Chapter 230 - Lore the "Liar"

Lei Yong dragged Tung Mei along for a while looking for a quiet place for them to talk. He did not want anyone overhearing their conversation and causing unnecessary talks. His family had come to enjoy her presence and grown to love this additional figure in their lives and he did not want to complicate things for his family and hers by exposing her as a liar.

Regardless of what the truth was, Lei Yong believed that Tung Mei meant no harm in her actions.

After roaming around for a while, he finally stopped in a courtyard in the northern most part of the residence, which apparently used to be Lei Xing's residence. With her gone, no one came here during the day except the occasional maid or two who came over to clean and maintain the area. And with Xiao Ting's coming of age ceremony going on, all the servants were preoccupied with other matters. 

Before Lei young could speak, Tung Mei frowned and asked, "Why did you bring me here?"

Lei Xing ignored the question and asked, "Where have you been all this time?"

"I asked first." Tung Mei indignantly responded, narrowing her eyes at him. 

Lei Yong frowned at her, but Tung Mei stubbornly met his gaze and so Lei Yong let out a breath and answered, "It's quiet...Where have you been?"

"Here and there..." Tung Mei replied with a shrug.

Lei Yong's frown deepened, "Where exactly?" 

"Nowhere in particular. I needed some space and then I was bored and so I was moving around a lot." Tung Mei offhandedly responded. 

Lei Yong remained looking at her frown, she was not giving a proper response. Not being able to find her during these disappearing spells was very concerning. But she seemed so indifferent about it and it was irritating.

Tung Mei glanced around and her eyes lingered on Lei Xing's former bedroom door for a moment and then she impatiently turned back to him and asked, "Is that why you brought me here?"

Lei Yong noted her impatient voice and then calmly asked, "Did you lie about meeting Xing er'?" 

Tung Mei blinked in surprise and then went, "Lie? What do you mean lie?"

Lei Yong narrowed his eyes at her, "During the time period you claimed to have met Xing er' your mother had just passed away."

"So?" Tung Mei asked blinking at him, seemingly confused. 

Lei Yong knit his brows and continued, "You were occupied with your mother's funeral and reports showed that you never left your home during the month Xing er' left the capital. Xing er' was also not gone long enough to have made it Xia Zhou and back. So how could you have met her then?"

"You investigated me?" Tung Mei asked with raised eyebrows and blinked at him, seemingly in disbelief. 

Lei Yong blinked and then looked off to the side and quickly clarified, "No...I just came across the information, from a verified source. Either way, explain yourself." He finished narrowing his eyes at her.

Tung Mei sighed and then said, "I'm not sure what you want me to explain..." But Lei Yong remained silent and simply waited for her explanation.

Tung Mei then let out a breath and said, "Well...as far as everyone knows, Xing jie has never left the capital but yet the truth is that she has. I'm not sure how deep your investigation went but as far as everyone knows I was shut in at home in mourning...Just as it was with Xing jie's case, my father also would not have made my absence public for the sake of my reputation..."

She paused and then let out a sigh and wearily continued, "It was a tough time for me. I was feeling overwhelmed. I wanted a break and so I left and encountered Xing jie."

"And where did you meet?" Lei Yong asked with knit eyebrows, his family had never pressed her for information on this issue. Whenever it was brought up, she always just gave vague answers and always switched the conversation and they all respected her not wanting to discuss it. 

"On the road." Tung Mei swiftly responded.

"Which road?" Lei Yong pressed.

"I don't remember." Tung Mei offhandedly responded. 

"Then where did you two go?" Lei Yong further pressed.

"As I've told you before, we wandered around randomly for a while and then went our separate ways. I went home and I assume she came home as well."

"How long was a while?"

"A few days..." Tung Mei responded in the same offhand manner. 

Lei Yong knit his brows and scrutinized her, he was not sure what to make of this situation. She did not seem like she was lying, but then again she was giving vague responses. 

Tung Mei frowned at him and then said, "I have no reason to lie, but if you don't believe me then you can go ask Xing jie. I'm sure she will be able to clarify whatever doubts you have." 

Lei Yong also thought the same as Tung Mei. She had no reason to lie. She had lived with them for a while now and had been nothing but pleasant and has shown no ill will or done anything to warrant any suspicion.

The only possible motive he could think of was her lying was to get close to family because of feelings she might have for him. But then she knew things about them that could not have been easily accomplished through an investigation. She would have had to have talked to the family member's own private assistants and even then, what about the things she knew about Lei Xing herself. 

Lei Xing apparently only kept Ah Jin close all these years. By the time he had met Tung Mei, Ah Jin was obviously in the palace with Lei Xing and they could not have met as Ah Jin did not leave the palace between the time he met Tung Mei and Tung Mei showing up at the Lei manor. 

Tung Mei seemed to know little things, personal things about the family. She even knew tunes Lei Xing used to play on the qin when she was little, tunes Lei Xing had claimed to have made up herself. This showed that she would have had to have spent some time with Lei Xing.  

Lei Yong had even considered that the girls might have become close during the concubine selection and that Tung Mei simply made up them having a long history because it sounded better. But then he looked into that theory and uncovered that the candidates were under strict guidance. The only way they could have spent time enough together for them to become close would have been if they shared the same residence, which they did not. 

Lei Yong was feeling very conflicted. Her explanation seemed to make sense but still, it seemed off.

Tung Mei glanced around and when Lei Yong was still not responding, Tung Mei let out a breath and said, "Let's go ask Xing jie then." And with that, she stormed back towards the corridor they had left Lei Xing on.

Lei Xing knit his brows and let out a sigh as he followed behind her. He decided to just play it out and leave it up to Lei Xing. If she corroborated Tung Mei's story, then he would leave it at that. Tung Mei was clearly not hurting anyone and seemingly held no malice and so he did not really want to make an issue of this. 

Tung Mei covertly glanced over her shoulder at Lei Yong and knit her brows.

{...This is getting so tiring...Can you get Xing jie to corroborate the story?...}

{...*You shouldn't complain when it's what you wanted ( ￣^￣ )...}

Tung mei frowned.

{...This is isn't what I wanted. You literally pushed me into this whole mess with false promises!...}

{...*Hehe I thought we already forgot about that... It's why I'm not complaining and letting you do as you like~...Buuut, if you really have such heavy grievances. Then I shall have no choice as the concerned and very responsible FATHER that I am to begin to recall my own grievances, forgotten rules, and other such inconvenient matters that have been previously forgotten. Of course, it's only if you want~  ( ￣^￣ )...}

Tung Mei rolled her eyes and inwardly sighed.

{...Fine, all forgotten...Can you now please go tell Xing jie to agree to this? -_-)'...}

{...*Aww, that's a good girl~ Are you going to come back soon. Father misses you a lot~...}

{...-_-)'...Xing jie. Please!...}

{...*There's nothing to worry about there, with her personality she'll agree with it just to get Yong to leave her alone...Moreover, Xiao Kai came to pick her up so she already left. It was quite the show hehehe~...}

On hearing that Lei Xing was gone, Tung Mei let out a silent sigh in relief. While she did not honestly think Lei Xing would deny her, if not for anything, but at least to avoid the questions that would undoubtedly be thrown her way. But she was a bit worried that her "godfather" had annoyed Lei Xing so much earlier that she might have just ignored her out of spite. 

Therefore, Lei Xing's absence was the best-case scenario for Tung Mei as she did not believe that Lei Yong would pursue Lei Xing to the palace.

Lei Yong also did not appear terribly convinced of the notion that she was lying. He clearly seemed to be leaning towards her innocent. And with his personality, he relied quite heavily on his instincts more than anything, mostly to her annoyance recently. But for today, this was a good thing for Tung Mei.

Lei Yong's instincts perceived her as innocent and no threat but his mind required that he confronts her for reinforcement. And Tung Mei held her ground and even volunteered to confront Lei Xing about her "lie". She sold her story and Lei Xing being unavailable for verification will lead to a stall, that will inevitably lead to him letting it go.

This was perfect for Tung Mei.  

{...That stubborn Xing Xing interrupted our family time. Father will make a grand meal for you. I have some great wine too, I'll share~ ( ^_^ )...} 

{...-_-)'...}

{...*Okay, how about this, I'll reduce your debt. You only have to give me four bottles of wine now, I'll even share one with you~...Are you coming? You're going to come, right?...I've been really lonely here you know, no one comes to visit. It's like everyone forgot about me a- (つω`｡)...}

{...Fineee, I'll come (◔_◔)...}

{...*Hehehe~ I knew my Xiao Ying was the best. If that blind Yong keeps rejecting you then I'll tie him up and throw him into a-...}

{...Please don't do anything. I can handle him on my own -_-)'...}

{...*Hehehe~ Don't be late!...}

Tung Mei let out a silent sigh. She glanced at Lei Yong and with a renewed sense of confidence, she led the way back to where they had left Lei Xing and the others.