Chapter 177: Wei Jiao’s Questioning
Outside the temporary palace, imperial guards stood solemnly, while eunuchs and palace maids escorted Miss Yang and her maidservant out.
But after Miss Yang got into the carriage, when the maidservant tried to follow, Wei Jiao strode out from the temporary palace, pushed the maidservant aside, and sat down first.
The maidservant stood outside the carriage stomping her foot: “Miss!” She was about to shout to the imperial guards standing around, “Someone come, someone come, pull him down—”
Although that side was an Embroidered Uniform Guard Captain, and this side was just a maidservant, the imperial guards stepped forward without hesitation, truly about to drag Wei Jiao out from inside the carriage—
“It’s fine.”
Miss’s voice came from inside the carriage.
“A Sheng, you sit outside the carriage. Senior Brother is going to read at the academy today too.”
The imperial guards retreated upon hearing this, the maidservant no longer spoke, sat outside with a sulky face, the carriage slowly moved forward, and countless gazes hidden around slowly followed.
……
…….
“Senior Brother, look at this interior decoration, luxurious and comfortable.” Inside the carriage, Mo Zheng said enthusiastically, “Your carriage should be arranged like this too.”
Wei Jiao looked at her coldly: “Is this the good idea you gave your father emperor? By slandering the Emperor and Miss Yang’s reputations to achieve your princess title?”
With that, he smiled again.
“You’re right, the dead are already dead, the living should grab the benefits first.”
He was mocking Miss Yang for forgetting her mother’s enmity and only wanting to become a princess. Mo Zheng pursed her lips and smiled: “Although you underestimate me, I still have to thank you for caring about me.”
Where had he cared about her? Wei Jiao glared.
Mo Zheng didn’t give him a chance to speak.
“This wasn’t my idea to His Majesty.” She said in a low voice, “I wouldn’t do this either. Gaining a princess title isn’t my goal.”
With that, she frowned.
“Who did this, Marquis Yichun?”
Before Wei Jiao could reply, Mo Zheng shook her head again.
“No, it shouldn’t be. If the Emperor recognized me in anger, it wouldn’t benefit Marquis Yichun.”
“Then who could it be?”
“Those who know my true identity are just the Emperor, the Empress’s family, and my uncle.”
“If it wasn’t an attack triggered by the identity matter…”
She looked at Wei Jiao again.
“Jealous that I live in the temporary palace, jealous that I became a libationer disciple?”
“Have I already provoked hatred?”
Hearing this, Wei Jiao sneered: “More than just hatred, you’ve even provoked people to protect you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the woman suddenly lean close to him, her expression grave.
“Captain, I suspect Zhu Yunxiao wants to kill me.”
Wei Jiao couldn’t hold back and spat out a laugh.
……
…….
“I’m not joking. No courtesy without reason is either treachery or theft.”
“I’m not acquainted with him, why would he stand up for me?”
“He even provoked Chai Yuan in public, how is that protecting me? It’s putting me to death.”
Mo Zheng looked utterly serious.
“Back when A Sheng impersonated Liu Chan, she quarreled with Zhu Yunxiao and Jiang Rui. That man has a narrow mind, sinister intentions, and is a deceitful person. He must be taking the chance for revenge.”
Wei Jiao sneered again: “The talented heir of Duke Yongwu, praised by everyone in the capital city, becomes a villain in your eyes. Miss Yang truly has unique insight.”
Mo Zheng looked wistful: “There are too many deceitful people in this world. Having reputation and praise doesn’t mean the person is good.” With that, she looked at Wei Jiao again, “Some with bad reputations don’t always harm people either. For example, Senior Brother, you’ve saved me twice.”
This dog thing could always use sweet words to confuse him anytime, anywhere. Wei Jiao sneered coldly: “You really have poor judgment, actually comparing me to others.”
Mo Zheng hurriedly smiled and paid respects: “I was wrong, Senior Brother please forgive me.”
Wei Jiao snorted coldly and ignored her, closing his eyes.
Mo Zheng tactfully said: “Senior Brother, rest a bit. Your body isn’t fully recovered yet, and riding in the carriage is tiring.”
Wei Jiao didn’t acknowledge her and seemed to fall asleep instantly.
Mo Zheng didn’t speak again either.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Yang Luo slightly leaned out to look, her gaze questioning.
Mo Zheng made a reassuring gesture to her.
Yang Luo nodded and dropped the curtain.
Mo Zheng pulled a book from the bookshelf and opened it. After looking for a moment, she thought of something, pulled the nearby cloak over her knees, and casually flicked it so the end of the cloak fell over half of Wei Jiao’s body.
Although it was warm inside the carriage, for someone recovering from injury, it was still better to be a bit warmer.
Wei Jiao seemed truly asleep and didn’t perceive it, didn’t lift the cloak off his body, but when Mo Zheng lowered her head to read, the corner of his mouth twitched.
……
…….
“Yang Luo is here!”
“And she came in the royal carriage and horses from the temporary palace.”
When the temporary palace’s carriage and horses appeared in sight, the companion reader young lady responsible for scouting the news hurried back into the academy hall and told everyone.
The companion reader ladies had gone from initial curiosity, surprise, and confusion to anger and disgust now.
Too much!
Didn’t she know the rumors were flying everywhere now?
Wasn’t this making everyone lose face together?
“Yang Hui!” A companion reader young lady stood in front of Yang Hui and roared angrily in a low voice, “That Yang Luo from the countryside doesn’t know the rules, doesn’t your family have anyone sensible? Why haven’t you taken her home yet!”
When the rumors spread, Yang Hui had felt embarrassed too and told her parents to quickly bring the person back, but her parents scolded her instead.
“This is the Emperor’s grace, don’t be ungrateful!”
And her brother, who had originally planned to go to the temporary palace to discipline their cousin, didn’t go either.
“Sister, you’re naive.” He said to Yang Hui, “If our family produces an imperial concubine, wouldn’t that be great?”
Right, Yang Hui realized too. If Yang Luo became an imperial concubine, she would be imperial relatives!
Imperial relative Yang Hui arrogantly swept her gaze over the companion reader ladies accusing her.
These people were jealous!
“This is His Majesty’s decree. We’re following the rules precisely by not defying it.” She said, “If you want to blame someone, blame Chai Wan’er for bullying Yang Luo and startling the horse to injure her.”
At this point, she smiled smugly again.
“Moreover, Young Lord Zhu said those nonsense rumors you heard were Chai Wan’er defaming A Luo.”
The expressions of everyone present became strange and complicated again.
Right, Young Lord Zhu had even fought with Third Master Chai in the restaurant for Yang Luo.
Why would Young Lord Zhu do that for Yang Luo?
Everyone’s gazes searched the academy hall for Jiang Rui’s figure.
“Miss Jiang didn’t come, said there was something at home.” Someone reacted and said.
What could it be at home? Quarrel with Zhu Yunxiao? Too embarrassed to come to class?
While speaking, the instructor walked in.
Class was starting.
The companion reader ladies hurriedly returned to their seats when suddenly someone reacted again.
“Yang Luo hasn’t come in yet.”
“What, now class has to wait for her too?”
Low voices rose in the academy hall.
The instructor coughed lightly: “Miss Yang has already arrived and went to the libationer first.”
Went to the libationer?
The companion reader ladies exchanged questioning looks.
The libationer was going to address the rumors.
The disciple he taught was so unruly and lacking in propriety; it was time for a lesson.
Princess Pingcheng, sitting in the front row and seemingly having not heard the earlier discussions and arguments in the hall, lowered her eyes and flipped through the book scroll.
Besides the lesson, she also needed to tell him that this disciple of his should not come to class with them anymore.
She said it wrong.
Not tell, command.
She had come to read and study, but she was also a princess, a sovereign.
……
…….
“Am I not a disciple? Can’t I enter the library to read?”
Wei Jiao sneered coldly at Ling Yu, who was blocking the way at the covered walkway in the rain and wind.
“Sir has a new disciple, so us old disciples are discarded?”
Ling Yu’s eyes looked coldly at him: “His Majesty is in the library and wants to invite Miss Yang in to discuss some matters with the libationer. No one else is allowed in.”
His Majesty.
The Emperor had come?
Mo Zheng and Yang Luo, who had been stopped by an instructor outside the National Academy on the way because the libationer wanted to see her, were also stunned.
Because Wei Jiao was in the carriage, the informants arranged by Uncle Hong along the way hadn’t sent any news.
This they truly didn’t know.
Hearing it was the Emperor’s order, Wei Jiao stopped sneering but pressed his heart: “Then what about me? I’m injured, it’s freezing cold, am I supposed to wait outside?”
Ling Yu reminded: “Wrong spot, your injury is on the shoulder, not the heart.”
With that, he ignored him and gestured to Mo Zheng.
“Let’s go.”
Mo Zheng acknowledged and turned to say to Yang Luo “Let’s go,” then the two followed Ling Yu toward the library.
Wei Jiao didn’t follow. Near the National Academy, he had perceived something off; there were many more secret guards around. Sure enough, the Emperor had come.
It wasn’t strange for the Emperor to come; he was probably afraid his daughter would be humiliated and came to explain to the libationer.
Wei Jiao raised his brow, but then slightly frowned, looking at the three heading to the library.
Three people.
That maidservant was following too.
Was it necessary for a maidservant to follow too?
