Her guards

Chapter 216 Ask for advice
The spring sunshine is bright.

Mo Zheng sat in the pavilion, looking at her palms in the sunlight.

Over the past two days, the bruises have faded somewhat.

This time it was really good.

Her injury was well hidden in her palm; no one but that bastard Wei Jiao would have noticed it.

Yang Luo's injury is on her arm; it won't affect her walking and won't be noticed.

However, the emperor cared deeply about his daughter and was extremely perceptive, so Yang Luo rested for two days to ensure that her physical and mental state did not reveal any flaws before going to see the emperor.

Although what will happen next is still unknown, at least for this moment, Mo Zheng enjoys a moment of leisure.

Not only the princess and her companions are on holiday today, but all the students at the National Academy are also on holiday.

The chief minister encouraged the students to go out and enjoy the spring scenery.

Although she didn't go, she also stopped lying in the library. Instead, she picked out a stack of books, carried them to the small pavilion, and copied them.

This was not homework assigned by the chief priest; it was for Wei Jiao to copy.

Ling Yu complained that Wei Jiao had been spending too much time at the National Academy lately, tearing up too many books, and that he and his students couldn't keep up with copying them all.

Now that Wei Jiao is out, she'll copy more and he'll tear it up when he gets back, exhausting him.

Mo Zheng smiled slightly, picked up her pen again, and seemingly unintentionally flicked her wrist, sending a drop of ink flying out. A sharp, high-pitched female voice rang in her ears.

"Don't attack—I'm not an assassin—"

At the shout, Jiang Meng jumped out of the bushes, clutching her forehead.

She looked somewhat nervous, cautiously glancing around.

But this time, no guards jumped out to pin her to the ground.

In the small pavilion, Mo Zheng kept his head down and continued writing, not looking at her. He only said, "Instead of staring at me, you should stare at your brother-in-law. He can't hit you, but I have plenty of ways to teach you a lesson."

Jiang Meng gritted her teeth and stepped forward: "You... how did you shoot with your slingshot?"

Oh? Mo Zheng looked up at her.

“You’re not some weak woman,” Jiang Meng said, looking at her. “Not everyone can smash a vase that far away with a slingshot.”

Mo Zheng looked surprised: "Really? No way, you can't do it?"

Jiang Meng's face flushed red: "I...I can't!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the woman in front of him smiled and said, "Then you're really stupid."

Jiang Meng was both ashamed and angry. This Miss Yang was really too wicked!
"You, you—" Before she could finish her sentence, there were hurried footsteps and a shout, "Jiang Meng!"

Jiang Meng shrugged and looked behind her. Jiang Rui strode over, looking annoyed.

"Sister, I didn't—" Jiang Meng hurriedly explained, but Jiang Rui had already grabbed her and shaken her hard.

"Are you really not going to listen to me anymore?" Jiang Rui asked angrily, her eyes filled with sorrow. "In your eyes, am I nothing?"

Jiang Meng hurriedly grabbed her arm and stammered, "Sister, I didn't come here to cause trouble. Sister, Miss Yang is no weak woman. She... her slingshot skills are too fierce—"

He seemed unsure of what to say and looked at Miss Yang.

"Aren't you amazing?"

Mo Zheng smiled and nodded: "Yes, I am very capable."

Jiang Meng was overjoyed and quickly pulled Jiang Rui along: "Look, she admitted it." She pointed to her forehead, "This ink is from when she splattered it on my head, sis. It's not that I'm bullying her, I can't bully her at all. She hit me last time too..."

Mo Zheng nodded again: "Yes, you can't bully me."

Jiang Rui didn't look at her the whole time, and even turned her head away when she heard her speak.

Mo Zheng smiled and stood up.

"If I weren't so capable, how could I have escaped from Baima Town, how could I have dodged both open and covert attacks, exposed the Baima Town massacre, and avenged my mother, my fellow villagers, and myself?"

"I don't have a fiancé to protect me; I rely on my own abilities."

Jiang Rui turned pale upon hearing this.

She was mocking her...

Yes, this Miss Yang, she was able to escape the White Horse Town massacre, and she was able to ride a frightened horse to the emperor's side at the martial arts banquet. In terms of literature, she was able to pass the imperial examination and become a disciple of the Grand Master of Ceremonies...

Compared to Miss Yang, Jiang Rui is nothing.

After their father died, she and her sister couldn't even support their family business and had always been taken care of by Zhu Yunxiao. If Zhu Yunxiao stopped looking after them...

Jiang Rui's face paled, and she lowered her head even further, curtsying in a gesture of respect: "I apologize."

After saying that, he grabbed Jiang Meng and quickly walked outside.

Seeing her sister's expression, Jiang Meng sensed she was about to cry, so she stopped struggling and obediently followed. Only when they reached the carriage did she timidly explain, "Sister, I really didn't come here to cause trouble for Miss Yang. I wanted to ask her how to use a slingshot. I... I want to learn too. I don't have enough arm strength, and I'm still no good at archery. Uncle Zhao said I should learn to use a slingshot; if I master it, it'll be even better than archery, but I just can't seem to get it right..."

A few days ago, Ms. Yang used her slingshot to shoot through a vase, which really shocked her.

The other young ladies didn't care and didn't think a slingshot was anything special, but for her, who had practiced for a long time, Miss Yang's movements, strength, and speed in that instant were extraordinary.

She was so envious that she couldn't resist sneaking out of her house to ask for advice.

"Sister, if I master the slingshot, Uncle Zhao will let me lead a squad of soldiers, and I can join the army."

"Sister, then I will be able to lead troops personally like Father."

Seeing her sister's excited expression, Jiang Rui felt both sad and confused.

Even if a woman mastered the slingshot, she couldn't lead an army. She could never be like her father, and the father's legacy would be broken...

"I understand," Jiang Rui nodded. "I believe you, but you can't just come to her so rashly."

She paused here.

"I'll send her an invitation to apologize first, then you can ask for her advice." Jiang Meng nodded hurriedly, "Okay, okay." She immediately got into the car, and Jiang Rui followed her in.

"Sister," Jiang Meng said, then suddenly remembered something, "Are we still going to see brother-in-law?"

We had originally planned to meet Zhu Yunxiao after school, but because Miss Yang accused them of being assassins and caused a scene, Jiang Rui left school early and took Jiang Meng home. They haven't gone out for the past few days...

Jiang Rui said, "I've already asked around. He's been in the military camp these past few days. We'll go see him when he gets back."

Jiang Meng was relieved, took out her slingshot, and began to study it carefully.

Jiang Rui looked out the window and sighed softly, her expression somber.

She didn't ask anyone, and Zhu Yunxiao didn't ask either.

That day's incident caused quite a stir. The princesses might not care, but the maids who accompanied them would surely go home and talk about it everywhere...

News travels fast in the capital, especially around Miss Yang, who is currently the subject of much discussion.

Zhu Yunxiao couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

In the past, if he heard any news about her, even just a cough, Zhu Yunxiao, who was far away in the military camp, would know and would rush back to greet her.

just now……

The rumors had been circulating for a long time, but Zhu Yunxiao never explained anything to her, and he even stopped showing up.

Do I even need to ask?
A self-deprecating smile played on Jiang Rui's lips.

No.

She had seen how warm and caring he was towards her, so she naturally knew what his indifference was like.

Jiang Rui lowered her eyes to avoid tears from falling, and not wanting Jiang Meng to notice, so she leaned against the carriage and said, "I'm going to take a nap. Meng, you can play by yourself."

Jiang Meng pulled back the slingshot: "Okay—"

Before she could finish speaking, a loud bang came from outside the car, and Jiang Meng jumped up—

"elder sister--"

Jiang Rui felt dizzy and disoriented. The next moment, the carriage overturned and she and Jiang Meng tumbled out. Before they could recover, they heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats and dust. Three men surrounded them, and one of them reached out and pulled her up.

who?

what happened?

Jiang Rui was instantly suspended in mid-air and let out a scream.

"Let go of my sister—" Jiang Meng screamed, followed by a man's cry of pain from above.

Jiang Rui, who had been suspended in mid-air, fell to the ground and saw Jiang Meng holding a slingshot and aiming it at them.

"You little brat—"

With a roar, a whip came and lashed Jiang Meng off the ground.

Jiang Rui let out a scream and was about to pounce, but Jiang Meng, who was flying around, was caught by the whip and lifted onto the horse's back.

"—Look! The carriage has overturned!"

"...Hurry and save them!"

Although the road from the National Academy is somewhat remote, it is still a road leading to the capital city, and there are quite a few people traveling along it in the spring.

The commotion quickly attracted attention, and many people rushed over.

Seeing this, the three men on horseback exchanged a glance.

"Let's go," said the man who had picked up Jiang Meng. "One by one."

After saying that, he spurred his horse and galloped off into the nearby wilderness.

The remaining two glanced at Jiang Rui on the ground, withdrew their hands that were about to grab her, spurred their horses and rode away. In the blink of an eye, the three of them disappeared into the dense forest of the wilderness.

"A-Meng—" Jiang Rui screamed, stumbling to her feet to chase after him, but then collapsed to the ground as if her body had fallen apart.

Passersby gathered around.

"what happened?"

"The horse got spooked?"

It wasn't that the horse was startled. Jiang Rui saw the coachman lying lifeless under the carriage, not knowing whether he had been crushed to death by the carriage or had been killed beforehand.

“My sister has been kidnapped—” she cried.

No, those people probably wanted to capture her, but Jiang Meng saved her with a slingshot, and then they took Jiang Meng away.

The thought flashed through her mind, and Jiang Rui felt a burning pain in her throat, making it impossible for her to make a sound.

My sister, my sister saved her—

"Stolen?" Upon hearing the young woman's words, the passersby looked shocked and panicked.

"Are there bandits or brigands?"

"Express reporter—"

Amidst the surrounding noise, Jiang Rui's ears were ringing, and tears blurred her vision. She struggled and limped towards the city.

Yunxiao, Yunxiao, hurry and find Yunxiao, save Jiang Meng!

Suddenly she stopped and looked in the direction of the city ahead. It was so far away. She turned her head and saw the National Academy faintly visible behind her.

For some reason, she felt she should go here for help.

She turned and limped and stumbled toward the National Academy.

(End of this chapter)