ebookland Chapter 207 Villa Riddle
Chapter 207 Villa Riddle
Chapter 207 Villa Riddle
Two carriages had been parked in front of the prefect's residence since the morning. Feng Xinying was in one, while Wen Yuan and Feng Jingsu were in the other. Zhu Yan and Zhu Xun were driving two separate carriages, and Feng Jingsu didn't want outsiders to know what was being said inside.
The carriage slowly advanced, its destination outside the South Gate. It happened to be the day Nie Yuan, the commander of the Nanyang City Defense Army, was on patrol, and the three of them encountered him as they reached the city gate. After a few pleasantries, Nie Yuan offered to send troops for an escort.
"So you're going to Taoyuan Villa today. Do you need me to send soldiers with you?" Nie Yuan asked with concern. He knew that Feng Jingsu and Feng Xinying were the children of the Prince of Zhennan, and since Wen Yuan was the prefect, their safety was crucial.
"No need, Nie Yuan. You guard Nanyang Prefecture. We have our own guards." Feng Jingsu refused calmly, without a trace of hesitation. Although he had worked with Nie Yuan for a long time, Feng Jingsu still disliked excessive trouble. He knew that the commander often treated them like fragile vases and could be quite nagging at times.
"By the way, did you see Yi Chen's carriage leave the city?" Wen Yuan suddenly asked, with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
"I saw it. He and Ling'er are in the car, and Mo Yan and Mo Xian are driving." Nie Yuan replied immediately, then smiled, "These two brothers have become good friends with me after the last battle, and now they are also drinking buddies with Mo Dong and others from our clinic."
"Oh, I see." Wen Yuan's eyes moved slightly.
Then Nie Yuan added, "By the way, Mr. Wen, several members of the Shen family from Wantong Bank also left the city today, and it seems they are also heading to Taoyuan Villa."
Wen Yuan and Feng Jingsu exchanged a look, a look full of meaning. Feng Jingsu slowly lowered the curtains and said, "Zhu Xun, let's go."
The two carriages continued forward, Zhu Xun's driving slightly faster, while Zhu Yan's carriage followed closely behind. Feng Xinying sat beside them in the carriage, served by her maids Yin Ping and Yin Shuang. Her gaze was far-reaching, and she had her own plans in mind.
About half an hour later, the carriage stopped at the gate at the foot of Taoyuan Villa. Feng Jingsu, Wen Yuan, and Feng Xinying were helped down from the carriage by Yin Ping and Yin Shuang, and their gazes swept across the villa. The scene before them felt like a paradise, surrounded by lush green forests and refreshing air. Yet, amidst the tranquility, there was a subtle tension, as if a pair of eyes were watching their arrival from the shadows.
Gu Yichen and Lu Ling'er were already waiting at the villa's entrance. The couple stood in the middle, followed by guards and the housekeeper, in an orderly fashion. Gu Yichen, dressed in a brocade robe, had a calm demeanor, his eyes a pensive one, as if he were secretly sizing up the newcomers. Lu Ling'er, on the other hand, was gentle and dignified, a look of indifference between her features.
As soon as Feng Xinying saw Lu Ling'er, she immediately showed a warm smile, walked up quickly and took her arm: "Sister Ling'er, this place is so beautiful like a paradise. We should take a good hot spring bath and reminisce about the past." She appeared to be friendly on the surface, but she was weighing it in her heart, knowing that this meeting was not just about reminiscing about the past.
Lu Linger smiled and shook her hand back, saying softly, "Sister Xinying, you're too polite. We're family, there's no need to be so formal."
Off to the side, Wen Yuan and Gu Yichen locked eyes, each examining the other. Wen Yuan nodded slightly, and Gu Yichen smiled calmly, appearing calm on the surface, yet a turbulent tide lurked within. Feng Jingsu's arrival and Wen Yuan's presence made him realize that this gathering was anything but ordinary. The Shen family's recent movements had drawn considerable attention, and today's visitors were all prominent figures.
"Yi Chen, is Uncle Shen in the villa?" Feng Jingsu asked lightly, his tone was nonchalant, as if asking casually, but his eyes contained a hint of temptation.
Gu Yichen smiled, his tone gentle but measured: "My father has been unwell recently and is resting in the hot spring villa on the mountain. If you guests want to see him, I can arrange it." Although the words were polite, they vaguely revealed a refusal.
Feng Jingsu smiled and waved his hand. "That's all right, we'll talk later." He didn't press the issue, as he already knew the answer. The Shen family's recent actions were far more complex than they appeared to be. This was especially true of Gu Yichen's father, Shen Li. He seemed to be hiding even more secrets; even the name "Shen Li" might be fake.
At this moment, the rest of the Shen family appeared at the gate to greet them. Gu Yichen's younger brother, Ji Junche, and his two older sisters were also present, and the atmosphere suddenly became lively. It seemed like an ordinary family gathering, but undercurrents were surging, and everyone was tacitly aware of what was going on.