Her guards

Chapter 182 Let's go see Jiang Rui

After Mo Zheng returned, Yang Luo told her about Zhu Yunxiao.

"Is what he said believable?" She gave a bitter smile. "In that life, I was completely confused about him. In this life, the more I've met him, the less I understand him."

Mo Zheng laid out the paper on the table and began grinding the ink.

“He is trustworthy; since he has come to be frank, he must be telling the truth. But… this person is not trustworthy.”

"And don't think that this person has changed and is different from the Zhu Yunxiao you know. He hasn't changed."

"He came to seek refuge with Miss Yang because she was powerful, but he will turn against her when she is no longer powerful."

He still intends to use Miss Yang.

In the previous life, he was killed outright; in this life, he has changed his methods, but his purpose and intentions remain the same.

Yang Luo nodded. Yes, Zhu Yunxiao was still Zhu Yunxiao; it was Miss Yang who had changed.

“I will continue to associate with him and use him where I can,” she said, no longer mentioning the man, and handed the pen on the table to Mo Zheng. “Has the Chief Minister assigned homework again? Hurry up and write it, don’t stay up all night.”

Although Miss Yang's identity was fake, her status as a disciple of the Grand Master was real. Mo Zheng studied diligently, and the Grand Master taught her earnestly.

Mo Zheng took the pen, but did not write anything. She said, "There's something else I should check."

Yang Luo looked at her: "What?"

"You said that when Zhu Yunxiao was arranging your marriage in that life, his first wife, Jiang Rui, had passed away," Mo Zheng said softly. "Now, although things are different from the last life, he's starting to get close to Miss Yang. Could Jiang Rui fall ill and then die like she did in the last life?"

Jiang Rui, Yang Luo's expression changed slightly: "She's been on sick leave for the past few days."

……

……

As February arrived, the wind became much gentler.

Jiang Rui opened the window early in the morning and took a deep breath, but she coughed a few times, perhaps because she choked.

"Miss, you're still sick," a maidservant called out from the courtyard. "Don't catch a chill."

To avoid being discovered by her second uncle and aunt and having everyone gossip about her feigned illness, Jiang Rui didn't tell anyone except her mother and younger sister that she was faking it.

Jiang Rui smiled and closed the window, watching as the maid brought in a bowl of medicine.

"Why isn't this medicine helping?" the maid said. "Logically speaking, the young master personally obtained this medicine, and it's from Huichuntang, which is so expensive."

Huichuntang is the most famous pharmacy in Beijing.

Jiang Rui originally wanted someone to go to any random pharmacy and get some insignificant medicine to make it look like a proper medicine, but Yunxiao disagreed.

"Every medicine has some degree of toxicity, so you can't just take it casually, and the smell isn't pleasant either."

So he personally went to the best pharmacy to get some mild tonics.

However, since it's just faking illness, there's no real change after drinking it.

"Recovery from illness is like pulling silk from a cocoon," Jiang Rui said, walking towards the table. "Let's take it slowly."

The maid helped her sit down, looked at the open book and scattered paper and pen on the table, and then instructed, "Miss, you should rest now and not read or do your homework." She then chided, "The young master spoils you too, he even went to get your homework for you."

Jiang Rui smiled and didn't argue, only saying that she understood.

"Take your medicine quickly," the maid said.

Just as Jiang Rui was about to pick up the bowl, a maid rushed in from outside the door: "Miss, a young lady says she is your classmate and has come to visit you."

A classmate? A young lady who accompanied the students of the National Academy? Jiang Rui was stunned for a moment. Because of her aloof nature, she rarely interacted with others in her daily life. Moreover, she was recuperating from an illness, so the noble ladies would avoid her. They did not want to disturb the patient or be infected by the illness. At most, they would send their servants to deliver gifts and inquiries. Very few people would come to her door in person.

"Who is it?" Jiang Rui asked.

The maid handed over a simple name card, and Jiang Rui took it and looked at it, her expression even more surprised.

It turned out to be Liu Chan.

Speaking of which, she was familiar with the name Liu Chan, but she was familiar with the person—the fake Liu Chan.

Since the real and fake Liu Chan switched identities, she has had no contact with the real Liu Chan, and they haven't even spoken to each other.

Why would Liu Chan come to visit her?
Seeing Jiang Rui's expression, the maid hurriedly and cautiously asked, "Miss, shall we see her?"

If you don't want to see someone, it's normal to say you're physically unable to.

Jiang Rui looked at the handwritten invitation. Compared to the invitations usually used by other young ladies in the capital, it seemed simple and shabby, but...

This is the first classmate to come and visit her.

“Please come in,” she said to the maid, then instructed, “Prepare some good tea and snacks. Go to the living room; I smell medicine here.”

.......
As night deepened in the Imperial Academy, the noisy sounds of evening reading gradually faded away, and the diligent students fell into a deep sleep.

Amidst the calls of night birds, Yang Luo opened the door, and Tao Hua darted in from outside.

"That kid is really something, you can't judge a book by its cover, he's a ruthless person!"

Peach Blossom stood indoors, lowered her voice in surprise, and then placed a small bundle on the table and opened it.

"These are the things I retrieved from Miss Jiang's house today while Miss Liu was visiting her."

Yang Luo and Mo Zheng came over to look and saw that there were several kinds of medicine and a sachet inside.

A faint medicinal fragrance instantly filled the room.

“These sachets and medicine were given to me by Zhu Yunxiao,” Peach Blossom said.

Yang Luo was startled: "Poisonous?"

Peach Blossom nodded: "I showed it to Uncle Hei. The medicine and the sachet are not poisonous when used separately, but when used together, they are a slow poison. However, they will not take effect immediately. They will remain in the body until the need arises. Then, just add one more ingredient and the poison will take effect immediately."

Although he had already guessed it, Yang Luo was still shocked when he actually saw it.

It turns out that Jiang Rui was indeed killed by Zhu Yunxiao.

Peach Blossom continued, "Miss Jiang is truly deeply in love with this Prince Zhu. She has even mentioned him several times when talking to Miss Liu."

After saying that, he looked at Mo Zheng and Yang Luo.

"What should we do next? Tell her all this..."

“No way,” Yang Luo interrupted immediately.

If Jiang Rui makes a scene, Zhu Yunxiao will realize that he has been exposed, and then how can he use him anymore?
A moment of quiet in the room.

Yang Luo clenched her fist: "It's not that I'm heartless..."

Before she could explain, Mo Zheng interrupted, saying softly, "Even if I told you, Jiang Rui wouldn't believe me."

Yang Luo nodded hurriedly: "Yes, she won't believe it at all, and she'll expose us." She sighed, "I've told her more than once that Zhu Yunxiao has character issues, but she says that she grew up with Zhu Yunxiao and wouldn't disbelieve him but believe my slander as an outsider."

Peach Blossom smiled and said, "Well, since she's courting death, let's just leave her alone."

After saying that, he picked up the sachet on the table.

"I stole it under the cover of night using sleeping potion, and I have to return it before dawn."

"That young lady carries it with her like it's her lifeline, she'll definitely find out. Let's not let her make a fuss and ruin our plans."

Mo Zheng said, "Sister Taohua, have Uncle Hei change the medicine inside first, then send it back. As for the rest, don't bother her for now."

Peach Blossom glanced at Mo Zheng. "Young Master, you're still so soft-hearted." She smiled and nodded.

"Also, have Liu Chan find a way to persuade Jiang Rui to come to school," Mo Zheng continued. "We can't let her stay at home isolated from the world. If she's really sick or pretending to be sick, no one will know."

As she spoke, she walked to the desk, picked up a pen, wrote a few simple words, and handed them to Peach Blossom.

"Although I couldn't tell Miss Liu the truth, I simply said that Miss Liu is very smart and she will do it."

Peach Blossom smiled and accepted it: "Yes, Miss Liu seems quiet and unassuming, but she is very reliable in her work."

After saying that, he wrapped up the sachet and the medicine.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it right away."

Yang Luo said softly, "Thank you for your hard work, Sister Peach Blossom."

Mo Zheng nodded with a smile.

Peach Blossom said no more, opened the door, and disappeared into the night.

Yang Luo closed the door, looked at Mo Zheng as if he was about to say something, but then stopped.

She was a bit too harsh on Jiang Rui just now. She had only just been reborn and had only gotten this far; she couldn't afford to make any more mistakes...

Mo Zheng looked at her and said softly, "Because of you, not only my fate, but also Miss Jiang's fate can be changed. Miss Yang, you are truly our savior."

Yang Luo chuckled, sighed softly, and said, "I hope we can all live well."

Mo Zheng nodded: "Yes." Then she smiled and said, "In order for us to live better, I will find another helper."

(End of this chapter)