Chapter 057
Chapter 57: Kill the Foolish Princess, Then Frame the Yun Family
Mo Zhao Zhao squared her shoulders and said with a proud tilt of the chin as she looked at the unruly youth before her: “Imperial elder brother is here now. Can you let go of me?”
Confidence returned with her backing close by. Yun Wan Ye found himself half annoyed, half amused by her foolish audacity. He adjusted his sleeve and said lightly: “Let us go. I will accompany the Princess to see His Majesty.”
She stumbled on the words: “You are going to see imperial elder brother too?”
“Of course,” he replied with an easy smile. “I saved the Princess. If I do not go claim my credit, what if the Princess suppresses my merit? That would be quite the loss.”
She stamped her foot and almost hissed: “So you saved me just for credit?”
“Why else? If not for merit, then for beauty? But the Princess is not exactly an unrivaled beauty.”
Her fingers curled as she fought the urge to slap him into the nearest ditch. [What part of me is not beautiful? Why is everyone always calling me ugly?]
In the outer hall, Mo Yuan Lin and Mo Yuan Hao sat in plain robes. The heads of the guards and shadow guards of the Princess Manor knelt before them. Mo Yuan Lin’s face was dark as he asked, each word like ice: “Have you found who sent the assassin that tried to kill our royal sister?”
Beneath the nose of the imperial palace, someone had dared attempt the assassination of his sister. It was bold beyond measure. The shadow guard leader bowed deep and reported: “Reporting to His Majesty, we found this item on the assassin’s body. Other than that, nothing else. As for the assassin’s identity, we are still investigating and dare not make rash conclusions.”
He presented a piece of black iron. Mo Yuan Lin took it. When his gaze fell on the characters etched there, disbelief flashed across his eyes. Seeing the change, Mo Yuan Hao leaned forward and asked: “Imperial elder brother, what is it?”
Mo Yuan Lin said nothing. He handed the token over. Upon seeing it, Mo Yuan Hao’s expression changed. He drew a breath and said, low and firm: “Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Imperial elder brother, there must be more to this than meets the eye.”
Mo Yuan Lin nodded once and spoke with weight: “I agree. This is clearly a frame-up. The truth must be investigated. Second Brother, I am swamped with affairs and cannot attend to everything. I entrust this case to you. You must uncover the true culprit. If this goes unchecked, Great Wu will know no peace.”
Mo Yuan Hao cupped his hands and answered without hesitation: “Yes. I accept the imperial decree. I will investigate this matter thoroughly.”
“I trust your ability,” Mo Yuan Lin replied.
As they spoke, Mo Zhao Zhao came in, moving quickly, a richly dressed young man following behind her. Yun Wan Ye stepped forward and bowed with easy grace as he said: “Subject pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor and Prince Qi.”
Mo Yuan Lin raised a hand to stop the formalities and said, voice tight with emotion: “No need for ceremony. I should be the one thanking you today.”
“I dare not,” Yun Wan Ye answered. “It was my honor to protect the Princess.”
Before reaching the Princess Manor, the brothers had already learned that Mo Zhao Zhao had been ambushed and nearly killed, saved only by this youth’s timely action. Without him, her fate would have been sealed. So when they saw him here, they were not surprised. Yet throughout the exchange, Mo Yuan Lin’s gaze never left Mo Zhao Zhao’s face. From the moment she entered, he stared at the glaring slash across her cheek. Stormy feeling burned in his eyes. Mo Yuan Hao’s anger flared as well. He ground out the words like a vow: “Someone dared scar our royal sister’s face. That villain deserves death.”
At this, Mo Zhao Zhao’s eyes filled at once. She clutched her handkerchief and sobbed in a small voice: “Imperial elder brother, royal brother, I nearly did not live to see you today.”
Mo Yuan Lin stepped near and touched her head with a gentleness that could not hide the fury underneath as he said: “I failed you. It was my negligence. I did not protect you.”
She shook her head at once and whispered: “No, it is not imperial elder brother’s fault. You could not have known.”
Mo Yuan Hao turned to Yun Wan Ye and spoke gravely, the tone more brother to brother than prince to subject: “Ah Ye, I want you to know first, so our investigation does not harm our bond later.” He tossed the black token to him.
Yun Wan Ye caught it and glanced down. The moment his eyes fell upon the characters, a murderous gleam surged in his gaze. The words Duke Ning cut like ice. He lifted his head and said with a cold steadiness: “Your Majesty, Prince Qi, this is pure slander. I dare swear on my life. This assassination has nothing to do with the Yun family.”
Mo Zhao Zhao blinked, stunned. [What does that mean? What does he mean it has nothing to do with the Yun family? Who said it did? Why is he so desperate to clear their name?] She followed his gaze to the token in his hand at last.
Prince Qi’s mouth tipped wry. He raised a hand in calm: “Relax, Ah Ye. Since I brought this to you, it means I do not believe the Yun family was involved. But someone deliberately left this behind to frame you. With no other solid leads, the Yun family must be prepared. Otherwise you might fall straight into a trap. You understand. If someone presents enough fabricated evidence and pleads with imperial elder brother for judgment, even lies can breed great trouble.”
Yun Wan Ye nodded once. He understood too well. The matter was far more twisted than he first thought. He had assumed some enemy angered by the foolish princess wanted her dead. Now it seemed the scheme was meant to kill two birds with one stone. Kill the foolish princess. Frame the Yun family. Heh. Clever. His thumb pressed hard along the cut characters. His eyes grew darker and fiercer.
Mo Zhao Zhao stepped to his side and held out a hand: “Let me see it.” He gave the token over without hesitation. She read the words and drew in a sharp breath. “Despicable. They tried to kill me and to frame Uncle Yun.”
She turned to the brothers with sudden resolve as she said: “Imperial elder brother, royal brother, I have a suspect in mind, though I lack proof.”
Mo Yuan Lin’s gaze sharpened, but before he spoke she continued without pause: “I suspect someone from the Grand Commandant Manor.”
“Zhao Zhao,” Mo Yuan Lin warned softly, “the Grand Commandant is a high official. Be careful with such claims.”
She did not truly have evidence. It was all inference and a knot of anger. She and Yun Wan Ye had shoved Su Qian Xue into the lake last time, yet no one had seen them. Even Su Qian Xue likely did not know the truth. But judging by that woman’s defiant temper, she might accuse out of spite. If Su Qian Xue told her father, Grand Commandant Su, that the princess’s guard had pushed her, then Su Jian might repay shadow with shadow. She had struck his daughter in the dark. Now he struck her the same way. Only that old fox had gone further. He used the chance to frame Duke Ning as well. If the assassination had succeeded, some would have cheered. Even though it failed, the planted evidence alone could sour trust between emperor and Yun clan.
Mo Zhao Zhao lifted her chin and argued her case: “Imperial elder brother, I am not speaking recklessly. Lately the only person I offended is Su Qian Xue. Other than her, I cannot think of anyone bold enough to move against me. Besides, those assassins were not ordinary. They overwhelmed my guards in moments. That proves they came from a house with deep backing. Without such resources, how could they field killers of that level?”
Prince Qi narrowed his eyes and asked, voice mild but piercing: “Then how do you explain this. Are you saying the day the Su young miss fell into the lake was your doing?”
Mo Yuan Lin’s brows drew together. His gaze on his sister turned solemn. A flicker of guilt crossed Mo Zhao Zhao’s face. Still she answered, soft yet stubborn: “So what if it was me. Su Qian Xue dared defy me before so many people, trampling the royal family’s dignity. I only wanted to teach her a lesson. If I did not, how would I hold authority before the other noble ladies? Besides, she stood by the lake where there were no railings on purpose. It was clearly a trap meant for me. Had I not been lucky, I would have been the one to fall.”
She had no wish to lie to her brother, yet she could not tell the whole truth. She could not expose Yun Wan Ye for striking from the dark or saving her. Luck was all she could claim. Mo Yuan Lin asked in the same calm tone: “How did you make her fall into the lake?”
After that incident, Su Jian had remained silent in court. That meant only one thing. He had no evidence. If he had even a shred that imperial sister had harmed someone, he would have struck in the court hall at once. Mo Zhao Zhao let out a sigh and said: “Imperial elder brother, please do not ask. I never stepped forward, and I never went near Su Qian Xue. Even if she insists it was me, it is still slander. She has no proof.”
At these words, both brothers turned their eyes to Yun Wan Ye. Their gazes were probing, but Yun Wan Ye’s face did not shift. He offered them nothing. If such a thing happened near the Duke’s manor, there was no need to guess. This brat’s hand was in it. The two men understood at once why imperial sister was vague. She was shielding the boy.
Prince Qi let the matter go with a short nod as he said: “Imperial sister speaks with reason. I will have people keep close watch on the Su family these next few days. If that old dog Su Jian truly dared move against you, I will make him pay.”
That very night, Mo Yuan Hao set his investigation in motion. Yun Wan Ye, after taking his leave of the siblings, hurried back to the Yun residence to report that someone had tried to frame him. When Yun Zheng heard that an assassin had targeted the princess and that the blame had been shifted onto his son, his fury broke like thunder. He summoned Zhong Li and Shen Tu at once. The ambush at Red Willow Slope had yielded nothing. Now this false charge appeared. It was clear someone was hunting them.
Yun Zheng issued orders in a tone that allowed no doubt: “You two will find whether the assassin who went after the princess is connected to the ambush at Red Willow Slope. This time I want results. Remember, Prince Qi is also investigating. Be careful not to clash with his people.”
“Yes,” they answered, and vanished into the night like ink into water. Yun Zheng narrowed his eyes. Their enemy was cunning and cautious and had only begun to show a hand. No traces. No weaknesses. He feared this search would find little again. If so, he would prepare for the worst. He had to drag the Yun family out of this mire completely. He turned to his son and said in a voice low but steady: “Ye’er, I need you to take care of something for me.”
The northern wind howled through the night. When the doors opened the next morning, snow still drifted through the air. Outside the window, snow hung heavy on willows and eaves. Frost clung to every branch, turning the world to silver. When Yun Wan Ning opened her eyes, she saw white beyond the lattice. Thick snow coated rooftops and trees, turning the whole Duke’s manor into a realm of ice and light. Her eyes lit with wonder. [Oh, it is snowing. How beautiful. I really want to go outside and play. The Medicine King Sect lies deep in the heart of Hua Xia. There were no southern seas, no northern snows. In my whole life I never left the sect. I only saw such sights on television and online. To think I have lived two lives and this is my first time seeing real snow, and I cannot even go out to play in it. So pitiful, so very pitiful. Ten seconds of sympathy for myself.]
Yun Wan Ye exchanged a look with Yun Wan Yao. Madam Yun paused as well. So Little Milk Bun had never seen snow. With how clever and worldly she sounded, they thought nothing could surprise her. Who would have guessed she had never seen snow in her previous life. It caught them off guard.
Yun Wan Yao had planned to head out, but after hearing Yun Wan Ning’s inner voice, she changed her mind at once. She stepped forward, scooped her sister into her arms, and smiled bright as she said: “Little sister, it is snowing outside. Do you want me to carry you out to see it?”
[Really? Truly? Big sister is actually taking me out to see the snow? Big sister is the best. So thoughtful. I love big sister. I love her most in the whole wide world. Then hurry, hurry and carry me out. I cannot wait.]
Yun Wan Ning’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at her. Yun Wan Yao blinked, then remembered herself and called over her shoulder: “Mother, I am taking little sister outside to see the snow.”
Madam Yun let out a long breath. Worry and tenderness pulled both ways. She wanted to refuse, but after hearing that sweet inner voice, how could she deny the child. Still, letting her go out was not without risk. The snow had just fallen, and the wind was sharp. If Little Fourth caught a cold, what then. Pain would fall on the child alone. She hesitated, then yielded with conditions as she said: “You may go, but she needs more clothes. If she goes like this, she will catch a chill.”
She went to the wardrobe and brought out layers. Yun Wan Yao pouted and touched her sister’s cheek in apology as she murmured: “Sorry, little sister. I did not think of that. I almost made you sick.”
[Honestly, I did not think of it either, so it is not big sister’s fault. Being born again as a baby, this body is too fragile. But it is fine. We have Mother. Mother thinks of everything.]
Madam Yun’s hand paused a moment at the words, then moved even more gently. Soon Yun Wan Ning was bundled in an extra cotton coat, a thick cap set on her head, and wrapped in a quilted blanket. She was so secure she looked twice her size and weighed nearly as much. Yun Wan Yao took her up and wobbled at the sudden heft. Seeing this, Yun Wan Ye frowned and strode forward as he said: “It is slippery outside. If you carry her, you will fall before ten steps. Let me do it. I will take little sister to see the snow.”
Heat rose to Yun Wan Yao’s ears. She had promised to do it herself, but she had overestimated her strength. Yun Wan Ye was right. The ground was slick. If she insisted and slipped, she might hurt the child. She nodded and told her sister with a smile that bent like a crescent: “For safety’s sake, let second brother carry you. He has strong arms and excellent lightness skills. It will be safer.”
[Okay, okay. Let second brother carry me!]