Chapter 140: No Apology This Time
“You still know to come back!”
Mo Zheng returned to Duke Ding’an’s Mansion alone first, and Duke Ding’an, who was pacing in the hall, saw her and immediately flew into a rage and shouted.
After speaking, he perceived something was off.
“Where is that maidservant of yours? Still fooling around outside?”
This maidservant was always inseparable and always quick to retort, so why was she nowhere to be seen today?
Mo Zheng said, “She went to deliver New Year’s goods to Miss Liu and pawn some money for use.” At this point, she looked at Duke Ding’an. “Uncle, rest assured, I’m using my own money to treat guests and won’t make Uncle spend any.”
Who cares about the money! Duke Ding’an angrily said, “You actually provoked the Empress to issue a decree to examine you? Have you lost your mind?”
Yang Hui stood beside Duke Ding’an’s Wife, nodding along. “She has gone mad. Father, quickly tie her up and send her into the Imperial Palace to apologize to the Empress.”
Duke Ding’an was startled again. Send her into the Imperial Palace? How could that be!
“What qualification does she have to get in the Empress’s sight!” he shouted, then scolded Yang Hui, “Shut your mouth!”
Why scold her? Yang Hui was furious and was held back by Duke Ding’an’s Wife.
“Uncle, it wasn’t me who provoked the Empress.” Mo Zheng said with a aggrieved expression, “It was the Chai Family Members who bullied me. By doing this, everyone would associate it with the Empress and the Princess. It was they who dragged the Empress into it.”
At this point, she became somewhat suspicious.
“Uncle, could it be that the Empress truly wants to bully me because I tested better than the Princess?”
This, of course, was true. Duke Ding’an thought to himself that last time Yang Luo took first place, surpassing Princess Pingcheng, when he went to Marquis Yichun’s Mansion to apologize, Chai Yuan had said the Empress was very angry.
She never liked you to begin with! And you surpassed her daughter, so of course she would bully you!
“She examines you, so just answer. Why make a fuss.” He said irritably, “You tested so well yourself, why didn’t you dare to answer? Are you guilty?”
“Uncle.” Mo Zheng said loudly, “It’s not that I wouldn’t answer, it’s that I couldn’t answer at that time.”
She stepped forward and looked at Duke Ding’an.
“If I answered, and Chai Wan’er quibbled and insisted my answer was wrong, what then? Or if the Chai Clan found even more people to come every day to test me, would I have to keep dealing with it? That’s why I made a big fuss, to settle the matter once and for all.”
“Uncle, rest assured, if the Empress truly issues a decree to examine me, I will definitely answer with another Grade A superior, and absolutely not disgrace Duke Ding’an’s Mansion.”
“What are you thinking!” Yang Hui could no longer listen and stood forward shouting, “The Empress will only issue a decree to slap your face—”
Mo Zheng looked at her: “Then let her slap it. Let everyone see clearly that the Empress just wants to slap my face, and from now on, no one should test me under the pretext of doubting my scholarship.”
At this point, her expression dimmed.
“She is the Empress, the mother of the nation. Uncle is just a duke. If she wants to slap me, I accept it.”
Why did these words sound like it was because his dukedom was low-ranked? What did this have to do with him? Clearly, it was her—Duke Ding’an muttered inwardly—she shouldn’t have been born into this world.
“You accept it, but I don’t.” Yang Hui was still shouting and urged Duke Ding’an, “This has nothing to do with us. It’s the trouble you brought on yourself. Dad, quickly beat her and apologize to the Empress, lest the Empress blame our whole family.”
The Empress had long blamed their whole family. Duke Ding’an let out a long sigh: “You come with me to Marquis Yichun’s Mansion to apologize.”
“I still say the same thing. The Empress has the qualification to punish me, but Marquis Yichun does not.” Mo Zheng said, “I won’t go with Uncle to Marquis Yichun’s Mansion. If you must go, then take me to the Imperial Palace.”
Duke Ding’an was annoyed. “You—”
Just as he opened his mouth, a servant hurriedly ran in from outside.
“Duke, Duke, Dr. Ling from the National Academy has come.”
Duke Ding’an was stunned. The National Academy, Dr. Ling?
“Dr. Ling says he is here to pick up Miss Yang Luo to attend class.” The servant continued.
Attend class?
It was almost New Year’s, and the National Academy was on holiday. What class to attend?
……
…….
“Duke, learning has no end. Whether it’s New Year’s or on holiday, one must still do reading.”
The young scholar stood in the courtyard, frowning as he spoke, then looked toward Mo Zheng in the hall.
“Let’s go, don’t waste time.”
Mo Zheng responded affirmatively.
Ling Yu turned to leave, but thought of something and looked back at Duke Ding’an.
“Duke, if the Empress comes to issue the decree in person, Duke can just send them to the National Academy.”
Hearing this, Duke Ding’an suddenly understood. What attending class? This was clearly protecting Yang Luo!
The incident had just happened, and he had already come to pick her up and take her away.
The Libationer was serious about this.
Treating it as a real backer.
Yang Hui dully watched Yang Luo leave with Ling Yu.
Yang Luo ran away. If the Empress issues the decree to beat someone, then only she would get beaten!
“Wait for me, I want to go reading too!” she shouted, lifting her foot to chase after him.
Ling Yu did not stop Yang Hui from following, and Duke Ding’an and his wife did not stop Yang Hui from coming along either. Under the current circumstances, it was indeed safer to go to the National Academy.
The two young ladies from the family left by carriage, and Duke Ding’an still stood in the hall lost in thought.
“Duke.” Duke Ding’an’s Wife urged him, “You should quickly go to Marquis Yichun’s Mansion to make an apology.”
Duke Ding’an stood without moving.
“This matter was stirred up by the young lady from Marquis Yichun’s family.” he said, “I didn’t do anything, it has nothing to do with me.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife was stunned for a moment. Nothing to do with him?
No way, this Yang Luo is their family’s child, so that is a relationship.
“I’ve already hidden this child’s background as he said, what more do you want me to do?” Duke Ding’an said, “It wasn’t me who let her stay at the National Academy, or made her become the Libationer’s disciple…”
His eyes flickered as he twirled his mustache.
“Even if I go to apologize, I have nothing to apologize for.”
“I’ll apologize when the Empress issues a decree to examine me.”
……
…….
“Senior Brother Ling.”
Mo Zheng quickened her steps to catch up with Ling Yu as he passed through the covered walkway in the wind and rain.
“Did I get the teacher in trouble?”
Ling Yu turned back to look at her: “How could this be you getting the teacher in trouble? It should be the teacher getting you in trouble.”
Mo Zheng couldn’t help but chuckle: “Senior Brother Ling, don’t joke.”
Ling Yu said: “I’m not joking. You became the teacher’s disciple, and the first female disciple at that, drawing jealousy and provocation from others. This is all because the teacher is too famous.”
A “Pah!” came from ahead: “You rebellious disciple!”
Ling Yu and Mo Zheng looked ahead and saw Wang Zaitian wrapped in a cotton robe standing in front of the library.
Ling Yu was not afraid at all: “The straightness in life.”
Mo Zheng smiled and paid respects, then lifted her skirt and hurried forward. Without waiting for Wang Zaitian to speak, she took out two scrolls from her sleeve.
“Teacher.” Her eyes curved with a smile as she said, “These are the questions given to me by two scholars found by Miss Chai. I’ve answered them well, please take a look, teacher.”
Wang Zaitian shook his robe and reached out to take them: “If they’re not written well, you’ll be punished to copy books until dawn.”
With that, he gripped the scrolls and walked into the library.
Ling Yu also walked over, and Mo Zheng smiled at him.
Ling Yu sighed lightly: “Compared to me, reading is truly not easy for you, with so many twists and turns.”
Mo Zheng smiled and said: “Compared to those who spend their whole lives unable to read, I’m already very fortunate.”
Ling Yu smiled: “Even if a decree really comes to examine you, there’s no need to be afraid.”
Mo Zheng nodded: “I’m not afraid.”
With that, she looked toward the outside of the National Academy and smiled slightly.
She truly was not afraid of being examined.
Moreover, next, those people wouldn’t have time to examine her either.
……
…….
“This is?”
The old man who rushed to the pawn shop after receiving the news looked at the maidservant sitting in front of the desk.
The maidservant pushed over a small bundle.
The old man opened it and saw bloody clothes, shoes and socks, accessories, and so on inside.
Yang Luo didn’t answer and asked: “You know the Inspector Ji Ying, right?”
The old man did know; the Emperor had appointed dozens of inspectors, but Ji Ying among them was not worth noting.
“Arrange for someone to take the bloody clothes to the government office and say that Ji Ying was killed.” Yang Luo continued.
The old man was surprised: “Ji Ying is dead?”
How had such big news not been heard until now?
No matter what, he was an inspector, an Imperial Court official.
When did he die?
Who killed him?
It couldn’t be them, right?
The old man looked at the maidservant.
The maidservant smiled at the corner of her mouth, but did not answer yes or no, nor say more.
“My young master wants to give Miss Yang a great gift.” She only said, “I’ll tell you what to do.”
This Young Prince Mo was truly mysterious and unfathomable. The old man’s expression flickered for a moment, and he no longer asked more: “Please instruct us, miss.”
