Although Qiguan Rang was born as a commoner, he had learned how to survive among the various influences in the northern border . His experience was much richer than teenagers like Feng Jin, whose thoughts were seldom put into practice .
Feng Jin had considered Qiguan Rang a distant man that was difficult to befriend, but his opinion had changed after a brief conversation with him; he was excited by his wise remarks .
Very quickly, Feng Jin addressed him as "Wenzheng" instead of "Langjun . " This proved how friendship between ancient men was often prompted by a skipped beat of the heart… Ahem…
"Wenzheng, you said you've got a guess . What's it?"
Qiguan Rang tapped his fan on his knee and asked solemnly, "Huaiyu, do you know the House of Meng in the county Meng?"
Feng Jin was confused . How was it related to the Meng's? But before he inquired, an appalling thought flashed in his mind, startling himself to the brink of losing his manner . "How can you…"
Qiguan Rang returned a cold smile, his eyes further darkened by irony and disdain . Feng Jin's disbelief was expected, for the conjecture was a humiliation to every member of the upper-class .
"Their ancestors were brave, loyal warriors, but that guarantees nothing for their descendants," Qiguan Rang derided . "When it comes to the Meng's… Huaiyu, you may not have heard about it as you left Shangjing by that time and have seldom written to your family . "
Who were the Meng's?
Their ancestor, Meng Jing, also called Meng Ziliang, played a crucial role in fighting for the Xia Dynasty . Praised by the first Xia emperor for being a "white dragon," and given the name of "the Legend of Warrior," Meng Jing was so revered that he was worshipped by families across the current five kingdoms .
That commenced the prestigious status of the Meng family, which was not affected by the decline of the former dynasty and the division of its territories . Because of the house, the county in which it was based also changed its name to Meng .
However, like what Qiguan Rang said, Meng Jin's offspring were getting feebler and feebler each generation . They were never ashamed of their ridiculous conducts and always thought that they would be nothing compared to their ancestor's reputation .
It was true that a hero's glory never lasted more than five generations .
Feng Jin could guess what Qiguan Rang had implied: the culprit of the crimes in Meng and Hejian was from the Meng house .
"What do you mean?" While Feng Jin understood many of his peers were foolish and shameless, he could barely believe Qiguan Rang's accusation against the great family .
"The county military chief of Meng and his army revolted and burned the place of the county chief . " Qiguan Rang looked at Feng Jin, hinting . "The military chief was always loyal to the Meng's . He hasn't stated a reason for his rebellion, but I've found the names of his wife and daughter on the bamboo slips . Huaiyu, don't you think these are related?"
Feng Jin's lips trembled, struggling to argue as he usually did, yet his mind was a buzzing mess .
"They are indeed . " Jiang Pengji's voice interrupted Feng Jin's effort . He turned and saw the thin girl rushing in wide steps and kneeled down abruptly . No one showed their discontent with her manner, for her fury was too explicit for them to mention anything .
"What did the scoundrel say?" Qiguan Rang touched his fan with his palm .
At the same time, Wei Yuan, like Feng Jin, had not recovered from the assertions of Qiguan Rang and Jiang Pengji .
The four greatest houses in Dongqing were the Feng's in Shangyang, the Wang's in Langye, the Xie's in Qiongning, and the Meng's in Cang . While the first three had a long history, their reputation was no match for that of the last, the family of the Legend of Warrior .
How would the Meng's be related to the scandal in his backyard? Wei Yuan needed peace and time to digest .
"The man claimed that their leader is someone called Meng Liang . Huaiyu, have you heard about him?"
Feng Jin replied, "Yes . A close friend of mine, Meng Heng, the eldest legitimate son of the Meng's, was the brother of Meng Liang . Still, how can that be? My friend is so well-mannered that one won't doubt how disciplined his family must be . "
The two became friends because of their similar social status and background .
Jiang Pengji disagreed . "Huaiyu, I think quite differently . However good your friend is, it's irrelevant to his brother . Every child is a separate individual . Even though they receive the same education, what they absorb and put into practice can be distinct . "
This was indisputable to Feng Jin .
"According to the man I asked, Meng Liang was so spoiled from his own family that every female servant already fell prey to him when he reached eleven . Moreover, the boy is always looking for new targets, and is used to getting what he wants by force . "
While the viewers had witnessed her interrogation, they goggled at her inference .
Hongjun Laozude Juhua: "(Cry) The boy was so experienced at eleven, and I'm still single . "
Guomin Laogong Diaozhatian: "(Cry) Me too! Are there any cute girls for me?"
Zaixia Yeliangchen: "I can never do it . "
Zaixia Zhaoritian: "Me neither . "
Zaixia Longaotian: "Me neither . "
"…"
Could her audience pay attention to the atmosphere and avoid making her laugh in such serious moments?
After a cough, she resumed, "Meng Liang also acquired the facial disguise skills from gangsters who he befriended . His soft features make his female disguise so vivid and real that not even his family can recognize him . With the aid of such techniques, Meng Liang gained the trust of many girls who later became his victims . "
Gradually, he became bored of the simple games and wanted to share the pleasure . He introduced the skills and procedures to his friends and they started a competition among themselves . From commoners to ladies at officials' and merchant's houses, they were excited by the perils and had stretched their hands further…