Chapter 198: Each Pleased In Their Own Way
Two figures flipped out from the Library one after the other, left the National Academy in the night, and entered the Capital City.
The streets in early spring were empty, with only the clopping hooves of the Embroidered Uniform Guard members.
Mo Zheng rode on horseback, lowered her head to look at the Embroidered Uniform Guard uniform she was wearing, and let out a laugh.
“That night I was pursued and killed, and when the patrolling soldiers surrounded us, I shouted that I was an Embroidered Uniform Guard member.”
She looked at Wei Jiao ahead and said in a low voice.
Then he was called to handle the aftermath. Wei Jiao turned back to glance at her and saw the young girl dressed as a man with bright eyes.
“……Now I’ve really become an Embroidered Uniform Guard member.” She smiled and said.
It’s just wearing an Embroidered Uniform Guard uniform. Wei Jiao said flatly, “You’re this happy already? Weren’t you waiting to wear my uniform?”
Mo Zheng covered her mouth and laughed: “Senior Brother should keep wearing it. Senior Brother looks better in it than I do.”
“That compliment wasn’t well said.” Wei Jiao said, “It’s a fact that I look better than you.”
Mo Zheng laughed silently, cupped her hands to Wei Jiao, and bowed to express that she was wrong.
Wei Jiao turned his head to look ahead, the corners of his mouth curving up.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard members behind exchanged glances and couldn’t help but communicate with their eyes.
It’s rare to see the Captain this happy.
But where was the Captain taking this Princess in the middle of the night?
……
……
“Come, take a look.”
In the Embroidered Uniform Guard dungeon, Wei Jiao brought Mo Zheng into a room. Although winter had passed and spring was mild outside, it was chillingly cold here.
As the lamp was lit, several ice coffins and the corpses in them appeared before their eyes. Though preserved with ice and medicinal herbs, the corpses’ appearance and smell were still nauseating.
Mo Zheng reached up to cover her mouth and nose, seemingly frightened: “This is…”
“Don’t you recognize them?” Wei Jiao said lazily, “Look more carefully.”
As soon as he spoke, the young girl who seemed very fearful with her hand over her mouth and nose stepped forward and examined the corpse in the coffin closely.
These corpses all seemed to retain the shapes they had before death, holding weapons in their hands, with the fatal weapons still stuck in their bodies.
Mo Zheng covered her mouth and nose, squinting slightly: “The weapon in this person’s hand seems the same as the one who attacked me on the street that night. This person…”
When her gaze fell on another corpse, her voice paused.
“Weapons, wounds, clothing and appearance—never seen before. But the posture and fatal wound positions don’t seem like companions of the previous one.”
Back then when they were fresh, he could tell the difference. After so long, this little thing could still spot the clues. Wei Jiao raised an eyebrow—either she was used to being killed or used to killing.
“There were actually two groups of people at the time.” He said, pointing to the corpse that Mo Zheng said was different, “This group’s people died near the alley. They should have been killed by… the group that attacked you.”
She had left directly at the time, and the subsequent investigation was handled by the government and Wei Jiao. This was what Wei Jiao had discovered by checking the surroundings. Mo Zheng understood.
“Then this group was also coming to kill me?” She said, her expression surprised and puzzled, “That doesn’t make sense. Why did the people trying to kill me kill them?”
“Who knows? They’re all dead; can’t ask.” Wei Jiao said lazily.
Mo Zheng didn’t ask further and looked at Wei Jiao: “So, Senior Brother means that the people wanting to kill me aren’t just the Li Clan.”
Of course, she had known that for a long time.
Because the ones who attacked her on the street at the time weren’t after Miss Yang, but after Young Prince Mo.
Now it seemed that the ones hiding in the alley were the Li Clan people.
The Li Clan people had also come to kill her at that time.
Right, at that time Liu Chan’s father entered the capital, so she and Yang Luo had to return to Duke Ding’an’s Mansion.
Upon learning that Miss Yang had suddenly appeared at Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, the Li Clan who had massacred White Horse Town would immediately know Miss Yang hadn’t died.
So they had to strike again.
But bad luck—they ran into the group that had just tracked Young Prince Mo’s whereabouts…
Just like back in White Horse Town, when she lured her killers into colliding with the ones pursuing Yang Luo, leading to them killing each other.
Mo Zheng couldn’t help but laugh.
Wei Jiao watched her from the side and tsked: “Knowing there’s another group wanting to kill you makes you this happy?”
Mo Zheng smiled and said: “It’s because Senior Brother helped me, letting me know there’s someone else who wants to kill me so I can prepare defenses—that’s why I’m happy.”
Wei Jiao gave an “oh” and also smiled: “Then save the laughter for later.” With that, he lifted his foot and walked to the other side.
Mo Zheng followed and stepped into another cell. As the firelight brightened, she saw two more corpses.
Compared to the ice coffin corpses, these were fresher.
Mo Zheng recognized them without needing to look closely.
They were the two palace maids who had attacked her not long ago at Marquis Yichun’s birthday banquet in the Imperial Palace.
Wei Jiao picked up a booklet from the desk nearby and tossed it over. Mo Zheng instinctively raised her hand to catch it.
“This is the case file of the coroner’s verification of the corpses from White Horse Town to the Capital City. From the surface of the body to the insides—every inch of skin, every inch of organs, every strand of hair…” He said, his eyes curving in a smile, “You’ve encountered three different groups of people.”
Three? Mo Zheng gripped the case file, not smiling this time, her expression truly surprised.
……
……
“Three groups of people want to kill me?”
In the early morning when Yang Luo woke up, hearing Mo Zheng’s words, her expression was also surprised.
“One of them was after me, so it’s still two.” Mo Zheng smiled and corrected, then continued, “The Embroidered Uniform Guard coroners are very skilled. Though all dead, the dead soldiers aren’t rabble—they’re raised together centrally. Their training methods, martial arts forms, even the food they eat leave similarities on their bodies. From this, it’s deduced that these corpses are from three groups…”
She looked at Yang Luo.
“The group on the street was after me. The assassins encountered in the palace and the remnants in White Horse Town are the same group, definitely the Li Clan. Only the group that didn’t appear that night but was killed—we don’t know their origins, whether they were after you or me.”
Yang Luo sneered: “Definitely after me.”
Mo Zheng said softly: “Once they’ve struck once, they’ll strike again. We’ll catch him.”
Yang Luo looked at Mo Zheng and shook her head: “A Sheng, regardless of who else wants to kill me, I don’t want to wait anymore. I want…”
Before she finished speaking, Ling Yu’s voice came from outside the door.
“Miss Yang, it’s time for class.”
Mo Zheng mouthed to Yang Luo that they’d talk later.
Yang Luo nodded, responded, and opened the door. She saw Ling Yu standing a few steps away outside and smiled as she paid respects: “Dr. Ling.”
Ling Yu was dressed as always in a green robe, holding a scroll, nodded slightly, then saw Mo Zheng come out.
“Miss.” Yang Luo followed, “Then I’ll go to Dali Temple to check.”
She had little interest in reading. She wasn’t the Libationer’s disciple either, so she should continue doing what a maidservant should do.
Regardless of what plans the Emperor and Marquis Yichun had, everyone knew Chai Du had been accused by his own Deputy General, and Miss Yang’s true identity was a survivor from White Horse Town, so naturally she needed to follow the case’s progress.
The young lady couldn’t show her face publicly, but the maidservant could do it in her place.
Mo Zheng cautioned: “Be careful.”
Even as a maidservant, she had to guard against being vented on.
“Don’t worry.” Yang Luo said, “Sister Tao Hua and the others are with me, plus secret guards.”
Ling Yu, who had been quietly standing by, suddenly frowned and looked at Yang Luo: “Does Miss Yang still have people on your side?”
This Yang Luo was the real Princess, with guards protecting her, but A Sheng was the one facing danger directly.
Even attending a palace banquet in the Imperial City could lead to an attack—if not for Wei Jiao…
“Wei Jiao and the Embroidered Uniform Guard members are here.” Mo Zheng smiled first, “Senior Brother, let’s go. If we’re late, the Mister will scold us again—very scary.”
Ling Yu glanced at her, said no more, turned, and walked away.
“Senior Brother, don’t worry.” Mo Zheng caught up and smiled at him, “Since I dare to live this life, I have the skills to live it.”
Though she had the skills, she still had to live this life, right? If there were other choices, she wouldn’t do this.
Ling Yu said no more and only asked softly: “When will this matter end?”
Mo Zheng held the book, pinched her fingers, and calculated seriously: “Soon. His Majesty has acknowledged his daughter, the real culprit is exposed— at most a month. After eliminating the real culprit, Miss Yang will be safe, and my matters with her can end.”
At this, her eyes lit up.
“Then, Brother Sheng You and Sister Tao Hua can get official identities, and I can stably read books.”
Ling Yu said: “Who says reading is stable? You’ll get scolded by the Mister every three days.”
Mo Zheng giggled: “Actually, I plug my ears every time.”
Ling Yu smiled.
Yang Luo stood at the doorway seeing them off, saw Ling Yu’s profile smile, then saw Mo Zheng with her back turned, waving a hand at her.
This was to comfort her not to mind Ling Yu’s words.
Yang Luo smiled—how could she mind? Someone caring for A Sheng this much made her happy for A Sheng.
So nice—A Sheng, unlike her, had people caring around her.
Yang Luo thought silently and walked out of the National Academy. Just at the doorway, she heard a call.
“Miss Asheng.”
Yang Luo sneered inwardly—the person who cared for her had come.
She lifted her head and saw Zhu Yunxiao standing in front of a carriage.
“Young Lord Zhu.” She smiled ambiguously, “What a coincidence.”
“Not a coincidence.” Zhu Yunxiao said, “I came specifically to see you.”
