Chapter 172: The Maidservant In The Temporary Palace
“Has Wei Jiao found your whereabouts?”
Hearing Mo Zheng return and recount, Yang Luo nervously stood up.
Mo Zheng was fine, but Wei Jiao had never given up investigating Jiang Wangchun, so it wasn’t strange that he had found her whereabouts.
After all, appearing would inevitably leave traces.
“Don’t be nervous.” She pressed Yang Luo to sit back down. “If I were still myself, there might be some trouble, but now that I’m Miss Yang, it’s not that urgent.”
Yang Luo nodded: “Right, you now have this identity as cover, no matter how he investigates, he won’t think of it.”
“Although this time he didn’t let me hear the specific information.” Mo Zheng said in a low voice, “But after all, I can get close to him and stay by his side, there will always be a chance to get the news.”
Yang Luo looked at Mo Zheng and said in a low voice: “And you can also kill him.”
Mo Zheng smiled: “Killing him isn’t that easy.” She said softly again, “It’s not necessary to kill him either, he’s just carrying out orders, not having a personal grudge or hatred with me.”
A Sheng’s heart was too soft, Yang Luo thought, with such good skills, those who threaten her could be killed on the spot, why hesitate.
But she immediately mocked herself with a smile, if A Sheng weren’t a soft-hearted person, how would she have saved her? And taken care of her until now.
Although A Sheng always said she was borrowing her strength and using her as cover, actually killing her and making her disappear would be more beneficial to A Sheng.
“Wei Jiao also received news from the Border Army.” Mo Zheng continued, “As for the content, Wei Jiao didn’t let me see it.”
Having already learned about the relationships among the capital’s nobility through Uncle Hong, Yang Luo knew that Marquis Yichun’s eldest son Chai Du held heavy troops in the Border Army.
“It could also be routine monitoring of messages.” Yang Luo wasn’t agitated and said indifferently, “After all, he is the Emperor.”
Miss Yang is very suspicious, Mo Zheng thought, although the Emperor said it wasn’t him who wanted to kill Yang Tong, Miss Yang didn’t believe it because of that, and the Emperor would inquire about Marquis Yichun’s family for Yang Tong.
But this could be understood, after all, in the previous life Miss Yang was deceived by all her relatives and died at their hands, she wouldn’t trust anyone.
“Don’t worry, Wei Jiao will send the news to the Emperor, if it’s about your mother’s matter, His Majesty will definitely tell you immediately.” Mo Zheng said softly, “After all, she is the daughter who was hard-won and regained.”
……
……
“There really is a problem!”
Night had fallen deep, the Emperor sat in his sleeping quarters, after reading the secret letter from Wei Jiao forwarded by the secret guard, his face darkened as he growled lowly.
A team from the Border Army had gone out for over ten days under the pretext of scouting, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard found that the border garrison guards hadn’t seen them pass through.
And this period of over ten days was exactly the time when White Horse Town was plundered.
“We need to interrogate that servant from Ji Ying’s family.”
“We can’t let Dali Temple conduct the interrogation.”
“How dare they do this! How could they!”
The Emperor paced indoors, suddenly grabbing the cloak beside him.
“I want to go see A Luo, I have wronged her and her mother, it was I who harmed them…”
The Emperor wrapped himself in the cloak and walked outward, the Chief Eunuch rushed over and hugged him: “Your Majesty, you can’t.”
The Emperor’s anger grew fiercer: “Why can’t I? What can’t I do!”
“Your Majesty.” The Chief Eunuch hurriedly said softly, “Miss Yang, the Princess said you can’t.”
The Emperor paused and stopped in his tracks.
Although matters concerning Yang Luo were strictly confidential, the eunuchs by his side couldn’t be kept in the dark.
After all, people were needed to do things.
Therefore, the Emperor had told his close eunuchs about Miss Yang’s true identity as Yang Luo.
“The Princess said not to let you expose her identity, if you suddenly go to the temporary palace, no matter how secretive, it will inevitably attract others’ attention.”
“Those who don’t know the inside story won’t matter, but those who do will guess it immediately.”
“The Princess will be unhappy.”
The Chief Eunuch advised softly.
Sigh, yes, this child was already unhappy, he couldn’t make her unhappier, he must listen to her.
The Emperor turned back to the desk, picked up a pen and wrote a line, handing it to the Chief Eunuch.
“You go and deliver it to her under the pretext of visiting Wei Jiao.”
The Chief Eunuch carefully tucked the note close to his body and said solemnly: “Your Majesty, rest assured, this old slave will deliver it promptly.”
With that, he turned to leave, but the Emperor called him back from behind.
“Also check if A Luo is well in food, clothing, housing, and travel.”
“Ask if there’s anything she lacks or wants.”
“Is there enough manpower there?”
……
……
“Eunuch Huang left the Imperial City last night for the temporary palace?”
Marquis Yichun received the news in the early morning.
“Yes, and he brought an imperial physician from the Imperial Academy of Medicine.” The old servant said, “He should be going to visit Wei Jiao.”
“Is Wei Jiao that precious?” Marquis Yichun wiped his face with a towel and said, “To Wei Cui and the Emperor, as long as he is alive and breathing, that’s enough.”
He was merely proof that the monarch and his subjects hadn’t fallen out.
After saying that, he frowned.
“It couldn’t be to see that Miss Yang, could it?”
Others thought the startled horse at the hunting ground was an accident, but he didn’t think so.
As soon as the news arrived, without even hearing Chai Wan’er cry and complain, he knew it was Miss Yang’s doing.
This Miss Yang read well and was skilled in horsemanship, truly excelling in both literature and martial arts.
“…Marquis, Eunuch Huang is bringing Miss Yang…”
A servant entered and said urgently in a low voice.
Marquis Yichun threw the towel into the copper basin and asked sternly with furrowed brows: “Bringing Miss Yang back to the palace?”
The servant swallowed: “He brought Miss Yang’s maidservant back to the palace, saying it was to report on Wei Jiao’s injury condition.”
Maidservant, Marquis Yichun’s expression eased slightly…
That was fine then.
He had thought they were really bringing this Miss Yang into the Imperial City.
……
……
“A…”
Seeing the young girl entering with the Chief Eunuch, the Emperor was greatly startled and almost blurted out her name, but fortunately remembered that Yang Luo had switched identities with her own maidservant.
Yang Luo curtsied: “This servant A Sheng pays respects to Your Majesty.”
The Emperor quickly raised his hand: “Good, good, no need for formalities.”
As he spoke, his heart ached, his Luo Ying Princess stood before him, yet could only use a maidservant’s identity…
“Your Majesty, you and the Princess can speak freely.” The Chief Eunuch said softly, “This old slave will guard outside.”
The Emperor nodded, watching the Chief Eunuch retreat.
“A Luo, why did you come?” The Emperor asked, then again, “Was the road cold?”
Yang Luo said softly: “I saw the message Your Majesty wrote….”
Involving the truth about her mother’s death, naturally she was burning with anxiety to come ask, the Emperor looked ashamed: “A Luo, rest assured, this matter…”
“Your Majesty, I came because I was worried about you.” Yang Luo said.
Worried about him? The Emperor was stunned.
“My greatest worry before was that the culprit in this matter was you, if it was you, we ants would die in vain.” Yang Luo said softly, then curtsied again, “Please forgive my petty heart, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor sighed deeply and reached out to support her: “Don’t say that, actually the culprit is me, if not for me, how would you mother and daughter suffer such a calamity.”
Yang Luo gently patted the Emperor’s arm: “You shouldn’t say that either, so when I knew you weren’t that kind of person, I had no worries left, I know you were just deceived, you will surely investigate the truth and not let any culprit go.”
With that, she looked at the Emperor.
“But, please Your Majesty don’t be anxious, don’t investigate just for the sake of investigating, you are not only related to me by blood, you are also the parents of the people under Heaven, some people hold high positions and power, relating to national stability, please act with caution to avoid stirring unrest and causing civilians to suffer.”
Tears nearly welled up in the Emperor’s eyes.
Heavens, his daughter.
His daughter was truly gentle, rational, and wise.
This was his daughter, he and A Tong’s daughter!
……
……
“Father Emperor is seeing court officials?”
Princess Pingcheng stood outside the Emperor’s sleeping quarters, looking at the eunuch blocking her, asked somewhat surprised, then frowned.
“Father Emperor’s condition has just improved a bit, it’s not suitable for him to overwork…”
With that, she tried to step forward again, but the eunuch not only didn’t say as before “Indeed, only Princess you can persuade His Majesty” treating her as a savior and inviting her into the hall, but actually blocked her again.
“Princess, please wait a moment, His Majesty ordered no one to disturb.”
But, was she Pingcheng also within “people”? Princess Pingcheng looked at this eunuch, this eunuch wasn’t new to this side either.
“Oh, the Princess has come.” The Chief Eunuch hurried out from inside, “Quickly come to the side hall to warm up, His Majesty had sweet porridge prepared, just waiting for you to use when you arrive.”
Princess Pingcheng didn’t move, looking at the Chief Eunuch, side hall? So, still not letting her in?
Then forget it, probably Father Emperor was discussing important matters with heavy ministers, no matter how worried she was about Father Emperor’s health, she couldn’t really make Father Emperor delay court politics.
Princess Pingcheng smiled: “Chief Eunuch, still remember to remind Father Emperor to drink it, I’ll come back later to check if Father Emperor ate and took medicine on time.”
With that, she turned to leave, footsteps sounded from inside, someone came out.
The Chief Eunuch didn’t have time to see her off and hurriedly turned to look at the person: “Has Miss Asheng finished speaking?”
A Sheng, Miss?
Princess Pingcheng turned around and saw the young girl coming out with her head slightly lowered, seeming somewhat timid.
This name seemed familiar?
“Quickly escort the young lady back.” The Chief Eunuch directed the surrounding eunuchs, and instructed again, “The road is long, pay attention to keeping warm, don’t let the young lady catch cold.”
“You are Yang Luo’s maidservant.” Princess Pingcheng remembered and said.
Yang Luo seemed to only then notice Princess Pingcheng and curtsied: “This servant A Sheng pays respects to the Princess.”
Princess Pingcheng didn’t bid her rise, looking at her in surprise, then at the Hall of Diligent Governance doors.
How did she come to the Imperial City? How did she come out from Father Emperor’s hall?
Also, the so-called heavy minister Father Emperor was seeing wouldn’t be this maidservant, would it!
