Chapter 143: The Sound Asleep Young Lady
A crisp sound came from within the Imperial Consort’s sleeping quarters.
“Your Ladyship, please forgive me.”
“Bring another bowl of medicine.”
“All of you withdraw.”
Accompanied by noisy sounds, the palace maids withdrew in fear and trepidation, standing outside the hall and exchanging glances.
Originally, a few days ago the Emperor had come to visit Imperial Consort Li and even stayed the night, showing that the house arrest could be lifted before the festival.
Unexpectedly, today the Imperial Consort had angered the Emperor and the Empress again.
It was still because of that Yang Luo.
Your Ladyship had gone to plead for that Yang Luo again, and as a result, she had returned with a face full of blood after being beaten by the Empress.
“Your Ladyship is just too kind-hearted. She’s just Princess Wuyang’s companion reader, but Your Ladyship treats her like her own daughter and insists on protecting her.”
“Now it’s good. She won’t be able to go out even during the festival.”
Outside the hall, the palace maids were annoyed. Inside the hall, the Imperial Consort’s complexion was not too unsightly. While gently applying something to her red and swollen cheeks in front of the mirror, she listened to the latest news from the Emperor and Empress’s side.
“…Princess Pingcheng stopped it, the Empress did not insist on beating Yang Luo herself, and instead had the Emperor issue a decree for spanking.”
“The eunuchs have already gone to Duke Ding’an’s Mansion.”
The palace maid said this with regret as she looked at the Imperial Consort.
“The Empress still didn’t manage to hurt Yang Luo this time.”
Imperial Consort Li actually did not feel too disappointed, perhaps because the previous attempts had all failed.
“The Empress has raised a good daughter. This little girl really knows how to curry favor with the Emperor,” she said. “No matter. Although the Empress failed to truly beat Yang Luo, the Empress’s attitude today has been seen and remembered by the Emperor. When the time comes to turn against her in the future, in the Emperor’s eyes, she will still be twice as detestable and hateful.”
At this point, a little palace maid came in and said in a low voice: “Marquis Yichun has brought Chai Wan’er.”
Marquis Yichun had come personally; the thorn in the Emperor’s heart would be half removed again.
Imperial Consort Li reached out and pressed her forehead.
The Empress and the Emperor had been husband and wife for many years. Inside, there was Princess Pingcheng; outside, there was Marquis Yichun. Relying only on her and her brother, and for the sake of the grand plan in the future, they could not implicate themselves, so they were restrained and had to act covertly and cautiously. They were truly too weak alone.
If only there could be more help…
The voice of the little palace maid came to her ears.
“…Princess Pingcheng met Marquis Yichun first. Marquis Yichun went to see His Majesty himself, and the Princess summoned an imperial physician for Chai Wan’er to treat her injury…”
Injury?
Imperial Consort Li sat up straight and looked at the confinante palace maid beside her: “What did A Rong say about who injured Chai Wan’er?”
“She said that at the time, the Heir of Duke Yongwu, Zhu Yunxiao, was present,” the palace maid hurriedly answered. “Zhu Yunxiao struck back Chai Wan’er’s whip, injuring her.”
Zhu Yunxiao. Imperial Consort Li silently recited this name, lost in thought.
“Zhu Yunxiao previously refused the marriage arrangement from Marquis Yichun’s family, and now he has injured Chai Wan’er for Yang Luo’s sake, thoroughly offending Marquis Yichun’s family,” the palace maid continued, her expression somewhat gloating. “Duke Yongwu is already a mediocre talent whom His Majesty dislikes. Even if Young Lord Zhu is both talented and handsome, the Zhu family’s title won’t last three generations…”
“Indeed.” Imperial Consort Li nodded, her eyes flickering.
The palace maid was stunned for a moment. What was indeed? That the Zhu family’s title wouldn’t last?
Imperial Consort Li said no more and only instructed: “Bring paper and brush. I will write a letter of apology to my brother.”
……
……
Two eunuchs and two palace maids stood outside Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, their faces very unsightly.
Although it was not a formal imperial decree, the Emperor’s oral decree was equivalent to an edict. Yet Duke Ding’an did not open the main gate to receive them, and instead stood in the doorway asking whom the oral decree was for.
“It’s for your family’s young lady!” the eunuch said irritably. “Otherwise, why would we come here?”
Had Duke Ding’an gone mad from fear?
The eunuch looked at Duke Ding’an, curled his lips, and sneered.
“Duke, hurry and open the door to receive the decree. Don’t play dumb. Don’t you know what your family’s young lady has done?”
Duke Ding’an did not step aside, but smiled instead: “That’s how it is. My family’s young lady is currently reading at the National Academy and not at home. If this decree is not for me, then I must trouble the lords to go to the National Academy.”
National Academy?
The eunuchs and palace maids were stunned. This…
“It was the Libationer who called her away. I wouldn’t dare go call her back,” Duke Ding’an continued. “So I must trouble the lords to find her yourselves.”
The eunuchs and palace maids looked at each other. This…
……
……
Standing outside the National Academy, the eunuchs and palace maids were less imposing than they had been outside Duke Ding’an’s Mansion.
The instructor guarding the door had more presence than Duke Ding’an and did not immediately let them in respectfully.
“His Majesty’s oral decree?” the instructor asked with a stern face. “For the Libationer?”
The eunuch hurriedly said: “No, no. It’s for Miss Yang of Duke Ding’an’s Mansion. Duke Ding’an said Miss Yang is at the National Academy. Please trouble Mister to pass on the message and have her receive the decree.”
The instructor said “oh”: “I’ll go see if she’s in class with the Libationer.”
If it’s during class… The eunuchs and palace maids exchanged glances, figuring they’d have to wait.
When the Libationer was teaching, even the Emperor wouldn’t interrupt, and these eunuchs certainly didn’t dare to.
……
…….
In the brightly lit National Academy, there was no sound of reading nor sight of the students who usually shuttled about.
Because the festival was approaching, it was on holiday. Some students had gone home, and those who didn’t had all gone strolling inside the Capital City, taking a rare rest for the festival.
The library was even more silent.
Wei Jiao stood outside two bookshelves, looking at the woman lying horizontally on the ground inside, her sleeves covering her head, sleeping in complete disarray, her form even messier than the scattered books, and let out a cold laugh.
“Miss Yang, the Emperor has come to spank your palms.”
The woman sleeping on the ground wriggled a bit but did not wake up or get up. Instead, she changed position and used both sleeves to cover her head and face.
Wei Jiao steadied the bookshelf beside him, leaped up onto it, sat at the top of the bookshelf, looked down at the woman lying on the ground, then drew out a book and let it drop from his hand.
The book did not hit Mo Zheng on the head. The sleeve covering her head lifted, and a fair, slender hand steadily caught it.
“Thank you, Senior Brother, for telling me,” Mo Zheng murmured with her eyes closed. “The teacher will take care of it first, then spank me later.”
Wei Jiao said nothing and once again drew out a book, holding it and letting it drop.
One book after another.
Slowly, steadily.
Continuously.
When the falling books could no longer be caught by hand and there was no more space beside her narrow body, Mo Zheng helplessly opened her eyes and lay amid a pile of books, looking up at Wei Jiao above.
“Senior Brother, I didn’t sleep all night last night. The teacher made me copy books all night. It’s very pitiful,” she said.
Wei Jiao smiled down at her: “Don’t be anxious. There’s something even more pitiful waiting for you. Right now, His Majesty has someone coming to spank your palms first, and in the imperial palace, Marquis Yichun is advising the Emperor on how to punish you.”
As he spoke, he frowned in thought, his expression yearning.
“I wonder what idea Marquis Yichun can come up with?”
“This old guy who’s lived so long is the best at tormenting people.”
“Great, there must be a big spectacle to watch.”
Mo Zheng yawned: “Thank you, Senior Brother, for the reminder. But before the spectacle arrives, I’ll sleep a bit more first.”
With that, she closed her eyes again.
Scoundrel. Wei Jiao didn’t believe she could really fall asleep.
Relying on being a Libationer disciple, did she really think no one could do anything to her?
Wei Jiao looked at the young girl lying with her eyes closed amid the scattered books on the ground. Her usually sharp, bright eyes were closed, and her entire face was quiet…
Quiet, as if she were really asleep.
Wei Jiao snorted inwardly, about to say something, when a sharp birdsong came to his ears. His expression tightened…
Because the National Academy did not allow Embroidered Uniform Guards inside, Wei Jiao always left his men outside whenever he came. For urgent matters, he would use birdsong signals.
This time, it was the emergency signal.
Wei Jiao glanced at the quietly sleeping girl, then turned and leaped down. At the same time, the two bookshelves toppled toward each other, accompanied by a clattering sound as countless books poured down.
“Wei Jiao—”
Ling Yu’s roar angrily came from above the library, followed by rapid footsteps.
“Come quickly—”
Wei Jiao ignored what was behind him. If that scoundrel could be smashed to death, she would have died eight hundred times already.
……
……
At the National Academy, aside from the Embroidered Uniform Guards, those few eunuchs and palace maids were whispering timidly.
“What to do?”
“That instructor said the Libationer knows and he will administer the spanking…”
“So has this oral decree been conveyed or not?”
“Forget it, forget it. We’ll just report it to His Majesty like this.”
“If His Majesty asks, let him ask the Libationer.”
The group muttered among themselves. When they saw Wei Jiao coming out from inside, they were even more startled and hurriedly got into the carriage and left.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards ignored them and went up to Wei Jiao.
Wei Jiao asked lazily: “What’s the matter? Making such a fuss.”
One Embroidered Uniform Guard stepped forward and whispered a few words.
Wei Jiao’s originally lazy expression tightened: “What? How come there was no prior news at all?”
That Embroidered Uniform Guard lowered his head: “That Li Bu has always been silent at the Censor’s office, only responsible for sorting documents. No one paid attention to him. We really didn’t expect him to suddenly…”
He anxiously lifted his head again after speaking.
“Captain, it’s too late. He’s gone to the court audience…”
People from the Censor’s office could directly have a court audience.
No one could stop it.
“Interesting.” Wei Jiao was not angry at all about being completely unaware of the news. Instead, he was eager with interest. “Let’s go, let’s go watch the spectacle—”
After saying this, he strode toward the horses, grabbed the reins and mounted. Suddenly thinking of something, the horse abruptly turned its head toward the National Academy.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards who were already prepared to gallop were caught off guard and all reined in their horses, causing a chorus of whinnies.
“Captain?”
Wei Jiao looked toward the National Academy, his expression no longer his usual smiling one, but with slightly furrowed brows.
Fine, you scoundrel!
No wonder she could sleep soundly in the library…
Turns out, it’s others who can’t sleep.
“Captain, are we going back to the National Academy?” an Embroidered Uniform Guard asked puzzled.
Wei Jiao said nothing. He glanced at the tall library in the distance, withdrew his gaze, spurred his horse, and galloped toward the Imperial City.
……
…….
“Wei Jiao!”
Wei Jiao had just strode into the Imperial City when he saw Princess Pingcheng and Chai Wan’er coming out from the direction of the rear palace.
Before he saw them, they had also seen him.
However, Princess Pingcheng did not call out to stop him as she usually did. It was Chai Wan’er who shouted first.
Wei Jiao turned his steps and hurried over: “Princess—”
His expression was joyful, full of smiles, his voice intimate, just as before.
But he also called her that: Junior Sister.
Princess Pingcheng stood quietly, watching him approach, still saying nothing.
“Wei Jiao, I was just about to tell the Princess—” Chai Wan’er spoke first, pointing at Wei Jiao, then looking at Princess Pingcheng. “Princess, that day Wei Jiao let Yang Luo get on his carriage!”
After speaking, she looked at Wei Jiao again.
“Wei Jiao, that Yang Luo disobeyed the Empress. Why did you let her on your carriage!”
Wei Jiao glared at her: “She even dares to disobey the Empress. What can I do if she gets on my carriage?”
Can’t I? Chai Wan’er was stunned by his words.
This reasoning seemed off. She was about to speak again when Princess Pingcheng stopped her, looked at Wei Jiao with a smile, and said: “Where are you going?”
Wei Jiao broke into a smiling call of “Princess,” his eyes curved: “I just came back from the National Academy to see His Majesty.”
National Academy, ah.
Princess Pingcheng’s lips curved, looking at him: “To plead for your Junior Sister?”
Wei Jiao exclaimed: “Princess! She doesn’t need me to plead for her. She has the Libationer as her teacher! Who would dare provoke her!”
The Libationer, ah. Princess Pingcheng thought to herself, so he doesn’t dare provoke her either. That’s why he’s so enthusiastically calling “Junior Sister” one after another?
“So what about the Libationer?” Chai Wan’er snorted from the side, her brows and eyes smug. “My grandfather just spoke with His Majesty. We’re going to hold a grand literary gathering, and then let everyone under heaven know how mediocre her talent is. Having such a disciple is the Libationer’s shame.”
Wei Jiao’s gaze turned to her, his expression regretful: “I’m afraid the Marquis won’t have time for such a small matter.”
Chai Wan’er was stunned. Princess Pingcheng was slightly taken aback: “What happened?”
……
…….
“What did you say? Ji Ying is dead!”
Inside the Imperial Study, the Emperor incredulously stood up and shouted.
An official knelt on the ground. In front of him was an opened bundle with a piece of bloody clothes spread out on the floor.
Marquis Yichun’s face was also stunned: “What is going on?”
The official called Li Bu took out another sheet of paper.
“Your Majesty,” he said. “Your subject Li Bu impeaches Inspector Ji Ying for substituting a death row prisoner for the mountain bandit, covering up the truth that dozens of civilians in White Horse Town were massacred.”
White Horse Town, massacre, truth.
The Emperor’s face instantly turned ashen. His body swayed slightly, and he fell back into his seat, silent for a moment without asking questions.
Marquis Yichun’s face maintained its earlier astonishment, now with an added shock.
The matter of White Horse Town, ah.
It felt like a very long time ago.
And yet it also felt like it had just happened.
Thunder rumbled, the dark night was deep, and the old servant delivered a piece of news.
“Marquis, something happened to that woman in White Horse Town.”
He was sitting in the study. Because of his age, he couldn’t sleep lying down, so he sat with his eyes closed, half-asleep.
When he heard this, he didn’t even open his eyes.
“It’s about someone who’s been dead so long. Why bring it up,” he said flatly.
At that time, it had indeed been a trivial matter, unrelated to him.
But…
Through the open hall door, a winter chill blew in, making Marquis Yichun shiver.
At this moment, late autumn had passed, the festival was approaching, and sitting in the Hall of Diligent Governance, being mentioned by a censor, it would be
quite the spectacle.
