"And that useless person from the He Family, after all, is a prominent figure in the Capital."
"He has only secretly caused some minor troubles, hasn’t personally done anything, nor committed any major crime. Mr. Xie can’t openly deal with him, but it seems Mr. Xie definitely won’t let him off easily."
"Unexpectedly, before I even took action, this matter has already been resolved thoroughly, Ah Yao, this makes me feel very unaccomplished~"
The Hidden Guard sent out was summoned back within less than two hours. Mo Zhaozhao shook her head and sighed, feeling like she had energy but nowhere to use it.
Yun Wanyao: "..."
"The Princess has already done excellently. If not for the Princess’s timely appearance yesterday, Ah Tang would have definitely been deceived by that maid and gone back. Even if he hadn’t been tricked, he would have been stopped outside the Xie Family’s gate by the servants, unable to see Mr. Xie, and naturally unable to find out the truth of the matter."
"Thanks to the Princess’s help, Ah Tang successfully entered the Xie Family. Now that he’s reconciled with Mr. Xie, it’s all thanks to the Princess."
She consoled kindly, and Mo Zhaozhao was immediately coaxed into a wide smile, wearing a proud expression.
"That is indeed the case, I’ve also contributed..."
"Exactly, exactly. The Princess’s contribution is indispensable."
Yun Wanyao nodded repeatedly in agreement, then frowned suspiciously, "There’s still one matter I don’t understand."
"What is it?" Mo Zhaozhao asked.
"Since the maid sensed the risk of the matter being exposed, why didn’t she take the opportunity to escape when Ah Tang went to the Xie Family but waited until Ah Tang returned with Mr. Xie to capture and interrogate her?"
"This," Mo Zhaozhao smiled slightly, and said, "I initially thought it unimportant, so I didn’t mention it to you. I didn’t expect you to ask specifically."
"Why didn’t she run? She did plan to run away, but when I caught up with cousin, I had sent Hidden Guard to monitor her in secret. She packed cousin’s jewelry and silver coins, intending to sneak out through the back door, but was captured and tied up by Hidden Guard."
"Ah Yao, you don’t even know how shameless that maid was. She attempted to steal cousin’s jewelry and silver coins. She didn’t consider the world we live in; as a weak woman taking so many valuable things, could she protect them?"
"Even if she successfully took them, it would merely be a deadly charm for her."
Da Wu Country is said to have good law and order, yet robberies and murders remain common.
There are many beggars and vagrants outside the city, and no shortage of bandits and robbers among the populace. The number of men who die from robberies throughout the year is countless, let alone a weak woman.
*
Afternoon, outside Duke Ning Mansion’s gate.
Mo Zhaozhao lifted the hem of her dress and boarded the carriage, waving goodbye to Yun Wanyao.
’Squeak~’
The curtain was lowered, and the carriage began to move, producing a dull sound.
The carriage swayed back and forth, causing Mo Zhaozhao to drift into sleep, she leaned half against the soft couch, her consciousness hazy.
’Bang~’
Uncertain how much time passed, the carriage suddenly rocked violently, followed by a chaotic clashing of metal sounds, along with urgent voices from the Guard.
"Assassins! Quickly, protect the Princess..."
As if doused in cold water, Mo Zhaozhao woke up instantly, quickly revealing a hint of panic in her eyes.
How could she suddenly encounter assassins?
Who?
Dare to make a move on her in the Capital; this is too audacious.
’Ding ding ding!’
The crisp sound of weapon clashes persisted without end, seemingly drawing closer. Mo Zhaozhao covered her chest and bit her lip to suppress her fear, lifting the curtain slightly to peek outside.
’Swish...’
A cold gleam flashed, like an eye, piercing straight through the curtain towards Mo Zhaozhao.
Mo Zhaozhao’s heart missed a beat, she covered her mouth and widened her eyes in a hurry to retreat, evading the suddenly thrust sword blade.
A sense of surviving a close call arose, yet, in the next moment, she fell into despair.
’Bang bang bang!’
Following a series of dull sounds, numerous sword blades pierced into the carriage from all directions, luckily Mo Zhaozhao swiftly rolled towards the carriage door, otherwise she would have been pierced into a sieve.
Who exactly are these assassins?
To break through the blockade in the double encirclement of the guard and Hidden Guard, approach her carriage with ease, and pierce the carriage.
Note, her carriage was the highest standard, all made of the finest rosewood. It’s not unbreakable but extremely sturdy.
Before she could think more, the curtain suddenly caught on fire. Several flaming arrows flew in, grazing Mo Zhaozhao’s cheek, embedding in the carriage board.