Chapter 62: What Kind of Young Lady Are You?

“Miss!”

Biyun, the maid, was the first to spot the youth driving the carriage. Although she couldn't yet see if the young lady was inside, she cried out desperately, as if grasping at a life-saving straw.

Liu Changqing and the others from the Duke of Ding'an's manor, who had been engaged in a heated dispute, all stopped their shouting and looked over.

Their gazes did not linger on the youth pulling the carriage, but instead fell upon the carriage itself, where the curtain had been lifted to reveal two women.

“Chan'er!”

“Liu Chan!”

Cheng Yuan and Yang Hui spoke in unison.

Mo Zheng reached out to help Liu Chan jump down, and then extended her hand toward Yang Luo.

Yang Luo looked at her and took her hand, but instead of jumping down, she pulled Mo Zheng further into the carriage.

“A-Sheng, you...” she said hoarsely, “are a woman?”

Mo Zheng looked at her, momentarily stunned as if in shock. But as she recalled the way Liu Chan had blurted out that name, her expression turned uneasy. After a moment of hesitation, she resolutely accepted the fact that she had been exposed by Yang Luo.

With an apologetic expression, she whispered, “Yes, I am a woman. I had no choice but to hide it from the young lady. I will explain everything to you in a moment.”

*A woman.* Yang Luo stared blankly, a sudden sense of realization washing over her as the oddities she had noticed earlier finally found their answers.

Why would a youth hunter possess face powder?

Why, despite being injured, would he refuse to undress in front of her at all costs?

Though he always spoke of the distinction between men and women, being around him had felt indescribably comfortable, without a hint of the awkwardness one usually feels when interacting with the opposite sex.

So, beneath this man's skin was a woman.

Yang Luo's mind was in chaos, and her ears were ringing.

“Is Miss alright?”

“Chan'er, are you okay?”

“Chan'er, what on earth is going on?”

“Father, Mother, that is Liu Chan.”

“Liu Chan, you are truly the one who strikes first by accusing others! You actually incited your family to come to our house to cause trouble!”

The Liu family members and the people from the Duke of Ding'an's manor, who had been pulling at each other, all crowded around. Liu Changqing looked at his daughter, while Yang Hui rushed toward Yang Luo, who was still sitting in the carriage. For a moment, everyone was talking at once.

The Duke of Ding'an lagged a step behind. He looked at his daughter, then at Liu Changqing, feeling that something was amiss. “Which one is the young lady of the Liu family?”

Yang Hui pointed toward Yang Luo, who was still in the carriage. “Her.”

Liu Changqing and Cheng Yuan looked at her, then at Yang Luo in the carriage.

“What nonsense are you talking about!” Cheng Yuan shouted, pointing at Liu Chan standing beside Liu Changqing. “This is my junior sister!”

Yang Hui glared at him. The lights in front of the Duke of Ding'an's manor were bright; the woman standing beside Liu Changqing was graceful and delicate, but her face was unfamiliar.

“You’re the one talking nonsense! Don't play dumb!” Yang Hui yelled. She looked back into the carriage; although the person was still seated and her features were somewhat blurred, Yang Hui would remember that face even in her dreams. “This is Liu Chan! We went to school together; how could I not know?”

The Duke of Ding'an looked where Cheng Yuan pointed, then where his daughter pointed, becoming even more confused. “Which one is it, after all?”

This time, the response did not come from Yang Hui or Cheng Yuan, but from the sound of rhythmic footsteps and a cold, male voice.

“That's right. Why don't you tell everyone? Is this young lady actually Miss Liu, or is she...”

Everyone's attention was drawn once more, and they gasped in surprise. The surrounding Imperial Guards parted as Wei Jiao walked forward slowly. He casually drew a saber from an Imperial Guard's waist, twirling it in his hand until it flashed with a cold light.

“...Miss Yuan.”

The words seemed directed at Yang Luo in the carriage, but unlike the others, his gaze was fixed on the plain, unremarkable youth guard standing by the carriage, still supporting the young lady.

“...Or perhaps, she is nothing at all, Miss.”

*What do you mean, nothing at all?*

The atmosphere grew even stranger. Everyone looked at one another, appearing more confused, yet seemingly sensing that something was wrong.

“Chan'er, what is really happening?” Liu Changqing asked, frowning at Liu Chan.

The Duke of Ding'an's gaze stopped wandering. As a father, he would not mistake his own daughter. “This is Miss Liu? Hui'er, have you mistaken her for someone else?”

Yang Hui glared. “How could I mistake her!” Having seen Wei Jiao, her eyes had been fixed on him ever since he appeared. “Wei Jiao, why are you here?”

Her expression was joyful. Had he come specifically to see her?

Indeed, she was the study companion to Princess Pingcheng. Since Wei Jiao was close to the Princess, he would naturally treat her with special regard.

Yang Hui hurried toward Wei Jiao.

“Wei Jiao, you've been to the Imperial Academy too—no, you haven't seen it, but you know, right? This is Miss Liu, the Princess's study companion.”

“None of that matters. You've come at the right time. The Liu family is here causing trouble at my house; hurry and arrest them!”

But before she could reach Wei Jiao, an Imperial Guard stepped forward to block her. He said nothing, merely brandishing his cold blade.

Terrified, Yang Hui dared not move further and cried out, “Wei Jiao!”

Under the bright lights, Wei Jiao's pale face seemed to glow. With a slight upward curve of his eyes, he ignored the young ladies and Yang Hui, looking only at the youth guard.

“If I strike two more times this time...” Wei Jiao said with great interest, “what kind of 'Miss' will appear next?”

With a wave of his hand, he leaped forward, his blade trailing light as he slashed toward the youth guard standing by the carriage.

The sudden movement startled everyone, and the women let out screams.

“Stop—”

Yang Luo, who had been sitting in the carriage, screamed as she jumped down, shielding the youth guard.

“Wei Jiao, she is the young lady of the Duke of Ding'an's manor!”

With a *clang*, the blade struck the carriage frame, sending sparks flying and illuminating the two deathly pale faces in front of the carriage.

Wei Jiao looked at the two faces, somewhat dissatisfied. “Why is it always this same line? Do you have nothing new?” He raised his blade again, arching an eyebrow. “Then I shall simply take the head.”

Mo Zheng tried to push Yang Luo aside, but Yang Luo stood firmly in front of her. She did not look at Wei Jiao, but instead looked at the Duke of Ding'an.

“Uncle!” she cried, pushing forward while gripping Mo Zheng's hand. “She is your niece, the daughter of your sister who was lost to the world—”

*She is?* Mo Zheng's body stiffened slightly, feeling Yang Luo's hand squeeze hers tightly.

Mo Zheng lowered her gaze, her face tense and motionless.

*A daughter?* Wei Jiao's hand holding the blade paused slightly, and he frowned.

Since Wei Jiao's appearance, everyone had become more confused, and the sight of the murderous blade had left the women trembling. The Duke of Ding'an stood frozen; hearing those words, he stared blankly at the youth being pushed by the woman.

*Who?*

*What?*

“For her safety, Miss changed into male attire—” Yang Luo looked at the Duke, her voice choking as she hurried on, “Uncle, we finally made it to the capital. Uncle, Madam is gone... you have no idea how terrible things became—”

“I KNOW!!”

A sharper female voice rang out, so loud and piercing that it seemed to tear through everyone's eardrums.

Everyone turned in a daze to see the Duchess of Ding'an, who had appeared from nowhere, standing to the side with a deathly pale face. In the next moment, she stumbled toward them and threw her arms around the youth guard.

“My child, my child! It really is you! I have searched for you so bitterly!”

The Duchess broke into loud wails, then pulled the youth guard toward the Duke of Ding'an.

“This is your niece! Our poor niece who was lost to the world!”

She raised her hand and struck the Duke's arm hard.

“Why are you just standing there in a daze! It's a matter of life and death!”

Whether it was the blow from the Duchess, the mention of being "lost to the world," or the words "life and death" that jolted him, the Duke's face suddenly contorted in pain, followed by an instant, ghostly pallor.

“Ah... ah—” his voice was raspy, “You are—”

Mo Zheng looked up.

“I am Yang Luo,” she said, looking at the Duke. “Uncle.”