Chapter 58: Relationships Come Naturally

“It sounds like this is a matter of grudge and vendetta between those three; it seems to have nothing to do with you.”

Taohua spoke while gripping her knife, looking at Mo Zheng, who was sitting before the hearth.

“She said Zhu Yunxiao would kill you in the future—she was lying, wasn't she? Just to trick you into listening to her and working for her.”

Mo Zheng had not hidden from Zhang Shengyou and Taohua the fact that Yang Luo possessed the ability of foresight. Furthermore, after Yang Luo claimed that Zhu Yunxiao would treat her ill and that she would die at his hands, Mo Zheng had instructed Zhang Shengyou and Taohua to keep a close eye on the House of the Duke of Yongwu.

The Duke of Yongwu had once possessed great martial prowess, but after more than ten years of peaceful living, his temperament had grown indolent; nowadays, he relied solely on his former glory to sustain his household.

The Duke's heir, Zhu Yunxiao, was indeed intelligent and had gained fame in his youth. He was currently honing his skills in the military, but he was ultimately a rising star who had yet to have the opportunity to establish great achievements.

“Then that is correct. In the future, when our identities are exposed and the Imperial Court comes to hunt us down, it will be the perfect opportunity for the Duke and his son to earn merit.”

Hearing Mo Zheng's words, Zhang Shengyou said disdainfully, “That boy surnamed Zhu is nothing but a paper strategist.”

Over the past decade, they had gathered many soldiers and officers who had been scattered during the reign of the late Emperor Ai. Although their numbers were not vast, they were all survivors of the chaotic era; the Duke of Yongwu and his son would be no match for them.

Mo Zheng shook her head while watching the flickering flames. “Nothing in this world is impossible.”

However, she did not dwell on the matter.

Matters of the future could be dealt with later; the matters at hand were more pressing.

“Has Qi De'an discovered any movements?” she asked.

Zhang Shengyou clenched his hands. “It is strange; they have suddenly lost all traces.”

Lost all traces?

It was impossible for Qi De'an to shake them off on his own.

Mo Zheng watched the dancing fire in the hearth. “It seems the person behind the scenes has made a move.”

“Young Master!” Zhang Shengyou and Taohua said in unison, “We should leave quickly!”

Mo Zheng tossed a piece of firewood into the hearth, the dancing light reflecting the smile on her face.

“We aren't leaving. I'm waiting for them to appear,” she said. “I haven't finished avenging Mr. Jiang yet.”

Avenge? Zhao County was one thing, but this was at the very feet of the Emperor... Zhang Shengyou and Taohua looked tense. Their Young Master had always been quite bold, but lately, he had become almost crazed.

They say one becomes like those they associate with; perhaps he had been driven mad by that Miss Yang.

***

The three days of leave passed quickly, and the princesses' new school days arrived once more.

Princess Pingcheng rode out of the palace in a small carriage; the carriages for Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong had not yet arrived.

“Give them fifteen minutes. If they aren't here by then, they are not permitted to go to the Imperial Academy today,” she told the palace matron.

Though they were all princesses, Princess Pingcheng's words carried the weight of imperial decree. If she said they were not permitted, the two princesses' carriages would not be allowed to leave the Imperial City today. The matrons responded and hurried off to urge them.

Princess Pingcheng frowned and stepped out of her carriage.

The sound of a whistle drifted toward her.

She didn't even need to look up to know who had arrived.

“Is the Princess frowning because she doesn't want to go to school?” Wei Jiao reined in his horse in front of the Imperial City. “Now you know—studying is quite boring.”

Princess Pingcheng smiled. “I am different from you. You are forced to study by your father; I do it of my own volition.” Having said that, she explained, “I was just thinking that while studying is a simple task, the people who study are very complicated and troublesome.”

Despite being deep within the palace, news of what happened among the study companions—especially when they quarreled—was immediately relayed to the Princess by many people.

It was that Liu Chan again.

Princess Pingcheng had committed this name to memory. First, she had been aggressive toward Yang Hui, which was understandable as a way to vie for favor in front of the Princess.

Now, she had entered into a conflict with the young lady of the Jiang family. When Yang Hui sent the news, she claimed it was because she was fighting Miss Jiang over Zhu Yunxiao...

Thinking of this, Princess Pingcheng couldn't help but press her forehead.

“Even after being screened by family background and academic examinations, one only learns a person's true character through interaction.”

Hearing the Princess's words, Wei Jiao thought of Ling Yu and the disheveled woman in the academy dormitory. He spat, “Interaction doesn't necessarily reveal everything. There are plenty of beasts in this world who look one way but are another in their hearts. You should be careful, Princess.”

He was, in a sense, standing in solidarity with her. Princess Pingcheng smiled and said, “I don't need to be careful.”

She was a Princess; it was the study companions with deviant characters and intentions who needed to be careful.

Their joys and sorrows only caused her to frown, but her joys and sorrows could decide their fates.

Princess Pingcheng stopped discussing these trivialities and asked Wei Jiao, “Are you heading out again?”

Wei Jiao said, “I have no choice. People have come to my house; I must maintain an appearance of diligence and progress so they have nothing to say against me.”

With that, he jerked his chin toward the distance and gave Princess Pingcheng a slight, leaning bow and a smile.

“Your foolish sisters have arrived. Go and scold them.”

Princess Pingcheng looked over and saw the carriages of Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong approaching. The two princesses were also looking this way, their lip movements clearly urging the carriages to hurry.

They were indeed somewhat foolish, always assuming that being a princess meant they could be just like her—that if she had beautiful clothes and fun pets, they must have them too.

With a neigh from the horse, Wei Jiao's black cloak fluttered, revealing a red lining as he rode off like scattering petals.

Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong watched him leave with a mix of regret and indignation, before turning to see Princess Pingcheng's cold face.

Princess Pingcheng warned, “If you make me wait again, I will tell Imperial Father that you don't need to go to school at all.”

One of the princesses, Princess Wuyang, looked indignant, while the other, Princess Nangong, looked aggrieved as they climbed into their carriages.

They were all daughters of the Emperor, yet because Princess Pingcheng was born to the Empress, they were treated as inferior.

They had thrown tantrums before, but the result was always a reprimand from the Emperor.

It could not be helped; as the founding Emperor, his first wife and the children they had shared hardships with were the only true family in his heart. For concubines and their offspring, a layer of kinship was missing.

***

“Two study companions are quarreling, apparently over Zhu Yunxiao.”

Wei Jiao sat atop his horse, listening casually to the reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Although he didn't care about these study companions, he needed to ask more about Princess Pingcheng to ensure he could respond appropriately when stirring up trouble or creating waves.

“That companion is from Fuzhou.”

“The Duke of Ding'an has sent someone to reprimand this Miss Liu's father.”

The Duke of Ding'an? Hearing this, Wei Jiao opened his eyes. “What does that have to do with it?”

“This companion had a quarrel with Miss Yang previously,” the guard said. This wasn't something they had specifically investigated; rather, because they had been monitoring the Duke of Ding'an's estate, they had learned of it when Miss Yang caused a scene at her own home.

Wei Jiao had no interest in "Misses," and asked with a frown, “Is there still nothing unusual at the Duke of Ding'an's estate?”

The guard shook his head. “No strangers have visited, and no one from the Duke's estate has left the capital.”

The Yuan family had already been confined to their locality; no one knew that Miss Yuan was in the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, so as not to alert the enemy.

*That dog, where has he gone hiding?* Wei Jiao bit his lip coldly.

“Continue monitoring the Duke of Ding'an's estate.”

If a connection could be used once, it could be used a second time. That dog would surely become entangled with the Duke of Ding'an's house again.

***

On the great road leading to the capital, carriages and pedestrians were endless. Seeing the magnificent city ahead, the travelers who had come from afar felt their fatigue begin to lift.

“Master, we have reached the capital,” the young scholar said, turning around with excitement in his eyes. “Shall we go straight to the academy to find Junior Sister?”

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a thin, middle-aged man wearing a Confucian cap shook his head.

“Do not disturb Chan'er while she is studying,” he said. A hint of softness appeared on his stern face, but he soon frowned again. “First, go see your Martial Uncle. He sent an urgent letter saying there was something that required us to enter the capital; go and see what it is.”

The young scholar nodded and added, “It's a good thing we received the message on the road. If we had been two days later, we would have gone into the mountains to visit ancient sites, and we wouldn't have received the news for another month.”

At this, he gave a little chuckle.

“It's for the best. Coming to the capital will also be a surprise for Junior Sister. Otherwise, our Martial Aunt wouldn't have arrived until the end of the month.”

The middle-aged man nodded with a smile and asked, “You still remember the address Chan'er wrote, don't you?”

The young scholar said he remembered, then cracked the whip. The thin horse pulled the carriage forward with a cheerful gait.