Chapter 200: Zhu Yunxiao’s Actions
The carriage interior was completely quiet.
Zhu Yunxiao seemed to be thinking a lot, yet also like he wasn’t thinking about anything.
He straightened his body.
“It was during the Martial Arts Banquet,” he said. “Lord Li invited me to discuss matters. Afterward, borrowing drunkenness, he asked me to escort him, then… asked me for help.”
He admitted it so straightforwardly? No refutation, no excuses… Miss Yang was somewhat surprised, but it seemed not too surprising.
After several dealings, she seemed to understand Zhu Yunxiao’s character.
Despicable yet candid.
Quick-witted yet cautious.
To him, her one sentence was far from just a guess.
Who knew how much evidence was hidden behind it; most crucially, the Emperor was behind it.
Since cunning arguments were useless, admitting it cleanly might still offer a chance of survival.
“The help was agreeing to Marquis Yichun’s family’s scheme?” Miss Yang asked with a smile.
Zhu Yunxiao nodded: “Yes.” Without waiting for questions, he continued, “Actually, he told me Miss Yang’s true identity. He had me deliberately provoke Chai Yuan, then go see Marquis Yichun. Borrowing an apology, I deliberately reminded Marquis Yichun that he could dispose of Miss Yang through the marriage arrangement, then cooperate with Marquis Yichun… Once my marriage arrangement falls through, it would ruin Miss Yang’s reputation, making His Majesty even more dissatisfied with Marquis Yichun.”
As she had guessed, Miss Yang thought, sighing inwardly again as she looked at Zhu Yunxiao.
But, Young Master Zhu, you still spoke too vaguely.
The Li Clan’s scheme with you wasn’t just to ruin Miss Yang’s reputation, but to take Miss Yang’s life.
Only then could His Majesty and Marquis Yichun completely fall out.
No, not just her life—first take Jiang Rui’s life.
Then, use Jiang Rui’s death to incite Jiang Meng, making her kill Miss Yang, and finally Zhu Yunxiao kills the “murderer” Jiang Meng.
Thus, in the whole affair, he would be merely a victim, safe and sound. Once the Chai Clan falls, the Empress falls, the Prince of Donghai is deposed, and the Li Clan rises with the Prince of Linhai to become the next Son of Heaven, he would become the Li Clan’s great meritorious official, with Duke Yongwu’s Mansion enjoying boundless future prospects.
Miss Yang looked at the young master before her, her hand in her sleeve clenching tight.
Hoofbeats and wheel sounds came from outside, along with the movement and chatter of pedestrians on the road…
Amid these noisy sounds, she knew there were secret guards given by the Emperor, and people arranged by Uncle Hong, closely following around them.
In her previous life, before dying, she wanted him dead, but was powerless.
This time, she wanted him dead, and he must die.
“I was wrong.” Zhu Yunxiao bowed forward in salute.
He lowered his body, no longer looking at this maidservant, lest he reveal improper thoughts.
For example…
Kill this maidservant.
Killing this maidservant would be useless.
This maidservant was just a maidservant, here to convey a message.
This maidservant boarded his carriage on her own, though she appeared alone, there must inevitably be people sent by the Emperor following around.
Taking this maidservant hostage would also be useless—just a maidservant.
He could not act rashly.
As long as he wasn’t dead right now, there was still a chance.
“…My father has lost the Emperor’s favor. These years, His Majesty has frequently struck against noble families. Even if I inherit the title, my future will be precarious.”
“…Because of refusing the marriage, I offended Marquis Yichun. If the Prince of Donghai ascends the throne in the future, my family will have no prospects.”
“…The Li Clan used the Prince of Linhai as bait to invite me to support him together. If the Prince of Linhai can replace the Prince of Donghai, my Zhu family’s prospects will be boundless.”
Zhu Yunxiao solemnly explained why he did this.
The maidservant opposite neither interrupted nor questioned; she kept looking at him.
Though no longer raising her head, he could still feel her vicious gaze.
She… wanted to kill him.
Zhu Yunxiao’s clasped hands tightened slightly.
“You were indeed wrong.” The maidservant’s voice fell, her gaze also shifting away. “Young Lord Zhu, it seems you still don’t know how formidable my family’s young lady is.”
Zhu Yunxiao slightly raised his head, looking at this maidservant, who had a mocking expression.
Only mockery, no killing intent.
“I can also understand your actions. Though you think my family’s young lady is formidable enough to surpass Marquis Yichun, because she is a daughter, compared to the Prince of Linhai as a prince, in your eyes she is still inferior.”
At this point, Miss Yang looked at Zhu Yunxiao and gently shook her head.
“Young Lord Zhu, I truly thought you were someone who could spot heroes with keen eyes, but it turns out you’re nothing special.”
“You’d rather pin your hopes on a little prince who hasn’t grown up yet, whose talent and conduct are unknown, than choose my family’s young lady…”
“You clearly know how my family’s young lady reached where she is now, with what intelligence, talent, and methods.”
At this point, her voice suddenly rose.
“Stop the carriage.”
The coachman outside heard it, but because it was a woman’s voice, and he only ever followed his own heir’s orders, he did not rein in the horse. But the lingering sound was still in his ears when a passerby not far beside the carriage, carrying a basket and wearing a conical hat, suddenly flung off his hat.
The coachman only felt a sudden darkness as the hat covered his head and face, the reins snatched from his hand. Accompanied by the horse’s neigh, the carriage stopped.
At the same time, an old man on the other side of the road, chatting with his young grandson, suddenly pressed close to the windowside. A long sword slid out from his sleeve, piercing through the curtain to rest horizontally across Zhu Yunxiao’s neck.
Zhu Yunxiao only felt icy cold piercing, blood smell assaulting his face. He could hear his own pounding heartbeat, and also hear more footsteps surging from outside…
Just as he expected, today they were coming for him—this was by His Majesty’s directive, secret guards everywhere around.
But the long sword did not immediately sever his neck.
He was still alive; there was still a chance.
“A Sheng.” Zhu Yunxiao looked at the rising maidservant, his voice hoarse. “I know I was wrong. For the sake that I haven’t yet committed a great wrong…”
Miss Yang bent down close to him, reaching out to gently press the sword blade: “Young Lord, you haven’t committed a great wrong not because you didn’t want to, but because my family’s young lady didn’t give you the chance.”
The long sword was already pressed to his throat; with the maidservant’s gentle press, Zhu Yunxiao felt the blade instantly cut skin, blood flowing out.
He didn’t move a muscle.
“A Sheng, I know now. Please ask Miss Yang for one more chance.” he said. “Though I’m unworthy, I still have the Duke Yongwu title on me, and… I still have Changshui Camp.”
At this point, his eyes flashed slightly as he lowered his voice.
“I know the young lady has His Majesty, but the young lady still needs more support.”
“Changshui Camp is Jiang Feng’s troops. Because Jiang Feng died, His Majesty didn’t disband the Jiang Family’s troops but kept them as one army.”
“These men all followed His Majesty to conquer the land under Heaven; they are extremely fierce and utterly loyal…”
At this point, he looked at the maidservant, his voice even lower, almost inaudible.
“…Loyal to the Jiang Family.”
Miss Yang looked at him. So that’s how it was—no wonder he refused to abandon the marriage arrangement with Jiang Rui. By using Jiang Rui, as the Jiang Family’s son-in-law, he could gain this loyal force.
“…Changshui Camp is already in my hands.” Zhu Yunxiao’s voice continued. “I am willing to bring them to serve the young lady…”
Before his words finished, the maidservant straightened her body.
“Alright.” she said. “Continue on the road.”
The long sword instantly withdrew, footsteps outside departed, and accompanied by the coachman’s trembling voice, the horse once again clip-clopped forward.
Zhu Yunxiao leaned against the carriage compartment, raising his hand to press his neck.
“No need to make promises for the future yet.” Miss Yang said indifferently. “There’s a matter at hand—let’s see your sincerity first.”
Zhu Yunxiao hoarsely said: “Please instruct me.”
He had escaped a disaster for now.
Because of his candor? Because he had become her pawn? Because of the temptation of Changshui Camp?
Or was the instruction she received simply not to kill him?
Though his mind was in turmoil, Zhu Yunxiao said no more, quietly awaiting instructions.
This maidservant gave no instructions, but instead looked at him, suddenly reaching out to pull down his hand from his neck, looking at the shallow blood mark on his neck.
“Does it hurt?” she asked.
Zhu Yunxiao was stunned for a moment.
“It’s fine.” he said.
Miss Yang reached out to gently stroke the blood mark on his neck, shaking her head: “Cutting the throat hurts a lot.”
The young girl’s soft fingers touched his skin, right at the neck, and Zhu Yunxiao instantly stiffened, numbness and chill spreading through his body at once.
He truly couldn’t understand this maidservant now…
