Her guards

Chapter 254 Not His Will

The weather in June is unpredictable. It was sunny and clear in the morning, but as soon as I put the braised meat out, it started to rain heavily.

Peach Blossom stood at the doorway, watching the unsuspecting crowds running around in the street.

A shop assistant from the neighboring shop came out and, seeing her gloomy expression, jokingly said, "Are you worried because you've delayed business, Sister Peach Blossom? Don't worry about that. Brother Zhang is working as a driver for the Duke of Ding'an's mansion, and it's a carriage bestowed by the Emperor. His future is limitless."

Peach Blossom sighed, "It's not much money anyway. I have to braise meat when I get back at night. I'm exhausted every day."

The shop assistant reassured him, "...The rain isn't heavy; it'll stop after noon."

The two were standing under the eaves, chatting and laughing, when suddenly someone rushed into the braised meat shop from the street.

So fast was it that Peach Blossom's vision blurred as she stared at everyone passing by on the street, and her body didn't even have time to react.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, then she exclaimed, "Sir, please be careful, the floor is slippery." She turned to look inside.

The man standing inside the shop was tall and thin, wearing only a straw hat, and his clothes were soaked by the rain.

"We're opening today," the shop assistant next to her said with a smile, gesturing for Peach Blossom to hurry up and get busy.

Peach Blossom smiled and turned to come in: "Sir, what would you like to order?" As she spoke, she took a handkerchief from the shelf next to her, "Please wipe the rain off and take your time choosing."

The person reached out to take the handkerchief, but as soon as they touched it, they flipped it over.

Even though she hadn't caught a glimpse of this person just now, Peach Blossom already knew that the newcomer was exceptionally skilled and had been poised to strike ever since she turned around and entered the room.

Despite taking precautions, it was still impossible to avoid.

Even as he stepped back, something was still placed in his palm.

Peach Blossom was taken aback. She looked at the bamboo tube in her hand and then at the person who had just arrived. The person slightly lifted his hat and looked disdainful.

Although they never actually met, who among those who had seen Wei Jiao would not remember him?

Even though she was disguised, Peach Blossom recognized her immediately.

"Oh..." she forced a smile, "They're all fresh, sir, please rest assured."

The rain outside intensified, the rushing sound making the shop feel completely isolated from the world.

Peach Blossom glanced at the door, then at the bamboo tube in her hand.

"You..." she said softly, "Aren't you going to see His Majesty?"

Wei Jiao raised his bamboo hat, which he had already lowered, and glanced at her.

Peach Blossom hurriedly whispered, "Please do as you please, I will give it to Asheng."

Wei Jiao lowered his bamboo hat and turned around.

Peach Blossom breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said loudly, "It's okay if you don't buy anything. Just stay here and wait out the rain..."

Before she could finish speaking, Wei Jiao, who had turned around, suddenly pounced on her. The rain outside seemed to be swept away, and Tao Hua felt a chill rush to her face. She quickly dodged backward, but the next moment her vision went dark, her entire face was covered by a bamboo hat, and at the same time, she felt a sharp pain in her back as she was pressed against the wall.

The straw hat obscured her vision, but she could feel the fury of the person in front of her. Her neck was being choked, and she could barely make a sound.

"I... have... Your Majesty's..." She could only manage to squeeze out a few words.

Before he could finish speaking, Wei Jiao ripped off the imperial guard badge bestowed upon him by the emperor, which was tied around his waist.

She heard Wei Jiao sneer, each word distinct and deliberate.

"Just because you have the waist token bestowed by His Majesty, you've become His Majesty's person and forgotten who your true master is?"

What? Peach Blossom's mind is in a mess right now.

Her straw hat was taken off, and she saw Wei Jiao's cold face.

"Don't tell me you're one of Miss Yang's people."

His voice was deep.

"She said from the beginning that you are her people."

That bastard's mouth was full of lies, but it also contained a bit of truth.

For example, the first people to be honest with him were the butcher couple, who were her people.

Even if he later claimed to be Miss Yang's servant, the butcher and his wife were still her people, not Yang Luo's people.

"I don't believe any of her information, Your Majesty. Here you go..."

Wei Jiao stared at the woman before him, gritting his teeth as he spoke each word with deliberation.

He didn't trust Zhu Yunxiao, so he came to the capital himself to deliver the message.

But he didn't believe the emperor, nor did he believe the real Miss Yang.

So he went directly to the butcher couple.

Her message should naturally be shown to her people first; that's the only way to ensure everything goes smoothly.

But I didn't expect...

"But you didn't even look at it, and went to give it to His Majesty..."

And I wasn't surprised to see him.

I wasn't surprised to see the letter.

Such a reaction either indicates subservience to others or...

Wei Jiao's expression hardened, and he raised his other hand, holding a bamboo tube in his hand.

We have just taken the bamboo tube back from the woman.

He looked at the bamboo tube, squeezed it with his fingers, and with a crisp sound, the bamboo tube was crushed.

The bamboo skin split open, revealing its hollow interior. Empty.

Wei Jiao suddenly felt the loud sound of rain in his ears, and his whole body was drenched by the rain.

empty.

He did his utmost to ensure everything went smoothly, personally delivering the message to the capital, but nothing came of it.

Nothing at all.

Nothing.

……

……

For a moment, Peach Blossom felt like she was going to die.

She has been through many dangerous times.

But I have never felt so close to death before.

The person in front of her was really going to kill her.

Not only will she be killed, but everything around us will be destroyed at this moment.

Just as she was about to lose consciousness, she was thrown to the ground, and in her dazed vision, she could no longer see Wei Jiao.

If it weren't for the broken bamboo tube on the ground and the bloody hole almost strangled her neck, she would have thought she was having a nightmare.

How could this be?
"...Oh my god, Sister Peach Blossom, have we encountered robbers?"

"Someone come quickly."

……

……

The patrolling officials were alerted, but as soon as Tao Hua revealed her secret guards' sign, the officials immediately retreated, dispersed the onlookers, and gave a reasonable explanation.

Peach Blossom could not provide an explanation for Hong Lin and the others.

"...I really don't know what happened!"

"...I don't know why he suddenly went crazy and even crushed the bamboo tube."

Peach Blossom said helplessly, pressing her bandaged neck.

"...Young Master has given instructions that Wei Jiao will come to the capital under the pretext of delivering a message."

"...I was a little surprised when he came to me, but there's nothing wrong with me accepting the message, is there?"

"...I said I'd come to deliver this message to Ah Sheng, to His Majesty, what's wrong with that?"

"...What Miss's people, her people..."

Hong Lin couldn't understand it either, but there was nothing he could do. That's just how things are; not everything is foolproof. No matter how well things are arranged, things can still go wrong.

For example, right now, Wei Jiao hadn't even reached the emperor yet when he realized something was wrong.

“If he finds out that the young master lied to him, he will definitely go and cause trouble for the young master,” he said.

Peach Blossom struggled to her feet: "Quickly go and tell Miss Yang to tell the Emperor to stop him."

In any case, they had arrived in the capital. The roads were heavily guarded by government officials and soldiers. No matter how powerful Wei Jiao was, he was just one person and could not escape the emperor's orders.

Hong Lin nodded: "I've sent a message to Miss Yang. She's in the capital. Judging by the time, the message from Wucheng should arrive soon..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion arose from the street outside the door.

The sound of horses' hooves rang out as a courier galloped through the heavy rain. Although he was wearing a raincoat and a straw hat, he looked as if he had been pulled out of the water.

"Urgent report—"

"Urgent report from Wucheng—"

"Wucheng has been seized by bandits—"

……

.......
In the past, urgent reports were not made public, especially those concerning major events like the capture of a city.

But whether it was because the matter was too serious and local officials panicked, or to alert everyone, the courier soldiers who sped by shouted all the way.

Despite the rain, the streets of the capital were not deserted. In an instant, countless people emerged from the eaves and walls of restaurants and teahouses, discussing the situation in disbelief.

Where is Wucheng?

"Who cares where it is, it's a city!"

"Bandits always plunder and leave; they never raid entire cities."

"It's treason! It's treason!"

"Who has committed treason?"

The people's eyes were fixed on the imperial city.

Countless officials rushed toward the imperial city in the rain. Inside the main hall, the emperor's face was somber, and an eunuch stood in front, loudly proclaiming the emperor's presence.

"...The lineage of the Mo family, the son of Emperor Mo, first Zhao Tan usurped the country, and now Deng Shan has taken over the nest..."

"...First I resided in Yunling, and now I come to Wucheng to request the ministers, generals, and people of the Mo clan to help me restore the ancestral legacy of the Mo clan..."

The eunuch's voice caused an uproar among the civil and military officials.

(End of this chapter)