"Girl, you're awake! You collapsed in front of our house last night. Luckily, no caravans or horses passed by, or you would have been a truly unjust victim."
Shen Mo stared blankly at the unfamiliar woman's lips moving. After a moment, he quickly grabbed her hand and asked, "Auntie, what time is it?"
The woman flinched in fright and quickly shook her head encouragingly, "Young lady, you should rest well. No matter how big the problem is, I'll take care of it for you!"
Shen Mo glanced at the sunlight outside the window, completely disregarding everything else, and with a whoosh, climbed out of bed and stumbled towards the door.
"Alright, alright, let me tell you, it's the hour of Mao (5-7 AM) now, young lady, don't be anxious!" The woman panicked when she saw her like this.
Shen Mo stopped and turned around to ask, "How far is it from here to Ningcheng City Tower? I hope you can kindly tell me, ma'am."
"If it's a fast horse, it will arrive in less than two hours."
Upon hearing this, Shen Mo's knees buckled, and he knelt before the woman. He then removed all the hairpins and ornaments from his head and hands and stuffed them into the woman's hands. "I know this may not be enough. I beg you, madam, to grant me a horse. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will repay you double."
The woman looked at the jewelry with some difficulty. "To be honest, young lady, this is just a horse, and we have a very good relationship with it. If you don't have anything particularly urgent..."
"Auntie, it's a matter of life and death, I'm going to save them too!"
"Save them?"
"Yes." Seeing that the other party still looked doubtful, Shen Mo finally said, "A man who tried to harm me a few days ago, and who still wants to harm me now."
"Then why..."
“Because he once loved me,” Shen Mo said, tilting her head back with bright eyes, “that reason is enough for him to hurt me a thousand times over.”
Watching the horses gallop away, the woman in front of the small thatched hut removed her rough mask, revealing a bewitching, fox-like face. She said to the man who stepped out from the side, "She has returned to Ningcheng and told her men that the plan will proceed as scheduled."
"yes!"
"Also, tell the master that Rong Yue is quite involved with her. If the assassination fails, we can use this as leverage."
The man nodded, then suddenly looked up at the dust on the ground and said, "My master said this woman is simple-minded. If we really take her under his wing, Yingge, you'll have to teach her a lot."
A wicked smile crept across the woman's beautiful face as she raised her chin expectantly.
Meanwhile, Shen Mo spurred his horse onward in the direction the woman pointed. When he saw the words "Ningcheng" hanging high on the city tower and the orderly crowd below, he breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that nothing had happened yet.
Even after dismounting, the black horse was still a little unsteady, but it pawed at the ground with its hooves, and the breath it exhaled from its nostrils seemed to indicate that it still had enough strength. How could a small family like ours have such a good horse?
However, although Shen Mo had doubts in his heart, he immediately put them out of his mind after looking at the sky, threw down the reins and ran towards the city gate.
"stop!"
Shen Mo glanced at the guard's eyes and saw that they were indeed looking at him. Only then did he realize that everyone else had bundles or goods on their backs, and it was really strange that he was the only one standing out.
"The general ordered that we must rigorously investigate spies at this critical moment." He then looked at her scrutinizingly, clearly implying that she, Chen Mo, was a spy.
Shen Mo was somewhat annoyed, but there was nothing he could do. He touched the Rong family token that he usually wore on his waist, only to find that it was missing. He could only look at the other party with a helpless expression and say, "I am a member of the Rong family." He then turned to go inside.
To her surprise, the other party blocked her with his sword, looked her up and down, and said arrogantly, "If I believed you just because you said it, then Qixuan would have moved Ningcheng away long ago!"
The daily checks are very thorough now, and it makes no sense for him to be dressed so casually and talking nonsense. Shen Mo was a little anxious but had no choice. In his desperation, he looked around and just then saw a man chatting with a guard not far from the city. A sense of familiarity inexplicably came to his mind, but he couldn't remember it for a moment.
"Abi!" Shen Mo finally managed to call out the man's name before the guards chased him away.
Hearing several calls, Abi tentatively walked over, but when he reached Chen Mo, he still looked confused. "Miss, do I know you?"
"Young Master Bi, you've arrived!" The guard beside him hurriedly greeted him.
Shen Mo smiled and said, "Five years ago at the Chihua Palace, we each stood behind our young masters. You even said I was as fair-skinned as a woman." This was originally Gu Buju's page.
Ah Bi finally recognized her and exclaimed in surprise, "So you really are a woman!"
Seeing this, Shen Mo said no more and ran over while keeping an eye on the guards, "I should be able to enter the city now, right?"
"Hey... why are you running?" Abi chased after him.
Shen Mo paused, then turned to look at him. "Your young master is here?"
"Of course, otherwise what would I be doing here?"
“My young master is here too.”
"Yes, we came together."
Where are they now?
Abi pointed to the city wall, "I went up."
Shen Mo glanced at the growing crowd outside the city and exclaimed urgently, "Oh no!"
He took the token off Abi's waist, used it as a step forward, and climbed up the city wall in two strides, saying, "I have urgent news to report."
Although the soldiers nearby found it strange that it was a woman, they did not stop her after seeing the token.
But at the last moment, he was stopped by two guards. Shen Mo saw Rong Yue and Gu Buju talking to each other not far away and that they had not been attacked. He breathed a sigh of relief and raised the token in his hand to the two of them, saying, "This is Young Master Gu's token."
"Does this place allow entry with just a token?" The two men glared at her angrily.
"Young Master!" Shen Mo had no choice but to alert Rong Yue.
Rong Yue raised his head, paused for a moment in surprise, then took a few more steps forward and asked with some doubt, "Chen Mo?"
Seeing this, the guards stopped trying to stop them.
Unexpectedly, the first thing Shen Mo did after being released was not to answer Rong Yue, but to lean on the city wall and look at the situation below. Suddenly, he saw a crowd gathering below, which Shen Mo saw as the eyes of the sharpshooter aiming. He turned around and glanced at Rong Yue, whose tall figure was very eye-catching on the city wall. He couldn't help but grit his teeth.
"How did you end up here... um!"
Everyone present was stunned. Rong Yue had never been interrupted like this before. Was it the arrow that shot right where he had just been standing, or the brave woman who threw herself on him?
Either way, it was enough to shock the usually calm Rong Yue.
The two lay close together, with Rong Yue pinned beneath him. All they could hear was the swaying of the arrow and their own breathing.
"There are spies from an enemy country causing trouble. Capture them immediately!"
Suddenly hearing Gu Buju's voice, Shen Mo snapped out of her daze from Rong Yue's deep eyes. She hurriedly tried to stand up, but found that Gu Buju had already wrapped his arms around her waist, making it impossible for her to move. When she looked directly into his eyes again, she heard him say, "Could it be true, as the people in the manor say, that you are a reincarnation of a demon?"
Chapter Twenty-One: Living for the Ruler
"A monster?" Shen Mo didn't quite understand what he was saying.
"How did you know to come here to save me at this time?" Rong Yue tightened his grip on her waist.
Shen Mo seemed to find it amusing, and slightly raised the corners of her mouth, "In that case, does Young Master still want this servant's life?"
"Cough... I said all the spies have run away, how long are you going to keep hugging them?"
Hearing the sound, Shen Mo turned around and found Gu Buju staring at them intently, his brows slightly furrowed, but his expression was one of happiness, though the specific meaning was unclear.
Suddenly, her waist tightened, and she was lifted up abruptly. Once she was standing still, she was quickly released. Rong Yue turned to the side, showing no intention of answering her question.
"Who are they?" This question was directed at Gu Buju.
“I deal with medicine and herbs all day long. I’m just here to join in the fun. I don’t know anything about these things. You should ask your subordinates,” Gu Buju said casually, completely ignoring the others. Instead, he walked up to Chen Mo and said, “I’m rather curious about why you suddenly appeared in such disheveled clothes, A-Mo.”
Shen Mo hurriedly touched her disheveled hair and curtsied, saying, "This servant has been impolite."
"It's alright, how did you..."
"It's not safe here for now." Rong Yue interrupted Gu Buju with a casual remark, glancing at Shen Mo as he passed by. "Let's go back to the manor."
"Rong Yue!" After walking a few steps, the two heard Gu Buju's soft voice from behind: "Don't forget you still have Su Yi."
Shen Mo paused. She knew about Gu Buju's feelings for Jiang Suyi. These words were spoken to Rong Yue, but also to her. She must have caused him to misunderstand. The scene just now was very misleading.
The city gate was not far from the Rong residence. Shen Mo silently followed Rong Yue as he got on and off the carriage, and then went to the study.
"Bang!"
Rong Yue slammed the study door shut. Shen Mo stared wide-eyed as he approached her step by step, his gaze sharp and menacing, as if he wanted to devour her alive. Shen Mo couldn't help but retreat as he drew closer.
Finally, she reached the windowsill and was encircled by Rong Yue. A cool, masculine scent suddenly wafted over her, and he sniffed her neck several times. However, this time, to Shen Mo, it was as terrifying as Xiao Yin's gleaming dagger.
How big?
"What is this question?" Shen Mo turned to look at him with a puzzled expression. His furious expression just now made her think that she was about to become a victim of his blade.
"Huh?" Shen Mo looked uncertain.
"You're fifteen, right?"
"..." Seeing him lower his head slightly in front of him, his fluttering eyelashes clearly visible one by one, Shen Mo was speechless for a moment.
At that moment, Rong Fu suddenly looked up and met her eyes. His obsidian-like eyes captivated her deeply. "If I remember correctly, you said that you existed for me in this life."
Looking into those eyes, a nine-year period flashed through her mind. Without the slightest hint of feminine shyness, Shen Mo nodded firmly, "Yes."
Rong Yue slowly raised the corners of his mouth, and even his eyes were full of laughter. Shen Mo knew that this was his expression when he was victorious.
"Would you like me to answer the question from the city wall?"
"Young Master was moved by this servant?" Shen Mo couldn't help but be infected by such a smile.
"Actually, there is another way to know my secret besides death."
Shen Mo replied without hesitation, "I choose the other path."
"You're so sensible." Rong Yue casually brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. "But before choosing another path, why don't you tell me the truth about the scent of bells on you, and about Xiao Yin?"
"Xiao Yin put a hidden fragrance on me?!" After a moment, Shen Mo understood the meaning behind Rong Yue's expression and said truthfully, "Xiao Yin said that my blood is unusual and can cure all poisons, and asked me to stay and serve him."
Rong Yue finally released her and turned his back. "So that's why you were able to escape from all the poisons."
Shen Mo interjected, "Those assassins were also sent by him."
How did you know that?
Shen Mo lowered his head slightly, "I overheard this before I ran away."
“Haha…” Rong Yue suddenly laughed out loud, frowned and looked at Shen Mo, “Being so naive and easily taken advantage of, you should indeed choose another path.”
"..."
Rong Yue glanced at her one last time, stopped at the door, and said, "Xiao Yin will neither have my life nor your blood." With that, he opened the door and walked out.
"Young Master!"
Rong Yue stopped. "Is there anything else?"
"You still haven't told me what the other way is."