Chapter 129: Senior Brother And Junior Sister
More than half a month had passed since that exam.
After the exam, aside from announcing the matter of the fake identity, nothing else was mentioned.
The pre-exam rumor of selecting the first place as a disciple, and that those who did poorly would be driven out, was not mentioned by anyone; everyone thought this rumor was just a pretext set up to drive away those three people.
Since the Emperor had forgiven those three and they no longer needed to be driven out, the matter ended there.
During this period, the Libationer had not come to teach them again. This Yang Luo had not received any special treatment either; she still attended class with everyone as before, her seat still at the back, and after class she still copied notes for Princess Wuyang.
But, so, the disciple matter was still real?
Princess Pingcheng looked at “Yang Luo.”
After a brief daze, the voices of Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong rang out again.
“A Jiao, you know Yang Luo; this is my companion reader.”
“A Jiao, are you calling Yang Luo? Where are you going?”
Whether startled or because both princesses addressed him as A Jiao, the “Yang Luo” standing there did not speak.
Wei Jiao did not answer the two princesses but smiled warmly at “Yang Luo.”
“Miss Yang, aren’t you going to attend the Libationer’s class?” he asked.
What would she say? Princess Pingcheng wondered as she watched.
Say, Captain Wei, don’t joke?
……
…….
This dog thing.
Mo Zheng felt the astonished gazes around her and inwardly cursed her bad luck.
She had indeed received word from the instructor that the Libationer was giving a class to the disciples today; this kind of class specifically referred to the personal disciples.
To avoid drawing attention, she decided to go out with everyone, wait until Yang Luo and Liu Chan were sent off, then return for class.
In the end, she encountered Wei Jiao.
Wei Jiao deliberately called out to her; was it out of enthusiasm?
Of course not!
Yang Luo had told her, and she had seen it with her own eyes: Princess Pingcheng was the only one who received Wei Jiao’s respectful closeness; the other princesses were not regarded by Wei Jiao.
For him to suddenly treat her like this in public was clearly to provoke the princesses into jealousy and hatred toward her.
Even without moving her gaze, Mo Zheng could feel the undisguised jealousy from Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong. As for Princess Pingcheng, she was not jealous, but her eyes could not hide her surprise.
This dog thing; tormenting these three princesses was not enough; now he was dragging her in too.
But did he think she would panic and be at a loss, scared?
“I’m going.” Mo Zheng met Wei Jiao’s gaze and smiled brightly. “Just in time to keep company with you, Senior Brother.”
Senior Brother……
The gazes around them were shocked once more.
Wei Jiao’s smiling eyes also raised slightly.
“Good, Junior Sister.” He squeezed out the address through his teeth. “Let’s go together.”
……
…….
One in a red cloak, one in a light blue cloak: a tall young man and a slender young girl walked side by side along the covered walkway toward the library.
The companion reader young ladies still stood in place, watching them go, their expressions astonished and utterly silent.
Was she dreaming?
Was that person really Wei Jiao?
“I’ve never seen A Jiao like this…” Princess Wuyang murmured; she couldn’t find the words to describe it.
Gentle?
Caring?
Kind?
He had never shown such an attitude toward them, nor toward Princess Pingcheng.
Her expression turned strange in an instant, as if unsure whether to first be jealous of this Yang Luo or to rejoice wildly that even Princess Pingcheng did not have it.
Light footsteps broke the stagnation. The companion reader young ladies came to their senses and saw Princess Pingcheng walking outward.
“The weather is getting colder and colder; fortunately, we don’t have to attend class anymore.” Princess Pingcheng said.
The companion reader young ladies hurried to follow. “Yes, yes.” “Princess, are you still going hunting these few days?” “The holiday is coming, so no more going out.”
The previous topic continued once more, as if uninterrupted, lively and bustling.
But it was somewhat different from before; many companion reader young ladies’ gazes no longer followed the princesses but instead turned back from time to time for a look.
That Yang Luo had really become the Libationer’s disciple.
Even Wei Jiao had to address her as Junior Sister!
Heavens, she had really become one of the scholars! Not here to be a companion reader for the princess anymore!
……
…….
“Senior Brother.”
As they stepped into the covered walkway and the various gazes behind them vanished, Mo Zheng called out to speak.
But Wei Jiao, who had been walking beside her, quickened his pace, striding ahead in a few steps.
Mo Zheng immediately hurried after him in a few steps, while reaching out to grab Wei Jiao’s cloak.
Her fair-looking hand was quite strong; Wei Jiao could not shake it off in one step.
“Junior Sister, isn’t it improper to pull and tug in private?” He turned his head to look at her.
Mo Zheng pretended not to hear, clutching his cloak and looking at him expectantly: “Captain, have you found those people who harmed me? In a hurry to tell me?”
For this? Wei Jiao raised his brow: “Of course not. People who can try to kill you several times over—don’t you know how formidable they are?”
Mo Zheng looked at him: “But they failed to kill me several times over. I think perhaps they’re not that formidable.”
This dog thing is really arrogant. Wei Jiao scoffed: “Then why bother searching? Just wait for them to come kill you again—wait by the stump for the rabbit.”
With that, he reached out to knock away Mo Zheng’s hand gripping him.
A scolding voice came from ahead.
“Wei Jiao! What are you doing!”
Wei Jiao looked up and saw Ling Yu standing ahead, holding a book, looking at him coldly.
At the same time, the grip in front of him loosened; the force that had been clutching his cloak, nearly choking his neck, was released. That young girl stepped back, her expression timid.
“A, Miss Yang.” Ling Yu called. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Mo Zheng smiled at him: “Thank you, Senior Brother Ling.” With that, she lifted her foot to step forward, but Wei Jiao was faster, passing her in a few steps to stand before Ling Yu.
“You should dig out these eyes of yours sooner rather than later.” he said. “What’s the use of keeping them.”
He shoved him aside and went forward.
Ling Yu glared at him, then looked toward Mo Zheng approaching and asked with concern, “Are you alright?”
Mo Zheng smiled and said: “I’m fine. It’s my first time here; Captain Wei isn’t familiar with me and just asked me a few questions.”
“He still has the nerve to ask you? He skips nine times out of ten and dares to question others.” Ling Yu said, frowning at Wei Jiao ahead. “Don’t know what madness he’s having today.”
Wei Jiao ahead heard it and sneered coldly.
Of course, to see the foolish and arrogant Wang Zaitian and check if he knew what kind of dog thing he had taken as a disciple.
A compliant female voice came from behind.
“…Senior Brother Ling, don’t worry; I won’t stoop to his level.”
……
…….
“Don’t buy too much; we have few people and can’t finish it.”
Liu Chan dropped Yang Luo off in front of a restaurant on the street and instructed.
Because Mo Zheng had a separate class, Yang Luo followed Liu Chan back first. To celebrate the end of classes before the holiday, the three would dine together tonight.
“I know.” Yang Luo said, gesturing to Liu Chan. “You hurry back to prepare the other meals. When my young lady finishes class, she’ll pick me up to go together.”
Liu Chan nodded and signaled to the old man driving the cart.
The butcher couple next door couldn’t always help her drive, so Liu Chan had them help hire someone.
The old man was taciturn but diligent, picking up and dropping off on time; after dropping off, he went to the braised meat shop to help out and lived at Zhang the Butcher’s home—very convenient.
Yang Luo stood at the door watching Liu Chan’s cart leave, her gaze sweeping over the bustling street market: peddlers hawking wares, begging children, chubby rich couple mingling in the crowd, slowly following the cart away.
“Miss, are you eating here or ordering takeout?”
The shop assistant greeted enthusiastically.
Yang Luo withdrew her gaze and smiled at him: “Order some meals to take back.”
The shop assistant drew out his voice: “Alrighty, this way please; I’ll get the menu.”
……
…….
“Miss, this is the latest report on their movements.”
With Hong Lin’s words, Yang Luo, sitting at the desk, opened the booklet that appeared to be a menu; inside were words and route maps.
“Wei Jiao has investigated these places these days.” Hong Lin said, pointing. “It cuts off here at this book company.”
Yang Luo nodded: “If they dared expose this bookstore, they must have fully prepared to cut off the tail.” With that, she closed the booklet. “Continue following behind Wei Jiao and the Embroidered Uniform Guards to investigate.”
As Mo Zheng said, let Wei Jiao flush them out and provide cover in front; they would seek opportunities to capture the snakes from behind.
Hong Lin acknowledged and handed over another menu booklet: “This is the movements of people from Marquis Yichun’s Mansion, the Li Clan, Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, and Duke Yongwu’s Mansion over the past two days.”
Yang Luo took it and opened it, looking at the words on it; countless scenes unfolded before her eyes.
Marquis Yichun’s Mansion’s Third Master Chai held a banquet at the villa; Lord Li went mountain touring in the snow with three scholars; Duke Ding’an sent over a dozen people to pick up his son Yang Shanshu returning from study abroad; Duke Yongwu, drunk, failed to mount his horse outside the door and whipped the horse groom…
She sat indoors, sharp of ear and eye, not like her previous life when she was deaf and blind, easily deceived, dying without knowing how.
A shop assistant pushed the door in and respectfully saluted Yang Luo.
“Miss, those people from last time are here.” he said. “At the braised meat shop.”
Even with the Embroidered Uniform Guards pursuing the investigation, those people showed no fear; not only did they not disappear or retreat, they came to the capital city again—clearly with extraordinary backing, Yang Luo thought. No wonder someone as smart and capable as Mo Zheng had still died in her previous life.
She closed the booklet and stood up: “Good, I’ll go see them.”
