhenfeng's way of thinking was so similar to his. If he hadn't known it was impossible, he would have suspected that Wei Zhenfeng was taken away from his brother by mistake when he was a child. In fact, Wei Zhenfeng was his biological brother.
"Why is the young prince here?" Zhou Huairang was startled. He looked at the hoe on Wei Zhenfeng's shoulder, and then at the bucket in his hand. "You're carrying a bucket and a hoe?"
When faced with stupid questions, Zhao Mian would usually explain patiently because Zhou Huairang was his childhood sweetheart, but Wei Zhenfeng was not so patient. He chose to talk nonsense to make the other party shut up.
Wei Zhenfeng said "Oh" lightly, and said seriously: "I want this kind of dish."
Zhou Huairang: “Ah?”
Zhao Mian was not happy about his people being teased like this, and said coldly: "You have already carried the tools, and you still have the nerve to criticize me?"
Wei Zhenfeng smiled and said, "Well, do you want to look for it together?"
"Why shouldn't I use the able-bodied men?" Zhao Mian said, "You should work harder for me."
Zhao Mian stared curiously at the spring where water was gushing out and asked, "What do you think is in this hot spring water?"
Wei Zhenfeng was startled, and slightly turned away his eyes. The two teardrop moles under his eyes seemed to be a little red. But even at this time, the little prince still did not forget to say: "You are so lustful, Zhao Mian, I feel like there is something for you."
Zhao Mian was also stunned: "I am lustful?" He quickly realized what Wei Zhenfeng was referring to, and with a cold face, he said sternly: "I mean what kind of medicinal herbs are soaked in it, why can it break your disguise, Wei Zhenfeng, what are you thinking about."
"I'm curious too. My disguise was very difficult to solve." Talking about business, Wei Zhenfeng looked calm and collected. "Wan Huameng is indeed very capable. It would be a pity if he died. It would be great if he could write a book about his life's learning before he died, so that we at Beiyuan Imperial Hospital could study it."
Bai Yu said: "If your Highness and the young prince want to know, I will take a scoop and study it carefully when I return."
Wei Zhenfeng and Zhao Mian stretched out their hands at the same time, their movements surprisingly consistent: "No need."
Bai Yu was extremely confused by their reactions. She thought for a moment and lovingly comforted the two brothers who were nearly ten years younger than her: "This spring water is flowing. Even if there was something in it at the time, it must be gone now."
Wei Zhenfeng said slowly: "That being said..."
Zhao Mian calmly interrupted Wei Zhenfeng: "We are not here for the spring water tonight, so don't waste time and keep digging."
"Your Highness, wait a moment." Zhou Huairang squatted by the pool and stuck his head out. "Look at the texture of this jade brick. Does it look like a mechanism?"
"organ?"
Zhao Mian immediately came forward and stood at Zhou Huairang's position to carefully observe the jade bricks at the bottom of the pool. Wei Zhenfeng also came over, looked behind Zhao Mian for a moment, and said: "Now that you mention it, it seems that there is something. But are you sure this is not a coincidence?"
Zhou Huairang said: "I have seen a similar bronze mechanism in an ancient book. It would be too much of a coincidence to say it is a coincidence."
In view of Zhou Huairang's previous performance, Wei Zhenfeng was still somewhat skeptical about his words: "Is this true?"
"Didn't you hear Zhou Huairang say that it was recorded in ancient books and he had seen it." Zhao Mian's voice was indifferent, revealing a trace of barely detectable relief and pride. "Read more books when you have nothing to do, little prince."
Wei Zhenfeng imitated Zhao Mian's tone in a sarcastic way: "'Didn't you hear Zhou Huairang say that it is recorded in ancient books' - ah yes, yes, your little Rang is the smartest."
Zhao Mian looked at Wei Zhenfeng as if he was a fool: "What's wrong with you?"
Zhou Huairang couldn't remember the last time His Highness praised him, and he couldn't help feeling a little flattered. He scratched his head even if it didn't itch: "Hey, little prince, how did you know that His Highness called me 'Xiao Rang' when I was a child?"
Wei Zhenfeng raised his eyebrows. Is there such a thing
Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince the kind of person who would call someone by a nickname? Impossible, because when he called me, he always called me "Wei Zhenfeng" without any ambiguity.
Zhao Mian ordered: "First, copy down the texture of the jade brick, and then check if there are any other strange things at the bottom of the pool."
After that, everyone dug deep into the hot spring, but found nothing new. But the trip was still quite rewarding. If the texture on the bottom of the hot spring pool really had any special meaning, it was most likely left by Gu Ruzhang, a clue to the Xixia treasure.
But Wan Huameng may not know.
When leaving the bamboo forest, Wei Zhenfeng looked back at the empty hot spring pool and couldn't help but sigh: "If Wan Huameng knew that Gu Ruzhang finally gave him the thing he valued most, would he cry or laugh, or cry and laugh at the same time?"
"Whether he's crying or laughing, Wan Huameng shouldn't show it in front of outsiders like us." Zhao Mian said disdainfully, "As a national teacher, Wan Huameng's ability to control his emotions is too poor. Dong Ling has lost all his face because of him."
"What's the big deal?" Wei Zhenfeng said, "If you want to cry, cry. If you want to laugh, laugh. Isn't that what we should do as human beings?"
Zhao Mian was stunned for a moment, and asked: "Have you ever cried since you grew up?"
"I cried before," Wei Zhenfeng said without disguising, "I cried a lot two years ago, in front of many people."
This was something Zhao Mian had not expected.
Wei Zhenfeng is the same age as him, taller than him, and must have experienced more life and death separations than him, yet he could do such a shameful thing as crying in public.
Zhao Mian asked: "Why are you crying?"
Wei Zhenfeng didn't give a direct answer, but just said: "Because of this or that reason. As you said, being delicate or not has nothing to do with being a man or a woman, so by the same token, it's not shameful for a man to cry."
Zhao Mian still didn't quite believe it: "Have you really cried in front of so many people?"
Wei Zhenfeng smiled and said, "Really? If you don't believe me, you can go ask Yun Yong and Hua Ju."
"You let them see you crying?" Zhao Mian said in disbelief, "What about your prestige? Do you still want it?"
Wei Zhenfeng was surprised and said, "What does this have to do with my prestige? If a person is really capable, people will still respect and fear him even if he cries eight or ten times; if he is just a facade, even if he has a cold face all day long, he is just a weak waste."
Zhao Mian was stunned for a long time before he said softly, "...Is that so."
Wei Zhenfeng saw Zhao Mian's thoughtful expression and advised him: "So, if you want to cry after seven days, just cry directly. I will never laugh at you - I saw that you were very uncomfortable holding it in last time."
My eyes were so wet, but I gritted my teeth and tried not to let the tears fall. It was not easy.
Zhao Mian was immersed in his own thoughts and didn't react for a moment: "Seven days later?"
"Well," Wei Zhenfeng said in a tone that couldn't be more casual, "Isn't the fifteenth in seven days?"
Zhao Mian frowned: "How do you remember it so clearly? Are you counting on your fingers?"
Wei Zhenfeng seemed to be choked: "I didn't, stop spitting blood on me."
(End of this chapter)