Chapter 199: Seeing Zhu Yunxiao
“Jiang Rui.”
A companion reader young lady hurried into the school hall and called out loudly.
In the princess school hall, the companion reader ladies were either gathered around Princess Pingcheng chatting and laughing, or sitting in their seats reading books.
Hearing this call, everyone in the hall looked over.
Jiang Rui put down the book in her hand.
“Young Lord Zhu is waiting for you outside the National Academy.” That companion reader young lady said with a smile.
Jiang Rui was slightly stunned: “Why is he here?”
“He must want to see you.” A companion reader young lady covered her mouth and laughed.
These words made many people laugh, and even Princess Pingcheng looked over with a slight smile.
“A Rui, you two are getting married this year, right?” Someone else asked.
Jiang Rui’s face flushed red and she didn’t answer the question. She stood up to leave, but Liu Chan, sitting beside her, quickly pulled her back.
Perhaps because Miss Yang and her maidservant had left the princess school hall, Liu Chan had to find a new companion. Ever since visiting the sick, she had been sticking by her side every moment.
“A Rui, don’t go back with the young lord.” She said nervously, “The instructor will definitely examine us in this class. You have to help me.”
Jiang Rui had originally taken sick leave and not come to class, but because Liu Chan persuaded her to attend the palace banquet, and then Liu Chan reminded her that it was fine to attend the palace banquet but not come to class, which was inappropriate.
Jiang Rui had only been pretending to be sick to avoid the rumor about Zhu Yunxiao and Miss Yang, but too many things happened at that palace banquet: Miss Yang encountered an attack, Miss Yang’s true identity was a survivor of White Horse Town, and the rumor was that Miss Yang might be His Majesty’s…
There were too many rumors, and no one mentioned the rumor about Zhu Yunxiao and Miss Yang anymore.
So she came to class on her own initiative.
Of course, she hadn’t discussed it with Zhu Yunxiao beforehand.
So was Yunxiao worried and came looking for her?
Jiang Rui gave Liu Chan a reassuring smile: “I’m not leaving.” Then she chided her playfully, “You should review the book yourself quickly.”
Liu Chan nodded, then said: “When the instructor comes, I’ll tell him you’re coming back right away.”
Jiang Rui smiled and hurried out.
……
……
“The young lord must have gotten it wrong.”
Yang Luo looked at Zhu Yunxiao and said indifferently.
“You’re here to see my young lady, right?”
Zhu Yunxiao didn’t respond to her words and said directly: “Since His Majesty wants to investigate Chai Du, I can also come forward to testify against him. The previous attempted murder was heinous, and this current attempted murder is equally punishable.”
Yang Luo said: “This current attempted murder didn’t succeed, and there’s no evidence. Relying solely on your word, you’ll end up being accused instead, saying you and my young lady colluded to frame and slander Marquis Yichun. Then it will only confirm the rumor that you and my young lady have an unusual relationship.”
At this point, she looked at Zhu Yunxiao, raised her eyebrow, and sneered coldly.
“Zhu Yunxiao, this is your real purpose, isn’t it?”
Zhu Yunxiao was already used to the maidservant’s sharp retorts.
“Then let me make it clearer.” He said in a deep voice, “Although Marquis Yichun has great power and influence, in my eyes, he doesn’t have the look of lasting prosperity. I would never collude with them to harm Miss Yang.”
Yang Luo looked at him and suddenly felt that he wasn’t lying.
A Sheng had told her that although in this life Zhu Yunxiao had confessed to her about scheming for the marriage arrangement, that didn’t mean Zhu Yunxiao was different from that previous life.
If Zhu Yunxiao was the same as in that previous life…
In this life, he directly betrayed Marquis Yichun, so he must have done the same in that previous life.
In that previous life, he wouldn’t fall for Miss Yang. Who was it for then?
This was probably the first time this maidservant looked at him so seriously, with scrutiny, mockery, and a hint of something eerie. Zhu Yunxiao frowned to say something, but the maidservant smiled.
“Young Lord Zhu.” She asked, “What is it that you seek?”
Zhu Yunxiao was stunned: “What do I seek?”
Yang Luo didn’t answer and looked at the carriage behind him: “I need to go to Dali Temple. Young lord, please take me there.”
Zhu Yunxiao didn’t ask more and reached out to lift the carriage curtain: “Please, miss.”
The coachman nearby nimbly brought over a carriage stool.
Yang Luo picked up her skirt and stepped on the stool. Zhu Yunxiao extended his arm.
Yang Luo didn’t refuse and raised her hand to hold it as she got into the carriage.
Once Yang Luo was seated inside, Zhu Yunxiao followed into the carriage.
“To Dali Temple.” He said to the coachman.
The carriage turned around and headed toward the city. Jiang Rui stood behind the National Academy mountain gate, watching the carriage slowly depart.
Zhu Yunxiao didn’t see her.
Perhaps because she was hiding behind the mountain gate pillar, or perhaps because Zhu Yunxiao never looked toward the National Academy gate once from beginning to end.
His gaze was always fixed on that… A Sheng.
Jiang Rui’s hand gripping the stone pillar tightened involuntarily, her mind more chaotic than ever.
Wasn’t Yunxiao here to find her?
Since when did Yunxiao get so familiar with A Sheng?
Was it from that time at Dengyun Tower when he blocked Chai Wan’er’s whip?
Or at the palace banquet when Yunxiao encountered the assassin and saved the maidservant?
The maidservant A Sheng no longer mocked or despised Yunxiao.
She was also smiling and talking to him, her gaze always on Yunxiao…
Jiang Rui clenched her hand and put it to her mouth, unable to stop herself from gently biting it with her teeth.
So, Yunxiao came to see A Sheng, to see Miss Yang?
Yunxiao must know that rumor too: Yang Luo is His Majesty’s daughter lost among the common folk…
His Majesty’s daughter is a princess, far more noble than Marquis Yichun’s family’s daughter.
The thought flashed through, and Jiang Rui shook her head hurriedly.
What was she thinking? Was she doubting Yunxiao? How could she doubt Yunxiao!
Jiang Rui turned and hurried back into the National Academy, her skirt hem fluttering.
How could Yunxiao be the kind of person who betrays trust and clings to power!
……
……
What kind of person was Zhu Yunxiao?
Yang Luo sat in the carriage, looking at the young man opposite her.
In the previous life, blinded by infatuation, she thought he was a gentle noble young master. In this life, full of hatred, she saw him as a despicable villain.
But she had never seriously thought about his purpose, what he sought.
Only by knowing what a person seeks can you understand them better and control them.
“…Going to Dali Temple to ask around won’t help. You should go to the Imperial City to see His Majesty.”
“…Marquis Yichun is advancing by retreating this time. Once the investigation ends, Chai Du will surely be cleared of charges.”
Zhu Yunxiao was speaking earnestly, considering and planning for Miss Yang.
Yang Luo interrupted him: “Duke Yongwu also has merit in assisting the Emperor’s rise to power. Young lord, you’ve been outstanding since childhood. Logically, the Zhu family’s future prospects should be secure.”
Zhu Yunxiao was slightly taken aback, not understanding why she said this. Before he could speak, he saw the maidservant shake her head again.
“No, I remember now.” She said, a smile appearing on her face. “Duke Yongwu has mediocre talent and has already fallen out of His Majesty’s favor. Later, he even made a mistake. You, young lord…”
Although called a talented person, when later ordered to suppress A Sheng, he failed too, showing his abilities weren’t as great as the legends said.
If not for Wei Cui’s intervention, this father and son would not only have no merit but would be punished by the Emperor.
Duke Yongwu’s Mansion’s future prospects were in jeopardy.
It seemed that although the order for bandit suppression hadn’t happened yet, Zhu Yunxiao was well aware of his father’s situation and his own, so he was striving desperately to preserve their future wealth and status.
Zhu Yunxiao’s face stiffened slightly: “His Majesty…”
Doesn’t favor my father, which he naturally knew. He didn’t expect His Majesty had even told Miss Yang about this?
And what did she mean by “later even made a mistake”?
“Yes, my father has achieved nothing in recent years…” He immediately nodded, admitting frankly, “Indeed, he has lost the Emperor’s favor.”
Even so, he looked down on Marquis Yichun and believed the Chai Clan unreliable, not truly loyal to them.
And for the Chai Clan, even if Zhu Yunxiao was useful, he was just someone they could use at will. They had all the advantages of timing, location, and people; Zhu Yunxiao wasn’t indispensable to them.
So which family could he consider reliable? And what indispensable merit had he done for that family?
If the marriage arrangement with Zhu Yunxiao in the previous life was arranged by Marquis Yichun just like now, then when she died and her identity was exposed before the Emperor, her mother died, her daughter was killed too, the Emperor flew into a rage, unable to tolerate it anymore, all the sins piled onto Marquis Yichun.
Yang Luo nodded; now all her previous confusion was cleared up.
“Zhu Yunxiao.” Yang Luo raised her hand signaling him to come closer.
Zhu Yunxiao hesitated for a moment, then leaned in as she said.
The carriage compartment was narrow; they were very close. He could feel the maidservant’s warm breath and see her bright eyes.
“When did you start colluding with the Li Family?” Yang Luo asked softly.
In the early spring carriage, Zhu Yunxiao only felt a chill rising from his feet straight to the top of his head.
