Chapter 60: Are You Leaving?

The night shrouded the earth. To preserve her energy, Yang Luo prepared for bed early.

Just as she lay down, a knock sounded at the door.

"Miss."

A-Sheng? Yang Luo froze for a moment. The young guard rarely approached her room at night. Although they had traveled together and even shared a room once, that had been an unavoidable circumstance; otherwise, the boy was very mindful of the boundaries between men and women...

"What is it?" Yang Luo asked hurriedly, sitting up to put on her outer robe.

"Something has happened," the young guard's voice came from outside.

Something happened? Yang Luo walked over and opened the door.

"Is it a lack of money?" she asked, handing him a money pouch. "Is it time to renew the payment for the carriage service?"

Mo Zheng shook his head. "No, no, there is still money." He looked at her. "Miss Liu Chan's father has come looking for you."

Yang Luo was stunned, seemingly unable to process what he said. The boy's voice came again.

"...He even caused a scene at the Duke of Ding'an's manor, claiming his daughter was captured by them."

"How could that be?" Yang Luo blurted out in disbelief. "That happened once, but not now!"

*That happened once?* Mo Zheng narrowed his eyes. Did that imply it had happened before? So it wasn't a matter of foresight?

"I mean, it shouldn't be. It wasn't supposed to be this time according to the divination."

Yang Luo knew she had let something slip, but she only offered a perfunctory explanation. In any case, in the eyes of this young guard, she was already a strange and eccentric person.

She clutched her hands, murmuring about the current situation.

"Why did he come so early?"

In her previous life, the Liu family had naturally come looking, but it had been a month later. This was less than half a month.

"Miss, you chose this location originally to keep an eye on the movements of the Duke of Ding'an's manor."

"Because I couldn't watch it constantly while protecting you, I found some beggars and gave them money to help."

"As you know, beggars are inconspicuous and best suited for covert surveillance. Back in Lu County..."

As the young guard continued to explain the origins of the plan, Yang Luo stamped her foot in annoyance. "Stop explaining! I know you are meticulous and had everything arranged. Just tell me what is actually going on!"

*I should still explain a little,* Mo Zheng thought, coughing inwardly. Although Miss Yang didn't seem to care, he feared she might have forgotten about monitoring the Duke's manor entirely.

"The beggars watching the manor saw people causing a commotion in front of the gates this evening..."

Mo Zheng recounted the words Liu Changqing had shouted in front of the Duke of Ding'an's manor.

Yang Luo realized the truth, her expression turning complex.

She understood. Originally, the Liu family wouldn't have come so early, but this time, because of her substitution and the conflict with Yang Hui, the Duke's manor had gone to reprimand the Liu family. Upon receiving the news, the Liu family had rushed to the capital ahead of schedule...

She had utilized a loophole from her previous life, but in doing so, she had altered the course of events.

"Now..." She looked toward the door.

Should she run?

Mo Zheng said softly, "Don't worry, Miss. I had the beggars inform Miss Liu."

Inform Miss Liu? Yang Luo looked at him. Before the boy could explain further, she spoke up: "That's right, you know where Miss Liu lives. I had you send money to her..."

Mo Zheng couldn't help but smile and nodded. "Yes. So Miss Liu has already received the news. She has sent her maid to the Duke of Ding'an's manor, hoping to persuade her father and successfully lead him away..."

Hearing this, Yang Luo stood dazed, staring at the young guard. Persuade?

How could Miss Liu persuade her father?

No, it shouldn't be that. Had Miss Liu also discovered something was wrong?

Could it be...

In the dim light of the courtyard, the young guard's face held an apologetic look.

"Please forgive me, Miss. The matter of you asking me to steal the invitation was too significant, and I was a bit frightened. So, I explained and persuaded Miss Liu slightly beforehand..."

Too much had happened tonight. Yang Luo was momentarily lost in thought, wondering if she was dreaming. Why did every single thing she heard defy her expectations?

...

...

As night fell, the Duke of Ding'an closed his gates and went inside. The scholar and his disciple sat by the door like stone lions, quiet and unmoving, leaving the spectacle temporarily ended.

With the curfew approaching, the gathered crowd began to disperse.

"Teacher, I brought dry rations!" the young disciple said, preparing to eat dinner.

A carriage rushed toward them, and a maid jumped out before it had even come to a complete stop.

"Master! Young Master Cheng!"

Hearing the cry, Cheng Yuan stood up, and Liu Changqing, who had been resting with his eyes closed on the steps, opened them as well.

"Biyun!"

"Oh, you! Where is Chan'er?"

Both men looked toward the carriage behind the maid, Biyun.

No one else emerged from the carriage.

"The Miss is at home!" Biyun said urgently. "I was out buying groceries and only realized you were here when I heard the commotion in the street. Oh, Master, you've misunderstood!"

She glanced at the tightly closed gates of the Duke's manor with a nervous expression and stepped forward to support Liu Changqing.

"Master, please go home quickly. The Miss is waiting for you."

Cheng Yuan excitedly shouldered his book bag, while Liu Changqing hesitated, looking back at the gates of the manor.

"Since it is a misunderstanding, I shall go and apologize to them," he said.

As he spoke, he moved to knock on the door.

Biyun hurriedly pulled him back.

"Master, it wasn't a misunderstanding. They truly bullied the Miss," she whispered urgently, tugging at Liu Changqing. "Hurry home. Once the curfew starts, we won't be able to leave. The Miss is worried about you."

*So it wasn't a misunderstanding. That's good.* Liu Changqing gave a dismissive flick of his sleeve toward the manor and followed Biyun toward the carriage. Cheng Yuan was already standing by the carriage to assist, but at that moment, footsteps approached from the street.

A squad of guards in black robes with gold embroidery swarmed in, surrounding the people and the carriage.

Liu Changqing frowned slightly, Cheng Yuan looked on in surprise, and Biyun began to tremble.

"You..." Liu Changqing wasn't particularly afraid and frowned, preparing to speak.

One of the guards jumped off his horse, but instead of addressing them, he rushed to the gates of the Duke of Ding'an's manor. He slammed his blade heavily against the great doors, sending a violent vibration through the night.

"Someone come!! Open the gates! Duke of Ding'an!!! The person who insulted you is trying to flee!!!"

Standing by the carriage, Liu Changqing's face was filled with shock.

...

...

The area in front of the Duke of Ding'an's manor became lively once again in the night.

First, they were startled by the shouting, then terrified by the armored guards. The entire Liu family came out, but upon hearing Liu Changqing say it was a misunderstanding and that they were leaving, their shock and fear instantly turned to rage. "You're not allowed to leave!!"

The two families began arguing with one another again.

Watching this scene from a distant teahouse by the roadside, Wei Jiao nodded with a smirk. "That's right. You can't just walk away after bullying someone."

A guard entered from outside. "Commander, there is no one in that carriage. Miss Liu did not come. The maid said Miss Liu is afraid of the Duke of Ding'an's manor and refused to come."

Wei Jiao gave a cold laugh. "Utter nonsense. If she were afraid of the Duke's manor, how could all this have happened?"

He stood up and looked at the cluster of people struggling with one another.

There was definitely something strange about this.

...

...

In the dark of the night, two little beggars ran away from an alley. Mo Zheng stood at the entrance, appearing lost in thought.

"What did they say?" Yang Luo asked in a low voice from behind. "The Duke of Ding'an won't let them leave?"

Mo Zheng turned his head. "It's not the Duke. It's the guards."

Yang Luo looked surprised. The guards?

What did the guards have to do with this? Had the Duke of Ding'an summoned them? How could the Duke afford to call upon them!

"I don't think the Duke summoned them. I think the guards have been watching the Duke's manor all along," Mo Zheng said. "Miss, it seems your deception regarding Miss Yuan has been discovered."

*Miss Yuan.* Yang Luo paused slightly. Yes, Miss Yuan had entered the capital long ago. If Wei Jiao went to investigate, he would see through it at a glance...

It was a lie that could not withstand scrutiny.

The young guard's voice reached her ears.

"Miss, we must flee."

(End of Chapter)