Chapter 42: Encounter The Enemy And Beat Them First
Yang Luo stood in front of Dengyun Tower, examining the large characters above.
“Yesterday outside the academy, I chatted with servants from other families and heard them say Dengyun Tower is the best restaurant.” Mo Zheng said from behind, looking at the magnificent building, “It does look… very expensive.”
Yang Luo murmured: “I’ve often heard its name before, but I’ve never come here once.”
In that life, Yang Hui said “we invited the princess to Dengyun Tower,” and cousin Yang Shanshu brought her pastries after the banquet: “Dengyun Tower’s pastries, the most famous in the capital city.”
Zhu Yunxiao…
“I was just on my way to a banquet at Dengyun Tower, and running into Miss on the road was truly fortuitous.”
Yang Luo lowered her gaze and sighed softly.
Mo Zheng listened to this young lady’s words and observed her expression, knowing she must have divined something unpleasant again.
“Then this time you can experience it.” She said, “Miss doesn’t need to save money today. Being born human means experiencing the mortal world as much as possible.”
Being born human means experiencing the mortal world as much as possible? The last time she lived in a daze with no real experiences, and this time, the hatred of death and the ending weighed on her heart. Yang Luo looked somewhat lost, lifting her head to gaze at the resplendent restaurant before her…
Today had nothing to do with the past or the future. She was here to celebrate, so she should enjoy it properly. She took the lead and stepped inside.
The shop assistants inside smiled and greeted them: “Miss, young master, side room or seating in the lobby?”
Because they said it was for celebration, both were dressed in finely made clothes today. Mo Zheng was no longer in her cyan servant attire, wearing a light blue long robe cinched with a jade-colored sash, with a sachet hanging from it. Though her face was ashen, at a glance she appeared to be a handsome young master.
“Brother, you’re treating today.” Yang Luo said to Mo Zheng.
Mo Zheng nodded with a smile and gestured to the shop assistant: “Just the two of us, in the lobby is fine.”
So they were siblings. The shop assistant smiled and led them to a seating area in the hall.
At the same time, a guest walked in from the doorway, evidently a regular, as another shop assistant went to greet him.
“Young Master Jishan is here.”
“Has Yunxiao arrived?”
“Young Lord Zhu, he’s already here, in Huansha Pavilion.”
When the conversation reached their ears, Mo Zheng, just about to sit, paused slightly and looked toward Yang Luo.
This name…
Sure enough, Yang Luo’s face across from her changed instantly.
“Let’s think about what to order first.” Mo Zheng immediately said to the shop assistant.
The shop assistant acknowledged and stepped away.
Yang Luo’s gaze remained fixed on the hall doorway, watching the guest who had spoken with the shop assistant head straight upstairs.
Mo Zheng asked in a low voice: “Someone you know from divination?”
She had forgotten that this young guard still believed she could divine the future. Yang Luo decided to tell him the truth—well, a little truth.
“The Young Lord Zhu he just mentioned.” She said softly, “Heir of Duke Yongwu, Zhu Yunxiao.”
Mo Zheng said “oh”: “Son of a count, not as prestigious as your maternal grandfather’s family.”
He was even commenting on it. Yang Luo couldn’t help laughing: “He’s already been granted a military post by imperial decree, while my eldest cousin has nothing yet.”
In terms of the next generation’s future prospects, Duke Yongwu’s family was slightly better than Duke Ding’an’s family.
But Duke Yongwu’s Mansion was not fortunate.
Duke Yongwu was ordered to suppress bandits, not only failed, but was wounded in the arm, which was very humiliating. It enraged the emperor, who even cursed him as a wine pouch and rice sack unworthy of being a marquis.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help looking at Mo Zheng with a smile.
And that bandit was A Sheng.
Yang Luo straightened her posture.
“A Sheng.” She said softly, “He will kill you and me in the future.”
Oh? Mo Zheng was stunned and instinctively looked upstairs.
Duke Yongwu, leading troops—she twirled her teacup with her fingers. Yes, it was indeed possible.
So she had exposed her identity?
Did this young lady know her true identity?
Mo Zheng looked at Yang Luo with a surprised expression: “Why kill me?” Then lowering her voice, “Because of stealing Miss Liu’s invitation?”
This youth didn’t know that according to the original trajectory, she and he had no connection, so he could only guess based on current events. Yang Luo thought, that was fine. The truth absolutely could not be told to him, lest he get scared off or hold her hostage to interrogate for more.
Her words were half-true half-false, both enticing and safe, to bind this youth to her side for her use.
Yang Luo shook her head, with a hint of guilt: “I can only divine the outcome, not the specific details.” She added, “It’s also not always possible to divine, only triggered at certain times.”
Understood. This young lady didn’t know her true identity and didn’t want to tell her what she did know. Mo Zheng thought, but it was certain her future death was connected to Duke Yongwu’s family.
“That’s already impressive. At least we know this guy is bad for us, so then…” Mo Zheng said, looking toward the stairs with flickering eyes.
Yang Luo cut in: “Then let’s find a way to beat him up.”
Mo Zheng raised an eyebrow: “Just beat him up? Shouldn’t it be, kill him?”
As expected of someone who would become a bandit leader in the future, casually mentioning murder. Yang Luo thought, that was good; when the time came for him to kill Zhu Yunxiao, there would be no need for persuasion.
But not now.
“In broad daylight, in public, under the Son of Heaven, murder isn’t that easy. Moreover, we still need to hide our identities now. Killing him would bring trouble, and we wouldn’t survive ourselves. It wouldn’t be worth it.”
She looked at Mo Zheng.
“So, let’s beat him up first to vent our anger.”
……
…..
A deep blue hem fluttered, embroidered golden boots lightly descending the stairs.
“Yunxiao, Yunxiao.”
The shout came from behind.
Zhu Yunxiao, standing in the lobby, turned his head and saw two companions chasing after.
“Yunxiao, why are you leaving already?” One companion said discontentedly, stepping forward to grab his arm. “You’ve finally returned from the barracks; at least we should drink till we’re drunk.”
Zhu Yunxiao smiled faintly: “I have something today.”
“What could be more important than us brothers gathering?” The previous companion shouted.
The other companion thought of something and laughed: “I know. Yunxiao is going to see Miss Jiang, right?”
Zhu Yunxiao nodded with a smile: “Miss Jiang was selected as the princess’s companion reader yesterday and is going to the National Academy to study. I’m going to congratulate her.”
The previous companion immediately stopped pestering and patted his shoulder: “In that case, you must go, you must go.”
The other companion looked envious: “Miss Jiang is truly talented and beautiful; you two are a match made in heaven, a fairy couple.”
The previous companion smacked his lips: “Miss Jiang has also propped up the family. Though not as good as Marquis Yichun’s family background…”
There had previously been rumors that Marquis Yichun wanted to marry into Duke Yongwu’s family with his heir.
Before he finished, his companion elbowed his arm: “What are you saying? Miss Jiang and Yunxiao have childhood sweethearts’ affection. No family background can compare.”
Zhu Yunxiao smiled without speaking, bid farewell again, and the two companions personally saw him to the doorway.
Zhu Yunxiao’s servant brought the horse. Zhu Yunxiao took the reins, turned sideways, and cupped his hands to his companions.
“Next time—”
As he began to speak, chaotic footsteps came from the street, mixed with cursing.
“Stop, don’t run—”
“Thief, you stole my things—”
Zhu Yunxiao instinctively looked over and saw two young beggars running wildly toward them, with a larger beggar chasing behind wielding a bamboo pole.
The two young beggars seemed to panic and veer off course, or perhaps to dodge, rushing right up to Zhu Yunxiao.
“Get lost—” Zhu Yunxiao’s guard hurriedly tried to drive them away, but it was too late. The larger beggar caught up, swinging the bamboo pole fiercely at the two young beggars.
All this happened in the blink of an eye. Zhu Yunxiao heard a muffled thud, followed by sharp pain from his calf.
He let out a muffled grunt, his body swaying unsteadily, but as a martial man by instinct, he reached for the saber hanging from the horse’s saddle.
With a thud, he knelt on the ground.
Shadows of people flashed before his eyes, shouts, curses, and cries filling the air. Before he could swing the saber, three figures ran past him.
“Stop—”
“Thief, you stole my things, don’t run—”
At the same time, guards, companions, and the restaurant’s shop assistants surged over.
“Heir!”
“Yunxiao!”
Zhu Yunxiao propped his saber on the ground, feeling the pain radiating from his bones, his handsome face twisting in agony.
