Luzhou-Mond - Kapitel 86
After traveling for several more days, when I groggily stepped down from the carriage, I found myself in an exquisite courtyard house, surrounded by silence. After a while, a young girl in pink came out of the house and said, "The young master said to invite Miss Mo in."
Has this meant we've reached our destination?
The old woman released my pressure points, gave me a push, and gestured for me to go inside with the girl. I staggered a little as I approached the girl and followed her into the room.
This is a quiet and elegant study. There is a bookshelf against the wall, a desk next to it, and two bamboo chairs opposite. Because it is winter, a thin blanket is laid out. There are a few green potted plants in the corner, which is pleasing to the eye. Most importantly, there is a young man in blue clothes reclining on a low couch under the window. Although he is dressed in simple clothes, there is a subtle elegance about him.
When he saw me, he didn't get up. He simply placed the book he was holding on the low table beside him, and it didn't seem impolite at all. It was as if whatever he did was perfectly normal. He smiled slightly, and his otherwise unremarkable features immediately came to life. The fleeting charm made me feel somewhat familiar, yet I couldn't quite place where I had seen him before. I rarely met strangers, so there was no reason I wouldn't recognize him (except for Gan Lin).
"Miss Mo, you must have had a long journey," the young man in blue said with a gentle smile, his voice as warm as a March breeze. I was curious about such a person. Clearing my throat, which had been unusually quiet lately, I returned the greeting with a smile, "I'm alright. May I ask what brings you here, sir?"
The young man in blue gestured for the girl in pink to lead me to a bamboo chair, and then the girl left the study.
"I'm fine. Mo Yun just asked me to bring you here first. I estimate we'll arrive in another hour or two," the young man in blue said calmly. "If the emperor hadn't been so strict with his investigations, you wouldn't have had to endure such hardship on your way back to the capital."
Am I really going back to the capital like this? I was not unhappy to hear that I had arrived in the capital, but now that I'm here, where are Zinuo and the others?
I carefully examined the young man in blue before me, and my intuition told me that his identity and the power behind him were not simple. I figured Aunt Yun must be with them too. I couldn't help but ask, "May I ask how you should address me, young master? What is your relationship with Aunt Yun? And were you the ones who arranged everything at the Fushui Town post station?" If they arranged it, then he should also have information about Zinuo and the others.
"My surname is Gu. Mo Yun and I are both homeless people whose families were destroyed by the emperor. As for other questions, you can ask Mo Yun when she arrives. For now, please go and tidy up and rest for a while." With that, he called the girl in pink outside in and led me to another room to rest. When I came out, the three people who had brought me here earlier were no longer there.
After freshening up in the guest room, I fell into a deep sleep again. When I woke up, I found Aunt Yun sitting by my bed, staring blankly out the window.
"Aunt Yun," I called softly. Although it was only our second meeting, I felt an innate sense of closeness. This must be the wonder of blood ties.
Aunt Yun looked down at me when she heard me: "Awake?"
I grunted in agreement and quickly got out of bed.
"You silly girl, the Prince Qing's mansion is heavily guarded, and we can't contact you even if we want to. We had no choice but to use this method to get you out first," Aunt Yun sighed and said, "Why did you rush off to the southwest in such a hurry?"
"It's all because of Zinuo. They encountered danger over there, so I rushed over."
"Zinuo? Who is he?" Aunt Yun looked a little confused. I then remembered that I hadn't told her many things last time because of the time crunch. I quickly explained, "He is Aunt Jing's son, Lin Jing, or Mo Jing." I didn't tell her that Zinuo and I had the same father, afraid that Aunt Yun would ask me who my father was again. I didn't want to mention Marquis Qiyun again.
Aunt Yun thought for a while before asking, "Lin Jing? Could it be Jing, the maid who used to serve my sister?"
I nodded in agreement, and then asked, "Does Aunt Yun know where the other people in the inn went that day?" This was the most important question.
Aunt Yun smiled and said, "Don't worry, all those people from Prince Qing's Mansion have safely returned to Prince Qing's Mansion."
"Really?" This news was wonderful, even more exciting than knowing I was back in the capital. All my anxiety and worry vanished instantly. "Did you rescue them?" I asked.
Aunt Yun then recounted the whole story to me. It turned out that after we parted, she frequently sent people to contact me, but the Prince Qing's residence was heavily guarded, and I rarely left the house, so they couldn't reach me at all. Finally, I managed to leave, but it was with Yin Yan, traveling south. Aunt Yun didn't know what we were doing and didn't want anyone to contact me rashly, so she sent people to secretly protect us as we traveled south. However, along the way, many people tried to kill Yin Yan and me. Aunt Yun was worried, so while she had people continue to protect us, she also had people investigate those who were hostile to me. The further we went, the more people came to kill me, and the more people secretly protected me. During the battles, several groups of people were actually escorting me. The results of the investigation later shocked Aunt Yun: the one who wanted to kill me was the Emperor, and besides Aunt Yun, those protecting me along the way were also the men of the Second and Third Princes. On the way back, seeing that we were attacked again and secretly aided by different people, Aunt Yun and the others discussed the matter and decided to devise a plan to send us all back to the capital, thus thwarting the emperor's plans. So, at the post station in Fushui Town, they secretly sent someone to drug everyone in the Prince Qing's mansion and take them all away, sending them back to the capital in batches. They left the Imperial Guards to perish together with another group of assassins sent by the emperor, and left me alone to walk the route back to the capital.
Hearing this, I could only bitterly laugh at myself, wondering what I had done to deserve the Emperor sending men to hunt me down. Yet, I couldn't help but admire the immense power behind Aunt Yun and her group. Even Prince Qing couldn't protect Shen Haoyu, but Aunt Yun and her group had accomplished it so easily. Who was supporting them? That young Master Gu, though young, seemed to hold a higher position than Aunt Yun. Were all those gathered together truly people whose families had been destroyed by the Emperor?
I couldn't possibly ask Aunt Yun these questions, and even if I did, she might not tell me—it involved too many secrets. In the end, I simply asked, "Aunt Yun, is there something you need me for?" Otherwise, why would she contact me repeatedly, and even separate me from Zinuo and the others, bringing me here alone?
"It's nothing special, I just wanted to confirm your feelings," Aunt Yun said.
"My feelings? What feelings?" I asked, somewhat curious.
Aunt Yun looked at me seriously, her original gentle expression hidden: "It's my intention to avenge the Mo family."
Last time I was in such a hurry that I didn't have a chance to bring it up, but this time I finally asked. "Is it a rebellion? To overthrow his rule? Or to kill him?" I asked.
“Killing him would be too easy, and too good for him,” Aunt Yun said through gritted teeth, her face slightly contorted. “We won’t gain anything from a rebellion. It’s enough to make him watch helplessly as the country he worked so hard to gain falls into the hands of others. That will be more painful for him than anything else.”
"But who is this 'other person' referring to?"
Aunt Yun sneered, "The more he hates someone, the better. It doesn't matter who it is. All we need to do is cooperate with those who want to seize his throne and give them a push." After a pause, Aunt Yun added, "Perhaps, Prince Qing is also one of the candidates."
This must be why Aunt Yun left me alone. Aren't I right here in Prince Qing's mansion? But what does she want me to do? It's not that I don't want to seek justice for my mother and the Mo family, but how many people will have to be sacrificed? Is it worth it?
"What does Aunt Yun need me to do?" he finally asked.
"Do your best to help Prince Qing. According to our investigation, you are very close to the Second Prince and the Third Prince, otherwise they would not be protecting you so much. I hope you can see clearly and not give your heart to the wrong person, lest you find yourself in a dilemma."
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 71
Chapter word count: 3433 Update time: 09-08-20 15:02
Emerging from the courtyard house, I realized we had indeed arrived in the capital; the courtyard house was located in the outskirts of Beijing. Aunt Yun helped me change my makeup, and she changed her own appearance as well. The two of us entered the city through the east gate one after the other; she returned to the brothel, and I returned to the Prince Qing's residence.
Having survived a brush with death, seeing the familiar streets of the capital again felt like stepping into another world. I had thought I would face many more dangers, that I might never return, but unexpectedly, I came back in such a smooth and unexpected way. Was it the help of a benefactor? Or is it that Prince Qing truly enjoys abundant support? Aunt Yun said that several people secretly helped Shen Haoyu return to the capital.
Knowing that I was being hunted by the emperor, and being subtly warned by Aunt Yun to keep my distance from Shen Tingxuan and Shen Zexuan, I was filled with bitterness. I had always regarded Shen Tingxuan as an older brother, and Shen Zexuan was someone I had just decided to try to love. How could I bear to part with him? I was facing the emperor, but they were father and son. If one day we really had to fight each other, what would we do?
Forget it, let's talk about it when that day comes.
The only thing I gained from this trip was a firmer resolve to stay with the Prince of Qing's mansion through thick and thin. I can no longer waver. The emperor has already sent people to deal with me, where can I escape to? Although I still don't quite understand why the emperor has mobilized so many forces against me.
Reaching the main gate of Prince Qing's mansion, he took out his waist token and entered. Although he had changed his appearance, no one paid him any attention on the way. It wasn't until he reached Qiufeng Garden that he was stopped at the gate and prevented from entering.
"I am Huai En." He waved his waist badge in front of Da Cheng and winked.
Da Cheng looked at me in disbelief. I rubbed my face hard, not sure if I could remove the stuff covering my skin. Suddenly, Da Cheng jumped up and ran inside, shouting, "Young Prince, Young Prince, Miss Huai En is back!"
I sighed softly and stepped into the courtyard, only to be embraced by a figure rushing towards me. "You're finally back!" Yin Yan looked at me with teary eyes, but couldn't hide the smile in her eyes and brows. Behind Yin Yan stood Zinuo and Shen Haoyu, both looking at me with delighted expressions. Seeing them come out to greet me, I suddenly felt like I was back home. When did this place become my home?
Releasing Yin Yan, I walked towards Zi Nuo and Shen Haoyu: "Young Prince, are you fully healed?"
Shen Haoyu smiled and nodded: "Everything is ready."
Zi Nuo tugged at me somewhat displeased: "Sis, your face is all smudged, go wash it off." With that, she pulled me inside.