Her guards

Chapter 181 Zhu Yunxiao's Frankness
Yang Luo was somewhat surprised by Zhu Yunxiao's address of her as "princess".

But what surprised Zhu Yunxiao was that he knew.

Zhu Yunxiao must have known, otherwise he wouldn't have planned it like he did in his previous life.

To her surprise, Zhu Yunxiao directly told her that he knew.

Zhu Yunxiao didn't say that in her previous life... but that's not necessarily true. She's a maid now, so maybe Zhu Yunxiao told her maid in her previous life.

"Young Master Zhu," Yang Luo sneered, "His Majesty has personally come to the National Academy to clear my young lady's name."

She looked at Zhu Yunxiao.

"You use the term 'princess' to tease His Majesty just because my young lady lives in a palace and rides in royal carriages. This is a great disrespect to His Majesty."

"Even if my young lady is magnanimous, His Majesty will not forgive you."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and walked past Zhu Yunxiao.

Zhu Yunxiao reached out and grabbed her.

“I wasn’t joking with you.” He looked at her and said softly, “The Marquis of Yichun told me about Miss Yang’s background.”

Yang Luo was startled again and forgot to yell at him and push him away.

So it was Marquis Yichun who told him.

"So it was him," she said coldly. "Why did he only tell the Crown Prince? He should have told more people, made it known to the whole world."

After saying that, he shook off Zhu Yunxiao's hand.

Zhu Yunxiao stopped her again.

“He only told me it was because he wanted me to do one thing,” he said in a low voice. “That thing is to marry Miss Yang.”

This time, Yang Luo wasn't surprised; he was stunned.

Would Zhu Yunxiao have been so frank with her maid in her previous life?
no, I can not.

In fact, she didn't have any personal maids in her previous life. She was always kept by the side of Lady Ding'an, and all her maids and servants belonged to Lady Ding'an.

No maidservant was worth such a bribe from Zhu Yunxiao.

Moreover, while Zhu Yunxiao appeared to be telling this maid, he was actually telling Miss Yang directly.

Because in this life, everyone knows that she is the young lady's personal maid, loyal and steadfast, and impossible to be bribed or bought off.

Zhu Yunxiao, it's true, I told Miss Yang honestly.

He didn't treat her like this in his previous life.

Why in this life?
Seeing that the maid in front of him finally looked at him instead of ignoring him, Zhu Yunxiao smiled faintly.

"Miss Asheng," he said, "now can you listen to me properly?"

……

……

"Prince Zhu and this Ah Sheng seem to know each other very well... they're being all over each other..."

"Of course we're very familiar. When Ah Sheng first impersonated Liu Chan, she treated Prince Zhu differently."

"That wasn't being close, it was arguing in public..."

"That could also be love turning into hate..."

"Don't talk nonsense, we all know Zhu Shizi's character..."

"Oh dear, look! Ah Sheng has taken Prince Zhu away."

The young ladies who hadn't left the Imperial Academy were stunned for a moment as they watched the maid and the young prince walk into the academy.

"It might just be a coincidence."

"Yes, Ah Sheng is currently living at the National Academy, and Prince Zhu also needs to go in to retrieve Jiang Rui's homework, so they just happened to go together."

"Oh, then we can also take the opportunity to go in and see Miss Yang."

“You guys, wake up! The relationship between Young Master Zhu and Miss Yang is not ordinary.”

"Yes, after all, Prince Zhu fought with the Marquis of Yichun's family for Miss Yang's sake."

Yang Luo knew that countless eyes were watching him, and even knew that Zhu Yunxiao had deliberately chosen this moment to cause misunderstandings, speculation, and gossip...

But she still took Zhu Yunxiao inside.

Others' misunderstandings and gossip are not important; what's most important now is to know what Zhu Yunxiao is up to.

However, Yang Luo did not actually take Zhu Yunxiao to see Mo Zheng.

“Our young lady is in class,” she said, arriving at a courtyard of the Imperial Academy. “This is the residence His Majesty and the Chancellor have arranged for our young lady.” She looked at Zhu Yunxiao, emphasizing each word.

"It's safe to talk here; no one will eavesdrop."

Zhu Yunxiao didn't insist on seeing Miss Yang. He simply sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard and said, "Just tell Miss Asheng. In my eyes, telling you is the same as telling your young lady."

Yang Luo scoffed inwardly, no longer arguing with him, and asked directly, "Why does he want you to marry my young lady? How can he be so sure you can marry my young lady? And what does he want after the marriage?"

Do you want me to kill Miss Yang in the name of her husband?
Of course, Yang Luo didn't say those words aloud.

Things are progressing very differently than she knew, and she can't say anything more lest she put herself in a passive position.

“You can probably guess why he chose me,” Zhu Yunxiao said. “After all, I have had several dealings with you, especially when I blocked Chai Wan’er at the restaurant. Everyone knows that, so it’s easy for people to misunderstand that my relationship with Miss Yang is unusual.”

These interactions have led people to mistakenly believe that our relationship is unusual. Yang Luo thought to herself, but she moved her lips without saying it aloud and just quietly looked at Zhu Yunxiao.

Zhu Yunxiao noticed the change in her expression and guessed what she wanted to say, but she held back. He couldn't help but purse his lips, finding it even more interesting to see her so obedient and not sarcastic.

"As for how I am so sure that I can marry your young lady," he continued, "February 18th is the birthday of Marquis Yichun. His Majesty will hold a grand banquet in the palace, and both your young lady and I will attend. At that time, your young lady will drink the intoxicating wine arranged by Marquis Yichun and spend time with me in a room. Then, Duke Ding'an will ask His Majesty to grant us a marriage."

Yang Luo listened in a daze, truly a straightforward and crude method: "How can you be so sure that my young lady..."

“That’s the imperial city. Don’t think that just because the emperor is there you’re safe.” Zhu Yunxiao interrupted her, saying, “The empress is also the master of the imperial city, and the Marquis of Yichun has countless eyes and ears. Moreover, there’s the Duke of Ding’an, who listens to the Marquis of Yichun.”

Did the Marquis of Yichun also seek out the Duke of Ding'an?

However, the people stationed in the capital to keep watch did not discover it.

This is not surprising. Besides the official interactions, there are many ways to conduct private interactions, and not everything can be monitored.

After all, he was the Marquis of Yichun, who wielded immense power.

Yang Luo clenched his fist, and then Zhu Yunxiao's voice came through.

"The Marquis of Yichun did this in order to ruin Miss Yang's reputation."

"Although His Majesty did not announce Miss Yang's princess status, he made her a disciple of the chief priest and moved into the imperial palace in a grand manner, attracting the attention of the masses. Marquis Yichun was very unhappy."

"I was chosen because I have a past grudge against him, so it won't arouse suspicion that he ordered me to do it."

"Furthermore, Jiang Rui and I have been betrothed since childhood. Her father died in battle, and the Jiang family is highly respected. If Miss Yang takes me away and Miss Jiang is abandoned, it is conceivable that Miss Yang will be despised by the world."

Not only would he be despised, but he would also be killed by Jiang Rui's sister. Yang Luo thought blankly for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Did you agree to Marquis Yichun's request?"

If he didn't agree, Marquis Yichun wouldn't have told him everything.

Zhu Yunxiao nodded: "When I heard him say that Miss Yang was a princess, I agreed in order to find out his purpose. Otherwise, he would have found someone else, and I wouldn't have known the details, and Miss Yang would still have been in danger."

Yang Luo looked at him: "Why?"

Zhu Yunxiao looked at her, seemingly not understanding what she was asking.

"Why are you telling us? Why are you helping my young lady?" Yang Luo asked.

Zhu Yunxiao stood up and looked at her: "Perhaps it's because of me, that I'm pretentious and hypocritical?"

Yang Luo was taken aback; these were the words she had used to publicly berate him at the restaurant earlier…

This person is truly despicable.

Yang Luo immediately sneered: "Is the young master trying to prove that I'm wrong, so he's helping my young lady?"

Zhu Yunxiao didn't reply, but coughed lightly: "After saying so much, could Miss Asheng have a cup of tea to soothe her throat?"

Yang Luo clenched her fist again, glanced at him, turned around and went inside to pour a cup of tea. She then returned and handed it to him.

“You dare to drink the tea I poured?” she said.

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Yunxiao took the drink, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp.

“I helped Miss Yang because she deserved to be helped.” He continued, “Miss Yang escaped the attack in Baima Town, came to the capital to take the entrance exam for the National Academy, and became the disciple of the Grand Master of Ceremonies. When her horse was startled at the hunting grounds, neither the hidden attacks nor the power and pressure in front of her could stop her. She still made it to the Emperor’s side.”

He looked at the maid.

"Such a capable young lady, if I don't help her and instead help someone else, wouldn't I be blind?"

After saying this, he gently placed the teacup back into the maid's hand.

“There are many spies watching, Miss Asheng, I must take my leave now.”

Yang Luo, holding her teacup, watched Zhu Yunxiao's retreating figure as he strode away.

Only someone as capable as Miss Yang would deserve his help.

The foolish Miss Yang only deserved to die at his hands.

She lowered her head and gently patted herself.

(End of this chapter)