148: Chapter 28 Questions, Wanyan Honglie

"What kind of problem?" Mu Nianci asked.

Meng Li replied, "I remember Uncle Yang saying that Daoist Master Qiu Chuji is an old friend of his."

"That man has done many deeds to punish evil and root out corruption. Because the Jin people invaded the Great Song, he views them as sworn enemies. Then, because of an agreement with the Jiangnan Seven Heroes, he searched for Yang Kang and Aunt Yang. From what we know, he found them many years ago."

"In short, Daoist Master Qiu knew that Aunt Yang and the others were in the Prince's Manor."

"By common logic, whether out of friendship with Uncle Yang or hatred for the Jin people, he should have taken the two of them away from the manor."

"But the reality is that he didn't."

"This doesn't conform to common logic."

Hearing Meng Li say this, Mu Nianci, Yang Tiexin, Guo Jing, and Huang Rong also found it strange.

After a moment, the most straightforward Guo Jing said, "Perhaps Daoist Master Qiu had no way to take Aunt Yang and Younger Brother Kang away. After all, there are many experts in the Prince's Manor, as we've all seen."

"Perhaps." Meng Li remained noncommittal, then asked Yang Tiexin, "Uncle Yang, what do you plan to do next?"

Yang Tiexin replied without a second thought, "Since I've already found Xiruo and Kanger, I plan to take them back to Niu Family Village to live."

"Then let's take a temporary rest and set off as soon as it's light," Guo Jing said.

Meng Li and the others thought about it and agreed one after another.

As for why not leave now? It was simple: the city gates weren't open.

With Meng Li's Martial Arts, sneaking out of the city wasn't difficult, but if he took this large group of people, it would be hard not to be discovered. If that caused unnecessary complications, things would become quite tricky, as Yanjing was currently occupied by the Jin people.

And breaking into the Zhao Kings Manor in the middle of the night was another matter entirely.

Wanyan Honglie certainly had power, but he wasn't the Jin Emperor; he was only an imperial prince who had been enfeoffed as a king. Moreover, he wasn't the sole power; he had rivals.

In the original story, he didn't forcibly stop Bao Xiruo and Yang Kang when they left in public. While there was the factor of 'disdaining underhanded tricks and wanting to win through an emotional gamble,' it wouldn't be entirely true to say there wasn't a hint of wariness regarding external influences.

...

Before long, dawn broke.

Meng Li was dozing off when he suddenly heard someone knocking on the door.

He opened the door and saw it was Guo Jing. At the same time, he smelled a scent of medicine and said in surprise, "Don't tell me you didn't rest and went to brew medicine instead?"

Guo Jing said, "Thinking about leaving today, I couldn't sleep, so I simply went to brew the medicine."

Meng Li understood and said nothing.

When one has things on their mind, sometimes they indeed cannot sleep.

"What do you need me for?" Meng Li asked.

Guo Jing replied, "It's like this. Didn't we agree to leave today? After Younger Brother Kang found out, he felt that leaving like this was a bit ambiguous. He wants to go to the manor and explain things clearly to Wanyan Honglie, then leave honorably."

"He said this is what a real man, a true hero, would do."

"Uncle and Aunt Yang think it makes sense and plan to go with him."

"Ronger and Sister Nianci, however, feel they are walking into a trap. Once they go, Wanyan Honglie will definitely not let them leave."

"But Younger Brother Kang and Aunt Yang don't think so."

"I feel they both have a point and don't know who to listen to."

"Ronger then asked me to come find you, Elder Brother Meng, to make the decision."

"Let me make the decision?" Meng Li's eyebrows shot up as he laughed in spite of himself. "She wants me to go along to ensure the safety of Uncle Yang's family."

Guo Jing was taken aback, then shook his head. "No, Ronger told me..."

Meng Li interrupted with a smile, "She said to let me decide, but that's what she actually meant. She just didn't say it to you explicitly."

"Is that so?" Seeing Meng Li say this, Guo Jing became uncertain and then asked in confusion, "Then why didn't she explain it clearly to me?"

"You'll have to ask her that," Meng Li chuckled.

Guo Jing nodded and then asked, "Then will you go with us, Elder Brother Meng?"

Meng Li pondered for a moment and replied, "I'll go."

This matter had to reach a conclusion eventually. His going was ostensibly for protection, but more likely, it was just to go through the motions and watch the show unfold.

Given Wanyan Honglie's personality, there was a high probability he would still choose to play the emotional gamble and let Yang Kang's family leave. This was because he was proud, even conceited, and he had the confidence to be so. This confidence didn't just come from his status, but more from himself.

In Meng Li's view, Wanyan Honglie in the original story was indeed a villain, but he wasn't a flat character. Instead, he was flesh and blood, even possessing a certain charm.

Back then, because he was saved by Bao Xiruo, he fell for her. Later, to possess her, he set a trap that resulted in the ruin of the Guo and Yang families.

This was returning kindness with enmity and using any means necessary; there was no washing it clean.

But afterward, his love for Bao Xiruo was, to some extent, also real.

Ever since Bao Xiruo entered the Prince's Manor, he drove away all his concubines, not caring even when mocked for it. Because Bao Xiruo couldn't let go of the past and chose to live in seclusion, he didn't object. To please her, he even sent people to Niu Family Village to transport the Yang family's house over.

This approach undoubtedly made it even harder for Bao Xiruo to let go of the past.

Wanyan Honglie couldn't have been unaware of this, but he did it anyway.

Furthermore, knowing full well that Yang Kang was Yang Tiexin's son, he treated him as his own, even willing to risk his life for him.

Being so deeply devoted, or rather, being such a 'simp' to this extent, no one would believe he didn't truly love Bao Xiruo.

However, while Wanyan Honglie's love for Bao Xiruo was real, it wasn't pure. Or rather, his background destined him to never have pure love. Even if it was true love, it was hard to avoid hidden schemes, and it even carried a certain sense of superiority from being in a high position.

Therefore, he would not hesitate to set traps and harm people just to get Bao Xiruo.

Seeing Yang Kang and Bao Xiruo leave in public, he would lose control and shout that they were lowly Song people, and that without him, they wouldn't even be fit to be beggars in the Jin Kingdom.

Afterward, his emotional gambling and allowing Ouyang Ke to sow discord were all habits born of his own sense of superiority and calculation.

Even when Yang Kang's family entered Song territory, he still wanted to take a gamble and personally led men to pursue them.

In the end, Bao Xiruo directly turned a sharp blade against him and became a pair of 'doomed mandarin ducks' with Yang Tiexin.

Only then was Wanyan Honglie deeply struck, his Dao Heart collapsing, spending his days in alcoholic stupor.

If not for Ouyang Ke's guidance, he might have remained despondent forever.

Guided by Ouyang Ke, Wanyan Honglie then played out a scene of 'filial piety' with Yang Kang, who returned out of necessity despite the rift between them. Even though Bao Xiruo was dead and a rift existed, he still had feelings for Yang Kang, though suspicions and calculations also existed due to various events.

Ultimately, as the Jin Kingdom fell under the general trend, Wanyan Honglie was backstabbed by Yang Kang and chose to commit suicide.

From the perspective of his grievances and entanglements with Yang Kang's family, Wanyan Honglie was a thorough villain. Although somewhat complex, he was not likable.

His charming performance in the drama was when he learned Yanjing was in danger and took his subordinates, Mu Nianci, and Ouyang Ke back to the rescue.

In this part of the plot, Wanyan Honglie showed his charm as a general and a member of the royal family. He climbed mountains and traveled without complaint, yet knew how to be considerate of Mu Nianci's difficulties as a woman, lending a hand at the right time.

Later, when facing the army from the Great Desert, he was fearless of death and led the charge.

Seeing themselves in a desperate situation, a group of personal guards formed a formation to protect him, fighting to the death without retreating.

Ouyang Ke, who was full of calculations, was completely won over upon seeing this. Ignoring his crippled legs, he exploded with power on the spot, using Toad Kung Fu to help.

Even Mu Nianci, who had a grudge against him, changed her view of Wanyan Honglie. Although she still didn't show him any kindness, her resistance lessened by a few degrees.

...