Chapter 64: Ask Clearly
Wei Jiao impatiently tapped the table.
“Why so slow?” he said, raising his voice toward the inside. “Haven’t figured out what to say yet? Need help? We have lots of people here who are good at making up lies.”
With that, he waved his hand and called out a few names.
Several Embroidered Uniform Guards standing nearby responded in strange tones and headed to the inner hall.
“Coming, coming.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s voice came from inside, laced with a sobbing tone, as she walked out with red eyes.
“Captain, please forgive us. Family reunited and talked about the past.”
Wei Jiao’s gaze turned to Duke Ding’an, seeing his face pale as if mourning a parent.
Wei Jiao couldn’t help but laugh, his gaze shifting to the young girl being led by the hand by Duke Ding’an’s Wife, raising his eyebrow slightly.
At this time, the gazes of everyone else in the room also turned to the young girl.
She had changed into a light yellow dress, with her hair in spring-breeze style. Her face was still plainly made up, but perhaps due to the dress and hairstyle accentuating it, her fine eyebrows seemed slightly curved, her thin eyelids softer, her nose tip perkier, and her thin lips glistening faintly. She looked entirely as elegant as pear blossoms.
The previous young guard was nowhere to be seen.
“A Sheng.” Liu Chan went up to her, looking her up and down joyfully. “You look better in women’s clothing.”
Mo Zheng smiled at her without speaking. She could feel Liu Changqing’s heavy gaze sweep over her once and then move away. Cheng Yuan, the young man, stared curiously for two glances before his gaze returned to his junior sister. Only Wei Jiao.
Wei Jiao stared at her, from top to bottom, bottom to top, left to right, right to left, back and forth, circling endlessly without stop.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife, watching from the side, felt somewhat unable to bear it, always thinking that in the next moment, this Wei Jiao would strip off the young girl’s dress.
This madman might really do such a thing!
She hurriedly reached out to tug at Duke Ding’an.
“Captain, this is indeed my niece.” Duke Ding’an said hoarsely.
“You’re from White Horse Town.” Wei Jiao ignored Duke Ding’an and kept looking at Mo Zheng, raising his eyebrow. “Didn’t burn to death?”
Mo Zheng looked at him, her expression somewhat blank, as if she didn’t quite understand what he meant.
Duke Ding’an and Duke Ding’an’s Wife were stunned for a moment—Wei Jiao actually knew about White Horse Town—but then they relaxed.
Embroidered Uniform Guards’ espionage left nothing they didn’t know.
“Captain, what you mentioned is my younger sister.” Duke Ding’an’s Wife hurriedly said, tears falling. “That sister of mine and my niece both passed away.”
With that, she pulled Mo Zheng.
“This is my cousin’s daughter from my uncle’s family. Uncle’s side has two daughters.”
“This cousin is also pitiful. She passed away a few years ago. Her husband remarried to an unworthy woman who doesn’t care for this child. Uncle even wrote asking us to look after her. Who would have thought…”
Yang Luo took over from the side: “My family’s master was going to marry Miss to an old widower, so I and Miss fled.”
With that, she also lifted her sleeve to cover her face and cry.
Hearing this, Liu Chan gripped Mo Zheng’s hand, her expression angry: “So A Sheng, you have such a father. No wonder you said there’s no need to mention him.”
Mo Zheng lowered her eyes: “From now on, I’ll establish my own household and no longer rely on him.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife wiped her tears and chided: “What establish your own household? Our Yang Family isn’t without people.” She looked toward Liu Changqing. “Scholar Liu, this child fled from home, saying she wanted to establish her own household, so she came to the Capital City. She encountered Miss Liu, saw she was ill and had an invitation, so she took the invitation and borrowed Miss Liu’s identity to take the exam for princess companion reader.”
Liu Changqing frowned, about to say something, when Liu Chan spoke first.
“Father, this was my choice.” she said. “I had no way to take the exam at the time and didn’t want to come to the capital in vain, so I was willing to give my identity to Miss Yang…”
Although it wasn’t said like this before, now knowing A Sheng’s true background was so pitiful, she wanted to speak for her.
Someone knocked on the table thud thud thud.
“Then why wasn’t it Miss Yang who went, but this…”
Wei Jiao said, his gaze finally shifting from Mo Zheng to Yang Luo, who was a step behind, but only circling once before returning to Mo Zheng.
“…maidservant who went? Your family even has maidservants who can read?”
“I was originally born into a wealthy family, but the family fell, and I was sold into slavery.” Yang Luo stepped forward and said loudly. “I did study reading at home.”
This was very common in the new dynasty and not strange. One Son of Heaven, one court; new nobles and new families rose, buying slaves or even female relatives from fallen old noble families.
Wei Jiao didn’t speak, just looking at Mo Zheng, as if only willing to hear her explain.
Mo Zheng raised her eyes to him, her expression calm: “I fled a marriage. I feared my family would find me, so I needed to hide my identity. Posing as a servant avoids others’ notice, so I swapped identities with the maidservant.”
Wei Jiao scoffed: “Then you were quite dedicated, posing as a servant and taking two slashes head-on.”
“If I were exposed and caught back, it would be a dead end.” Mo Zheng said, her brows and eyes faint. “Better to die in Captain’s hands than in that old widower’s.”
Wei Jiao laughed: “This is the first time someone’s wanted to die in my hands.”
Mo Zheng’s gaze also circled his face, saying: “At least Captain is young and handsome.”
Perhaps no one expected her to say such a thing. Duke Ding’an and Duke Ding’an’s Wife were stunned. Liu Changqing frowned. Liu Chan burst out laughing. Seeing his junior sister laugh, Cheng Yuan followed suit.
“You child, don’t speak recklessly.” Duke Ding’an’s Wife came back to herself and hurriedly scolded. How dare she flirt with this Wei Jiao?!
Wei Jiao leaned back in his chair, eyes curved in a smile: “How is this reckless talk? I am indeed young and handsome. Dying by my hand is certainly worthwhile.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife didn’t know how to respond to this.
“Miss Yuan’s identity was my lie. Earlier, my grandfather sent someone to visit me and learned about Aunt’s this sister from the servants.” Mo Zheng continued. “I used Miss Yuan’s identity, combined with my own reason for leaving home, to have my maidservant tell lies in front of Captain.”
Wei Jiao oh-ed: “So, you didn’t know Miss Yuan really fled a marriage too?”
Mo Zheng was stunned, looking at Duke Ding’an’s Wife with an inquiring expression.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife instinctively refuted: “No, where did you hear that? You, how did you know?”
Wei Jiao’s gaze stayed fixed on the two women, watching their reactions, then curved his lips: “Oh, me? A while ago, I happened to encounter a carriage outside the city. The young lady inside was crying and shouting. I’m always warmhearted and can’t stand roadside injustice, so I stopped the carriage to ask. Turns out it was Miss Yuan, related to Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, who fled to the Capital City because of a marriage but was tied up by you, Madam, and sent back.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s face flushed red.
Duke Ding’an glared at her: “I said it would cause trouble.”
“So, this Miss Yuan also…” Mo Zheng sighed lightly, giving a self-mocking smile. “We women truly have few smooth marriages.”
Wei Jiao sat up straight with interest: “I think your Duke Ding’an family’s feng shui might have a problem? Why do all the women meet unfortunate partners and have to flee marriages?”
Hearing this, Duke Ding’an’s originally deathly pale face instantly flushed red: “Wei Jiao, it’s not your place to critique our family feng shui!”
Wei Jiao wasn’t startled by the suddenly angry duke, raising his eyebrow: “What, can’t even say it now? Angry from embarrassment?”
“You casually judge my family’s women, tarnishing our innocence. I’ll complain to His Majesty.” Duke Ding’an said hatefully.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife stopped him: “Enough, it’s just one sentence, don’t say more.” Then soothingly to Wei Jiao: “Family matters are troubling. The duke is in a bad mood. Captain, please be understanding.”
Liu Changqing, who had been silently watching from the side, spoke now.
“I don’t care about your family matters. Impersonating someone is breaking the law.” he said. “Since my daughter didn’t pass the exam, the National Academy shouldn’t have her name. Tomorrow I will definitely go to the National Academy to explain and take my daughter home.”
“That won’t do. Miss will be driven out of the Capital City and caught back home.” Yang Luo, who as a maidservant shouldn’t speak, shouted now, looking aggrieved and anxious at Mo Zheng, covering her face to cry.
Liu Chan also grew anxious, running to her father to plead: “Father, don’t do this…”
Liu Changqing scolded: “How not? Faking identity, even if relying on one’s own ability to pass, is not the way of a gentleman. What place is the National Academy? Selecting princess companion readers—this conduct is a grave crime of deceiving master and sovereign.”
“Scholar Liu is right.” Mo Zheng said, shaking her head at Liu Chan. “Earlier we acted on impulse and did it, but we knew it was wrong.”
With that, she curtsied to Duke Ding’an and Duke Ding’an’s Wife.
“After arriving in the capital, I didn’t come to Uncle and Aunt because I wanted to stand on my own, not rely on family anymore. But I did something improper, harming Uncle and Aunt’s reputation.”
With that, she straightened up and looked at Liu Changqing.
“I’ll go with Scholar Liu to the National Academy to explain. Let the National Academy and the princesses punish me. I’ll bear it alone.”
Yang Luo wiped tears nearby: “Miss, that will make a huge fuss.”
Mo Zheng said faintly: “Just a death. I originally planned to hang myself on the wedding day. Now I’ve just lived a few more days.”
Make a huge fuss?
National Academy and princesses punishing? That would inevitably reach the Emperor…
That won’t do. Duke Ding’an and Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s faces paled again, speaking in unison.
“Don’t rush! Let’s think of a way.”
