Wang Qiancheng and Liu Cheng, representatives of the Liu family, came to offer condolences. Upon entering the mourning hall, they were so astonished to see Wang Fei Nan Shiying receiving guests, returning courtesies, and clad in mourning weeds that they almost lost their eyeballs.
Liu Cheng tugged at Wang Qiancheng's sleeve, frantically signaling to him. Wang Qiancheng shot him a fierce glare, which prevented Liu Cheng from losing his composure in front of everyone.
"My condolences!"
Wang Qiancheng offered incense and said to Nan Shiying.
"Thank you."
Nan Shiying returned the gesture.
After offering incense, Wang Qiancheng and Liu Cheng took their leave. As soon as they were outside the mourning hall, Liu Cheng could no longer contain himself and exclaimed, "Did you see that? Did you see it? The one wearing mourning weeds and receiving guests in the mourning hall was the Wang Fei! What's going on? What's the relationship between the Wang Fei and Old Poison? Where is Feng Luan? Is he not even showing up since his master died?"
Wang Qiancheng slapped a hand over Liu Cheng's mouth, his expression stern. "Where do you think we are? This is the Regent's Estate. Can't we discuss this outside? If you want to die, I'll prepare a coffin for you right now!"
Liu Cheng was startled by Wang Qiancheng's reaction. He shrank back, daring not to make another sound, and followed Wang Qiancheng out of the estate with his head down.
It wasn't until they were in the carriage that he came back to life.
"I was suffocating! Can I speak now?" Liu Cheng, his large eyes brimming with 'curiosity', looked at Wang Qiancheng.
Wang Qiancheng rubbed his temples and waved him on, gesturing for him to speak freely.
Liu Cheng's spirits immediately lifted. "Didn't you say, why is this happening? I still can't figure it out. Nan Shiying is wearing mourning weeds for Feng Luan's master. If Nan Chaoyun came to offer condolences, wouldn't he die of anger on the spot? Besides, how could Nan Shiying wear mourning weeds for Feng Luan?"
"Haven't you considered that it's not a substitute?"
Wang Qiancheng suddenly looked up at him, his expression unreadable.
Liu Cheng scratched his head. Those words left him completely bewildered. If it wasn't a substitute, then what was it? Could Nan Shiying also be Old Poison's disciple?
Wait, that was a possibility!
Liu Cheng slapped his thigh. He understood now, he truly understood. "You mean Feng Luan and Nan Shiying are fellow disciples?"
Wang Qiancheng looked at him as if he were an idiot.
Actually, if you think about it, every time Feng Luan appeared, Nan Shiying would refuse to see visitors. Everyone in the capital said the Wang Fei was unlucky and couldn't receive too much favor, which was why she was often ill. But what if she wasn't sick at all from the beginning?
Wang Qiancheng had seen Feng Luan with the Lord. At that time, he had thought that the Lord and Divine Doctor Feng were perhaps too close. They didn't seem like superior and subordinate, nor like close friends, but more like... He hadn't dared to think too deeply then, but recalling it now, he'd grasped a hint of it.
If Feng Luan and the Empress were the same person, then the Lord's behavior would be perfectly normal.
"What kind of look is that?"
Liu Cheng might not be intelligent, but he was definitely not stupid. Although Wang Qiancheng hadn't spoken, the way he looked at him was as if he were looking at an idiot. Liu Cheng bared his teeth, forcing a smile, and questioned him.
Wang Qiancheng clicked his tongue. This fool was quite perceptive.
"I think you are very wise!"
"You're talking nonsense, Wang Qiancheng! I know what kind of nonsense you're about to spout just by the way you shift your rear. What? What did I say wrong? If not fellow disciples, then what? Can you come up with another answer?"
"Feng Luan is Nan Shiying."
"See what you said... Holy hell, what did you just say?"
Liu Cheng sprang up from the chair, his head hitting the carriage roof with a thud. The carriage shook, and the servant's concerned inquiry entered the carriage. Liu Cheng, while saying he was fine, clutched his head, tears almost streaming from the pain.
He cradled his head and looked up at Wang Qiancheng, sniffling, "You're lying! How can Feng Luan be Nan Shiying? How can Nan Shiying be Feng Luan? Are you out of your mind??"
Wang Qiancheng asked, "Why is it impossible?"
"One is male, and the other is female!"
"Did you strip them to check?"
"I..."
"I've seen Feng Luan, and they don't look alike!"
"Completely different?"
"Perhaps, perhaps their eyes... but absolutely impossible!"
"Right, maybe they're related. That would make sense too!" Liu Cheng added.
"Feng Luan and Nan Shiying are about the same height, right?" Wang Qiancheng asked.
Liu Cheng moved his lips. "Perhaps, perhaps Brother Feng's ancestral home is south of the Yangtze River, so he's not tall."
"Only slightly shorter than you!"
Wang Qiancheng rolled his eyes. Calling someone not tall when the Wang Fei was slender and taller than most women, just not as tall as men.
"Wang Qiancheng!"
Liu Cheng glared.
Wang Qiancheng made a zipping motion across his lips.
"I don't believe it anyway!"
Liu Cheng couldn't believe it even in his wildest dreams. Who was Feng Luan? He was a divine doctor. Nan Shiying was just a woman confined to her chambers. How could she be compared to Feng Luan?
"What if?"
"Impossible!"
"The Medicine King Valley has always remained neutral, not engaging in politics or taking sides. But why does Feng Luan so clearly support the Prince? Why does he run errands for the Prince? Why does the Wang Fei always claim to be ill and refuse visitors whenever Feng Luan appears?"
Liu Cheng stammered, "Maybe, maybe..."
Liu Cheng hesitated for a long time, then violently pulled his hand down from his head, giving up completely. "I can't argue with you. I won't say another word!"
Wang Qiancheng stopped talking. The carriage creaked and rumbled towards the Liu Estate. Liu Cheng suddenly leaned towards Wang Qiancheng again and asked, "If, I'm just saying if the Wang Fei and Feng Luan are indeed the same person, then why did the Wang Fei hide her identity at first, and why isn't she hiding it now?"
Wang Qiancheng's head snapped up, his pupils trembling.
That's right, why hadn't he thought of that? Why... was the Empress no longer hiding?
...
"Sister, Father is still alive, how could you?"
Nan Yuan'er was as foolish as ever. Jin Mo had said she seemed to suffer from a dual-soul condition. Judging by appearances, the one who appeared at the Regent's Estate mourning hall must have been that idiot from back then.
She covered her mouth, her face filled with surprise, her eyes showing a hint of reproach and dissatisfaction. She ignored the incense handed to her by the young man beside her, her gaze fixed on Nan Shiying.
"Either offer incense or get out. Your choice."
Nan Shiying's voice was cold and devoid of any warmth. She didn't look at Nan Yuan'er, her eyes fixed on the bronze basin by the door, watching the burning paper money.
"Sister..."
"Guards, throw her out!"
Nan Shiying gave Nan Yuan'er no chance to speak further. Nan Yuan'er was dragged away and expelled from the Regent's Estate. Many guests who had come to offer condolences witnessed this scene.
Nan Yuan'er returned to the Nan Estate in a rage and immediately went to the study to inform Nan Chaoyin about Nan Shiying wearing mourning weeds.
In the evening, Nan Yuan'er woke up from her sleep. Recalling the incident, she suddenly sat up in bed.
Disaster!