Her guards

Chapter 145 Words Should Not Be Spoken Carelessly

News of the events in Ji and Ying had already spread, and Yang Luo, who was staying at the Imperial Academy, immediately returned with her maid.

Lady Ding'an breathed a sigh of relief.

They were already preparing to ambush Yang Luo at the National Academy to prevent her from hearing the news and immediately running to the government office to make a scene and reveal her identity.

That would be terrible.

Thankfully, Yang Luo knew his uncle's family was reliable, so he came home first.

But Lady Ding'an breathed a sigh of relief, because Yang Luo had also come home and was making a scene, insisting on seeing the officials.

“I knew the murderer who killed my mother and the villagers had never been caught. Aunt, I’m going to the Dali Temple. I want to testify—”

The maidservant also shouted from the side, "Miss, you were right! The government is colluding with the bandits! Luckily, we concealed our identities and hid our tracks, otherwise we would have been caught and killed long ago—"

"Shut up!" Lady Ding'an's ears were ringing. She first scolded the maid, then tightly pulled her young mistress. "My child, listen to me—"

Mo Zheng broke free from her grasp: "Aunt, there's no need to say anything more. I must go to the government office to seek justice for my mother and the villagers who died—"

"I really can't go," Lady Ding'an thought, her heart burning with anxiety.

How could something like this happen so suddenly?

The eunuch who was supposed to be announcing the imperial decree did indeed arrive, but he was also pleased to be dismissed in the name of the National Academy.

"This title of disciple of the Imperial Academy is really useful. We'll be able to relax a bit more from now on," said Duke Ding'an smugly.

Before they could even relax for half a day, a servant brought them new news.

Ji Ying died.

Of course, Ji Ying's life or death had nothing to do with them, but Ji Ying's death implicated Baima Town.

Originally, no one in the capital knew about Baima Town.

With Ji Ying's death, news of Ji Ying posing as a mountain bandit while on death row and causing the deaths of dozens of people in Baima Town instantly spread throughout the capital.

Although it was a very secret that the Duke of Ding'an's sister was in Baima Town, the government of Yuzhou had been informed beforehand. No one asked about it, and the matter faded away after her death.

But once someone asks, a quick investigation will spread the word immediately.

The Duke of Ding'an and his wife were instantly at their wits' end.

My sister can't hide it anymore; this niece can't be discovered by the world.

……

.......
"Ji Ying's actions have been made public, and the government will definitely investigate thoroughly. Officials from the Court of Judicial Review have already gone to Lu County..."

Lady Ding'an hurriedly tried to comfort and appease him.

Mo Zheng looked at her: "Aunt, I should do something too. I'm a survivor, I can help..."

"What help can you be?" Lady Ding'an interrupted her hastily. "A-Luo, your mother's affair can no longer be kept secret. Don't step forward anymore. If you reveal the past, you'll be pointed at and gossiped about too."

Mo Zheng's expression was resolute: "I'm not afraid of ruining my reputation as a filial son—"

Lady Ding'an said anxiously, "Then you must also consider the reputation of the chief priest."

Mo Zheng paused, her expression hesitant.

Lady Ding'an was overjoyed upon seeing this, and at this moment she finally felt that the matter of the disciple of the Imperial Academy was a good thing.

"...Of course, the chief priest might not care..."

"But you are the disciple of the chief priest, how many people are jealous of you? Didn't the young lady of the Chai family just bully you because of this?"

“If your mother’s past is revealed, and your humble origins are exposed, people will point fingers, gossip, and ridicule you. The chief priest will also lose face.”

Mo Zheng lowered her head and remained silent.

Lady Ding'an breathed a sigh of relief and quickly gave her another sweet date.

“Your uncle has already gone to the palace to meet the emperor. Even if Ji Ying is dead, he will be punished, and the real culprit in Baima Town will definitely be brought to justice.”

"Shall we wait for news from your uncle?"

Mo Zheng raised her head and replied, "Yes."

Lady Ding'an hurriedly took her hand and personally escorted her back to her residence to rest, and arranged for more than a dozen servants to guard her.

Yang Luo was now imprisoned, but Lady Ding'an remained deeply concerned and unable to let go of her worries.

Because the Duke of Ding'an went to see the Emperor.

Whether it was because the incident happened suddenly or to avoid suspicion, no one from the Marquis of Yichun came to inform Ding'an Gong of anything.

The Duke of Ding'an was in a state of confusion and guilt, and dared not go to see the Marquis of Yichun.

And soon the eunuch came to summon him.

The Duke of Ding'an could only enter the palace.

"My lord, please don't say anything out of turn," Lady Ding'an could only admonish.

……

……

Standing before the imperial city, Duke Ding'an looked at the palace gates, feeling dizzy. Officials strolled around in twos and threes, noticing that Duke Ding'an seemed to be pointing and whispering among themselves.

It's already spread, hasn't it?

These officials are the most well-informed.

They must be talking about his sister. Duke Ding'an was terrified.

Fortunately, since it was an audience with the emperor, there was an attendant to lead the way, and no one crowded around to talk. They just watched as the Duke of Ding'an went inside.

As they approached the Imperial Study, another middle-aged eunuch came to greet them.

"His Majesty just asked," he said respectfully, "that everyone else has been dismissed, and they are waiting for the Duke."

Having said that, he personally led the way.

The eunuchs then withdrew.

As the Duke of Ding'an looked at the Imperial Study ahead, he took steps, one foot deep and one foot shallow, and heard the eunuch's soft voice in his ear.

"My lord, please refrain from speaking carelessly when you see His Majesty."

Duke Ding'an shuddered and looked at the eunuch.

Although he rarely came before His Majesty, he recognized this eunuch as someone who frequently accompanied the emperor…

But when this eunuch uttered those words, it certainly wasn't on the emperor's orders.

It must be the Marquis of Yichun's order.

Duke Ding'an couldn't quite describe his feelings; he felt relieved but even more nervous.

The eunuch neither looked at him nor said anything more, but bowed respectfully.

"Please come in, Your Highness. His Majesty said there is no need to wait for an announcement."

Duke Ding'an looked at the threshold in front of him.

Yes, he can't say anything carelessly.

He had previously told the emperor that the child had been aborted, so no more children could be conceived at this moment.

The officials in Lu County had previously told him that Yang Tong and her daughter had died in each other's arms, and he had accepted that, so he couldn't allow another daughter to appear at this moment.

Duke Ding'an took a deep breath, raised his hand to wipe the corner of his eye, and stepped over the threshold with red eyes.

"Your Majesty—" he cried out, choking back tears, "Ji Ying is so hateful—"

……

.......
That's what they said back then in Lu County.

"When they told me, they said the murderer had been caught and the person had been buried."

"Ding'an Gong said while wiping away his tears."

There was no one else in the imperial study. The emperor was sitting at the table eating, but the food was not moved at all.

After entering, the emperor asked about the events of that time.

He answered whatever the emperor asked.

"...It's appropriate to bury her elsewhere, after all, that's what she arranged back then...and she has nothing to do with us anymore..."

"...So I didn't go in person...I was afraid that if I went, she wouldn't rest in peace..."

"...You know, she's very stubborn..."

At this point, Duke Ding'an lowered his head even further, sensing that the hall had become even quieter.

"I really didn't know," Duke Ding'an hurriedly raised his voice, "So the bandits captured by Ji and Ying weren't the mountain bandits after all."

After saying this, he bowed and paid his respects.

"Your Majesty, please order a thorough investigation and annihilate those mountain bandits as soon as possible."

The emperor hummed in agreement: "The mountain bandits must naturally be eradicated."

The Duke of Ding'an cried out his gratitude to the Emperor, bowed his head to wipe away his tears, and then whispered, "Your Majesty, I will personally visit her grave this time and find a good caretaker for the tomb."

The emperor nodded again: "That's right."

After saying this, the emperor said nothing more and picked up the soup bowl.

When Ding'an Gong saw it out of the corner of his eye, he breathed a sigh of relief.

There shouldn't be any more questions.

The thought flashed through his mind as he saw the emperor take a sip of soup and then look up at him.

"The child knows about this too, right?" he asked.

That child?
The Duke of Ding'an choked on his breath and knelt down with a thud.

The world is spinning, and I feel dizzy.

(End of this chapter)