Chapter 213: You Come, I Go
Wei Cui let go of his hand.
The teacup did not shatter; Mo Zheng was still holding it in her hand.
“Young Master’s people have already left Yun Ling,” Wei Cui said with a smile. “The government can toss about as they please; no need to mind them.”
Yes, the people had left and would not be caught.
But their existence had been announced under heaven.
Moreover, existence leaves traces; the Imperial Court mobilizing government troops would surely uncover it.
For example, portraits of some people.
Although they had all disguised themselves, disguises still retained their original outlines.
This time Yang Luo had the Emperor grant them secret guard identities, originally thinking they could change identities and live openly, but Wei Cui’s actions rendered the secret guard identities useless; from now on, they still could not show their faces.
Was this fate?
Would she still be forced down a dead-end path and have her head cut off in the future?
Mo Zheng looked at the tea in her hand and smiled. “The General strikes ruthlessly; this junior has learned his lesson.”
With that, she threw her head back and drained it.
This youth heard this news yet remained unhurried and unangered, steady as a mountain. Wei Cui sighed in admiration again; coming in person was indeed worthwhile.
Otherwise, relying only on interactions between servants, who knew how long he would be fooled by this Little Prince Mo.
“Young Master, I know you are very angry, but this is also for your own good. The Emperor knows of your existence,” he said amiably. “No matter how much you hide or conceal yourself, the Imperial Court will not let you go. Since that is the case, it is better to make it clear outright. After all, you are the legitimate ruler under heaven, existing openly.”
Did he speak to Wei Jiao like this too? Abandoning you mother and son to confuse Zhao Tan while he himself escapes—is that for your own good? Mo Zheng thought.
Did Wei Jiao know his father was now in the Capital City?
What would he do if he knew?
Would he be driven mad by his father with just a few words?
He probably did not know.
Since Wei Cui dared to come, he must have prepared thoroughly and would not be discovered by anyone.
What was the point of thinking about Wei Jiao now? The one Wei Cui wanted to deal with now was her. Mo Zheng looked at Wei Cui and sneered mockingly, “The General’s way of being good to people is truly frightening. Knowing we are not tolerated by the Imperial Court, he first pursued and killed us, and now reports us to the government. Where exactly is the good in this?”
“The good is in bringing you into the open, letting all under heaven know, with resounding reputation, making the myriad people return their hearts,” Wei Cui said, his expression solemn.
Mo Zheng shook her head with a smile. “General, you truly think too highly of me. I am weak and alone…”
Wei Cui interrupted, “Precisely because you are weak and alone must all under heaven know. Otherwise, you would die even more quietly and tracelessly. Those people at the place where His Highness resided before were like that—sneaky and timid. Not only did they fail to aid Young Master, they were exterminated themselves.”
He slowly smiled as he spoke.
“Of course, that was also because they were not as capable as I.”
Mo Zheng laughed again. “The General’s forces are indeed greater, but not much different from them—having the intent yet not daring to announce it under heaven.”
Wei Cui hid even more skillfully than those people, yet he mocked others.
Wei Cui felt not the slightest shame and smiled. “That is because Young Master is legitimate and rightful, so he should announce it under heaven and draw attention. But I have great power and must restrain myself, so I can protect Young Master safely from behind and aid Young Master. In this way, the world will see that although Young Master is weak in numbers, he is not weak in strength; he is divinely appointed. Only thus can the myriad people return their hearts.”
Mo Zheng looked at him and smiled. “Divinely appointed—does the General believe in that?”
Wei Cui nodded.
“Of course I believe it.”
“Young Master surviving in Zhao Tan’s hands and living until now is Young Master’s destiny.”
“Although the world has changed hands now, it has only been a dozen years or so; the myriad people under heaven have not yet erased the mark of Mo Clan subjects.”
“As long as Young Master stands forth and raises his arm, this world will quake.”
Wei Cui’s expression grew agitated and sorrowful as he spoke, reaching out to press his heart and looking at this youth.
“And I will be able to reclaim the rivers and mountains I failed to save from Zhao Tan, washing away the previous shame. In this lifetime, buried under the name of Right General, I can close my eyes in peace.”
Actually, his Right General title was granted by Zhao Tan, Mo Zheng thought, but she did not say it aloud.
Wei Cui’s words were well-spoken. That…
“General,” she looked at Wei Cui. “Can I go back and think it over before giving my answer?”
Wei Cui smiled. “No.”
……
……
The water in the stove boiled again.
Wei Cui brewed new tea.
“This time I came for a result.”
“Either accomplish great things together with Young Master and fulfill my uncompleted wish, or hand Young Master over to the Emperor and achieve my new merits.”
He poured new tea for himself first, then lifted the teapot and looked this way.
“So, what Young Master needs to do is very simple. No need to overthink—just choose life or death.”
Mo Zheng pushed forward the cracked teacup she held. “The General brought troops, right? If I choose death, can you send our whole group intact to the government?”
Wei Cui shook his head. “How could I treat Young Master like that? Even if I want Young Master to die, it must be a grand death with resounding reputation, not losing the bearing of a Mo Clan emperor.”
Mo Zheng understood. “So you will attack cities and seize territory for me outside, harm officials and people, and finally surround and exterminate me.”
Wei Cui smiled without denying it, seeing the youth before him still show no anger or change in expression, even nodding thoughtfully. “So that’s how it is.”
What “so that’s how it is”? Wei Cui was momentarily stunned and thought, but he did not ask, pouring tea for Mo Zheng.
Mo Zheng withdrew her teacup. “General, I have seen your great power, but according to what you say, you can renege anytime, and the outcome is always to your benefit. I get nothing and have no way to control you.”
Wei Cui’s expression was amiable as he asked, “What does Young Master want?”
“Since you serve me as lord, give me the same sincerity as with Deng Shan,” Mo Zheng said.
The same sincerity as with Deng Shan? Wei Cui was slightly taken aback, then thought of something. “Young Master also wants one of my sons as hostage?”
Mo Zheng said, “No need for other sons. The General’s previous proposal to the Emperor is very suitable.”
Wei Cui suddenly understood. “Miss Yang’s marriage arrangement with A Jiao?” With that, he looked at this youth and smiled. “This matter was to test Young Master’s reaction to it.”
“I think it is a fine match,” Mo Zheng continued. “Miss Yang and Wei Jiao marry, seizing this opportunity—you have me in you, I have you in me; we become one family, sharing fortune and hardship alike.”
She smiled as she spoke.
“I use Miss Yang to stir chaos in the Li Clan and Chai Clan. If the General has any improper thoughts in the future, these current messes will also fall on the General to bear.”
Wei Cui knew this Miss Yang was the puppet in Little Prince Mo’s hands.
Although Deng Shan’s daughter, she was too entangled with the Mo Clan. If Little Prince Mo were exposed in the future, Miss Yang could not escape involvement. After marrying Wei Jiao, Wei Cui could not avoid implication either.
Deng Shan was suspicious; even if Wei Cui reported and personally exterminated Little Prince Mo, Deng Shan would still suspect Wei Cui, or even simply use this marriage to eliminate him.
After all, Wei Cui was also a major threat in the Emperor’s heart.
Thinking of this, Wei Cui understood some things.
“At that time they sent me word that A Jiao was always appearing by Miss Yang’s side and had saved her several times,” he said. “I guessed it was His Majesty’s arrangement. Though it seemed reasonable, it always felt off somehow.”
Because according to previous guesses, the one who should appear by Miss Yang’s side was this Little Prince Mo.
Now he finally understood.
Wei Cui looked at this youth and smiled meaningfully.
“So from the beginning, Young Master had selected my family’s A Jiao.”
Mo Zheng nodded. “Yes, as I said before, at that time we carefully considered all the court officials and generals including the Emperor, and found Wei Jiao the most suitable guard.”
The one guarded was not actually Miss Yang, but him hiding behind Miss Yang.
Good, good, good—truly brilliant.
Marriage it is then—one son only. If he could send his son to Deng Shan, he could naturally send him to Little Prince Mo.
Wei Cui raised his cracked teacup. “In that case, A Jiao and Miss Yang are truly destined by heaven.”
Mo Zheng said, “A match made in heaven.”
The two clinked teacups, laughed heartily, and drained them.
