In fact, things were just as Yi Qing had guessed. The emperor received a report saying that the main reason for the misdeeds of the Meng and Lin families was not just embezzlement, but that they had colluded with remnants of the previous dynasty with malicious intent.
The severity of embezzlement and treason was far different.
What surprised Yi Qing was that the troublesome relatives the Xue Tianlang and his daughter were worried about had actually been active right beside them.
Man's plans were no match for God's. Previously, Xue Tianlang had been scheming that if he could marry Xue Miao'er into the Meng family, once her identity was revealed in the future, the Meng family would be in awe and thus protect her. Now it seemed that this idea was so ridiculous. The Meng family was actually in cahoots with the remnants of the previous dynasty.
If Xue Miao'er were to marry into the Meng family, it would be like walking into a trap. God knew what her extremely unreasonable grandfather and uncle might do to her!
"Even with the evidence in Xue Tianlang's hands now, it can only prove the Meng family's embezzlement. It might alert the enemy," Deng Xiao said. "The emperor doesn't know how deep the influence of the remnants of the previous dynasty is, and he is deeply wary of them. Moreover, they act cunningly and are very vigilant. If something happens to the Meng family, they might sense it and then retreat, which is what the emperor doesn't want to see."
Yi Qing was getting a bit impatient listening.
There were so many things she didn't want to see, but she still had to keep watching, didn't she?
That dog emperor was just so troublesome!
He said he was going to investigate corruption, so why couldn't he just finish it after the investigation? Now the remnants of the previous dynasty had popped up, and he wanted to wipe them out all at once. Why didn't he just fly to the sky?
If it were really that easy, would all those who had been suppressing the remnants of the previous dynasty in the past nearly a hundred years be complete idiots?
Just when it seemed that things were about to end and she could return to the capital to see her son, suddenly there was a complication. No wonder Yi Qing was in a bad mood.
However, seeing Xiao Tian deep in thought, Yi Qing finally swallowed the words that were already on the tip of her tongue.
After a while, Xiao Tian finally spoke slowly, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table. "How did you talk to Xue Tianlang?"
"I told him to stay calm for the time being and prepare for the wedding as usual, just as if nothing had happened."
"And then?"
"If we want to investigate the inside story of the Meng family, we have to go deep into the Meng family," Deng Xiao said.
Treason was not just about losing one's head; it meant the extermination of the entire family. So in the Meng family, this must be the top - level secret and not easy to find out.
If you didn't enter the tiger's den, you couldn't get the tiger's cubs.
Yi Qing understood what Deng Xiao meant and shook her head in opposition. "No, Xue Miao'er can't do it."
She might be willing to throw herself into danger, but being a spy was out of the question.
However, she did believe that even if she were discovered, this girl would have a bit of backbone and wouldn't easily give in. This was the only "spy - like quality" she thought Xue Miao'er had.
Unexpectedly, Deng Xiao glanced at her. "Aren't you here too?"
Yi Qing was speechless. So it was a buy - one - get - one - free deal, and she was the free one?
Before she could object, Xiao Tian had already flatly refused. "No, I don't agree."
"What do you mean you don't agree?" Deng Xiao said nonchalantly. "If you could infiltrate the bandit den without being discovered, are you still afraid of going to the Meng family?"
The Meng family were civil officials, while the Lin family were military officers.
In theory, the Meng family should be easier to break into.
Yi Qing said, "I don't want to go either."
She was greedy for life and afraid of death. She had never been a great and just person. She was not willing to risk her life for the emperor.
Deng Xiao said, "Don't you want to return to the capital to see your son as soon as possible?"
Yi Qing was hit right in her soft spot and immediately fell silent. Her mind was spinning quickly as she calculated the possibilities.
Xiao Tian said, "Don't listen to him. This matter has nothing to do with you. I will find a way to solve it."
"Other than the method I mentioned, what other way do you have to solve it quickly?" Deng Xiao said bluntly.
Xiao Tian glanced at him but didn't say a word. However, the determination in his eyes remained unshaken.
After chatting for a while longer, Deng Xiao said he was going down the mountain.
Since he had come to Henan, he must be the focus of attention of the Meng and Lin families. He couldn't be absent for too long, so he needed to rush back as soon as possible.
After seeing him off, Yi Qing discussed with Xiao Tian, "I thought it over carefully just now. Let me go."
Where was the least guarded place in the Meng family? It must be the back yard, and it would be the easiest place to sneak in.
Although she silently mocked the emperor for taking on too much and being likely to get into trouble, after thinking about it carefully, the emperor had sent out two powerful figures like Xiao Tian and Deng Xiao, which showed his great determination to solve this matter thoroughly.
If they failed to complete the task, they might really be sent out again even after returning to the capital.
It was better to solve it thoroughly according to the emperor's requirements and achieve a permanent solution.
"No need," Xiao Tian said. "We probably won't find many clues from the back yard. We still have to start investigating the connections between the Meng family and the remnants of the previous dynasty."
Yi Qing said, "The principle is indeed like this, but now that Deng Xiao is here, although it's nominally a reward, we don't believe it, let alone the Meng family with a guilty conscience. They must be very nervous now, so their connections must be even more secretive."
Seeing that Xiao Tian was about to object, Yi Qing reached out and covered his mouth. "Let me finish first. I know you can do it without me, but if we work both inside and outside, we might achieve twice the result with half the effort."
Xiao Tian pulled her hand away and muttered, "I'm not at ease."
"Don't you trust my ability?"
"I don't trust Xue Miao'er. She will hold you back," Xiao Tian said.
"Don't worry. I'll train her well," Yi Qing said confidently. Her eyes lit up. "Xiao Tian, how about we make a bet?"
"What kind of bet?"
"Let's see who can find out the clues first," Yi Qing said, looking energetic.
"What's the bet?"
"Who's on top and who's on the bottom!"
It took this innocent old man Xiao Tian a while to understand. He scolded with a smile, "All you think about all day is such things."
Yi Qing laughed loudly. "Are you daring enough to take the bet?"
Xiao Tian lowered his eyes and thought, not immediately agreeing to her.
"Xue Miao'er is good at martial arts, and I'm quick - witted. We'll be fine together."
Xue Miao'er couldn't understand why after all this fuss, she still had to marry into the Meng family!
"If I had known this would be the result, what was I bothering for!" she mumbled, holding a broken willow branch in her hand and plucking the leaves and throwing them on the ground. "After going around in a big circle, I still have to marry that scumbag."
Yi Qing said calmly, "Now you're marrying him to get rid of him. Understand?"
"I originally thought so too!" Xue Miao'er widened her eyes and said indignantly.
Yi Qing: "… Then think about it. If you had gotten rid of him before, would you have been able to survive?"
Xue Miao'er fell silent.
"Now, not only can you get rid of him, but you don't have to be buried with him. You can even go in front of him and show off when he's on his deathbed. Settle your scores and avenge your grievances. Do you feel better now?"