TNIBFT -Chapter 149 Interrogation

Several subordinates exchanged glances and silently followed behind Shangguan Ning’er.

As they approached the small farmhouse courtyard, Shangguan Ning’er noticed that no lights were on inside. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. She gestured to the companions behind her to keep quiet, then carefully listened for any movement inside.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Just as Shangguan Ning’er straightened up, preparing to push the door open—

“Bang!”

“Thud…” faint noises came from inside the house.

Her expression tightened. She immediately took a defensive stance, ready to strike at any moment. The companions behind her remained calm, each with a hand resting on their weapons, prepared for a sudden fight.

Ever since arriving in Great Liang, they had lived every day on edge.

“Nothing here…”

“Mother, that damn Ye Tian is like a goose that leaves no feathers behind—he didn’t leave a single thing!” a boy’s voice rang out.

Then came a sharp female voice: “That useless bastard! He’s off living a good life and doesn’t care about me at all—son of a bitch!”

The woman cursed nonstop.

Footsteps drew closer. Before Shangguan Ning’er could react, the door was suddenly opened by Widow Zhang. She stuck her head out and looked around, only to find several imposing men standing at the entrance, all staring at her with murderous intent.

Widow Zhang swept her gaze over them, her eyes darting. She quickly straightened up and said awkwardly, “Oh… are you gentlemen looking for someone?”

“Or…?”

No one responded. Zhang Fan rushed out from inside before even reaching the doorway, shouting, “Mom, there’s nothing in the house! I don’t care—I want to go to the city and buy new clothes!”

The moment he finished speaking, Widow Zhang hurriedly pulled him close and covered his mouth. She looked at Shangguan Ning’er and the others with a flattering smile.

“Don’t misunderstand! Ye Tian and I… we’re close. Didn’t he go to the city? I just came to help him clean up.”

“Yes, just cleaning!”

Afraid they wouldn’t believe her, she added another line with a forced smile.

Ye Tian?

The moment Shangguan Ning’er heard that name, it struck her like a bolt from the blue.

Ye Tian was exactly the man His Majesty had been searching for. Could this Ye Tian be the biological father of the three princes and princess?

Shangguan Ning’er swallowed excitedly. After searching high and low without success, they had unexpectedly found Ye Tian in this small village.

Seeing no reaction from the group, Widow Zhang grabbed Zhang Fan, trying to leave quickly.

Having lived in Sifang City for over a decade, she could tell at a glance that these people were not to be trifled with. Each of them carried a murderous aura—either here to rob or to kill.

“Mom!”

“I want new clothes! It’s almost New Year—everyone else has them, why don’t I? I don’t care, go ask Ye Tian for money!” Zhang Fan suddenly threw a tantrum, shaking off her hand and refusing to leave, standing stubbornly in the snow.

Widow Zhang’s heart nearly leapt into her throat. She nervously turned back to glance at the group behind her.

Sure enough, the refined-looking young leader stepped toward her, his face full of killing intent.

“Y-You… what do you want?” Widow Zhang stammered, panic in her eyes as she stared at Shangguan Ning’er, her legs going weak as she retreated step by step.

“Crunch!”

“Crunch…” the snow beneath her feet crunched loudly.

With a sharp “whoosh,” Shangguan Ning’er drew the flexible sword from her waist. The cold gleam of the blade flashed before Widow Zhang’s eyes, making her pupils widen in terror as she forgot how to breathe.

Shangguan Ning’er said calmly, “Nothing much.”

“I just want to have a little chat with you. Aren’t you short on money?”

As she spoke, she cast a glance at Zhao Mingyuan. He immediately stepped forward, took out a small cloth pouch, and poured it out—

“Clatter…”

On the snow-covered ground, gold gleamed everywhere—ingots, gold leaves, and gold bars, all sparkling brilliantly.

Zhang Fan’s eyes widened in shock.

Widow Zhang’s breathing grew rapid. Her gaze was locked onto the gold on the ground, her mind already too overwhelmed to think.

“As long as you answer honestly, all this money will be yours,” Shangguan Ning’er said.

“I’ll answer!” Zhang Fan blurted out immediately.

“I’ll answer!”

Widow Zhang, her face full of panic, stepped in front of her son and said, “I’m just a peasant woman. I don’t know what you want to ask, my lord.” Even as she spoke, she couldn’t help casting a greedy glance at the gold on the ground.

“Inside. We’ll talk inside.”

Shangguan Ning’er withdrew her flexible sword. Zhao Mingyuan followed behind the mother and son, ushering them into the house.

Inside, the room was bare—nothing but a large bed.

There were also traces of burnt charcoal from earlier. After carefully inspecting the room, Shangguan Ning’er turned to the uneasy Widow Zhang.

“Speak. Where is Ye Tian?”

“Does he have three children?”

“Triplets, five years old?”

Widow Zhang nodded. “Ye Tian does indeed have three children…”

Before she could finish, Zhang Fan angrily interjected, “Those three little bastards—born by a mother but not raised by one—”

Before he could finish—

A flash of ferocity crossed Shangguan Ning’er’s face as she drew her soft sword.

Swish!

“Ah—!”

“My mouth—my mouth! Mother, my mouth!”

Blood poured from Zhang Fan’s mouth as he stared in terror at his hands, now covered in it.

Her strike had been swift, precise, and ruthless. With a single slash, Zhang Fan’s mouth was torn open to the corners of his ears, blood gushing uncontrollably.

Widow Zhang realized that there would be no easy resolution today.

With a thud, she dropped to her knees.

“My lord, please spare him! Fan’er is just a child—he knows nothing. He didn’t mean to offend you!”

“I’ll talk, I’ll talk! I know things—I promise I’ll tell everything!”

She begged pitifully.

Shangguan Ning’er’s face remained cold. She glanced at Zhang Fan and said, “If you scream again, next time it won’t be as simple as losing your mouth.”

At those words, Zhang Fan immediately fell silent in terror.

Kneeling on the ground, Widow Zhang said, “I heard that Ye Tian went to the city to open a hot pot restaurant.”

“Heard?”

“Didn’t you just say you were his lover? When did the two of you get together?”

The father of imperial princes and princesses, betraying the Empress to be with a widow—such a disgrace. When she met Ye Tian in person, she would definitely tear that heartless man to pieces.

Shangguan Ning’er tightened her grip on the sword hilt, staring coldly at Widow Zhang.

Widow Zhang couldn’t figure out what relationship this person had with Ye Tian. Earlier, she had claimed to be his lover just to make others think she wasn’t stealing, but merely taking things as someone close to him.

And just now, when Fan’er insulted those three children, the way this young woman defended them—it seemed she must be someone very close to Ye Tian.

“Ever since Ye Tian came to Sifang City, we’ve been together.”

Widow Zhang sobbed, “Ye Tian clung to me relentlessly. He even promised to take care of me and Fan’er for life. He said once he made a name for himself, he would marry me in grand fashion… sob, sob…”

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Shangguan Ning’er.

Shangguan Ning’er’s face turned ashen.

The subordinates behind her also looked grim. The atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing point.

“And also, Ye Tian—”

“Enough!”

Shangguan Ning’er didn’t want to hear any more of this shameless tale. She cut her off coldly.

“The children—where are they?”