Old Chen Tou didn't answer Meng Jingwei's question, but continued to smoke his pipe, his sharp eyes fixed on Qing Muye walking upstairs.
His gaze made Meng Jingwei's heart palpitate.
Could he be suspecting Qing Muye's identity?
"You've been with 'Iron Pillar' for some time. What do you think of him?"
Old Chen Tou evaded Meng Jingwei's question, instead focusing his attention on Qing Muye.
Meng Jingwei sensed something amiss. "He's honest and naive, not bad. What's wrong?"
"He Kai Lian Nuo has been getting close to him lately. I fear she's plotting something. Be careful."
"Heh."
Meng Jingwei chuckled, leaned over, and picked up the tea on the table, taking a sip to moisten her throat. "According to your analysis, you underestimate He Kai Lian Nuo. If she really wanted to make a move on 'Iron Pillar', her words and actions would be far too ostentatious, obvious to anyone."
She really wanted to say that He Kai Lian Nuo simply fancied Qing Muye.
But she couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Mm."
Old Chen Tou nodded in agreement, then shook his head. "Alas, I've been pondering the same. Then why is she approaching 'Iron Pillar'? Could it be that she genuinely wants to learn culinary skills?"
"From now on, just be wary of 'Iron Pillar' in all matters. As long as no important information is leaked to him, he holds no value for He Kai Lian Nuo."
Meng Jingwei offered a suggestion, then added, "Let's observe further. We'll react to whatever comes, and we mustn't lose our composure."
"Makes sense."
Old Chen Tou took a puff of his pipe, exhaling a faint aroma of tobacco that veiled his weathered face, making him appear more melancholic.
Uncertain of his thoughts, he furrowed his brow in deep contemplation for a long while before looking up as if suddenly remembering. "Oh, I forgot the main thing. He Kai Lian Nuo has invited you and 'Iron Pillar' to a banquet at the palace tomorrow."
"A banquet?"
A Hongmen banquet?
Meng Jingwei felt uneasy.
"Under the guise of inviting 'Iron Pillar,' she wants you to go along too. I suspect it's not that simple," Old Chen Tou said, looking at her. "If you don't want to go, you don't have to."
"I'll go, of course I'll go," Meng Jingwei readily agreed.
"Aren't you afraid they'll make a move against you?"
"I'm not going alone, so there's nothing to worry about. Besides, with you all here, He Kai Qing Tang won't do anything to me."
She was very confident.
"Fine. You have your reasons, so be it." Old Chen Tou's pipe was out of tobacco. He tapped the bowl against the ashtray, stood up, and left. "Get some rest, I'm going to sleep."
After Old Chen Tou went to rest, she sat on the sofa, recalling recent events and speculating about He Kai Lian Nuo's motives for inviting her and Qing Muye to the palace banquet.
She pondered and pondered but couldn't come to any definitive conclusion.
"Sister Wei Wei, can you take me to the palace tomorrow?" He Xiao Ming Jin, who had been silent, moved to sit beside Meng Jingwei after Old Chen Tou left and pleaded.
"Don't ask me, I can't make that decision for you!"
Meng Jingwei pushed him away, pointing towards Old Chen Tou's retreating back, her meaning clear: she wanted him to ask Old Chen Tou, and if Old Chen Tou agreed, she would take him.
Saying this, she turned and went upstairs, leaving He Xiao Ming Jin sitting in the living room with a disappointed expression.
"Hey, Sister Wei Wei, am I not your brother? You're too disloyal."
He Xiao Ming Jin stood up and shouted at her retreating back.
Meng Jingwei paused at the foot of the stairs, placing her hand on the railing, and turned back with a smile, teasing, "My silly brother, your understanding of me is still too superficial. When have I ever been loyal?"