Chapter 51

Chapter 51

"Rest assured, Your Highness. His Highness the Prince has specifically instructed that no one is to divulge the news of your disappearance."

Seeing Jiang Mo's anxious expression, Wangxia reassured her, "The servants the Empress is accustomed to are getting older. Before you entered the Prince's residence, there was an incident where Eunuch Guixi and Nanny Wang were both ill at the same time, so she summoned Xingchun to serve Her Majesty for a few days. This time should be similar; it's not about you."

Jiang Mo nodded. She hoped so, but she wondered how An Zeyou had explained things to the Emperor, and whether the Emperor would inform the Empress.

She couldn't help but sigh. It was hard enough just to manage the present; she couldn't dwell on everything.

When they reached the foot of Luoyun Tower, Jiang Mo spotted Duke Qingguo's people. Some were seated at a tea stall across the street, their teacups empty yet still pretending to drink. Others carried vegetable baskets, their eyes fixed on the entrance of Luoyun Tower, ignoring the customers. Still others crouched by the wall, feigning basking in the sun while stealing glances at the tower.

They were all familiar faces, though a few were missing—likely stationed at Prince Yu's residence.

She glanced behind her. The missing ones hadn't followed; they must not have recognized her. Her disguise seemed successful.

Now she needed to let Duke Qingguo's people see her, know she was alive and well, to avoid further complications. So she deliberately removed her veiled hat in full view of them.

Sure enough, upon seeing her, one of them immediately ran toward Duke Qingguo's mansion. No doubt they had panicked when they lost sight of their legitimate young lady on the night of the Lantern Festival.

Jiang Mo smiled faintly and stepped into Luoyun Tower.

Instead of rushing to meet someone, she first ordered a few dishes she had shared with Prince Yu during the Lantern Festival feast. "Boss, please deliver these to the leftmost room on the second floor."

At the door of the room, Jiang Mo asked Wangxia, "Do I look all right? Can anyone tell I'm still ill?"

That morning, when she had dressed, the Princess still had a slight fever and looked unwell. Wangxia had used rouge and lip tint to conceal the pallor.

"You look well, Princess." Wangxia's heart ached for the woman before her, who was clearly suffering yet trying so hard to appear well.

As Jiang Mo pushed open the door, Jiang Bai rushed over and hugged her tightly. "Sister, why didn't you come home on New Year's Eve?"

"Be good, Abai." She cupped his face, studying him closely. The memory of him from her dream felt like a lifetime ago, the scenes of eight years ago flashing before her as if yesterday.

She took out a "little mouse" folded from a handkerchief and a handful of malt candy from her sleeve. "Abai, go over there and eat candy, play with the wrappers. Sister and Father have something to talk about."

True to a child's nature, the sight of candy made him forget everything else. Jiang Bai happily took the candy and sat to the side, playing with it.

The moment Jiang Bingzhong saw Jiang Mo, his eyes grew moist. He pulled her to sit on the couch. "Mo'er, you look even thinner."

"At Prince Yu's residence, I eat delicacies every day. How could I be thin? Father, you're just missing me, so you think I look thinner."

Jiang Bingzhong laughed softly and patted Jiang Mo's arm. "Yes, yes, not thin at all." But he didn't sound convincing at all.

Jiang Mo poured a cup of tea for Jiang Bingzhong. "Father, I have something to tell you."

Many things had happened recently, but there was no need to burden her father with the bad. She only told him that Duke Qingguo had left the capital for the Lianghuai region, that An Zeyou, to repay the favor of saving his life, would help them leave, and that Prince Yu treated her well.

Jiang Bingzhong was silent for a long time. "Prince Yu treats you well, but this is a proxy marriage. Duke Qingguo harbors rebellious intentions, so he probably doesn't plan to switch Wei Yalan back. But secrets have a way of coming out. When the truth comes out, will Prince Yu forgive you? Will he beg the Emperor to spare you for deceiving the sovereign?

"Moreover, if Duke Qingguo's rebellion succeeds and he swaps Wei Yalan back, can you survive?

"Mo'er, why not leave with us? Our family will live together or die together."

What her father said, Jiang Mo already knew. She had no way out, but to ease his mind, she said, "Father, rest assured. Regardless of whether Duke Qingguo wants to switch Wei Yalan back, after you leave, I'll come clean to Prince Yu. Prince Yu..."

She pursed her lips. "Prince Yu has feelings for me. When he learns I was forced by Duke Qingguo and meant no harm, he will spare my life."

Jiang Bingzhong knew his daughter well. If she were certain, she wouldn't hesitate. "Does Prince Yu truly have feelings for you?"

Recalling that Prince Yu had spoken of a woman he loved, Jiang Mo felt guilty. But at this moment, she had to keep up the lie. "Of course. Father, please rest assured."

Still uneasy, Jiang Bingzhong didn't press further. He knew his daughter's stubbornness.

"Then don't be Wei Yalan anymore. Eat what you want, do as you please. In Prince Yu's residence, live as yourself."

Jiang Mo understood his implication. She couldn't hide anything from her father; he saw through her but didn't say it. She acted like she didn't care. "If not for the proxy marriage, I would never have married a prince, met the Emperor, attended the imperial family banquet, or tasted so many delicacies. In this life, I got to enjoy the honor of being a princess. I have no regrets." She hugged Jiang Bingzhong's arm. "Father, listen to me. Don't keep trying to take me with you. Once Master An arranges everything, take Abai and leave."

Jiang Bingzhong still couldn't tell whether his daughter truly loved Prince Yu or was just saying this to make them leave.

But it was her heartfelt effort. He would agree for now to ease her mind, then find another way—even a risky move if necessary. "All right, I'll listen to you."

Thinking about leaving, Jiang Bingzhong didn't trust An Zeyou. A man trapped in the capital himself seemed unreliable to lead them out.

"Mo'er, although Master An wants to repay you, he is just a hostage. How much can he do? Let's not drag him into trouble."

"Father, you don't know." Jiang Mo poured herself a cup of tea. "There are many of Old General An's men hidden in the palace and the capital. I don't know exactly how An Zeyou plans to do it, but I feel that if he says he can, he can."

She wasn't sure when she had started trusting An Zeyou.

Perhaps from the moment she realized he wasn't evil and still had a sense of loyalty.

Jiang Bingzhong was clearly distracted, his hand resting on his sleeve as if he wanted to pull something out. Finally, after Jiang Mo expressed her trust in An Zeyou, he gave up.

"Whether Master An can take us away or not, I will never let anything happen to you. I will keep you safe."

His words were contradictory. A mere Sixth-rank Secretary could hardly match Duke Qingguo.

"What does Father mean?"

Realizing he had let something slip, Jiang Bingzhong quickly said, "I just hope my Mo'er will be safe." He stroked her head. "I hope we'll be reunited and live a peaceful life soon."

Jiang Mo's eyes welled up with tears, and she fell into his arms. "Father."

"I'm afraid when I die and see your mother, she'll blame me." He unconsciously touched his sleeve, where he had hidden a jade bracelet for eighteen years.

The moment Duke Qingguo forced Mo'er into the proxy marriage, he'd had his suspicions and thought about revealing the bracelet. But he wasn't sure of the truth, didn't know how to find out, and was afraid of making things worse.

He had asked around discreetly but got no answers. After much thought, he decided not to reveal the bracelet.

"Mother won't blame you, Father." Jiang Mo always knew that her father felt guilty, believing he had failed to protect her and fulfill his duty as a father.

"Miss, the food is ready," Wangxia said softly, knocking.

Jiang Mo reluctantly left her father's embrace. "Let the server in."

She pulled out a stool for Jiang Bingzhong, then went to Jiang Bai, putting all the candy he'd been playing with into his little cross-body bag. "Abai, let's eat first, then have candy. Today I ordered lots of delicious things."

Jiang Bai patted his little bag and looked up at her. "Okay, Abai will do what big sister says."

He was led to the square table and, seeing the dishes brought by the waiter, exclaimed happily, "Sister, what are these? Abai has never seen them before. They look delicious."

Jiang Bingzhong looked at the lavish table. "Mo'er, this must have cost a lot of silver. It's too extravagant for just the three of us. You should keep more silver for yourself, to tip the servants."

As she arranged chopsticks and bowls, Jiang Mo said, "These two times I left the residence were inconvenient, so I didn't make your favorite purple sweet potato and yam cake. Instead, I ordered these signature dishes we never get to eat, so you and Abai can try them."

After setting out the utensils, she served food to Jiang Bingzhong and Jiang Bai, putting a bit of each dish into their bowls. Jiang Bai couldn't wait to taste it. "Delicious, Sister. Really delicious."

Jiang Mo continued, "You don’t have to finish everything. Pack the leftovers into the lunchbox and take them home to eat slowly."

His daughter's filial piety stirred a mix of emotions in Jiang Bingzhong. His eyes moistened as he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. "Delicious, delicious."

"These dishes don’t cost Miss Jiang's silver. I'm treating Lord Jiang and Master Jiang," the waiter standing nearby suddenly spoke.

Jiang Mo took a look and was astonished. This waiter was actually An Zeyou in disguise.

"Master An, it's you!"

Hearing his daughter's address, Jiang Bingzhong stood up and stepped back, bowing. "Master An, my respects."

Although An Zeyou held no official position, he was someone who often moved among the emperor and princes, so his status was naturally more noble than their humble positions.

"Lord Jiang, there's no need to be so polite. I'm just an idle person. This time, thanks to your daughter for saving my life, I should treat you to this meal. Today, I came specifically to discuss the matter of your leaving Shangjing."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Bingzhong quickly offered his seat of honor to An Zeyou. "Master, please sit."

An Zeyou, however, sat below Jiang Bingzhong and gestured toward the seat of honor. "Lord Jiang, sit. Today, I am Miss Jiang's friend, not the young master of the An family from Beiyu, nor the prince's study companion trapped in the side hall of Kunning Palace."

Jiang Bingzhong glanced at Jiang Mo. The things An Zeyou did and said were not so simple.

Jiang Mo gave him a reassuring look.

"Mo'er was able to reveal her identity to you, which shows she trusts Master An very much."

Reveal her identity? An Zeyou couldn't help but look at Jiang Mo. Wasn't it he who first learned of Jiang Mo's identity and then threatened her? He thought Jiang Mo had told Jiang Bingzhong everything that happened between them, but it seemed Jiang Bingzhong didn't know. He asked her with a look. Jiang Mo first gently shook her head, then nodded, indicating that his guess was correct.

An Zeyou gave an awkward smile, then his expression suddenly became very firm. "I will not disappoint Miss Jiang's trust."

Jiang Mo poured a cup of tea for An Zeyou. "Master An, tell me your thoughts."

An Zeyou picked up the teacup and took a sip. "I plan to send the three of you away on the third day of the fourth month, Duke Qingguo's birthday."