To make Tang Manqing believe him, Old Monster Tang even forced Gu Qingfeng to step forward and admit it himself.
And Gu Qingfeng didn't refuse. He nodded and acknowledged, "That's right. I've been like this since I was a kid. As for that so-called unique temperament you mentioned, I might have had a bit of it when I was young, but that was only when I was young. After all, youth is full of vigor. In front of others, I had to put on a bit of an act. Now I'm old, and I've changed. Little niece, believe your great-grandfather's words. He wouldn't lie to you."
"Don't call me niece! You're not the Monarch, and I'm not your niece!"
Tang Manqing wanted to say more, but Old Monster Tang had already lost patience and interrupted her, pretending to be angry as he scolded, "I say, girl, that's enough. Stop making a fuss, or your great-grandfather will really get angry."
"Great-Grandfather!"
Tang Manqing stamped her foot in frustration. She didn't know, and couldn't figure out, what kind of trick Gu Qingfeng had used to make her great-grandfather trust him so completely.
"Kid, I'm finally starting to understand what you said earlier."
Earlier, Gu Qingfeng had said that even if he shouted at the top of his lungs to tell the world that Gu Tianlang had returned, probably no one would believe him.
At the time, Old Monster Tang hadn't taken it seriously. Now, he was starting to believe it.
He had watched Tang Manqing grow up and knew her quite well. He knew that although the little girl had never met Gu Qingfeng or had any contact with him, because of Tang Hengxi, she had studied Gu Qingfeng deeply. No matter how he explained just now, Tang Manqing refused to believe him. Most importantly, Old Monster Tang knew very well that the little girl had always trusted him, but this time, because of the question of Gu Qingfeng's authenticity, she actually suspected he had been fooled. This left him quite helpless, and he really didn't know how to prove that this guy was Gu Tianlang.
"This is all trouble you brought upon yourself back in the day! Who told you to be so famous? And it's also the fault of those who wrote the history books and ancient records. They all made up nonsense, actually writing you up as majestic and extraordinary, dominating the world and looking down on all heroes? What utter rubbish! And those storytellers are even worse. In their mouths, you've become some glorious, towering legendary hero. There's no justice in the world! Who knows how many ignorant young girls you've harmed!"
Gu Qingfeng shrugged, neither confirming nor denying, his expression as if to say, "What can I do? I've been this heroic and extraordinary since I was little."
"Look at you, so full of yourself. You must be overjoyed inside."
Old Monster Tang shot him a disdainful glance and snorted, "One of these days, when I get the chance, I'll tell the world what you're really like, so everyone can see your true face and prevent those ignorant girls who don't know the truth from being infatuated with you."
Gu Qingfeng smiled helplessly. He looked at Tang Manqing and asked, "Little niece, there's something I've always wanted to ask you. How did you find out about the private matters between me and Hengxi back then?"
"It's not the private matters between you and my aunt! It's the private matters between the Monarch and my aunt!"
"Alright, alright, alright! It's the private matters between Gu Tianlang and your aunt. Even your great-grandfather doesn't know about these things. How did you find out?"
Originally, regarding Gu Qingfeng's existence, Tang Manqing didn't want to pay any attention. As for why this guy was impersonating the Monarch and what he really wanted to do, she wasn't interested in knowing either. But now that this guy had fooled her great-grandfather, she had no choice but to intervene.
"My aunt left behind a painting. That painting contains my aunt's spirit. It records the process of her meeting, getting to know, and then understanding the Monarch. I only found out after seeing that painting."
"So that's how it is."
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin as if pondering something and said, "Those things couldn't be known by outsiders. You found out through the painting Hengxi left behind. But then, how did that imposter in Yanluo know?"
"Never mind about him. How do you know?"
"Nonsense! I am Gu Tianlang. How do you think I know?"
"You!"
Tang Manqing pointed at Gu Qingfeng, staring at him intently, yet she could do nothing.
"Kid, back then, you and Hengxi... you didn't tell anyone else about that, did you?" Old Monster Tang also asked curiously.
"Do I have nothing better to do? Why would I tell others about that? I've never mentioned those things to anyone. How on earth did that guy impersonating me in Yanluo find out?"
Suddenly, Gu Qingfeng seemed to realize something and asked, "Old Monster, you don't think it could be... Hengxi, do you?"
"What!"
Hearing this, Old Monster Tang's heart skipped a beat. Then he shook his head and said, "Impossible. Why would Hengxi impersonate you for no reason? And..." As he spoke, he felt something wasn't right and said, "Back then, Hengxi didn't believe you were dead. She said she would definitely find you... Could it be that she's impersonating you in our Yanluo to lure you out?"
Thinking about it carefully, Old Monster Tang found this possibility more and more likely. Moreover, Hengxi was absolutely capable of doing such a thing. But then another thought occurred to him, "If it really is Hengxi, there's no need for her to hide it from me, is there?"
"Didn't you meet him once? Didn't you notice anything?"
"I didn't notice anything!"
Old Monster Tang recalled the situation at the time and shook his head again, "He couldn't be Hengxi either. If it were Hengxi, would I not recognize her? Besides, I know Hengxi's destiny perfectly well. The key is, that guy didn't have Hengxi's destiny on him either. Wait! That's not right either... Back then, Hengxi fell into demonhood, and all her destinies changed. I'm not clear on the specifics of those changes. Hearing you say this, it does seem a bit suspicious."
Beside them, Tang Manqing was thinking about how to expose Gu Qingfeng's true face. She never expected Gu Qingfeng and her great-grandfather to start talking about her aunt, Tang Hengxi, and even suspect that the person impersonating the Monarch in Yanluo might be her aunt?
Was that possible?
Tang Manqing's first instinct was that it was impossible. But upon careful thought, it did seem a bit suspicious. She had been fortunate enough to meet the Lord Chixiao of Yanluo a few times and was deeply impressed by him. Especially the way he looked at her—there was always an indescribable, special feeling in his eyes, like the feeling of a relative.
At the time, Tang Manqing couldn't understand it. Regardless of whether he was the real Lord Chixiao or not, why would he look at her like that?
Now that she thought about it... Could that person really be her aunt?
At this thought, Tang Manqing couldn't help but become excited, her heart pounding.
At that moment, Gu Qingfeng said, "As long as I see him, I'll know who he is. The problem is, I don't know where to find him. Old Monster, how did you catch him last time?"
"I had Manqing trick him out."
"Trick him out? How?"
"That person gave Manqing a Message Talisman. I used the talisman to trick him out."
"There's such a thing?" Gu Qingfeng quickly asked, "Little niece, do you still have his Message Talisman?"
Tang Manqing shook her head, indicating she didn't. Mentioning the Message Talisman, she shot a reproachful glance at Old Monster Tang because back then, Old Monster Tang had instigated her to lie about being in danger and use the talisman to trick that Monarch out, and then...
Well, there was no 'then'...
Ever since then, Tang Manqing had found it very difficult to see that Monarch again.