Chapter 115: Sleeping Soundly
Mo Zheng knew that although Wei Jiao had not inquired further earlier, it did not mean he did not suspect her.
Especially after hearing her say in the Library that she had not slept well at night because she was afraid.
Others did not know her skills, but Wei Jiao had seen them with his own eyes.
Wei Jiao must have guessed something and come to inquire.
Mo Zheng then honestly admitted: “Captain, I have not been wandering out every night, just one or two times.”
Wei Jiao exclaimed: “No matter how many things there are, you can’t squeeze them into just one or two times to finish. Spread them out over more times, so you won’t get so tired that you fall asleep in the Library.”
Mo Zheng curtsied: “Thank you for your concern, Captain. I’m not that tired.”
This dog thing really dared to play dumb along with his words! Which sentence of his was concerned about her?
Wei Jiao stood up: “Miss Yang, I am an outsider. It would be better to let your family members care for you.”
He raised his eyes and looked in one direction of the residence.
“Duke Ding’an, this uncle, has it hard. If there is another midnight call-up saying his niece has been attacked again, he will really be scared to death.”
“Captain.” Mo Zheng stepped forward a few steps. “Please do not alarm my uncle. I will tell you what I was doing!”
Wei Jiao looked down at her and turned to go in another direction.
He would not really go wake Duke Ding’an, would he? This man was full of malice toward everyone. He had not exposed her earlier only to wait and see what other excitement there was. Mo Zheng hurriedly followed.
Anyway, there was no need to hide her skills in front of Wei Jiao.
She quickened her pace to catch up and softly called from behind: “Captain, hear me out. I have another secret to tell you—”
But no matter how she called, the figure ahead leaped and jumped, sometimes landing on rooftops, sometimes stepping on courtyard walls, without looking back.
While chasing, Mo Zheng slipped the hidden weapon pinched in her palm back into her sleeve.
This Wei Jiao did not head straight to Duke Ding’an’s courtyard but wandered around everywhere.
Mo Zheng did not believe Wei Jiao did not know where Duke Ding’an lived.
This was not searching; it was more like strolling idly.
……
…….
The Embroidered Uniform Guards’ only two palace lanterns also went out. People merged with the night, and Duke Ding’an’s Mansion seemed to have an extra outer wall.
“Is it appropriate for the Captain to go here?” one Embroidered Uniform Guard said softly.
The Captain said he was going to inquire about that Miss Yang.
But calling someone out for inquiry would be the same, right?
Why bother going personally?
Another Embroidered Uniform Guard said discontentedly: “What’s inappropriate about it? His Majesty only forbade the Captain from entering the palace; he did not say anything about not walking around.”
“Yeah, so what about Duke Ding’an’s Mansion?” one Embroidered Uniform Guard said softly. “Even if he is closer to the Emperor than Marquis Yichun, he is still a minister.”
The previous Embroidered Uniform Guard coughed lightly: “That’s not what I mean. I mean, have you forgotten? Duke Ding’an’s Mansion was originally….”
He did not say the rest, but the others instantly thought of it.
The residence of Zhao Tan from the Previous Dynasty.
Earlier, the Captain had fallen ill after receiving something from his father.
Although he had not had another episode along the way, and now he was taking the imperial physicians’ medicine and seemed fine, but…
Whether triggered by the illness or because of the imperial physicians’ medicine, the Captain had not been able to sleep these days.
That was why he was wandering around at midnight.
Going here might trigger the illness again.
That Embroidered Uniform Guard looked toward the residence shrouded in night, emitting a faint glow.
After all, this was the place where Wei Jiao and his mother had lived when he was young.
……
…….
Rockeries piled up, ancient pavilions, winding streams, and faint winter plums.
Wei Jiao, wrapped in a cloak, sat on a rockery, motionless as he looked at the pitch-black garden shrouded in night.
“Captain, the garden of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion…” Mo Zheng stood on a treetop nearby and said softly.
“It’s ugly.” Wei Jiao interrupted her and continued.
Mo Zheng nodded: “Don’t worry, Captain. Tomorrow I will tell my uncle to find someone to rebuild it…”
“What was the other secret?” Wei Jiao interrupted her and asked.
Mo Zheng jumped down from the tree, landed below the rockery, and looked up at Wei Jiao: “The butcher couple in the alley are my accomplices.”
Wei Jiao looked down at her and drawled an “oh.”
“Captain, you saw the tragedy of White Horse Town with your own eyes. Of course, I escaped with the help of my accomplices,” Mo Zheng said. “I also told you I don’t trust the people here…”
She glanced around.
“So after entering the capital, not only did I change my identity, but I also changed theirs, disguising them as butchers.”
“That’s why I sneak out at night to meet them. I also had them investigate who exactly killed me, and my mother.”
After speaking, she looked at Wei Jiao and stepped forward again.
“Captain, I must find out who wants to kill me. I also need to guard against others killing me. Please help me…”
Wei Jiao only looked at the garden shrouded in the night ahead and said, “Miss Yang, wait until you’ve figured out all your secrets before saying that.”
“I’m not deceiving you,” Mo Zheng said urgently. “Captain, you’re the most formidable. Everyone fears you, and you fear no one. I trust you. Only you can help me…”
After saying a few words, there was no response from above. Mo Zheng lifted her head and saw Wei Jiao leaning against a rock. Although his figure remained still, it was no longer as rigid as a stone. His head was slightly drooping, resting on his knees…
He seemed to have fallen asleep.
Fallen asleep?!
…….
…….
In the afternoon, Ling Yu entered the Library with a book in hand and went to Wang Zaitian’s indoor space.
“Good, Wei Jiao didn’t come last night or today,” he said satisfied.
Wang Zaitian glanced at the book and casually said, “What’s good about that? A day without studying.”
“What kind of studying does he do? Even if he comes, he’ll just disturb others,” Ling Yu said.
Wang Zaitian turned a page and nodded: “Yes,
Ling Yu heard the meaning in Wang Zaitian’s words—A Sheng had come to the Library to sleep again today.
Just now when I came in, I didn’t see the Princess and the companion reader ladies here. I asked the instructor, who said that because the exam is coming up soon, the Princess and the young ladies are all busy reviewing and won’t come to read for the time being.
“Yeah, with others not coming, she’s having a free time.” Wang Zaitian said, turning a page of the book, “sleeping soundly behind the bookshelf.”
“I see,” Ling Yu sighed lightly. “A Sheng, you truly have it hard.” Then looking at Wang Zaitian, “Mister, cherish the time and read books. Not everyone is fortunate enough to study without worries.”
“I’ve been fleeing from place to place, living a vagabond life for half my life, and haven’t had many days without attachments!” Wang Zaitian smashed the book toward Ling Yu. “Who asked you to teach me!”
Ling Yu caught the book Wang Zaitian tossed over, flipped through it once and found it very interesting, so he kept it in hand. However, he still did not lower his head to read it, but instead thought of something and asked: “Mister, for this exam, are you going to select a female disciple?”
Wang Zaitian corrected him: “It’s not selecting one female disciple, it’s selecting the first place talent to be a disciple.”
Ling Yu smiled and said, “That must be A Sheng.”
Wang Zaitian let out an “oh” and said: “That may not necessarily be her.”
Who else could it be but A Sheng? Ling Yu smiled and said, “Mister, don’t look down on yourself.”
That was a talented individual Mister had taken a fancy to long ago.
Wang Zaitian glanced at him and stroked his beard: “It’s not that I look down on myself; it’s that someone might not dare.”
……
…….
I don’t know if it’s because I’m sleeping in the Library, which is very close to Wang Zaitian.
Mo Zheng had another dream.
Dreamed of the first time seeing Wang Zaitian.
Zhang the Eunuch excitedly pointed out the house ahead to her.
“Look, that’s Wang Zaitian. He’s the best Mister in the world.”
“A good mister is not only knowledgeable, Young Master. Wouldn’t it be great if you could become his disciple?”
Mo Zheng looked at the old man in the house ahead, who was smiling broadly as he spoke about something.
Although the distance was too far to hear the voice clearly, she could still discern what Zhang He was saying from his lips, and even the most basic classics could captivate the listener.
With such a Mister guiding him, he would surely be able to navigate freely through the vast sea of books from ancient times to the present.
But, no, she…
Soldiers passed by her side, and she instinctively lowered her head and moved toward the wall to avoid them. Zhang the Eunuch also tightly blocked her behind him.
Noisy sounds came from beside her ears. She looked outside through the gap. There was no schoolhouse and no instructor giving a lecture, only blood all over the ground and the scattered corpses of old and young.
Jiang Wangchun was pierced through by the blade and knelt on the ground, lifting his head to look at her.
“Run——”
Mo Zheng’s figure trembled slightly as she woke from her dream. There was no trace of sluggishness, nor did she rise. She only raised her hand to press down the book covering her face, as if she were still sleeping.
