Chapter 27: Entering the Capital City

Accompanied by the chanting of monks, Lady Ding'an, Ren Xiulan, bowed solemnly and then raised her head. However, Mother Wang, who stood waiting by her side, did not move to assist her in time, her gaze lost in a daze toward the outside.

Lady Ding'an gave a light cough, her expression showing a hint of displeasure.

Snapping back to her senses, Mother Wang hurried to help her up and explained in a low voice, "I keep feeling some movement outside. I wonder if they can successfully send the person away. Miss Yuan is young but has quite a temper; to think she actually ran away from home and traveled all this way to the capital—it’s truly frightening."

Lady Ding'an said, "Her grandfather was a courier in his early years. When this child was just born, my sister was still traveling far and wide with my brother-in-law. This child grew up traveling north and south as well."

"It is all thanks to your patronage, Madam. Now that Son-in-law Yuan holds a military post in the government, everyone calls him 'Master,' and the family no longer has to live that life on the streets," Mother Wang said with a smile. "That is why the child came straight to you the moment trouble arose."

A trace of a proud smile appeared on Lady Ding'an's face, tinged with a touch of arrogance.

"If they couldn't make ends meet, I could give them a helping hand," she said, stepping out with Mother Wang. "But I will not interfere in matters of marriage. Young people are thoughtless; they only think of their own desires and do not consider the long-term well-being of their parents."

Mother Wang nodded and lowered her voice further, "She was spoiled by her aunt. Our own young ladies and masters always listen to their parents."

Lady Ding'an gave a faint smile. "I shall not lecture on the children of other families."

"You may not say it, Madam, but you do quite a lot. You arranged for her to be settled without being discovered to protect her reputation, and you even sent a chest of gifts for her to take back, several of which were imperial gifts," Mother Wang continued to praise. "With such things when she marries, no one in her husband's family will dare look down on her. You are protecting her for a lifetime."

Lady Ding'an smiled without speaking, the unease between her brows finally dissipating. *Sigh, that child's crying earlier truly made my heart soften with guilt.*

Speaking of guilt, Lady Ding'an thought of something and instinctively looked toward the Ksitigarbha Hall not far away.

"Since we are here," she said softly, "give them... let their mother and daughter also offer an incense stick."

Though no names were mentioned, Mother Wang understood immediately. Her expression became complicated, and she instinctively glanced around.

Because they had arrived early, there were not many people in the temple.

She said nothing more and simply supported Lady Ding'an as they walked over.

Lady Ding'an offered the incense and prayed silently for a moment before walking out, her face still bearing a trace of unease.

"Perhaps... we should bring their remains back," she whispered.

Mother Wang hurriedly interrupted her, "Madam, you mustn't! That would invite trouble."

Lady Ding'an looked at her and fell silent.

"Madam, it has been over ten years. Back then, the Young Lady also said to treat her as if she were dead..." Mother Wang whispered, "Now that she is truly dead, it can be considered settled. It is better for everyone."

As she spoke, she gently shook Lady Ding'an's arm.

"The Palace is selecting companions for the Princess. Our Young Lady might be selected. This is a vital matter concerning the future of the next generation of the House of Ding'an; we cannot afford any mistakes at a time like this."

At the mention of her children's future, the unease in Lady Ding'an's eyes vanished.

"Yes, we cannot afford any mistakes," she said, letting out a soft breath. "The person is gone; it is settled."

Having said that, she patted Mother Wang's hand.

"Let's go. We've been out for quite a while; it's time to return."

Mother Wang complied and supported Lady Ding'an as they walked out.

...

...

The city gates on the return journey had returned to normal. Lady Ding'an's carriage required no further greeting as it slowly passed through the crowd.

A squad of Embroidered Uniform Guards stood atop the city walls.

Wei Jiao sat cross-legged on the wall, watching the carriage on the street.

As he watched the carriage gradually recede, the corner of his mouth twitched. "What a piece of filth. If you want to hide your tracks, don't be so obnoxious."

If he hadn't thought of that thin, small guard who had charged out recklessly only to take two blades from the Embroidered Uniform Guards...

How would he have noticed Lady Ding'an's carriage?

And if he hadn't looked at Lady Ding'an's carriage, how would he have discovered that this piece of filth indeed had something suspicious going on?

He should have trusted his intuition.

He had felt something was wrong with those two from the very beginning.

"The Miss from the Yuan family and the attendants from the House of Ding'an have all been detained," an Embroidered Guard whispered, glancing again at Lady Ding'an's carriage. "Commander, shall we search the House of Ding'an immediately?"

"Keep an eye on the House of Ding'an. Do not alert the enemy yet," Wei Jiao said.

Although those two were using false identities, they must be connected to the House of Ding'an; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to provide such detailed information.

Wei Jiao's dark eyes were grim.

"Prepare the details of the investigation into the people around Jiang Wangchun for me."

They had escaped earlier by luck, but now that the fish had leaped out of the water and been seen by him, he would certainly catch him!

Doesn't he like being slashed by blades? Then he shall have enough slashing to last a lifetime!

...

...

Mo Zheng sat at the front of the carriage, shading her eyes with her hand as she looked at the sprawling city ahead.

"The capital is truly vast," she said.

"It is," Yang Luo replied. "The outer wall alone has eighteen gates."

Mo Zheng stretched. "Since My Lady knows everything, it will be easy. No matter how big the capital is, we won't have to ask around; we can find the House of Ding'an directly."

Yang Luo looked at the city ahead. Although she had been confined to her home for most of those five years, she had occasionally gone out, and her craving for novelty had caused her to memorize the roads she traveled.

She closed her eyes, feeling the swaying of the carriage, as if she had already passed through the gates, traveled the streets, and arrived before the gates of the House of Ding'an.

Except...

"A-Sheng, we are not going to the House of Ding'an," Yang Luo said softly, opening her eyes.

As she finished speaking, she saw the young hunter sitting ahead turn his head, and she raised an eyebrow slightly...

*See? Sent to White Horse Town only to say we're going to the capital, and now that we're in the capital, what new trick is coming?*

Yang Luo seemed to hear what the youth was about to say, and she couldn't help but burst into a giggle.

She reached out and gently tugged on Mo Zheng's sleeve.

"The mastermind behind this hasn't been found yet. They are in the shadows, so I cannot be in the light," she said. "If they are watching the House of Ding'an, I will be discovered the moment I show up. That would be disastrous."

She let out a soft sigh.

"A-Sheng, do not be fooled by the grandeur and luxury of noble houses. In those places, there are countless ways for a person to die silently, and the outside world will never know, nor will the authorities bother to ask. They are worse off than the beggars on the street."

When a beggar on the street dies, the authorities might at least check if they died of illness, cold, or hunger.

Mo Zheng pulled his sleeve back. "My Lady has foresight. If you say it is not good, then we won't go. But how will we find a place to stay next? Where is the best location that is also cheap..."

He looked at Yang Luo again.

"Can My Lady divine that as well?"

As for that—having lived the last five years in the inner chambers of a noble house, being served hand and foot, how could she know such things? Yang Luo said sheepishly, "Those things cannot be divined; you will still have to rely on you to ask, A-Sheng."

She patted her clothes.

"Do not be afraid to spend money."

But in truth, the reason she had this money was also thanks to A-Sheng.

The large chest of emergency money her mother had hidden at home had been smuggled out entirely by A-Sheng right under the noses of the authorities.

He had then skillfully hidden the money within the floorboards of the carriage, while letting her carry another portion on her person.

It was a significant amount of money, yet the young hunter had not robbed her and fled.

How could such a person be a bandit?

Could he be a bandit with great ambitions who looked down on her meager funds?

Yang Luo couldn't figure it out. Unfortunately, she didn't know what had happened to A-Sheng during those years to lead him onto the path of banditry and rebellion.

"A-Sheng," she couldn't help but say, "pick somewhere you like. Even if we are just renting for now, once I return to the House of Ding'an in the future, I will buy it for you."

Mo Zheng let out a short laugh. "Then I shall have a house in the capital. I will certainly pick carefully." With that, he snapped the whip, urging the horse to gallop forward.

Yang Luo sat steadily with a smile, watching Mo Zheng's back.

In this life, she had kept A-Sheng by her side; perhaps she could change his fate of becoming a bandit and a rebel.

But then, her smile slowly faded.

She kept A-Sheng by her side so that he could help her kill people.

The people she intended to kill were no ordinary individuals.

Once those people were dead, A-Sheng naturally would not survive either.

A-Sheng's head would likely still end up hanging from the city gates for all to see.

(End of Chapter)