Chapter 215: Say It Again
Wei Jiao had actually already left the Capital City and traveled several li away.
But after thinking left and right, he still turned his horse head around and came back.
He wanted to warn this dog thing, lest…
While he was away, she act recklessly.
Of course, even if he didn’t say it, if she couldn’t see him, she would directly go ask the Emperor, and the Emperor would tell her.
However, the Emperor sent her more guards and told her to be careful and cautious, but these instructions were completely useless; she wouldn’t listen.
But unexpectedly, before he could even warn her not to act recklessly, she actually said to him, let’s get married.
Get married?
Real or fake…
She must be crazy.
Oh, no, she seemed to have said something before that, what was it?
His father’s proposal.
Wei Jiao’s stiff body recovered sensation. He didn’t shake off the hand grabbing his wrist, but instead pulled hard, lifting the young girl who was already very close almost off the ground and pulling her nearer.
“You sure listen to my father,” he said. “What benefits do you want to exchange from my father’s hands?”
Mo Zheng looked at him: “Not from your father, but from you. I seriously thought about what you said. If others cling on and say I ruined his reputation, it really would be hard to deal with.”
She seriously thought about it. Wei Jiao looked at her and didn’t speak.
“Senior Brother, you’re still the best,” Mo Zheng said. “You’re going out again and refuse to take me. If I stay in the Capital City alone…”
At this point, she gave a light sigh.
“Wei Jiao, I’m tired. I don’t want to deal with others’ covetous intentions anymore.”
This sigh contained a trace of genuine fatigue. Wei Jiao’s ears twitched, and he lowered his gaze to look at the hand grabbing his wrist.
Actually, the injury on her hand, even if small, was very painful.
The time she suffered was short, but the shorter it was, the more bitter.
After all, she hadn’t suffered for so many years before—her mother doted on her, carefree and without worries—suddenly falling into such a situation…
Unlike him, who had been suffering almost since he could remember, suffering continuously, getting used to it, so it actually wasn’t bitter.
“Your tiredness has nothing to do with me.” He raised his eyes and scoffed. “Then if I listen to my father, what benefits can I get?”
Mo Zheng hurriedly said: “I can accompany you home. Even if you have more assignments, something as big as getting married means you have to go home for ancestor worship and to see family.”
Accompany him home? Wei Jiao sneered: “What kind of benefit is that? I can go home anytime I want…”
“That’s different.” Mo Zheng interrupted him.
What’s different? Wei Jiao was about to speak when his arm was pulled hard. The young girl used the force to lightly flip onto the horse’s back, sitting in front of him, face to face.
Thinking of how she had suddenly hugged him just now, Wei Jiao instinctively leaned back a bit.
Mo Zheng didn’t hug him, her brows dancing with excitement: “Me going home with you—is that the same as you going home alone? Although I don’t have the title of Princess, I am truly and completely one. Wei Cui knows it too; he can’t treat me lightly. When the time comes, whatever we tell him to do, he’ll have to do it.”
Wei Jiao laughed in spite of himself: “What are you thinking? Even the Emperor can’t make him do whatever he wants, you…”
At this point, his voice stopped, his expression pensive.
Mo Zheng looked at him and smiled slightly: “The Emperor must be benevolent and wise, forgiving and loving his ministers—he can’t just do whatever he wants. But I, a woman, don’t have so many restrictions.”
Women of course have even more restrictions when it comes to doing things, especially becoming someone’s daughter-in-law, Wei Jiao thought. But that’s for other women; this dog thing…
In her short time in the Capital City, she had stirred up trouble for Imperial Consort Li Clan and Chai Clan so they couldn’t live in peace. If she went to Longxi, Wei Cui would have troubles too.
Mo Zheng leaned closer to him and lowered her voice.
“Your father’s family business isn’t smaller than my father’s family business. We’re both children, both calling him father. We can’t just suffer without getting any benefits, right?”
Wei Jiao’s mouth curved. This dog thing was really a madwoman, her appetite getting bigger and bigger—getting rid of Imperial Consort Li Clan, scheming against Chai Clan, and that still wasn’t enough; now she was extending her hand toward Wei Clan…
He lowered his gaze to look at the woman almost pressed against him. She tilted her head up to look at him, her brows and eyes curving in a smile, revealing her fine white teeth… right by his jaw.
If he said he disagreed, would this dog thing bite him?
The thought flashed through Wei Jiao’s mind, and then he reached out to pick her up and throw her down.
This time, he didn’t let her grab his hand again.
“Wei Jiao!” Mo Zheng seemed annoyed as she shouted.
Wei Jiao didn’t urge his horse to leave. Looking down at her from above: “Say it again.”
Say what again? Mo Zheng was slightly stunned.
“Let’s get married?” she said.
Wei Jiao looked at her and broke into a grin: “Good.”
With that, he turned his horse head and urged the horse to gallop away.
Mo Zheng seemed not to have reacted yet, staring blankly as the young man in her gaze grew farther and farther.
Zhang Sheng You sat in the imperial carriage, seeming stunned as well, motionless, neither urging nor asking.
Until…
“Miss.”
Yang Luo, who had been dozing in the carriage, groggily sat up and looked out the window, her expression bewildered.
“What happened?”
Mo Zheng turned back and smiled at her: “Just said a few words to Wei Jiao.”
Wei Jiao? Yang Luo was even more bewildered, looking around with her gaze, not seeing Wei Jiao’s figure: “When did he come? What for?”
Mo Zheng turned and got into the carriage, lowering the curtain: “I’ll tell you when we get back.”
With that, she signaled Zhang Sheng You to go.
Only then did Zhang Sheng You urge his horse forward.
…
…
“You mean, get married with Wei Jiao?”
Back at the National Academy, Mo Zheng briefly recounted what had just happened with Wei Cui. Inviting rebellion and such, Yang Luo already knew about and wasn’t surprised, until the end, when she heard Mo Zheng’s request and proposal to Wei Cui.
She stood up in surprise.
“Aren’t you sending a lamb into the tiger’s mouth, just what he wants?”
Mo Zheng smiled and said: “No, with Miss Yang’s identity as cover.” Then she explained to her, “This is what I meant: he’ll use me as a flag, and I’ll use him. Through a marriage alliance, we achieve a transaction between us. First, to appease him and prevent him from harming civilians in my name; second, using Miss Yang’s identity as cover to get close to Wei Clan, collect evidence, and uncover his followers, so that…”
At this point, she looked at Yang Luo and smiled lightly.
“Perhaps, we can turn him into Miss Yang’s great merit.”
Yang Luo’s eyes lit up: “You mean we counter and eliminate him!”
That’s right, that’s right—this would truly be great merit.
Compared to Imperial Consort Li Clan and Chai Clan, Wei Clan was the Emperor’s true major worry.
If she could help the Emperor eliminate Wei Cui, her status in the Emperor’s heart, the power she could obtain…
Yang Luo couldn’t help but clench her hand, but with the force, the injury on her arm hurt, and she let out a cry of pain.
Mo Zheng hurriedly supported her: “Be careful.” She helped her sit down.
Yang Luo stood up again and asked urgently: “What can I do?”
Mo Zheng pressed her to sit down again: “Persuade the Emperor.”
“That’s simple,” Yang Luo said.
Mo Zheng pressed her shoulder, not letting her stand: “Not simple. You must be even more cautious. You can’t let the Emperor discover my identity…”
At this point, she looked at Yang Luo.
“Miss Yang, remember, the Emperor is the Emperor.”
Yang Luo looked at her and understood what she meant.
Although the Emperor hadn’t killed her mother and her, had avenged her mother, and protected her with care, still…
She couldn’t treat him as a father.
He was an Emperor.
If he found out about Mo Zheng’s identity, her interactions with Wei Cui—even if she was the Emperor’s daughter, he would still suspect her.
He would even ruthlessly eliminate her.
Just like he eliminated Imperial Consort Li, who had accompanied him for years, borne his children, and whose father had great merit in founding the dynasty.
“A Sheng.” She nodded lightly. “I know.”
Mo Zheng withdrew her hand and smiled: “Then I’ll trouble Miss from now on.”
Yang Luo smiled.
…
…
Night was deep. Because Wei Jiao had left the Capital City, Mo Zheng felt more at ease moving about, changed into men’s clothing, and came to Baoyue Tower again.
Because during the day, Wei Cui’s people, the Emperor’s imperial guards and secret guards were all there, many things weren’t said. Only now could she sit down with Uncle Hong to talk carefully.
“So, Young Master will marry Wei Jiao using Miss Yang’s identity, then go to Longxi,” Uncle Hong said.
Mo Zheng nodded: “Doing this stabilizes Wei Cui first, and also stabilizes… Miss Yang.”
Uncle Hong sighed lightly, understanding Young Master’s meaning.
Miss Yang and Young Master had supported each other to this point, but no matter what, Miss Yang was the current Emperor’s daughter. If a real conflict happened…
They didn’t dare bet that Miss Yang would stand on Young Master’s side.
“I do trust Miss Yang,” Mo Zheng said softly. “I just think good people should have good rewards.”
To get returns, you have to give benefits; this way is still more reliable.
Uncle Hong nodded: “Since this matter benefits us, let’s do it.” After speaking, he saw Mo Zheng’s expression change slightly and was stunned, as if she had some doubts.
“What’s wrong? Any problem?” he asked hurriedly.
A problem? Mo Zheng thought. Wei Jiao should know that getting married is just her stopgap measure, right?
But why did Wei Jiao make her say it again then?
And after she said it again, he smiled…
Wei Jiao always smiled brightly in front of others. She had seen him smile in various ways—cold laughs, mocking laughs, playful laughs—but that moment was one she’d never seen…
Damn it.
Why did he smile so handsomely?
Mo Zheng sighed inwardly and smiled at Uncle Hong.
“No problem.”
