Chapter 19: Patriarch Gongsun Is Truly a Genius at Playing Dumb
At this moment, the black-robed man stood on the roof of a certain mansion, looking down at the crowds coming and going on the street, feeling an inexplicable anger quietly rising from the bottom of his heart.
Originally, he had planned to watch the show as the Mu family and Gongsun family fought like dogs. However, he never expected that he would become the murderer who killed Gongsun Zan.
What was most infuriating was that the Gongsun family even helped the Mu family confirm this matter.
Clearly, it was Mu Zhi’an who killed the third young master of the Gongsun family.
Why would the Gongsun family be willing to let bygones be bygones and help…?
The black-robed man’s eyes flickered slightly as he pondered inwardly.
When two enemies suddenly become allies, there is only one possibility.
They have a common enemy.
So the question is, who is this common enemy?
The answer goes without saying.
The black-robed man’s face darkened, “That damn brat actually played me.”
This wasn’t good. If the Gongsun family and Mu family joined hands, his side would probably have quite a bit of trouble…
At this moment, the black-robed man’s peripheral vision suddenly fell on the back door of a certain courtyard.
A voluptuous beautiful woman secretly left from that courtyard’s back door. Behind her, a man supported her buttocks. The two of them looked inseparable, as if whispering something.
Bai Yuanfeng.
The black-robed man looked at this scene. After a brief moment of hesitation, a strange smile suddenly appeared on his face.
…
“Sigh, why is this young miss still hesitating about whether to leave home or not?”
In the morning, Mu Zhi’an leaned on the desk chair and opened the paper crane that had just flown in from the window. Seeing the graceful and beautiful handwriting in the letter, he secretly shook his head and sighed.
Ever since he first replied to the paper crane’s owner a few days ago, Mu Zhi’an could receive a reply from the paper crane almost on the same day or the next morning.
What was said in the letter each time was roughly the same, nothing more than “I’m fed up with my family’s restraints, I want to leave home” or “I have no other choice, this time no matter what the clan leader and elders say, I’m going to go out and relax”, and so on.
However, every time Mu Zhi’an asked the other party “Where are you now?”, the other party’s answer was basically:
“Haven’t left yet.”
Mu Zhi’an: “…”
If this were in modern times, it would be a dwarf in action(1)*.
But it didn’t matter.
He had figured out that what he needed to do was play the role of a listener.
Mu Zhi’an didn’t mind spending some time replying to the other party.
Anyway, it was just to pass the time, so it was fine.
Although he still didn’t know who the paper crane’s owner was and where they were.
After writing the letter, Mu Zhi’an folded the paper crane and threw it out the window.
Then, as if thinking of something, he turned his head to look at Wei Mengrou and said, “Sister Mengrou, do you know where this paper crane flies to each time?”
The tall and cold beauty stood silently in the shadows of the corner of the study, her hair cascading like a waterfall, a strand of hair falling on her face, exuding a bit of laziness and worldliness.
She raised her head to look in the direction the paper crane left, then lightly shook her head.
“Can’t determine where it flew to just based on the direction.”
“Then next time when we’re free, let’s go for a walk together and follow the paper crane’s direction to investigate?” Mu Zhi’an said.
“You can just directly say that you hope I investigate the paper crane’s origin, why beat around the bush?” Wei Mengerou said coldly.
Mu Zhi’an shook his head and said, “That’s still different. Investigating the paper crane’s origin is just incidental. We can go for a walk together, chat a bit, and cultivate the relationship between master and servant… How about it?”
Wei Mengrou fell silent for a while, but eventually lightly “mm”ed, “Let’s talk about it next time when there’s a chance.”
She seemed reluctant to dwell on this topic and changed the subject, “Your guess was correct. Your reputation started changing this morning.”
“Now, many people view you with different eyes than before. They think you’re just simply lecherous, but you’re a righteous person.” Wei Mengrou said.
“Taking this opportunity, you might be able to do more things to greatly change the impression the commoners of Tianxuan City have of you.”
She felt a bit emotional and even found it a bit unbelievable.
Mu Zhi’an had clearly done so many bad things before… Although they weren’t too excessive, his reputation had always been extremely poor.
But this time, just by stopping Gongsun Zan from humiliating the young miss of the Chen family, those accumulated bad reputations directly collapsed in an instant, and then a new tall building was piled up just like that.
If people used to avoid Mu Zhi’an when he went out on the streets before, then now, these people would whisper in secret when they saw Mu Zhi’an, praising his previous actions.
If he took this opportunity to continue doing good deeds, perhaps the title of “debaucherous young master” could also be washed clean.
Mu Zhi’an shook his head and said, “There’s no need to do more things, and no need to change anyone’s impression of me.”
Wei Mengrou’s delicate eyebrows raised slightly as she said, “Isn’t it good to make people like you and make your reputation better?”
“Good, but not entirely good.” Mu Zhi’an said a famous sentence from the Mao Dun Literature Award.
Wei Mengrou didn’t say anything and just looked at Mu Zhi’an in confusion.
“No matter what era, people like to create ‘gods’.”
Mu Zhi’an said, “But where are there any gods in this world? They can treat you as a god now, treat you as a belief, and give you a thumbs up when they see you. But one day when they discover that you did something wrong, even if it’s just a trivial little thing, they will directly tear off the hypocritical mask and collectively denounce you.”
“Because from the moment you become a public figure in people’s eyes, all your flaws will be magnified tenfold or even a hundredfold.”
“So, I dislike being flattered, and I don’t like people putting labels like upholding justice and helping others on me.”
I’m just a simple lecher, lusting after boobs, especially now lusting after Wei Mengrou and Bai Ruoxi… As for establishing a beautiful image in others’ eyes, it has no meaning at all. Now I’ve whitewashed myself, but who knows, maybe one day in the future, because of a trivial little thing, I’ll turn from white to black again.
“For example, Sister Mengrou, if one day you’re suddenly rated as the number one beauty in Tianxuan City and become a great beauty in the public eye, and everyone likes you very much. Then one day it’s suddenly exposed that you’re in a relationship with your own master, regardless of whether it’s true or not, at this time, there will start to be gossip.”
Wei Mengrou lowered her eyelids, as if pondering Mu Zhi’an’s words.
“This is what you said yesterday, that people just want to entertain themselves and don’t care about the truth of the matter, right?”
Mu Zhi’an nodded with a smile.
“The Gongsun family confirmed for you today, saying that Gongsun Zan wasn’t killed by you, but by the black-robed man.” Wei Mengrou suddenly said.
“I know.” Mu Zhi’an nodded.
Wei Mengrou’s small mouth opened slightly, as if she still wanted to say something, but didn’t have the courage to speak.
Mu Zhi’an raised his head to look at the sexy and cold beauty, and smiled, “Sister Mengrou wants to ask me why the Gongsun family would help me, right?”
Wei Mengrou hesitated for a moment, but eventually lightly “mm”ed.
“Actually, Gongsun Xiong is helping himself.” Mu Zhi’an said.
“The Gongsun family being able to thrive in Tianxuan City, Gongsun Xiong’s contributions are indispensable.”
“Gongsun Xiong is a smart man, and smart people know how to play dumb.”
Gongsun Xiong may not have never doubted whether his third son was killed by Mu Zhi’an. No… He should be well aware of it.
But he still pretended to be a fool while knowing the truth.
After all, compared to wealth and the Gongsun family’s future interests, it was simply insignificant.
The black-robed man was the real enemy.
At this moment, Wei Mengrou suddenly fell silent. She concealed her aura and quietly hid in the corner of the bookshelf by the window.
Before Mu Zhi’an had time to ask, he immediately sensed a shocking killing intent coming from outside the window.
The next moment, a man wearing plain robes and a bamboo hat walked into the study.
From his height and build, as well as the cold aura on his body, it wasn’t hard to determine that this person was the black-robed man who wanted to obtain Ye Yu.
He’s not even wearing black robes anymore… After examining the man in front of him for a few glances, Mu Zhi’an almost couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
He lightly coughed and put on a serious expression, “Why did you come to find me so early in the morning? Didn’t we agree to give me three days to deal with the Gongsun family’s matter?”
“Young Master Mu, you’re really good at shifting responsibility. You shifted all the responsibility onto me alone, while you get to be carefree.” The black-robed man abruptly raised his head, his cold eyes under the bamboo hat shooting out killing intent.
Mu Zhi’an’s expression remained unchanged, only calmly looking straight at the black-robed man.
It wasn’t hard to see that the black-robed man was truly angry, but not making a move meant that the other party still knew the importance and urgency of the matter. It seemed that Ye Yu was really important to him… Mu Zhi’an inwardly understood.
He quickly showed a gentle smile and said, “Calm down first. I also hope there can be a better solution, but currently, the only method that can solve this trouble in a short time is this.”
“Dumping all the dirty water on me, you call that a solution?” The black-robed man coldly stared at Mu Zhi’an.
If Mu Zhi’an couldn’t give a reasonable explanation, he couldn’t guarantee what he would do.
“Since you’re an outsider, you shouldn’t care about the opinions of the commoners in Tianxuan City, right?” Mu Zhi’an smiled.
“We have a cooperative relationship. Since I’m preparing to send Ye Yu to you, it shouldn’t be a problem for you to bear a little responsibility for me, right?”
The black-robed man coldly snorted, his eyes flickering slightly, and didn’t speak further.
Mu Zhi’an was right, he didn’t care about this bit of dirty water.
But even so, he was indeed very upset. It’s just that now he needed Mu Zhi’an, so he had no choice but to take on this big and black pot.
“When do you plan to take Ye Yu to Longshou(Dragon Head*) Forest?” The black-robed man asked in a deep voice.
Mu Zhi’an pondered for a moment and said, “The patrols in the city will be strengthened these two days, so let’s set the time for two days later.”
The black-robed man’s expression eased a bit, and he suddenly said, “In consideration of my cooperation with Young Master Mu, I’ll give Young Master Mu another piece of information.”
How do you have so much information… Also, how were those supporting villains in the past with so much information defeated by the “protagonist”… Mu Zhi’an inwardly retorted, looking at the black-robed man and waiting for his next words.
“The Bai family and the Gongsun family are not enemies.” The black-robed man said.
Mu Zhi’an was stunned for a moment, and surprise appeared on his face for the first time.
The Bai family was almost suppressed to the point of doubting life by the Gongsun family and the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce, but now you’re telling me that these two families are not enemies?
“Just now, the matriarch of the Bai family went to the Gongsun family.” The black-robed man said.
A simple sentence, but it contained a huge amount of information, causing Mu Zhi’an to be stunned for a good while before coming back to his senses.
Then, a hint of strangeness appeared on his face.
He suddenly had a bold guess in his heart.
