Chapter 76: A Glance At The Young Lady
Outside the National Academy, the Imperial Guards stood solemnly, cordoning off a large open area. The companion reader ladies stopped at the doorway and respectfully saw off the princesses as they boarded the carriage.
Once they stepped out the door, they could no longer travel with the princesses.
Of course, there were some who could travel together.
Watching the princesses board the carriage, Yang Hui pulled a long face and squeezed forward from behind, straightening her back as she passed the Imperial Guards. The Yang Family’s ornate carriage also hurried over carefully.
“Hurry up.” Yang Hui shouted sullenly to those behind her again, “Don’t delay the princesses’ imperial carriage.”
The companion reader ladies then watched as the two Miss Yangs followed her with their heads down.
Yang Hui boarded the carriage first. She had just gotten on and hadn’t yet entered inside the carriage when her trailing skirt hem was stepped on, nearly causing her to tumble inside…
“What are you doing!”
Yang Hui turned back angrily.
Mo Zheng had already lifted her hand and was apologizing repeatedly, “I didn’t mean to…”
Liu Chan wasn’t indulging her and said, “You’re the one who was rushing.”
The companion reader ladies were all watching this way, and someone let out a laugh…
The one laughing was naturally that lowly maid pretending to be Liu Chan! Yang Hui glared at her hatefully, then looked ahead where the princesses’ imperial carriage had already started moving…
The princesses wouldn’t wait for her.
Yang Hui no longer quarreled with these few people, flung her sleeve hatefully, and sat inside.
Mo Zheng boarded the carriage, then pulled Liu Chan up, smiled and paid respects to the companion reader ladies in farewell.
This new Miss Yang was quite polite, the companion reader ladies thought.
Yang Luo waved smilingly to Mo Zheng and Liu Chan in farewell, watching Yang Hui’s carriage and horses follow behind the princesses’ imperial carriage, escorted front and back by the Imperial Guards as they departed.
Outside the National Academy gate, it didn’t become quiet; instead, it grew even more lively.
The young ladies talked to each other. They would have three days off after today and discussed whether to play together. The elders from their families who had come to pick them up also surged over.
“How were today’s classes?” “The Libationer personally came to check our homework.” “Oh, that’s really good. Your brother hasn’t been asked about his homework by the Libationer yet.” “Duke Ding’an’s Mansion’s carriage suddenly has two more people. Who are they?” “I heard Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong also have lady-in-waitings. Did you see them?” “Who are those two new faces?”
Yang Luo stood in the crowd, listening as the noisy voices all turned into one, all inquiring about the two new young ladies.
She lowered her eyes and walked through the crowd.
In the Capital City, these wealthy families all had sharp eyes. New faces suddenly appearing among the princesses’ companion readers would inevitably draw attention.
Duke Ding’an had fabricated lies about their identities. Those who didn’t know the inside story might believe them, but those who knew the inside story…
For example, the real culprit from White Horse Town.
Yang Luo clenched her hand tightly, her gaze sweeping over the chaotic crowd around her…
Were there any of the culprit’s spies among them?
This was the benefit of having A Sheng use her identity: she could hide on the side and watch those intending to harm her reveal themselves.
…..
…..
“There are so many people looking outside.”
Compared to going to school, on the way home from school, Liu Chan relaxed a lot.
They had entered the National Academy and met the Libationer without being driven out, so Liu Chan was in the mood to take in her surroundings.
No matter what, this was traveling behind the princesses’ imperial carriage, with the Imperial Guards clearing the streets.
Liu Chan couldn’t help but lift a corner of the window curtain to look outside.
Of course there were many people looking outside. These were the imperial princesses, not everyone could see them, nor could everyone follow behind the princesses’ imperial carriage. Earlier, Yang Hui hadn’t even put down the carriage curtain, wanting everyone on the street to see her.
But now, with these two annoying people added…
“Put the carriage curtain down properly. Don’t let people see.” She said crossly, “What an embarrassment.”
Liu Chan clenched her hand; not knowing the rules, she felt a bit timid…
“Cousin, your words are quite improper,” Mo Zheng said, looking at Yang Hui. “In your eyes, is serving as the princesses’ lady-in-waiting an embarrassing thing?”
“I wasn’t talking about myself!” Yang Hui glared. “I was talking about you two!”
“What’s wrong with us?” Mo Zheng leaned against the soft cushion, looking at Yang Hui with a half-smile. “No matter what we were before or what we did, now it’s by His Majesty’s golden decree that we’re serving as the princesses’ lady-in-waitings. Cousin, by cursing us, you’re cursing His Majesty.”
Yang Hui was furious. Besides being sharp-tongued, this cousin of hers wore simple clothes and was slouching, but sometimes the aura she inexplicably exuded reminded her of Princess Pingcheng.
Princess Pingcheng seemed amiable and would smile at people, but she was ultimately imperial family. Her bearing was extraordinary, commanding respect without anger. Even when smiling, Yang Hui felt a bit afraid upon seeing her.
“You, you…” She stammered, angry at this countryside maid one moment and at herself for being afraid the next.
The carriage suddenly slowed down, and Yang Hui, caught off guard, lurched forward, her anger immediately spilling outward. “What are you doing! Can’t you drive properly!”
The servant woman outside hurriedly said, “Miss, Miss, Captain Wei is passing by, talking to the princess. The carriage has stopped.”
Wei Jiao?
Though Yang Hui instinctively wanted to lift the carriage curtain to see the handsome man, she remembered how he had sat in their home earlier, threatening to invite their whole family for tea…
Better not to stir up trouble.
Over there, Liu Chan also lowered the window curtain and tightly pressed down the corner with her hand.
Only that countryside cousin was still slouching lazily.
…
…
“Wei Jiao.”
“A Jiao.”
Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong had already lifted their carriage curtains and called out to the person outside.
Wei Jiao was riding his horse and talking to Princess Pingcheng without even glancing this way.
“…Going out?” Princess Pingcheng asked. “Where to?”
Wei Jiao said, “Escorting my Seventh Uncle home to express His Majesty’s intention.”
Princess Pingcheng didn’t correct him that he should say fulfilling his duty to his father. She pursed her lips in a smile and said, “Then I thank you for being so devoted to my father emperor.”
Wei Jiao laughed heartily.
Seeing the two over there chatting and laughing animatedly, Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong grew more anxious.
“A Jiao, Father Emperor really gave me a lady-in-waiting,” Princess Wuyang suddenly thought of something and shouted.
With these words, Wei Jiao, who had been looking straight ahead, suddenly looked over.
Princess Nangong’s eyes lit up. “A Jiao, let me show you my lady-in-waiting—”
Wei Jiao’s black horse turned slightly, and besides his gaze, his whole person turned toward Princess Nangong.
“Oh, you really have a lady-in-waiting,” he drawled lazily.
“Yes, yes, why would I lie to you.” Princess Nangong answered quickly, turning to shout toward the carriage behind her, “Yang, Yang Sheng, lift the carriage curtain—”
Princess Wuyang hurriedly followed, “I have one too.” She wanted to call out her own lady-in-waiting, but though she recognized the face, she hadn’t remembered the name. Sigh, there were so many Miss Yangs from the Yang Family; how could she remember them all.
“Miss, Miss Yang.”
She could only call like that.
How could Princess Nangong let this opportunity pass? She giggled, “Sister Wuyang, you don’t even know your own lady-in-waiting’s name?”
Princess Wuyang was furious and glared fiercely at Princess Nangong for stepping on her to attract Wei Jiao…
“It’s this Miss Yang who’s timid,” she hurriedly explained. “She doesn’t even dare talk much to me.” Looking at Wei Jiao, “A Jiao, am I that scary?”
Wei Jiao didn’t answer her question but still looked toward the last carriage.
Fortunately, there was only one carriage behind.
Even if Princess Wuyang didn’t know the name, with Princess Nangong’s voice, the carriage curtain was lifted, and three young ladies appeared.
One Miss Yang had a dazed expression, one Miss Yang looked nervous, and another Miss Yang slowly straightened up from the soft cushion.
“Look, that one…”
Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong each pointed at the same time.
“That’s my lady-in-waiting.”
Wei Jiao’s gaze passed over Yang Hui, passed over Liu Chan, and looked toward the girl who had straightened up.
That girl kept her eyes down demurely, quiet and well-behaved.
Timid, Wei Jiao let out a soft scoff, turned his gaze, and simultaneously turned himself and his horse.
“Princess, I’ll be going first,” he said.
People are inevitably curious, but he didn’t specially chat extra with them like he had that morning. Princess Pingcheng felt relieved and smiled at Wei Jiao. “Go ahead.”
Watching Wei Jiao gallop away on horseback, though Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong felt regretful, they were still quite satisfied.
It seemed Wei Jiao really liked hearing about reading matters. In the future, they just needed to talk to him more about that topic.
The princesses’ imperial carriage resumed moving forward.
This scene also drew countless gazes from the street, but facing the crowd’s gazes, Yang Hui felt no joy at all and raised her hand to yank down the carriage curtain.
But the people on the street had already seen.
“Three Miss Yangs from the Yang Family?”
“Two more added.”
“Three princesses, naturally one each.”
“Does Duke Ding’an’s Mansion have that many young ladies?”
As the carriage and horses passed, discussions arose on the street.
At the same time, a sinister gaze followed the departing carriage from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion.
As the Imperial Guards passed, the road resumed normal traffic, the crowd dispersed, and the gaze disappeared.
