Chapter 58: Relationships Converge
“Why does it sound like this is just the grudge and romance among these three people, and you’re not involved at all?”
Tao Hua gripped the knife and said, looking at Mo Zheng sitting in front of the stove fire.
“She said Zhu Yunxiao would kill you in the future, that’s a lie, right? To trick you into listening to her and working for her.”
Regarding Yang Luo’s prophetic abilities, Mo Zheng had not hidden them from Zhang Sheng You and Tao Hua, and after Yang Luo said that Zhu Yunxiao would be unkind to her in the future and she would die at his hands, she had Zhang Sheng You and Tao Hua also keep an eye on Duke Yongwu’s Family.
Duke Yongwu once had some brute strength, but after more than ten years of peaceful days, his temperament had become lazy and indolent, and now he relied only on his past glory to support the family.
Duke Yongwu’s heir Zhu Yunxiao, on the other hand, was clever and had become famous as a youth; now he was gaining experience in the military, but as a rising star, he had not yet had a chance to establish achievements.
“That’s right, when our identities are exposed in the future and the Imperial Court comes to exterminate us, that will be a good opportunity for Duke Yongwu and his son to make merits.”
Hearing this from Mo Zheng, Zhang Sheng You said disdainfully: “That Zhu kid is just a guy who only knows bookish talk.”
Over the past ten-plus years, they had gathered quite a few soldiers and generals who had scattered during Emperor Ai’s time; though not many in number, they were all survivors from the chaotic times, and Duke Yongwu and his son were no match for them.
Mo Zheng looked at the dancing firelight and shook her head: “There’s nothing impossible in this world.”
But she did not dwell on the matter.
Future matters could be dealt with later; the matters at hand were more pressing.
“Has Qi De’an found any movements?” she asked.
Zhang Sheng You clenched his fist: “It’s strange too; suddenly there’s no trace of him.”
No trace?
Qi De’an alone could not shake them off.
Mo Zheng looked at the dancing stove fire: “Looks like the person behind him has made a move.”
“Young Master!” Zhang Sheng You and Tao Hua said in unison, “We should leave quickly!”
Mo Zheng threw a piece of firewood into the stove fire, the firelight dancing and illuminating the smile on her face.
“Not leaving; I’m just waiting for them to show up.” She said, “Mr. Jiang’s revenge hasn’t been fully avenged yet.”
Revenge? Zhao County was one thing, but this was under the Son of Heaven. Zhang Sheng You and Tao Hua looked nervous; the Young Master’s courage had always been great, but lately it seemed excessively mad.
Those close to vermilion become red, those close to ink become black; she must have been driven mad by that Miss Yang.
The three days of vacation passed quickly, and the princesses’ new school day arrived again.
Princess Pingcheng rode out of the palace in a small chariot; Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong’s carriages had not yet arrived.
“Give them a quarter of an hour; if they don’t come, they are not allowed to go to the National Academy today.” She said to the palace maid.
Although they were all princesses, Princess Pingcheng’s words were like the Emperor’s golden decree; if she said they could not go, the two princesses’ carriages would not leave the Imperial City today, and the palace maids hurriedly went to urge them.
Princess Pingcheng frowned and got out of the chariot.
A whistle sounded.
She knew who it was without looking up.
“Is the princess frowning because she doesn’t want to go to school?” Wei Jiao reined in his horse in front of the Imperial City. “Now you know, right? Studying is very boring.”
Princess Pingcheng smiled: “I’m different from you; you study because your father forces you, but I’m doing it willingly.” With that, she explained, “I was just thinking that studying is a simple matter, but the people studying are very complicated and troublesome.”
Although in the deep palace, news of quarrels among the companion readers was immediately sent to the princess by many people.
It was that Liu Chan again.
Princess Pingcheng now remembered this name; first she had been aggressive toward Yang Hui, which was understandable, to compete for favor in front of her.
Now she had a conflict with Miss Jiang; when Yang Hui sent the news, she said it was over robbing Zhu Yunxiao with Miss Jiang…
Thinking of this, Princess Pingcheng couldn’t help pressing her forehead.
“Even after family background screening and knowledge examinations, you only know someone’s conduct after dealing with them.”
Hearing this from the princess, Wei Jiao thought of Ling Yu and the disheveled woman in the academy dormitory; he spat: “Even dealing with them doesn’t necessarily reveal it; there are plenty of beasts in this world who know faces but not hearts. Princess, be careful.”
It was somewhat sharing a common enemy for her; Princess Pingcheng smiled and said, “I don’t need to be careful.”
She was a princess; those companion readers with questionable conduct and motives should be careful.
Their joys and sorrows merely made her frown, while her joys and sorrows could decide their fates.
Princess Pingcheng no longer spoke of these trivial matters and asked Wei Jiao: “Are you going out again?”
Wei Jiao said: “No choice; people from home have come, so I have to put on a show of diligence and ambition to leave them speechless.”
With that, he nodded toward the side and slightly bowed with a smile to Princess Pingcheng.
“Your stupid younger sisters have arrived; go scold them quickly.”
Princess Pingcheng looked over and saw Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong’s carriage approaching; the two princesses were also looking this way, their lip movements urging the carriage to hurry.
They were indeed somewhat stupid, always thinking that being princesses made them the same as her; whatever nice clothes or fun pets she had, they would clamor for the same.
The horse neighed, Wei Jiao’s black cloak flipped up revealing the red inner lining, and he went off like flying flowers.
Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong watched with regret and anger, then saw Princess Pingcheng’s cold face.
Princess Pingcheng warned: “If I have to wait for you next time, I will tell Father Emperor you don’t need to go study.”
Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong, one angry and one aggrieved, got into the carriage.
Clearly all daughters of Father Emperor, but because Princess Pingcheng was born to the Empress, they were treated as inferior.
They had thrown tantrums before, but the result was always a scolding from the Emperor.
No way around it; as the founding Emperor, his wife who had shared hardships and their children were the true family in his heart; they, the imperial concubines and their later-born children, lacked that bond.
……
……
“Two companion readers quarreled, seemingly over Zhu Yunxiao.”
Wei Jiao rode on horseback, swaying as he listened to the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s news.
Though he did not care about these companion readers, matters concerning Princess Pingcheng required extra inquiry, to better handle stirring things up and making waves.
“That companion reader is from Fuzhou.”
“Duke Ding’an sent someone to reprimand this Miss Liu’s father.”
Duke Ding’an? Hearing this, Wei Jiao opened his eyes: “What does it have to do with him?”
“This companion reader previously quarreled with Miss Yang.” The Embroidered Uniform Guard said; this was not from special inquiry, but because they had been watching Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, and Miss Yang had been making a big fuss at home, so they knew.
Wei Jiao was not interested in what misses; he frowned and asked: “Still no abnormalities at Duke Ding’an’s Mansion?”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard shook his head: “No strangers have visited, and no one from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion has left the Capital City.”
The Yuan family was already confined locally; no one knew about Miss Yuan being in the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s hands, so it wouldn’t alert the enemy.
Where did this dog hide? Wei Jiao gritted his teeth coldly.
“Keep watching Duke Ding’an’s Mansion.”
A connection that could be used once could be used twice; this dog would surely get involved with Duke Ding’an’s Mansion again.
……
……
On the main road to the Capital City, carriages, horses, and people streamed continuously; seeing the majestic city ahead, the long-distance travelers shed some fatigue.
“Mister, the Capital City is here.” The young scholar turned his head and said, his eyebrows excited. “Shall we go straight to the academy to find Junior Sister?”
The carriage curtain lifted, and a thin middle-aged man wearing a Confucian cap shook his head.
“Don’t go disturb Chan’er studying.” He said; a softness appeared on his stern face, then he frowned again. “First go see your martial uncle; he wrote urgently saying there was something and for us to come to the capital, so let’s see what it is.”
The young scholar nodded, then said: “Good thing we received it on the way; if two days later, we would have gone into the mountains to visit ancient sites, and the message would take a month to reach us.”
At this, he chuckled again.
“Also good; coming to the Capital City will be a surprise for Junior Sister; originally, Master’s wife could only come at month’s end.”
The middle-aged man nodded with a smile and asked, “Do you still remember the address Chan’er wrote?”
The young scholar said he remembered, cracked the whip to urge the horse on, and the skinny horse pulled the carriage forward merrily.
