Impératrice douairière Xiaoxuan

Chapitre 21

"It looks familiar."

"They just look familiar?" she exclaimed, almost jumping up and down in frustration. "They're clearly the two imperial guards we met at the riverside inn."

"So what if it is?"

Zhan Zhao slowed his pace, turned back to look at her, and there was a warning in his eyes: "Next time you meet them, it's best to leave. Your sword is fast, but your internal strength is insufficient. If it goes on for too long, you will be in danger."

“I am naturally no match for them,” Mo Yan said, “but why are you also avoiding them?”

“It’s not convenient to confront them directly right now.” Zhan Zhao’s black robes swayed gently in the night breeze, his voice calm and gentle. “If we want to obtain favorable evidence to bring down Zhang Yaozuo, it’s best to wait a little longer.”

"You mean... those two will find the real ledgers for us?"

Zhan Zhao shook his head and smiled, "I mean, they themselves are the best evidence."

Mo Yan blinked, then understood what he meant, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "As expected, you officials are cunning and shrewd, you think of everything."

His words were hardly kind, but judging from her expression, she seemed to believe him for the time being. Zhan Zhao sighed inwardly; if he didn't have to travel with her, he could save a lot of trouble. Lord Bao, eager to find talent, naturally hadn't considered this.

Chapter Fifteen

Author's Note: Thank you Bamboo for providing such detailed information to Lion! Little Lion really is a chubby baby; it takes half a day to wash the wrinkles on her neck every day during bath time, hehe~~ The two returned to the Purple Cloud Inn where Zhan Zhao was staying, climbed upstairs, and as they got closer, Zhan Zhao suddenly stopped and waved to stop Mo Yan...

At this quiet time, the clearest sound reaching my ears was the snoring of guests in the next room.

Zhan Zhao's room was pitch black, and from the outside, there was nothing unusual. Mo Yan looked at him and was only slightly taken aback before realizing in an instant: someone was in the room!

He pushed the account book to her with one hand, held his sword in the other, and gestured for her to wait in the distance.

Mo Yan took the ledger but didn't move. She hesitated, partly because she felt it would be unfair of her to hide in the outer room, and partly because she was very curious about who might be waiting in Zhan Zhao's room in the middle of the night.

Seeing that she didn't move, Zhan Zhao's eyes suddenly turned sharp, completely different from his usual gentle and amiable demeanor. Mo Yan guessed that he was worried about the safety of the account books, so she had no choice but to take a few steps back and hide in the shadows around the corner.

With a slight exertion of his long, slender fingers, Zhan Zhao silently pried a small piece of wood off the red-lacquered poplar railing, sending it flying out and smashing open the door with a "bang." Almost simultaneously, he kicked open the window next to him and leaped into the room...

Mo Yan lay in a corner, holding her breath and waiting for the expected sounds of fighting to come. She pondered whether Zhan Zhao should take the account book and slip away first or rush out to help him if he was no match for the newcomers.

Even if it is no match for the cat, with its agility, it should not be difficult for it to escape unscathed.

She waited for a long time, but still didn't hear any sound of metal striking metal. She strained her ears, but still couldn't hear anything.

Was he taken down as soon as he went in?

With no time to think further, she lightly leaped up and placed the account book on the beam. In the blink of an eye, her silver sword was drawn, and she crouched low, quietly crouching down to the window...

There was still no sound of fighting, but there was a low, deep laugh.

If it weren't for Zhan Zhao, his laughter wouldn't be this awful.

Suddenly, the man laughed and said, "It's been a long time. It's one thing that your internal strength has increased, but why did you find such a lousy helper?"

Mo Yan frowned. Could the incompetent helper be referring to her? Just then, the window above her head opened, and Zhan Zhao's slightly amused voice rang out: "Miss Mo, it's alright, come in."

Upon hearing this, she slowly straightened up, picked up her sword, and went inside through the door. The man inside was lighting a candle; he had a white face, a long beard, and appeared to be in his forties.

Zhan Zhao introduced her: "This is Lord Wu Zichu from the Imperial Palace."

"oh."

Mo Yan responded casually, glancing at the man expressionlessly, with no intention of stepping forward to pay her respects. She felt annoyed at the mere mention of "the Imperial Palace" these days. Looking at Zhan Zhao, she noticed fine beads of sweat on their foreheads; they must have just been competing in internal energy, which explained why she hadn't heard a sound.

"What's with all this formalities between us brothers?" Wu Zichu patted Zhan Zhao on the shoulder. "Let's go, Prince Ning specifically asked me to invite you over."

"Prince Ning? Is he in Suzhou?"

Prince Ning was the posthumous son of the late emperor, named Ning Jin. He was only in his early twenties and spent his days traveling and enjoying nature, having no interest in court affairs. Seeing his lazy nature, the emperor did not force him, but instead bestowed upon him the title of prince and the name Nanning, and let him do as he pleased.

How did he know he was here? Zhan Zhao was suspicious, but he didn't ask.

“The prince knew about you and this young lady when you entered the city.” Wu Zichu saw his doubt but did not say it. He smiled and said, “The prince kept urging me to come and find you. He said that he was not satisfied with winning by half a point from you last time and insisted on playing another game with you.”

Zhan Zhao smiled wryly, turned to look at Mo Yan, and was about to speak when the latter hurriedly said, "Goodbye, Lord Zhan. ... I'll stay here to watch over the house, lest someone sneak in without a sound again."

"His Highness said that since the young lady is traveling with Brother Zhan, we must not neglect her and should invite her along as well," Wu Zichu said with a smile.

Mo Yan raised an eyebrow, surprised, "I have to go too? I don't know how to play chess! Besides, I don't even know him..."

“Since Your Highness has spoken, let’s go.” Zhan Zhao interrupted her, raising his hand. “Please, Brother Wu, lead the way.” His whereabouts had been revealed; if Wu Zichu could find this place, then others could too. Naturally, he wouldn’t leave Mo Yan here alone.

"No need to lead the way, no need to lead the way. Just go south after leaving the city gate, and you'll arrive by following the sound of the bell!"

Zhan Zhao was taken aback: "Hanshan Temple?"

"The prince said he just wanted some peace and quiet."

The city gates were already closed, but this posed no challenge for the three of them. For Zhan Zhao and Wu Zichu, the over three-zhang-high city walls were no problem, and while Mo Yan's martial arts skills were somewhat lacking, her lightness skill was passable. The patrolling officers only heard a slight rustling sound from the night wind behind them, but when they turned around, all was still quiet.

The three used their lightness skills to travel. Wu Zichu hadn't seen Zhan Zhao for a long time, and now he quickened his pace, clearly intending to challenge him again.

At first, Mo Yan could barely keep up with them, but her internal strength was inferior to theirs, and after a while, she gradually fell behind. She saw their robes fluttering as they were about to disappear into the darkness. She secretly groaned inwardly, but unwilling to admit defeat, she could only desperately try to catch up.

Zhan Zhao walked for a while and realized that Mo Yan hadn't followed. Knowing that her internal energy was insufficient, he stopped and waited for her. When she caught up, he covered his palm with his sleeve, took her hand, and rushed out to chase after Wu Zichu ahead.

Actually, when Zhan Zhao pulled her up to the roof beam in the Bai residence, he didn't cover his hands with his sleeve, but the situation was urgent at the time, so it was a different story. A gentleman, gentle and refined—Mo Yan was still childlike and often didn't think about the difference between men and women. Seeing him so polite now, she remembered the praise she had heard about him in the martial arts world and thought to herself: It's not all just empty praise.

After another incense stick's time, a series of loud sounds could be heard from afar, like the roar of dragons and the howl of tigers, with a powerful and continuous force.

Mo Yan had never been to Hanshan Temple before, let alone to Hanshan Temple at midnight. Hearing this noise, she was startled. Zhan Zhao noticed and turned his head to whisper, "It's alright, it's Song Tao."