*Lotus cove*

Jiang Cheng gives a dirty look to Su She before walking out of the council hall. He stops before exiting and turns to Meng Yao, "Clan leader, before we were so rudely interrupted, you were going to tell me something, please come to the main courtyard if you want to continue our conversation. I am in charge here, so I have to take care of guests and make them as comfortable as possible. No thanks to you."

With that said, Jiang Cheng makes his way towards the courtyard.

Meng Yao asks Su She to take a seat. Su She looks around to make sure that they are alone before he speaks, "Clan leader, as instructed, I went and enquired with the old couple who stay at the outskirts of Yunmeng."

"And?" Meng Yao urges his subordinate to continue.

Su She leans closer and speaks in hushed tone,"She was very apprehensive at first, but when I gave her silver and told her that her life maybe in danger, she spilled the beans. She said that, two cultivators had taken shelter in her home a few days ago. She described their appearance and she said that one was hurt.... clan leader, it was them."

Meng Yao nods and smiles.

Su She continues, "She said that they took care of the undead corpses that were threatening their safety... She was not sure which one of them had done it, as she was not at home at that time."

"So, Yiling patriarch was still alive when Hanguang Jun brought him there?" Meng Yao asks to confirm.

"Yes...clan leader," Su She hesitates before continuing. Meng Yao nods encouragingly at his subordinate so Su She continues, "The old woman said that they looked intimate."

"What!?" Meng Yao's eyes widen in surprise, but soon his surprised look turns to a smirk, "Now, it all makes sense. No wonder Hanguang Jun followed Yiling patriarch so faithfully.. no wonder he stood up to protect his home in burial mounds even after Wei Wuxian's death, no wonder he took those lashes willingly... he was in love with that dumb do gooder this whole time!.... Su She, tell me more." he commands

Su She nods and continues, "She said that, Hanguang Jun gave her silver to rent the whole cottage. The money was good, so she took it and left to stay with her relative for a day or so. When she returned she found that the injured man was better...healthier. But the duo left almost immediately after their return, stating that they had some things to take care of. She said that the injured man was holding a bamboo flute and did not carry a sword even thought the other had called him a cultivator."

"So it really was Wei Wuxian. Are you sure she said bamboo flute?" Meng Yao asks his brows knitting together.

"Yes, clan leader. I asked her twice."

"What happened next?" Meng Yao asks when Su She doesn't continue.

Su She looks at Meng Yao with confusion clear in his eyes, "She... she said that....that when they returned, Hanguang Jun looked devastated...and there was a weird man accompanying them and... that man was carrying the injured man in his arms... She said that...Hanguang Jun had returned with Yiling patriarch's body."

"What the hell are you talking about!?" Meng Yao exclaimed, his brows furrowing in confusion, "Su She, are you sure that's what she said."

Su She nods and continues, "I asked her to describe his appearance once more at this point. She described Wei Wuxian perfectly, right to the mole just below the lower lip."

"What happened next?"

Su She goes on to tell Meng Yao how, Hanguang Jun had paid them for their services and asked the weird looking man to leave them. But the weird man had not left. He had hung around Hanguang Jun, as if keeping an eye on him. When the old woman had checked Wei Wuxian's vitals and pronounced him dead, Hanguang Jun had refused to believe the lady and had insisted that he was alive. He had asked the weird looking man to arrange a cart and after he had returned with the cart, Hanguang Jun had loaded Wei Ying in the cart and holding the bamboo flute and a brown sword to his chest he had joined his dead friend in the cart and left them.

"Did Hanguang Jun tell them where he was going?" Meng Yao asks in a concerned tone. 'Hanguang Jun is Zewu Jun's brother. If he does something stupid while grieving for Yiling patriarch, it will hurt Second brother.' Meng Yao thinks, worry lines mating his features.

There are after all very few people, Meng Yao cares about, and Zewu Jun is on the top of that list.

"No, clan leader." Su She informs.

"I can't believe it completely. But first, we need to make sure that Wei Wuxian indeed did not set foot in Lotus cove." Meng Yao says while walking towards the courtyard.

*Lotus Cove*
*The central courtyard*

When Jiang Cheng goes to the central courtyard, his eyes invariably fall on a tall elegant figure.
'Zewu Jun.' Jiang Cheng feels his face heat up. Now that the older Lan had spotted him coming towards the courtyard, Zewu Jun starts walking towards Jiang Cheng to meet him half way.

"Jiang Cheng... " Zewu Jun says softly walking closer still.

Jiang Cheng gulps. He feels himself glued to the floor, unable to move. His heart starts hammering in his chest. 'Why is he doing this in front of everyone?' He wonders, flush rising to his cheeks.

Zewu Jun forgoes the bow and holds Jiang Cheng's forearm. Jiang Cheng's breath hitches in his chest. He tries to take a step back avoiding eye contact, "Jiang Cheng, how much time do we have?" The older Lan asks in hushed tone.

"Mn?" Jiang Cheng asks completely bewildered.

"I overheard heart A Yao say that he will be going to the woods near Yunmeng at quarter past seven. Is there somewhere we can meet in private?" Zewu Jun's tone is how it usually is calm and gentle, so is his face. His words and expressions don't match, Jiang Cheng realizes. 'He is pretending!'

Jiang Cheng gets the hint. He removes XiChen's hand from his forearm and his face clouds with anger. He leans in trying to look intimidating, "Please take the back door from your quarters and walk to the west. It's out granary. Please follow me." Jiang Cheng whispers and turns his back and starts walking away.

"Clan leader, this is a misunderstanding...Wangji would never." Lan XiChen says loudly, before following Jiang Cheng and walking away from the crowd.

They draw smirks from Jin and other clans. One of the smaller clan leader speaks, "They are at it again. I don't understand how Clan leader Cheng can resist, Zewu Jun's gentle ways."

The other clan leader shakes his head and chuckles, "I have heard people call Clan Leader Cheng, Angry Lotus. And I think it suits him well."

Jin clan members who have been keeping an eye on the two men also think that XiChen and Jiang Cheng are having their usual tiff.

After walking away from prying eyes, Jiang Cheng addresses XiChen once again, "No one goes there after five. I will create a scene in the dinner hall and walk off. Please go to your room and stay there till eight. Then meet me there." Jiang Cheng says, but before he can say more, from the corner of his eyes, he sees Meng Yao approaching them.

His hand falls on Sando's handle. He winks at the older Jade, before yelling, "Zewu Jun, I don't want to hear anymore. You are my guest, so I am being respectful. But don't think for even a second that Lan clan can have good relations with us. I will never forgive... "

"Jiang Cheng... " Zewu Jun whispers and tries to close the gap, but Jiang Cheng steps away and unsheathes Sando half way.

Jiang Cheng opens his mouth to say more but gets interrupted by Meng Yao who stands in front
XiChen, shielding his body, "Clan leader, I wish you would not be so quick to judge Zewu Jun." Meng Yao says defending XiChen.

"It's ok, A Yao. Jiang... I mean clan leader Jiang Cheng must have things on his mind. I don't have any ill feelings towards him." XiChen says in his usual polite way.

Meng Yao directs an affectionate smile towards XiChen and walks towards the older Jade. But before he can touch him, Jiang Cheng clears his throat and interrupts, "Clan leader Jin, you said that you would help me with the situation we are facing in the eastern edge of lotus cove." Jiang Cheng says, cryptically.

{Note :- That's it for this update.

Hope you guys enjoyed it.

I have updated the next chapter of Mine 'To protect and to serve' (my new WangXian story) yesterday. Putting it here in case you missed the notification.

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Have a nice day.}