To Love You Again

Lu Yin Ze coughed to ease the tension between the ladies. "As Tang Yin said, I think Mistress Tang is under the impression that my father is making an enemy out of the Tang family. Since we are already in the same boat with the Tang family, I think it will be better to rope in Tang Yin to our investigation."

"You trust her?" Xiong Zhi asked.

Lu Yin Ze nodded firmly. "Yes."

Tang Yin could not help but glance at Lu Yin Ze.

This made her remember their conversation three days ago when she visited the Lu family with her elder sister and grandmother. 

....

Lu Yin Ze looked at Tang Yin curiously after she mentioned that her grandmother might be gathering some information against his father Ming Zhi Yi.

"Why are you telling me this? I think this is a discussion between the elders." 

The elders discussed it only among themselves and purposely left the younger generation out.

Tang Yin: "You are the son and the heir of Lu family, so I think you should know. Besides, you cursed your father that day. Aren't you trying to win against him? I think this information will be helpful to you."

"...Why are you helping me?"

"Hmm? Because... we pledged that we will help you succeed?" Tang Yin looked at him strangely.

"Is that all?"

"...Well, it is also because we are now in the same boat." Tang Yin then added, "And besides, friends should help out each other, right?"

When she said that, the man before her turned silent for a long time.

"Do you want to help me a bit more?"

....

And that was how it led to today.

'Really, how come this annoying man trusted people so easily? He's almost like a little white cub in need of protection.' Tang Yin just sighed for the pitiful future life of Lu Yin Ze.

"I think we can trust Tang Yin," Linfeng spoke after a while.

Tang Yin's eyes brightened with glorious light. "That's right! You can trust me!"

Tang Yin had another goal in this at the moment she saw her brother Linfeng. It was to spend more time with Linfeng through this. However, that would be difficult when that woman was around. That Xiong Zhi was like a mother bear protecting her cub!

But she won't give up!

Xiong Zhi looked at Linfeng. Her lips pursed, but since Linfeng had spoken like this, he must have some plan in mind.

"Fine. I'll agree to it." 

Xiong Zhi gestured for Linfeng to bring out the doc.u.ments they brought.

Xiong Zhi's face became somber. "Here. These are the findings we got on the poison used on you and on the one used against my grandfather. We ran some tests. Both poisons have the same properties. Although they are added onto different matter and have differences in potency, their effects on the person are the same and the actual toxins' basic molecular framework is the same... The poison in the incense is much stronger than what is used against you... Anyway, the conclusion is that the poison came from one source."

Tang Yin flinched. What the...?

The head of the Xiong family was poisoned...? Big news.

She heard some rumors before that Xiong De who was in prison got arrested due to attempted murder. 

The medium might be this poison.

Lu Yin Ze frowned. "How come this appeared in the Xiong estate? This is a poison that my father and brother's men created. Did they sell it to some underground channels?"

"No, I don't think so. Do you think your father will lose the opportunity to monopolize the product and announce his trump card to the world, before he could even accomplish his goals?" Linfeng asked.

Lu Yin Ze's frown deepened. "...No. My father will choose the method that will bring more benefits to him. He will not spread this right way. It's too risky, people can study it and create an antidote during the timeframe when his plan is still ongoing."

"You are right. Then one thing is clear. It means that the people behind the poisoning on you and my grandfather is likely the same person, or the same group of people. It is no doubt, it is your father and brother." 

The room was silent.

Xiong Zhi continued to speak slowly. "But there is another question that popped up which I do not understand. How is Guan Gao Huan involved with the Lu family?"

Tang Yin almost dropped her jaw. But she held it in and tried to look serious and composed as if she was also in the know.

Inwardly...

'Oh my, oh my!'

'Guan Gao Huan...! Poisoning the Head Master of the Xiong family...! With the help of Lu Yin Ze's father at that?!'

'What a big scandal!'

Lu Yin Ze was also stunned. "It was Guan Gao Huan who brought the poison to Xiong De?" 

Lu Yin Ze had learned from the news and from Xiong Zhi that Xiong De had tried to poison the old man of the Xiong family. 

It turned out that the poison was truly the same poison he had taken before.

"Yes. Do you have any idea what involved Guan Gao Huan in this matter?" Xiong Zhi asked.

The answer to this question... might be the key to some mysterious pieces that were missing for her to see the whole picture.

If she learned what connection Guan Gao Huan had to this matter, then some of her questions from long ago might be answered.

Why did Guan Gao Huan target the Xiong family in the past life?

Who was the person Guan Gao Huan talked to on the day she died? Was it connected to the man who shot Linfeng? Was it Ming Zhi Yi's men?

What was Guan Gao Huan's purpose?

An image of silver thread and silver-blue moon appeared in Xiong Zhi's mind.

'And how are these all related to the Lu family?'

[Retribution]

This was one of the words that came out from that woman.

Xiong Zhi's long lashes flickered.

Lu Yin Ze was silent. He was thinking hard.

"The Guan family and our family are quite close in the past. The children... We are basically childhood playmates. When we were younger, I am closer to Gao Huan than the others because we are around the same age. However, now, he seems like a stranger to me." 

Lu Yin Ze remembered his last encounter with Guan Gao Huan and how the man played with his emotions regarding his brother and father.

Ah.

Come to think of it... Guan Gao Huan seemed very familiar with his brother and father. Could it be related to this?

"However, recently I have learned that Gao Huan seems to have some information on my brother and father. My father is not an easy man to be acquainted with, unless both sides share mutual benefits. I can't think of how my father can gain something from that man, but it's clear that they knew each other."

Linfeng and Xiong Zhi both sat upright.

Linfeng put a hand over his chin as he thought for a moment. He spoke slowly while immersed in his thoughts.

"I have suspected Guan Gao Huan's and Lu Jin's relationship. However, based from what you said, it seems like they have a deeper relationship than I thought."

He lifted his gaze and spoke more firmly.

"I thought, if Guan Gao Huan, Lu Jin, and Ming Zhi Yi are acquianted, the whole relationship must revolve around Lu Jin. But now, I think, the central figure should be Ming Zhi Yi instead of Lu Jin."

Lu Yin Ze was confused. "Is there a difference?"

Linfeng nodded. "If Guan Gao Huan and Ming Zhi Yi got to know each other because of Lu Jin, then this matter is much simpler. However, if the relationship between Guan Gao Huan and Lu Jin existed because of Ming Zhi Yi, then this is more complicated than I thought." 

Everyone fell silent after hearing Linfeng's answer. 

They could not understand it for a moment. 

However, Xiong Zhi's mind seemed to get something from Linfeng's words. 

She tried to catch it, but the fleeting thought slipped away.

Linfeng turned to Lu Yin Ze. He asked solemnly, "Please tell me everything you know about Guan Gao Huan. Every little detail, from childhood until now." 

Xiong Zhi's eyes drifted to Linfeng. She wondered why he asked about Guan Gao Huan's childhood all of the sudden.